After hosting a UFC fight for his 80th birthday Sunday, President Donald Trump will head to France for a three-day meeting with leaders of the Group of Seven as the United States attempts to broker a peace deal with Iran.

A senior Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and other G7 leaders on Monday. Among the topics will be efforts to include allies such as France and the United Kingdom in demining the Strait of Hormuz, assuming the U.S. reaches a short-term peace agreement with Iran.

Trumps meeting with Macron and G7 leaders will be followed Tuesday by potentially high-stakes meetings with leaders of Middle East nations.

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While the U.S. has been joined militarily only by Israel in the war against Iran, other nations such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are seen as key partners in bringing a peaceful resolution. The Trump administration has insisted in recent days that it is close to signing a short-term peace deal with Iran.

The official said the White House is optimistic about a potential agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. One point of contention has been Irans insistence on collecting tolls on ships passing through the region. The Trump administration believes it can reach a deal with Iran that would preclude toll collection.

The U.S. has said it will lift its blockade of ships entering Iranian ports as soon as a deal is signed.

Despite other G7 countries not being directly involved in the conflict with Iran, there is a lot they can do to support U.S. efforts to end hostilities, the official said.

Brokering a deal to end hostilities is seen by the administration as an important milestone toward eliminating Irans stockpiles of enriched uranium.

RELATED STORY | Trump says deal with Iran and opening of Strait of Hormuz are 'largely negotiated'

Theres also a lot of capacity that some of the G7 countries have, and that they volunteered to put together, the official said. Theres a coalition that the U.K. and France have talked about. They have some gray-hull ships already in the water, some of them close by, and so as the straits open, were going to be very involved in demining. To the extent that the G7 countries can participate in that, thats also going to be a helpful thing to get things back to normal as quickly as possible.

While Iran remains a central topic, the White House said ending the war between Ukraine and Russia will also be a priority at the conference.

Additionally, the U.S. plans to continue pressing NATO members to increase their defense spending, which the Trump administration says is important for U.S. security. The White House said the U.S. should not be expected to take the lead in every region.

One by one, the burly mixed martial arts fighters made their entrance past the solemn, hulking marble statue of America's 16th president and jogged down the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to roars from thousands of fans drawn to the unusual sporting weekend marking the nation's 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump's 80th birthday.

The news conference Friday night featured the fighters who are preparing to face off Sunday in the Octagon built outside the White House. But it was also a chance to see the UFC fans who have thronged to Washington and endured lightning, humidity and bugs for the spectacle.

Tracy Philbeck and his son Levi drove from Charlotte, North Carolina, with a group of friends to support their favorite fighter, American Justin Gaethje, in the upcoming lightweight title bout against Georgian Ilia Topuria.

"You will hear an eagle screaming when Justin Gaethje wins, the elder Philbeck chuckled.

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David Halstead journeyed from Albany, in Western Australia, to watch the sport he has loved for a decade. Halstead said Trump, who regularly attends the fights, put UFC on the map."

The UFC has said it spent $60 million on this weekend's festivities, and Republican president has billed it as the greatest show on earth.

Not everyone agrees.

The Public Integrity Project described the event as a private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain in a lawsuit the watchdog group filed to try to stop it from happening on federal land. A federal judge ruled on Friday that the White House was allowed to go ahead.

Only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults consider themselves mixed martial arts fans, according to Ipsos Sports polling conducted in February and March. That polling suggests MMA fans skew male and nonwhite. They are more likely to identify as Republicans than Democrats.

One misconception is that everyone who watches UFC is a Trump supporter, but thats not the case," said Ricardo Rodriguez, 24, explaining he loves the physicality of the sport. People also expect a knock out every time," he said.

Ellie Louizes, who practices Muay Thai, or Thai kickboxing, and jujitsu martial arts, drove from Daytona Beach, Florida, with her boyfriend, Jacob Purvis.

RELATED STORY | White House tests lights and stage equipment ahead of UFC fight on the lawn this Sunday

Female fans of MMA are the minority. But Louizes said she knows a lot of women who get into watching the sport through their male partners. She said female fighters are often way more aggressive than the men.

Fans brushed off the criticism about White House as host

The fans at the Lincoln Memorial brushed off criticism about the bouts being held at the White House.

Holding fights at the People's House, Tracy Philbeck said, "goes back to the days of Teddy Roosevelt.

Roosevelt regularly held sparring sessions at the White House, though they were not formal public prizefights. He was an enthusiastic amateur boxer who had boxed at Harvard and continued the sport throughout much of his life.

Boxing fans also make up a large part of the UFC's fan base.

At a UFC-sponsored community event this week at the District of Columbia's Midtown Youth Academy, the boxing gym's executive director was helping out with a visit from UFC fighter Randy Brown, who sparred with more than dozen local teenagers and preteens.

Gloria Lee said meeting the fighter was a big deal for kids at her gym. It's just been a thrilling week, and I was about to fall out when he came in the door! she said.

Asked about her personal UFC fandom, Lee said she had not watched it much. But by the end of Brown's visit, she got into the ring with the professional fighter and threw some slugs of her own.

The letters spelling out President Donald Trump's name on the facade of the Kennedy Center are now gone, the executive director of the performing arts venue said in a legal filing Saturday with the court that had ordered the removal.

A tarp continued to hang over the scaffolding constructed for workers to remove Trumps name from the building, making it impossible to immediately detect whether the only words remaining on its white marble portico are The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Matt Floca, who is also the center's chief operating officer, told the court that he was a responsible official of the Kennedy Center qualified to certify compliance with the order. He wrote that the board of trustees and the center have removed all physical signage on the Kennedy Center building and grounds, including the front portico, that purports to rename the Kennedy Center after President Trump."

That declaration to U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper came after a day of legal maneuvers and thunderstorms, and hours after workers had begun the process of removing the Republican president's name. They started hours past the original court-ordered deadline, later extended to noon EDT, and did their work shrouded by the tarp, much to the frustration of onlookers who had gathered for hours hoping to witness a dramatic moment symbolizing the limits of Trump's power.

The removal of Trump's name closes one of the more unusual chapters in the history of the Kennedy Center, which began construction in 1964 and was dedicated to the memory of the slain president, Democrat John F. Kennedy. At what is typically one of the few relatively nonpartisan spaces in Washington, Trump has wielded tremendous influence over the venue during his second term.

RELATED STORY | Trump renaming controversy grows as second Kennedy Center event axed

Though he rarely discussed the Kennedy Center during his 2024 campaign, Trump moved quickly to oust the institution's leadership when he returned to office in January 2025 and replaced it with a board of trustees that named him chairman. His name was quickly added to the building.

While the removal of his name marks a setback for Trump, he is moving forward with plans to reshape the physical landscape of the nation's capital in ways that have few modern parallels.

He demolished the East Wing of the White House and is building a controversial ballroom in its place. He remodeled the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and plans extensive renovations of a golf course in East Potomac Park, moves that could significantly reduce the public's access to running and biking paths. He is also moving forward with a triumphal arch that will sit near Arlington National Cemetery across the Potomac River in Virginia.

Indeed as Trump's name was being removed from the Kennedy Center, the South Lawn of the White House has been transformed into a venue for a UFC match intended to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence but also coinciding with Trump's birthday on Sunday.

Back at the Kennedy Center, there are many questions about the institution's future. The same May court decision that ordered Trump's name to be removed from the building also blocked a planned two-year closure for renovations that was set to begin next month.

The Kennedy Center's calendar for the weeks ahead include performances of Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Bluey's Big Play. Comedian Bill Maher is to be awarded the Mark Twain Award for American Humor during a ceremony on June 28.

But little is scheduled for the stages beyond that and, after substantially reducing staff, it is unclear how quickly the Kennedy Center could build out a robust performance list. Trump, angered by the court's order to remove his name, has said he would turn the Kennedy Center over to Congress and has suggested it might simply shutter because of public safety concerns.

In its unsuccessful appeal on Friday seeking a pause on the order removing Trump's name, the Kennedy Center's leadership argued, in terms that seemed similar to the president's speech patterns, that the lower court was interfering with needed renovations.

The District Court is not allowing us to close in order to properly fix up and repair the Building, including potentially life threatening structural damage like beams and parking garage ceilings that are rusted, and in serious danger of falling onto people below, according to the appeal. Indeed, total collapse!

The institution also suggested that the president's name could return to the building if the Kennedy Center later wins its appeal.

If the court denied the venue's request for a pause, the Kennedy Center argued it would be forced to squander time and money by both removing the signage and then potentially returning it after appeal.

RELATED STORY | Trump's name poised to be removed from Kennedy Center after judge denies last-minute move to keep it

Folarin Balogun fired his second goal into the top far corner of Paraguays net and then led his American teammates to the corner of their home stadium, reveling in the frenzy created by their historic first half at their World Cup opener.

The worlds biggest soccer tournament finally returned to the U.S. on Friday night after a generation of anticipation.

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With this phenomenal match, the Americans also look like they've arrived.

Balogun scored twice in the Americans' three-goal barrage before halftime, and the U.S. opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with its biggest win in the tournament, a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay.

Christian Pulisic had an assist in a stellar first-half playmaking performance for the Americans, who enthralled their Southern California fans with an aggressive attack while streaking to a 3-0 lead the team's largest in any World Cup game.

It meant everything for us, Pulisic said. A half like that, for it to go as it did, and have the fans excited about our performance, it felt amazing.

Gio Reyna ripped another goal in the dying moments of second-half injury time, giving the Americans four goals in a World Cup match for the first time in their tournament history dating to 1930.

This production, this confidence, this dominance it was nothing like the vast majority of the Americans' previous performances on the international stage over the years and decades.

They've won exactly one knockout-round game in the World Cup. They've almost always struggled to score in the biggest events, most recently managing only three goals combined in their four matches at the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

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In this pressure-packed home opener, the Americans were a team transformed while playing in coach Mauricio Pochettinos more creative system in front of a passionate, star-studded Los Angeles crowd of 70,492. Led by the elite talent and coach-inspired fearlessness of Balogun, Pulisic and Weston McKennie up front, the U.S. finally had its breakthrough performance at SoFi Stadium.

Its difficult to compare with the past, said Pochettino, who took over in late 2024. I dont know what happened in the past. I think we need to talk about today, because it was a great match. It was amazing for our fans to see, to watch this type of game, and today, I am so proud and we are so proud. I think we are winning a lot of fans, adding fans for the sport here in America.

Not everything went perfectly: Pulisic was replaced by Sebastian Berhalter at halftime for precautionary reasons. Pochettino said Pulisic was kicked in the back of his left calf during a training session this week, and felt some subsequent tightness during the match.

Staying positive, Pulisic said. I dont think its anything.

Maurcio scored in the second half for Paraguay, but La Albirroja fell too far behind early in their first World Cup match in 16 years.

The U.S. won this match very clearly and fairly, Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said through an interpreter. They dominated tactically, technically and physically as well. ... This team is a complex challenge because they have answers to everything you throw at them.

After the U.S. went ahead on an early own-goal created by Pulisic's playmaking, Balogun scored in the 31st minute and again in the fifth minute of first-half injury time.

The New York-born, London-raised striker made his World Cup debut with the first multigoal performance from a U.S. player in the tournament since 1930. Balogun chose to represent the U.S. three years ago instead of staying in the English system, where he likely would have struggled to make the Three Lions' roster and the 24-year-old Monaco professional has swiftly provided the top-level striker play historically lacking on U.S. rosters.

Poch has said many times, Why not us? Balogun said. We have to believe. You cant do anything if you dont believe in yourself.

Pulisic created the first two U.S. goals with exceptional runs down the left side. In the seventh minute, the AC Milan standout cleverly split two defenders and passed to McKennie, whose centering touch hit Paraguay midfielder Damin Bobadillas outstretched foot and went in, setting off pandemonium in the stands.

The Americans gradually amplified their attack centered around Pulisics runs and three minutes after an apparent goal from Balogun was erased by an offside call, Pulisic again drove the left side and got a deflected pass to the trailing Balogun, who banged it home.

