USA TODAY - 03 June 2024

USA TODAY THE NATION'S NEWS | $3 | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 E2 QIJFAF-01005z(M)N ©COPYRIGHT 2024 USA TODAY, A division of Gannett Co., Inc. HOME DELIVERY 1-800-872-0001, USATODAYSERVICE.COM Backlash against DEI has firms rethinking efforts A look at where corporate America stands four years after George Floyd’s death. In Money NBA Finals: Doncic, Irving worthy backcourt combo Do Mavericks pair have what it takes to beat Celtics’ Tatum and Brown? In Sports Renner’s return to acting: ‘A blessing’ “Mayor of Kingstown” actor describes recovery from near-death accident in 2023 and how he was able to pull off filming again. In Life SANTIAGO FELIPE/GETTY IMAGES FOR PARAMOUNT+ An aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Sunday that Israel had accepted a framework deal for winding down the Gaza war now being advanced by President Joe Biden, though he described it as flawed and in need of much more work. In an interview with Britain’s Sunday Times, Ophir Falk, chief foreign policy adviser to Netanyahu, said Biden’s proposal was “a deal we agreed to – it’s not a good deal but we dearly want the hostages released, all of them.” “There are a lot of details to be worked out,” he said, adding that Israeli conditions, including “the release of the hostages and the destruction of Hamas as a genocidal terrorist organisation,” have not changed. Biden, whose initial lockstep support for Israel’s offensive has given way to open censure of the operation’s high civilian death toll, on Friday aired what he described as a three-phase plan submitted by the Netanyahu government to end the war. The first phase entails a truce and the return of some hostages held by Hamas, after which the sides would negotiate on an open-ended cessation of hostilities for a second phase in which remaining captives would go free, Biden said. That sequencing appears to imply that Hamas would continue to play a role in incremental arrangements mediated by Egypt and Qatar – a potential clash with Israel’s determination to resume the campaign to eliminate the Iranian-backed Islamist group. Biden has hailed several cease-fire proposals over the past several months, each with similar frameworks to the one he outlined on Friday, all of which collapsed. In February he said Israel had agreed to halt fighting by Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that began on March 10. No such truce materialized. The primary sticking point has been Israel’s insistence that it would discuss only temporary pauses to fighting until Hamas is destroyed. Hamas, which shows no sign of stepping aside, says it will free hostages only under a path to a permanent end to the war. In his speech, Biden said his latest proposal “creates a better ‘day after’ in Netanyahu aide: Israel accepts Gaza plan Deal pushed by Biden still flawed, adviser says Dan Williams REUTERS Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government sees many details in President Joe Biden’s plan that still need to be “worked out,” the chief foreign policy adviser says. LEO CORREA/POOL VIA GETTY IMAGES See GAZA PLAN, Page 2A There’s an air of defiance among those organizing or planning to attend Pride events around the country this year, despite underlying fears that occasionally prompt chills eight years after the mass shooting that killed 49 people at Pulse, an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Organizers of Colorado’s Pikes Peak Pride Festival are making plans to mark the event’s 34th anniversary in Colorado Springs, where a gunman killed five and injured 25 at LGBTQ+ nightclub Club Q in November 2022. “The importance of Pride and celebrating our identity is more important than any fear,” said Pikes Peak Pride board member Justin Burns. While organizers have hired a private security force and are coordinating with law enforcement and other groups to avoid potential disruptions, Burns said there’s only so much those forces can do. “We all have to have each other’s backs,” he said. At a time of continuing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and a spate of legislative measures targeting the trans community, LGBTQ+ groups and their advocates say it’s more important than ever to maintain a proud sense of identity while remaining vigilant in the face of unknown threats. “The attitude continues to be that we will not let bigots drive us in to the shadows,” said Dara Adkison, executive director of TransOhio in Columbus. “We support each other visibly and proudly, this month and every other.” Last month, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a public service announcement to heighten awareness of the potential targeting of LGBTQIA+ events, such as Pride, by foreign terrorist organizations or their supporters. Participants carry a giant flag at a Pride in the Sky event in Highland, N.Y., on May 17. Last month, the federal government warned of the potential targeting of LGBTQ+ events by foreign terrorist organizations. PATRICK OEHLER/USA TODAY NETWORK Pride organizers prioritize security LGBTQ+ allies stay vigilant amid safety concerns at 2024 events Marc Ramirez USA TODAY “People are feeling like they can’t gather safely. Unless people can feel safe showing up as their whole selves, they don’t truly have freedom or equality.” Maureen O’Leary Interfaith Alliance See PRIDE, Page 4A A single word uttered 34 times in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday afternoon changed American history. “Guilty.” That was the outcome delivered from a 12-person New York jury that found former President Donald Trump culpable on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to commit or conceal another crime. The criminal case centered around allegations that he attempted to cover up a $130,000 hush-money payment to an adult film actress so that it wouldn’t hurt his prospects in the 2016 presidential election. Trump is now the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime. He’s also the first person convicted of a felony who is on track to become a major party presidential nominee. Experts told USA TODAY the event is a triumph for the rule of law − for now − regardless of whether it affects the outcome of the next election. It’s hardly the first time Trump has made history. He was the first president without government or military experience, the first president to refuse to commit to a peaceful transfer of power and the first president impeached Historians say Trump’s conviction has landmark impact on US history Karissa Waddick USA TODAY Former President Donald Trump looks on outside Trump Tower in New York City on Thursday after he was found guilty of all 34 counts in his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016. ANDREW KELLY/REUTERS More coverage h Former president faces criminal charges in three other cases. 2A h Can Trump pardon himself if he’s elected president? 3A h USA TODAY columnists chime in. 7A See HISTORY, Page 3A

2A ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ USA TODAY NEWS Volume 42, No. 183 Customer service To view important information related to your subscription, visit aboutyoursubscription.usatoday.com. You can also manage your subscription at account.usatoday.com. Contact USA TODAY for questions or to report issues call 1-800-872-0001. Operating hours are: Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. EST Available subscriptions Subscribe and save today by visiting subscribe. usatoday.com. 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Postal information USA TODAY, ISSN 0734-7456, is published daily except for Saturday, Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (Observed), Christmas (Observed) and New Years Day (Observed), by Gannett Media Corp, 1575 Eye Street, NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC, 20005. Periodicals Postage at Washington, DC and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2); NON-POSTAL ONE AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Please send address corrections to USA Today, Customer Service, PO Box 1387, Fort Smith, AR 72902. Gaza without Hamas in power.” He did not elaborate on how this would be achieved and acknowledged that “there are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two.” Falk repeated Netanyahu’s position that “there will not be a permanent ceasefire until all our objectives are met.” Netanyahu is under pressure to keep his coalition government intact. Two far-right partners have threatened to bolt in protest at any deal they deem to spare Hamas. A centrist partner, exGen. Benny Gantz, wants the deal considered. Hamas has provisionally welcomed the Biden initiative. “Biden’s speech included positive ideas, but we want this to materialize within the framework of a comprehensive agreement that meets our demands,” senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Jazeera on Saturday. Hamas wants a guaranteed end to the Gaza offensive, withdrawal of all invading forces, free movement for Palestinians and reconstruction aid. Israeli officials have rejected that as an effective return to the situation in place before Oct. 7, when Hamas, committed to Israel’s destruction, ruled Gaza. Its fighters precipitated the war by storming across the border fence into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. In the ensuing Israeli assault that has laid waste to much of the impoverished and besieged coastal enclave, more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed, Gaza medical officials say. Israel says 290 of its troops have died. Gaza plan Continued from Page 1A Chad Daybell was sentenced to death in Idaho on Saturday, two days after he was found guilty for the killings of his first wife and two stepchildren in a case that included “doomsday” religious beliefs. Prosecutors said they were seeking the death penalty because of the “especially heinous, atrocious or cruel” factors in the murders of Joshua “JJ” Vallow, who was 7, and Tylee Ryan, who was 16 when she was last seen, and Tammy Daybell, 49. Jurors agreed and said they found Chad Daybell demonstrated “utter disregard for human life” and would be a continued threat to society. “The court is directed that the defendant would be sentenced to death on those counts,” said Judge Steven Boyce. Daybell did not display any emotion as he listened to the court clerk read the jury’s decision, and he declined when offered the chance to speak in court. He was also sentenced to 15 years in prison for each of two counts of insurance fraud. “We are pleased with the outcome and that justice has been served for the victims in this case,” Fremont County prosecutor Lindsey Blake said after the death penalty was handed down. Kay Woodcock, JJ’s grandmother, said in a victim impact statement that JJ would have celebrated his 12th birthday on May 25. Woodcock had custody of the boy before he was adopted by Lori Vallow Daybell and her former husband. “I never got enough of him. Now I’ve had all I will for the rest of my life, and only have memories,” Woodcock said in court. “There were so many lives he touched that feel the immense pain and loss of him being gone.” The children were last seen in September 2019, and a massive search spanning multiple states drew national attention later that year. Their bodies were found on Daybell’s property in Idaho months later, and he was also charged in connection of the death of his first wife who died under “suspicious circumstances” in October 2019. The children’s mother, Vallow Daybell, was sentenced last summer to life in prison without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and conspiracy in both children’s deaths, conspiracy to commit the murder of Tammy Daybell, and an additional 10 years for grand theft. The death penalty was not on the table for the children’s mother. Investigators and witnesses close to Daybell testified about his and Vallow Daybell’s beliefs the children had become “zombies” and that the couple was on a mission to rid the world of zombies as part of what they called the “Church of the Firstborn.” The couple got married just weeks after Tammy Daybell died, causing suspicion about the circumstances of her death, which was previously thought to be due to natural causes. Vallow Daybell’s previous husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona, where the family lived at the time earlier in 2019. Cox said he killed Vallow in selfdefense, and Cox was never charged before he died in December 2020, The Associated Press reported. Daybell sentenced to death in ‘doomsday’ murders Jurors found he would be a threat to society Jeanine Santucci USA TODAY Chad Daybell was sentenced to death in Boise, Idaho on Saturday, two days after he was found guilty for the killings of his first wife and two stepchildren. BRIAN LOSNESS/ REUTERS WASHINGTON − With former President Donald Trump guilty on all charges in his Manhattan hush money trial, he still faces criminal charges in three other cases, including two for allegedly trying to illegally steal the 2020 election he lost to President Joe Biden. In all, Trump faced a combined 88 criminal counts, including the 34 in Manhattan that he was convicted of Thursday by a jury. That leaves 54 counts among the three other cases, two of them in federal court that were brought by special counsel Jack Smith on behalf of the Justice Department. The other case, in Fulton County, Georgia, accuses Trump and 14 co-defendants − including some of his former lawyers, and administration aides − of trying to overturn Trump's loss in the Peach State in 2020. None of these other cases has a trial date scheduled, and legal experts largely concur it's unlikely any will begin before Election Day on Nov. 5, a likely rematch between Biden and Trump. That’s because prosecutors in each case are wrangling with Trump’s lawyers over legal motions and, in the Georgia case, an effort by Trump and co-defendants to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on grounds of alleged misconduct. Also delaying matters: The Supreme Court is weighing whether Trump is immune from criminal charges as a former president. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. But like the Manhattan case, any one of these three trials could threaten to interfere with his campaigning for president if prosecutors are able to get trial preparations underway in earnest. Here is what we know about the pending criminal trials: Mar-a-Lago classified documents case brought by Jack Smith Trump was indicted on 40 counts in connection with hoarding hundreds of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, upon leaving the White House in January 2021. In his defense, he contends that as president, he declassified the records and that they were his personal property. Smith, the Justice Department special counsel, charged Trump with the willful retention of national defense records in violation of the Espionage Act and conspiracy to obstruct justice. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon continues to hear arguments dealing with evidence in the case. But two weeks before the trial’s May 20 tentative start date, Cannon postponed it indefinitely, ruling that it “would be imprudent and inconsistent” to go forward with trial preparations without first resolving disputes about classified documents. Federal election interference case In what is arguably the most serious case, Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., on four counts of conspiring to steal the 2020 election from Biden. Smith charged Trump with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. But that trial has been hung up by Trump’s contention that he is immune to the charges because he was president when actions took place leading up to and including the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the case, and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals each have ruled Trump isn’t immune. And despite Smith’s request that the Supreme Court weigh in early on immunity so the trial could proceed, the case was the last to be argued before the court ended its current term. That means a decision may not come for at least several weeks − and Chutkan has assured Trump that he will have two months of pretrial preparation after the decision. Georgia election interference case Trump faces 10 counts in Georgia in connection with a racketeering conspiracy to try to steal the 2020 election by recruiting alternate presidential electors and pressuring state officials to recognize them as legitimate – and to find him enough votes to beat Biden in the Peach State. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act penalizes activities of people engaging in organized crime. Willis, the Fulton County DA, had proposed starting the trial Aug. 5, but months of delay followed after Trump co-defendant Michael Roman sought her disqualification, saying Willis' affair with Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade made her – and the entire DA’s office – unfit to preside over the case. Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee ruled against Roman, Trump and others who joined in the effort, but they are now appealing his decision to the Georgia Court of Appeals. No date for that appeal has been set, and while McAfee has said he will allow some trial preparations, he probably will not set a trial date until the disqualification issue has been resolved. Trump also an unindicted co-conspirator in Arizona Former Trump campaign lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Christina Bobb were among 18 people indicted by a Maricopa County, Arizona, grand jury in April in connection with a plan to keep Trump in the White House by falsely certifying he won the state in 2020. Trump himself was not charged in the Arizona case, but he is clearly identified in the indictment as "Unindicted Co-conspirator 1," who is described as a "former president of the United States who spread false claims of election fraud following the 2020 election." No trial dates set in Trump’s other cases Ex-president still faces three criminal trials Josh Meyer USA TODAY Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, left, is greeted by a supporter after winning re-election during her election night watch party in the Buckhead neighborhood in Atlanta on May 21. ALYSSA POINTER/REUTERS

NEWS USA TODAY ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ 3A twice. This latest first will forever mark his legacy. While political scientists and historians were divided over whether the verdict would influence the 2024 presidential election in any measurable way, they did agree on one immutable fact – the verdict will rewrite history books. The biggest takeaway? “In a nation ruled by laws, not men, no one is above the rule of law,” said Jennifer Mercieca, a professor at Texas A&M University. “Not even a president.” No moment like this Other former U.S. presidents have been enmeshed in high-profile legal problems, litigation and congressional investigation stemming from a political scandal. Trump’s New York hush money case has drawn comparisons to the Watergate scandal that ended Richard Nixon’s presidency and then-President Bill Clinton’s impeachment in 1998 during his second term in office. But Susan Liebell, a political science professor at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, said those events aren’t equivalent to Trump’s 34 felony convictions because Nixon and Clinton weren’t convicted of a crime. And Liebell said she’s “deeply suspicious” of anyone who says they know what impact the New York verdict will have on American politics based on those prior examples. “No American president has ever been convicted in a criminal proceeding,” Liebell said. “There are no historical precedents.” Unlike Trump, Nixon never faced trial. He was pre-emptively pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford, before he could be criminally prosecuted for his role in the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and subsequent coverup. Nixon resigned from office two years into his second term in 1974 as momentum grew in Congress for his impeachment, and the Republican president never again ran for public office. Trump, meanwhile, has only served one term in the White House and is now the presumptive GOP nominee for president − and he has shown no plans of ending his latest bid for president as a result of Thursday’s verdict. Trump remained defiant and unremorseful throughout the trial, saying he “didn’t do anything wrong.” Jeffrey Engel, director of presidential history projects at Southern Methodist University, argued that while “Nixon is not typically whom historians turn to for examples of exalted presidential behavior,” the former president “knew the job, and the country, was bigger than himself.” “To date, Donald Trump does not,” Engel said. Engel and Shannon O’Brien, a professor and self-described “presidency nerd” at the University of Texas at Austin, also pushed back on comparisons to Clinton’s 1998 House impeachment for lying to investigators and obstruction of justice tied to a sexual affair with intern Monica Lewinsky. While Trump and Clinton’s cases both “involved sexual issues,” O’Brien said “that’s about where the close comparisons end.” The Senate acquitted Clinton after his House impeachment, and the Justice Department didn’t pursue federal criminal penalties against the Democrat due to a policy dating to Nixon’s time that sitting presidents cannot be charged with crimes while in office. Clinton also reached an agreement with the Justice Department on his final full day in the White House to avoid postpresidential prosecution on a related matter in exchange for paying a fine, a 5-year suspension of his law license and a public admission of unprofessional conduct. By comparison, Trump was found guilty on Thursday on 34 state felony counts by a 12-person jury. He also still faces criminal charges in three other jurisdictions − two federal cases and a state case in Georgia − tied to allegations he tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election that he lost and kept classified materials in his possession after leaving the White House and then obstructing the investigation into the matter. The former president has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. President Clinton’s career as an elected official ended after his two terms in the White House. However, Engel suggested that the Democratic president’s scandals undercut then-Vice President Al Gore’s 2000 White House campaign that concluded with a razor-thin loss to George W. Bush. “If Trump loses, we will say that the lesson of Clinton, and then of all presidents, is that there are places the electorate won’t go to support a candidate,” Engel said. “Right now, the line is at felony conviction. That line may well move by November.” A constitutional victory Historians described the verdict in Trump’s trial as a win for some of the most heralded legal principles in the country, chief among those being the phrase “equal justice under the law” that is inscribed at the top of the U.S. Supreme Court building. Engel argued that the “men who wrote the Constitution would be pleased” that the political system they designed did not buckle. Instead, as intended, he argued, a former commander-in-chief received the same treatment in the justice system as any other American citizen. A New York grand jury last year found that there was sufficient evidence to bring a case against Trump for the hush money payments. After listening to that evidence in a Manhattan courtroom over the past six weeks, the 12-person jury of Trump’s peers found the expresident guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. “He was not convicted by President Biden or his political enemies but unanimously and quickly by a jury of 12 ordinary Americans,” said Allan Lichtman, a professor of history at American University. Engel and Lichtman, however, expressed concern that Trump’s response to the verdict could erode trust in U.S. institutions that allowed for the former president’s trial to take place. “They will say New Yorkers are too biased to be fair; that a jury can be persuaded by a reckless prosecutor or a manic judge; that the entire trial was political,” Engel said of Trump and his allies. Indeed, minutes after the jury read out its decision, Trump described his New York verdict as “a disgrace” and vowed to fight his felony convictions. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., similarly framed the case as a “weaponization of our justice system” by Democrats to prevent Trump from retaking the presidency. O’Brien argued that Trump and his supporters were making unfounded allegations of bias from the New York courts because accepting its legitimacy would harm their side’s political prospects. “He cannot respect a system that holds him accountable,” O’Brien said. “He has to tear it down because he is out of other options.” An uncertain future Shortly after the trial’s conclusion on Thursday, Trump argued that the “real verdict” on his innocence will come on Election Day. The latest RealClearPolitics Average of national polls shows Trump and President Joe Biden stuck in a dead heat, with Trump holding a marginal lead. The experts responding to USA TODAY said they were split over how Trump’s felony conviction will affect his chances of victory. They noted that Trump’s campaign is expected to use the verdict to drum up support and fundraising among his base. What’s more unknown, however, is the way it will influence swing voters. “We have no idea how voters will react,” Liebell said. “The question is how it affects independent voters and Republicans who may agree with conservative policies but have concerns about corruption and integrity.” She pointed to an Ipsos poll from April that found roughly 40% of Republicans and two-thirds of independents considered the hush money charges to be serious. Of those who said they would vote for Trump if the election was held at that moment, 13% said they wouldn’t vote for him if he was convicted of a felony by a jury. An additional 25% said they wouldn’t support him if he was serving a prison sentence at the time of the election. Given the tight margins in the presidential race, Lichtman suggested that a small defection of moderate voters away from Trump could be enough to hamper the Republican’s chances of victory. Litchman has correctly forecast the winner of most presidential elections since 1984, with the exception of the race in 2000. While he hasn’t made a final prediction this year, he said “a lot would have to go wrong for Biden to lose reelection.” History Continued from Page 1A People react moments after news that Donald Trump was found guilty in his trial on hush money payments in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES Donald Trump could delay and potentially reverse his conviction through appeals, but even if he wins the presidency, he won’t have the power to pardon himself. Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records, the first former president to be convicted of a felony. The Manhattan jury found he disguised a hush money reimbursement as legal expenses to cover up the $130,000 paid to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, and he is expected to appeal the conviction. A sentence in this case could be probation or something even lighter such as community service, but if he does get jail or prison time he would likely remain free while he appeals. Resolving his appeals would go past the election. But even if Trump is elected as the next president, he cannot pardon himself in this case as presidential pardons apply to only federal cases, not state cases. However, once in the White House he could further delay his confinement until after his term expires. Under existing legal precedents, he also would be able to delay his Georgia election interference trial until after he leaves office. Could Trump pardon himself in outstanding federal cases? When Trump was in the White House, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani made comments that president “probably” could pardon himself, but Trump has said in a previous interview that “the last thing I’d ever do is give myself a pardon,” NBC News reported. While a presidential pardon would not apply to this conviction, Trump still faces three other cases. Two of them are federal cases, which some argue would be eligible for a presidential pardon. But a president issuing a self-pardon would be unprecedented, so its legality is unclear. None of the other cases Trump faces have set trial dates, and experts say they are increasingly unlikely to happen before Election Day. What was Trump found guilty of? Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. Each count is tied to a different business record that prosecutors argued Trump was responsible for falsifying in order to either conceal or commit another crime. Those records include 11 checks paid to former lawyer Michael Cohen, 11 invoices from Cohen and 12 entries in Trump’s business ledgers. The jury found that Trump authorized a plan to reimburse Cohen for the $130,000 hush money payment issued to Stormy Daniels and spread the payments across 2017 disguised as legal expenses. Contributing: Aysha Bagchi, Josh Meyer Trump can’t pardon himself in NY case Pardons don’t apply to state ‘hush money’ case Kinsey Crowley USA TODAY Former President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday. He was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. SETH WENIG/POOL/VIA GETTY IMAGES

4A ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ USA TODAY NEWS One national group hopes to provide the LGBTQ+ community a sense of security by training faith leaders and congregants to play a protective, calming role at Pride events around the country. Interfaith Alliance, an organization based in Washington, D.C., that promotes LGBTQ+ rights and inclusive faith communities, teamed with the Southern Poverty Law Center to offer the training as part of its third annual “Faith for Pride” initiative. “Folks across the country are concerned about a rise in extremism, including against LGBTQ people,” said Maureen O’Leary, the alliance’s director of field and organizing. “People are feeling like they can’t gather safely. Unless people can feel safe showing up as their whole selves, they don’t truly have freedom or equality.” Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, a gay Baptist minister and the alliance’s president, said faith communities are especially obligated to be part of the healing process, given the unwelcoming attitude many in the LGBTQ+ community have felt from religious communities in the past. Despite polls that show Americans largely support LGBTQ+ equality, hate incidents continue to plague the community. Between June 2022 and April 2023, there were more than 350 anti-LGBTQ+ hate incidents nationally, according to the Anti-Defamation League. With polarization high, the atmosphere “feels like a really important moment,” Raushenbush said. “There are people who are trying to rip those identities apart, and this is a way of not letting that happen.” O’Leary said the initiative is designed to provide a counternarrative to those who attempt to pit religion against the LGBTQ+ community. “A lot of extremists show up cloaked in the language of religion, using religion as a weapon instead of a bridge for healing,” she said. “When people of faith show up in a capacity that is healing, joyful and supportive of LGBTQ members, the idea of ‘faith versus LGBTQ’ identity falls apart.” LGBTQ+ advocates say political climate drives hate According to national LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Lambda Legal, more than 1,200 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in 48 states since 2022. More than 130 have been enacted. LGBTQ+ people can be denied service in businesses or lodging in hotels in 23 states, the organization said, while transgender youth face bans on gender affirming care in 25 states. More than 750 bills affecting the LGBTQ+ community have been introduced nationwide in 2024, according to LGBTQ+ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, including potential bans on gender affirming care, restrictions on bathroom use and allowing business owners to refuse service to LGBTQ+ individuals based on religious beliefs. Some say the accompanying rhetoric around such legislation has given fringe groups license to attack LGBTQ+ community members. “All this heinous stuff happening legislatively is giving people license to hate,” said Cindi Creager, chief communications officer for Lambda Legal, who plans to attend next month’s 55th anniversary commemoration of the historic Stonewall riots in New York’s Greenwich Village. “So it’s a fraught climate to begin with.” Roland Stringfellow, senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit in Ferndale, Michigan, said the atmosphere has pushed him to a breaking point. “The rise of fascism in the U.S. is a constant problem,” said Stringfellow, a regular speaker at Detroit’s Motor City Pride celebration. “But I admit, if you’re looking for a fight, I’m going to give it to you. People want to minimize me as a Black man and a gay man, and I’m tired of it.” Darcy Connors, who oversees the direct services division of SAGE, an organization serving elder members of New York’s LGBTQ+ community, said that while she’s heard both concerns about safety and attitudes of defiance among members, the latter is more pronounced, given the agency’s older clientele. “These folks have lived through a lifetime of trauma,” she said. “While the majority are cautious, they’re still going to show up and continue to fight against hateful legislation and folks who want us to go back in the closet.” How people can take steps to ensure safety at Pride events In Houston, organizers of the 46th annual Houston Pride Festival and Parade said safety has always been a “top priority.” Security measures will include watchtowers, undercover agents and extensive coordination with law enforcement agencies. “These measures are part of a comprehensive security plan designed to handle any threats effectively and ensure that our celebration remains a bastion of joy and unity in the face of adversity,” leaders of Houston Pride 365 said in a statement. While organizers of Pride events elsewhere are taking similar measures, LGBTQ+ community members and advocates say there are precautions individuals can take to ensure their safety. Melissa Vitale, a queer cannabis and wellness publicist in New York, said that while she often attends LGBTQ+ supportive events and protests around the city and has yet to encounter any antiLGBTQ+ forces, she still maintains a cautious approach. “The first thing I do in a big crowd is find my exit points,” Vitale said. “You never know where a lone gunman may make his stand.” That’s a step also recommended by Laura Frombach and Joy Farrow, co-authors of “Street Smart Safety for Women: Your Guide to Defensive Living.” The two suggest being aware of indications that signal a crowd turning into a mob. “The crowd grows quickly in size, and the rhetoric grows fiercer and more violent,” Frombach said. “People do things in a mob that they wouldn’t do otherwise, and that’s when people get hurt. You can always celebrate later, another day – but if your personal safety is compromised, that could affect you for the rest of your life.” The de-escalation training offered by Interfaith Alliance and Southern Poverty Law Center hopes to defuse such situations by giving people skills to deal with aggressive individuals in a nonconfrontational way. “It’s rooted in a place of empathy and calm,” O’Leary said. “It’s really equipping people to be grounded and to have that mental readiness to be a peacebuilding presence.” Raushenbush said the sessions are essentially nonviolence training, presenting various scenarios and ways to deal with them. But collectively, the project also hopes to collect on-the-ground data about what works, what doesn’t and what types of threats are encountered to better prepare people in the future. “This training will not only equip people for peacebuilding this season but lay a foundation for years to come,” O’Leary said. “Street Smart Safety” co-author Farrow, a former deputy sheriff, agreed. “It’s important to talk calmly,” Farrow said. “It’s easy to get caught up in argument, and then other people get involved and it gets out of hand. ... It does take practice, because people want to push your buttons.” Pride Continued from Page 1A A protester holds a sign that reads “They Want Us Dead” during a protest against gun violence by the activist group “Gays against Guns” in New York City in during Pride Month 2022. ANGELA WEISS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Folks who are expecting to see a dazzling parade of planets on Monday June 3 may be disappointed by what they end up seeing in the sky and, instead, experts are saying they should manage their expectations and wait until the end of the month to see the planetary alignment. The past couple of months have been pretty eventful for backyard astronomers. First, the solar eclipse in April, then the northern lights made a rare appearance in May, and now a parade of planets will make its 2024 debut. Stargazers are supposed to be able to see six planets, Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, Mars, Neptune and Saturn, aligned. However, experts from NASA and Astronomers Without Borders both agree that it won’t be the best time to see the planetary parade. That’s because Uranus, Mercury and Jupiter will be swallowed up by the sun’s light and be too close to the horizon to be visible. Experts say be patient: Planet parade will be more of a show later in June “To me, the closest thing to a planet parade is June 29th, when you’ll have Saturn, the third-quarter Moon, Mars, and Jupiter arrayed across the sky at dawn,” Preston Dyches, a public engagement specialist for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory told USA TODAY. Dyches has a background in astronomy and hosts NASA’s “What’s Up,” a monthly video series that describes what’s happening in the night sky. Andrew Fazekas, the communications manager for Astronomers Without Borders, says that when it comes to the planetary parade on June 3, it will be nearly impossible to see all the planets with the naked eye. Both Fazekas and Dyches agree that it’s better to see the planetary parade on June 29, instead. On June 3, Jupiter, Mercury and Uranus are going to be “way too close to the sun,” said Fazekas. So, it will be difficult to see those three planets. So, folks who do decide to rise before the sun does on Monday morning just to get a glimpse at this celestial phenomenon could be setting themselves up for disappointment. In this case, good things come to those who wait. And waiting until the end of the month will give stargazers a better chance at viewing the planets. “If you’re patient and you wait until the end of the month, these planets will move farther away from the sun higher up in the early morning sky,” Fazekas told USA TODAY “So, that you will get an easier chance to pick them out in the sky. Folks will not only get a better view of the planetary parade if they wait until June 29, but they’ll be able to gaze at the stars on Friday night into Saturday morning, instead of having to view it during the work week like they would this Monday morning. Excitement from solar eclipse, northern lights creating hype People are expecting to see something amazing the morning of June 3, said Fazekas. But, he’s worried the expectations set by two very viral celestial events, the solar eclipse and northern lights, and sensationalization on social media could raise people’s expectations a bit too high and lead to a lackluster experience. He adds that he’s concerned one bad experience that was overhyped online could steal people’s enthusiasm about astronomy. “What worries me is that we set people up for disappointment,” said Fazekas “And then they won’t want to do it again.” According to Fazekas, he’s never seen so many people interested in skywatching, and he doesn’t want the excitement to end. What will you be able to see? According to a program called SkySafari Pro, you will be able to see the following during the planetary parade on June 29: h Jupiter, which will be closest to the horizon. h Uranus. h Mars. h The moon. h Neptune. h Saturn. What is a planetary parade? Basically, it’s when the planets form a straight line and look like they’re marching across the night sky and form a sort of space parade. It’s also known as a large planetary alignment, states Delaware Online, a part of the USA TODAY Network. What equipment do you need to view a planetary parade? According to Fazekas, you will still need binoculars and telescopes to see some of the planets. “Neptune is a planet that you need strong binoculars or a small telescope to be able to see,” said Fazekas. “And it’s not easy to find either.” Folks who go out to stargaze on June 28, will be able to see Neptune right next to the moon. On June 29, it will be farther away from the moon, and appear above it instead. Apps, such as Skyview in the Apple app store, can turn people’s phones into a tool that helps them identify celestial bodies in the night sky. Where will you be able to see the planetary parade? According to Fazekas, people will need to do the following to get a view of the planetary parade: h Get up early, before sunrise. h Find a spot with a clear view that faces the east or southeastern sky. h Have your binoculars or telescope ready to view planets that aren’t visible to the naked eye. Planet parade may not live up to the hype NASA suggests waiting until later in the month Julia Gomez USA TODAY A parade of planets is set to happen Monday but NASA says it won’t be much of a celestial show. ALXPIN/E+ VIA GETTY IMAGES

