cockfighting videos Republicans rally around Hegseth, Trump's Pentagon pick, as Gaetz withdraws for attorney general

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Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, has diedThe View's Whoopi Goldberg reveals who she thinks is Donald Trump's 'actual vice president'

OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship'The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Marcus Tomashek scored 30 points and Division II Michigan Tech handed Green Bay its eighth straight loss, 72-70 on Wednesday. Anthony Roy, the nation’s second-best scorer at 25.7 points per game, did not play for Green Bay. He was on the sideline with a walking boot on his left foot. Tomashek also contributed eight rebounds for the Huskies, who played the game as an exhibition. Dawson Nordgaard finished 5 of 9 from the floor to add 10 points. Ty Fernholz shot 3 for 7 from beyond the arc to finish with nine points. Jeremiah Johnson recorded 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Phoenix (2-11). Marcus Hall added 17 points and Ryan Wade had 11 points and five assists. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

On Sunday night, Eknath Shinde was chosen as the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party. The decision was made during a meeting attended by all 57 elected MLA-designates at a suburban hotel, where a resolution was passed unanimously. In addition to the election of Shinde, three other resolutions were passed. These included commendations for Shinde's leadership in the party's remarkable victory, acknowledgements of PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their backing, and expressions of gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for their trust in the Mahayuti alliance. The Mahayuti coalition, comprised of Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP, achieved a significant win by securing 233 out of 288 seats in the state assembly elections. This left the opposition MVA with only 46 seats. (With inputs from agencies.)In the HBO documentary “Surveilled,” Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow travels across the globe to investigate and expose the dark underbelly of the multi-billion-dollar advanced spyware industry. The film reveals that repressive regimes aren’t alone in using spyware to hack into citizens’ cell phones and computers clandestinely; democratic governments are also guilty of spying on unknowing individuals. “In recent years, we have seen a succession of Western democracies, where people really thought, “It can’t happen here” have these scandals where the use of commercial spyware technology spirals out of control despite constitutions in place that should prevent it,” says Farrow, whose most recent article for the New Yorker details how the Trump administration could expand the use of commercial spyware in the U.S. The article examines the Department of Homeland Security’s recently signed two-million-dollar contract with the Israeli spyware company Paragon. “A number of experts told me that the Department of Homeland Security acquiring this technology doesn’t necessarily mean, even if it’s intended for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), that it will only be used by ICE for immigration purposes,” says Farrow. “Not that we should lack concern about ICE marrying up Donald Trump ‘s promise of mass deportation with advanced spyware technology. But a lot of the privacy law experts that I spoke with told me that we should all really be concerned even if you don’t think of yourself as being in a vulnerable category. Even if you are not a politician, an activist, or a journalist, you are still looking at a situation where you might not know that you are being targeted until after the fact, and that’s another reason why it was important to me in this documentary, to tell the stories of innocent bystanders who are apolitical, who get caught up in these dragnets.” Farrow began reporting on the spyware industry after he was the target of cyber surveillance during his investigation into Harvey Weinstein that would help launch the 2017 #MeToo movement. “I came to (this subject) quite naturally in the course of being surveilled in various ways myself while reporting on tricky stories that pissed people off,” says Farrow. “It was personally frightening and devastating. It’s not just information gathering; there is a dimension of intimidation to it and, maybe even more consequentially, it shrinks the space for us to do our work as journalists.” Directed by Matthew O’Neill and Perri Peltz, “Surveilled” takes viewers inside the secretive industry while also illuminating how the digital spy business is reshaping contemporary concepts of privacy and power. The docu, which made its world debut at DOC NYC this month, examines ethical dilemmas that citizens and governments must now navigate in the brave new world of cyberespionage. Variety spoke to Farrow about Trump, the future of the #MeToo movement, and how to fend off being hacked. Farrow: I try to stay away from speculation other than talking about the capacities we have right now, the promises being made, and how those could collide in scary ways. We don’t know what will happen, but I do know