Malik Tillman then made a perfectly weighted pass in injury time to Balogun, who sidled through the Paraguay defense and beautifully found the top shelf.

The Americans were less cohesive without Pulisic in the second half, but Reyna still added the finishing touch by gliding into the box and toe-flicking home his first World Cup goal. The moment was sweet for Reyna, who barely played at the Qatar World Cup amid a messy family dispute with former U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter.

Dozens of American celebrities and cultural icons turned out for the match 10 miles south of Hollywood, including Tom Cruise, George Lucas, Bill Gates, Halle Berry, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Graduating Cal Poly art and design students are showing off their work in and exhibit in downtown San Luis Obispo.

The exhibit features 9 artists and 50 different pieces showcasing different mediums and styles, from hyperrealism to abstraction.

The exhibit is called "This Is Not a Couch." Lillie Turinsky said the name is a nod to a famous work of art.

"It's a reference to Rene Magritte's painting called This Is Not a Pipe. It's kind of talk about representation versus reality and the importance of visual language."

Turinsky said the couch reference comes from a shared space the students used throughout their time at the university.

"The couch motif comes from we have this shared sofa that is in our studio. We all share a 24/7 studio space, and the couch is in there, and yeah, it's just been a part of our college experience."

The show runs through June 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 750 Higuera Street.

"We would love for people to come and look at the work and potentially buy it. Like, that would be really exciting," Turinsky said.

A Santa Maria California Highway Patrol officer has been honored with the Gold Medal of Valor.

Officer Brian Hanrahan was one of only seven CHP officers across the state to receive the Governors State Employee Medal of Valor.

According to CHP, it is an award that recognizes public servants who "perform extraordinary acts of heroism in service to others."

Hanrahan was honored for stopping a suspect following an explosion at the Santa Maria Superior Courthouse. Five people were hurt in the 2024 explosion.

Hanrahan confronted the suspect, Nathaniel McGuire, as McGuire tried to retrieve more weapons from his vehicle.

Authorities allege McGuire planned to kill a judge.

"By acting decisively despite the danger, Officer Hanrahan prevented further attacks and protected both the public and responding law enforcement personnel," CHP said in a statement.

McGuire pleaded not guilty to several charges.

McGuire's trial is set to begin on Sept. 22.

President Donald Trump said Friday that a swift and lethal kinetic U.S. strike has killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, whom he called the infamous leader of the Tren de Aragua gang.

Tren de Aragua has been labeled by the United States as a terrorist organization. Guerrero Flores was charged in a New York federal court with racketeering conspiracy and other crimes, including lending support to terrorists in crimes that stretched more than a decade, authorities announced in December.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that the strike occurred earlier in the week on a Tren de Aragua compound in Venezuela.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said at the time that the gang is responsible for countless acts of violence, extortion and drug trafficking in North America, South America and Europe. Trump nominated Clayton on Thursday to be director of national intelligence.

The U.S. State Department had offered rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to Guerrero Flores arrest

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In a post on his social media site, Trump wrote, Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drug lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong. Trump's post referred to Guerrero Flores by his alias, Nio Guerrero.

Hegseth said, The operation underscores the shared U.S. and Venezuelan commitment to take the fight to narco-terrorists and deny them any safe haven in our hemisphere.

Venezuelas ministry of communications did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the operation.

Trump has taken a series of extraordinary actions against the gang, including a series of strikes on small boats his administration has accused of smuggling drugs to America. At least 207 people have been killed in boat strikes by the U.S. military in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls narcoterrorists in early September.

Trump and administration officials have consistently blamed Tren de Aragua for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some U.S. cities. The president spent months repeating the claim contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment that Tren de Aragua had operated under Venezuelan President Nicols Maduros control. The U.S. whisked Maduro out of Venezuela to face U.S. drug charges in January.

Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuelas central state of Aragua. The gang has expanded in recent years as millions of Venezuelans migrated to other Latin American countries or the U.S. in search of better living conditions.

Guerrero Flores returned to the prison in Aragua for murder and other convictions in 2013, when Venezuelas crisis began as corruption, mismanagement and a drop in crude prices wrecked the oil-dependent economy. Guerrero Flores and a few other inmates saw a profitable opportunity as the government neglected prisons.

They assumed control and administration of the prison, establishing a system that controlled the entire inmate population through force and extortion. Over time, they transformed the facility into a sort of city that included a zoo, baseball field, casino and restaurants. Guerrero Flores had his own lavish suite.

The size of the gang is unclear. Countries with large populations of Venezuelan migrants, including Peru and Colombia, have accused the group of being behind a spree of violence in the region. Still, unlike other criminal organizations from Colombia, Central America and Brazil, Tren de Aragua has no large-scale involvement in smuggling cocaine across international borders, according to InSight Crime, a think tank that tracks crime across Latin America.

RELATED STORY | US strike on an alleged drug boat kills 3 in the eastern Pacific Ocean

In Venezuela, gang leaders have long been known to participate in various illegal activities, including gold mining.

Trump campaigned for a second term promising to crack down on immigration and crime. While polls show his favorability ratings have sagged on his handling of the economy, immigration remains Trumps strongest issue, according to the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

San Luis Obispo police say a man arrested this week on suspicion of multiple burglaries across the county is also connected to a couple of recent burglaries within the city.

Police say the suspect is 27-year-old Ryan Michael Coats.

San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs deputies arrested Coats on Wednesday. They believe he is responsible for commercial burglaries in Cambria, Cayucos, San Simeon, and Templeton.

In San Luis Obispo, police say Coats also hit Taste Craft Eatery on Broad Street and PBK Architects on Higuera Street.

"Our office was robbed a couple of days ago," said Pablo Mora, PBK Technical Designer. "I just noticed something was missing, and then there was a little something in the chat about apparently, someone broke in, broke a window and came in and took the coffee machine, of all things."

Mora says the burglar also took an industrial-grade vacuum and a set of headphones. He says the sheriff's office has since returned all of the items.

Taste was reportedly broken into just after 3 a.m. on Wednesday. A window was broken and a restaurant spokesperson says a cash register was stolen.

Sheriff's officials say the San Simeon Post Office, Artifacts Gallery, McLean Jewelry, and Upscale Resale were also previously targeted.

Tamara Stavrianoudakis has owned Upscale Resale on Main Street in Templeton for 20 years. She says just after 3 a.m. on April 30, she received a call from the sheriff's office telling her someone had broken in.

"I looked on my ring cam and I was like, 'Oh no! Oh my gosh, yes, there's somebody in my store," she recalled.

The sheriff's office shared surveillance images of the suspect moments before the burglary.

"He just basically pulled all the high-end handbags off of the wall. So yeah, we had Louis Vuitton and Chanel and Gucci and some expensive ones, which we're no longer carrying because I don't want to risk that again," Stavrianoudakis said.

She says about $10,000 worth of handbags were taken, but she is relieved an arrest has been made.

"I hope they find my stuff. I know that they've, they're working on uncovering some of the merchandise, and hopefully some of it will be mine," she said.

According to the sheriff's office, at the time of his arrest, Coats was out on bail related to a burglary investigation being conducted by the Morro Bay Police Department.

Investigators believe he could be connected to burglaries outside of San Luis Obispo County as well.

Sheriff's officials say Coats has an extensive criminal history that includes felony convictions in Santa Barbara County for possession of a stolen vehicle in 2019, assault with a deadly weapon in 2020, and grand theft in 2022.

Coats remains in custody at the San Luis Obispo County Jail with bail set at $400,000.

The investigation remains ongoing and the sheriff's office is asking anyone with additional information to contact the detective division at (805) 781-4500.

The Morro Bay City Council in November approved a massage establishment ordinance, in an effort to combat potential illicit activity.

Friday marked the end of a 90-day period where the police department and massage establishments worked together on the permitting process.

Weve done interviews we have collected all of the necessary documents not only for the owners or sole proprietors but also for the massage therapists that work within the city, said Amy Watkins, Morro Bay Police Chief.

Watkins told KBSY News there are 14 massage establishments in Morro Bay.

One of those is Opulent Healing. Owner Zoey Chiasson, said her process started with an application where she outlined her business.

The fire department and chief of police came by to do a physical check of the entire establishment make sure everything was up to code, clean sheets, towels, just in general a clean environment, Chiasson said.

Watkins said that there is one business the police department is still working to get proper permitting from.

Now, the ordinance enters the enforcement period where massage therapists operating without certification and city permits can face daily fines.

So thats the type of regulations that well end up kind of following through with a lot of it will be complaint based but we will also do some random checks just making sure that everyones adhering to the new code and entering compliance, Watkins said.

The fee this year was $177 but will go up about three dollars next year due to what Watkins describes as typical inflation rates.

Chiasson tells KSBY she could see the process being troublesome for some practitioners.

I have a girl thats moving into my space she got her massage license back in like 2005 and so she has never certified with the CAMTC so thats a process, Chiasson said.

A San Luis Obispo County Superior Court judge ruled this week that evidence against a former Catholic priest accused of molesting four children is sufficient to move the case forward to trial.

Theodore Edward Gabrielli, 62, was arrested in Los Osos in June 2025. According to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office, detectives began investigating Gabrielli after receiving a report of child abuse that first occurred more than 30 years ago. The alleged victims were under the age of 14 at the time and were living in Mexico, where their family befriended the priest.

According to the District Attorneys Office, the alleged abuse took place between 1991 and 2010 and occurred in six California counties, including San Luis Obispo.

Sheriffs officials said the family allowed Gabrielli to take the boys with him on trips to California, including to his parents home in Los Osos, where the victims claimed Gabrielli would sexually assault them.

Following a four-day preliminary hearing, Gabrielli was held to answer on 24 felony counts. He is scheduled to be arraigned on July 14.

The District Attorneys Office says it is considering filing additional charges that prosecutors believe were proved by the evidence during Gabriellis preliminary hearing.

Gabrielli has remained in custody at the San Luis Obispo County Jail without bail since his arrest last year.

The Arroyo Grande Mayor has announced that she will not be pursuing another term in the November Election. She said she feels now is the best time to step away from public office.

Susan Evard has lived in Arroyo Grande at two points in her life. Once between 2000 and 2005, and again from 2020 until now. She said there have been major changes since she first called the city home.

There wasn't as much going on in the Village," Evard said. "I think the Village has become much more vibrant and a real center.

Caren Ray Russom has served as mayor since 2018. She announced earlier this month that she will not be seeking re-election in November. She said she feels like this is the best time to step away from the position.

Things are really in a great place and staff wise, we have a fantastic staff, so I feel like I'm able to hand off the city in such good, in such a good place that the next people can come in and really take it to the next level," Ray Russom said.

Evard said she was disappointed in the Mayor's announcement.

"I think she's been a really good leader for the community," Evard said. "She's really done a lot of progressive things for Arroyo Grande and I just hope that there's someone that takes up the mantle that has the same vision that she has had.

Russom said her top priority before her term ends in December is to finish the citys general plan.

As far as what shes most proud of she said its the vibe she and city staff have developed. Russom said it starts with the leadership at the city council level.

It goes to staff and it goes all the way through the community," Russom said. "We really have a community that builds consensus, that acts civilly and can get work done.

Ryan Girvin lives in Nipomo, but grew up in Arroyo Grande and also works there.

When I grew up around here, it was a little more of a sleepy town and had a quieter vibe," Girvin said. "As I've seen it grow over the years, it's become a lot more flourishing for small businesses.

Before being elected mayor, Russom served on the Planning Commission, City Council and San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. She said shes proud to have served the community for 21 years in various positions.

Ive held office higher than this, but it wasn't as fulfilling," Russom said. "It wasn't as much of an honor as being able to lead this community and be the face of the community that I grew up in. There's no way for me to convey what a personal honor that's been.

Nominations for the next mayor open on July 13 and close on August 7.

After a months-long conflict, the United States and Iran are nearing an agreement officials say would open the Strait of Hormuz and deny Iran a nuclear weapon, but officials say they are not at the finish line yet.