NEWS USA TODAY ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ 5A Each year, about 1,300 people die in the United States as a result of extreme heat-related illnesses, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat-related illnesses can range in severity, but each should be taken seriously. From heat cramps to heatstroke, there are many conditions that can occur because of prolonged exposure to hot, humid weather. One of these is heat exhaustion. If not treated properly, heat exhaustion can lead to life-threatening complications. It is important to recognize its symptoms to receive proper care. Heat-related illnesses According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heat-related illnesses include: h Heat cramps h Heat rash h Heatstroke h Rhabdomyolysis h Heat syncope All of these conditions can occur when your body overheats. This can be caused by exposure to hot temperatures, especially if it is humid or you are engaging in physical activity, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your body’s temperature is impacted by its environment. Your body heat in relation to the environment’s temperature is called “core temperature,” according to the Mayo Clinic. The human body tends to remain at a core temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Your body regulates temperature by sweating. When it is very hot outside, you are likely to sweat more since your body is trying to cool down. But if you are sweating excessively, this is not effective for maintaining homeostasis. When you sweat, you lose fluids containing water, nutrients and salts that help you function properly. If you are not sufficiently replacing those lost fluids, you may experience a series of conditions, including dehydration or heat exhaustion. Signs of heat exhaustion According to the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, heat exhaustion symptoms include: h Dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling faint h Headache h Fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit h Fatigue h Nausea h Muscle cramps h Excessive sweating h Cool, clammy skin with goosebumps h Swollen extremities (feet, hands, ankles) h Rapid heartbeat How to treat heat exhaustion According to the CDC, to treat heat exhaustion, you should move to a cool place. If you are wearing tight clothing, remove it and loosen other garments. It is important to hydrate with water. You can also put wet cloths on your body to cool down. If your symptoms worsen or last longer than an hour, you should seek medical attention. If you also begin to vomit, get help. If not treated properly, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, which is a life-threatening condition. Factors impacting heat exhaustion Anyone can experience heat exhaustion. However, it can be affected by other factors, such as age, alcohol use, medications or health conditions. Older people and children are at higher risk of heat exhaustion since they are more likely to become dehydrated and often cannot regulate body temperature efficiently. If you are drinking large quantities of alcohol, you also have a higher chance of heat exhaustion as you become dehydrated. Alcohol also makes body temperature regulation harder, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Some medications may trigger heat exhaustion if they lead to loss of fluids, such as diuretics. Conditions that lead to fluid loss, such as diabetes, increase the risk of heat exhaustion. Know the signs of heat-related illnesses Olivia Munson USA TODAY Spending time outside in summer weather is fun, but it can also be dangerous if proper precautions aren’t taken. OJOS DE HOJALATA/ GETTY IMAGES Just Curious You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers. Learn more Scan the QR code to find more Just Curious content. Millions of Americans take the supplement known as CoQ10. It’s the coenzyme that supercharges the “energy factories” in your cells known as mitochondria. But there’s a serious flaw that’s leaving millions unsatisfied. As you age, your mitochondria break down and fail to produce energy. In a revealing study, a team of researchers showed that 95 percent of the mitochondria in a 90-year-old man were damaged, compared to almost no damage in the mitochondria of a 5-year-old. Taking CoQ10 alone is not enough to solve this problem. Because as powerful as CoQ10 is, there’s one critical thing it fails to do: it can’t create new mitochondria to replace the ones you lost. And that’s bad news for Americans all over the country. The loss of cellular energy is a problem for the memory concerns people face as they get older. “We had no way of replacing lost mitochondria until a recent discovery changed everything,” says Dr. Al Sears, founder and medical director of the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine in Palm Beach, Florida. “Researchers discovered the only nutrient known to modern science that has the power to trigger the growth of new mitochondria.” Why Taking CoQ10 is Not Enough Dr. Sears explains, “This new discovery is so powerful, it can multiply your mitochondria by 55 percent in just a few weeks. That’s the equivalent of restoring decades of lost brain power.” This exciting nutrient — called PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone) — is the driving force behind a revolution in aging. When paired with CoQ10, this dynamic duo has the power to reverse the age-related memory losses you may have thought were beyond your control. Dr. Sears pioneered a new formula — called Ultra Accel Q — that combines both CoQ10 and PQQ to support maximum cellular energy and the normal growth of new mitochondria. Ultra Accel Q is the first of its kind to address both problems and is already creating huge demand. In fact, demand has been so overwhelming that inventories repeatedly sell out. But a closer look at Ultra Accel Q reveals there are good reasons why sales are booming. Science Confirms the Many Benefits of PQQ The medical journal Biochemical Pharmacology reports that PQQ is up to 5,000 times more efficient in sustaining energy production than common antioxidants. With the ability to keep every cell in your body operating at full strength, Ultra Accel Q delivers more than just added brain power and a faster memory. People feel more energetic, more alert, and don’t need naps in the afternoon. The boost in cellular energy generates more power to your heart, lungs, muscles, and more. “With the PQQ in Ultra Accel, I have energy I never thought possible at my age,” says Colleen R., one of Dr. Sears’s patients. “I’m in my 70s but feel 40 again. I think clearly, move with real energy and sleep like a baby.” The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and Dr. Sears receives countless emails from his patients and readers. “My patients tell me they feel better than they have in years. This is ideal for people who are feeling old and run down, or for those who feel more forgetful. It surprises many that you can add healthy and productive years to your life simply by taking Ultra Accel Q every day.” You may have seen Dr. Sears on television or read one of his 12 bestselling books. Or you may have seen him speak at the 2016 WPBF 25 Health and Wellness Festival in South Florida, featuring Dr. Oz and special guest Suzanne Somers. Thousands of people attended Dr. Sears’s lecture on antiaging breakthroughs and waited in line for hours during his book signing at the event. Will Ultra Accel Q Multiply Your Energy? Ultra Accel Q is turning everything we thought we knew about youthful energy on its head. Especially for people over age 50. In less than 30 seconds every morning, you can harness the power of this breakthrough discovery to restore peak energy and your “spark for life.” So, if you’ve noticed less energy as you’ve gotten older, and you want an easy way to reclaim your youthful edge, this new opportunity will feel like blessed relief. The secret is the “energy multiplying” molecule that activates a dormant gene in your body that declines with age, which then instructs your cells to pump out fresh energy from the inside-out. This growth of new “energy factories” in your cells is called mitochondrial biogenesis. Instead of falling victim to that afternoon slump, you enjoy sharp-as-atack focus, memory, and concentration from sunup to sundown. And you get more done in a day than most do in a week. Regardless of how exhausting the world is now. Dr. Sears reports, “The most rewarding aspect of practicing medicine is watching my patients get the joy back in their lives. Ultra Accel Q sends a wake-up call to every cell in their bodies… And they actually feel young again.” And his patients agree. “I noticed a difference within a few days,” says Jerry from Ft. Pierce, Florida. “My endurance has almost doubled, and I feel it mentally, too. There’s a clarity and sense of well-being in my life that I’ve never experienced before.” How To Get Ultra Accel Q This is the official nationwide release of Ultra Accel Q in the United States. And so, the company is offering a special discount supply to anyone who calls during the official launch. An Order Hotline has been set up for local readers to call. This gives everyone an equal chance to try Ultra Accel Q. And your order is backed up by a nohassle, 90-day money back guarantee. No questions asked. Starting at 7:00 AM today, the discount offer will be available for a limited time only. All you have to do is call TOLL FREE 1-800-997-5135 right now and use promo code USAUAQ4 to secure your own supply. Important: Due to Ultra Accel Q recent media exposure, phone lines are often busy. If you call and do not immediately get through, please be patient and call back. THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. RESULTS MAY VARY. 15. Popular CoQ10 Pills Leave Millions Suffering Could this newly-discovered brain fuel solve America’s worsening memory crisis? PAID ADVERTISEMENT MEMORY-BUILDING SENSATION: Top doctors are now recommending new Ultra Accel Q because it restores decades of lost brain power without a doctor’s visit.

6A ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ USA TODAY NEWS OXON HILL, Md. – All Bruhat Soma does is win. Soma entered the 96th Scripps National Spelling Bee with three smaller spelling bee victories already under his belt in 2024, and the 12-year-old from St. Petersburg, Florida, won the big prize Thursday by defeating fellow 12-yearold Faizan Zaki in a spell-off. “My heart was pumping so fast when I realized I won,” Soma said. “I had a good feeling I would win because I did pretty good, but yeah, you never know. I still couldn’t absorb the moment yet.” With organizers calling for a spell-off to determine a winner following 14 rounds over three days at the national championships, Soma spelled 29 words correctly in a 90-second span to best Zaki, who recorded 20 correct words. For every one-hour practice session, Soma’s spelling coach Sam Evans said, they would do three spell-offs. “He’s certainly very, very good at them,” Evans told USA TODAY. “I’m not surprised to see how well he did tonight.” Soma was ready for a spell-off. He was calm onstage. Every day, Soma said, his father used a program to pronounce words in 90-second sprints to emulate the spell-off. “I really wanted all of this,” Soma said, “but you could never expect it.” The spell-off was introduced in 2021 and was used for the first time – and before Thursday, the only time – at the 2022 competition. Harini Logan correctly spelled 22 words to take home the title that year. The 2024 national finals began with 245 spellers from all 50 states and across the globe. Ninety-seven individuals bowed out during Tuesday’s preliminaries, and 45 moved from the quarterfinals to semifinals Wednesday. Only eight – a smaller group than normal – advanced to the finals. Soma will receive more than $50,000 cash in addition to other prizes for his victory. Two finalists bowed out in the first round of spelling Thursday. The remaining six cruised through the subsequent vocabulary round. The Bee started having competitors choose the correct definition onstage in 2019, which typically has proved more challenging for the finalists and resulted in more eliminations. Kirsten Santos, who finished fifth in 2022, took sixth this time around and was one letter off on “apophasis.” The top five moved into the fourth round of spelling, when Aditi Muthukumar could not nail “lillooet.” Shrey Parikh and Ananya Prassanna then bowed out as time was expiring on the Bee’s broadcast window, prompting the start of the spell-off. National Spelling Bee winner ‘knew all of my words’ For Soma, winning the Bee has been a goal of his since third grade. He bowed out in the quarterfinals last year and decided to “go hard” in the run-up to the 2024 Bee to make up for that performance. “I feel ecstatic,” he said onstage with confetti surrounding his feet and the Scripps Cup beside him. Asked what the hardest word of the week he received was, he said: “I mean, to be fair, I knew all of my words. So I don’t really know.” To help him spell out loud, Soma employs the strategy of “typing” with his left hand on an imaginary keyboard. He said he was strategic in choosing which sections to memorize – the ones he was most likely to hear at the Bee. “His memory’s just so good and that certainly helps him with spelling,” Evans said. “I don’t know the entire dictionary,” Soma said, “and I’m not even close to that.” Nonetheless, anybody can devote a few days or weeks to practicing spelling, Evans said. Soma’s dedication was different. “To be consistent throughout the whole year and to work towards a goal like he has, it’s something that makes him really special,” said Evans, a 16- year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, who will be a junior in high school in the fall. “His work ethic is really the reason why he’s standing up there holding the trophy.” Soma also loves basketball and will undoubtedly have more time now to watch and play it. “This year, I haven’t really been keeping up with basketball because of spelling,” he said. “Basketball is like my side passion.” What was 2024 Spelling Bee winning word? With the spell-off, there is no official winning word. Zaki spelled “nicuri” to force the spell-off after Soma correctly spelled “daena.” Zaki asked for some time to take deep breaths before beginning his 90-second run. Zaki is one of Soma’s closest friends on the spelling circuit. The two shared a hug before head pronouncer Dr. Jacques Bailly read the results of the spell-off. “I would say congrats to him. He did amazing,” Soma said. Spelling Bee decided by a spell-off 12-year-old gets 29 words correct in 90 seconds Chris Bumbaca USA TODAY Bruhat Soma has won the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee. ANNA MONEYMAKER/GETTY IMAGES Hunter Biden’s addiction to crack cocaine was so bad, he recalled, that he alienated his children and his famous father despite their repeated attempts to help. It was so bad that he lived among sleazy hangers-on in grimy hotel rooms, prowling homeless camps for drugs. It was so bad that he left his laptop at a Delaware repair shop and never came back for it. In the heat of the 2020 presidential campaign, a worker passed the contents of its hard drive, including explicit images and videos, to former President Donald Trump’s campaign lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Those would later be displayed in the House by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. “I’m … an alcoholic and a drug addict,” Biden says in the prologue to his 2021 memoir, “Beautiful Things,” written following four years of drug abuse. Today, Biden refers to himself as an addict in recovery. But there was a moment in 2018 when he was not an addict, his lawyers say. It was Oct. 12, when he purchased a Colt .38 Special revolver and checked “No” on a federal gun form that asked: “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?” On Monday, the president’s son goes on trial in Wilmington, Delaware, on charges he lied on that paperwork. Biden faces a maximum sentence of 25 years, if convicted. The case will hinge in part on whether Biden was legally addicted when he bought the gun – and which definition of the term prevails with the judge and jury. Substance abuse professionals – and the law itself – appear split over whether Biden was indeed an addict when he bought that revolver in 2018 and over the evolving meaning of addiction. The trial comes as Biden, who has never held office, finds himself at the center of a momentous presidential campaign as a monthslong Republican move to impeach President Joe Biden has fizzled in the House. What makes an ‘addict’? In fall 2018, Hunter Biden moved back to the East Coast after months of drug abuse in California. At one point that summer, his uncle, James Biden, placed him in a rehab center before he moved in with a sobriety coach in the hills over Los Angeles. “It was great – the beauty, the peace, the support – right up until the moment I relapsed,” Hunter Biden writes in “Beautiful Things. “My lesson after a spring and summer of nonstop debauchery: no lesson at all.” But it was during one of those periods of sobriety that Biden purchased the handgun and answered honestly on the federal paperwork, his lawyers say. “At issue here is Mr. Biden’s understanding of the question,” his lawyer Abbe Lowell recently wrote the court. “Someone like Mr. Biden, who had just completed an 11-day rehabilitation program and lived with a sober companion after that, could surely believe he was not a present tense user or addict.” Biden’s lawyers haven’t specified where and when the 11-day rehab took place, but they are emphatic Biden could have reasonably considered himself sober as a result of it. Some experts aren’t so sure. “Eleven days is a treatment experience. It’s not a treatment success,” said Kevin McEneaney, a former top official at Phoenix House, who spent 30 years working with people with substance use disorders. “It may technically be great for court. It’s not accurate in the world of addiction treatment.” “You could argue you are not currently dependent on any substance,” Maia Szalavitz, the author of several books on addiction, said of Biden’s stance. “I would not consider that honest at that stage. The problem is that the legal concept of addiction is ancient.” “There used to be a belief, ‘Once an addict, always an addict,’” said Peter Provet, CEO of Odyssey House, a New York drug treatment center. “It’s an oldschool belief: Once you had that thing, it was always going to be there, that addictive vulnerability. That point of view may not always be correct.” And the stigma of addiction remains. “I stopped using drugs at 18 but I’ve been labeled an addict for the rest of my life,” McEneaney said. If the professionals aren’t fully in agreement on when and for how long a person is an “addict,” neither is the law. Biden is charged with violating a statute that is written in the present tense. It is illegal for anyone “who is an unlawful user of or addicted” to narcotics to possess a gun. But federal prosecutors want to define Biden’s addiction using a much broader Treasury Department definition, which considers a person “an unlawful current user of a controlled substance” if there is “a pattern of use or possession that reasonably covers the present time,” including a failed drug test in the past year. Biden’s lawyers have asked U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika to keep the Treasury definition away from the jury. Her proposed jury instructions steer clear of defining addiction. Here today, gone tomorrow Jurors are likely to see plenty of evidence of the defendant’s use of cocaine. Justice Department special counsel David Weiss has pulled volumes of evidence of Biden’s drug use from his memoir and iCloud computer backup. The exhibits include a message from Oct. 13, 2018 – one day after the gun buy – where Biden allegedly writes that he is “waiting for a drug dealer named Mookie,” and another from Oct. 14 in which he describes himself as “sleeping on a car smoking crack.” Legally, the question of Biden’s sobriety may come down to his state of mind on the day he bought the pistol. His lawyers say he never loaded or used the weapon. On Oct. 23, Biden’s then-girlfriend took the gun from his car and tossed it in a trash can outside a convenience store, where it was retrieved by a man harvesting cans and later by police. “It’s impossible to get well, no matter what the therapy, unless you commit to it absolutely,” Biden writes in “Beautiful Things.” “The Alcoholics Anonymous ‘Big Book’ – the substance abuse bible, written by group founder Bill Wilson – makes that clear: ‘Half measures availed us nothing.’ ” “By this point in my life,” Biden says of those days in 2018, “I’d written the book on half measures.” From out of sight to public life In the end, it wasn’t AA or therapy with ibogaine or the psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT that Biden ultimately found most helpful. After four years in hell, Biden writes, in May 2019, he fell for Melissa Cohen. She seized his electronics, flushed his drugs and kept toxic hangers-on at bay. After years of addiction, Biden says, he found sobriety − and a new wife − in seven days. Biden is again a public figure. The president’s son often is seen at his father’s side and at White House events. More challenges remain. In addition to the federal gun trial, Hunter Biden faces federal charges in California over failure to pay $1.4 million in taxes, which he later paid. The gun and tax charges stem from a failed plea deal between Biden and federal prosecutors last year. Biden is also in the middle of a multimillion-dollar alimony case with his exwife, Kathleen Buhle, expected to testify for the prosecution in the gun trial. While Biden sometimes uses the language of recovery to describe his addiction, he doesn’t write about his own recovery using those terms. “He does not see himself in the 12- step lens. He attributes his recovery to falling in love,” author Szalavitz says. “That is a valid way of recovering.” Hunter Biden gun case hinges on one fateful day Paperwork about drug use, addiction is a focus Dan Morrison USA TODAY Hunter Biden, his wife Melissa Cohen, and Hunter Biden’s sister Ashley Biden walk to board Air Force One at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on March 29. ELIZABETH FRANTZ/REUTERS

NEWS USA TODAY ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ 7A OPINION WANT TO COMMENT? We’re on Facebook (USA TODAY Opinion) and Instagram and X, formerly Twitter (@usatodayopinion). You can also comment directly on columns. Editor in Chief, USA TODAY Terence Samuel Vice President/Group Editor, Gannett Opinion Michael McCarter Vice President/Executive Editor, Sports Roxanna Scott Chairman and CEO Gannett Co. Michael Reed Chief Financial Officer: Doug Horne Chief Content Officer: Kristin Roberts “USA TODAY hopes to serve as a forum for better understanding and unity to help make the USA truly one nation.” – Allen H. Neuharth, Founder, Sept. 15, 1982 Donald Trump is guilty. It won’t matter this election. President Joe Biden and the Democrats have gotten their wish and can now label former President Donald Trump as a convicted felon. A New York jury on Thursday found Trump guilty on all 34 counts in the case involving hush money payments to a porn star and falsification of business records. While this is going to make for some salacious headlines and nonstop cable news fodder, don’t count on it impacting the election. At least, that’s my prediction. Those who hated Trump are only going to have more reason to despise him. Those who love him will see this as a reason to rally around him more. Don’t get me wrong: This is bad for the country to have a former president – and one who’s the likely GOP nominee – convicted of a felony for the first time. All the hoopla over the conviction, however, won’t change the fact that this case has widely been seen as the weakest of the four criminal cases against Trump. And he will certainly appeal. He’ll also continue playing up how he’s been politically persecuted. A PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll released just ahead of the Trump verdict found that 67% of voters said a guilty verdict wouldn’t affect whom they plan to vote for in November. And 25% of Republicans said they would be even more likely to vote for Trump if he were found guilty. Now that the jurors have spoken, next is sentencing, which Judge Juan Merchan has set for July 11 – just days ahead of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The reality is most Americans don’t care about Trump’s courtroom drama. They care about how policies are impacting their daily lives. Expect them to vote on that come November – not the results of this trial in New York. — Ingrid Jacques Guilty Trump was a babbling mess the day after the jurors’ verdict Felon Donald Trump arose glassyeyed from his crypt of self-pity Friday morning to remind Americans that he’s not just the first convicted criminal to run for president – he’s also a rambling, incoherent mess. “Crimes crimes, they’re falsifying business records,” he said, looking exhausted and more half-crazed than usual. “That sounds so bad, to me it sounds very bad. You know it’s only a misdemeanor (FACT CHECK: These were felony counts) but to me it sounds so bad, when they say falsifying business records, that’s a bad thing for me, I’ve never had that before. … You know what falsifying business records is, in the first degree, they say falsifying business records, sounds so good, right?” Uhhh … sure? The man some actually believe is qualified to be president of the United States also claimed that witnesses in his trial were “literally crucified,” said Biden wants to “stop you from having cars” and said the judge who will sentence him is “really a devil.” Trump could have testified in his own defense but didn’t, and the excuse he offered was a random assortment of words that went nowhere then veered into an entirely different subject: “I would have loved to have testified, to this day I would’ve liked to have testified, but you would have said something out of whack like it was a beautiful sunny day and it was actually raining out, and I very much appreciate the big crowd of people outside, that’s incredible what’s happening, the level of support has been incredible.” Yes, incredible. Or as The Washington Post reported as Trump was speaking: “There are perhaps a few dozen supporters outside but no organized demonstration of any magnitude. It’s mostly gawkers and normal Fifth Avenue traffic in Manhattan. Look, I’m no political strategist, but I’m not sure putting the presidential candidate who was just convicted in front of cameras to ramble like the drunk at the end of the bar was a fantastic idea. Trump’s disjointed gurgling delivered several “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”- length ads for Democrats to use in the months ahead. Republicans are still adjusting to the new normal of having a convicted felon at the top of their ticket. They’re trying to rally around their twice-impeached, multi-indicted, found-liable-of-sexualabuse, incapable-of-ever-shutting-up guy. But seeing Trump’s performance Friday and knowing that his already erratic rhetoric has worsened with each visit from accountability, maybe it’s time Republicans rethink the “presidential candidate” thing. — Rex Huppke Conservatives, would we question the Trump verdict if it were Biden? We know what Democrats are thinking. They’re happy, gleeful, even smug. But 36% of Americans identify as conservatives, including myself. So what are we thinking? Conservatives who love Trump were upset he got indicted in the first place, and a guilty verdict has raised Trump to martyrdom status. But we fall into a couple of groups now having to respond to the verdict. To Republicans who think Trump is God and MAGA is their religion, a guilty verdict means they’d rather roast on hot coals all day and crawl to a voting booth 30 seconds before closing than not cast a vote for Trump on Election Day. They believe that the criminal justice system in New York is biased and the “system” is rigged, and the trials in every other state with this same verdict will not convince them otherwise. For some Republicans who maybe are not quite as pro-Trump, this verdict could take these folks by surprise a bit. It might reinforce their notions that Trump is not an ethical or honest man, but they’re surprised a jury finds him a convicted felon. This could raise red flags for these Republicans − and not just about Trump. There is a sect of Republicans, like myself, who supported Trump first but don’t now. But we’re still conservatives. We don’t think the 2020 election was rigged, we don’t think the world is out to get Trump or us, and we’re fairly logical, decent-minded people with conservative values. For Republicans who knew that Trump was unethical and immoral, this verdict confirms our suspicions. It makes these Republicans all the more frustrated that the GOP has chosen Trump as its de facto nominee. This verdict proves he was and continues to be the wrong choice. Law-andorder Republicans believe conservatives want better and can do better than offer the nation a convicted criminal as the nominee. These Republicans will have the hardest time voting in November. Democrats can snag them with the selling point that their nominee is not a convicted criminal. However, Biden’s also one of the worst Democrats to run for office in the past two decades. It would not be surprising to see many of these folks support a write-in candidate or opt out of voting altogether. It’s still frustrating that any of us have to ask these questions: Is Trump really guilty? Was the hush money trial legitimate? If it were Biden on trial, would we even be asking? We shouldn’t have to answer these questions because we shouldn’t be choosing someone who forces us to do so. We could choose someone who doesn’t make choices that land him anywhere near criminal indictments. We could choose better. — Nicole Russell I don’t like Trump, but this case never should have happened I’ve written repeatedly that I’m not Trump’s biggest fan, so I’m sure people would expect me to be happy he was convicted. Sadly, I find myself writing in defense of one of the most difficult men to defend because I think the decisions to indict and prosecute Trump were woefully misled and likely sped us toward America’s political decay. In the days before the 2016 election that elevated him to the White House, Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, made a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, buying her silence about her 2006 sexual encounter with Trump. That story became public in 2018. Fast-forward to April 4, 2023, when Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to the payment, delivering on a significant campaign promise he made. The indictment was built upon a novel legal theory, tying a state crime to a federal statute the prosecutor has no authority to pursue charges on. This is not the foundation you want for something as monumental as the first conviction of a U.S. president. To elevate the charges, Bragg needed to prove that Trump’s actions were intended to defraud voters. No other reason, such as concealing a scandalous story from his wife and children, applies. His argument is that Trump acted to conceal this from voters through fraud, making these crimes felonious. Legal experts were immediately skeptical. “This explanation is a novel interpretation with many significant legal problems,” wrote Fordham law professor Jed Handelsman Shugerman in The New York Times. “I could find no previous case of any state prosecutor relying on the Federal Election Campaign Act either as a direct crime or a predicate crime.” Even legal scholars typically hostile toward Trump weighed in against the prosecution strategy. “Bragg has evidence that Trump acted to cover up a federal crime, but it is not clear that Bragg is allowed to point to a federal crime in order to charge Trump under the New York state law,” wrote Vox senior correspondent Ian Millhiser. The Department of Justice and the Federal Election Commission have both declined to prosecute Trump over this matter, making Bragg’s decision even more baffling. His indictment of Trump was the weakest of the cases brought against him. Imagine a scenario in which Trump’s conviction is overturned on appeal after he loses the 2024 election, leading to all of history wondering if the election would have been different. Had the first case to be decided been the classified documents probe, a set of facts far more solid than this, the result would be far less politically helpful toward Trump’s arguments that there is a “deep state plot” against him. Now Republicans are going to push to the very top of their agenda pursuing legal action against President Biden and his degenerate son. They have already impeached Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, subpoenaed Hunter Biden and opened an impeachment inquiry against President Biden. If Democrats view these actions as a sideshow, they have a whole new thing coming to them in 2025 if Republicans grow their legislative power. American politics is in distress, and in their attempts to fight Trump, Democrats are only stress-testing the system even more. We are accelerating down a path with seemingly no off-ramp, and somebody would be wise to hit the brakes soon. — Dace Potas Surprise! Trump supporters told me they don’t care he’s guilty. On Thursday afternoon, Collect Pond Park and surrounding streets were crawling with New Yorkers hoping to catch a glimpse of the first president in history to be convicted of a felony. Two of those people were Marcella Silverman, 69, and Foster Maer, 74, both New York civil lawyers. “I’m elated to see that this was equal justice for all, and I’m elated that a man who I’ve long thought was a crook and a wrongdoer has suffered consequences in this instance,” Silverman told me. “He’s as big a fish as you can get, and it looks like he’s been got,” Maer said. It seems that their views on his guilt were solidified long before the trial. While I share the sentiments of the people I spoke with, I was unsure how the verdict would go. I also don’t necessarily know if it’ll change anything. I think most people had already made their minds up about this case, and the scene outside the courthouse made that clear. Trump’s supporters marched around with flags and their signature red hats. One supporter, who’d only identify himself as Hungry Santa, has been there every time I’ve been at the courthouse. “The Democrats have opened up Pandora’s box,” he said. When I asked whether this would change his vote in November, he deadpanned that he was planning on voting twice for Trump, “but I’m not in Chicago.” That’s a joke about voter fraud. Gary Phaneuf, 68, held a sign comparing Trump to famous historical figures who faced legal trouble, like Martin Luther King Jr. “This is the January 6 of New York City, believe it or not,” he told me. “So you’re going to have to figure out which side you’re on.” While I don’t think every Republican will agree, it did surprise me that all the Trump supporters I spoke with seemed excited to come back stronger. I also believe Trump will use this verdict to his advantage. His team will appeal, and the fight will continue. The verdict also will not bar Trump from serving office. Trump supporters have been saying for weeks that this trial was a sham – it’s unlikely that they’d change their tune just because a verdict came down. The same can be said of the antiTrump crowd. They’ve been calling for Trump’s political end since 2016. For the rest of America, it’s time to decide. Is this enough to keep Trump out of the White House? — Sara Pequeño Trump verdict makes history. What now? What our opinion columnists are saying Former President Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at Trump Tower on Friday, a day after his guilty verdict in New York City. SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES USA TODAY

8A ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ USA TODAY NEWS Leading by example. Congratulations to our 2024 LEADing the Way Award recipients. We’re thrilled to recognize you for embodying our core values in all that you do for Ally. Your relentless commitment to doing it right drives real impact to the people, communities and businesses we serve. Your passion and commitment make us all better, and we couldn’t be more proud of you. ©2024 Ally Financial Inc. exception

We survey and compile the top news stories from all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. Page 5B You can check the headlines from your home state or city USA TODAY | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | SECTION B It allowing guests to get equivalent status across its three cruise ship brands. Page 4B Royal Caribbean launches MONEY loyalty status match program Nearly half of all credit reports may contain errors, some of them costly to your credit score, according to a new watchdog report. Two consumer groups, Consumer Reports and WorkMoney, invited more than 4,300 volunteers to check their credit reports for accuracy, as a sort of performance review of the three major credit agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Here’s what they found: h One-quarter of the consumers were unable to access their credit reports, which are supposed to be available to all. h Among those who read their reports, 44% found errors. h Of the errors, 27% were potentially damaging to the consumer’s credit. The findings, released in late April, suggest that American consumers would be wise to read their reports. The credit agencies allow free access to them on a site called AnnualCreditReport.com. “People don’t volunteer to be a part of this system, and a lot of decisions are made about you based on what’s in your account,” said Lisa Gill, an investigative reporter at Consumer Reports. Credit scores are part of ‘being able to afford life’ Credit reports factor into a dizzying array of consumer transactions. If you want to rent an apartment, buy a house, take a new job, or negotiate a better rate on a car loan, insurance premium, or cellphone contract, your credit score may determine your success. People with weak credit may get turned down, or penalized with higher rates and more stringent terms. “It’s such an important part of people being able to afford life,” said Carrie Joy Grimes, CEO of WorkMoney, a nonprofit that helps consumers with their Group: Half of all credit reports may have errors Items factor into array of consumer transactions Daniel de Visé USA TODAY See CREDIT, Page 2B Credit reports are critical to lenders, and even employers use them as well. PROVIDED BY AMERICAN EXPRESS Susan Tompor Columnist USA TODAY Some super-savers in the Gen X generation – those born between 1965 and 1980 – are looking at eye-popping amounts in their 401(k) plans, the kind of money that comes awfully close to 401(k) balances for some super-saving baby boomers. Granted, every Gen Xer isn’t flush with retirement cash. We’re talking about long-term savers who consistently set aside significant amounts of their paychecks in 401(k) plans for 15 years straight. These savers are individuals who have been in the same Fidelity-managed 401(k) plan, with the same employer, for an extended time, according to the latest research from Fidelity Investments released Thursday. After all those years of saving, this group of Gen Xers is looking, on average, at more than a half-million dollars. Long-term, Gen X savers have average balances of $543,400 on their 401(k) statements, according to the retirement savings data for the first quarter from Fidelity Investments. The data doesn’t reflect the entire 401(k) universe but is based on 401(k) plans managed by Fidelity, which is the largest 401(k) platform in the country. Long-term baby boomer savers – those born between 1946 and 1964 – are looking at average balances of $543,200. So, the Gen Xers are winning by an extra $200 over the baby boomers. It’s the first time that Gen Xers in the longterm saver group beat the 15-year continuous balances for boomers. Well, here’s a key reality check: Many of those boomers are already retired, and they’re spending their savings in retirement. And many Gen Xers are getting older and closer to retirement, so some are saving even more aggressively, said Michael Shamrell, Fidelity’s vice president of thought leadership for workplace investing. Individuals 50 and over – the oldest Gen Xer turns 59 in 2024 – can contribute an extra $7,500 in 2024 to their 401(k) plans. That’s on top of the maximum employee contribution of $23,000 into 401(k) plans for 2024. The oldest boomers turn 78 this year and, typically, are well into their retirement. The baby boomer group will range from age 60 to 78 once they hit their birthdays in 2024. Some baby boomers, Shamrell said, may still be working, and they’re aggressively saving. But many baby boomers who are retired could be drawing down savings and spending their money in retirement. Some also Some Gen X savers add to their nest eggs Average long-term account has over $500K See TOMPOR, Page 2B As millions poured into city streets to protest racial injustice in May 2020, corporations vowed to do their part, offering billions in financial commitments and drawing up ambitious goals to make their workforces look more like America. h Four years after George Floyd died under a white officer’s knee, what was supposed to be a watershed moment in the workplace has been waylaid by conservative activists waging aggressive campaigns against diversity, equity and inclusion in statehouses and courthouses across the country, diversity, equity and inclusion advocates say. Fueled by last year’s Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action in college admissions, diversity, equity and inclusion critics claim women and people of color are being handed jobs and promotions at the expense of more qualified and deserving candidates. They also argue that any program that excludes white people is just as illegal as a program that excludes Black people. Those allegations have opened the legal floodgates to discrimination claims by white people. A man walks by a Black Lives Matter mural on May 24, 2021 in Los Angeles. APU GOMES/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES RETHINKING DEI PROMISES Firms’ programs under scrutiny as backlash grows Jessica Guynn USA TODAY “What we are seeing now is that people who were never about this work continue not to be about it. The only thing that is changing is the branding of DEI but the end goal and the work remain the same. We are building better products and better workplaces. You can’t cancel that.” Porter Braswell CEO of 2045 Studio A mural of George Floyd painted downtown to memorialize the life of Floyd is shown on the anniversary of his death on May 25, 2021 in Atlanta. MEGAN VARNER/GETTY IMAGES See PROMISES, Page 2B