that an array of serious privacy law experts are in a state of high alarm now looking at the fact that Donald Trump is making this promise of mass deportation. Also, the threats he is making to subject political enemies to tribunals and the idea he has conveyed that journalists who protect sources should go to jail have put privacy law experts in a high state of alarm (because) those promises become a lot scarier when married up with this kind of (spy) technology that his administration will have at its fingertips. It’s a huge concern. If we want freedom of expression and freedom of information, then we need to have privacy rights and devices that can’t be so easily compromised. We need to have checks and balances on these (spy) tools, and one of the big casualties when those checks and balances go away and when these devices are just a public space, and there is no room for private conversations, is journalism. I don’t want to see a reality in which the Trump administration makes good on what he’s saying about imprisoning people in our profession who protect their sources. Unfortunately, that reality becomes a lot more likely to transpire if this tech is used in an unfettered way. Write to your representatives and call them to say that you want accountability on this issue. While there are few complete defenses against advanced hacking technology, a daily reboot of your phone is something multiple tech experts have advised in the course of my reporting. I can’t give a satisfying answer to the question because the important part of my relationship with that reporting is that I really was just acting not as an activist but as an investigative reporter. The separate issue that you raised about Trump’s appointments, I think, is just linked to this wider pattern that we are seeing with those appointments, which has been described by very credible journalists in recent days as a trolling operation. Having people who have disregarded and flouted the very thing that the agency they are going to be running is designed to protect that’s happening over and over again. So, while it has a dimension of perhaps nose-thumbing at standards of consent and accountability around sexual violence, it is really just part and parcel with a moment in which this administration is coming in with a lot of evidence of a lot of different types of disregard for the rule of law. “Surveilled” is currently streaming on Max.

Nebraska auditor alleges more fraud by contracted DHHS caregiversBREWSTER, Mass. – Francis “Frank” Joseph Steponaitis, a devoted family man, beloved educator, and proud Cape Cod resident, passed away peacefully on Nov. 20, 2024, at the age of 79, surrounded by his loving family. Known for his humor, quick wit, passion for history and teaching, basketball and golf, Frank leaves behind a legacy of love and inspiration. Frank was born on Nov. 30, 1944, in Waterbury, Conn., to the late Edward and Anna Marcella Steponaitis of Watertown, Conn. He shared 55 wonderful years of marriage with his wife Ruth (Murray), celebrating a lifetime of love and partnership. Together, they raised two daughters, Dayna (Chris) Sierakowski of Ridgefield, Conn., and Marcy Sterlis (Ed Slezak) of Halesite, N.Y. Frank was a proud grandparent, known as “Daduke” to grandchildren Ryan and Lindsay Sierakowski. He is also survived by his sister Margaret (Bernie) Zailskas; brother Paul (Vicki) Steponaitis; aunt Susan Blais; and numerous cherished relatives and friends. Frank was predeceased by his sister Mary Anne. Frank earned his bachelor’s degree from Sacred Heart University and proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971 in Nuremberg, Germany. Upon his return, he began a remarkable career in education, teaching and serving as principal at St. Thomas School in Thomaston, Conn., for 15 years, while simultaneously earning a master’s in American Studies and CAS in Administration at Fairfield University. In 1986, he joined the Social Studies Department at Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, Conn., where he taught for 25 years and also helped coach cross country and basketball, retiring in 2011. Affectionately known as “Mr. Step,” Frank was renowned for his engaging teaching style, memorable nicknames, and the fun he brought to the classroom. Frank’s life will be celebrated on Jan. 4, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, Conn. To honor his vibrant spirit, attendees are encouraged to wear colorful attire, reflecting Frank’s love for his signature red plaid hat, bright ties and sweaters. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Frank Steponaitis Scholarship at Holy Cross High School, ensuring his legacy lives on in future generations of students. Checks should be made payable to “Holy Cross High School” and sent to 587 Oronoke Road, Waterbury, CT 06708; or Venmo to @holycrosswtby and note the “Frank Steponaitis Scholarship.” Donations may also be made online at: https://www.holycrosshs-ct.com/giving/make-a-gift. Frank’s humor, warmth, and dedication to education touched countless lives. He will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by all who knew him.After 13 days, Bryson DeChambeau’s viral golf stunt still has fans riveted