President Trump said final points had been in both concept and great detail approved. He canceled a third night of bombings against Iran Thursday.

We're not quite at the finish line yet, but we are very close, said a senior administration official, who noted they feel good about where we are.

While the administration expects to sign an agreement over the next few days, a senior administration official said the confidence level is around 80-85 percent. They acknowledged some Iranian hardliners want to kill the deal but that they believe dissent is quite minimal.

Their system is very complicated. Most of the people that we've been speaking to, and most of the people who have authority within their system, want to sign this deal, but not everybody, and those internal fractures are sort of working themselves out as they continue to try to get to the point where they can say yes to the deal, the official said.

But it appears there is more confidence that Irans supreme leader approves.

All we can take is the people, both on the civilian and military side, both of whom have attested that the leader is comfortable with where we are in the negotiations, the official said.

RELATED NEWS | Trump cancels planned Iran strikes, claims 'settlement of the war'

Other Iranian leaders also indicated progress towards finalizing a deal.

The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer. Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X.

"The agreement would ultimately dismantle Irans nuclear program, end Iranian funding of proxy groups, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide economic benefits based on Iranian performance, according to a senior administration official.

What we've accomplished through some combination of leverage and diplomacy is a commitment to get rid of their highly enriched material and a commitment to not build or buy a nuclear weapon indefinitely, they said.

A memorandum of understanding specifies the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of the blockade, and destruction and removal of enriched material, according to the official. A technical negotiation is envisioned for 60 days, where details on the nuclear issue are ironed out.

The technical details need to be figured out, but I think there's a commitment to do that. There's also a commitment to dismantling the nuclear weapons program. There's a commitment to decommissioning the nuclear sites, and of course we're going to figure out how to do that in the technical negotiations that will follow, but we think that this is the first and most important step to really ensuring that the Iranians do not build a nuclear weapon, the senior administration official said.

The terms laid out largely reflect the redlines in negotiations that officials held earlier on.

Thats both promising but also a reminder that this thing could fall apart at any time, according to Michael OHanlon, the Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy at the Brookings Institution.

I don't know that Iran's really going to be capitulating. They haven't wanted to so far. If they have just wanted to capitulate, they could have done that four months ago, before this war began, and they haven't shown any signs of being more inclined to capitulate, just because a lot of their friends and family have been killed off by the air campaign. If anything, it seems to have made them harder and, and more dug in, OHanlon said.

But OHanlon highlighted the 60 day period, the kind of number you would come up with if you were serious, and all sorts of creative middle grounds you could find on most of these issues as points of hope.

They're not going to go into negotiations with the idea of just fooling us and having no interest in a deal whatsoever, and just sort of playing along, but they could go into the deal with very high expectations of what terms they'll be able to negotiate and a willingness to go back to hostilities if they, if they fail in the first instance, especially while we're still in the prelude to the midterms of 2026 where they think that Trump is particularly vulnerable politically, and therefore you know where they may have in fact the upper hand, he said of Irans potential positioning.

The White House has teased being close to a deal before, only for it to not come to fruition.

Over the past several weeks, Iranians have launched strikes against US forces in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain; Israel and Iran have traded fired over Israels operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon; and the US carried out strikes against military targets in response to the Iranian downing of a US Apache helicopter. Trump had warned of a third straight night of strikes, and potentially eyeing Irans oil hub, Kharg Island, just hours before the sudden reversal.

The preceding 24 hours were an all hands on deck operation, according to the senior administration official.

The entire team has been involved in passing messages and using back channels in order to get messages across, and you know, it's kind of how the administration operates, the official said.

The administration received an answer through intermediaries Thursday in which Iran indicated they were ready to sign, according to another senior administration official. The President spoke to Gulf leaders as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

They want it every bit as much as everybody else wants and I think a lot of good relationships can ensue from this, President Trump said Thursday of Iran.

RELATED STORY | Iran is accused of downing a US Apache. A robot boat pulled the crew to safety

Over the past couple of weeks, a senior administration official points to weakened control of the Iranian straight, and specificity on the destruction and removal of enriched material.

Where it was a couple of weeks ago was a lot of proposals from the Americans that we sort of had verbal commitments that the Iranians thought that they could work with us on, but they had to work it inside their system. Now we've seen substantial progress where they've actually gotten the buy-in, and where we actually have a text of an MOU that I think both sides feel good about, the official said.

An official said little changes here and there were hashed out the past days, pointing to details on financial relief and enrichment pursuits.

It is a performance based deal, that does not provide financial relief on the signing of the memorandum of understanding or negotiation, according to a senior administration official, they get rewarded economically for complying with their obligations under the deal. Benefits could include unfreezing of assets and sanctions relief.

The administration's approach of military pressure and economic pressure has worked, and it is because of that, that Iran has realized it has to get to the table, said Jacob Olidort, Dr. Jacob Olidort, Chief Research Officer & Director for American Security at the America First Policy Institute, also pointing to Lebanon. The Iranian regime is now faced with a fork on the road, it has, on the one hand, its nuclear ambitions, and on the other, its survival.

Washington had worked to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, that still saw strikes between Israel and Hezbollah, before Trump demanded a stop to the shooting amidst efforts to reach a deal with Iran, but before the downing of the US helicopter.

We don't expect any country, whether the Gulf Coast or Israel, to give up their right of self-defense. What we do expect is that if we're able to have everyone participate in the peace process, that everyone else will do the same, said a senior administration official.

There appears to still be mistrust, though.

President Trump accused Iran of leaking terms that have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing, Trump wrote on Truth Social, warning Iran to get their act together, and FAST!

Friday afternoon, the US, Iran and Pakistan warned of false information amid speculation about the deal specifics and Iranian response.

I'm seeing a lot of fake information about a potential deal to reopen the Strait and end Iran's nuclear weapons program. First, the Iranians are not receiving any cash, and no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting. The deal is structured to ensure that the US and its allies concerns are prioritized, and that if the Islamic Republic of Iran meets its obligations, then economic benefits will flow to them and to the entire region, Vice President JD Vance wrote on X.

Amid ongoing intense mediation efforts by Pakistan, we are fully aware of incessant misinformation campaign being waged by those who want to sabotage the peace deal. Setting aside the noise, we can confirm that a final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached and Pakistan is now working closely with both sides to finalize the next steps. Peace has never been this close as it is now, Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X.

A signing location is not yet known, but the official said we want to make sure that it's a place for both the Qataris, the Pakistanis, and of course the Iranians can get to, and are happy with, the countries having helped mediate.

Following an investigation into the deadly deputy-involved shooting of a man in Goleta last year, the Santa Barbara County District Attorneys Office reports it has determined that the shooting was justifiable.

On October 20, 2025, Santa Barbara County Sheriffs deputies responded to the Ralphs grocery store on Hollister Avenue for reports of a man attacking another man and his dog.

Authorities said the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Abdourahman Nyan, fought with and stabbed the victim before running into the store and trying to hide in a restroom.

According to the DAs report, deputies evacuated the store, tried to secure Nyan inside the bathroom, and called for a sergeant to bring more less-lethal resources, such as a ballistic shield and 40mm launcher. However, before they could prepare to use those items, Nyan reportedly charged out of the bathroom toward them, holding two knives and using a large metal trash can as a shield. One deputy deployed his Taser, while two others fired a total of six rounds at Nyan, killing him.

The coroners report showed that Nyan suffered five gunshot wounds. He also reportedly had THC in his system at the time of his death.

The victim of the stabbing survived, according to sheriffs officials. He reportedly suffered a large gash to his forearm, multiple scratches and abrasions, and two small puncture wounds on the right side of his ribcage.

The DAs Office concluded that Nyans actions created a reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury in the deputies minds and that they acted reasonably in their use of deadly force.

Previous coverage:

Suspect dead in officer-involved shooting in Goleta

New details released in deadly Ralphs grocery store shooting in Goleta

A Santa Barbara man is in custody after a series of incidents Friday morning.

Police say the man tried to ram a police officer with a stolen vehicle, attempted to carjack a woman and broke into two homes.

Around 5:30 a.m. Friday, June 12, Santa Barbara Police officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the 800 block of Cliff Drive.

About 15 minutes later, an officer located the vehicle in the 1st block of North Milpas Street.

Police say the suspect in the car accelerated toward the officer and attempted to use the vehicle to ram into him. The officer moved out of the vehicle's path and was not injured.

The suspect then allegedly hit a parked vehicle with their car before taking off.

Shortly after, police say the suspect approached a woman seated in her vehicle near the intersection of Salinas Street and Gutierrez Street and tried to take her car.

According to authorities during the encounter the suspect pointed a cell phone at the victim in an attempt to make it appear as though he was armed with a firearm.

The victim drove away safely and immediately contacted police.

As officers continued searching for the suspect, they say they received a report that he had forced entry into a home in the 900 block of East Carrillo Street and attempted to get into a second home in the 1000 block of East Canon Perdido Street.

Officers located the suspect, he eventually surrendered and was taken into custody.

The suspect was identified as Samuel Ingram, 25, of Santa Barbara.

C.A.R.E.4Paws is expanding its Mobile Community Medicine & Spay/Neuter Outreach Program through a new partnership with Farm Supply Company, bringing monthly pet wellness clinics to each of the retailer's five Central Coast locations.

The first clinic took place on Friday, June 12, at Farm Supply's San Luis Obispo store. Additional clinics follow on June 18 in Arroyo Grande, July 10 in Buellton, July 23 in Santa Maria and July 30 in Paso Robles.

On designated clinic days, C.A.R.E.4Paws will offer walk-in wellness services for dogs and cats from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Services include affordable vaccinations, microchips, flea and deworming treatment, and nail trims. Community members who are able to are encouraged to donate above the suggested fee, supporting a pay-it-forward model that helps pet families facing financial hardship.

The partnership also raises awareness of C.A.R.E.4Paws' broader mobile clinic services for qualifying low-income pet families, which include spay/neuter surgeries, medical exams, treatment of ear, eye and skin conditions, wound care, basic bloodwork, dental procedures and other low-cost or subsidized medical services.

"We are proud to collaborate with organizations that support the wellbeing of both animals and the communities we serve," Farm Supply Chief Executive Officer Michael Mendes said. "This partnership reflects our commitment to helping Central Coast families access the resources they need to care for their pets."

Farm Supply locations will also serve as pet food donation sites for C.A.R.E.4Paws. Customers can donate cat and dog food to support the nonprofit's Companion Pet Assistance program, which distributes several tons of pet food monthly to families experiencing financial hardship across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Farm Supply Company was established in 1950 as a farmer-owned cooperative serving the Central Coast.

A judge cleared the way for President Donald Trump's name to be removed from the Kennedy Center's exterior on Friday, denying a last-minute request from the institution's board that would have kept the name in place.

With storms gathering near Washington before a court-ordered deadline to remove references to Trump, workers were seen building scaffolding around a section of the building that includes the president's name. A crowd gathered nearby and cheered their work as Trump's name moved closer to being taken down.

Yet the Kennedy Center's leadership didn't abandon its legal efforts to keep Trump's name in place. The institution appealed the ruling denying it request for a stay and requested action by the court by 7 pm ET.

This appeal raises serious questions about Article III standing and about the powers of the Centers Board," the filing read. "Major physical changes to the Center should await this Courts resolution of those issues; as an equitable matter, it does not make sense to alter the Centers name and signage now, only to potentially revert the name again after what should be a successful appeal.

RELATED STORY | Judge says Kennedy Center board broke law putting Trump's name on building, blocks closure

Last month, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled Trumps name was illegally added to the iconic Washington performing arts facility and ordered it removed by Friday. Late Thursday, Trumps handpicked board at the center mounted a last-minute effort to keep his name on the facade of the iconic performing arts facility, a request that Cooper denied.

A June 4 memo to staff from the Kennedy Centers Office of General Counsel said email signatures, letterhead and other documents must reflect the name as The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts or Kennedy Center.

The Kennedy Centers website has dropped Trump's name. And an earlier email sent to members offering ticket packages for the June 28 Mark Twain Award for American Humor ceremony came from the Kennedy Center without including Trumps name.