2B ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ USA TODAY MONEY “DEI is just a polite way of rewarding certain groups and punishing other groups on the basis of their ancestry,” conservative activist Christopher Rufo – who spearheaded Claudine Gay’s ouster as Harvard’s president – recently told the Daily Signal. “I think we’re steadily making progress on that. The fight is still in its beginning stages, but we’re in a better position now than we were a year ago.” The “anti-woke” backlash has unnerved business leaders who find themselves navigating shifting terrain. Publicly, most say they remain as dedicated to diversity as ever. But privately, they are rethinking the promises they made, scrutinizing investments in diversity, equity and inclusion that have not paid off and backing away from initiatives like hiring targets that conservatives claim are illegal quotas, says Johnny C. Taylor Jr., CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management. The volatile political climate “is going to discourage some of the more aggressive actions that people took postGeorge Floyd,” Taylor said. “At the time, there were a lot of aggressive statements and actions taken that now people are rightly saying they are not sure about.” Diversity, equity and inclusion programs under scrutiny In his annual letter to shareholders last month, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said his company was being more cautious and adapting “as the laws evolve.” “We will scour our programs, our words and our actions to make sure they comply,” he wrote. JPMorgan Chase is not alone. Diversity policies and programs rushed into existence amid the nation’s racial reckoning in 2020 and 2021 are increasingly under the microscope. Fellowships and internships that once were open only to historically underrepresented groups are now increasingly open to everyone. Many of these changes have come in the face of mounting legal challenges to diversity programs and policies. Internet giant Amazon.com has fended off two lawsuits against grant programs for minorities. Pfizer and Starbucks have prevailed in similar legal challenges. On Tuesday a federal judge in Ohio dismissed a lawsuit alleging financial tech firm Hello Alice engaged in racial discrimination when it launched a grant program supporting Black business owners. But corporations want to avoid the firing line if they can. A growing number have dropped mentions of diversity goals in shareholder reports. Some even list diversity, equity and inclusion as a “risk factor.” Black workers made small gains since Floyd’s murder The retreat has sparked fears that the anti-diversity, equity and inclusion campaign could set back the small gains in the workforce and corporate leadership made over the last four years. Historic advantages have helped white people – men especially – dominate the business world, creating yawning gaps in status, pay and wealth. A USA TODAY investigation of the nation’s largest companies found that the top ranks are predominantly white and male, while women and people of color are concentrated at the lowest levels with less pay, fewer perks and little opportunity for advancement. Today, Black directors hold 12% of board seats at S&P 500 companies, up from 9.5% at the end of 2020, but that growth has recently leveled off, according to data from data research firm DiversIQ. White men and women hold 75% of board seats. The number of Black executives running S&P 500 companies has doubled since 2016, but Black CEOs still account for 8 out of 505 of those leadership positions while white men – 399 of them – dominate the top job and white women hold 39. Porter Braswell, who has spent the last decade helping corporate America hire diverse talent, says targeted efforts to level the corporate playing field are still necessary and most employers know it. Those abandoning the work now were never serious about it in the first place, he said. “What we are seeing now is that people who were never about this work continue not to be about it,” said Braswell, who now runs 2045, a membership network to accelerate the careers of people of color and aid in their retention. “The only thing that is changing is the branding of DEI but the end goal and the work remain the same. We are building better products and better workplaces. You can’t cancel that.” Companies that vowed change deny backtracking The critics of diversity, equity and inclusion may be getting louder, but corporations say that does not mean they are backtracking on commitments. In his letter to shareholders, JPMorgan Chase’s Dimon said diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives help his company make smarter decisions and achieve better financial results. Eighty percent of large employers surveyed last year by Bridge Partners’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Barometer said they had an established program. Of those that didn’t, 17% were planning one. Nearly three-quarters of executives said they planned to expand their initiatives while just 2% said they would cut back or eliminate them. A survey from employment law firm Littler Mendelson had similar findings: 91% of executives said they are still prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion and 57% said they had expanded their efforts. “Yes, the era of performative diversity, equity, and inclusion – where companies made big promises about investments and representation – is over,” said Joelle Emerson, co-founder and CEO of diversity strategy and consulting firm Paradigm. Rather than make splashy proclamations, they are taking a data-driven approach to diversity efforts, devising systems and processes so that people from all backgrounds have a fair opportunity to thrive, she said. More organizations are committed to diversity now than they were before 2020, according to Emerson. Today 63% of companies have a dedicated diversity, equity and inclusion budget and 57% have a strategy in place, up from 54% and 51% six months ago, according to Paradigm data. “While the anti-diversity rhetoric has had an overall chilling effect and certainly gave companies who never really valued diversity, equity, and inclusion cover to pull back on their efforts, we’re actually seeing most companies are continuing their work, just less vocally,” Emerson said. The bottom line, according to Dimon: “Our initiatives make us a more inclusive company.” Promises Continued from Page 1B Taylor Jr. Braswell Rufo might have shifted money from some 401(k) plans to other savings, including annuities outside of the plan, to provide a stream of income in retirement. Many retirees in their 70s must withdraw at least some money from retirement savings to address complex required minimum distribution rules each year. The minimum amount required reflects one’s age and retirement savings. And retirees can withdraw more than the minimum. In 2020, the age benchmark for starting to take required minimum distributions moved to 72 from 70 1 ⁄2 years old. The SECURE 2.0 Act later raised the age for required minimum distributions in general to 73 for those who turned 72 in 2023 and later. If you reach age 73 in 2024, the Internal Revenue Service notes, the required beginning date for your first RMD is April 1, 2025, for 2024. Also, Roth 401(k)s no longer have RMDs, starting this year. Beginning in 2033, the RMD age will go up to 75. Fidelity’s research indicated that only 20% of retirees with money in a 401(k) made withdrawals in 2023. And, Fidelity noted, 94% of retirees age 73 and older who had money in a 401(k) made withdrawals in 2023. A big stock rally gave a boost to 401(k) plans The march toward Dow 40,000 – the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached its record close of 40,003.59 points on May 17 – put many people on a better financial path. Sure, we might be dealing with what many now call a “Vibecession” — where many feel pessimistic about the economy, higher prices, and yes, express anxiety about their jobs and financial future. In general, though, the job numbers and much of the 401(k) data say otherwise. “The numbers, overall, we found very encouraging,” Shamrell said. He noted that total 401(k) savings rates reached a record high of 14.2%, which was driven by both employee and employer contributions. The average 401(k) retirement account balance hit $125,900 in the first quarter of 2024, up 6% from the fourth quarter last year, based on Fidelity data. The average was up 16% from the first quarter a year ago. The first-quarter data is based on 23,900 corporate, defined contribution plans and 23.3 million participants in these Fidelity-managed plans as of March 31. What might be a sign of anxiety and financial stress: 17.8% of workers had a 401(k) loan in the first quarter of 2024, up from 16.7% in the first quarter a year ago. Even so, that’s down from 19.9% in the first quarter of 2019. While the 401(k) has plenty of critics – the New York Times podcast “The Daily” last week asked “Was the 401(k) a mistake?” – those who have aggressively saved aren’t afraid to open their 401(k) statements lately. h For baby boomers, the average balance was $241,200 in Fidelity 401(k) plans. h For Gen X employees in Fidelity plans, the average balance was $178,500. h For millennials, those born between 1981 and 1996, the average balance was $59,800. h For Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, the average balance was $11,300. Gen Z are just starting their careers, with the oldest members at age 27. We’re still looking at far less than a million 401(k) millionaires Only a tiny fraction of people can brag about a seven-figure 401(k). But it’s a figure that’s a talker when Fidelity releases these figures for its participants. During the first quarter, 401(k)-created millionaires reached an all-time high at 485,000 savers, according to Fidelity. It’s a 15% increase from the fourth quarter last year. And, even more startling, it’s a 43% increase from a year ago. Want a really odd stat? Let’s go back a bit more than six years ago when about 150,000 people had $1 million or more in their 401(k) balances at Fidelity Investments as of the fourth quarter of 2017. It was a record number then, up from 93,000 people for the same period in 2016. Typically, 401(k) savers reach millionaire status if they start saving early in their working years and keep consistently contributing as much as possible year after year after year. Many don’t panic and leave the market during an economic downturn. And typically, they’re not frequently taking out loans from their 401(k) plans. It can also help when you work somewhere with a generous employer match, too. Many 401(k)-generated millionaires took action to set aside a greater percentage of their income toward retirement, as they kept working. In the first quarter, for example, Fidelity noted that 401(k)-created millionaires have been saving in their plans for an average of 26 years, and they have an average contribution rate of 17%. Many saw – and apparently survived – some pretty brutal times for the stock market during those 26 years – the implosion of the dot.com bubble in 2000, the stock market’s plunge after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the financial meltdown of 2008, and the turmoil on Wall Street in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. But many consistently continued to save anyway, and they didn’t try to time the market. “If people keep it up, they’re going to keep themselves on the right path to reach their goals,” Shamrell said. Research shows that only 30% of small businesses offer a retirement savings benefit, Fidelity noted. But Shamrell said small businesses that offer retirement savings options do see strong participation. The average retirement balance at small businesses with Fidelity plans is $152,000. Tompor Continued from Page 1B finances. “This is not a partisan issue. This is everyone in America.” Consumer advocates acknowledge that it has probably never been easier to access your credit score, a metric of creditworthiness that ranges from 300 to 850, and the report upon which the score is based. Long ago, consumers weren’t permitted to read their credit reports. Americans eventually gained the right to see their credit dossier, typically for a $15 fee. A 2003 law guaranteed access to free credit reports once a year. Today, consumers may see their reports once a week. Industry leaders say they want consumers to read their reports, and to help credit agencies spot and fix potential errors. “The consumer reporting industry shares the same goal as consumers, advocates, and regulators when it comes to credit reports: they should be accurate and complete,” the Consumer Data Industry Association, a group that represents the credit bureaus, said about the new report in a statement to USA TODAY. “The nationwide credit reporting agencies are working diligently across the financial ecosystem to achieve that goal,” the statement said. “The entire business model of these companies is predicated on accuracy: when the information is accurate, everyone wins.” Credit agency complaints nearly doubled in a year Consumer watchdogs say the credit bureaus should do a better job. Credit agencies are the most common subject of complaints filed to the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to research by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). Complaints about credit reporting nearly doubled between 2021 and 2022, the nonprofit found. Most complaints concerned allegations of improper use of credit reports, errors, or problems with getting an agency to correct mistakes, said Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director at PIRG. The credit bureaus “have not served consumers well for decades,” Murray said. “It’s gotten better, but it’s still a huge problem.” Complaints are increasing, in part, because consumers have better access to their credit reports and are more keenly aware of them, she said. The massive Equifax data breach in 2017 raised public awareness of credit reports and their vulnerability. In the Consumer Reports investigation, 872 consumers said they found errors in their credit reports about financial information: accounts they didn’t recognize, payments wrongly reported as late or missed, and debtcollection efforts of which they were not aware, among other issues. ‘I had no idea this could happen’ One consumer volunteer in the watchdog study was Tammy Chambers, 55, of Tacoma, Washington. When Chambers reviewed her Experian credit report, earlier this year, she found four delinquent loans totaling more than $2,000. None of them were hers. Chambers said an identity thief took out the consumer installment loans in her name more than a year ago. When the loans went delinquent, her credit score sank from nearly 800 to “maybe 520,” she said. She spent months working with the loan company and the credit agency, trying to get the debts removed, to no avail. “I did my due diligence,” she said. “I had no idea this could happen.” Chambers finally got the debts expunged this spring. According to Consumer Reports, most of the fault lay not with Experian but with the company that issued the loans, which kept reporting them on Chambers’ account long after she had filed disputes. Hundreds of other consumers in the watchdog study found mistaken personal information, including incorrect addresses and wrong or misspelled names. Errors on credit reports can unfairly damage credit score Financial errors involving delinquent accounts are worrisome, consumer advocates say, because they can unfairly damage your credit score. “Anything that’s reporting debt and collections that’s not yours, that is going to pull that score down 30, 40, 50 points, sometimes more,” Gill said. Credit Continued from Page 1B

MONEY USA TODAY ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ 3B Credit agencies, you might say, are akin to nagging parents. They watch and judge from a distance, rewarding responsible behavior and punishing delinquency. And credit scores? They seem a bit like personal Yelp ratings. Miss a payment or max out a credit card, and the mysterious three-digit metric drifts down. Pay your bills and retire your debt, and it floats back up. For the struggling consumer, industry critics say, the whole credit system might feel a little Big Brother-ish. And these particular Big Brothers make errors. A recent investigation by Consumer Reports found that nearly half of credit reports prepared by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion contained mistakes, some of them costly to the consumer’s credit. If you’re starting to fret, take heart: Anyone, in theory, can go online and read their credit reports on a site called AnnualCreditReport.com. And that’s what I did. I was writing a story about errors in credit reports. Why not read my own? I have good credit. Lately, though, it seems like my credit score has flown up and down like a stock market ticker. I get a notice about an “updated” score roughly once a week. I’m not buying cars or opening credit card accounts, so what’s with all the activity? I got curious. Reading your credit report: ‘Was that ever my phone number?’ I’m no stranger to credit reports. I’ve read mine before: once when I was angry that my score wasn’t higher, and again when I read about the big data breach, several years back, that allegedly delivered credit data to Chinese hackers. Each time I’ve glimpsed my credit report, I’ve spotted a few errors and oddities. Nothing huge – the document never had me living in Alaska or financing a Lamborghini – but a lot of little stuff: Why are they listing that job from three decades ago, but not the new one? Was that ever my phone number? And why can no one ever nail the correct spelling of my weird Belgian surname? This time around, I was expecting errors, but nothing big or scary. Like I said: I have good credit. And so, one recent afternoon, I found my way to AnnualCreditReport.com and clicked on “Request your free credit reports.” The landing page spelled out three simple steps: Fill out a form, pick the reports you want, and then hit the button. Soon enough, though, I found myself deep in the weeds of “verification,” that dreaded dance between a consumer and a computer that wants you to prove you are not another computer. Experian: One credit report down, two to go I engaged with Experian, the first agency on my list. A prompt asked for my email address and cellphone number. A numerical code appeared on my phone. I entered it on my computer. Not quite satisfied, the credit agency fed me a series of multiple-choice identity questions about mortgages and car loans. I clicked on the ones that rang familiar. And, voila! A 49-page credit report appeared on my screen. I hit download, and I proceeded to the next credit agency on my list, TransUnion. The site prompted me for my cellphone and email: I would have to verify myself all over again. I did, and TransUnion seemed satisfied. Then, this message appeared on the computer screen: “Unfortunately, your request cannot be fulfilled online at this time.” I would have to call or write – mail an actual letter – to get my second credit report. Ugh. I moved on to Equifax’s site. For a third time, I was asked for my email and cellphone. I confirmed my identity, or so I thought. “We’re sorry,” the site responded, “we are unable to process your request at this time.” I could try again later, the message said. Or call. Or write. For my efforts, I had only one credit report and no clear reason why I couldn’t get the others. And that left me uneasy. Creditors can take their pick among the three agencies in reviewing my credit, and any of them can make an error. Ideally, experts say, you want to see all three of your reports. What’s in a credit report? Eight names, 12 addresses, 25 creditors I opened my Experian credit report and dove in. My credit dossier unfolded before my eyes: eight versions of my name, 12 addresses, two employers, and a whopping 25 credit accounts, stretching back to the George W. Bush administration. The eight names turned out to be alternate spellings and misspellings of my immigrant-y moniker: Daniel Devise. Daniel Divise. Daniel Romain Devise. Daniel Romaine Devise. Most of the dozen addresses were correct, or close enough. They spanned more than 20 years. A few belonged to my mother, places I’d never lived. The form listed three phone numbers. Two were current. One was a digit off. Under “Employers,” the form listed two: “Self employed,” and San Diego Union. Both items were accurate, sort of. I haven’t been self-employed since 2022. I haven’t worked for the San Diego newspaper since 1997. The remaining 45 pages unfurled a tedious tally of creditors, current and past. I didn’t see anything unseemly. I didn’t look too hard, as none of the 25 accounts showed a delinquency. In the end, I found nothing scary. I wondered, though, what anyone else reading the report would make of my eight names and dozen addresses: It looked like the profile of someone on the run. Credit report errors: What counts as harmful or dangerous? I ran my findings by Lisa Gill, the investigative reporter at Consumer Reports who wrote up their study. “What you described doesn’t sound too far off from the norm,” she said. The errors and oddities I found are “annoying,” she said, and don’t inspire confidence in the whole credit-reporting endeavor. But I had uncovered nothing harmful. What would count as harmful? A delinquent account that isn’t really delinquent, or that isn’t even yours, Gill said. Personal information that clearly belongs to another person. In the worst case, that could suggest identity theft. I also spoke to two Experian officials. All of those names and addresses, they said, appear exactly as they were reported to the agency by my creditors. Experian wants me to see them all, so I can spot any errors. They told me, in case I was worried, that none of the identifying information, accurate or not, would affect my credit score. ‘We have received your information’ I hadn’t given up on the quest to read my other two credit reports. I called the toll-free number for the Annual Credit Report Request Service. An automated attendant asked for my name, address, Social Security Number and date of birth. I punched in some answers and spoke others. The attendant didn’t always hear me. After a few minutes of back-andforth, the attendant played this message: “We have received your information. Your request will be processed and mailed within 15 days.” And so, after tussling with technology new and old, text messages and telephone calls, computer downloads and the U.S. Mail, I should have copies of all three of my credit reports ... sometime before Flag Day. Credit reports reveal wide-range of info One reporter found 8 versions of own name Daniel de Visé USA TODAY For the struggling consumer, industry critics say, the whole credit system might feel a little Big Brother-ish. ALEXIALEX/GETTY IMAGES There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and no matter what the internet may try to tell you, there’s also basically no such thing as a free upgrade on a plane anymore. You can’t “hack” your way into the pointy end of the plane by wearing a collared shirt or flirting with your flight attendant. You’re not going to get a lie-flat bed by asking nicely at the gate, and no one is popping Dom Perignon as a predeparture beverage for you just because you think you have a strategic check-in time. “It’s just not going to happen,” Brett Snyder, author of the blog Cranky Flier and owner of the travel agency Cranky Concierge, told me. Part of the problem is airplanes are just fuller now than they used to be, and airlines have gotten smarter about pricing their seats. “First class fares used to be so high that people wouldn’t buy them, and instead you just had massive numbers of elite upgrades and all different sorts of people sitting up there that weren’t paying for it, they were just getting it as a perk,” Snyder said. “At some point, the airlines realized, if we start pricing this as a fare upsell, we can get people to actually pay for these seats. Now you have a lot fewer seats that are available for an upgrade because people are buying.” As someone who has paid cash more than once to upgrade, I can vouch for this. Suppose the price is reasonable and I’m feeling generous to myself at the check-in counter. In that case, I’ll happily spend the extra money to guarantee myself a more comfortable seat, especially on a long flight. It cuts the other way, too. I once flew overnight from New York to Paris and was willing to spend a few hundred dollars to upgrade myself to a lie-flat seat at the gate if the option was available. The airline quoted me almost $1,000 to upgrade, and the seats wound up occupied by non-paying passengers who worked for the airline instead. From the perspective of the airline’s bottom line and my own comfort, that was a bad pricing decision. “If people had too much ability to upgrade travelers at the gate (for free) or whatever it was, that was likely something that was leaving money on the table for them,” Snyder said. So, how can you get upgraded? There are no hacks, but here’s my advice. Pay “The best way to get a premium seat is to pay for it. This is not rocket science, this is kind of basic,” Snyder told me. “That’s what it comes down to. The majority of seats and the majority of people who sit in the front cabins are paying for it. That’s the most surefire way to make sure you’re going to get it.” You just can’t count on getting an upgrade when so many people are willing and able to pay for the luxury. Airlines are also pricing their premium cabins more liberally now. Business travel still has not fully bounced back to its prepandemic levels, but there’s been strong and steady demand in the premium leisure segment, and airlines have taken note. They’ve priced things to entice people to buy up during their personal travel, even when their company isn’t footing the bill. You can, of course, pay right at the beginning of your booking by buying a premium ticket when you first get your flights, but you should also keep an eye on cash upgrade offers right up until departure time. You never know what the airline revenue management gods will make available. Pay (but differently) “But Zach,” I hear you saying, “I’m an ultra-elite frequent flyer, and I get free upgrades all the time.” To which I say: No, you don’t. You may not be paying out of pocket for those upgrade perks at the gate, but that doesn’t mean you’re not paying for them at all. To get frequent flyer status, you need to spend a bunch of money with the airline or an even bigger bunch of money on one of its co-branded credit cards, which likely also has a hefty annual fee. One way or the other, you’re paying for that upgrade, even if it’s not directly. Frequent flyers also usually have lots of loyalty points, which, again, they have to pay to earn, but those points or miles can be useful for securing upgrades. “You can also use miles to upgrade, even if you don’t have status,” Snyder said. In addition to cash upgrades, airlines often let you redeem miles for buy-ups to premium cabins. Pay (but less) Maybe you’ve decided it’s just too much effort or too financially taxing to upgrade yourself to business class, and that’s OK. You have other options. “You can always pay for extra legroom seating, but depending on the airline, that can be a very modest upsell,” Snyder said. It’s usually not as expensive to upgrade from a regular economy seat to an extra-legroom economy seat, and if all you care about is a little more knee space, this can be a good option. Have hope “Don’t expect that you’re going to be able to game the system and find this magical loophole. It’s just not going to happen. So figure out what you’re OK with and make sure you have that arrangement before you get to the airport,” Snyder said. “If you’re booking something you absolutely cannot tolerate – you’re 7 feet tall and book coach on Spirit, don’t do that.” If you’re determined not to pay for anything above the lowest economy fare, you can always pray for an empty adjacent seat. CRUISING ALTITUDE To get a nicer airplane seat you’ll have to pay Zach Wichter USA TODAY

4B ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ USA TODAY MONEY For Royal Caribbean cruise passengers, it pays to be a repeat customer. Royal Caribbean Group announced a new loyalty status match program on Thursday, allowing guests to get equivalent status across its Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises brands. “As we orbit around our customers, this new program gives them one center of gravity to orbit around us,” president and CEO Jason Liberty told USA TODAY in an email. “We are always looking for new ways to enhance our guest experiences across our portfolio. We have many loyal guests who sail with each of our brands, and now, we are giving them new ways to explore the world, with the right product to meet them for all of life’s moments.” How does Royal Caribbean Group Loyalty Status Match work? Passengers who are enrolled in more than one of the brands’ loyalty programs can get one-for-one matches. Faithful Royal Caribbean International guests who have moved through the ranks of its Crown & Anchor Society can try a cruise with Silversea for the first time, for example, and board with equivalent-tier status in the line’s Venetian Club – and enjoy the associated perks. Travelers can find more information on the company’s website. Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity already had some limited reciprocity, but the new program is more comprehensive. “Our new Loyalty Status Match program will allow our loyal guests to try each of our brands, and a product will exist for them without compromise,” Liberty said. Guests’ status will be automatically matched within seven days of being enrolled in more than one brand’s program. When will the program take effect? Passengers can access onboard benefits through the status match program starting with cruises departing on or after Wednesday. What are the perks of cruise loyalty programs? Cruise line loyalty programs give guests a number of perks that can help make travel easier and save them money. Benefits for Celebrity’s Captain’s Club members, for instance, range from a special newsletter and welcome event to specialty dining discounts and complimentary laundry, among others. Liberty said during an earnings call in April that the company was seeing repeat guests more than 30% higher than 2019. The status match program “not only rewards our loyal guests across the fleet but adds new ways for them to experience our products and see the world,” he said in the email. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas ship. PROVIDED BY ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL Royal Caribbean launches loyalty status match program Nathan Diller USA TODAY Is fast food becoming a luxury? Yes, say four-fifths of Americans in a new survey about fast-food inflation. Fast food prices are up 4.8% since last year and 47% since 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In a new survey of more than 2,000 consumers, the personal finance site LendingTree found that many diners are wincing at their restaurant receipts. Among the findings: h 78% of consumers said they view fast food as a luxury because of its cost. h 62% said they are eating less fast food because of rising prices. h 65% said they’ve been shocked by a fast-food bill in the last six months. h 75% said it’s cheaper to eat at home. The LendingTree survey, conducted in April, was published May 20. “For generations, American families have looked at fast food as a relatively cheap, inexpensive option for nights where you don’t want to cook after work, or you’re bringing the kids home from soccer practice,” said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. Want a cheap meal? Make it yourself, consumers say Yet, as prices rise, opinions are changing. When the LendingTree survey asked consumers to name their typical go-to choice for an easy, inexpensive meal, 56% chose “making food at home.” Only 28% picked fast food. The fast-food price surge inspired a recent USA TODAY analysis of combomeal prices at five major burger chains. The report found that a Big Mac combo now costs nearly $15 in Seattle. It tracked rising prices across the board, topping out at $20 for a meal at Five Guys. This year, a Five Guys receipt totaling $24.10 for one meal went viral, sparking a heated debate about runaway fast-food prices. “It’s so upsetting because it goes against what we are expecting and what we have grown to love about fast food,” which is its affordability, said Kimberly Palmer, personal finance expert at NerdWallet. On top of the sticker shock, rumors circulated recently that Wendy’s and other chains were experimenting with “surge pricing,” the technique of charging customers more at peak hours. Officials at Wendy’s assured customers they had no surge-pricing plans. Nonetheless, in the LendingTree survey, 78% of Americans said they are concerned about surge pricing. “There’s kind of the perception or the feeling that some businesses are bumping up prices more than they need to because of inflation,” Schulz said. Diners may be retreating from the drive-thru Industry data suggest diners may be retreating from the drive-thru. Several fast-food chains, including McDonald’s and Wendy’s, charted a decline in business in the last quarter “as low-income customers have pulled back from spending,” according to the industry journal Restaurant Dive. In response, “many operators are planning value-oriented offerings this year to bring customers back,” the report said. Burger King unveiled a trove of deals and discounts last week for members of its loyalty program, one of several promotions loosely tied to Tuesday’s National Hamburger Day. Wendy’s recently rolled out a 1-cent cheeseburger. McDonald’s reportedly plans a series of $5 meal deals. “McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King and Jack in the Box are all preparing bundled value meals this summer in a bid to regain customer traffic,” according to Restaurant Business, another industry journal. High prices aside, most Americans still make at least the occasional McDonald’s run. In the LendingTree survey, three-quarters of consumers said they eat fast food at least once a week. Is fast food becoming a luxury? Drive-thru diners balk at prices Daniel de Visé USA TODAY Walgreens is lowering prices on more than 1,300 products across different categories as part of a summer savings promotion, the company announced Wednesday. The company also plans to introduce a “series of promotional campaigns,” including the return of myW days in mid-July. The pharmacy chain, which operates nearly 9,000 retail locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, said in a news release the price cuts would affect national and store brand products across “health and wellness, personal care and seasonal categories.” “Walgreens understands our customers are under financial strain and struggle to purchase everyday essentials,” said Tracey D. Brown, EVP and president of Walgreens Retail, and chief customer officer. “We continue to be committed to our customers by lowering prices on over a thousand additional items, something we’ve been doing since October of 2023.” Walgreens is the latest retailer this month to offer consumers price cuts on hundreds of goods. Target announced earlier this month that around 5,000 of its frequently shopped items will see prices reduced in the coming weeks, and Aldi also announced it will be dropping prices on more than 250 items this summer to combat inflation. Which products are included in the sale? The pharmacy chain did not disclose all of the products that would have prices reduced, but the following items are included: h One a Day 80 count Men’s and Women’s Gummy Vitamins now $11.99 (was $13.49) h Always Pad Mod Regular (20 count) now $6.99 (was $7.49) h Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser now $6.99 (was $7.99) h Eucerin Advance Repair Hand Cream now $5.99 (was $7.29) h Kanka Soft Brush Tooth and Gum Pain Gel 0.07 ounce now $7.99 (was $9.79) h Salonpas Pain Relief Patch now $10.99 (was $11.99) h Nine (9) Can Igloo Hard Cooler now $25.00 (was $29.99) h Squishmallow 16” plush now $20.00 (was $24.99) h Bring on the Sun Youth Dive Rings and Goggles now $3.00 (was $4.99) h Lasko 20” Box Fan now $25.00 (was $29.99) h Nice! Mini Pretzels now $1.99 (was $2.79) h Nice! Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips now $1.99 (was $2.79) Walgreens notes that prices may vary by location and also can vary online and in the Walgreens app. Walgreens announces return of myW days MyW days, set to return in mid-July, include bonus offers and Walgreens Cash rewards in-store and online on select days. “Through myWalgreens loyalty program, our more than 110 million members receive personalized offerings daily. Listening to our customers and offering quality products, value, and convenience every day is our continued commitment,” Brown said in the news release. Walgreens limits online sales of Gummy Mango candy Walgreens is struggling to keep a certain candy in stock after it went viral. The drug store chain has had to limit sales of its wildly popular Gummy Mango peelable candy to one bag per customer, Walgreens confirmed to USA TODAY last month, though the limit is online only, a spokesperson with the company said. The product is a part of Walgreens’ Nice! brand and sells for around $1.99 on-site and online. “We’re really excited about the popularity of the Nice! Mango Gummy Candy,” Marty Esarte, vice president of Walgreens’ owned brands told Today. “Because of the success of the item, we’re currently expanding inventory of our mango item to 8,000 stores on May 22.” The peelable treat was released in about 2,500 stores across the country last fall, Today reported. And though it was popular from the beginning, it sold out in four days nationwide after a TikTok review about it blew up in January. Contributing: Emilee Coblentz, USA TODAY Walgreens lowering prices on over 1,300 products Snacks, vitamins and more to be included Gabe Hauari USA TODAY Walgreens notes that prices may vary by location and also can vary online. JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES Administrators of popular pro-Palestine groups are spreading antisemitic hate on Facebook and parent company Meta isn’t doing enough to stop them. That’s the finding of a new study from the Center for Countering Digital Hate. Tests run by researchers in 10 Facebook groups with a combined 300,000 members found that the majority – 76% – of anti-Jewish hate speech was ignored by administrators and 91% of accounts posting anti-Jewish hate were not removed. When researchers reported antisemitic posts to Facebook, moderators did not take any action in 99% of the cases. “Nefarious individuals have cynically embedded themselves in leadership positions in Facebook Groups that serve as meeting places for well-meaning people to express their solidarity with the Palestinian cause,” Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, said in the study. “We found that most content in these groups primarily entailed political criticisms of the Israeli government and solidarity with Palestinian people. “However, Facebook’s negligent design has made it easy for these groups to be run by antisemites who drip-feed lies and exhortations to hate and discrimination against Jews, while the platform itself fails to take responsibility for content moderation.” In a statement, Meta said hate speech is prohibited on its platforms and in groups, whether they are public or private. Facebook removes hate speech when it is found, even if it is not reported, the company said. “If group admins break our rules, we also take action, which can include removing the admins or disabling the group,” Meta said. Since the Oct. 7 attacks and the Gaza conflict, America has seen an alarming surge in antisemitism, from Nazi propaganda to Holocaust denial. Concerned that social media platforms are helping hate reach a wide audience, President Joe Biden this month denounced “vicious propaganda on social media.” Last week, representatives from Meta, Google owner Alphabet, TikTok, X, formerly Twitter, and Microsoft met with the Biden administration which is urging the technology companies to take action against antisemitic content. U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt, requested dedicated staff to combat antisemitism and report on trends, Bloomberg reported. Antisemitism spreading on Facebook, study claims Posts were found in pro-Palestine groups Jessica Guynn USA TODAY