Toyota introduced the Tacoma in 1995, although the automaker wasn't new to manufacturing trucks, as it launched its first pickup back at the end of the '60s. While the truck itself has grown in size over its various generations, so have its sales, with the Tacoma reaching its highest marks in 2021, with over 252,000 units sold, per GoodCarBadCar.net . However, the mid-size truck market has become increasingly more competitive, with rivals like the Nissan Frontier, Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Canyon. So, for those looking to get a more compact truck that still has some oomph under the hood, what are the most robust engines ever featured in a Tacoma? Toyota has never offered a V8 engine option in the Tacoma. However, this truck has come equipped with some capable V6s under the hood of each generation (including one with a dealer-installed supercharger), and the automakers latest i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain, which is the most potent the mid-size truck has seen yet. We got to experience first hand the automakers most recent efforts with our 2024 Toyota Tacoma review , and walked away impressed by improvements from previous models in ride, performance, and interior quality. The first year the Tacoma was launched, there were a few engine options, including the 3.4-liter V6 engine. The automaker pulled it out of its full-size T100 truck at the time. With dual overhead cams, multi-valve cylinders, and a peppy four-speed automatic transmission, the Tacoma SR5 V6 could produce 190 horsepower, and 220 lb-ft of torque. The six-cylinder in the '95 Tacoma was capable enough to offer 1,670 pounds of payload, and up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, which outperformed the Nissan Truck SE V6 from the same year, that could only muster 3,500 pounds of towing power. While these first-generation Tacoma's topped out just under 200 horsepower, 1998 saw the release of the Tacoma TRD off-road package, which enhanced performance by adding a locking rear differential, but would add even more powerful options moving forward. For those unaware, TRD is one of several famous car badges that hold special meaning . The third-generation of Tacoma kicked off in 2016 and offered a slightly larger V6 than the first-generation, but packed with even more power than the stock second-generation 4.0-liter V6. Offering a respectable 278 horses and 265-pound feet of torque under the hood, this six-cylinder boosted towing capacity to 6,400 pounds. In fact, this more potent V6 even outperforms the previous generation's larger 4.0-liter. Another interesting aspect of Toyota's 3.5-liter was that it could operate on the Atkinson cycle, which provided enhancements to efficiency. James Atkinson, a 19th-century engineer, developed a unique combustion sequence which allowed the intake valve to remain open longer. During the compression stroke, the piston reached a higher point, traveling upward before the intake valve would close. Essentially, the power stroke, which moves the piston, was longer than the movement of the intake stroke, allowing for less fuel to be consumed every cycle. Of course, the modern Tacoma utilizes a much more precise version of this concept with variable valve timing. When Tacoma's second-generation launched in 2005, the lineup received an option for more displacement in the form of a 4.0-liter V6. While this six-cylinder could outperform previous Tacoma's with the ability to generate 236 horsepower (an improvement of 46 horsepower) and 266 lb-ft of torque (additional 46-pound feet of torque), it wasn't the most muscular option available from Toyota. While the TRD off-road package had offered some performance increases in previous Tacoma's, the available 2015 TRD supercharger engine package took this truck to the next level. The different types of superchargers are twin screw, roots, and centrifugal and each have their benefits. But, regardless of which design you use, the end product is more power. The Tacoma TRD supercharger bumped up horsepower to 304, and torque up to 334 lb-ft. This extra output translated into 0-60 mph times of less than 7.5 seconds. However, as you'd expect, fuel economy did take quite a hit with the factory installed supercharger, only managing around 15 mpg. Toyota arrived in 2024 ready to upset the status quo by kicking off Tacoma's fourth generation with the most powerful powertrain this truck has seen to date. This hybrid engine consists of two elements: A 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder alongside an electric motor, combining to output performance figures that surpass even the TRD supercharger from 2015. Together, the turbocharged gasoline engine and electric motor produce 326 horsepower and an impressive 465 lb-ft of torque. Essentially, when compared to previous V6 iterations of Tacoma, this new hybrid generates around 75% more torque. When explaining the difference between horsepower and torque , in the world of pickup trucks the latter is king, and translates into a Tacoma towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The most impressive figure is not the horsepower and torque alone, but the fact that i-FORCE Max manages to reach a combined average fuel economy of 24 mpg, while also receiving a huge bump in performance.