After ignoring the Kennedy Center for much of his first term, Trump has wielded tremendous influence over the venue during his return to office. Just a month into his second term, he ousted the centers previous leadership and replaced it with a board of trustees that named him chairman.

In his earlier ruling, Cooper also blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations that had been planned to start in July and last for two years.

Thousands of Puerto Ricans are struggling with water shortages so severe that the governor of the U.S. territory has activated the National Guard and emergency responders are fielding calls every day.

Officials have not publicly pinpointed the cause, with shortages largely affecting some areas in the island's most populated cities, including the capital San Juan. The island's utilities company extracts water from rivers, reservoirs and underground aquifers that have in the past provided sufficient supply for the island's 3.2 million people.

RELATED STORY | Power blackout hits all of Puerto Rico as residents prepare for Easter weekend

Residents are being forced to buy potable water, spend money at laundromats and haul heavy buckets up several flights of stairs to wash dishes, flush toilets and take showers. The elderly and disabled struggle the most, with community leaders noting that some have been hospitalized as water shortages persist.

Jorge Figueroa, a community leader for several impoverished San Juan neighborhoods, stood by his car one recent morning fielding questions from residents wondering when the next water truck would swing by.

"They are playing with people's health and lives," Figueroa said.

Some customers in San Juan began reporting intermittent service more than a year ago, with the governor acknowledging the infrastructure has lacked investment and maintenance for decades.

The water outages have grown so severe that Mayor Miguel Romero sued Puerto Rico's Water and Sewer Authority in late May.

People like Jeannette Mercado Rodrguez have spent up to two weeks without water as Puerto Rico's searing summer starts and meteorologists are already issuing heat advisories.

"This is really exhausting; it's maddening," she said.

The 52-year-old is among the lucky ones: a water truck is stationed near her public housing complex, Las Margaritas. But she still has to haul five buckets and 10 2-liter (half-gallon) bottles up to her third-floor apartment every day. She recently injured her shoulder doing so.

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"We can't take it sometimes," Mercado said, confiding that she has broken down and cried. "There are older people here, bedridden people."

Nearly 40,000 customers were hit with water outages on the first weekend of June. That prompted Gov. Jenniffer Gonzlez to activate the National Guard, which began distributing water via four trucks with a capacity of 2,000 gallons (7,570 liters) each.

Puerto Rico's Tourism Company brought in additional water trucks with a capacity of 12,800 gallons (48,453 liters) to help serve hotels and short-term rentals.

The need for water is so great that even Puerto Rico's Department of Agriculture sanitized two large trucks that transport milk and instead used them to deliver potable water.

Despite those measures, water remains scarce for many in San Juan and beyond. At least one stationary tanker in an impoverished community sat empty for a couple of days, with residents cheering the water truck when it arrived, calling municipal workers "heroes." Other residents also complain that the government doesn't inform them when a water truck will stop by, with those at work missing out.

"This has been a disaster," said Luz Laborde, president of a neighborhood association in Santurce, a working-class community in San Juan. "This is inhuman It's destroying the emotional state of a people."

Dozens of Puerto Ricans young and old crowded into a courtroom on a recent morning, eager to hear a ruling on the lawsuit that San Juan's mayor filed against the island's water and sewer company as they questioned when their water would return.

"We are exhausted," said Marcia Soler Pars, a 61-year-old community leader. "We shouldn't be living this way. We don't deserve this."

Every day at dawn, phones ping as people in San Juan and elsewhere share whether they have water, just a trickle or nothing at all.

Soler calls the emergency management office every other day to request a water truck for her and her neighbors. She lives with her daughter, who has three boys ages 13, 10 and 4, and they play soccer every day. Like many, they don't have a cistern.

"I don't know what it is to see a stream of water," said Soler, who recently spent $40 at a laundromat and was forced to buy plastic cups and plates for her family.

The extra costs are straining the budgets of many on the island of 3.2 million people where more than 40% live below the poverty line.

Soler said some of her neighbors bedridden and caregivers are forced to use towels and wet wipes to clean them. Another neighbor is blind, so people ferry water up to her apartment.

For years, chronic power outages have been a big frustration for many Puerto Ricans. Water woes also are at the top of the list now.

At Villa Kennedy, a nearby public housing complex, Elizabeth Snchez, 79, explained how she injured her waist carrying buckets of water. Her husband can no longer help because he injured his back for the same reason.

"What we are going through is horrible," she said as she began to cry.

In February 2025, Puerto Rico's governor appointed Luis Gonzlez Delgado as executive president of the island's Water and Sewer Authority.

Months later, former regional director Roberto Martnez Toledo was replaced. But Martnez was recently appointed to a new committee ordered by a judge to work with the agency to investigate and solve the chronic water shortages.

The mayor of San Juan, who is a member of the governor's party, said that if Martnez hadn't been removed from his position, "we wouldn't be here talking about this issue."

The new head of the water and sewer agency blamed Martnez for some of the problems.

"(The crisis) could have been avoided if Roberto Martnez had answered the phone the first day I called him," Gonzlez told reporters this week, adding that he is willing to work with him.

Some Puerto Ricans are demanding Gonzlez resign as they clamor for Martnez to return to his old job, while a growing number are blaming the governor for the situation. On Wednesday night, the governor announced that all projects aimed at fixing water-related infrastructure have started with an investment of $217 million.

Those without water say they are still being billed for it.

"That's another outrage," said Laborde, the community leader. "You lose no matter what."

Attorneys for the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk asked a judge Friday to block prosecutors from seeking the death penalty as punishment for comments they made in the media about a bullet fragment recovered from Kirks body.

The comments were made in response to speculation that the bullet fragment could exonerate defendant Tyler Robinson. Conjecture over the evidence in Kirks killing has fueled unsubstantiated conspiracy theories that there might have been a second shooter or that his death was staged.

Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted. The 23-year-old from southwestern Utah is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 killing of Kirk, a conservative activist who was shot in the neck while addressing a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University. Robinson has not yet entered a plea.

Robinsons attorneys accused prosecutors of going on a media tour to discuss expert reports about the bullet fragment, violating the judge's restrictions against speaking about the case outside court.

RELATED STORY | Man jailed for 37 days over post on Charlie Kirk's death wins $835K settlement

Prosecutors countered that they had a right to speak to the press to correct misinformation about a preliminary finding by ballistics experts. Those experts' initial tests did not match the bullet fragment with a gun that investigators believe was used to kill Kirk.

In court filings, defense attorneys made public a federal agency's failure to conclusively link the bullet fragment with the rifle. They said it appeared to be exculpatory evidence information that tends to absolve a defendant of guilt without noting that the finding was preliminary and that further testing was planned.

That spurred stories by some publications raising questions about the prosecution's case: A March 30 headline in the U.K.-based Daily Mail reported that the bullet that killed Kirk did NOT match the rifle investigators say was used to kill Kirk.

Authorities have said DNA consistent with Robinsons was found on the trigger of the rifle, the fired cartridge casing, two unfired cartridges and a towel used to wrap the rifle.

The rules expressly allow lawyers to set the record straight, Deputy Utah County Attorney Christopher Ballard wrote in a court filing.

Ballard argued Friday that he didn't speak to the media about case specifics and only spoke generally about how ballistics testing can be inconclusive. He said his goal was to respond to the substantial undue prejudicial effect of the media stories.

Defense attorney Richard Novak disagreed, saying Ballard did not speak to the media using general terms and tried to influence public perception of the case.

What was going on here was an attempt to influence the jury pool, Novak argued.

RELATED STORY | Arizona governor vetoes bill to name highway after Charlie Kirk

State District Judge Tony Graf said he will issue his decision about the contempt allegation on June 22.

Earlier Friday, Graf declined a defense request to halt the proceedings while they appeal a June 1 order in which the judge declined to bar cameras from the courtroom.

The ruling comes ahead of a key hearing scheduled to begin July 6, when prosecutors must show they have enough evidence to warrant a trial. That would mark the most significant presentation of evidence to date in the case, which has so far focused on matters of media access.

Before Friday's hearing, the defense team pointed to another criminal case in which prosecutors were accused of contempt and suggested that one potential remedy would be to bar the state from seeking the death penalty.

While the judge in that earlier case disagreed that an order barring the death penalty was merited, Robinsons attorneys noted that the court did not conclude that such a remedy was beyond its authority where the facts support it.

The Seattle Seahawks team and staff received their Super Bowl rings Thursday night, the largest Super Bowl championship rings ever made.

The design is inspired by the Seahawks' home stadium, the franchise and the team's fans. The ring features Lumen Field arches that pop out to reveal the words "World Champions."

The top displays the Seahawks logo and two Lombardi Trophies, a nod to the franchise's two championships, set in blue sapphires. The top of the ring can be fully removed from the base to be worn as a pendant, while the ring's interior features an authentic piece of football from the season.

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The ring is surrounded by 50 diamonds to commemorate the franchise's 50th season and the Super LX logo on both sides.

One side of the ring has the player's last name, number and the letters "MOB," which is short for the "Mission Over Bulls**t" mantra the team adopted in 2025. The other side of the ring reads "12 AS ONE" above a Seattle skyline.

"17 WINS" is engraved on the inside of the ring to represent the win total for the season, postseason included, while the bottom of the ring features 12 feathers to honor the 12s.

The rings were designed by Jason of Beverly Hills.

The Seahawks beat the Patriots 29 to 13 in February during Super Bowl LX, hosted in San Francisco.

Its a short walk from the White House to the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room, but its still a long way for the accountability survivors are seeking.

"In this room you have 17,000 pounds of evidence of one of the worst crimes in American history," said David Garrett, organizer for the Institute for Primary Facts.

The curated exhibit is hoping to close that gap. It includes a printed copy of every single document released by the Department of Justice as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

"What is 3.5 million files? You know, it's hard to really know what that means until you print them all out," Garrett said.

There are nearly 3,500 volumes totaling 800 pages each. Shelf after shelf is packed with information.

"There's something about seeing it tactile, right?" Garrett said. "Any one of these books, has something horrible in it, and some of them have lots of horrible stuff."

The gravity is the goal.

"You see a cat video and a birthday party and evidence of one of the worst crimes in history, and they all kind of seem the same, and you spend six seconds on each one, and then you move on to the next thing," Garrett says. "When you come in here, you put the phone away, right? This, this room will stop the scroll, and you have to sit with it for a minute, and you have to sit with how much evidence there is."

RELATED STORY | Bill Gates tells House panel Epstein used extramarital affair to blackmail him

Garrett is not a curator, or a historian, or an artist, or even a political activst. Hes a dad, troubled by the pace in which some are trying to move past this issue.

"It's the corruption. There will always be monsters.There will always be terrible people and terrible crimes. It's the corruption that destroys democracies," he said.

Steps from the bookcases, there's a floor-to-ceiling timeline of Epstein, of Donald Trump, and of their friendship. While the President has not been interviewed by the DOJ or the House Oversight Committee, Garrett says he put Trumps name on the exhibit because of his personal connection to the case.

"Donald Trump's name is mentioned 38,000 times," Garrett said. "There are people on his cabinet that that are mentioned in the Epstein files. It's incredibly corrupt for him to be in charge of the investigation."

The president has denied a real friendship with Epstein.

RELATED STORY | Former New Mexico AG says he was told to stand down in Epstein ranch probe

Up the stairs is art by survivor Maria Farmer, depicting the pain and horror she endured as well as a place to honor the survivors.

"All I can think of is these women who lived with the stigma of their abuse for decades, and then stood up to the most powerful, richest people in the world," Garrett said. "They stood up and said we're not going to take it anymore, and we want answers, and we want accountability."

Hes hoping this exhibit leads to just that.

I think coming here and standing and looking at this, it's very hard to imagine that there isn't more investigation and more accountability to be had," he said.

The public is not able to read the files because not all names are redacted. However, survivors, journalists, members of Congress and law enforcement officials can all make appointments to read the files themselves. Garretts team created a database to help them review specific material.