MONEY USA TODAY ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ 5B News from across the USA ALABAMA Talladega: The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind is adding an automotive manufacturing program. The institute is partnering with East AlabamaWorks to offer the program, according to a news release. ALASKA Ketchikan: Rep. Dan Ortiz said he will no longer run for reelection after his doctor recommended that he curb his stress, KRBD reported. ARIZONA Phoenix: Wildfires in Arizona are burning hotter, faster and more often, in part due to a selection of invasive plant species taking over the desert environment, according to a report by nature experts. ARKANSAS Little Rock: Four school districts will receive federal funds to replace older school buses with clean-running ones, KARK reported. CALIFORNIA Yreka: Siskiyou County is about to open its first year-round shelter for homeless people, where the adults staying there can also receive treatment for drug and alcohol addiction and any mental health challenges they face. COLORADO Pueblo: The city of Pueblo is getting a $270,000 grant from the Colorado Energy Office to install geothermal heat pumps at three new net-zero fire stations in town, which should help lower energy bills in the future. CONNECTICUT New Haven: Yale University named Maurie McInnis as its new president. She is the first woman to be selected for the top position in a non-interim capacity since the Ivy League school was founded in 1701. McInnis will join the flagship New Haven school on July 1. DELAWARE Wilmington: Delaware College of Art and Design announced it will be “winding down operations in the coming weeks” – then closing permanently. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington: A tourism organization announced that nearly 26 million people visited D.C. in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and breaking a record set in 2019, WUSA reported. FLORIDA Tallahassee: U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz didn’t get his way last year when he sought to give Eglin Air Force Base personnel the right to fire munitions into the Department of Defense’s vast Gulf of Mexico Test Range without considering the harm that might inflict on population of the Rice’s Whale, one of the world’s most endangered marine mammal species. Florida’s First District congressman has again introduced legislation asking his colleagues to support Air Force exemptions to the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammals Protection Act. GEORGIA Waynesboro: Gov. Brian Kemp and dozens of others gathered at Plant Vogtle last week to commemorate the completion of reactor Unit 3 and 4 in Georgia Power’s yearslong nuclear expansion project. HAWAII Honolulu: The Pokemon World Championships will be held in Honolulu for the first time ever, Hawaii News Now reported. IDAHO Nampa: A family is transforming the former Nampa Reel Theatre into a new indoor sports center, which is set to open this month, KTVB reported. ILLINOIS Chicago: Police crowd control tactics could cause “escalating tensions” and constitutional violations against lawful demonstrators, the city’s inspector general warned, sounding the alarm for potential problems at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in August. INDIANA Bloomington: Meetings, committee reports, planning sessions, focus groups, citizen demands and even a federal lawsuit have failed to produce concrete plans to replace Monroe County’s crowded and dilapidated jail. The latest proposal, from a construction management firm, is a 450-to-500-bed jail that could house 70% more than the current one. IOWA Ames: Residential housing may be on its way to the Iowa State University Research Park. The Ames City Council approved the first reading of a zoning amendment allowing mixed-use development in the park’s Hub Activity Area. KANSAS Elkhart: The former CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Elkhart pleaded guilty to embezzling $47 million in bank funds to funnel into a cryptocurrency scam. KENTUCKY Alexandria: A Northern Kentucky high school student’s graduation speech sparked debate after he urged his classmates to seek Jesus Christ as “your answer” for “the way, the truth and life.” He didn’t receive his diploma and was asked to meet with his school principal because he added the religious message to his pre-approved speech, according to videos he posted on TikTok. LOUISIANA Lafayette: Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet has named an interim chief of police after Judith Estorge resigned as chief due to personal reasons. MAINE Kittery: Town Manager Kendra Amaral proposed a $19.7 million municipal budget for fiscal year 2025, looking to add more full-time firefighters and citing inflationary pressures and anticipated collective bargaining pay increases. MARYLAND Annapolis: Vehicle registration fees are scheduled to increase this summer, paving the way for additional money in the state’s Transportation Trust Fund used to pay for projects to help get residents from A to B. The last time vehicle registration prices were updated was December 2020, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Administration website. MASSACHUSETTS Boston: The Bay State has been identified as having the 10th highest annual car insurance costs in the country, according to new research released by MarketWatch Guides. Annual costs statewide came to an average of $873, alongside an 8.8% rate of uninsured drivers. MICHIGAN Lansing: The Michigan Department of Education failed in the pandemic to ensure some students with disabilities received the education guaranteed to them by federal law and worsened issues for those vulnerable students, an investigation has found. MINNESOTA Lakeville: A man has been arrested after police say he killed and dismembered his pregnant sister and placed her body parts on a stranger’s front porch. MISSISSIPPI Starkville: Mississippi State University is now the first university in Mississippi to offer a degree in artificial intelligence, even though AI has been taught there and at other Mississippi universities for years. MISSOURI Springfield: An episode of the documentary “Discovering Dickerson Park Zoo” recently won a 2024 Student Emmy Award. It was created by students from Missouri State University’s communication, media, journalism and film department. MONTANA Helena: Gov. Greg Gianforte, Attorney General Austin Knudsen and several Supreme Court candidates spent significant money on advertising between midApril and mid-May as they get ready for Tuesday’s primary, and the former two are already gearing up for the November election, according to campaign finance filings, The Daily Montanan reported. NEBRASKA Milford: Southeast Community College in Milford is seeking to transform its 100-yearold Nebraska Hall from a dormitory into a new student center, Lincoln Journal Star reported. NEVADA Sparks: The City Council voted unanimously to pay Maureen Hvegholm $500,000 related to claims that a firefighter knocked her down while she was trying to feed feral cats near a fire station. NEW HAMPSHIRE Somersworth: Rep. Gerri Cannon, D-Somersworth, one of the first two openly transgender women to serve in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, is set to retire at the end of the 2024 legislative session. NEW JERSEY East Orange: An $83.3 million grant was announced for wide-ranging repairs and upgrades to NJ Transit’s Brick Church station, one of eight awards announced through the All Stations Accessibility Program, a federal grant program created two and a half years ago when the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act was signed into law. NEW MEXICO Farmington: A second group has taken advantage of a city of Farmington program that provides funding for enterprises designed to raise the city’s profile as an outdoor recreation destination. Members of the Farmington City Council voted to sign on as a $10,000 sponsor for the CliffHangers Four Wheel Drive Club and the organization’s Four Corners 4x4 Week, a series of events that includes community gatherings and off-road adventures, including the WE Rock Grand Nationals competition in Chokecherry Canyon. NEW YORK Owego: In a “major win” for Lockheed Martin’s Owego plant, over $400 million has been allotted to the Combat Rescue Helicopter Program and a new Intel partnership will introduce microchip installation at the Tioga County plant. NORTH CAROLINA Hendersonville: Team Ecco, the organization responsible for the now-internet famous Charlotte the stingray, has shared an update about the animal amid mounting scrutiny. Charlotte captured attention across the U.S. in February when Team Ecco announced she had become pregnant despite being the only female stingray held in her enclosure. Now, says the team, it has been discovered Charlotte has developed “a rare reproductive disease that has negatively impacted her reproductive system.” NORTH DAKOTA Eddy County: A man has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for a shooting at a bar in 2023 that left one man dead, KVRR reported. OHIO Akron: After decades of planning, several hundred people remembered the impact of the abolitionist’s courage and wisdom at the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza’s dedication last week. The 10,000- square-foot plaza opened 173 years to the day after Truth advocated for the rights of Black women with her “Ain’t I A Woman?” speech in nearly the exact location. OKLAHOMA Oklahoma City: A state representative has been fined more than $17,000 and ordered to repay another $18,000 to her campaign fund for state campaign violations, under a settlement agreement issued by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. OREGON Falls City: A massive debris flow has brought a long-term closure to the Valley of the Giants, a popular hike through some of Oregon’s oldest and largest trees in the Coast Range. PENNSYLVANIA Erie: Expansive environmental cleanups at two vacant Erie industrial properties – sites where tons of potentially dangerous materials were abandoned – are getting a $5 million boost from the federal government. RHODE ISLAND Providence: Rhode Island ranks among the top four states with safest hospitals in the U.S., according to a spring report from Leapfrog. Overall, nearly half of Rhode Island hospitals received an A grade this spring, the highest bestowed by the consumer watchdog group, while two were graded B and three C. None received a D or F. SOUTH CAROLINA Spartanburg: Gov. Henry McMaster held a ceremonial signing in Spartanburg for two bills focused on children. House Bill 4624, called the Help not Harm Bill, bans certain medical care for transgender youth, while House Bill 3424, or the Child Online Safety Act, restricts access to pornographic websites for minors by requiring the websites to have age verification. SOUTH DAKOTA De Smet: A rural county known mainly as the former home of author Laura Ingalls Wilder is on the precipice of rapid growth as two record-setting agricultural processing plants are proposed for the area, South Dakota News Watch reported. If the planned projects – the state’s largest individual dairy farm with up to 25,000 cows and a nearly $1 billion biofuels plant – both come to fruition, Kingsbury County could see a sudden surge in its population, economy and tax base. TENNESSEE Nashville: Dolly Parton’s “Threads: My Songs in Symphony,” her new symphonic storytelling experience, is set to make its worldwide debut with the Nashville Symphony March 20, 2025. The program explores the various “Threads” of Parton’s life through her songs and the stories behind them in an experience that features Parton on screen leading audiences on a journey of her songs, her life and her stories. TEXAS Austin: The State Board of Education is on track to approve a new set of classroom materials, including state-developed resources, that Texas Education Agency officials hope will deliver more rigorous academic instruction to students and help newer teachers create content for classroom lessons. UTAH Salt Lake City: The Utah Education Association announced that it is suing Utah over the state’s Utah Fits All school voucher program, KUTV reported. VIRGINIA Waynesboro: Every Saturday, children under 18 years old can receive a free $5 vegetable coupon to use at the Waynesboro Farmers Market, according to a news release from Project GROWS. Thanks to Project GROWS and Molina Healthcare, the Veggie Bucks program allows children the opportunity to “purchase” fresh, locally grown produce, for free. WASHINGTON Seattle: Seattle’s top cop has been dismissed and reassigned to a new role amid hiring challenges as well as mounting lawsuits against the police department alleging gender and racial discrimination. WEST VIRGINIA Charleston: Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia officially left the Democratic Party and registered as an independent. WISCONSIN Milwaukee: Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport has been busy preparing for the Republican National Convention in July, and with that will come an influx of private jets – about 200 of them. The airport expects around 200 or more private aircraft to arrive at the airport and drop off attendees. WYOMING Cody: The Wyoming Game and Fish Department relocated an adult male grizzly bear due to cattle depredation on private land, Casper Star-Tribune reported. From USA TODAY Network and wire reports HIGHLIGHT: VERMONT Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department botanist Grace Glynn inspects a dense growth of false mermaid-weed. PROVIDED BY VERMONT FISH & WILDLIFE Addison County: A delicate annual herb and Vermont native is back from the presumed dead. Botanists with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department have discovered a population of false mermaid-weed along a stream in Addison County. The plant has not been seen in Vermont since 1916, and was believed to be extinct in the state. “We’ve been searching for this plant for years,” Grace Glynn, a Fish and Wildlife botanist, said in a news release. Glynn said the population was found earlier this month by Molly Parren, a turtle technician at Vermont Fish and Wildlife.

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New East champion Panthers return to Stanley Cup Final in better shape than last year, 3C Gauff and Swiatek sweep into French Open quarters, 3C See who won Game 6 of the NHL Western Conference finals series between the Stars and Oilers Latest news, results, opinions 24/7 at sports.usatoday.com E2 SPORTS USA TODAY | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | SECTION C Four years since the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis ignited a racial reckoning across America and inspired a reported 1,100 organizations to pledge some $200 billion to racial justice initiatives supporting DEI – diversity, equity and inclusion – it is a different climate now. The U.S. Supreme Court last year issued a ruling that restricted race-conscious college admissions. At least 30 states have passed or introduced legislation that eliminates or restricts DEI initiatives. And in corporate America, anti-DEI backlash has gained steam. How’s this playing in the high-profile NFL? “The anti-DEI backlash has caused some companies to pause and others to double down on their DEI journey,” Cyrus Mehri, an attorney who helped craft the league’s Rooney Rule more than two decades ago, told USA TODAY Sports. “The companies that stay on track will have a competitive advantage. … The NFL is one of the companies that is steadfast and doubling down on its commitment to equal opportunity.” But the NFL hardly gets a pass. It wasn’t too long ago when the league bungled its handling of the Colin Kaepernick matter, resulting in the former Super Bowl quarterback being essentially banished from the league after inspiring a movement that protested the type of police conduct that was NFL becomes target of DEI backlash “We have more talented people when you see that diverse slate of candidates,” Roger Goodell says. USA TODAY Goodell counters that ‘diversity has made us better’ Jarrett Bell USA TODAY See NFL, Page 2C SAN DIEGO – It was just a month ago when Aaron Judge was being booed, Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole was still months away from pitching and the New York Yankees were still trying to find themselves. The Yankees could have gone in either direction, melted away under the weight and burden of surreal expectations while doubting themselves, or shrugged it off, strongly believing in each other so much that they would get the ultimate last laugh. “You know how it is, man,” Yankees starter Marcus Stroman, who signed a two-year, $37 million free agent contract, told USA TODAY Sports. “People love to doubt, man. But this team, we grew a brotherhood very quickly. It’s hard to beat the connection we all have. It’s very organic. It’s very authentic. You don’t feel pressure. You feel at home. “The Yankees allow everyone to be the best version of themselves. The Yankees wanted me to be here and be me. It wasn’t like they acquired me to be a different version of myself. They did their research and homework. Everybody gets to be their authentic selves here. (Alex) Verdugo gets to be himself. (Juan) Soto gets to be himself. (Aaron) Judge gets to be himself. ... And when everybody gets to be themselves, you get the best version out of everyone. “Just look at us now and the energy we have in here.” The Yankees, who finished their grueling 10-day, nine-game West Coast trip Sunday, went into the day as the best team in the American League, sitting in first place with a 40-19 record. They have gone 23-9 since Judge was booed on April 27 and have bludgeoned their opponents by a major league-leading 101 runs. Is this the best team Aaron Boone has had in his seven-year managerial career? Bob Nightengale Columnist USA TODAY Yankees put NY in WS state of mind Aaron Judge was the 2022 AL MVP and has turned his season around. ROBERT EDWARDS/USA TODAY SPORTS See NIGHTENGALE, Page 2C Stan Van Gundy selected his words with thought. He called Dallas Mavericks star guards Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic “the most talented backcourt in NBA history.” The TNT analyst was careful. He didn’t say “best” backcourt in history. He said talented. It’s a distinction. Doncic and Irving have prompted a discussion about their place among the all-time great backcourts. That’s sports talk show debate, and at the very least it’s a worthwhile conversation so that great backcourt combos are remembered in historical context. Knowing what Detroit’s Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars brought to the game is as important as understanding the impact and contribution Golden State’s Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have had. More specifically, Doncic and Irving are the best shot-making guards in the same backcourt the league has seen in a long time. Yes, Curry and Thompson have an argument, but in terms of creativity and proficiency, Doncic and Irving are a unique pair with their outside shooting and nifty work near the rim. Do they have enough shot-making – and defensive grit – to beat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals? Game 1 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday in Boston. Celtics will counter with Tatum and Brown And the Celtics also have two talented shot-making perimeter players in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Doncic and Irving, and Tatum and Brown are the stars in the series, and while others will help determine the outcome, those four will have the biggest impact. Irving has a title with the 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers, but Tatum and Brown or Doncic will win their first NBA title – the kind of achievement that begins to cement legacies. This is Doncic’s first Finals appearance, and Tatum and Brown lost to Golden State in the 2022 Finals. Irving will play in his fourth Finals, and he is responsible for one of the biggest shots in Game 7 Finals history, making the goahead and winning 3-pointer against Golden State with 53 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Doncic-Irving combination has worked in Dallas. It took time. The Mavs had searched for the right player around Doncic and tried with Kristaps Porzingis, who is now with Boston. Dallas acquired Irving from Brooklyn at the 2023 trade deadline, but the Mavs missed the play-in game and the playoffs (intentionally so they could retain their lottery pick in the draft). Doncic, who finished third in this season’s MVP voting, averaged a career high in points (33.9) and assists (9.8) and posted 9.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 48.7% from the field and 38.2% on 3s, another career high. Irving had an unappreciated season and just missed a spot in the respected 50-40-90 club. He shot 49.7% from the field, 41.1% on 3s and 90.5% on free throws and averaged 25.6 points, 5.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals. They have continued that production in the playoffs. Doncic and Irving have scored 51.6 points per game in 17 playoff games. Doncic has eight playoff games with at least 30 points, and Irving has six. Each scored 36 points in the decisive Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, marking the fourth time in this season’s playoffs that they have each NBA FINALS CELTICS VS. MAVERICKS The Mavericks backcourt tandem of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving has accounted for 51.6 points per game in 17 playoff games. Doncic has eight games with at least 30 points, and Irving has six. KEVIN JAIRAJ/USA TODAY SPORTS Title comes down to dueling backcourts Jeff Zillgitt USA TODAY NBA Finals On ABC; times Eastern Daylight Best-of-seven series; x-if necessary Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics Thursday, Game 1: at Boston, 8:30 p.m. June 9, Game 2: at Boston, 8 p.m. June 12, Game 3: at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. June 14, Game 4: at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. x-June 17, Game 5: at Boston, 8:30 p.m. x-June 20, Game 6: at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. x-June 23, Game 7: at Boston, 8 p.m. See NBA, Page 2C

2C ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ USA TODAY SPORTS scored at least 30 in the same game – an NBA record for a backcourt duo in the same playoffs. “It’s a beautiful combination,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “Those two play off of each other, and you can see that they care about one another. They’re in competition right now with who’s playing the best defense. And that’s kind of cool to see, because we used to look at Kai and Luka a lot of times they’re not known for our defensive guys, but they’re competing and it’s fun to see internally and it’s a healthy thing.” Can they keep that offense going against the Celtics? The Mavs just beat Minnesota, which owned the league’s best regular season defense. Now, they get the Celtics, who were No. 2 defensively and have better perimeter defenders than Minnesota when you include All-Defensive selections Jrue Holiday and Derrick White alongside Tatum and Brown. Boston will make it difficult on Doncic and Irving with double-teams on Doncic and different defenders on both players. The Celtics will try to wear them down. Will Doncic and Irving have enough to give defensively against the Celtics, who have four wings capable of scoring 20 points? That’s the next challenge, and so far the Mavs have aced whatever comes their way. NBA Continued from Page 1C “Look, we’ve had some special, talented teams since I’ve been here,” Boone said. “But the culture in this clubhouse, the way they act, the way they care about each other, this team takes the cake.” The Yankees can’t stress enough how close this team has become. It started in spring training getting to know newcomers Soto, Verdugo and Stroman, all arriving with strong resumes, but also strong personalities. Three months later they feel as if they’ve all been together their entire careers. “In spring training, everything just gelled together so organically, so nice,” said Yankees starter Nestor Cortes, 3-4 with a 3.30 ERA. “We knew who Juan Soto was. We knew who Verdugo was. We knew who Stroman was. But we didn’t know how it would relate in the clubhouse. “But we had so much fun in the spring, we couldn’t wait for the season to start. There was just a different vibe. We were excited knowing this had a chance to be a special year.” Well, so far, so great. The Yankees are playing like a team that could be having a November tickertape parade, excelling in every facet of the game. You want offense? Through Friday’s games, the Yankees led the major leagues with 86 home runs (64 since April 23) and led the league with a .335 on-base percentage and .769 on-base-plus slugging percentage. They were 36-7 when scoring at least three runs, the best in baseball. You want pitching? The Yankees’ major league-leading 2.75 ERA (baseball’s only team with a sub-3.00 mark) is the team’s lowest at this juncture since 1920. They held opponents to three or fewer runs in 38 games. The starting rotation – with Cody Poteet called up to replace injured Clarke Schmidt on Saturday – has been nothing short of phenomenal, going 14-2 with a 1.28 ERA in their last 18 starts since May 12. It’s the first time in franchise history that their starting rotation has pitched at least four innings in the first 59 games of a season. And then, of course, there is Judge. His May was one of the greatest months in baseball history, hitting .371 with 14 homers, 27 RBI, 12 doubles and a .928 slugging percentage. The only Yankee players with more extra-base hits in a month were a couple of fellas named Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig. Judge, who leads MLB with 21 home runs after hitting another on Saturday, should become the quickest player in baseball history to reach 300 home runs in his career. He has 278 homers in 895 games and 3,221 at-bats. The fastest to reach 300 homers in the fewest games is Sammy Sosa (1,052 games) and fewest at-bats is Babe Ruth (3,830). Oh, how one month can completely change the perception of a team. This is a team that missed out on the playoffs last season (82-80) and was dismissed as a serious World Series contender when Cole went down in spring training with elbow nerve inflammation. The same fans who were booing in April are suddenly wondering in June how they can get playoff tickets. “We had a lot of high expectations, especially coming off what happened last season,” said Judge, who was hitting .178 with four homers in the first 27 games. “When you wear the pinstripes, and play in New York, you’re expected to win. I think this going into camp we said, ‘Hey, we got to do it. We’ve got to go out there and grind and show people what we can do.’ … “There’s going to be bumps and bruises, good times and bad times. The most important thing is to stay focused and try to improve a little bit each day. But I can’t get caught up in what people are saying, or they’re not saying. I’ve got a job to do, especially in New York. You got to show up every single day. I wasn’t showing up, so I understand why there were a lot of questions.” And now? “I don’t know why people were saying that in the first place,” Cortes said. “Obviously, we miss Gerrit Cole. He’s the best pitcher in the big leagues. But you look up and down this rotation, and it’s pretty good. “I didn’t count us out by any means.” Well, considering Cole is expected back within a month, Luis Gil (Cole’s replacement) is a Cy Young candidate (7-1, 1.99 ERA) and there’s not a glaring flaw on this team to be found. “We obviously have had a good run,” Stroman said, “but we’re not reveling in it. We’re not like soaking it all in. We’re on to the next game. We’re process oriented, not results based. “If we keep putting our body and mind in a good position pretty much every game, we’ll end up just where we want to go.” Nightengale Continued from Page 1C A multiple-exposure photo of Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, who signed a two-year, $37 million free agent contract. CHADD CADY/USA TODAY SPORTS ultimately exposed with Floyd’s death. And two pending lawsuits – a class action suit headed by Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores that takes aim at Rooney Rule compliance, and another by former NFL Network reporter Jim Trotter that alleges retaliation by the league in not renewing his contract – raise other questions about the NFL’s employment playing field. Still, intense spotlight in tow, the NFL continues to increase its DEI efforts in significant areas while some companies roll back commitments. It has continued to expand the Rooney Rule, established in 2003 to originally mandate that teams interview at least one candidate of color for head coaching vacancies, to apply to a wide range of coaching and front office positions. It has conducted a so-called accelerator program since 2022 that supports rising coaches and prospective general managers. Other initiatives provide exposure for prospective on-field officials and scouts, and every NFL team has a fellowship program for college and entry-level coaches. “I can’t speak for other companies,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said at the conclusion of recent league meetings in Nashville, Tennessee. “I can only speak for the NFL. Diversity has made us better.” In mid-May, the league unveiled another initiative aimed at vendors, NFL Source. Three years in the making, the procurement program aims to standardize how the league and clubs use local businesses that are typically underrepresented, such as those owned by people of color and/or women. While league-operated events such as the Super Bowl and the NFL draft will have targets to meet, it’s unclear to what extent the 32 teams will opt-in to the program. One team owner and a club president from another team indicated to USA TODAY Sports that they aren’t sure because targets are already in place for using underrepresented local businesses. In any event, the new initiative holds the promise for allowing opportunities for more diversity in the business community, on the heels of the five team presidents of color named since 2020. This, while results still lag in some areas where the league has aimed to increase diverse opportunity. The NFL now boasts a record nine head coaches of color and eight general managers of color, yet for the first time since the Rooney Rule came into existence, there will be zero non-white coordinators this season. As in the role that still provides the most-populated path to becoming a head coach. “Requirements to the Rooney Rule, as an example, are to consider a diverse slate of candidates,” Goodell said. “It’s not a decision-making process. You hire the best people. I think that’s made us better because we have more talented people when you see that diverse slate of candidates.” Jonathan Beane, the NFL’s chief diversity officer, adds another layer to that thinking when considering broad, strategic goals. “We just fundamentally believe that DEI is good business,” Beane told USA TODAY Sports. “Look at what we want to achieve. We want to grow our fan base; we want to grow globally. You look at the younger population. Extremely diverse. We have to be committed to diversity and inclusion in order to connect with that.” There is pushback to such NFL philosophy, rooted in the politics of DEI backlash. Conservative group alleges ‘reverse discrimination’ in NFL In February, America First Legal – a conservative nonprofit group founded by Stephen Miller, formerly a senior policy adviser for former President Donald Trump – filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and requested an investigation into the NFL and its clubs alleging reverse discrimination because of the policies and programs aimed to bolster diversity and equal opportunity. According to the NFL, there is no pending action with the complaint. It’s also worth noting that no white coach has come forward publicly with an alleged reverse-discrimination charge. “America First’s letter is frivolous,” said Mehri, whose career has been highlighted by anti-discrimination cases. “The EEOC receives about 100,000 EEOC charges a year with evidence of discrimination in the workplace. They conduct dozens of investigations into systemic discrimination based on race, gender and so forth based on statistical and empirical evidence. America First showed up empty-handed with no victims and no statistical evidence.” Mehri’s conclusion brings to mind his work with the late Johnnie L. Cochran in the early 2000s, which led to the Rooney Rule, named after the late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney. Rooney had been named by then-commissioner Paul Tagliabue to chair the league’s new diversity committee (now chaired by his son, Steelers owner Art Rooney II). As they threatened a lawsuit decades ago, Cochran and Mehri presented a statistical report titled “Black Coaches in the National Football League: Superior Performance, Inferior Opportunities,” which was based on an analysis (conducted by economist Dr. Janice Madden) of hiring and firing of Black coaches over a 15-year period. Conversely, politics are seemingly at the root of pushback over the league’s DEI-based policies. According to The New York Times, the NFL is among more than 100 “woke corporations” targeted by America First in EEOC complaints, amicus briefs and lawsuits. The bullying tactics, if you will, haven’t prompted the NFL to budge as political winds intensify. “We’re trying to stay true to our North Star and make the NFL a reflection of our fans, bringing in the best and most talented people and vendors that we can,” Dasha Smith, an NFL executive vice president and chief administrative officer, told USA TODAY Sports. “So we’re just staying on course. I know that a number of organizations have pivoted a bit. We’ve made the intentional decision not to do that, to focus on just that a lot of our policies are about equal access to opportunity. It’s not losing that distinction. “There’s going to be that noise and you can let it distract you,” Smith added. “But we’re not going to do that.” Challenging the NFL from within The bigger threats to the league under the umbrella of diversity likely won’t come from outside entities. They could come from the Flores and Trotter cases that challenge the league from within. Although U.S. District Court Judge Valerie Caproni ruled that the bulk of Flores’ case (and that of co-plaintiffs Ray Horton and Steve Wilks) is to be settled in arbitration as stipulated in the standard contracts for NFL coaches (with Goodell serving as the arbiter), elements of Flores’ case alleging violations by the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Houston Texans in conducting what he considered “sham” interviews to comply with the Rooney Rule, and the league itself, can advance to federal court. As in open court, contrasting the secrecy of arbitration. The NFL has appealed that ruling. “The NFL is continuing to use all its efforts to push all the claims into confidential arbitration,” David Gottlieb, a partner at Wigdor Law, wrote in an email statement to USA TODAY Sports. The firm also represents Trotter, whose wrongful termination case received a boost on Wednesday when Judge Jed Radkoff issued a ruling rejecting the NFL’s motion to dismiss. Trotter, who publicly took Goodell and the league to task for employing no people of color in key off-air newsroom positions at the NFL Network – and accuses the league of not living up to the standards of diversity it espouses – did not have an arbitration clause in his contract. Open court it is. “The NFL is accustomed to avoiding accountability due to its enormous resources, immense power and arbitration agreements that it forced many employees to sign,” Gottlieb wrote. “Having lost this motion to dismiss, and with no arbitration agreement to hide behind, the NFL will finally be forced to answer for its conduct in an open and public forum.” NFL vs. the DEI backlash The NFL’s commitment to DEI is poised to be further tested. Then again, challenges are inherent to the commitment. Beane, the diversity officer, acknowledges the political climate and maintains that the NFL has a responsibility to be “unifiers.” Mehri expresses that hope in stronger language. “This backlash moment has many people concerned,” he said. “I see it as the last gasp of white nationalism and its treasonous authoritarian corollaries. I see a future – not too far down the road – where America will have a new birth of freedom and democracy rooted in an inclusive democracy where merit rises to the top and where there is more compassion and understanding of people of all backgrounds.” Which would be quite the measure of DEI in the NFL – and surely beyond. NFL Continued from Page 1C

SPORTS USA TODAY ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ 3C The Florida Panthers are returning to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row after beating the No. 1 overall New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 6 on Saturday night. And they might be in better shape than last year’s team as they seek their first Stanley Cup title. They’re scoring more goals, giving up fewer and have better special teams than last year’s team, which pulled off three consecutive upsets before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Panthers are also healthier and deeper. “The right pieces were added, some great pieces added, and just one mindset of doing whatever it took to get back to it,” Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said. “I think the guys who were here last year did an unbelievable job coming back for the start of camp with this on their mind.” They’re riding their system to perfection, with an aggressive forecheck making it difficult for opponents to get up the ice. And if they do get through, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is there to shut them down. He made 23 saves on Saturday and has allowed two or fewer goals in 10 of his last 11 games. The Panthers held New York’s Mika Zibanejad without a goal and limited Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin (who scored in the final minutes of Game 6) to one goal. NHL leading scorer Nikita Kucherov had no goals for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round and Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak had one in the second round. The Panthers outplayed the Rangers throughout most of the conference final and only goalie Igor Shesterkin’s brilliance (32 saves on Saturday) extended the series to six games. Florida allowed only one Rangers power-play goal. Sam Bennett gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead with 50 seconds left in the first period on a give-and-go with Evan Rodrigues. He ripped a shot over Shesterkin’s glove. Trade-deadline acquisition Vladimir Tarasenko added to the score with a goal in the third period, ending an eightgame goal drought. The Panthers have a 24-11 edge in scoring in the third period in these playoffs. The Panthers are the first team since the 2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins to return to the Final the year after losing in the championship round. That Penguins team beat the Detroit Red Wings for the title. Florida players this year didn’t touch the Prince of Wales Trophy, awarded to the Eastern Conference champions, after touching it last year. “I think we needed to do something different and that’s what we did,” captain Aleksander Barkov told reporters. What’s next for Panthers They’ll head to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row and third time overall. They are 1-8 in their two appearances. They’ll face either the Dallas Stars or Edmonton Oilers in the championship round. Edmonton had a 3-2 series lead and tried to clinch the Western Conference final Sunday night at home. Florida went 2-0 against each team in the regular season and will have home-ice advantage if the Oilers advance. The Panthers were expected to drop off because of early absences of defensemen Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad (offseason shoulder surgery). But they signed defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Dmitry Kulkov and Niko Mikkola to help them cope, plus forward Rodrigues. Tarasenko and Kyle Okposo were added at the trade deadline. “We are not done yet,” Tkachuk said. “We’re very happy with the way this playoffs has gone for us, winning the first three, but it’s a different feeling this year, for sure. I’m very proud of the effort from everybody.” What’s next for Rangers They went after big names at the 2023 trade deadline, including Tarasenko, and plugged gaps at this year’s deadline. In both cases, they fell short of their goal and became the latest Presidents’ Trophy winner to miss out on winning the Cup. The Rangers should be able to come back with most of their players. Offseason acquisitions Blake Wheeler and Erik Gustafsson are unrestricted free agents as are trade-deadline acquisitions Jack Roslovic, Alex Wennberg and Chad Ruhwedel. Kaapo Kakko is their top restricted free agent. Shesterkin and Alexis Lafreniere are entering the final years of their contracts and are eligible for an extension after July 1. Panthers in better shape for return to Cup Mike Brehm USA TODAY Panthers center Aleksander Barkov controls the puck against the Rangers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday in Sunrise, Florida. JIM RASSOL/USA TODAY SPORTS PARIS – Top seed Iga Swiatek of Poland, third-seeded Coco Gauff and Czech Marketa Vondrousova, the fifth seed, all posted sweeps Sunday to move into the quarterfinals of the French Open. The trio of reigning Grand Slam titleists each beat an unseeded opponent at Roland Garros in Paris. Swiatek blanked Russian Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0 in just 40 minutes, the shortest WTA Tour match ever for Swiatek. She is attempting to win her third straight title in Paris and fourth in five years. The numbers from the match show Swiatek’s dominance. She won 48 of 58 points – including 18 in a row at one stretch – and had 13 winners and two unforced errors. Potapova mustered just five winners against 19 unforced errors. As juniors, Potapova held the upper hand when playing Swiatek, but how that has changed in the ensuing years. “I remember she was always the player to beat me. I don’t think I won against her, and I lost some heartbreaking matches for me,” Swiatek said. “Honestly, there’s no point to think about that, but I had just a thought like that. It lasted two seconds, and then I was focusing on my work because that’s the best thing I can do.” Swiatek, who also won the 2022 US Open, said she has worked hard for her success. “I’m just proud of myself and the work that I’ve put to be in this place,” said Swiatek, who turned 23 on Friday. “Everything changed because I’m just older, and I play better.” Gauff, the current US Open champion, is just 20 and seeking her second final at the French Open, where she lost to Swiatek in 2022. She took another step toward the goal Sunday with a 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Gauff wasn’t quite as dominant as Swiatek – but close enough. She needed only an hour to complete the sweep, converting five of seven break chances and striking 19 winners compared to seven for her opponent. All of that in what she considers less than pristine conditions in Paris. “This week I feel like I’ve been managing and playing well,” Gauff said after the match. “It’s definitely, I feel, tough conditions to play in. It’s just really slow and muggy. The weather makes you maybe not as hyped up for your match just naturally. This week at Roland Garros has been a little bit different than the past first weeks.” Vondrousova, who will defend her Wimbledon title next month in London, dropped Olga Danilovic of Serbia 6-4, 6-2, breaking her opponent’s serve four times. She will face Swiatek in a quarterfinal match Tuesday. Next up for Gauff will eighth-seeded Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, who was a 6-4, 6-4 winner over Clara Tauson of Denmark. Jabeur will be playing the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the second consecutive year, defeated in 2023 by Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia in three sets. Jabeur is looking for her first Grand Slam victory. Gauff has won four of the six matches between the two. Alcaraz dominates Carlos Alcaraz charged into the French Open quarterfinals for a third straight year after the twice Grand Slam champion thrashed 21st seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 with an entertaining display at Roland Garros on Sunday. After an exchange of breaks early in the contest, third seed Alcaraz wasted several chances to punish Auger-Aliassime’s serve but the 21-year-old finally got his reward with a sliding volley for a 5-3 lead and held his serve to win the next game. Last year’s semifinalist showcased his skills at the net again to save a break point at 1-2 in the second set and got back level after a nine-minute game, before unleashing a huge backhand down the line to grab the lead in the next game. The 23-year-old Auger-Aliassime came out fighting following treatment for an injury, but Alcaraz recovered from 0-40 down to extend his lead, delighting fans with a flicked single-handed backhand winner from deep en route to a two-set advantage. Still playing within himself after a recent arm injury, the world No. 3 raced to a 5-0 lead in the third set, closing out the match in style to book a last-eight clash with ninth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. Greek ninth seed Tsitsipas lost the opening set but went on to defeat Italian Matteo Arnaldi 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday. Tsitsipas keeps alive his bid to win his first Grand Slam title, but the 2021 Roland Garros finalist was put to the test early on by Arnaldi, who had ousted sixth seed Andrey Rublev in the previous round. Arnaldi began strongly, despite needing to save three break points in the opening game, and made the decisive break to lead 3-1 and comfortably saw out the first set, as Tsitsipas was unable to handle the Italian’s energy. Tsitsipas looked in even more trouble in the second set when the Italian broke to lead 3-2, but Arnaldi then failed to take advantage when serving for the set. Tsitsipas broke and came out on top in the tiebreak to level the match. The Greek took his renewed confidence into the third set and broke in the first game. Arnaldi began to struggle and Tsitsipas broke once more, and two further breaks in the fourth set put an end to the Italian’s challenge. Gauff, Swiatek march into quarterfinals Shrivathsa Sridhar and Trevor Stynes REUTERS Coco Gauff of the United States celebrates her victory in the fourth round of the French Open against Elisabetta Cocciaretto. SUSAN MULLANE/USA TODAY SPORTS FRENCH OPEN