Chuck Woolery, game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83

An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on

Washington Trust Announces Stock OfferingBy Zoe Sottile , Josh Campbell and Artemis Moshtaghian , CNN Mysterious flying objects overhead. Concern and confusion. And calls for military intervention. This isn't the plot of "War of the Worlds," but rather the result of numerous possible drone sightings in the US in recent weeks. The flying objects have been spotted over residential neighborhoods, restricted sites and critical infrastructure. The sightings have put intense pressure on federal agencies to provide more information about the aircraft, as officials have urged calm and emphasized there is no evidence suggesting the sightings pose a security threat. The Biden administration has not identified "anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risks over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the Northeast," White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Monday. "We assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircrafts, helicopters, and even stars that were mistakenly reported as drones," Kirby said. While the FBI is still checking out 100 or so tips, none of them appear nefarious, he said. "I can't rule out the fact that we might find some sort of illegal or criminal activity, some nefarious activity, (but) all I can do is tell you that right now we see none of that," Kirby said. The US is sending drone detection and tracking systems to two military facilities in New Jersey, according to three defense officials Monday. The systems are in the process of moving to Picatinny Arsenal, a US military research facility, in northern New Jersey and Naval Weapons Station Earle in central New Jersey, the officials said. Drones have been spotted near Picatinny Arsenal and over President-elect Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster, according to military officials and state lawmakers. The sightings prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue temporary flight restrictions over the properties. "Several instances of unidentified drones entering the airspace" were also reported above Naval Weapons Station Earle, a US Navy base south of Middletown, although no direct threats were identified. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy received a briefing from the FBI on Sunday night regarding the drone sighting investigation around Naval Weapons Station Earle, he said in a post on X. "We are ready to assist the federal government in getting to the bottom of this," Murphy said. Reported drone activity prompted at least one airport - New York's Stewart International Airport - to temporarily close its runways for about an hour on Friday night. At around the same time, airspace above Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio was restricted because of drone activity while authorities monitored the situation, base spokesperson Bob Purtiman told CNN affiliate WHIO. The base closed its air space for several hours over the weekend, but the Pentagon says it is "not necessarily seeing any connection" to the drone sightings in New Jersey and elsewhere. "There are thousands of drones flown around the US on a daily basis," Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Monday. "So as a result, it's not that unusual to see drones in the sky, nor is it an indication of malicious activity or any public safety threat. And so the same applies to drones flown near US military installations." Wright-Patterson includes operations dedicated to monitoring cyber threats and the 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, which oversees 14 intelligence squadrons around the country. CNN reached out to the Air Force for comment. The House Intelligence Committee is expected to receive a classified briefing about the mysterious drones over New Jersey on Tuesday afternoon, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. The FBI and DHS said in a joint statement Thursday there is "no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus." Despite reassurances from federal officials, local politicians continue to press for more information and resources to investigate the sightings. In Morris County, New Jersey, officials have called for the "federal government to marshal all federal resources at its disposal, including the military, to end the unauthorized flight of drones over our county and other parts of New Jersey." Trump raised his own questions about the drone sightings during a wide-ranging news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. "The government knows what is happening. Look, our military knows where they took off from," Trump said. "If it's a garage, they can go right into that garage. They know where it came from and where it went, and for some reason they don't want to comment." When asked whether he had been briefed on the government's intelligence regarding drones, Trump responded, "I don't want to comment on that." Kirby said Monday that the administration has and will continue to make "a very good faith effort to be as open and direct" as possible. "What we're not going to do is speculate, and we're not going to hypothesize - we're not going to, we're not going to provide content that we can't be sure is accurate," he said. The FBI and New Jersey State Police urged the public in a joint statement Monday not to shoot at suspected drones, warning of potentially deadly consequences if manned aircraft are mistakenly targeted. Pilots of manned aircraft are being hit in the eyes with lasers pointed by individuals on the ground mistaking them for drones, the statement said. Drones, a broad term for unmanned aerial vehicles, are widely owned