A passenger on a Delta flight is facing charges of assault after he reportedly slapped a flight attendant on her backside while she was conducting in-flight food and beverage service.

According to court documents filed in the U.S. Court for the Northern District of Georgia, 32-year-old Cody James Maluck was indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta for interference with flight crew members or attendants which is considered a federal crime that carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The alleged incident happened on a Delta flight from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles on May 9.

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The court documents stated the flight attendant, who is not identified, was walking down the aisle of the aircraft performing food and beverage service to passengers when she initially passed by Maluck's seat, thinking he was asleep.

As the flight attendant stopped at a nearby seat, she allegedly felt a slap to her "buttocks area" that caused her body to move forward. The court documents stated she turned around and saw Maluck with his hands up, and he stated, "I didn't do anything."

The flight attendant left the aisle and informed the lead flight attendant on duty of the incident, who then notified the pilot in command. It was decided that the flight would be diverted to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for the safety of the flight.

Law enforcement met the aircraft at the gate and were notified that an alleged assault had occurred on the plane. Maluck was detained and the FBI was notified.

Maluck told law enforcement that he had on headphones and didn't hear the flight attendant ask if he wanted a beverage. He reportedly admitted to touching the flight attendant in her buttocks area to get her attention, but claimed he did not slap her and it was "not his intention to harm or disrespect" her.

Ford is recalling more than 250,000 vehicles that were incorrectly repaired under a previous recall meant to fix a problem that caused the engine to stall while driving.

The recall includes 255,404 Ford Focus automobiles, model years 2012-2018. Ford said the canister purge valve may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of crash and injury.

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To fix the problem, dealers will provide a powertrain software update free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration's number for this recall is 26V369. The original NHTSA recall number for this issue is 18V735.

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Vehicle identification numbers involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6.

Every week, we feature an available animal from Woods Humane Society. This week, it is five-year-old cat Moon's turn in the spotlight!

Moon is a big boy, at 22 pounds, he is a lookalike for the iconic lasagna-loving Garfield.

He will do best as the only pet in a household, but with so much to love, there will be plenty to enjoy.

He loves hiding under things and getting comfy on a lap.

It is a great time to adopt, as June is Adopt a Cat Month, and Woods has all the options for you! Head to the shelter off of Oklahoma Avenue in San Luis Obispo or at the Atascadero Cattery to meet all the felines!

Click here for information on Moon!

TRACY, Calif. (AP) Firefighters responding to a blaze that destroyed a massive medical equipment warehouse in Northern California and sent embers flying for miles were hindered by sprinklers and hydrants that weren't working, authorities said Friday.

The 1 million-square-foot warehouse in Tracy, a city about 55 miles east of San Francisco, supplied medical equipment to area hospitals. It's owned by Medline, a major medical-surgical products provider of equipment such as latex gloves, masks, surgical instruments and other medical supplies.

Thick black smoke billowed Friday from the site, as firefighters continued to put out hotspots.

Authorities said they dont yet know why the water system failed during the blaze but it appeared to be a problem with the facilitys system, not city supply. The blaze broke out around 1 p.m. Thursday. Crews found the building's sprinkler system wasn't working and hydrants on the property lacked water pressure, Tracy Deputy Fire Chief Brian Bagley said. A fire official found little or no water was flowing through either system, he said.

Firefighters were forced to try to connect to city hydrants instead. The building was engulfed by fire within 40 minutes, Bagley said.

We did a defensive approach at that point, he said.

The facility had been evacuated, and no one was injured.

Embers from the blaze sparked two grassfires and set pallets and multiple big rig trailers at a nearby FedEx facility ablaze. Firefighters were able to knock those fires down.

Crews overnight had to contend with new fires in trailers that were loaded with supplies.

Bagley said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would help investigate the cause of the blaze, but authorities would probably not be able to get into the warehouse for at least a couple of more days. The sprinkler system had been tested in January by an outside company and no issues were found, Bagley said.

The warehouse is in a massive industrial park that also houses fulfillment and distribution centers for Amazon, Home Depot and FedEx.

No homes were evacuated. Bagley recommended people near the fire stay indoors but said air quality tests had not raised any grave concerns.

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) Christian Pulisic is the most accomplished and most famous player on his national team at the exact time when his nation is hosting a World Cup.

Only a handful of prominent players in the past few decades have faced this confluence of talent and timing. They include a selection of generational greats: Zinedine Zidane for France in 1998, Michael Ballack for Germany in 2006, Neymar for Brazil in 2014.

Pulisic's U.S. teammates recognize the extraordinary burden he is carrying while the Americans prepare for their World Cup opener Friday night against Paraguay. From the field to the back row of the stands, everyone is looking to Pulisic for leadership and goals, hoping his full decade of international success with club and country will propel a middling soccer nation to new heights on home soil.

I can't even imagine the weight that's on his shoulders, teammate Tyler Adams said. From such a young age, he was the hope of American soccer.

Pulisic does not shy from the spotlight that will glare more brightly than ever in the next few weeks. In fact, he repeated Thursday that this challenge is what I've always wanted.

Now 27 years old, Pulisic has enough achievement and enough faith in his teammates to focus on how far the Americans can go, not how far they might fall.

I dont feel a difference in weight, Pulisic said at the U.S. training base in Orange County. Im not sure. Maybe less. I just feel like theres so many good players around me. I genuinely dont feel like I have to do anything on my own. Im going to give it the best I can. I want to help the team, and they expect a lot out of me, but with the guys I have around me, it makes it a lot easier for me.

Pulisic was already the center of the U.S. hopes and aspirations when this World Cup was awarded to North America eight years ago, and his status hasn't changed. A nation that had struggled to produce elite players finally created a star in this slick, creative midfielder from Hershey, Pennsylvania, who has gone on to a decade of European club success.

National team progress has been more difficult to come by during Pulisic's first decade, but he is still considered the most consistently dynamic player in the American program despite his 18-month goal drought in a U.S. shirt that only ended May 31.

Of course he needs to be an important player for us in the competition, said coach Mauricio Pochettino, who took over the U.S. team in late 2024. (But) I think what weve learned after a year and a half is that the badge of the national team and the culture with this country is more important than any name, any player or any coach. That is a principal thing that we (believe), and from there, if you have talent and quality, you can perform on that platform.

Adams, the 27-year-old Bournemouth midfielder, has been right alongside Pulisic for most of this ride.

He watched in awe as the 17-year-old Pulisic made his senior U.S. debut in late 2016. Those Americans failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, but Pulisic quickly became a vital component of the group.

(Pulisic was) the best player on the field at 17 years old, and the person that they rely on, (and) its been since then that theyve relied on him, Adams said. Now, we have weapons around him to kind of relieve that, but hes a star. Not just for the U.S. national team, but in world football. Hes that good. We rely on him in big moments, but that being said, I hope he doesnt feel the pressure to carry it all. Just to be himself and grow into each game.

Pulisic became known across the world when he moved from Dortmund to Chelsea in 2019. He was part of the Blues Champions League winners in 2021, becoming only the second American to claim the ultimate club trophy, before moving in 2023 to AC Milan, where he remains a vital player for another major club.

Pulisic finally made his World Cup debut four years ago in Qatar, contributing a big goal and an assist but the U.S. scored just three goals in its four games before going home in the knockout round.

It feels similar, but with a bit of that comfort of being in America, Pulisic said of his World Cup return. It feels great having the people you love around you. It makes it that much more special.

Pochettino has strived to build an aggressive, attacking team around Pulisics talents, thereby minimizing its reliance on its best player. Prolific Europe-based strikers Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi will make their World Cup debuts this month for the U.S., hopefully spreading out the scoring responsibility.

But with his past World Cup experience in mind, Pulisic knows the Americans must step up quickly at home and their opening matchup against a solid Paraguay team will put him right in the spotlight again.

It has that big-game feel, for sure, Pulisic said. But in some ways, I feel a little bit more relaxed because I've been there before. We've played in a match like this. I think the experience has calmed me down a little bit.

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to Scripps News that it is responding to the New World Screwworm outbreak by activating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emergency response at level 3, which is the agencys lowest level.

Although the risk for human infections is rare, the CDC documented a human case in 2025 when a traveler returned from a trip to Central America, where the pest is prevalent.

New World Screwworm is a devastating parasite that feeds on the live flesh of warm-blooded animals. It spreads when female screwworm flies lay eggs in open wounds. However, infected animals can be treated and recover.

RELATED STORY | 2 more screwworm infections found in animals hundreds of miles apart in Texas, USDA says

According to a USDA tracking system, there are at least nine cases in Texas and New Mexico affecting cattle, goats, and a dog.

Nearby states, like Colorado, are taking precautions by setting up restrictions on how animals can be transported in and out of the region. The state also set up a new rule affecting how cats and dogs are inspected prior to entering the state.

New World Screwworm is a challenging pest, said Maggie Baldwin, Colorados state veterinarian. Not only does one case obviously harm the animal that has been affected, but the response to one single case can be very robust, it can be very intensive...it is costly not only to the animal owners but it's costly to the state and the federal government, and we dont want to let that fly set up a population here in Colorado.

RELATED STORY | Quarantine ordered for animals in parts of South Texas after screwworm detected

This week, the FDA approved an emergency medication for cats and dogs if infestations reach domestic animals in the coming days. Generic Nitenpyram tablets can be used to treat dogs and cats that weigh at least two pounds and are at least four weeks old.

The U.S. government is maintaining an aggressive approach to stop the spread and eradicate this pest, said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said this week the USDA has 110 full-time staffers working on this problem. The agency has deployed millions of sterile flies in Texas in an effort to stop the pests spread.

This technology works and it works well, and it is proven over and over again, Rollins said Thursday.

Pet dogs can once again travel to Mexico after the U.S. Department of Agriculture briefly banned them due to recent cases of the New World screwworm.

Several animal species including swine, cattle, sheep, goats and horses remain on the restricted list. Dog owners must still meet requirements before transporting pets to Mexico. The USDA says dogs must be free of disease, show no signs of open wounds and be transported in clean cages.

The USDA reports six recent cases of the New World screwworm in the United States. The parasite is a fly that can cause severe, potentially fatal infestations by feeding on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals.

RELATED STORY | Screwworm fly detected in Texas decades after cattle threat was largely eradicated in US

Health officials say the screwworm is attracted to open wounds and sores, which can lead to serious infections. The parasite is typically found in South America and the Caribbean but has more recently been detected as far north as Mexico.

While the USDA says the screwworm can devastate livestock, it has not been found in the human food supply.

RELATED STORY | Quarantine ordered for animals in parts of South Texas after screwworm detected

In the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Greenland and Iceland, a large patch of water is doing something very strange. While the rest of the ocean heats up, its been getting colder. A new study says it has the answer to this mystery and its an ominous sign the world is hurtling toward one of the most alarming climate tipping points.

The swath of ocean dubbed the cold blob or warming hole has cooled by nearly 1 degree Celsius (1.8 Fahrenheit) since 1900.

Scientists have long debated whether this anomaly is driven by heat loss from the ocean surface due to changes to winds and clouds, or whether its a signal of the weakening of a critical system of ocean currents, which transports heat. The new research concludes its the latter, and the finding points to a worrying future.

RELATED STORY | El Nio is here and scientists fear it'll be big, bad and costly

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, works like a vast ocean conveyor belt, pulling warm water from the tropics to the Northern Hemisphere, where it cools, sinks and flows back south.

A raft of research suggests this system is weakening as human-driven global warming melts ice and causes a surge of freshwater into the ocean, disrupting the AMOCs delicate balance of heat and salinity. Some scientists warn the AMOC is heading toward a tipping point, potentially as early at this century, which would mean a future collapse is locked in.

An AMOC shutdown would be a global catastrophe, causing accelerated sea level rise on the US East Coast, plunging Europe into a winter deep freeze and shifting the monsoon in Africa, driving prolonged droughts.

The cold blob has been interpreted by some as a fingerprint of AMOC change, because its the region to which the AMOC brings much of its heat.