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For the first time in a long time, maybe since the World Cup final in 2019, the USWNT looked confident. Polished. Versatile. If they weren’t quite the team that dominated the women’s game for much of the last three decades in their 4-0 win over South Korea on Saturday, you could again see glimpses. “I don’t feel relief. I feel re-energized,” Hayes said after her much-anticipated first game as the USWNT’s head coach. “I want to coach this group and they want to be coached. You can see we’re building something. “There’s lots of work to do, lots of holes in our play, no question,” she added. “But this was a good start.” The USWNT plays South Korea again Tuesday in the last match before Hayes names the team for the Paris Olympics. Unlike past international tournaments, the Americans will not go to France as favorites or even certain medal contenders. It’s a shocking change in status for the USWNT, which has won four World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals. But it’s where the USWNT’s recent struggles have brought them. And it’s what brought Hayes to the USWNT. In the depths of its doldrums, the USWNT’s offense resembled a car stuck in the mud. Passes went nowhere or were intercepted. There was no fluidity and no cohesion. Nothing that would make you say, “Oh wow, did you see that?” It will take time for the four-time World Cup champions to fully execute Hayes’ technical plan, but already the offense was more entertaining. And dangerous. On the first goal, Naomi Girma sent the ball into a scrum at midfield. A year ago, it probably would have resulted in a turnover. Instead, Sophia Smith controlled the ball, pivoted and fed a streaking Mallory Swanson, whose shot in the 34th minute was so perfectly placed, South Korea’s goalkeeper didn’t have a chance. It was Swanson’s first goal for the USWNT since February 2023, before the April 2023 injury that knocked her out of the World Cup. Three minutes later, Lindsey Horan had a shot batted away by the ’keeper. But what shouldn’t be missed was the USWNT was able to maintain possession amid heavy pressure, redirecting the ball from one player to another until Horan found space to shoot. Odds are, that wouldn’t have happened at the World Cup. Or the Tokyo Olympics two years before that. “Ultimately, it’s getting numbers in the box, getting service in and keep creating chances,” Swanson said at halftime. Swanson also scored in the 74th, from just outside the box on a perfectly placed ball by Rose Lavelle. Overall, the USWNT finished the game with 89% passing accuracy. That’s not Spain-level, but it’s better than it’s been. The USWNT also got two goals off corner kicks, both headers by defender Tierna Davidson. “Thirty percent of all tournament goals are scored from (set pieces), so it was an opportunity,” Hayes said. “I’ve seen, historically, this program be good at it. I want to return to that, so we have to excel. And for me, that demand won’t decline.” South Korea is not Spain, France or that pesky neighbor to the north, Canada. But no games were gimmes the last couple of years; it was only three months ago that the USWNT lost to Mexico for only the second time in history and first time on U.S. soil. Decisively, too. To see the USWNT again playing with swagger and (dare I say it?) joy makes the six months the Americans waited for Hayes worth it. “Everybody did what I asked of them,” Hayes said. As did she. There is more work to be done, and it will take time to do it. Probably more than the two months until the Paris Olympics begin. But you can finally see where the USWNT is going. Back in the right direction. SOCCER UNITED STATES WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM Early returns promising for Hayes era United States Women’s National Team coach Emma Hayes directs play during a game against South Korea on Saturday in Commerce City, Colorado. The Americans won the match 4-0. RON CHENOY/USA TODAY SPORTS Nancy Armour Columnist USA TODAY Give Pachuca full marks. They vaporized the Columbus Crew on Saturday night. The final score in the Concacaf Champions Cup final at Estadio Hidalgo, located 60 miles northeast of Mexico City: Pachuco 3, Crew 0. If not for a sterling performance from Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, Pachuca would’ve won by more than a touchdown. It was the biggest stage the Crew has ever set their feet upon. It was the highest-stakes game in club history. The Crew played a good first minute. Maybe the task for the visitors was an impossible one. The Crew had to travel 2,000 miles to play 8,000 feet above sea level in a hostile environment against a team that began playing in 1892. Liga MX teams have dominated Concacaf club tournaments because they have bigger payrolls and deeper rosters and are a bear on their home fields, especially at altitude. It’s like playing “Game of Thrones” with a dragon tied behind your back. Only one MLS team – the 2022 Seattle Sounders – has won the continental championship in its modern form, and Seattle played a two-legged final with the second leg at home. Pachuca has won it three times since 2008 and claim six continental titles (in six finals appearances) overall. At home, Pachuca is undefeated in eight matches vs. MLS teams with a plus-21 goal differential. Maybe if the Crew converted early – and they had their chances – the game might’ve had a different tenor. There are no excuses, however. The Crew’s biggest problem wasn’t the drinking water or altitude sickness. It was Pachuca. The recap: Pachuca takes the ball, makes two passes right up the gut and gets a scoring chance. And there they go again, right down Route 1. Again and again. The Crew’s midfield machinery, Darlington Nagbe and dinged-up Aidan Morris, spluttered. Their back line was a mess. Up front, they had no answer to Pachuca’s Salomon Rondon, a former EPL striker who had two goals. Rondon was of a class the Crew seemed unable to comprehend. Crew coach Wilfried Nancy, who has been the better manager coming out of halftime in every big game his team has played since he arrived in Columbus last year, was outcoached by his Pachuca counterpart, Guillermo Almada. It was like Nancy had no buttons to push, or if he did, he refused to. Pachuca led 2-0 at halftime and its momentum carried through to the final whistle. The Crew were +400 underdogs, yes, but it was still a startling result because there was nothing recognizably Crew about them (other than Schulte). They’ve always shown up before. Their improbable run to the 2023 MLS Cup championship included road victories in Orlando and Cincinnati – they came back from two goals down in the second half to win a Hell is Real Eastern Conference final. Last year, they smoked Liga MX powerhouse Club America 4-1 in Columbus. This year, they beat two more Mexican powers, Tigres and Monterrey, by going on the road and winning second legs. Against Monterrey, it was a romp, and the home fans politely cheered the Crew because they appreciate an excellent team playing beautiful soccer. Last year, Nancy said “Impossible is an opinion.” This year, he’s brought up being “limitless.” The Crew have played through a congested schedule – one heavy on the road games of late – and continued to pull rabbits out of their hat. Had they beaten Pachuca, the Fox Sports personalities would have been screaming “unbelievable” and “shocking” and other such things, and in the next breath they’d be saying, “this is what Columbus does.” And this theme would have not only reverberated through the hemisphere, it would have sent ripples over the oceans. So, this is a tough one. Pachuca now reaps the benefits. Pachuca wins the CCC’s $5 million purse. It gains entry into the FIFA Intercontinental Cup (for which Real Madrid qualified on Saturday). Pachuca gains entry into an as-yet-unnamed tournament featuring the best clubs from Concacaf and Conmebol, the South American confederation. And Pachuca gets to play in the big one – the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which will feature the best club teams from all over the world. All of this and more was on the line Saturday night. In total, Pachuca will take in around $60 million just by qualifying, most of it coming from Club World Cup participation. Monterrey, Seattle and Leon have already qualified out of Concacaf. Since the Concacaf will be hosting the Club World Cup – in the United States – the region has an extra bid. How that bid will be determined is yet to be seen. It may be Don Garber’s call, and you can almost hear the MLS commissioner saying, “The 2024 MLS Cup champion will go.” We shall see. In any case, this season is long from over for the Crew. That is the only source of succor for them and their fans at this jagged moment. They were soundly defeated Saturday night, but they were not destroyed. Impossible must remain an opinion. Crew crash in Champions Cup Michael Arace The Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY NETWORK CF Pachuca forward Salomon Rondon celebrates after scoring against the Crew. ADAM CAIRNS/USA TODAY SPORTS With two goals in the final 20 minutes, Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the 2024 UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, extending the club’s record with a 15th European title. Dani Carvajal (74th minute) and Vinicius Junior (83rd minute) were the goal-scoring heroes for Real Madrid, which claimed its sixth Champions League win in the past 11 seasons. “That’s Real Madrid for you,” 20- year-old midfielder Jude Bellingham told CBS Sports after winning the Champions League in his first season with the club. “We have game-winners all over the pitch and we showed that again tonight.” Bellingham called it “the best night of my life.” Dortmund had been dominant in the first half but was unable to convert on some big opportunities, letting Madrid off the hook as halftime reset the momentum at London’s Wembley Stadium. “After the first half we didn’t even deserve to go to the changing room with a level score,” said Carvajal, whose goal was his first in the Champions League since 2015. “But we came out of the first half alive, knowing that we would have our moment ... and here it is.” Said Dortmund manager Edin Terzi: “We did a lot of things right but they had this killer instinct. They were ice cold and they are deserved champions.” CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS Real Madrid king of Europe for 15th time Jesse Yomtov USA TODAY

SPORTS USA TODAY ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ 5C IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE CRYSTALLEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, Plaintiff, v. BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA, Defendant. ) ) ) ) Misc. No. 17-151-LPS NOTICE OF SALE, BIDDING PROCEDURES, AND SALE HEARING PLEASETAKENOTICEOFTHEFOLLOWING: On January 14, 2021, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the “Court”)1 issued an opinion and corresponding order setting forth certain contours for the sale of the shares of PDV Holding, Inc. (“PDVH”) owned by Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (“PDVSA”) in connection with the above-captioned proceeding. In furtherance thereof, the Court appointed Robert B. Pincus as special master (the “Special Master”) on April 13, 2021 to assist the Court with the sale of PDVSA’s shares of PDVH. The Special Master is advisedbyWeil,Gotshal&Manges LLP,astransaction counsel,and EvercoreGroup L.L.C.as investmentbanker. On October 11, 2022, the Court entered an order (Docket No. 481) (the “Sale Procedures Order”) (i) approving the bidding procedures, substantially in the form attached to the Sale Procedures Order as Exhibit 1 (the “Bidding Procedures”); (ii) setting the timeframe for potential bidders to submit a proposal to purchase the shares of PDVH and scheduling a tentative hearing with respect to the approval of the sale (the “Sale Hearing”); (iii) authorizing and approving the Notice Procedures for the foregoing; and (iv)grantingrelatedrelief. Assets tobeSold: SharesofPDVH Interested parties maysubmit bids for the purchase andsale ofsome or all of theshares of PDVH in accordance with the terms and conditionsset forth in the Bidding Procedures. To avoid any ambiguity,parties may submitbidsfor lessthan100%ofthesharesofPDVHso long assuchbidsatisfiestheAttachedJudgments. PDVH is thesoleshareholder and direct parent of CITGO Holding,Inc.,which in turn is thesoleshareholder anddirectparentof CITGOPetroleum Corporation. ImportantDatesandDeadlines Round 2:Deadline to Submit Binding Bids. Any person or entity interested in participating inthe sale of shares of PDVH is encouraged to submit a Binding Bid on or beforeTuesday,June 11, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.(prevailingEasternTime). Notice of Successful Bid.As soon as reasonably practicable following selection of a Successful Bid (the SpecialMastermay conductfurtherbiddingroundsbeforeselectionof a SuccessfulBidder). SaleObjectionDeadlines.Tobedeterminedfollowing completionofRound2. SaleHearing.AfurtherNoticewilldetailthefinalproposeddateof any SaleHearing. AdditionalInformation Any party interested in submitting a bid should contact the Special Master’s investment banker, Evercore (Attn:Ray Strong ([email protected]);William Hiltz ([email protected]);David Ying (ying@evercore. com);and StephenGoldstein([email protected])),assoon aspossible. Copies ofthe Sale ProceduresOrder andthe Bidding Proceduresmay berequestedfree of charge by emailto the SpecialMaster’s counsel,Weil,Gotshal&Manges LLP(attn.:Chase Bentley at [email protected] and MaggieBurrus [email protected]). FAILURE TO ABIDE BY THE BIDDING PROCEDURES, THE SALE PROCEDURES ORDER,OR ANY OTHER ORDEROFTHECOURTMAYRESULTINTHEREJECTIONOFYOURBID. Dated:June3, 2024 1 Capitalizedterms used but not defined hereinshall havetherespectivemeanings ascribedtosuchterms in the Sale ProceduresOrder andthe Bidding Procedures(each,as defined herein),as applicable. Anysummary of the Sale Procedures Order or the Bidding Procedures contained herein is qualified in its entirety by the actual terms and conditions thereof. To the extent that there is any conflict between any such summary and such actualterms and conditions,the actualterms and conditionsshall control. If that was it for Deontay Wilder, he went out with a bang – the powerful right hand of “Big Bang” Zhilei Zhang. Zhang knocked out Wilder at 1:51 of the fifth round of their heavyweight bout in Saudi Arabia, sending the American boxer to his fourth defeat in his past five fights – in what might have been his last fight. Before the fight, Wilder called the bout a make-orbreak moment and entertained the possibility of retirement. He looked broken when he got hit by two Zhang rights in the fifth round that dropped him to the canvas. The 6-foot-6 Zhang weighed in at 282 pounds, 68 pounds heavier than Wilder did at 214. The proof was in the punch. When Zhang landed the knockout punch, it was with massive force. The 6-foot-7 Wilder did land a few powerful right hands earlier in the round. But Zhang absorbed them before finishing off Wilder. Wilder had grazed Zhang with a right hand and appeared to be complaining to the referee before he got hit with the knockout punch. Wilder did not participate in an in-ring interview after the fight. Wilder, 38, fell to 43-4-1. Zhang, the 41-year-old southpaw from China, improved to 27-2-1. UFC 302: Makhachev submits Poirier Islam Makhachev was far from the most popular fighter to enter the ring Saturday night, but he proved he’s still the best. The UFC’s top poundfor-pound fighter retained his lightweight title with a submission victory against Dustin Poirier. It was hardly easy. It took five rounds, but Makhachev finally was able to lock Poirier into a D’Arce choke and got “The Diamond” to tap. Makhachev secured a takedown in the first minute of the fight and there things stayed for the remainder of the first round. The fans in New Jersey, who chanted “USA” multiple times during the match in support of the American Poirier against his Russian foe, grew restless but Makhachev was undeterred – he spent the rest of the round either on top or underneath Poirier attempting to lock in different chokes and holds. Round two nearly went to the ground in the first 15 seconds but Poirier was able to escape and thwarted a second takedown attempt. The fight stayed on the feet until the closing seconds, when Makhachev finally got Poirier on the ground. Makhachev landed multiple early knees in the third round – which may have done some damage to Poirier’s nose – before forcing a takedown. But Poirier managed to get back up with a little more than two minutes to go. By the fourth round Poirier’s nose was leaking pretty consistently but a huge cut was opened up on Makhachev’s face, too, turning the affair into a bloody mess. It seemed like it might be anyone’s fight in the fifth before Makhachev made his winning moves to earn the stoppage at 2:42 of the fifth and final round. Makhachev expressed his desire to fight for a second belt, moving up to welterweight, during his in-ring interview. Poirier told the crowd he was uncertain about his future but said this very well could have been his final fight. – Jordan Mendoza and Jace Evans Zhilei Zhang knocks out Deontay Wilder in five Josh Peter USA TODAY Islam Makhachev celebrates his submission victory against Dustin Poirier. JOE CAMPOREALE/USA TODAY SPORTS The summertime bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul that had social media abuzz and the boxing community chattering is on hold – for now. In a release Friday evening, Most Valuable Promotions said both parties had agreed to postpone the fight to allow Tyson time to recover from an ulcer flare-up he suffered last weekend during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles. In an earlier story Friday, USA TODAY Sports reported that several gastroenterologists – none of whom have treated Tyson or were familiar with his case – expressed concern about Tyson continuing the rigors of training for the sanctioned bout while dealing with the medical condition. One went so far as to say Tyson should postpone the fight. Rama Behara, a gastroenterologist in Texas who said he has treated college and professional athletes with ulcers, told USA TODAY Sports he likely would recommend Tyson stop training for a minimum of three weeks. “It’s hard sometimes to convince (athletes) to take that time off in when they’re in the middle of a heavy training,” said Behara, who works at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Centennial in Frisco, Texas. “But overall we usually want to play the conservative route of at least a few weeks depending on the severity (of the ulcer).” What does this mean? Here’s what you need to know: When was the fight scheduled? The bout, sanctioned as a pro fight and scheduled for eight rounds, was scheduled for July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. When will they fight now? Most Valuable Promotions said in its release that the new date would be announced no later than June 7. In videotaped remarks posted on his X account, Paul said, “Mike, if you want to do this like you said behind closed doors, behind the scenes, you’ve said you want to do this in Q4, you just need a little time, so I’m ready whenever you are.” Q4 refers to the fourth quarter of the year, typically Oct. 1 through Dec. 31. What happened to Tyson? Tyson, 57, suffered an “ulcer flareup” in the final 30 minutes of the flight from Miami to Los Angeles on Sunday. His team said in a release Monday that he endured nausea and dizziness. An ambulance met the plane upon landing, according to American Airlines. Tyson was vomiting, weak and dizzy and transported to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. What did Tyson say? Tyson said medical professionals advised him to “lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover,” prompting the postponement. On Tuesday, less than 48 hours after the medical emergency, Tyson posted this message to his social media accounts: “Now feeling 100% even though I don’t need to be to beat Jake Paul.” Tyson’s representatives did not respond to an email from USA TODAY Sports seeking details about the type of ulcer Tyson has, when he was diagnosed with the ulcer or whether it could complicate his preparation. What did Paul say? Paul said he’s “fully” on board with the delay “so Mike Tyson has no excuses come fight night.” “My fans know I don’t want to face Iron Mike at anything but his best, but let there be no mistake – when he steps into the ring with me, I will be ready to claim my W with a sensational finish,” Paul added in a statement. “Paul vs Tyson will be one for the ages, and I promise to bring my best for this once-in-alifetime matchup.” What if Tyson can’t fight? It’s unclear at this time what the promoter, Jake Paul and his camp and Netflix, which is streaming the bout, would do if Tyson had to pull out of the bout completely. So what are the fight rules? The rules include two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves for a sanctioned pro bout scheduled for eight rounds. The shorter rounds are believed to favor Tyson, who is 57. The lighter gloves would favor Paul. Because it is a sanctioned pro fight, the outcome will count toward their records. Tyson is 50-6 with 44 knockouts and Paul is 9-1 with six knockouts. Who was on the undercard on the scheduled fight? The scheduled undercard includes: Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano (super lightweight); Ashton Sylve vs. Floyd Schofield (lightweight); Neeraj Goyat vs. Whindersson Nunes (middle heavyweight); and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Darren Till (light heavyweight). Contributing: Cydney Henderson Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight is postponed Heather Tucker and Josh Peter USA TODAY Tyson The first WNBA matchup between rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese was memorable for both, but not for the best of reasons. Clark was the recipient of a hard foul late in the third quarter, when Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter blindsided Clark and shoulder-checked her from behind on an inbounds play. Referees initially called the collision a common foul, but on Sunday the league office reviewed the play and upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 1 on Carter. Fever head coach Christie Sides called the play “unacceptable,” a sentiment echoed by the team’s GM, Lin Dunn, who said the practice of opponents targeting Clark “needs to stop!” “I wasn’t expecting that,” said Clark after the Fever’s 71-70 win. “But it’s just, ‘Respond, calm down and let your play do the talking.’ It is what it is.” As for Carter, she declined to comment, telling reporters, “I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions.” The game marked the first professional matchup between Clark and Reese, the former LSU star, after the pair faced off in the NCAA Tournament each of the past two seasons. Clark finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Reese had eight points and 13 rebounds. Reese received criticism on social media during the game, as she celebrated on the bench moments after Carter made contact with Clark. It is unclear, however, what she was celebrating. Reese did not make herself available after the game to reporters, for which she received a $1,000 fine. The league also fined the Sky $5,000 for Reese’s violation of the WNBA media policy. WNBA hits Sky for foul, media violation Steve Gardner USA TODAY The Fever’s Caitlin Clark had 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists on Saturday, while the Sky’s Angel Reese, right, had 8 points and 13 rebounds. MICHELLE PEMBERTON/ THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR

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Call 1- 800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270- 7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800- 981-0023 (PR). In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional offers not available in DC, Nevada, New York or Ontario. WEATHER ONLINE WEATHER USATODAY.COM TODAY’S FORECAST PRECIPITATION FORECAST TODAY’S HIGH TEMPERATURES U.S. CITIES TOP TRAVEL CITIES WORLD CITIES ATLANTA CHARLOTTE DENVER HOUSTON MIAMI NEW YORK PHOENIX SAN FRANCISCO BALTIMORE CHICAGO DETROIT LAS VEGAS MPLS-ST. PAUL ORLANDO SALT LAKE CITY SEATTLE BOSTON DALLAS/FT. WORTH HONOLULU LOS ANGELES NEW ORLEANS PHILADELPHIA SAN DIEGO WASHINGTON AQI AQI AQI AQI AQI AQI AQI AQI AQI AQI AQI AQI Air quality index (AQI) c Cloudy f Fog i Ice r Rain sf Snowflurries sn Snow w Windy dr Drizzle h Haze pc Partly cloudy s Sunny sh Showers t Thunderstorms Below 10 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110+ 10s T-storms Rain Snow Ice/mix An area of showers and thunderstorms will stretch from Minnesota and Michigan to Missouri today. A zone of severe thunderstorms will develop from southern Texas to northern Missouri during the afternoon and night. Thunderstorms can produce hail, localized damaging wind gusts and flooding downpours. There can be a few afternoon and evening thunderstorms dotting the Southeast and the mid-Atlantic coast. A zone of high pressure will continue to promote dry and very warm conditions across the Southwest. Temperatures in some areas can reach over 100 degrees. A storm will continue to promote cool weather and heavy rain across portions of the Northwest. Gusty winds will pick up in parts of the northern Rockies. Strong winds can cause localized power outages and tree damage. Washington 84 Cheyenne 81 Casper 77 Jackson Hole 56 Milwaukee 78 Madison 80 Charleston 81 Seattle 59 Olympia 60 Spokane 62 Richmond 81 Burlington 87 Montpelier 84 Salt Lake City 80 St. George 97 Dallas/Ft. Worth 90 Brownsville 97 Lubbock 100 MidlandOdessa 103 El Paso 100 Austin 94 San Antonio 98 Houston 91 Nashville 87 Memphis 88 Knoxville 85 Rapid City 87 Pierre 85 Sioux Falls 86 Charleston 86 Columbia 86 Harrisburg 86 Philadelphia 84 Pittsburgh 80 Burns 70 Bend 62 Portland Salem 66 65 Oklahoma City 81 Tulsa 80 Cincinnati 83 Cleveland 80 Columbus 84 Fargo 79 Bismarck 82 Raleigh Charlotte 85 86 Buffalo 79 Albany 87 New York 83 Albuquerque 91 Santa Fe 88 Reno 81 Elko 72 Carson City 79 Las Vegas 103 Omaha 83 North Platte 89 Billings 75 Miles City 80 Helena 67 Kansas City 79 Jefferson City 86 St. Louis 91 Jackson 88 Mpls-St. Paul 84 Duluth 76 Detroit 81 Marquette 70 Lansing 84 Grand Rapids 83 Boston 75 Annapolis 79 Bangor 76 Augusta 80 Baton Rouge 88 Shreveport 88 New Orleans 87 Louisville 86 Topeka 81Wichita 81 Dodge City 84 Des Moines 86 Indianapolis 86 Chicago 85 Springfield 88 Boise 74 Idaho Falls 61 Atlanta 88 Savannah 87 Tallahassee 90 Jacksonville 89 Tampa 91 Miami 85 Hartford 88 Denver 88 Aspen 74 San Francisco 69 Palm Springs 104 Los Angeles 73 Sacramento 84 Fresno 88 Eureka 60 San Diego 68 Little Rock 86 Phoenix 102 Flagstaff 78 Birmingham 87 Montgomery 87 Mobile 87 Honolulu 86 San Juan 90 Anchorage 60 Juneau 57 Fairbanks 71 Puerto Rico Hawaii Alaska Akron, Ohio 82/61pc 87/64pc Albany, N.Y. 87/60pc 85/59s Albuquerque 91/63s 92/65pc Allentown, Pa. 83/59pc 81/59pc Amarillo, Texas 99/64s 97/65pc Anaheim, Calif. 74/61pc 78/58pc Anchorage, Alaska 60/47c 59/48pc Aspen, Colo. 74/46pc 73/44pc Atlantic City, N.J. 74/61t 69/62pc Augusta, Ga. 88/66t 90/68t Austin, Texas 94/76w 95/75w Bakersfield, Calif. 90/64pc 93/75pc Baton Rouge, La. 88/75t 91/74pc Billings, Mont. 75/47c 75/51w Birmingham, Ala. 87/71t 85/72t Bismarck, N.D. 82/60pc 73/56w Boise, Idaho 74/51r 79/56s Buffalo, N.Y. 79/63pc 81/68t Burlington, Vt. 87/57pc 88/66s Cedar Rapids, Iowa 84/65t 80/58t Charleston, S.C. 86/70t 89/70t Charleston, W.Va. 81/59pc 88/65pc Cheyenne, Wyo. 81/55pc 80/55w Beijing 91/67sh 85/66h Buenos Aires 54/47s 55/51pc Cancun, Mexico 93/77s 93/78pc Dubai, UAE 103/85s 103/88s Frankfurt 71/48pc 72/53c Hong Kong 83/76r 82/76r Istanbul 90/69h 90/70h Jerusalem 96/68s 92/67s Johannesburg 61/33sh 56/39s London 68/57pc 69/49pc Mexico City 90/62pc 88/61s Montreal 87/60pc 85/66s Moscow 77/60sh 73/60sh Mumbai, India 93/85t 93/85t Paris 71/55c 72/56sh Rio de Janeiro 79/71s 77/69r Rome 74/55s 75/56s Seoul 83/59c 83/61pc Singapore 88/78t 87/79t Sydney 65/48pc 64/51pc Toronto 74/61pc 77/65t Tokyo 76/64s 78/64sh Cincinnati 83/64pc 84/68t Cleveland 80/65sh 88/70t Colorado Springs 87/60pc 86/56pc Columbia, S.C. 86/67t 91/71pc Columbus, Ohio 84/63pc 88/69t Corpus Christi, Texas 93/81w 93/79w Dayton, Ohio 84/66pc 86/67t Daytona Beach, Fla. 86/71s 88/69s Des Moines, Iowa 86/67t 83/59t Duluth, Minn. 76/57t 73/54t Durham, N.C. 84/64pc 87/66pc El Paso, Texas 100/74s 100/73s Fairbanks, Alaska 71/50c 72/52c Flagstaff, Ariz. 78/48s 81/46pc Fargo, N.D. 79/67pc 72/57t Fort Myers, Fla. 91/73t 93/74t Fort Smith, Ark. 84/72t 85/71t Fort Wayne, Ind. 85/65pc 87/69t Fresno, Calif. 88/62pc 93/70s Grand Rapids, Mich. 83/68pc 85/69t Green Bay, Wis. 72/64t 82/67pc Greensboro, N.C. 80/64pc 85/66pc Greenville, S.C. 85/65t 89/67t Harrisburg, Pa. 86/65pc 85/64pc Hartford, Conn. 88/58pc 81/57s Indianapolis 86/67pc 84/68t Islip, N.Y. 83/57pc 69/59s Jackson, Miss. 88/73t 90/72t Jacksonville, Fla. 89/69sh 88/69pc Jefferson City, Mo. 86/71t 85/69t Kansas City 79/68t 83/61t Key West, Fla. 88/80t 88/79t Knoxville, Tenn. 85/63t 86/66t Laredo, Texas 102/80t 108/80pc Lexington, Ky. 85/65t 84/69t Lincoln, Neb. 80/65c 81/54t Little Rock, Ark. 86/73t 89/73t Long Beach, Calif. 73/63pc 74/62pc Louisville, Ky. 86/67t 87/72t Lubbock, Texas 100/66s 105/71s Madison, Wis. 80/66t 80/65t Manchester, N.H. 85/55pc 79/58s Memphis, Tenn. 88/71t 89/72t Milwaukee 78/66t 82/66t Mobile, Ala. 87/73t 90/74pc Modesto, Calif. 83/59pc 98/68s Montgomery, Ala. 87/70t 89/70t Myrtle Beach, S.C. 83/71t 83/72t Nags Head, N.C. 79/68pc 76/67t Nashville, Tenn. 87/67t 88/70t Newark, N.J. 87/62pc 76/62pc New Haven, Conn. 83/58pc 71/59s Norfolk, Va. 80/68t 78/68pc Oakland, Calif. 68/54pc 81/57s Oklahoma City 81/71t 89/67pc Omaha, Neb. 83/65t 83/54t Palm Springs, Calif. 104/74s 105/76pc Pensacola, Fla. 86/74t 87/74pc Pierre, S.D. 85/63pc 75/55pc Pittsburgh 80/63pc 86/66pc Portland, Maine 74/51s 67/55s Portland, Ore. 66/54r 67/52c Providence, R.I. 83/55pc 71/56s Raleigh, N.C. 85/65pc 88/68pc Rapid City, S.D. 87/55pc 72/52pc Reno, Nev. 81/54c 88/62s Richmond, Va. 81/64t 84/65pc Rochester, N.Y. 78/60pc 83/64pc Sacramento, Calif. 84/59pc 101/67s San Antonio 98/79pc 98/77pc San Jose, Calif. 76/56pc 89/61s Santa Fe, N.M. 88/54s 88/55pc Sarasota, Fla. 90/73t 92/74t Savannah, Ga. 87/69pc 87/70t Scottsdale, Ariz. 99/75s 100/76pc Shreveport, La. 88/75t 91/76pc Sioux Falls, S.D. 86/67pc 79/55t South Bend, Ind. 86/68pc 86/68t Spokane, Wash. 62/44sh 66/45w Springfield, Mo. 80/68t 82/68t Springfield, Ill. 88/71t 82/67t St. Louis 91/72t 87/73t St. Petersburg, Fla. 89/75t 91/76t Syracuse, N.Y. 84/61pc 86/65pc Tallahassee, Fla. 90/69t 91/71pc Tampa, Fla. 91/75t 94/77t Toledo, Ohio 85/63pc 88/70t Topeka, Kan. 81/70t 84/61t Tucson, Ariz. 100/69s 100/69pc Tupelo, Miss. 89/73t 86/73t Tulsa, Okla. 80/71t 82/70t Virginia Beach, Va. 78/68t 75/69pc Wichita, Kan. 81/68t 83/64t Wilmington, Del. 83/63t 82/63pc Winston-Salem, N.C. 81/66t 85/67t Worcester, Mass. 82/55pc 73/56s TODAY TUE TODAY TUE TODAY TUE TODAY TUE TODAY TUE AQI MON Stray t-storm 88/70 TUE Stray t-storm 89/70 WED T-storms 85/72 Good AQI MON Stray t-storm 86/67 TUE Stray t-storm 87/69 WED Stray t-storm 83/69 Moderate AQI MON Partly sunny 88/62 TUE Windy 84/57 WED Breezy 90/56 Moderate AQI MON Humid 91/79 TUE Humid 92/77 WED Humid 93/76 Moderate MON Some sun 85/77 TUE Stray t-storm 89/77 WED Mostly sunny 89/78 Good MON An A.M. shower 83/61 TUE Partly sunny 75/61 WED Partly sunny 76/66 Moderate MON Sunny, warm 102/78 TUE Very warm 103/79 WED Hot 110/83 Moderate MON Breezy 69/55 TUE Warmer 76/60 WED Breezy 77/57 Good AQI MON Stray t-storm 84/64 TUE Partly sunny 85/64 WED Stray t-storm 83/70 Moderate AQI MON Stray t-storm 85/69 TUE Stray t-storm 82/68 WED T-storms 81/63 Moderate AQI MON Humid 81/63 TUE T-storm 86/68 WED T-storms 81/61 Good AQI MON Hot 103/79 TUE Hot 103/82 WED Very hot 108/82 Moderate MON Stray t-storm 84/67 TUE Heavy t-storms 84/59 WED Showers around 78/57 Good MON Stray t-storm 90/71 TUE Mostly sunny 93/72 WED Sunny, warm 95/73 Moderate MON Showers around 80/59 TUE Partly sunny 79/59 WED Sunny, warmer 90/65 Good MON Morning rain 59/49 TUE Rain 61/48 WED Some sun 65/49 Good AQI MON Partly sunny 75/57 TUE Mostly sunny 67/57 WED Warmer 80/62 Moderate AQI MON Stray t-storm 90/75 TUE Breezy, humid 93/75 WED Very humid 92/74 Moderate AQI MON A few showers 86/74 TUE A few showers 85/73 WED Showers around 86/71 Moderate AQI MON Mostly cloudy 73/59 TUE Partly sunny 77/60 WED Partly sunny 77/61 Good MON Humid 87/76 TUE Humid 90/75 WED Humid 91/77 Good MON Stray t-storm 84/65 TUE Partly sunny 83/62 WED Partly sunny 84/67 Moderate MON Mostly cloudy 68/61 TUE Partly sunny 69/60 WED Partly sunny 68/61 Good MON Stray t-storm 84/67 TUE Partly sunny 82/65 WED Stray t-storm 82/72 Moderate TODAY TUE TODAY TUESDAY EXTREMES Note: For contiguous 48 states through 3 p.m. ET yesterday HOTTEST: 97° Edinburg, Texas COLDEST: 30° Fairplay, Colo. Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather Inc. ©2024 All times ET MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE East Division W L Pct GB N.Y. Yankees 41 19 .683 — Baltimore 37 20 .649 2½ Boston 30 30 .500 11 Tampa Bay 29 31 .483 12 Toronto 28 30 .483 12 Central DivisionW L Pct GB Cleveland 39 20 .661 — Kansas City 35 25 .583 4½ Minnesota 33 26 .559 6 Detroit 29 30 .492 10 Chicago WS 15 45 .250 24½ West Division W L Pct GB Seattle 33 27 .550 — Texas 29 30 .492 3½ Houston 26 34 .433 7 Oakland 24 37 .393 9½ L.A. Angels 21 37 .362 11 National League East Division W L Pct GB Philadelphia 41 18 .695 — Atlanta 33 24 .579 7 Washington 27 31 .466 13½ N.Y. Mets 24 35 .407 17 Miami 21 39 .350 20½ Central Division W L Pct GB Milwaukee 36 23 .610 — Chicago Cubs 29 31 .483 7½ St. Louis 27 29 .482 7½ Pittsburgh 27 32 .458 9 Cincinnati 26 33 .441 10 West Division W L Pct GB L.A. Dodgers 37 23 .617 — San Diego 32 29 .525 5½ San Francisco 29 30 .492 7½ Arizona 27 32 .458 9½ Colorado 21 36 .368 14½ Saturday’s Games Pittsburgh 8, Toronto 1 Baltimore 9, Tampa Bay 5 Boston 6, Detroit 3 Oakland 11, Atlanta 9 Cleveland 3, Washington 2 Houston 5, Minnesota 2 San Diego 7, Kansas City 3 Texas 7, Miami 0 Milwaukee 4, Chicago 3 Arizona 10, N.Y. Mets 5 Chicago 7, Cincinnati 5 Philadelphia 6, St. Louis 1 Seattle 9, L.A. Angels 0 N.Y. Yankees 7, San Francisco 3 L.A. Dodgers 4, Colorado 1 Sunday’s Games Minnesota 4, Houston 3 Tampa Bay 4, Baltimore 3 Detroit 8, Boston 4 Atlanta 3, Oakland 1 Toronto 5, Pittsburgh 4 Washington 5, Cleveland 2 Texas 6, Miami 0 Arizona 5, N.Y. Mets 4 Kansas City 4, San Diego 3 Milwaukee 6, Chicago White Sox 3 Cincinnati 5, Chicago Cubs 2 N.Y. Yankees at San Francisco Colorado at L.A. Dodgers L.A. Angels at Seattle St. Louis at Philadelphia Monday’s Games Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 6:40 p.m. N.Y. Mets at Washington, 6:45 p.m. Baltimore at Toronto, 7:07 p.m. Detroit at Texas, 8:05 p.m. St. Louis at Houston, 8:10 p.m. Cincinnati at Colorado, 8:40 p.m. San Diego at L.A. Angels, 9:38 p.m. San Francisco at Arizona, 9:40 p.m. Tuesday’s Games Kansas City at Cleveland, 6:40 p.m. Tampa Bay at Miami, 6:40 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at Pittsburgh, 6:40 p.m. Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 6:40 p.m. N.Y. Mets at Washington, 6:45 p.m. Minnesota at N.Y. Yankees, 7:05 p.m. Baltimore at Toronto, 7:07 p.m. Atlanta at Boston, 7:10 p.m. Chicago at Chicago, 8:05 p.m. Detroit at Texas, 8:05 p.m. St. Louis at Houston, 8:10 p.m. Cincinnati at Colorado, 8:40 p.m. San Diego at L.A. Angels, 9:38 p.m. San Francisco at Arizona, 9:40 p.m. Seattle at Oakland, 9:40 p.m. WNBA EASTERN CONFERENCE W L Pct GB Connecticut 8 0 1.000 — N.Y. Liberty 6 2 .750 2 Atlanta 4 3 .571 3½ Chicago 3 4 .429 41 ⁄2 Indiana 2 8 .200 7 Washington 0 8 .000 8 WESTERN CONFERENCE W L Pct GB Minnesota 5 2 .714 — Las Vegas 4 2 .667 ½ Seattle 5 3 .625 ½ Dallas 3 3 .500 1½ Phoenix 3 5 .375 2½ L.A. Sparks 2 5 .286 3 Friday’s Games Atlanta 78, Las Vegas 74 Connecticut 74, Dallas 72 N.Y. Liberty 90, Washington 79 Minnesota 95, Phoenix 71 Saturday’s Game Indiana 71, Chicago 70 Sunday’s Games Connecticut 69, Atlanta 50 L.A. Sparks at Phoenix Indiana at N.Y. Liberty Dallas at Minnesota Tuesday’s Games Washington at Connecticut, 7 p.m. N.Y. Liberty at Chicago, 8 p.m. Phoenix at Seattle, 10 p.m. Wednesday’s Games Las Vegas at Dallas, 8 p.m. Minnesota at L.A. Sparks, 10 p.m. Thursday’s Games Chicago vs Washington at Washington, 7 p.m. N.Y. Liberty at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Women’s College World Series At Devon Park, Oklahoma City Double elimination Thursday, May 30 Game 1: UCLA 4, Alabama 1 Game 2: Oklahoma 9, Duke 1 Game 3: Texas 4, Stanford 0 Game 4: Florida 1, Oklahoma State 0 Friday, May 31 Game 5: Alabama 2, Duke 1 Game 6: Stanford 8, Oklahoma State 0 Saturday, June 1 Game 7: Oklahoma 1, UCLA 0 Game 8: Texas 10, Florida 0 Sunday, June 2 Game 9: Florida vs. Alabama Game 10: UCLA vs. Stanford Monday, June 3 Game 11: Oklahoma vs. Game 9 winner, noon, ESPN Game 12: Oklahoma vs. Game 9 winner, 2:30 p.m., ESPN, if necessary Game 13: Texas vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m., ESPN2 Game 14: Texas vs. Game 10 winner, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2, if necessary Championship series Wednesday-Friday, 8 p.m. ESPN NBA Conference Finals WESTERN CONFERENCE Dallas Mavericks 4, Minnesota Timberwolves 1 Game 1: Mavericks 108, Timberwolves 105 Game 2: Mavericks 109, Timberwolves 108 Game 3: Mavericks 116, Timberwolves 107 Game 4: Timberwolves 105, Mavericks 100 Game 5: Mavericks 124, Timberwolves 103 NHL Conference Finals EASTERN CONFERENCE (Best-of-7; x- if necessary) Florida Panthers 4, New York Rangers 2 Game 1: Panthers 3, Rangers 0 Game 2: Rangers 2, Panthers 1 (OT) Game 3: Rangers 5, Panthers 4 (OT) Game 4: Panthers 3, Rangers 2 (OT) Game 5: Panthers 3, New York 2 Game 6: Panthers 2, New York 1 WESTERN CONFERENCE Edmonton Oilers 3, Dallas Stars 2 Game 1: Oilers 3, Stars 2 (OT) Game 2: Stars 3, Oilers 1 Game 3: Stars 5, Oilers 3 Game 4: Oilers 5, Stars 2 Game 5: Oilers 3, Stars 1 Sunday, Game 6: at Edmonton x-Tuesday: at Dallas, 8:30, TNT Stanley Cup Final (Best-of-7; x- if necessary) All starts at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC Game 1: Saturday, June 8 Game 2: Monday, June 10 Game 3: Thursday, June 13 Game 4: Saturday, June 15 x-Game 5: Tuesday, June 18 x-Game 6: Friday, June 21 x-Game 7: Monday, June 24 SOCCER MLS EASTERN CONFERENCE W L T Pts GF GA Inter Miami CF 10 3 5 35 42 27 Cincinnati 10 3 3 33 23 16 NY City FC 9 5 2 29 24 17 NY Red Bulls 8 3 5 29 29 22 Toronto FC 7 7 3 24 26 26 Columbus 6 2 6 24 21 13 Charlotte FC 6 6 4 22 15 16 Philadelphia 4 4 8 20 27 23 Nashville 4 5 7 19 20 22 D.C. United 4 6 7 19 25 31 Orlando City 4 7 5 17 16 24 CF Montreal 4 7 5 17 23 35 Atlanta 4 7 4 16 20 18 Chicago 3 8 6 15 17 29 New England 3 10 1 10 11 27 WESTERN CONFERENCE W L T Pts GF GA Real Salt Lake 8 2 6 30 31 18 Minnesota 8 3 4 28 27 20 LA Galaxy 7 3 7 28 31 25 Los Angeles FC 8 4 3 27 27 19 Austin FC 6 5 5 23 20 20 Vancouver 6 5 4 22 22 18 Colorado 6 6 4 22 28 29 Houston 6 6 3 21 16 16 Portland 5 7 4 19 30 30 Seattle 4 6 6 18 19 19 Saint Louis 3 4 8 17 23 25 FC Dallas 3 7 4 13 17 23 San Jose 3 11 2 11 24 39 Sporting KC 2 9 5 11 24 31 Friday’s Game NY City FC 5, San Jose 1 Saturday’s Games D.C. United 2, Toronto FC 2 Inter Miami CF 3, Saint Louis 3 NY Red Bulls 1, Orlando City 0 Philadelphia 2, CF Montreal 2 Minnesota 3, Sporting KC 1 Nashville 1, New England 2 Chicago 2, LA Galaxy 1 Sunday’s Game Charlotte FC at Atlanta Champions League FINAL Saturday’s Game Wembley Stadium, London Real Madrid 2, Borussia Dortmund 0 NWSL Friday’s Games Racing Louisville vs. Houston, 8 p.m. San Diego vs. Orlando, 10 p.m. DEALS BASEBALL Major League Baseball BOSTON RED SOX — P Garrett Whitlock Transferred to 60-Day IL Right elbow surgery - out for season. SS Romy Gonzalez Placed on 10- Day IL Strained left hamstring. 1B Bobby Dalbec Called Up from Minors. Jamie Westbrook Purchased From Minors. 2B Vaughn Grissom Placed on 10-Day IL Strained right hamstring. CHICAGO CUBS — P Adbert Alzolay Transferred to 60-Day IL Strained right forearm. David Bote Purchased From Minors. 3B Nick Madrigal Sent to Minors. CHICAGO WHITE SOX — LF Andrew Benintendi Placed on 10-Day IL Left Achilles tendinitis. Oscar Colas Called Up from Minors. CINCINNATI REDS — P Alex Young Sent to Minors. P Justin Wilson Removed From 15-Day IL Left shoulder tightness. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — P Eli Morgan Placed on 15-Day IL Right elbow inflammation. RF Johnathan Rodriguez Sent to Minors. P Carlos Carrasco Removed From 15-Day IL Neck spasms. Daniel Schneemann Purchased From Minors. KANSAS CITY ROYALS — P Michael Wacha Placed on 15-Day IL Fractured left foot. P Daniel Lynch IV Called Up from Minors. LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Ben Joyce Called Up from Minors. MIAMI MARLINS — P Sixto Sanchez Placed on 15-Day IL Right shoulder inflammation. P Emmanuel Ramirez Called Up from Minors. NEW YORK METS — P Josh Walker Sent to Minors. P Drew Smith Removed From 15-Day IL Right shoulder inflammation. P Drew Smith Recalled From Minors Rehab. OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Luis Medina Removed From 60-Day IL Right knee sprain. Luis Medina Recalled From Minors Rehab. P Aaron Brooks Designated for Assignment. PITTSBURGH PIRATES — P Quinn Priester Called Up from Minors. 2B Alika Williams Placed on 10-Day IL Strained right wrist. WASHINGTON NATIONALS — C Drew Millas Called Up from Minors. C Riley Adams Sent to Minors. AUTO RACING Formula 1 upcoming schedule June 9 — AWS Grand Prix du Canada, Montréal, Canada June 23 — Gran Premio de España, Barcelona, Spain June 30 — Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria July 7 — British Grand Prix, Northhamptonshire, Great Britain FOR THE RECORD DETROIT – Scott Dixon’s calculated risk to emerge from the chaos paid off in the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday with his record-setting fourth win in the 2024 edition of the race. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver decided to remain on the course in his No. 9 Honda during lap 65 while most of the field decided to make a pit stop under a caution flag, allowing the New Zealand racer to move into the lead, which he did not relinquish in the final 35 laps for his fourth win in the Motor City and his second win of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season. This is the first time Dixon has won on the new downtown street course, which returned for the second year after he recorded three wins on Belle Isle between 2012 and 2019. He had to navigate a dizzying amount of crashes and yellow caution flags caused by the challenges of Detroit’s city streets and withstand a late push from second-place finisher Marcus Ericsson in the No. 28 Honda and third-place finisher Marcus Armstrong in the No. 11 Honda. “Any win is special but it is cool to get two wins in different places,” Dixon said. Ericsson finished 0.86 seconds behind Dixon, and Armstrong was 4.91 off the winning time. Kyle Kirkwood in the No. 27 Honda finished in fourth and Alexander Rossi, No. 7, was the lone Chevrolet driver in the top five, finishing fifth, 8.95 seconds off Dixon. “It felt good to spoil the party, for sure,” Ericsson said about Honda sweeping the podium under GM’s headquarters. “I think Honda did a great job.” The 1.645-mile track circled the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit. Dixon was able to build a three-second lead after he stayed on the course instead of refueling. He was able to maintain that lead down the stretch in part because of a crucial pass of pole winner Colton Herta, lapping him and creating distance between himself and Ericsson at the end. The racing down the stretch was certainly interesting, but it was impossible to ignore the sheer amount of chaos created by some bad weather and Detroit’s narrow course. “I think some of today was a little bit of luck,” Dixon said. “Today, it kind of played our way a little bit but it was still very tight. There were many people on our strategy and they couldn’t make it.” NTT INDYCAR SERIES Scott Dixon claims Detroit Grand Prix for fourth time Jared Ramsey Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY NETWORK Dixon The weather changes. Stay up-to-date, 24/7. Download our free app

SPORTS E2 USA TODAY ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ 7C FORT WORTH, Texas – Most athletes are at their peak for a couple of years. If they’re lucky, they can stretch it to four or five. Only the singular talents – LeBron, Serena, Tiger, Brady – can sustain a level of excellence over their entire careers. Simone Biles is deservedly in their company. At 27 years old, and at her ninth U.S. gymnastics championships, she looks as good as she did in, well, pick a year. Any year. Actually, she’s even better, because she continues to push herself and the boundaries of her sport with skills so difficult other women don’t even bother trying them. Biles finished with a score of 60.45 on Friday night, the first time she’s broken the 60-point barrier in this Olympic cycle. She had the highest score on each event and is almost 3 1 ⁄2 points ahead of the rest of the field. You know those early-season blowouts by the college football powerhouses? Think that. Asked if it was the best performance of Biles’ she’s seen, coach Cecile Landi said, “I think so.” “But it’s not even the skills,” said Landi, who has coached Biles along with husband Laurent Landi since 2018. “It’s the attitude and her behavior. I really feel like she’s happy to be here. I know she says she’s ready to be done, but I think she’s really enjoying it and appreciating every meet she gets to do. We see a lot of people with injuries, and she feels prepared and lucky to be able to do this.” And we’re lucky to be able to witness it. What Biles is doing is not normal. The scores, the skills, the domination – none of it. And it’s somewhat unfair that because she’s been so good, for so long, her greatness is almost taken for granted. Her Yurchenko double pike vault Friday night drew oohs and aahs, because it’s still new enough and the risk involved was debated and discussed all of last season. But the Cheng she did afterward would set gymnastics fans atwitter if anyone else did it. See the reaction to Skye Blakely’s. For Biles, however, it’s just another vault. There were falls aplenty on balance beam. Biles, however, flipped and twisted on the 4-inch-wide apparatus more easily than most people walk on flat ground, her landings secure and one skill flowing seamlessly into the next. Other gymnasts could spend years training just that event and they still wouldn’t make it look that easy. Then there’s floor exercise. When Biles brought back the Biles II tumbling pass, a triple-twisting double somersault, at the U.S. Classic two weeks ago, she had so much power she practically bounded off the podium on the landing. On Friday night, it was much more controlled. But focusing on that overlooks the fact it’s a skill no one else can do. It’s like criticizing Michelangelo for his choice of paint colors rather than appreciating the magnificence of his work. Of course the goal is perfection, but it doesn’t diminish or dull what Biles is doing in her pursuit of it. “We could be at 7.1 (for difficulty) if everything counts, so I hope on Sunday she’s at 7.1 and a little bit better execution score. Because I think it was a little bit rough on her. An 8.2 with this routine?” Laurent Landi said. “She’s the Olympic champion with that routine, at least five- or six-tenths ahead of everybody else. So 8.2, it’s a little bit rough.” But that’s the blessing and the curse with the truest greats. It wasn’t enough for Tiger Woods to win a major, he had to win it by seven shots. It’s not enough for LeBron James to score more points than any other player in the history of the NBA, he’s got to win more titles, too. We crave greatness. But after we get over our initial wonder at it, we want more. We demand more, quickly forgetting how lucky we are just to be in the presence of it. “I’m lucky to be with her every day,” Cecile Landi said. “I’m not saying it’s normal, but I think with the amount of work that she does, it’s expected, (with) the talent she has. I feel really lucky to be around her, that’s for sure.” We all are. Don’t ever forget it. Biles is as great now as she’s ever been Nancy Armour Columnist USA TODAY Simone Biles has another national championship in her sights. ELSA/GETTY IMAGES best for me to prioritize recovery and resting my shoulder this weekend,” Jones said in a statement from USA Gymnastics. “Both the medical team and I are confident this is the right decision to ensure I’m at full strength for Trials.” Jones tore the labrum in her right shoulder in 2022 but has been able to manage it with treatment and a deliberate approach to both her training and competition schedule. She said Wednesday, however, that it had flared up after the U.S. Classic two weeks ago and got so bad she “barely could raise my arm” last Friday. “It hurt. I’m not going to lie,” Jones said when asked how the shoulder felt after her training session here Tuesday. “But I’m not giving up on myself. It’s all part of the journey and after this, I can rest.” FORT WORTH, Texas – Shilese Jones is out of the U.S. gymnastics championships with a shoulder injury, disrupting her Olympic preparations less than two months before the start of the Paris Games. Jones said Friday she will petition to compete at the Olympic trials this month, and USA Gymnastics is sure to accept it. She’s been an all-around medalist at the last two world championships and was second to Simone Biles at the U.S. Classic two weeks ago and is considered almost as much a lock for the Paris squad as Biles. That’s dependent on Jones being healthy, however. “With Paris as my ultimate focus, it’s Jones will now have four weeks to rest and rehab her shoulder before the Olympic trials, where the women’s competition begins June 28. Only the top gymnast after the twoday trials is guaranteed a spot on the Paris squad, and that’s almost certain to be Biles. A selection committee will choose the remaining four team members based on previous results this year, the values – both difficulty and execution – of their routines, their consistency and how they contribute to the team score and overall medal potential. A gymnast also can petition for a spot on the Olympic team, but the selection procedures would seem to rule that out for Jones. According to the procedures, petitioning athletes had to have competed at this weekend’s national championships. Shilese Jones will petition to be in Olympic trials Nancy Armour USA TODAY Shilese Jones is out of this year’s nationals with a shoulder injury. KYLE TERADA USA TODAY SPORTS FORT WORTH, Texas – Less than a year ago, American gymnast Brody Malone posted a video on Instagram of himself moving gingerly with a crutch under one arm and a massive brace on his right leg. The caption read: “Learning to walk, round 2.” On Saturday night, with a bulky brace still wrapped around his leg, he walked off the floor at Dickies Arena having secured his third all-around national championship – a feat made all the more impressive by the gruesome injury he overcame to get there. In a remarkably consistent and commanding performance, Malone maintained the lead he had built on the first night of competition at the U.S. gymnastics championships to win handily, posting an overall score of 172.300 that left a significant gap between him and the rest of the field. It served as proof that the 24-year-old is not only healthy enough to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics later this summer, but also that he might be the most surefire pick to make the team. “It just feels amazing to be able to, with everything I’ve gone through, be able to come back and make a comeback like I have and be competitive enough to be on the top again,” Malone said. “Going through what I’ve gone through, I’ve definitely learned to be grateful for every opportunity I have to compete. And so with that, I’m just letting loose a little bit more, having a little bit more fun.” Fred Richard, the reigning world allaround bronze medalist, finished in second place a little more than two points behind Malone with a score of 170.250. And Khoi Young came in third, at 169.550, with Olympic veterans Yul Moldauer and Shane Wiskus not far behind. They, and perhaps as many as 10 of the other top performers at this weekend’s national championships, will now be invited to the U.S. Olympic trials in Minneapolis at the end of this month. Their two scores at each meet will be used to select the five-member team that will represent the U.S. in Paris. “Let’s just say we’re going to be very deadly. This is going to be a fun Olympics,” Richard said. “We are fully loaded, stronger than I’ve ever seen the U.S. in years. So I think we can look for medals.” Malone’s return certainly strengthens the Americans’ odds. The Georgia native, who placed fourth at the 2022 world championships, had been a question mark coming off of his injury and said he only decided about three weeks ago that he was going to compete in the all-around this weekend. It’s been a long road back. Exactly 441 days ago, Malone suffered a catastrophic injury on a high bar dismount at a meet in Germany, fracturing a bone, shredding his meniscus and tearing two of the four major ligaments in his right knee. He flew home from Germany with an external fixation device sticking out of his leg, keeping the bones in place, and went straight to another hospital when he landed. All told, Malone needed three surgeries to repair all the damage in his knee – the last of which came less than a year ago. In a sport where running, jumping and landing on one’s knee is unavoidable, Malone has floored those in the gymnastics community simply by returning to competition at all – let alone at a similar level to before his injury. “Absolutely blown away beyond belief,” NBC analyst Tim Daggett said on air Saturday night. “Most gymnasts would have probably just stopped after that injury.” Instead, Malone opted not only to compete, but to compete in all six events. On the first night of competition Thursday, he shined on high bar and parallel bars to build a lead of 1.6 points over Richard. Then, on Saturday, he put up scores that were, on aggregate, fourtenths of a point higher – including more than one point of improvement across rings, vault and parallel bars. “I don’t want to say it was up in the air how I was going to do, but it was my first (all-around) back. I didn’t really know how it was going to go,” Malone said. “But hitting everything Thursday gave me a lot of confidence going into today. It’s just another all-around competition. It’s just another gymnastics meet, nothing different.” When asked how his knee was feeling after the competition, Malone admitted it was “definitely sore,” particularly after some crunching during his floor routine. He said he actually competed this weekend with two different knee braces – a bulkier one for floor exercise and vault, which put the most strain on his leg, and another one for the other four events. “Just changing my braces is just a pain in the butt. I don’t like it,” Malone said. With Saturday night’s performance, Malone has now won three of the past four men’s all-around national titles, with the lone exception being the year in which he was injured. He’s grateful to be back, sure. But he said merely completing two days of allaround competition wouldn’t have been enough. “I didn’t come here to just show up and compete,” Malone said. “I wanted to win.” Fred Richard finishes second Richard, 20, got off to a bit of a rough start on the first night of competition but showed vast improvement Saturday night. He bested his scores from the first session on five of the six apparatuses and duplicated his score on high bar (14.400). The Michigan product said he doesn’t have any significant changes planned for trials, only “sharpening.” And he has no complaints about how these U.S. championships unfolded. “I like first (place) better, but I’m satisfied definitely with the performance this week,” Richard said. “Great warmup and shows that I’m definitely in the (running) for the Olympics. Keep getting a little better for trials, keeping getting a little better for the Olympics and keep going.” Khoi Young, Yul Moldauer in the mix despite small injuries While Malone and Richard staked strong claims to be included in the Olympic team that will head to Paris, several others bolstered their candidacy – including a pair of gymnasts who are dealing with a few nicks and bruises. Moldauer injured his hip during a high bar dismount earlier in the week and said Saturday night that “it definitely still hurts,” likening it to lingering pain from a rolled ankle. But he still managed to finish in a tie for fourth, thanks in large part to a pair of dominant performances on parallel bars. Khoi Young, who finished third, said he’s also felt a little banged up. He had a wrap on his left knee during his floor exercise, and Daggett reported on air that he’s dealing with patella tendinitis in his left knee. Asked about the injury Saturday, the reigning NCAA all-around champion described it as “a chronic thing that’s been going on for a while.” “I landed a vault really low in podium training and I think it flared it up quite a bit,” he said. “But there’s nothing structurally wrong with it. I just have to go home, do some rehab, see my trainer and I’ll be back, ready to go at trials.” Brody Malone wins US all-around Tom Schad USA TODAY With Saturday’s performance, Brody Malone has now won three of the past four men’s all-around national titles. JEROME MIRON/USA TODAY SPORTS

8C ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ USA TODAY E2 SPORTS A little less than 200 years ago, the St. George’s Cricket Club in New York hosted the first international game of cricket between the USA and Canada in 1844. Now, 180 years later to be exact, things are coming full circle and the U.S. and New York are all set to welcome the game back to its grounds, with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Bringing a new sport to a country comes with a set of risks, but the CEO of the International Cricket Council Geoff Allardice believes that the opportunity to bring one of the cricket council’s “showcase events to the U.S. for the first time is a milestone for the sport of cricket.” “To be able to bring some of the biggest teams and the biggest matches to one of the biggest cities in the world and in the country with the biggest sports following and sports market in the world, I think, is a great opportunity for our sport,” Allardice says, speaking to USA TODAY on Wednesday from his hotel in New York City. “The interest levels in the matches, particularly played in New York, but also in Dallas and Florida, have been exceptional,” Allardice said. The U.S. will host 16 of the 55 matches in the tournament, including the opening match between Canada and the U.S. on June 1, with the countries playing their first-ever international T20 match at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas. Is cricket growing in the US? More heavyweight matches taking place on American soil. While hosting an international tournament such as this one is an honor for the U.S., the sport itself has been slowly developing in the country. A major breakthrough for cricket in the U.S. came with Major League Cricket, which had its first season last year in June. Allardice said that the T20 tournament, now in its ninth edition, is “quite a big event” no matter where it is played given its sheer scale. However, when USA Cricket and Cricket West Indies proposed to jointly host the event and split the matches between them, the opportunity seemed to be too good to be passed, especially “given the timing.” “There (have) been some or exciting developments for cricket in the U.S. over the last 12 or 18 months. The launch of a professional league, Major League Cricket, got a lot of traction amongst cricket fans in the U.S. And now this event is taking it to another level,” Allardice said, adding that the inclusion of the sport in the 2028 Olympics to be held in Los Angeles is also a major milestone. T20 marks rare opportunity to see ‘elite level cricket’ in US Allardice further said the U.S. also had a big cricket fan base that does not get to experience “elite-level cricket very often.” “It’s a rare opportunity to be part of it,” Allardice said. “I think sometimes when a major event comes into a country, people want to be part of (it), and this is certainly one of those.” Response to the matches and tournament has overall been positive, with many games in the U.S. sold out. To cater to the burgeoning demand, particularly for the high-profile matches, the ICC has set up fan parks in the three host cities, where fans can watch the games and be a part of the World Cup experience. Fan parks have also been set up in other countries such as Pakistan, South Africa and India for international fans to be a part of the tournament. Besides cricket, the fan parks will also feature live entertainment including DJs, food, drink, visits from cricket ambassadors and family activities for a wholesome experience. “There’s a huge fan base here and I think they’re in different pockets around the country,” Allardice says. “But I think when you look at the number of fans and the number of participants in the U.S., it would compare favorably to a lot of the more traditional cricketing countries.” The tournament also presents a chance for the U.S. cricket team to shine. The team is fairly young compared to other teams competing in the tournament, and this will be the team’s first participation in a T20 event. “The USA team competing in the tournament at home is a very important component of the event,” Allardice said. “We try to give opportunities for host countries to participate because that’s the best way of promoting interest in national teams and the sport as part of our events.” Allardice said that it was “encouraging” to see the U.S. cricket team defeat Bangladesh in the T20 series, held in May, in the lead-up to this tournament. The official added that both the men and women’s cricket teams have “competed very strongly” in many of the ICC events, which presents a promising future for the sport in the country. 34,000-seat stadium near NYC While the tournament marks a major moment for the U.S., it is also significant for the sport because the 2024 T20 World Cup will be the first time the game is played in a temporary stadium. A 34,000-seat modular cricket stadium was purpose-built in a matter of months specially for the event in Nassau County, Long Island, about an hour and a half from Manhattan. The stadium will host eight matches during the tournament, including the highly anticipated clash between Pakistan and India on June 9. “India versus Pakistan is one of the greatest international sporting rivalries in the world of sport and to bring that match as part of a T20 World Cup to New York is a very exciting moment for our sport,” Allardice said. For the ICC, having the tournament in the U.S. also gives them a unique chance to introduce and build the sport in a new market and gives the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, says Allardice. “(Cricket) is very popular in some parts of the world. It’s a very large global sport,” Allardice says. “And I think there are opportunities to make it popular in other areas of the world as well. There’s a very strong sports market in the U.S. that’s well established and we’re just trying to make sure people know what cricket is and that it is played in the U.S. as well as by the U.S. national team.” The ICC chief added that while there are a lot of “passionate fans” in the U.S. already, there are still a lot of people whose interest in the sport has piqued with the World Cup being held in the country. As for which team will be taking home the trophy, Allardice joked that he can’t pick any favorites but that the T20 format is “very unpredictable” and it is hard to assess at this point. However, he is positive it won’t be without heartbreak. “It’s the first time we’ve got 20 teams together,” Allardice said. “We’ve got Uganda in an ICC tournament for the first time. USA and Canada in the T20 World Cup for the first time. I think that it all adds to the excitement.” But like Allardice says, with 20 teams competing and millions of cricket enthusiasts holding their breaths, heartbreaks are inevitable. The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be played from June 1 to 29 in the U.S. and West Indies. Tickets for matches in both countries are available to purchase on the tournament website on a first-come, firstserve basis. Tickets for sold-out matches are also available for purchase on third-party websites such as Stubhub, Tickets Center and SeatGeek for varying prices. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7. Cricket’s T20 World Cup might be a ‘milestone’ Saman Shafiq USA TODAY Aaron Jones celebrates winning the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 match between the USA and Canada on Saturday at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas. MATT ROBERTS-ICC/ICC VIA GETTY IMAGES A giant cricket ball was installed at a marketplace earlier this year to mark 100 days before the ICC Men’s World Cup in Miami. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES “To be able to bring some of the biggest teams and the biggest matches to one of the biggest cities in the world and in the country with the biggest sports following and sports market in the world, I think, is a great opportunity for our sport.” Geoff Allardice CEO of the International Cricket Council ICC chief executive Geoff Allardice attends an event announcing the schedule of the Men’s Cricket World Cup. INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