across the United States. Around 792,000 drones are registered with the FAA, nearly evenly divided between commercial and recreational use. They are used in various industries, including photography, agriculture and law enforcement. There remains significant confusion about the exact nature of the sightings and how many are cases of "mistaken identity," as suggested by Mayorkas and Kirby. Here's more on what we know and don't know about the reported sightings. Where have the drones been seen? Drone sightings have been reported in at least six states - New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio - while arrests have been made in connection with drone operation near restricted areas in Massachusetts and California. The sightings began 18 November near Morris County, New Jersey, according to the FAA. There had been drone sightings every night since then, Republican New Jersey Assembly member Paul Kanitra told CNN's Sara Sidner on Friday. Unnerved residents have frequently reported seeing drones hovering overhead, sometimes traveling in clusters. Democratic Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey posted videos to his X account showing what appeared to be a cluster of drones flying over the Round Valley Reservoir on Thursday night. But Saturday, he acknowledged most of the aircraft he initially thought were drones were "almost certainly planes," he posted on X. Representatives from the federal agencies investigating the sightings have briefed local officials behind closed doors, stating the possible drones sometimes appear to fly in a coordinated pattern and can remain in flight for up to six hours, according to Montvale, New Jersey, mayor Mike Ghassali. "This has gone too far," said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Saturday, adding last month she "directed the New York State Intelligence Center to actively investigate drone sightings and coordinate with federal law enforcement to address this issue." Hochul announced Sunday that federal authorities are deploying a new "state-of-the-art drone detection system" to the state. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said he's asking the DHS to deploy special detection systems that use 360-degree technology to detect drones. New York State Police said Friday afternoon in a post on X they had received "numerous reports of drone sightings over the past 24 hours" and they were investigating the reports. "We have no evidence at this time that any of the reported sightings pose a public safety threat." Staten Island Borough president Vito Fossella said the drones, often seen flying at night, have been spotted hovering over critical infrastructure, including Port Liberty New York near the Goethals Bridge, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and Fort Wadsworth, one of the oldest military installations in the country. Connecticut State Police announced Friday they have deployed a drone detection system to assist in the investigation of unauthorized drone sightings reported over Fairfield County. The governors of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Virginia said they were aware of the sightings and that state police were involved. Two men were arrested Saturday night on trespassing charges after a drone came "dangerously close" to Logan International Airport in Boston, police said in a statement. Last week, a Chinese citizen who is a legal permanent resident of the US was criminally charged after allegedly taking unauthorized drone footage at Vandenburg Space Force Base in California as SpaceX was launching "a National Reconnaissance Office payload," according to a criminal complaint. Yinpiao Zhou was arrested 9 December at San Francisco International Airport, preparing to board a flight to China, the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said. He was charged with failure to register his drone and violation of national defense airspace. CNN reached out to Zhou's assigned public defender for comment Monday. He has not entered a plea and is held at the Santa Rita Jail without bond, according to records from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. When asked by CNN whether they believed the Vandenburg incident was connected to the Northeast US drone sightings, a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office said, "We don't allege that in our complaint." What are the aircraft? The FBI and DHS have said they believe most of the drone sightings are cases of "mistaken identity," with members of the public misidentifying small, legally operating manned aircraft as drones. Some of the sightings may also be commercial drones, Mayorkas told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Friday. "We know of no threat or nefarious activity," Mayorkas said. "If we learn of any cause for concern, we will be transparent in our communication of it." Some of the more recent sightings might be due to copycats flying their drones as the phenomena get more news coverage, former FBI supervisory special agent Tom Adams told CNN Friday. He said there are often innocent explanations for the sightings as well. "I can tell you from my firsthand experience conducting operations for the FBI, as well as investigations into the suspected sighting of drones at critical infrastructure, it was fairly common for planets, crewed aircraft and even low Earth orbit satellites to be misidentified as drones at night," Adams said. At a news briefing on Saturday, an FBI official reiterated the sightings were largely manned aircraft mistaken for drones. The official noted similar flight approach patterns from nearby airports matched the visual sightings reported to tip lines. The FBI official said the tip line has received 5,000 tips, but fewer than 100 