To better unravel whats happening in this part of the Atlantic, the study scientists combined real-world ocean heat data from instruments and satellites with climate models.

They found that cooling in the cold blob was not just happening on the surface but also deep in the ocean, where atmospheric conditions like winds and clouds have a much weaker influence.

RELATED STORY | Earths climate is now 'out of balance,' new global report warns

All signs point to the influence of the AMOC, the study found. It is changing ocean heat transport which is driving the cooling of the cold blob, said Stefan Rahmstorf, a study author and a physics and oceans professor at Potsdam University, Germany.

There is also plenty of other evidence the AMOC is weakening, independent of the cold blob, he added, with some studies suggesting its at the weakest its been in around 1,000 years.

Previous studies have demonstrated its possible to generate a cold blob through atmospheric conditions alone, said Ren van Westen, a marine and atmospheric researcher at Utrecht University, who was not involved in the research. But the fact the new study found consistent results across different datasets strengthens the robustness of the conclusions, he said.

David Thornally, a professor of ocean and climate science at University College London, also not involved in the research, said that the study bolsters evidence of a link between the cold blob and a weakening AMOC, but cautioned that the sparseness of real-world data means the available datasets are best viewed as good approximations rather than perfect representations of reality.

Uncertainties remain, he told CNN, and I dont think (this study) will be the final word on the issue.

Jonathan Baker, a senior climate scientist at the UK Met Office, agreed, telling CNN I would view this study as adding evidence for an AMOC contribution to the cold blob, rather than definitively settling the question.

Taylor Swift became the youngest woman ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday night at age 36.

"It was instinctual. No one taught me how to do it," she said of songwriting through a raspy voice she attributed to screaming along to the night's performances and Wednesday night's historic NBA game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.

She told the room about her family uprooting their lives to move her from Pennsylvania to Nashville, Tennessee, as a tween.

"I will never be able to express my gratitude," the singer-songwriter said while holding back tears crediting their sacrifice for her career.

She offered young songwriters advice: "You really have to prioritize what you love, down to your very core. Because you'll need that."

RELATED STORY | Taylor Swift files trademark applications to protect her voice and image from AI

Steven Spielberg introduced Swift with a surprise speech about the power of songwriting. "There is something undeniable about how songs imprint on our souls," he said, before changing his focus to Swift. "Somehow Taylor knows us all too well."

Swift started her speech by acknowledging Spielberg. "Because of examples like Steven's, I trusted my imagination," she said.

The Gen Z singer Sombr launched Swift's segment by performing "Cardigan" and "Dear John" in front of her.

Swift has brought new eyes to this year's ceremony and undeniably shaped contemporary pop music trends with her songwriting. Swift is the youngest woman inducted, but Stevie Wonder, who started his recording career at 13, was the youngest ever inducted, it was announced on stage.

It was a notable moment in an evening full of them, where Swift, Kiss' Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Alanis Morissette, Kenny Loggins and more were honored.

A night of celebrating songwriters

Tamar Braxton opened the gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City with a spirited tribute to a new inductee the game-changing R&B songwriter, producer and rapper Christopher "Tricky" Stewart with one of the biggest songs he's known for: Beyonc's "Single Ladies."

He's also responsible for singer-songwriter Rihanna's "Umbrella," Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" and Justin Bieber's "Baby."

Dallas Austin, a songwriter and producer known for work with Boyz ll Men and Madonna, introduced Stewart. "Think about that catalog," he said, listing off those zeitgeist-shifting records. "Those are cultural moments."

Stewart thanked God, his family, artists he's worked with and mentors giving a special shout out to Grammy award-winning music producer Antonio "L.A." Reid and the iconic singer-songwriter Babyface. "I wanted to be like L.A. and Baby," he reflected.

Kiss founders Simmons and Stanley two and a half years after the band's farewell were also recognized for their glam rock classics "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "I Love It Loud." The Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan covered the former, a fittingly fiery introduction for the band. He was joined by Goo Goo Dolls' frontman John Rzeznik for the latter.

Simmons wasn't present; Stanley said that he had a family emergency.

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"Songs are the messenger," he said the foundation of "every show."

Soft rock legend Kenny Loggins ("Footloose," "Danny's Song") and the alt-rock icon Morissette were also inducted.

For the latter, Brandi Carlile performed "Uninvited" alongside SistaStrings, before introducing Morissette.

"Writing to me is not a hobby," Morissette said, it's critical. "It's write or die." Then she performed "Mary Jane" and "You Oughta Know" from her 1995 album "Jagged Little Pill."

For Loggins, Gavin DeGraw performed "Danny's Song," before Loggins told the story behind the tune in his acceptance speech.

Acknowledging writers and their hits

Taylor Dayne and Madison Cunningham performed Tina Turner classics written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle in honor of their induction; John Fogerty was honored with the Johnny Mercer Award.

"I got my songs back!" Fogerty said, ending a nearly 30-minute speech, referencing the fact that he won the rights back to his catalog at age 80. Then he ran through a medley of his hits: "Proud Mary," "Fortunate Son," and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" among them.

The songwriter Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You") was also recognized, a segment that began with an introduction by actor Jeremy Renner and included a monster medley of his biggest songs by R&B singer Shela, kicking off with his Christmas classic six months early.

"I wanted to be The Beatles," he said of falling in love with songwriting in his speech. "Sixty years later, I got to produce Paul McCartney."

An established tradition

British singer-songwriter RAYE received the prestigious Hal David Starlight Award. She ended her speech by stating that songwriters deserve a cut of master royalties.

Last year's inductees included George Clinton, The Doobie Brothers, Ashley Gorley, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, The Beach Boys' Mike Love and Tony Macaulay.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those creating popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.

Some already in the hall include Gloria Estefan, Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond and Phil Collins.

A federal judge on Friday refused to block a scheduled UFC event at the White House.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta denied a request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that sought to halt UFC Freedom 250, an event planned for the South Lawn on Sunday.

RELATED STORY | DOJ cites 1800s White House baseball games in lawsuit trying to stop UFC event

The lawsuit argued the event would improperly commercialize public spaces, damage historic landmarks and create aesthetic harms for visitors. Plaintiffs also contended the administration should have obtained congressional approval before constructing a massive stage structure on White House grounds.

Mehta ruled the plaintiffs had not demonstrated they would suffer irreparable harm. The judge noted organizers have spent nearly a year planning the event and that UFC and affiliated organizations have invested more than $60 million in preparations.

RELATED STORY | 'Maybe we'll never, ever take it down': Trump says UFC structure on White House lawn could stay up permanently

The Justice Department had urged the court to reject the request, arguing the White House has a long history of hosting public events, from presidential Easter Egg Rolls to sporting competitions and concerts.

A White House spokesperson called the lawsuit "untimely" and "frivolous."

The White House is thankful for this correct decision and looks forward to hosting this once-in-a-lifetime celebration on the South Lawn," spokesperson Davis Ingle said.

The attorney representing the plaintiffs said that while they are disappointed with the decision, they will respect it.

This isnt a case about a sporting event, its about corruption, as a handful of people and companies stand to profit from our public monuments," Brendan Ballou said.

Sunday's event will stream on Paramount+ and feature seven fights, including an interim light heavyweight title bout and a lightweight championship fight.

A federal judge agreed on Friday to extend a court-ordered block on the Trump administration's creation and operation of a $1.8 billion settlement fund for compensating people who claim to be victims of a weaponized government.

Earlier this month, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress that the government is scrapping its plans for the fund in the face of a fierce bipartisan backlash. Government attorneys have argued that lawsuits challenging the fund are now moot, but plaintiffs' attorneys aren't satisfied by Blanche's assurances that the fund won't move forward.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump reconsiders $1.8 billion fund, AP source says, amid temporary pause

Neither was U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, who ruled that the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" will remain blocked until further notice from the court.

"The (government's) mootness argument, in my view, doesn't go anywhere," the judge said.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has not publicly and unequivocally endorsed its cancellation. He has continued to express support for the fund in remarks to reporters.

Brinkema gave the parties a week to negotiate an agreement for Blanche to submit a sworn declaration that the administration won't revive the fund.

Brinkema previously agreed to temporarily block the administration from proceeding with the fund for at least two weeks. Her May 29 order was due to expire on Friday.

Trump's Republican administration created the fund to resolve his lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.

RELATED STORY | Judge temporarily blocks payouts from Trump's $1.8B 'anti-weaponization' settlement fund

Plaintiffs who sued to block fund payouts argue that the government can't legally divert taxpayer money into what they argue is a slush fund for compensating Trump's allies.

In a separate case on Wednesday, a different judge in Washington, D.C., rejected a government watchdog's parallel request for a court order temporarily blocking the Trump administration from forging ahead with the fund. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon said he accepts Blanche's representation that the fund is now moot.

Leon had asked Justice Department attorney Andrew Block why Blanche doesn't formally rescind his May 18 order establishing the fund. Block said he didn't know. He still didn't have an answer to that question when Brinkema posed it two days later.

"It's a huge gap in the record that we don't have an answer to that question," the judge said.

In the Virginia case, attorneys from the legal advocacy group Democracy Forward asked for an order to temporarily suspend the fund's implementation and stop the Trump administration from disbursing any payouts from it.

The plaintiffs include a fired prosecutor and a college professor acquitted of assaulting federal agents at a protest.

Even before the administration said it was dropping the fund, the Justice Department did not form the five-member commission that would decide on payout criteria, so no money was paid out nor claims accepted.

Many of the Republican president's allies are opposed to compensating rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In May, however, Blanche wouldn't rule out the possibility that Capitol rioters who engaged could be eligible to apply for payments from the fund.

Trump issued mass pardons to Capitol rioters on his first day back in the White House last year. More than 1,500 people were charged in the Jan. 6 attack before Trump erased every case with his sweeping act of clemency.

Brinkema was nominated to the bench by President Bill Clinton, a Democrat.

Across the country, data centers are rapidly being built to fuel AI and digital communications.

Their environmental impact and placement in both rural and densely populated locations, however, has sparked intense debate.

At a packed Nashville Metro Planning Commission meeting Thursday night, more than 100 people spoke out against these centers being placed in their community, as city leaders considered restrictions on where and how such facilities can be built.

While the commission reviewed legislation that would affect all data centers, much of the attention was driven by a recent proposal to build a facility near the Nashville Zoo.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Nashville Zoo warns proposed data center next door could put its 3,000 animals at risk

"The noise, the scale, the vibration, the light, the pollution," said Jon David Bumpus with TennGreen Land Conservancy. "Everything that it would do to that community and that institution we've already seen what happens."

The proposed legislation, now deferred until June 25, will determine where data centers are allowed to be built and what restrictions will keep them in check.

Meanwhile, the company looking to build the facility, DC Blox, said it has already secured the land, filed permits, and received approval. A spokesperson said the company wants to work with neighbors and the zoo to address their concerns, adding that it has designs in place to mitigate noise pollution, minimize water intake, and avoid extra costs to the community.

RELATED STORY | Data centers spark nationwide debate over utility costs and community impact

"It's not really a matter of 'do we want technology or not,' it's about responsible development," said Bumpus. "Weve got to be proactive. We have to handle this now."

"People around the city care we care for generations. This is impacting me now, but down the road, what issues could it cause?" asked resident Sophia Morehouse.

DC Blox told the commission it plans to:

DC Blox currently has 23 data center buildings in the United States, and its proposed facility in Nashville would largely support network and data communications.

A man who opened fire in the West Texas city of Midland in an attack Friday morning that left one person dead and 10 injured had shot at police just days earlier during a chase, authorities said.

The suspect, 45-year-old Victor Mata Villarreal, already was being sought by authorities when he began firing at officers and bystanders in Midland on Friday before barricading himself in an abandoned veterinary clinic, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Police arrived in the area in response to reports of an active shooter when Mata Villarreal started firing at officers, said Midland Police Chief Greg Snow. Several officers were pinned down behind their patrol cars and had to be rescued by an armored vehicle, Snow said.

Mata Villarreal was found dead inside the building just a few hours after the shooting began, police said. They did not say how he died.