K1K1 The goal in “Babes” was to be realistic, funny and heartfelt, the filmmakers say. Page 2D Ilana Glazer finds humor in the horrors of pregnancy Experts help us go beyond the numbers to see how they can be a sign of other issues. Page 4D What is a resting heart rate and why is it a key to health? USA TODAY | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | SECTION D LIFE LIFELINE HOROSCOPE | SANCTUARY More: www.sanctuaryworld.co Aries (March 21-April 19). Social butterfly? Now that Mercury is in Gemini, come out of your cocoon and work the room! Taurus (April 20-May 20). Feeling productive? An investment opportunity speeds along! You’ll have to act fast to make it happen! Gemini (May 21-June 21). What’s on your mind? What’s got you curious? People want to hear about it! Cancer (June 22-July 22). Internal monologue especially strong? Seek, don’t spiral! Leo (July 23-Aug. 22). Out-of-the-box ideas? You’ll have to move quickly to make magic happen! Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). In the know? You’ll have your finger on the pulse of business and social matters. Libra (Sept.23-Oct. 23). Ready for a change of pace? The next two weeks encourage you to broaden your horizons! Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Sharing secrets? Open up about the tough stuff without getting maudlin. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Hashing it out? Communication with business or romantic partners improves. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Poring over the details? You finally get answers regarding a work or health matter. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Sharing your passions? You have an opportunity to talk about what you love. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20). Important family conversations? You have a much-needed heart-to-heart! Jeremy Renner calls it “a blessing.” h For Renner, 53, simply attempting his return to acting in January on Paramount+’s “Mayor of Kingstown” – one year after surviving a New Year’s Day accident beneath a 14,000-pound snowcat – was a superheroic act. h But for the “Avengers” star to pull off filming 10 new episodes in the Taylor Sheridan drama series, including credible fighting action sequences, is something of a Hollywood miracle. After the life-altering, near-tragic mishap, even walking like his prisontown fixer Mike McLusky was a supreme challenge in Season 3 of “Kingstown” (premiere now streaming on Paramount+; new episodes each Sunday until Aug. 4). “When I’m walking, I’m focusing on each joint, each step. It takes brainpower just to do the basic things we don’t typically think about. So it definitely felt different, but it didn’t look too much different,” Renner says in an interview just days after completing the arduous but empowering four-month shoot in Pittsburgh. “It’s a blessing where I’m at now, and this was certainly part of the recovery. I didn’t have a whole lot of expectations or confidence going into this.” With good reason. The devastating 2023 accident near Renner’s snowbound Nevada home is still difficult to comprehend nearly 18 months later. Renner pauses to take a sip of bottled water before discussing the memory of being caught beneath the wheel tread of the rolling seven-ton snow truck. The neighbor who helped him in the immediate aftermath later told Renner he was “clinically dead” with his heart stopped. “I can only tell you what I STREAMING Jeremy Renner returns as Mike McLusky in Season 3 of “Mayor of Kingstown.” PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DENNIS P. MONG JR./PARAMOUNT+ Renner reflects on his ‘miracle’ return to TV Bryan Alexander USA TODAY Renner, with Hugh Dillon and Derek Webster, was ordered to take more breaks and was excused from early morning shoots on the new season of “Kingstown” while recovering from his injuries. See RENNER, Page 4D James Patterson has written about 200 books, often with famous co-authors from President Bill Clinton to Dolly Parton. But his latest collaboration presented the perennial bestseller with a first: Write with an author who is no longer alive. Patterson got a call in 2022 asking if he’d finish a manuscript by Michael Crichton, the creative mind behind “Jurassic Park,” “Westworld” and the TV show “ER,” who died from cancer at 66 in 2008. Patterson’s keen “Yes!” to that question has yielded “Eruption” (out Monday), a volcanic man vs. mother nature pageturner that, according to Patterson and Crichton’s widow, Sherri Crichton, will eventually be coming to a movie theater near you. “We can’t say much about who we’re talking to, but we think this movie has the potential to be one of those raise-the-bar blockbusters like ‘Jurassic Park’ was,” says Patterson, demurring when asked if Crichton’s good pal – Steven Spielberg – was in the mix. For Sherri Crichton, the book and the possible movie are nothing short of a miraculous return of a man who she married in 2005 and abruptly lost while carrying their now 15-year-old son, John Michael. “We lost him too early,” says Crichton, tearing up. “He was not done. He was in his professional prime.” For those unfamiliar with Crichton, the summary is: wildly prolific Harvard-educated doctor turned writer who leveraged real science to spin fantastic yarns that captured millions. Crichton famously is the only writer to have a No. 1 book, movie and TV show at the same time – twice. For the curious, that would be: In 1995, “The Lost World,” “Congo” and “ER,” and a year later a repeat with “Airframe,” “Twister” and “ER.” Patterson, 77, may well have sold some 425 million books to date, but even he concedes his current co-author had some magic chops. “The thing about Michael’s work is you always felt after reading it you had learned something, and a lot of people like that,” says Patterson. “I didn’t feel pressure so much as I felt dutiful. I had a responsibility, to Sherri and to Michael. I think it worked out. I defy anyone to figure out where (in ‘Eruption’) Michael’s work ends and where mine begins.” Without spoiling anything, “Eruption” is the story of a gruff unlucky-inlove volcanologist, John “Mac” MacGregor, whose outpost on the Big Island of Hawaii suddenly becomes ground zero for a possible global Armageddon when one of the island’s two volcanoes gets set to erupt. The book is a classic summer beach read, with many of its 400 pages broken into two- or three-page chapters that each end in cliffhanger fashion. And Patterson is correct: the story is told with a singular voice that is a compelling amalgam. So how it is that “Eruption” was lying dormant for all these years? Crichton says after her husband died, she was eager to dive into his office archives, both digital and physical, as a way of bringing her closer to him. In BOOKS ‘Eruption’ enlists superstar co-writers Marco della Cava USA TODAY See ERUPTION, Page 4D Patterson Crichton Taylor Momsen is embracing the nickname “Batgirl” after a scary incident. The “Gossip Girl” star is undergoing two weeks of rabies shots after being bitten by a bat while performing in Spain last week, where her band The Pretty Reckless opened for AC/DC. Momsen, 30, shared video of the moment on Instagram, in which she realizes that the crowd is pointing at a bat clinging to her leg. The encounter occurred as she sang “Witches Burn,” and she joked, “I must really be a witch.” DOMINIK BINDL/GETTY IMAGES HOW WAS YOUR DAY? TAYLOR MOMSEN Anderson Cooper is 57. Jill Biden is 73. Deniece Williams is 74. IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY WHO’S CELEBRATING TODAY

2D ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ USA TODAY LIFE Giving birth is more than a crowning achievement – it can also be fertile ground for comedy. Just take it from Ilana Glazer, whose pregnancy helped inspire her uproarious new movie “Babes,” which follows two best friends as they navigate the breast pumps and burp cloths of motherhood. The “Broad City” actress hatched the film with co-writer Josh Rabinowitz and producer Susie Fox, compiling a list of the most surprising things they encountered on the road to becoming parents. Those included raging hormones, backup underwear, and petrifying prenatal tests involving giant needles. “All you’ve got to do to write an amazing, classic comedy scene is simply find out what an amniocentesis is,” Glazer recalls with a laugh. Also, “the absurd way in which birthing people are discarded from the hospital almost immediately. ... It’s hilarious and insane. I was in the hospital for only 24 hours after pushing a whole person out of my body.” ‘Babes’ presents a realistic look at friendship, motherhood Directed by Pamela Adlon (“Better Things”), “Babes” follows a free spirit named Eden (Glazer) who discovers she’s pregnant after a one-night stand with a handsome stranger (Stephan James). Although she never sees him again, she decides to keep the baby and raise it alongside her married pal Dawn (Michelle Buteau), who has just had a second kid of her own. Writing the R-rated comedy, Glazer strived to make something that was both “really funny and heartfelt,” capturing how scary yet exciting major life changes can be. It’s a theme she and Abbi Jacobson poignantly mined in Comedy Central’s “Broad City,” which ended its beloved five-season run in 2019. “It’s a coping mechanism. It’s scary to grow up,” says Glazer, 37, whose daughter with husband David Rooklin will be 3 in July. “In my experience of having a child, the joy and pain are both amplified, so I’m holding higher highs and lower lows. With ‘Babes,’ I was reflecting what was happening in my life and among my friends.” The heart of “Babes” is the once-inseparable bond between the two women, whose lifelong friendship evolves as they become parents. Eden, who has no close family, grows irritated when Dawn cancels on plans and doesn’t show up to her doctor’s visits. And Dawn, exhausted by postpartum life, struggles to create space for herself as she returns to work. Producer Fox, a mom of two young kids, hadn’t seen that specific dynamic on screen before. As a new parent, “I was definitely somebody who, when my friends would say, ‘Do you want to come out?’ I was like, ‘No, do you want to come drink wine on my couch?’ ” she says. “There was no fallout – it was just closing one chapter and starting another.” The comedy doesn’t shy from the messiness of pregnancy, with frank conversations about bodily functions and fluids. In turn, the film has been labeled “raunchy” and “gross-out” by critics, although Fox prefers the term “realistic.” “There was definitely a conversation around, ‘Are we allowed to show Ilana peeing in the trailer?’ “Things that probably wouldn’t be a conversation if it was Adam Sandler,” who’s seen peeing on a door in the “Big Daddy” poster, Fox says. “You could easily picture Will Ferrell or Jim Carrey doing so many of these things.” In reality, “we talk about this stuff all the time. Women have to kind of come together and teach and help each other because it isn’t widely discussed (in television and film).” Glazer looks back at bittersweet experience making ‘Broad City’ Becoming a parent has informed much of Glazer’s life in recent years. Along with “Babes,” she co-wrote the 2021 horror film “False Positive,” which drew from her fears about motherhood and the U.S. health care system. Pregnancy also helped her to embrace her identity as a nonbinary person. “That’s what feels true to how I feel in my body, which is actually something I discovered while I was pregnant,” says Glazer, who uses they/she pronouns. “For the first time, my femininity didn’t feel like drag or a joke or a role, but a powerful, open space. And my masculinity was also something I didn’t need to make a joke out of. It was something that I thought was cool and hot and a part of me. That was an interesting aspect of being a queer, birthing person.” A four-time Emmy nominee, Glazer has juggled producing, directing, acting and writing for the last 15 years. “Broad City” began as a web series in 2009 and moved to Comedy Central in 2014. The show quickly became a millennial touchstone for its outrageous yet relatable depiction of flailing twentysomethings in New York. Lately, she has found it “sometimes painful, but increasingly warm and sweet” to look back on. When it ended, “it had been almost a third of my life that I lived in that character and world,” Glazer says. “To see who you are outside of the show takes a lot of work.” She remembers at times, working behind the scenes, there were “people who were trying to undermine our vision and take advantage of us because we were young women. Sometimes people don’t know how indoctrinated they’ve been into this system, where they’re limiting or oppressing others’ voices.” She feels encouraged by changes she has seen in the industry since, and hopes that “we keep trending toward marginalized voices telling their own stories authentically and getting the support they need.” Looking ahead, she’s developing another film with Rabinowitz and Fox, as well as an HBO series with Ally Israelson. She also recently taped a stand-up special, following a 52-city tour. “I feel so privileged and blessed to be able to connect with people (through comedy),” Glazer says. “And I have to say, I like being older. I feel safer, I know how better to protect myself, and it really gives me joy to share tips with younger artists and comedians.” MOVIES ‘Babes’: Mining horror, humor in pregnancy Patrick Ryan USA TODAY Eden (Ilana Glazer, right) finds the horrors of amniocentesis at a doctor’s (John Carroll Lynch) appointment. PROVIDED BY NEON Smoking hot reveal alert: This story discusses the series finale of ABC’s “Station 19,” now streaming on Hulu. There has never been a wildfire like the one burning out of control in Thursday’s “Station 19.” series finale. The havoc from the Seattle-based spinoff of Shonda Rhimes’ “Grey’s Anatomy” is so powerful that it spreads to the series’ mothership. In the ultimate crossover, the overwhelmed staff of Grey + Sloan Memorial Hospital treat the injured in the “Grey’s” Season 20 finale, which aired just ahead of “19.” The deadly blaze, which began in the May 23 episode, imperils the “Station 19” firefighting team fans have come to love over seven seasons and threatens to spread across Seattle. There’s a gnarly fire tornado, firefighters are forced to take drastic tarp shelter from all-consuming flames, and the birth of a baby in a car amid the mayhem. “We wanted to use every last cent,” says executive producer and writer Zoanne Clack of the finale blowout. Yet as each character faces death, the finale also flashes forward to a bright future: Everyone survives the carnage and has their own happy ending. “We were going for satisfying,” says Clack. “We used the flash-forwards to show what they are living and fighting for while they’re in peril. What’s going to give them the drive to keep going and not just give up?” Clack and executive producer Peter Paige touched on the still-burning “Station 19” hotspots. Were there ‘Station 19’ crossovers with ‘Grey’s Anatomy’? The action in the finale moved quickly to Grey Sloan, where injured firefighter Theo Ruiz (Carlos Miranda) is rushed in on a gurney headed for emergency surgery. Ruiz’s operating room ordeal is a major subplot of the “Grey’s” season finale. But there are many crises at the hospital, including Captain Andy Herrera (Jaina Lee Ortiz), who recovers from her brush with death surrounded by friends and colleagues. “We came out of the mothership and we returned,” says Paige. “We love those connections and interactions within the universe. This was an opportunity to do that one last time.” What happened to Ben Warren in the ‘Station 19’ finale? Ben Warren (Jason George) had been a surgical resident at Grey Sloan starting in Season 6, before becoming a firefighter on “Station 19.” The dangerous job was a constant source of concern for his wife, “Grey’s Anatomy” surgeon Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson). As Warren watches Ruiz wheeled into surgery, it’s clear that he misses the profession. But he runs out to save lives and deliver the healthy baby with OB-GYN Carina DeLuca (Stefania Spampinato). Three months later, Warren tells Herrera that he is leaving Station 19 to return to medicine. “He knew he couldn’t be as great a firefighter because his body was giving out,” says Clack. “It was a natural progression for Ben to move back into medicine.” The career change also busts the door wide open to his likely return to “Grey’s” next season. Warren’s flash-forward shows him watching his grown children’s graduations with Bailey. The final scene shows Pruitt Arike Miller, whom the couple raised after her firefighter father, Dean Miller (Okieriete Onaodowan), died in Season 5. Pruitt graduates from the firefighter academy. “For Pruitt to go into firefighting was kind of bittersweet, because now they have to do that all over again with a worry,” says Clack. What happened to Andy Herrera in the finale? Herrera rallies her team: When forced to take cover from the fire, Herrera puts herself at risk to slip away and seek vital help. Even after she recovers, Herrera has burns on her neck as she receives the greatest compliment from the departing Warren – that her father, the legendary Captain Pruitt Herrera (Miguel Sandoval), who died in Season 3, would be wildly proud of her. With a worthy promotion, Chief Herrera gets the series’ final words, speaking to a new group of Station 19 cadets. “We wanted the last moments to show that the show might be over, but the spirit and energy of Station 19 doesn’t have to stop,” says Paige. “We left those words to Andy to carry forward. We knew that’s where the show needed to end.” Herrera is seen exiting the station to a bright, sunny future. Travis Montgomery and Vic Hughes are ‘Station 19’ BFF’s In a finale update, we have to mention the best friend and fan-favorite couple Travis Montgomery (Jay Hayden) and Victoria Hughes (Barrett Doss). When Hughes sets off from Station 19 to head to a job in Washington, D.C., her bestie Travis shows up at the airport to join her. “It turns out my life is where you are,” Montgomery tells her. “Rom-com is a part of the Shondaland vocabulary. But what if the great rom-com of this finale is actually these two best friends choosing each other? That felt so right,” says Paige. “They got the platon-com ending. That friendship is every bit as valuable as the show’s other great loves.” TELEVISION ‘Station 19’ series finale answers burning questions Bryan Alexander USA TODAY Dr. Ben Warren (Jason Winston George), who moved from “Grey's Anatomy” to spin-off “Station 19,” fights his biggest battle in the ABC series finale. PROVIDED BY JAMES CLARK/DISNEY

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4D ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ USA TODAY LIFE While some measures of physical fitness such as athletic ability and one’s strength or stamina may be difficult to ascertain right away, others are more obvious. One’s resting heart rate, for instance, is easy to check and says a lot about a person’s wellbeing. “Your heart rate is one of the first signs that gives your doctor insight into your overall health,” says Doris Chan, DO, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn. “It guides us in the right direction when, and if, further testing is necessary.” Despite the importance of resting heart rates, some people don’t understand what they mean or why they fluctuate. Knowing yours can be a helpful way to identify potential health problems and gauge how healthy your heart really is. What is a resting heart rate? One’s resting heart rate, or pulse, is simply the number of times the heart beats per minute while in a rested state. It’s a measurement that should be taken in the absence of a stressful or exciting event and at least an hour after exercise. The American Heart Association says its best to check one’s resting heart rate first thing in the morning and while still in bed to get the most accurate reading. Elevated heart rates can be an indication of “stress, anxiety, dehydration, health conditions or physical excursion,” says Barbara Olendzki, RD, MPH, LDN, associate professor of population & quantitative health sciences at UMass Chan Medical School, though she says “its normal to have a heart rate increase from exercise.” Other conditions can affect one’s blood volume and heart rate. For example, any loss of blood “will result in a loss of blood pressure and will cause the heart rate to increase for a time to compensate,” explains Viet Le, PA-C, associate professor of preventive cardiology and physician associate at Intermountain Health. Caffeine consumption, illness, medications, and electrolyte abnormalities also may temporarily impact one’s resting heart rate. What is a healthy resting heart rate? A commonly accepted range for a healthy resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute, “though some argue that the resting heart rate lower limit be shifted down to 50 beats per minute,” says Chan. That’s because generally, the lower one’s pulse is − to a point anyway, the more efficient their heart is thought to be working. Indeed, athletes frequently aim to get their heart rates down with some high endurance athletes striving to reach a resting heart rate in the 40s. Still, it’s important to note that there are numerous exceptions to the 60-100 beats-per-minute rule and a “normal” pulse varies from person to person. As noted, numerous external factors can temporarily affect one’s resting heart rate, but some outside influences may affect one’s heart rate for much longer. For example, an overactive thyroid, anemia, rare adrenal tumors, unhealthy organs, pregnancy, abnormal heart rhythms and one’s age can affect resting heart rate for extended periods of time. “We expect a slightly higher heart rate in children,” Le explains. Babies 12 to 24 months, for instance, “have a resting heart rate in the low 100s to mid 110s,” he says, and teens commonly “have resting heart rates in the 60-90 range.” How to check your heart rate Checking one’s heart rate is simple. Per the Mayo Clinic, simply place your index and third fingers on your neck, to the side of your windpipe, then count the number of beats from the first time you feel your pulse, continuing for 15 seconds. Multiply that number by four to calculate your beats per minute. To check your pulse at your wrist, place two fingers between the bone and the tendon over your radial artery, which is located on the thumb side of your wrist, then count the number of beats the same way. What is an unsafe resting heart rate? A resting heart rate below 60 is called bradycardia or slow heart rate, and one higher than 100 is called tachycardia, or fast heart rate. Staying too low or too high for extended periods of time without a known cause is worth looking into. “One should seek out professional attention if high heart rates are prolonged and persistent as it may cause symptoms of palpitations, skipped beats, shortness of breath, fainting or lightheadedness, excessive fatigue, or chest tightness or pressure,” advises Le. A consultation can also help identify or rule out preexisting conditions or other external factors that may be affecting one’s pulse and lead to helpful recommendations for improving heart health. “It’s important for you to learn your own body and how it responds,” says Olendzki, “so ask your doctor what a healthy heart rate means for you.” HEALTH AND WELLNESS Reading a resting heart rate is a vital sign Daryl Austin USA TODAY A doctor checks a patient’s pulse. GETTY IMAGES experienced,” says Renner, who plans to highlight the near-death moment in an upcoming book. “But that’s congruent with a lot of things that I saw and felt. I heard (my neighbor) saying ‘I saw you go.’ It was a pretty harrowing experience, but also very beautiful now. And I keep unpacking more and more every time I sit down to write.” He credits his daughter Ava After a medical airlift from the scene, Renner spent more than two weeks in intensive care before it was even clear he would survive. Following surgeries to rebuild his body and legs with titanium plates and screws, Renner began the slow process of recovery with endless hours of physical rehabilitation and other treatments, aided by his close-knit family including daughter Ava Berlin, now 11, whom he had with his ex-wife, Sonni Pacheco. “The loneliest thing that someone can go through is just recovery. I was the only one recovering,” he says. “But I had so much love and support even in dark times – the moments where the progress was slower or when it was just not a great day.” “Kingstown” co-creator, executive producer and star Hugh Dillon remembers talking to the wheelchair-bound Renner weeks after the accident. “He was at home and he was broken, but his spirit wasn’t. I knew in his eyes he was mad and he was going to do this,” says Dillon. “There has never been a more impressive transformation for an actor to go from a wheelchair to jumping 3 feet in his own stunt. This whole experience has been a constant state of grace for all of us.” Triumphantly walking with Ava, and the assistance of a cane, into the premiere of his Disney+ “Rennervations” series, Renner started planning his return to “Kingstown” last September, just eight months after the accident. The Hollywood shutdown during the actors’ and writers’ strike delayed the quest, which he now sees as fortuitous. “I thought I’d rip the Band-Aid off and just go for it. My brain thinks one thing, and my body tells you the reality of gravity,” says Renner. “I was pushing myself, (but) I wasn’t ready.” Returning to work in January, Renner still felt a rare nervousness about whether he could handle the whole daunting job. “I certainly didn’t want to over-promise because I might be gone in a week,” says Renner. “I was always on the line.” Flying between Pittsburgh and his Nevada home was not an option due to the impact of flight and jet lag on his injuries ((Flying) “still messes me up,” he says). So Renner’s family, including his mother, Valerie Cearley, his two sisters, and Ava, moved to Pittsburgh to support him. “I can’t do this job if I don’t have my daughter at my side. Take her out of school, whatever. I’ve got to do it. “She’s my life force. She’s my everything. She’s my only thing,” says Renner. “My mom, my sisters, everyone’s rolling in and bringing me the love that I needed. Especially when we’re doing ‘Kingstown,’ which is heavy and dark.” Unrelentingly dark. McLusky gets right back to being emotionally and physically besieged after Season 2, which ended with McLusky’s mother Mariam (Dianne Wiest) shot and killed by a crime lord. Renner, who appears in most scenes, was compelled by producers to lighten his load after he fell asleep shooting a scene in which McLusky tries a brief rest while battling a new criminal force and mourning his just-buried mother. “The second week I was working 10 to 12 hours a day, with no time to recover. I was gassed,” says Renner. “I’ll just keep pushing and pushing. But when other people saw that, it was like, ‘We’ve got to change this.’ ” Renner was ordered to take more breaks and was excused from early morning scenes. “It takes me about three or four hours to wake up in the morning, just to get the joints recovering,” he says. When it came time for an action scene in which McLusky battles two gang members, Renner insisted on shooting the sidewalk brawl, which involved a dramatic jump, himself, rather than using a stuntman. “It was wet. It was on steps. It was not conducive for me to have this fight,” says Renner, who credits the opposing stunt actors for selling his blows. “I didn’t have to put so much effort into throwing. So it worked out great. It gave all of us hope. We were kind of teary about that afterward, to be honest.” That feeling continued until the season’s final scene, signifying Renner’s completion of his return. “There was a lot of emotion. There was a lot to take in, I was pretty overwhelmed by it,” says Renner. “It’s something I can look back on and be like, ‘I’m so much stronger at the end of this show.’ I found an inner strength to physically get stronger and better. So yeah, I’m very happy.” Jeremy Renner walks the carpet with his daughter Ava in 2023 at the premiere of “Rennervations.” PROVIDED BY FRANK MICELOTTA/DISNEY Renner Continued from Page 1D that process, she unearthed countless hard drives and folders that hinted at myriad in-the-works projects. But she soon realized Crichton was almost obsessed with the story of an impending volcanic disaster. Her husband would detour often on trips to Hawaii to research Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, the island’s twin dynamos, and their honeymoon to Italy included a stop in Pompeii, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. “The manuscript he had started in 1994 was called ‘Vulcan’ at first, and later it was ‘The Black Zone,’ but when I dug deeper I could tell his research in this area went back to the 1970s.” Once she turned over the partial manuscript, notes and other research to Patterson, the two stayed in close touch. “The pages came fast from Jim,” she says. “Michael also wrote fast. I could tell I’d made the right decision.” Patterson says other than hiring a few volcano experts as consultants, he dug into the work by himself. “It came naturally,” he says. “The science was a challenge for me, but I feel more and more comfortable with that.” The only time the two compared notes was in sections of the new book that tackle the sentiments of native Hawaiians vis-à-vis nature, science and white leadership on the islands. “I just wanted to be sure that all that was handled carefully,” says Crichton. “We had to be sensitive to the culture, and Jim was very gracious about all that. It worked out well.” One of the best parts about digging into her husband’s treasure trove was being able to share his meticulous thought process and story-outlining method with the couple’s teenage son. “I would say look at how your father pieced things together,” says Crichton. “John Michael is 6-foot-5 and almost as tall as his father, and he is a very good writer. I said to him, ‘Honey, your father left you all these pieces, maybe one day you can finish them.’ He said, ‘I could but I have my own ideas.’ I laughed and said ‘Touche.’ ” Crichton says that there could well be more collaborative works coming out of her late husband’s archives, but she’s not focused on that just now. “I’m simply pleased this worked out,” she says. “Michael didn’t read much fiction, but he did have two (Patterson) Alex Cross books in his library. So I just loved the idea of two of the most powerful storytellers of our time coming together.” Eruption Continued from Page 1D

LIFE USA TODAY ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ 5D Manufactured by: Novo Nordisk A/S, DK-2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark More detailed information is available upon request. Available by prescription only. For more information, go to startWegovy.com or call 1-833-Wegovy-1. PATENT Information: http://novonordisk-us.com/products/product-patents.html WEGOVY® is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. © 2024 Novo Nordisk All rights reserved. US24SEMO00917 May 2024 Brief Summary of Information about WEGOVY® (semaglutide) injection Rx Only This information is not comprehensive. How to get more information: • Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist • Visit www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf to obtain the FDA-approved product labeling • Call 1-833-Wegovy-1 What is the most important information I should know about WEGOVY®? WEGOVY® may cause serious side effects, including: • Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, WEGOVY® and medicines that work like WEGOVY® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if WEGOVY® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people. • Do not use WEGOVY® if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). What is WEGOVY®? • WEGOVY® is an injectable prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity: to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight. that may help adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to help them lose excess body weight and keep the weight off. • WEGOVY® contains semaglutide and should not be used with other semaglutide-containing products or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines. • It is not known if WEGOVY® is safe and effective for use in children under 12 years of age. Do not use WEGOVY® if: • you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). • you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in WEGOVY®. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat fainting or feeling dizzy problems breathing or swallowing very rapid heartbeat severe rash or itching Before using WEGOVY®, tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you: • have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys. • have type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathy. • have or have had depression or suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues. • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. WEGOVY® may harm your unborn baby. You should stop using WEGOVY® 2 months before you plan to become pregnant. Pregnancy Exposure Registry: There is a pregnancy exposure registry for women who use WEGOVY® during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry or you may contact Novo Nordisk at 1-877-390-2760. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if WEGOVY® passes into your breast milk. You should talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while using WEGOVY®. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. WEGOVY® may affect the way some medicines work and some medicines may affect the way WEGOVY® works. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking other medicines to treat diabetes, including sulfonylureas or insulin. WEGOVY® slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. How should I use WEGOVY®? • WEGOVY® is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm. Do not inject WEGOVY® into a muscle (intramuscularly) or vein (intravenously). • Change (rotate) your injection site with each injection. Do not use the same site for each injection. • Use WEGOVY® 1 time each week, on the same day each week, at any time of the day. • If you take too much WEGOVY®, you may have severe nausea, severe vomiting and severe low blood sugar. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you experience any of these symptoms. What are the possible side effects of WEGOVY®? WEGOVY® may cause serious side effects, including: • See “What is the most important information I should know about WEGOVY®?” • inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using WEGOVY® and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back. • gallbladder problems. WEGOVY® may cause gallbladder problems including gallstones. Some gallbladder problems need surgery. Call your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms: pain in your upper stomach (abdomen) yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice) fever clay-colored stools • increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially those who also take medicines to treat diabetes mellitus such as insulin or sulfonylureas. Low blood sugar in patients with diabetes who receive WEGOVY® can be a serious side effect. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to recognize and treat low blood sugar. You should check your blood sugar before you start taking WEGOVY® and while you take WEGOVY®. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: dizziness or light-headedness sweating shakiness blurred vision slurred speech weakness anxiety hunger headache irritability or mood changes confusion or drowsiness fast heartbeat feeling jittery • kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration) which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration. • serious allergic reactions. Stop using WEGOVY® and get medical help right away, if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including: swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat severe rash or itching very rapid heartbeat problems breathing or swallowing fainting or feeling dizzy • change in vision in people with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with WEGOVY®. • increased heart rate. WEGOVY® can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Your healthcare provider should check your heart rate while you take WEGOVY®. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes. • depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to any mental changes, especially sudden changes in your mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you. The most common side effects of WEGOVY® in adults or children aged 12 years and older may include: nausea stomach (abdomen) pain dizziness gas diarrhea headache feeling bloated stomach flu vomiting tiredness (fatigue) belching heartburn constipation upset stomach runny nose or sore throat low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of WEGOVY®. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Revised: 03/2024

6D ❚ MONDAY JUNE 3, 2024 ❚ USA TODAY LIFE Actor portrayals What is Wegovy®? WEGOVY® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity: • to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight • that may help adults with obesity or overweight with weight-related medical problems, lose excess body weight and keep the weight off Wegovy® contains semaglutide and should not be used with other semaglutide-containing products or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if Wegovy® is safe and effective for use in children under 12 years of age. Important Safety Information What is the most important information I should know about Wegovy®? Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including: • Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Wegovy® and medicines that work like Wegovy® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Wegovy® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people • Do not use Wegovy® if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) Do not use Wegovy® if: • you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) • you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Wegovy® Before using Wegovy®, tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you: • have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys • have type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathy • have or have had depression, suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Wegovy® may harm your unborn baby. You should stop using Wegovy® 2 months before you plan to become pregnant • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Wegovy® passes into your breast milk Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Wegovy® may affect the way some medicines work and some medicines may affect the way Wegovy® works. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking other medicines to treat diabetes, including sulfonylureas or insulin. Wegovy® slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly. What are the possible side effects of Wegovy®? Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including: • inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Wegovy® and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back • gallbladder problems. Wegovy® may cause gallbladder problems, including gallstones. Some gallstones may need surgery. Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms, such as pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools • increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially those who also take medicines for diabetes such as insulin or sulfonylureas. This can be a serious side effect. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to recognize and treat low blood sugar and check your blood sugar before you start and while you take Wegovy®. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or lightheadedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, or feeling jittery • kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration • serious allergic reactions. Stop using Wegovy® and get medical help right away, if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat • change in vision in people with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Wegovy® • increased heart rate. Wegovy® can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes • depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to any mental changes, especially sudden changes in your mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you The most common side effects of Wegovy® may include: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdomen) pain, headache, tiredness (fatigue), upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, gas, stomach flu, heartburn, and runny nose or sore throat. Wegovy® is a prescription medication. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. FDA, US Food and Drug Administration. Please see Brief Summary of Information about Wegovy® on the previous page. Wegovy® is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. Novo Nordisk is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. © 2024 Novo Nordisk Printed in the U.S.A. US24SEMO00915 May 2024 We recognize the impact of Wegovy® supply challenges due to the continued high interest in this treatment. While we are doing everything we can to manufacture more Wegovy®, including running our manufacturing lines 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we continue to advocate for respect and support for people living with obesity because we are committed to this community for the long term. Wegovy® is the first and only weight management medicine that is also FDA-approved to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and either obesity or overweight. Talk to your health care professional. Lose weight, keep it off, and reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events— that’s the Power of Wegovy®. See why so many people have been prescribed Wegovy® In medical studies, people who stopped taking Wegovy® generally regained weight. See the Power of Wegovy® Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight and that may help adults with obesity or overweight with weight-related medical problems lose excess body weight and keep the weight off. Discover