have led to leads "deemed worthy of further investigative activity." No evidence supporting "large-scale UAS activity" has been found, the official said, using the acronym for "unmanned aircraft system". There's been a "slight overreaction" to the reports, the FBI official said. Still, "we can't ignore the sightings that have been there, and we are concerned about those just as much as anybody else is," the official added. An official with the Department of Defense, however, was less confident about the nature of the sightings. "We don't know if it's malicious, if it is criminal. But I will tell you that it is - it is irresponsible," the official said. "Here on the military side, we are just as frustrated with the irresponsible nature of this activity." The Pentagon shut down speculation the drones may originate from a foreign entity or adversary on Wednesday, hours after US Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a New Jersey Republican, told Fox News the drones were from "a mothership" from Iran that is "off the East Coast of the United States of America." "There is not any truth to that," deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said Wednesday. "There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States." The FBI is leading the investigation into the sightings alongside the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, while the US Coast Guard is assessing jurisdictional responses. On Sunday, US Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said the US government needs to be more transparent about the reported sightings. "One, we need a briefing for the members of the Senate to figure out what's going on here," the Democrat said during an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation." "Two, we need more transparency." Despite federal officials' assurances the drones don't pose a public safety threat, Belleville, New Jersey, mayor Michael Melham has said he has received guidance police should call the county bomb squad and local fire departments should wear hazmat suits if they encounter a downed drone. "We just don't know what these things are, so we are being cautious," Melham said. Why shooting at drones may not be the answer In contrast to federal officials' pleas for calm regarding the sightings, Trump has urged the Biden administration to either release any information it has about the mysterious sightings or shoot the drones out of the sky. "Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government's knowledge. I don't think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!" Trump posted on Truth Social. US Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who sits on the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, similarly said Thursday the aircraft "should be shot down, if necessary, because they're flying over sensitive areas." Blumenthal clarified Monday in a CNN interview that he believed most drones could be forced down with "electronic jamming" rather than destroying them in the air. But shooting down unidentified aircraft poses its own problems. "It's not as though anyone can just take down a drone in the sky. That in and of itself would be dangerous," Mayorkas told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. Similarly, a source familiar with the national investigation into the aircraft told CNN shooting them out of the sky would be "beyond risky," posing an unnecessary risk to people on the ground and legal challenges. The source noted the government has various strategies that can be deployed if a drone poses an imminent threat, but so far, the mysterious flights have not been deemed threatening. "Blowing it out of the sky is the last resort," the source said. Who regulates drones? Part of the challenge in monitoring drone activity stems from the fact regulation of the skies is almost entirely under federal jurisdiction, according to the chief executive of a company tracking unauthorized drone flights. "The laws that regulate aircraft are not built to empower police to deal with the drones," Axon chief executive Rick Smith told CNN News Central Friday, "so if your local state fair has a drone coming towards it that police believe might be dangerous, right now there's nothing they can do about it." FAA regulations allow operators of recreational drones to fly up to 400 feet above the ground in airspace not controlled by FAA air traffic controllers. The FAA does grant waivers on a case-by-case basis to those wanting to operate drones in more congested airspace or at higher altitudes. Missy Cummings, one of the Navy's first female fighter pilots, thinks there would be a different level of action from authorities if people were in danger from the possible drone sightings. "I think if this were a legitimate threat, we would be seeing different kinds of action," Cummings, a professor at George Mason University, told CNN's Fredricka Whitfield Sunday. "People don't want to hear this, but probably a significant number are manned aircraft, although I do think that they are legitimately seeing drones," Cummings said. CNN's Samantha Waldenberg, Sam Fossum, Betsy Klein, Annie Grayer, Edward-Isaac Dovere, Andy Rose, Hanna Park, Brad Lendon, Oren Liebermann and Travis Nichols contributed to this report. - CNNUnwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire TabletsBy Funto Omojola, NerdWallet Mobile wallets that allow you to pay using your phone have been around for well more than a decade, and over those years they’ve grown in popularity, becoming a key part of consumers’ credit card usage. According to a “state of credit card report” for 2025 from credit bureau Experian, 53% of Americans in a survey say they use digital wallets more frequently than traditional payment