Police then got anyone stranded out of the area. We moved to deny more targets for this active shooter, Snow said.

Midland Mayor Lori Blong said authorities used robot and drone footage to confirm the shooter was dead.

Mata Villarreal, of nearby Odessa, was wanted for attempted capital murder of a peace officer after firing multiple times at a Midland police officer on Wednesday, the states public safety agency said.

The officer, who wasn't injured, fired back after initially trying to pull over Mata Villarreal, who drove away, investigators said. His vehicle was found empty a short distance away, they said.

Mata Villarreal was previously convicted on a 2009 charge of unlawfully carrying a firearm in San Angelo, according to Texas criminal history records. Court records also show Mata Villarreal was arrested a handful of other times.

He was charged in 2003 and 2004 for unlawfully carrying a weapon and unlawful possession of a prohibited weapon, but both cases appear to have been dismissed as part of a plea.

As police responded to Friday's shooting, dozens of squad cars and law enforcement vehicles descended along whats normally a busy roadway lined with hotels and auto businesses a few miles west of Midlands downtown.

Andrea Mendias said she heard what sounded like a small explosion at the closed veterinary clinic next to the body shop where she works and saw a number of heavily armed police officers rush into the parking lot. Some appeared to go inside the building.

Mendias said she earlier heard what sounded like at least 40 gunshots.

Video from Mendias showed officers pouring out of the back of an armored police vehicle and police deploying robots into the area.

Midland Memorial Hospital said four people underwent surgery and that five had been treated and released.

The city with about 140,000 residents sits in the heart of the states oil and gas region and was near the site of a deadly shooting rampage in 2019.

In that shooting, a gunman who had been fired from his oil services job killed seven people and wounded two dozen others while firing at random as he drove around the Odessa and Midland areas. The two cities are more than 300 miles (482 kilometers) west of Dallas.

The Trump administration is condemning markings found on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., that officials say could be interpreted as threatening toward President Donald Trump.

Photos circulating online appear to show a patch of grass marked with the numbers "86 47."

"The deranged vandalism on our National Mall will not be tolerated," an Interior Department spokesperson said in a statement. "Any threat against the President is taken very seriously by the Department, and our U.S. Park Police will investigate this incident and hold those responsible accountable."

RELATED STORY | Former FBI Director James Comey charged for making threats against Trump

White House spokesman Davis Ingle also criticized the markings.

Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible," Ingle said. "They should also immediately seek psychiatric help to treat their severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has warped their brains and made them sick in the head.

The incident comes months after former FBI Director James Comey was indicted over a social media post showing seashells arranged to form the numbers "86 47." Prosecutors alleged the post constituted a threat against Trump.

Comey said at the time that he believed the numbers were a political message and were not a call for violence. He said he deleted the post after learning some people interpreted it as a threat.

From 2007 through 2024, the U.S. birth rate steadily declined after nearly three decades of relative stability.

While some have speculated that the decline stems from socioeconomic factors such as the cost of health care, child care or housing researchers suggest there may be another culprit: the iPhone.

RELATED STORY | US birth rate falls to lowest level on record in 2025

Since 2007, the U.S. fertility rate broadly defined as the number of children women ages 18 to 45 have in a given year has dropped 22%.

A paper released this week by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that the advent of the iPhone and other smartphones reduced relationship formation and partnered intimacy. The study noted that smartphones were not the sole cause of declining fertility, but they could account for nearly half of the drop.

Researchers focused on the period from 2008 through 2011, when many Americans began shifting from flip phones to smartphones.

The paper argues that more than simply enabling broader smartphone use, these devices made it easier for Americans to access pornographic material, reducing the need for a sexual partner. Researchers also cited increased stress and reduced social contact outside of family as other factors emerging from the smartphone era.

The authors said financial incentives for having children such as those proposed by the Trump administration would have only modest effects on boosting birth rates, and that such incentives would come at a steep cost.

RELATED STORY | Birth rates remain stagnant as US encounters aging population issues

We do not claim that the iPhone is the sole cause of the post-2007 decline, nor that no policy lever can move the trajectory, the paper says. But over the 20082011 window that our design identifies, our estimates imply that the introduction of the modern smartphone played a sizable role in the decline in U.S. births.

The mechanism evidence suggests this operates through the formation of relationships and the time and inclination for partnered intimacy, not the cost of raising children. If so, the policy instruments to which governments have committed the largest sums cash transfers, tax credits, subsidized childcare, extended parental leave do not, on their own, address the behavioral shift our estimates suggest is at work.

Independents have grown increasingly unhappy with President Donald Trump during his second term, a new AP-NORC polling analysis finds, particularly those without a college degree.

The analysis from researchers at The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that while about half of independents without a college education had a positive view of Trump around the 2024 election, his approval with that group fell to about one-quarter this spring. That shift has erased the large education gap that existed among independents in the months before Trump took office for his second term, with independents now holding similarly negative views of the president regardless of their level of education.

RELATED STORY | Poll: GOP support for Trumps economy drops as Iran war drives prices higher

The analysis was conducted by aggregating nearly two dozen AP-NORC polls conducted between July 2024 and April 2026, allowing for a deeper look at how support for Trump changed during several distinct periods, including the last six months of 2024, the first 100 days of Trump's presidency, the summer of 2025 when the Big Beautiful Bill passed, last fall's government shutdown and the beginning of the Iran war.

The compiled polling shows a steady decline among independents throughout Trumps second term. His standing has also dropped among several small but important groups that moved toward him in the 2024 presidential election, including Black and Hispanic independents.

More Americans than ever consider themselves independents, and they are among the groups that shifted toward Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Any erosion in that support could signal trouble for Trump and Republicans headed into the midterm elections, which are often seen as reflection of how voters feel about their governing party.

Tafari Torres, a senior research associate at NORC who co-authored the analysis, noted that while Democrats' and Republicans' views of Trump have held largely steady in his second term, independents' opinions are still moving. Independents are, broadly, the people who are reacting to the events and dropping in their support, he said.

Dramatic declines during Trump's first 100 days

Trump's return to the White House was fueled, in part, by independent voters who saw him as the stronger candidate on key issues like the economy. The new analysis, which looks at Trump's favorability and presidential approval ratings, shows that once he took the helm, their views soured quickly.

Independents without a college degree had a much more positive view of Trump than college-educated independents did during and just after the 2024 election, but that shifted in the first few months of his term. Positive views of Trump among independents without a college degree fell from 48% in the months before he returned to office to 31% in polling conducted during Trumps first 100 days back in office. Those warm views declined even further, to about one-quarter, during the government shutdown and the early months of 2026.

Only about 3 in 10 college-educated independents, by contrast, had a positive view of Trump before he returned to office, making their drop to about one-quarter much less dramatic.

The decline among no-college independents was steeper and it was greater than the slight decline in college independents," said Sean Collins, a research associate at NORC who co-authored the analysis. "That was surprising, especially given, when you think of Trump's coalitions, those without college degrees is usually one of the ones that that stands out.

Hispanic, younger independents grow disenchanted

Americans without a college degree have long been a key part of Trump's coalition. But Trump also won in 2024 by making gains among groups that tend to support Democrats, including Hispanic adults.

About 4 in 10 independent voters 42% voted for Trump in 2024, up from 37% in the 2020 presidential election. Independent voters without a college degree were a little more likely to back Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris in the last election, according to AP VoteCast, and Hispanic independents were about evenly split between the two.

The picture looks much bleaker for the president now.

Nearly half of Hispanic independents 46% saw Trump favorably in the polling conducted around the presidential election. His approval among these adults dropped quickly in his second term, falling as low as 15% during last fall's government shutdown before landing around one-quarter in the spring.

RELATED STORY | Trump's primary wins reshape the Republican Party ahead of the November 2026 general election

Younger independents also became less supportive of the president, while independents age 60 and older remained mostly stable. Other AP-NORC polling has pointed to Trump losing ground among younger Republicans over inflation concerns and Hispanic Americans growing increasingly discontented.

The gains Trump appeared to make during the election, I dont know if theyre sticking around. Hes experienced some significant shifts among those people, Torres said. From our research, they dont appear to be permanent gains.

The economy is frustrating many independents

Polling suggests that the economy is at the root of many Americans' frustrations with Trump, including independents.

About half of independents who supported Trump in 2024 said inflation was the single most important factor for their vote, AP VoteCast found, and most expressed high levels of concern about the cost of food and gas.

More than a year into Trump's second term, inflation remains high, fueled by gas prices that remain elevated as the Iran war continues. An AP-NORC poll conducted in April found that about 3 in 10 independents were extremely or very concerned about being able to afford groceries in the last few months, and a similar share were worried about being able to afford gas.

The analysis found that Americans' views of the U.S. economy tend to align with their view of the president. Those with negative views of the country's economy tended to have negative views of Trump, and about 8 in 10 independents described the U.S. economy this spring as poor.

The latest AP-NORC polling from May found that only about 3 in 10 independents approve of how Trump is handling the economy, in line with the roughly 3 in 10 who said that at the beginning of his second term. The April poll found only about 1 in 10 independents 12% approved of how Trump was handling the cost of living.

This AP-NORC analysis of 4,836 independents was conducted over 21 AP-NORC surveys, blocked into five time periods before and during President Donald Trump's second term. Independents are classified as panelists who do not select that they identify with or lean toward either the Democratic or Republican Party.

Facebook and Instagram appeared to be slowly coming back online Friday after users reported widespread outages.

According to Downdetector, a website that tracks online service disruptions, more than 100,000 outage reports were submitted about Facebook at the peak of the disruption. Thousands more were reported about Instagram.

Users reported problems logging in, loading feeds, publishing posts and accessing the apps and websites.

Downdetector reports began declining about an hour after the outage was first reported, suggesting service was gradually being restored.

A Meta spokesperson said the company was aware that some users were experiencing issues with Facebook and Instagram and was working to resolve them.

A UFC fight is set to take place on the White House lawn this Sunday, with lighting tests already visible across the Washington, D.C., night sky.

A massive temporary structure referred to as "the claw" is already in place on the grounds. The structure, which came from Belgium, is taller than the White House itself and has drawn comparisons to imagery from the movie Contact. Lighting tests were conducted this week, with lights visible well above Washington, D.C., throughout the night sky.

The temporary stage cost $60 million to construct. The Trump administration has told some outlets that no taxpayer funding was used.

Cageside tickets are reportedly being sold for $1 million each.

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Democrats have raised concerns about the event, arguing that President Donald Trump may be selling access to specific organizations or advertisers. Several advertiser names appear on the octagon that has been set up on the grounds.

"Our 250th celebration should be about all of us. It's about the shared experience that we have as part of this wonderful country and it's not a personal triumph for an individual, Sen. Peter Welch said.

Sunday also marks Trump's 80th birthday.

Republicans who have been contacted see no issue with the event.

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Pope Leo XIV warned human smugglers on Friday that they will face God's wrath for exploiting the desperation of migrants, demanding they stop and repent during his final day in this epicenter of the African migration route to Europe.

For the second day in a row in the Canary Islands, the American pope insisted on the inherent dignity and rights of migrants and demanded they be welcomed and integrated into society, in some of his strongest comments on the politically divisive issue.

Break those chains and free those you hold in bondage, Leo said in a message to human traffickers that he delivered during a meeting with humanitarian aid organizations that help migrants on the island of Tenerife.

Leo wrapped up his weeklong trip to Spain in the Spanish archipelago, which is closer to Africa than the Iberian Peninsula and is a key point of entry for migrants who make the perilous Atlantic crossing from West Africa.

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He is fulfilling a wish of Pope Francis to visit the islands to commemorate the thousands of lives lost at sea. He is also drawing attention to the Catholic Churchs biblically-mandated mantra to welcome the stranger, amid anti-migrant sentiment in Europe and the Trump administration's mass deportation program in his native United States.

During the encounter with aid groups in Tenerife, Leo implored receiving communities to integrate people fleeing war, poverty and climate change and spare them from the silent shipwreck of abandonment when they are left on the streets with nothing after surviving perilous crossings.

A human conscience, and even more so a Christian conscience, cannot remain indifferent in the face of these graveyards of the sea, to the victims of shipwrecks and the lack of aid, Leo said. Every life lost on these routes is a failure for the human family.

A deadly passage and a warning to traffickers

The Canary Islands have long been a stepping stone for migrants trying to reach Europe from West Africa and Morocco.

While people smugglers and human traffickers operate the Atlantic route, there are also many self-organized boats of migrants, including many former fishermen from Senegal who were left without income due to overfishing in recent years.

Migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands peaked in 2024 at nearly 47,000. They have fallen dramatically, with over 3,000 people landing there in the first five months of 2026.

Because of the vastness of the ocean and scarcity of rescue ships or monitoring, some experts consider the Atlantic route more deadly than the more well-known central Mediterranean smuggling route from Libya and Tunisia to Italy. Since 2020, several West African boats have been found in the Caribbean and Latin America with only dead bodies on board after drifting across the Atlantic, pushed by trade winds and currents.

Leo directed his remarks Friday to the criminal organizations and individual smugglers who organize these death routes to Europe. Such smugglers charge thousands of euros a person and often force their passengers into prostitution or other forms of black market labor by withholding their documents to pay off the debt.

Stop. Repent, Leo said in his message to traffickers, emphasizing each word in Spanish and drawing a sustained applause from the crowd. For every life lost, every family deceived, every body subjugated, every woman threatened, every worker exploited, you will have to appear before divine justice.

Repent while there is still time, for Gods mercy can reach even the most hardened sinner, but it enters only through the narrow gate of truth, justice and conversion, he said.

With his two-day visit to the Canary Islands, Leo has confirmed himself as the heir of Francis migration preaching, which was a priority of Francis' 12-year pontificate and often caused friction with U.S. and European powers.

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Historys first U.S.-born pope has not only echoed Francis message and gestures, he has expanded and amplified them during a deeply symbolic visit. Upon arrival on Thursday, Leo threw a bouquet of flowers into the sea from a port nicknamed the Dock of Shame in 2020, when migrants were forced to live in squalor during a spike in their arrivals.

Leos gesture mimicked the one Francis made in 2013 when he visited Lampedusa, Sicily, another flashpoint in Europes migration drama, and denounced the globalization of indifference that the world showed asylum seekers.

But in a sign Leo is making the papacy his own, the 70-year-old pope has added a new gesture to his repertoire: After a onetime migrant offered his testimony during Leo's encounter Friday, the pope did the viral 6-7 hand gesture that's popular with young people as he joked alongside him. That earned the pope cheers and applause from the crowd.

Leo meets with migrants at reception center

In the Canary Islands and in remarks on the Spanish mainland, Leo reaffirmed the right of migrants to flee but also to stay home, demanding their countries of origin provide the necessary economic and security conditions. He shamed European countries that turn their back on migrants' plights, and said Christian cannot remain indifferent.

On Friday, he noted that for the Catholic Church, the process of integrating migrants into a community can become a chance at spreading the faith, without imposing it and in respect of the migrants own beliefs.

Leo opened the final day of his trip by visiting the Las Races migrant camp. Leo drew a round of applause when he went off-script to tell migrants that he would speak in French and English, the language spoken by many of the people living in the camp.

One woman told him of the desperation that drove her to leave her homeland and family, the trauma of the crossings, and her gratitude at finding safety and a new life.

We aren't asking for privileges. We aren't asking for compassion. We just want respect, humanity and the chance to live with dignity, said the woman, identified as Bousso Diouf.

Next month, on July 4, the American pope will spend U.S. Independence Day on the island of Lampedusa, where Francis in 2013 first denounced the globalization of indifference the world shows migrants.

Good morning, Central Coast. Here are some stories we are following this Friday:

A group of San Luis Obispo residents is fighting to save a large oak tree slated for removal as part of plans for the new SLO REP theater project. Supporters say the tree is a valuable part of the community and are urging city leaders to consider alternatives that would preserve it. The debate comes as the theater project moves forward through the approval process.

Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley held an emergency meeting this week following the crash that killed five young people and critically injured another. Community leaders, nonprofits, law enforcement and residents gathered to discuss how to support grieving families and explore ways to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The meeting comes as investigators continue looking into whether speed or alcohol played a role in the June 7 crash.

Travelers riding the Pacific Surfliner this summer will need to reserve a specific train before boarding as officials prepare for increased demand tied to World Cup events in Southern California. The temporary reservation requirement began June 11 and will remain in place through July 19 to help guarantee seating and manage crowds. Rail officials say the policy is intended to make travel smoother as thousands of soccer fans head to Los Angeles and surrounding areas.

Authorities and residents searched tornado-ravaged areas and assessed damage Friday after a strong line of storms barreled through communities south of Chicago, leaving around 380,000 customers without power in Illinois and Indiana and disrupting air travel in the region.

There were no immediate reports of deaths or life-threatening injuries from Thursday's storms.

Officials in Merrillville, Indiana, about 33 miles southeast of Chicago, reported extensive damage. Homes and other buildings were torn apart, downed trees and power lines blocked streets and part of a high school's roof was ripped off.

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Multiple agencies from the region helped local first responders search and assessed damaged areas, town officials said on social media. Crews worked into the night clearing roads.

At least two other tornadoes battered communities in and around Streator, Illinois, and Hebron, Indiana, the National Weather Service reported. Photos and video posted on social media showed damage in those areas similar to that in Merrillville. The weather service said it will be surveying the damage over the next several days to determine how many tornadoes touched down in the region.

In Streator, a manufacturing and farm city about 100 miles southwest of Chicago, emergency crews were also inspecting the damage. A reunification center for displaced residents was set up in its city hall and the Red Cross opened a shelter.

Streator Mayor Tara Bedei said there were no reported deaths. We are incredibly grateful for the safety of our residents and the quick action of emergency personnel, she said in a statement.

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First responders also worked through the night in Hebron, about 50 miles southeast of Chicago, officials said in a Facebook post.

Jennifer Hall was in her garage in Elkhart, Indiana, as the winds and rain picked up Thursday evening. Suddenly, she said, she heard a loud crash and discovered a tree limb had gone through the roof of her rental home. She used buckets to catch the rain coming in from the hole.

Im just nervous because its just been one thing after another, said Hall, explaining she just had surgery and her husband is out of town.

About 235,000 homes and businesses were without power in Illinois, including 144,000 in Cook County, home to Chicago, according to poweroutage.us. Another 144,000 customers were in the dark in Indiana.

The storms delayed or halted flights at airports in some cities, including Chicago, Philadelphia and New York on Thursday. Parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic also strained under high heat and humidity. On Friday morning, 15 flights were canceled and about two dozen delayed at Chicagos OHare International and Midway International airports, a small percentage of total flights, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website.

The tornadoes came after severe storms swept through the Midwest on Wednesday, knocking out power, damaging buildings and canceling flights.

In Des Moines, Iowa, a 54-year-old man died at a homeless encampment in a park Wednesday after being hit by a tree that broke apart and fell during strong storms, police said in a statement. There were no immediate reports of other deaths or injuries from those storms.

Elon Musk became the worlds first trillionaire after shares of his rocket company SpaceX soared in Wall Street's biggest initial public offering of stock.

Shares in SpaceX jumped more than 19% after opening for trading at noon Friday, a sign that investors are looking past the billions the company is losing and instead betting that its massive investments in satellites, orbital data centers and artificial intelligence will pay off in the future.

SpaceX opened at $150 a share, then rose to around $168, before finishing the day just above $161. That price gave the company a market value of $2.1 trillion, making it the sixth largest public U.S. company larger even than its founder and CEO's other big business, the electric vehicle maker Tesla.

Between his holdings in SpaceX and Tesla, where he is also CEO, Musk is now worth an estimated $1.1 trillion, according to Forbes.

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Why SpaceX is going public now

Musk says SpaceX, founded in 2002, is going public now because it needs money to fund its ambitions of putting satellites and data centers in space and eventually establishing a colony of people on Mars.

He marked the opening of trading on Nasdaq by joining a ceremonial bell ringing from Starbase, the South Texas home of SpaceX.

He reiterated his lofty goals to make life multiplanetary.

Not just a few astronauts, I mean literally you, Musk said. Whoever you are watching this, SpaceX wants to be able to take you to the moon, take you to Mars and ultimately beyond.

Known for his technological breakthroughs, as well as wild claims and missed deadlines, Musk was able to whip up enthusiasm for the IPO. The typical company going public has seen a 7% jump in its first day of trading, from 1980 through 2025, according to Jay Ritter, a professor at the University of Floridas Warrington College of Business.

Institutional and retail investors alike jumped at the opportunity to buy a piece of the company at $135 per share before trading began. The $75 billion in proceeds SpaceX raised easily topped the previous record IPO from oil giant Saudi Aramco in 2019.

In addition to establishing a one-million person Martian colony, the company has promised to save humanity by establishing other outposts in space, launch data centers the size of football fields into orbit and outdo rivals Anthropic and OpenAI in the race to make money from artificial intelligence.

To reach its goals, SpaceX needs billions more than it currently takes in from its rocket and satellite business. Between the start of 2025 and March 31, 2026, the company, formally known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp., lost $8.7 billion.

Pros and cons for investors

Betting on SpaceX is in many ways a bet on Musk himself. In an unusual arrangement that has drawn criticism from shareholder watchdogs, he holds 82% interest in a special B class of shares, giving him sweeping power to control the company even though his ownership stake is about half that.

Theres a lot of hype, but I see the faith that investors have in Musk, said Yordys Coro, an IT support contractor in Miami as he watched his $14,000 investment in SpaceX shoot up to $17,000 in just a few hours. Im going to hold on.

Wall Street bankers that helped take SpaceX public are also enthusiastic about the company and the big fees they will earn but not everyone thinks the stock price is justified.

Analysts at research firm Morningstar, which doesn't earn any investment banking fees, wrote that the IPO is significantly overvalued." Citing SpaceX's unproven technology and massive capital needs, they estimated the company is only worth $780 billion less than half its IPO value.

SpaceX itself has hinted at the challenges, conceding in regulatory documents that some of its business plans rest on unproven technologies. It also indicated that another part of the company, its artificial intelligence business called xAI, has no clear path to profitability and is burning cash to catch up with rivals.

On a livestreamed conference Thursday with the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, one of the investment banks making big money off the IPO, Musk offered few details.

He entertained the crowd with talk of moon hotels, a future Martian colony and a network of Earth-orbiting data centers powered by the sun. But when asked about plans for his flagship chatbot offering Grok, he pivoted to talking about his satellites.

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How Elon made his fortune

Still, Musk has pulled off the seemingly impossible before.

The now-trillionaire on paper at least made his initial fortune by creating two companies, Zip2 and PayPal, that netted him about $200 million at sale. He used that money to start SpaceX and invest in Tesla, and defied the odds by creating a space company that figured out how to reuse rockets and a car company that made electric vehicles cool.

Musk has realized vast sums of wealth for himself, much of it in stock he has yet to cash in or grants for shares hell only receive if Tesla or SpaceX hit ambitious performance targets.

His recent pay package from Tesla was so large it even drew criticism from the Vatican. At Tesla, hes worried shareholders by fighting with regulators or dividing his attention between multiple companies and last year by taking a role in the Trump administration.

But a rising stock price has cured all ills: Since it went public in 2010, Tesla has returned 20,000% for shareholders, or more than $1.2 trillion in investor wealth.

SpaceX is the first of three megacap companies expected to go public this year, with Anthropic and OpenAI to follow. Nasdaq even revised its rules to allow SpaceX to gain entry into funds tied to its indexes in 15 days, which means investors will end up buying the rocket maker's shares much earlier.

Not all investors are thrilled about SpaceX potentially showing up in their holdings of index funds.

Officials from pension funds for firefighters, teachers and other workers in California and New York sent a letter to SpaceX last month decrying some of the provisions in its IPO, including mandatory arbitration of shareholder claims and how much power Musk will hold over the company.