methods. To further incentivize mobile wallet usage, some credit card issuers offer bonus rewards when you elect to pay that way. But those incentives can go beyond just higher reward rates. In fact, mobile wallets in some ways are becoming an essential part of activating and holding a credit card. For example, they can offer immediate access to your credit line, and they can be easier and safer than paying with a physical card. From a rewards perspective, it can make a lot of sense to reach for your phone now instead of your physical card. The Apple Card offers its highest reward rates when you use it through the Apple Pay mobile wallet. Same goes for the PayPal Cashback Mastercard® when you use it to make purchases via the PayPal digital wallet. The Kroger grocery store giant has a co-branded credit card that earns the most when you pay using an eligible digital wallet, and some major credit cards with quarterly rotating bonus categories have a history of incentivizing digital wallet use. But again, these days it’s not just about the rewards. Mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and PayPal can offer immediate access to your credit line while you wait for your physical card to arrive after approval. Indeed, most major issuers including Bank of America®, Capital One and Chase now offer instant virtual credit card numbers for eligible cards that can be used upon approval by adding them to a digital wallet. Additionally, many co-branded credit cards — those offered in partnership with another brand — commonly offer instant card access and can be used immediately on in-brand purchases. Credit cards typically take seven to 10 days to arrive after approval, so instant access to your credit line can be particularly useful if you need to make an urgent or unexpected purchase. Plus, they allow you to start spending toward a card’s sign-up bonus right away. As issuers push toward mobile payments, a growing number of merchants and businesses are similarly adopting the payment method. The percentage of U.S. businesses that used digital wallets increased to 62% in 2023, compared to 47% the previous year, according to a 2023 survey commissioned by the Federal Reserve Financial Services. Wider acceptance is potentially good news for the average American, who according to Experian has about four credit cards. While that won’t necessarily weigh down your wallet, it can be hard to manage multiple cards and rewards categories at once. Mobile wallets offer a more efficient way to store and organize all of your workhorse cards, while not having to carry around ones that you don’t use often. They can also help you more easily monitor your spending and rewards, and some even track your orders’ status and arrival time. Plus, paying with a digital wallet offers added security. That’s because it uses technology called tokenization when you pay, which masks your real credit card number and instead sends an encrypted “token” that’s unique to each payment. This is unlike swiping or dipping a physical card, during which your credit card number is more directly accessible. And again, because a mobile wallet doesn’t require you to have your physical cards present, there’s less chance of one falling out of your pocket or purse. More From NerdWallet Funto Omojola writes for NerdWallet. Email: fomojola@nerdwallet.com. The article Activating Your Credit Card? Don’t Skip the Mobile Wallet Step originally appeared on NerdWallet .

Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball, the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. No further details on Carty’s death were provided. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players’ association said in its statement. The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise’s first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB Advertisement

The Osun State Government has announced a series of 16 events to commemorate Governor Ademola Adeleke ’s second anniversary in office. During the announcement of the planned celebrations on Friday, the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, praised Adeleke for his exemplary service delivery. Igbalaye highlighted that the festivities would include a health walk, a novelty match, Jumaat prayers, a church service, the presentation of state awards, and the commissioning of various projects. The Secretary to the State Government also mentioned that notable figures, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, would participate in the inauguration of several projects completed under Adeleke’s administration. Additionally, projects will be inaugurated across all 30 local government areas within the state. Furthermore, Igbalaye indicated that Adeleke, alongside the Minister of Works, David Umahi, would initiate the groundbreaking for new projects that are set to be launched during the second-anniversary celebrations. “Some of the activities lined up include Jumaat service, novelty football match, executive versus legislature, church service, and commissioning of Old Garage-Oke Fia Dual Carriage by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. “The presentation of bond certificates to contributory pensioners and the presentation of the award to Governor Adeleke by the contributory pensioners will also be held. “There will also be commissioning of Osogbo Ring Road by Governor Makinde, as well as, foundation laying for Airport project by the Minister of Aviation/Works, ” Igbalaye said. In reflecting on the accomplishments of the administration over the past two years, Igbalaye stated that Adeleke has exceeded expectations. He expressed confidence that a rise in political activities would not divert the governor’s attention from finalizing all current projects.