NATION & WORLD EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | 1NN SUBSCRIBER-EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL EDITION WASHINGTON – Donald Trump said he would accept home confinement or jail time after his historic conviction by a New York jury last week but that it would be tough for the public to accept. h Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, four days before Republicans gather to formally choose their presidential nominee to face Democratic President Joe Biden in November’s election. Prison time is rare for people convicted in New York state of felony falsification of business records, the charge Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, faced at his trial. The maximum sentence for such a charge is four years imprisonment. “I’m not sure the public would stand for it,” the former president told Fox News of a potential prison sentence. “I think it’d be tough for the public to take. You know, at a certain point, there’s a breaking point.” Trump has vowed to appeal his conviction by the New York jury, which found him guilty of 34 felony counts over falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. To succeed on appeal, Trump, 77, must demonstrate that Justice Juan Merchan made significant errors overseeing the trial. His lawyers have said they expect to take the case to the Supreme Court. On Sunday, Trump, who tried to disqualify See TRUMP, Page 5NN Donald Trump has used his conviction to step up his fundraising efforts but has not otherwise sought to mobilize his supporters. BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS FILE Trump warns of ‘breaking point’ Says prison sentence wouldn’t go over well with supporters Susan Heavey REUTERS Supporters of Donald Trump hold signs during a “Caravan for Trump” demonstration in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday. GIORGIO VIERA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES “They’re gonna do what they’ve done from the beginning ... remain calm and protest at the ballot box on November 5th.” Lara Trump Republican National Committee co-chair on what response would be expected from Trump supporters if he is sentenced to jail. JERUSALEM – Israel’s defense minister said on Sunday that Israel would not accept Hamas continuing to rule Gaza at any stage during the process to wind down the war, and that it was examining alternatives to the Islamist group. “While we conduct our important military actions, the defense establishment is simultaneously assessing a governing alternative to Hamas,” Yoav Gallant said in a statement. “We will isolate areas (in Gaza), remove Hamas operatives from these areas and introduce forces that will enable an alternative government to form – an alternative that threatens Hamas,” Gallant said. He did not elaborate on the possible alternatives. Iran-backed Hamas, which is sworn to Israel’s destruction, has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, a year after it won parliamentary elections and following a brief civil war with security forces from the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. U.S. President Joe Biden presented a framework deal for winding down the Gaza war. Hamas has provisionally welcomed the initiative but has given no indication it might step aside or disarm voluntarily. An aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that Israel had accepted the framework deal for winding down the Gaza war now being advanced by Biden, though he described it as flawed and in need of much more work. In an interview with Britain’s Sunday Times, Ophir Falk, chief foreign policy advisor to Netanyahu, said Biden’s proposal was “a deal we agreed to ... it’s not Smoke is seen near Katzrin in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights following rocket attacks from Lebanon on Sunday. AYAL MARGOLIN/REUTERS See HAMAS, Page 6NN Blinken urges quick acceptance of deal Dan Williams, Susan Heavey, Avi Ohayon, Ari Rabinovitch and Yomna Ehab REUTERS Israel mulls Hamas’ ouster WAR IN MIDDLE EAST Media outlets and the ruling party declared Claudia Sheinbaum the winner of Mexico’s presidential election after polls closed on Sunday, putting her on course to be the country’s first woman president. Television outlet NMAS and newspaper El Financiero both said their polls showed Sheinbaum winning, though they did not give figures. The head of the ruling MORENA party Mario Delgado told supporters in Mexico City that Sheinbaum had won by a “very large” margin. Mexico’s largest-ever elections have also been the most violent in modern history, with the killing of 38 candidates. The deadly violence has stoked concerns about the threat of warring See MEXICO, Page 4NN People watch from the rooftops of nearby houses as Claudia Sheinbaum, presidential candidate of the ruling party, arrives at a polling station in Mexico City, Mexico, Sunday. DANIEL BECERRIL/REUTERS Sheinbaum appears to win; Mexico vote marred by violence Lizbeth Diaz and Sarah Kinosian REUTERS INSIDE Astra’s breast cancer trial shows “unprecedented” results. 7NN

2NN | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | NATION & WORLD EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK Honolulu 86/75 Hilo 80/68 Anchorage 62/47 Fairbanks 71/49 Juneau 58/47 Monterrey 101/75 Chihuahua 103/69 Los Angeles 74/59 Washington 84/67 New York 85/64 Miami 85/76 Atlanta 85/69 Detroit 80/63 Houston 91/77 Kansas City 78/67 Chicago 87/68 Minneapolis 84/68 El Paso 99/75 Denver 88/60 Billings 75/47 San Francisco 69/55 Seattle 58/50 Toronto 73/60 Montreal 86/60 Winnipeg 73/58 | Go to AccuWeather.com Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation for Monday. Temperature bands are highs for the day. In the digital e-edition, you can click anywhere on the US map to get up-to-date forecasts, radar, MinuteCast® and more. Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. High/low/W High/low/W High/low/W High/low/W High/low/W High/low/W High/low/W High/low/W Cold front Warm front Stationary front TODAY IN HISTORY WEATHER TRIVIA™ INTERNATIONAL CITIES NATIONAL CITIES -10s -0s 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s Showers T-storms Rain Flurries Snow Ice NATIONAL (for the 48 contiguous states) INTERNATIONAL (excludes Antarctica) NATIONAL SUMMARY High/low/W Air Quality High/low/W Air Quality High/low/W Air Quality High/low/W Air Quality O Denotes possible travel delays O Denotes possible travel delays Monday Air Quality Index: 0-50, Good; 51-100, Moderate; 101-150, Unhealthy for sensitive groups; 151-200, Unhealthy; 201-300, Very unhealthy; 301-500, Hazardous Rain, some heavy, will fall in the Northwest today. A potent storm will bring thunderstorms to the center of the nation. Thunderstorms can turn severe in the southern Plains and Mississippi Valley. Afternoon thunderstorms will dot the Southeast and mid-Atlantic coast. Hot and dry weather will continue in the Southwest. Charlotte, N.C., was swamped by 3.78 inches of rain on June 3, 1909 -- the greatest amount recorded there in one day for decades. The storm represented almost a month’s worth of rain for Charlotte. Monday Tuesday Monday Tuesday Monday Tuesday Monday Tuesday ©2024; forecasts and graphics provided by High: 105 at Gila Bend, AZ Low: 30 at Leadville, CO Precip: 2.94” at Dodge City, KS High: 119 at Fahud, Oman Low: 8 at Hall Beach, Canada Precip: 4.49” at Nanping, China SUNDAY EXTREMES Q: What is meteorological summer? The warmest quarter of the year, early A: June until early September Acapulco 91/74/pc 89/72/s Addis Ababa 82/57/pc 82/58/pc Algiers 80/59/s 80/59/pc Amman 103/74/s 99/72/s Amsterdam 64/54/c 68/54/sh Ankara 90/59/s 91/58/pc Asuncion 73/56/pc 80/64/s Athens 88/72/pc 92/72/s Auckland 63/48/pc 60/47/c Baghdad 109/80/pc 113/83/s Bangkok 95/81/t 93/80/t Beijing 92/64/sh 90/66/pc Beirut 89/74/s 86/73/s O Belgrade 79/57/t 76/60/s Berlin 69/53/c 72/55/c Bogota 69/52/c 66/51/r Brussels 65/53/c 69/54/c Bucharest 91/64/pc 86/58/pc Budapest 73/61/sh 72/55/t Buenos Aires 54/48/s 56/52/pc Cairo 98/73/s 101/75/s O Cape Town 60/54/r 66/57/r Caracas 91/77/t 91/78/t Casablanca 81/65/pc 80/67/pc O Colombo 88/81/sh 88/81/sh Copenhagen 68/53/c 66/58/c Damascus 104/68/s 107/69/s O Dublin 65/54/sh 61/41/pc Geneva 68/53/sh 73/53/pc Guatemala City 85/65/t 85/66/t O Hanoi 99/79/t 91/77/r Harare 80/54/s 84/54/s Havana 90/72/t 92/73/t Helsinki 68/59/pc 66/55/pc O Hong Kong 84/76/r 82/76/r O Jakarta 91/77/t 91/77/r Jerusalem 96/68/s 92/67/s Johannesburg 61/32/sh 56/38/s Kabul 88/59/pc 86/58/pc Khartoum 111/88/c 113/90/pc Kyiv 79/62/s 80/62/t Kingston 90/80/t 90/81/t La Paz 59/30/s 63/31/s Lagos 89/78/t 88/76/t Lima 67/60/pc 68/62/pc Lisbon 82/64/s 84/62/pc London 68/57/pc 68/50/pc Madrid 85/59/s 90/61/s Manila 93/82/t 94/80/t O Mexico City 90/62/pc 87/61/s Milan 75/59/c 77/59/sh Mombasa 89/75/pc 89/75/pc O Montevideo 53/36/pc 56/45/c Montreal 86/60/pc 85/64/s O Moscow 76/60/sh 74/60/sh Nairobi 79/59/t 78/59/t New Delhi 113/91/pc 107/87/pc Panama City 87/77/r 87/76/t Paris 70/54/c 72/56/sh Port-au-Prince 93/76/t 93/74/t Rio de Janeiro 80/71/s 77/70/r Riyadh 111/83/pc 112/84/pc Rome 74/55/s 76/57/s San Jose 83/69/r 83/69/r O San Salvador 87/71/t 85/72/t Santiago 65/45/c 66/45/c Sao Paulo 79/59/s 65/58/c Sarajevo 71/52/c 78/51/s Shanghai 93/64/c 85/68/s O Singapore 88/78/t 89/80/t Stockholm 76/55/pc 72/54/pc Sydney 65/47/pc 65/50/pc Taipei 77/68/r 80/71/r O Tegucigalpa 86/68/t 87/69/t Tehran 93/71/s 92/72/s O Tokyo 77/63/pc 79/63/sh Toronto 73/60/pc 79/61/t Tunis 80/63/s 83/67/pc O Vancouver 60/50/sh 63/46/r O Vienna 71/58/pc 73/56/sh Warsaw 75/59/sh 73/58/c Yerevan 81/59/s 82/59/s O Zagreb 67/56/sh 73/55/sh Zurich 63/51/sh 73/54/pc Aberdeen, SD 83/67/pc 40 Abilene, TX 95/73/t 40 Accomac, VA 81/64/t 54 Adrian, MI 83/62/pc 51 Akron, OH 81/61/pc 36 Alamogordo, NM 95/59/s 68 Alexandria, VA 84/64/t 58 Alliance, OH 81/61/pc 42 Amarillo, TX 98/63/s 62 Ames, IA 84/65/t 43 Anderson, SC 84/66/t 46 O Appleton, WI 75/65/t 43 Asheville, NC 79/60/t 41 Ashland, OH 82/62/pc 38 Athens, GA 85/65/t 46 Augusta, GA 89/66/t 58 O Austin, TX 94/77/pc 96 O Bartlesville, OK 78/70/t 24 O Battle Creek, MI 83/64/pc 65 O Bedford, IN 84/66/pc 47 Binghamton, NY 77/60/pc 62 O Bluffton, SC 84/73/pc 53 O Bremerton, WA 59/48/r 28 Brockton, MA 81/53/pc 74 O Brownwood, TX 94/72/t 75 Burlington, IA 81/66/t 46 Burlington, NC 82/63/pc 48 Burlington, VT 86/60/pc 63 Cambridge, OH 83/63/pc 41 O Camdenton, MO 78/66/t 32 Canandaigua, NY 79/60/pc 52 Canton, OH 82/62/pc 46 O Carlsbad, NM 102/72/s 77 Chambersburg, PA 84/63/pc 54 Cherry Hill, NJ 86/64/t 72 Cincinnati, OH 84/64/pc 46 O Clarksville, TN 88/71/t 56 Coldwater, MI 82/63/pc 60 Columbus, OH 84/65/pc 46 Corning, NY 81/57/sh 50 O Corpus Christi, TX 92/81/pc 42 Daytona Beach, FL 86/69/s 52 O Deming, NM 96/60/s 66 DeRidder, LA 89/76/t 33 Des Moines, IA 85/68/t 42 Detroit, MI 80/63/pc 44 O Devils Lake, ND 74/59/pc 40 Dover, NH 78/50/pc 54 O El Paso, TX 99/75/s 62 Elmira, NY 81/57/sh 52 Erie, PA 73/62/pc 43 Eugene, OR 66/52/sh 27 O Evansville, IN 89/68/t 55 Fall River, MA 84/54/pc 76 Farmington, NM 90/58/s 62 O Fayetteville, NC 84/67/t 58 O Fond du Lac, WI 78/67/t 44 O Fort Myers, FL 91/74/t 45 O Fort Smith, AR 85/74/t 30 Framingham, MA 84/54/pc 68 Freeport, IL 82/66/t 48 Fremont, OH 83/65/pc 43 Fort Collins, CO 87/57/pc 81 Gadsden, AL 84/66/t 43 Gainesville, FL 89/67/pc 52 Galesburg, IL 85/66/t 46 Gastonia, NC 84/64/t 45 O Glen Rose, TX 90/74/t 66 Gonzales, LA 88/74/t 34 O Great Falls, MT 66/40/t 37 O Green Bay, WI 72/64/t 42 Greenville, SC 85/65/t 47 Hackensack, NJ 87/63/pc 88 Hagerstown, MD 83/66/c 54 Hattiesburg, MS 88/73/t 44 O Henderson, KY 87/68/t 52 Hendersonville, NC 78/60/t 41 Herkimer, NY 85/56/pc 64 Hillsdale, MI 82/62/pc 56 O Holland, MI 77/68/t 62 Hornell, NY 79/59/sh 45 Houma, LA 89/75/c 34 Howell, MI 81/61/pc 51 O Hutchinson, KS 84/68/t 27 Hyannis, MA 74/54/pc 87 O Indianapolis, IN 86/67/pc 45 O Iowa City, IA 81/67/t 45 Ithaca, NY 79/58/pc 54 Jackson, MS 88/72/t 54 O Jackson, TN 87/71/t 58 Jacksonville, FL 89/68/sh 57 O Jacksonville, NC 82/67/t 45 Kent, OH 80/61/pc 42 O Kewanee, IL 85/67/t 48 Keyser, WV 81/61/pc 50 O Kinston, NC 83/64/pc 50 Knoxville, TN 85/64/t 44 O Lafayette, IN 86/66/t 55 Lafayette, LA 89/77/t 27 Lakeland, FL 91/72/t 55 O Lansing, MI 83/64/pc 64 O Las Cruces, NM 96/63/s 59 Lebanon, PA 84/62/pc 65 Leesburg, FL 90/72/t 56 Levittown, PA 87/63/t 72 O Lincoln, IL 86/68/t 56 Louisville, KY 87/68/t 58 Lubbock, TX 99/64/s 66 O Manitowoc, WI 65/60/t 44 Mansfield, OH 82/62/pc 41 Marshall, NC 78/58/t 38 Marshfield, WI 74/64/t 40 Massillon, OH 82/62/pc 46 McLean, VA 85/64/pc 54 Melbourne, FL 86/72/s 47 O Memphis, TN 87/72/t 57 Middletown, NY 83/56/pc 74 Milford, MA 84/53/pc 68 O Milwaukee, WI 77/66/t 56 Monroe, MI 76/64/pc 45 Monroe, LA 87/73/t 31 Montgomery, AL 88/69/t 54 Muncie, IN 87/66/pc 46 Murfreesboro, TN 87/68/t 44 O Naples, FL 89/74/t 46 O Nashville, TN 88/70/t 47 Neptune, NJ 78/62/pc 65 New Bedford, MA 82/55/pc 79 O New Bern, NC 84/67/t 44 New Philadelphia, OH 83/61/pc 42 Newark, OH 84/62/pc 44 Newton, NJ 84/59/pc 73 New York, NY 85/64/pc 86 Norwich, CT 86/53/pc 80 Ocala, FL 89/69/t 53 O Oklahoma City, OK 80/70/t 30 Opelousas, LA 88/74/t 27 O Oshkosh, WI 76/66/t 44 Palm Beach, FL 86/80/pc 41 Palm Springs, CA 105/73/s 62 Panama City, FL 85/73/pc 43 O Pekin, IL 86/69/t 51 Pensacola, FL 86/76/t 53 O Peoria, IL 86/68/t 52 Petersburg, VA 83/63/pc 47 Phoenix, AZ 103/77/s 89 Port Huron, MI 77/56/pc 40 Portsmouth, NH 75/53/pc 67 Poughkeepsie, NY 86/57/pc 83 Providence, RI 83/54/pc 80 Pueblo, CO 95/63/s 67 Quincy, MA 76/55/pc 67 Redding, CA 86/61/c 24 Reno, NV 81/56/c 30 Ravenna, OH 81/60/pc 40 Richmond, IN 84/64/pc 49 Rochester, NY 79/59/pc 63 O Rockford, IL 85/67/t 59 Ruidoso, NM 83/58/s 76 Salem, OR 65/55/sh 32 O Salina, KS 83/67/t 33 Salinas, CA 71/52/pc 24 Salisbury, MD 83/62/t 60 San Angelo, TX 99/73/t 48 Sarasota, FL 89/73/t 55 O Savannah, GA 87/69/pc 56 O Sheboygan, WI 66/60/t 46 Shelby, NC 83/63/t 46 O Sherman, TX 82/71/t 35 O Shreveport, LA 87/75/t 36 O Silver City, NM 90/58/s 71 Sioux Falls, SD 86/70/pc 56 Somerset, PA 76/58/pc 51 Somerville, NJ 88/62/pc 74 O South Bend, IN 86/66/pc 66 Spartanburg, SC 85/64/t 49 O Springfield, IL 84/68/t 56 O Springfield, MO 77/67/t 28 St. Augustine, FL 86/72/pc 54 St. Cloud, MN 82/66/t 35 St. George, UT 97/69/pc 76 Staunton, VA 80/57/pc 50 Stevens Point, WI 75/64/t 40 O Stockton, CA 83/58/pc 31 Stroudsburg, PA 83/59/pc 76 Stuart, FL 86/74/pc 46 Sturgis, MI 82/64/pc 62 Tallahassee, FL 90/69/t 57 Thibodaux, LA 88/74/pc 33 O Topeka, KS 80/69/t 36 Tuscaloosa, AL 88/70/t 44 Utica, NY 84/57/c 55 Ventura, CA 65/59/pc 29 O Victorville, CA 94/55/s 71 Vineland, NJ 84/61/t 71 Visalia, CA 90/61/pc 41 Washington, DC 84/67/t 62 Watertown, SD 80/66/pc 34 O Wausau, WI 75/64/t 35 Waynesboro, PA 84/64/pc 54 White Plains, NY 83/58/pc 89 O Wichita Falls, TX 89/72/t 35 Wilmington, DE 84/64/t 64 O Wilmington, NC 86/69/t 49 Wisconsin Rapids, WI 76/64/t 39 Wooster, OH 83/61/pc 36 Worcester, MA 82/55/pc 72 York, PA 85/64/pc 66 MONDAY

NATION & WORLD EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | 3NN OPEC+ agreed on Sunday to extend most of its deep oil output cuts well into 2025 as the group seeks to shore up the market amid tepid demand growth, high interest rates and rising rival U.S. production. Brent crude oil prices have been trading near $80 per barrel in recent days, below what many OPEC+ members need to balance their budgets. Worries over slow demand growth in top oil importer China have weighed on prices alongside rising oil stocks in developed economies. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia, together known as OPEC+, have made a series of deep output cuts since late 2022. OPEC+ members are currently cutting output by a total of 5.86 million barrels per day (bpd), or about 5.7% of global demand. Those include 3.66 million bpd of cuts, which were due to expire at the end of 2024, and voluntary cuts by eight members of 2.2 million bpd, expiring at the end of June. On Sunday, OPEC+ agreed to extend the cuts of 3.66 million bpd by a year until the end of 2025 and prolong the cuts of 2.2 million bpd by three months until the end of September. OPEC+ will gradually phase out the cuts of 2.2 million bpd over the course of a year from October 2024 to September 2025. “We are waiting for interest rates to come down and a better trajectory when it comes to economic growth … not pockets of growth here and there,” Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told reporters. OPEC expects demand for OPEC+ crude to average 43.65 million bpd in the second half of 2024, implying a stocks drawdown of 2.63 million bpd if the group maintains output at April’s rate of 41.02 million bpd. The drawdown will be less when OPEC+ starts phasing out the 2.2 million bpd voluntary cuts in October. The International Energy Agency, which represents top global consumers, estimates that demand for OPEC+ oil plus stocks will average much lower levels of 41.9 million bpd in 2024. “The deal should allay market fears of OPEC+ adding back barrels at a time when demand concerns are still rife,” said Amrita Sen, co-founder of Energy Aspects think tank. Prince Abdulaziz said OPEC+ could pause the unwinding of cuts or reverse them if demand wasn’t strong enough. Quick deal Analysts had expected OPEC+ to prolong voluntary cuts by a few months due to falling oil prices and sluggish demand. But many analysts had also predicted the group would struggle to set targets for 2025 as it had yet to agree individual capacity targets for each member, an issue that had previously created tensions. The United Arab Emirates, for instance, has been pushing for a higher production quota, arguing its capacity figure had been long underestimated. But in a surprise development on Sunday, OPEC+ postponed the discussions on capacities until November 2025 from this year. Instead, the group agreed to a new output target for the UAE which will be allowed to gradually raise production by 0.3 million bpd, up from the current level of 2.9 million. OPEC+ agreed that it would use independently assessed capacity figures as guidance for 2026 production instead of 2025 – postponing a potentially difficult discussion by one year. Prince Abdulaziz said one of the reasons for the delay was difficulties for independent consultants to assess Russian data amid Western sanctions on Moscow for its war on Ukraine. The meetings on Sunday lasted less than four hours – relatively short for such a complex deal. OPEC+ sources said Prince Abdulaziz, the most influential minister in the OPEC group, had spent days preparing the deal behind the scenes. He invited some key ministers – mostly those who contributed to the voluntary cuts – to come to the Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday despite meetings being largely scheduled online. The countries which have made voluntary cuts to output are Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. “It should be seen as a huge victory of solidarity for the group and Prince Abdulaziz,” said Sen, adding the deal would ease fears of Saudi Arabia adding barrels back due to Aramco’s share listing. Saudi Arabia’s government has filed papers to sell a new stake in state oil giant Aramco that could raise as much as $13.1 billion, a landmark deal to help fund Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plan to diversify the economy. OPEC+ will hold its next meeting on Dec. 1. OPEC+ extends deep oil output cuts Analysts had expected OPEC+ to prolong voluntary cuts by a few months due to falling oil prices and sluggish demand. LEONHARD FOEGER/REUTERS FILE Group waiting for lower interest rates Ahmad Ghaddar and Alex Lawler and Maha El Dahan REUTERS Wind and solar power generation in the European Union increased by 46% from 2019, when the current European Commission took office, to 2023, displacing a fifth of the bloc’s fossil fuel generation, a report by think tank Ember showed. Why it’s important The Commission proposed a target of 45% of renewable energy sources in the overall energy mix by 2030. European Parliament elections are held on June 6-9. Polls suggest the main pro-EU groups around the political center – the center-right, centerleft, Greens and liberals – will have a smaller majority than currently, while the far-right will make gains. While many EU policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions are already in place, some laws have reviews coming up in the next five years and pushing through more ambitious legislation might be tougher. Context EU wind and solar capacity has increased 65% since 2019. Wind capacity rose 31% to 219 gigawatts (GW) in 2023, while solar capacity more than doubled to 257 GW, equivalent to installing more than 230,000 solar panels daily during the four years, the report said. Without this expansion, fossil generation would have fallen just 1.9% instead of 22%, as lower electricity demand was offset by a decline in generation from other clean energy sources. Key quote “The EU now has more home grown wind and solar than ever, pushing both coal and gas electricity generation down to historic lows,” said Sarah Brown, Europe program director at Ember. “The EU is now in the midst of a historic, permanent shift away from reliance on fossil fuels for power.” The additional solar and wind capacity helped push the share of total renewables to 44% of the EU electricity mix in 2023 from 34% in 2019. Meanwhile, a decline in coal and gas generation has pulled the share of fossil fuel generation down to 32.5% from 39%. Report: EU wind, solar displacing fossil fuels REUTERS NEW YORK – It’s been a banner year for the major U.S. stock indexes, but one economically sensitive corner of the market sticks out as a sore spot. The Dow Jones Transportation Average has fallen about 5% so far this year, a significant contrast with the 9% yearto-date rise for the benchmark S&P 500 and the 1% rise in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which topped 40,000 points for the first time last month. While major indexes including the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite and the Dow have all set new all-time highs this year, the Dow transports have yet to top their November 2021 record and are some 12% below that level. Some investors said the struggles for the 20-stock transport index – which includes railroad operators, airlines, package shipping companies and trucking firms – could signal weakness in the economy or prevent the broader market from making significant further gains unless they bounce back. The Dow transports are “a barometer for future economic activity,” said Chuck Carlson, chief executive officer at Horizon Investment Services. “They may be indicating that while a recession isn’t imminent, that there is probably a slowdown in the economy that’s ahead here.” The weakness in the transports is an example of how gains in the tech-led S&P 500 – propelled by megacap stocks such as semiconductor giant Nvidia – may be overshadowing weaker performance in other corners of the economy following the Federal Reserve’s most aggressive monetary policy tightening in decades. Other areas that have struggled include small cap stocks, which some analysts believe are more sensitive to economic growth than large caps, as well as real estate shares and some high-profile consumer stocks such as Nike, McDonald’s and Starbucks. Data last week showed the U.S. economy grew at a 1.3% annualized rate in the first quarter, down from the 3.4% fourth-quarter 2023 pace. A key test for the economy’s strength and for markets comes with the June 7 release of the monthly U.S. jobs report. Among the Dow transports, the biggest year-to-date laggards are car rental company Avis Budget, off 37%, trucking firm J.B. Hunt Transport, down 21%, and American Airlines, off 17%. Shares of major package shipping companies UPS and FedEx, are down 13% and 1% respectively, while rails Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have both slumped about 7%. Only four of the 20 components have outperformed the S&P 500 so far this year. Matthew Miskin, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management, said it could be harder for the broader market to break significantly higher unless the transports pick up steam. “There is something to be said about the guts of the market not necessarily confirming all-time highs in the overall S&P 500,” Miskin said. “So softness in some of the transports, I think do warrant some caution.” Stocks pulled back last week, with the S&P 500 down more than 2% from a record high set earlier in May, with rising bond yields causing concern about equity performance. Not all investors believe the transport index is reflective of the broader economy. The index is price-weighted, like the Dow industrials – as opposed to weighted by market value like many indexes – and includes only 20 stocks. Meanwhile, another group also considered to be an economic bellwether – semiconductors – has fared much better. The Philadelphia SE semiconductor index has gained 20% this year, as investors flock to Nvidia and other chip companies poised to capitalize on excitement over the business potential of artificial intelligence. The overall market trend remains bullish for Horizon’s Carlson, who tracks the Dow transports and Dow industrials together to determine market trends, known as “Dow Theory.” But the fact that the transports closed at their lowest point since November on Wednesday is worrisome, he said. “It’s not to say that the industrials and the broad market can’t continue to move higher,” Carlson said. “But the probability of doing it in a sustained way, I think, decreases with the transports making new intermediate lows.” Struggling Dow transport stocks may be warning sign The 20-stock transport index includes railroad operators, airlines, package shipping companies and trucking firms. KAREEM ELGAZZAR/THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER FILE ANALYSIS Gains in some areas may obscure losses in others Lewis Krauskopf REUTERS Stocks pulled back last week, with the S&P 500 down more than 2% from a record high set earlier in May, with rising bond yields causing concern about equity performance.

4NN | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | NATION & WORLD EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK unlikely to pick the DA as its sole coalition partner, even though its marketfriendly stance would sit well with Ramaphosa. The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a conservative Zulu party with a power base in KwaZulu-Natal, won nearly 4% of the vote and could prove useful in making up the numbers. “I would almost certainly think they wouldn’t just go with the DA. They would most probably go with somebody like the IFP as well just because of the perception that the DA is a very white JOHANNESBURG – For the first time in South Africa’s democratic era, the African National Congress will have to seek one or more coalition partners to govern with after it fell well short of a majority in last week’s national election. Here are scenarios of what could happen next in South Africa and which parties the ANC might partner with: Will Ramaphosa get ousted? The ANC won just 40% of votes, by far its worst result since democratic elections began in 1994 after the end of apartheid and leaving it short of a majority in parliament. Some political analysts say this could lead to party leader and South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, having to step down, as he comes out of the election badly weakened. But ANC leaders said on Sunday the party would not bend to pressure from other political forces to ditch him. “That is a no-go area,” Fikile Mbalula, the party’s secretary general, told a press briefing. Over the past four electoral cycles the ANC’s share of the vote gradually dropped, but never by more than five percentage points from one election to the next. If Ramaphosa survives the voters’ backlash, he would carry on at least for a while to broker a coalition deal with another party in a bid to secure a parliamentary majority, though analysts say he may struggle to serve for a second full term. Tipped as potential successors are other ANC politicians such as Deputy President Paul Mashatile or Gwede Mantashe, currently in charge of the mines and energy ministry. In any case, the ANC needs to move quickly as the constitution says the new National Assembly must convene within 14 days of the election results being declared to elect a new president. Who are the potential coalition partners? The ANC will likely have no choice but to seek support from one of its three largest rivals: the pro-business, whiteled Democratic Alliance (DA), uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), led by former president Jacob Zuma, or the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The price of a deal with either of those would likely be significant policy concessions by the ANC, as well as the offer of some senior government or parliamentary positions for their partner. Some analysts say that the ANC was party,” said Melanie Verwoerd, a political analyst. “It’s a perception that’s very strong, and therefore I think they would prefer to have a balance in the coalition with either the IFP or a few smaller parties as well,” she said. An alliance with the DA would be favored by investors, though some commentators say it is difficult to envisage a stable arrangement under this scenario, and South Africa could be facing a period of unprecedented government volatility. The EFF, led by Julius Malema, a former leader of the ANC’s youth wing, may be a more natural fit for the ANC than the DA, but relations are tense between Malema and some ANC factions. On 9.5% of the vote, the EFF said in April it would partner with the ANC if it got the powerful post of finance minister. The ANC has not disclosed its thinking on any nonmajority scenario. MK wild card A deal with the MK, which emerged as the third biggest party with 14.6%, would also be difficult to digest for the ANC, which has struggled to clean up its reputation after the corruption scandals of the Zuma era. “What we do know now is that the ANC is in a trilemma,” said Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh, a political analyst at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Though bitter rivals, the EFF and MK, as offshoots of the ruling party, are more ideologically aligned with the ANC, he said. A coalition with the DA, on the other hand, would require reaching across the aisle of South African politics. “Any one of those coalitions is politically unprecedented,” he said. Complicating the situation for the ANC, the MK has repeatedly said it would not enter any coalition government if Ramaphosa stays on, and has threatened to challenge the electoral results in court despite faring better than expected. What happens next in South Africa? ANC had worst result since democratic elections began Anait Miridzhanian and Joe Bavier REUTERS South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, comes out of the election badly weakened. CHRIS MCGRATH/GETTY IMAGES Supporters of the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party chant slogans while celebrating in Kwaximba, South Africa, on Sunday. RAJESH JANTILAL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES drug cartels to democracy. On Sunday, two people were killed at polling stations in Puebla state. Sheinbaum, who had convincingly led in opinion polls over her main competitor Xochitl Galvez, will be tasked with confronting organized crime violence. More people have been killed during the mandate of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador than during any other administration in Mexico’s modern history, although the homicide rate has come down over his term. A win for Sheinbaum represents a major step for Mexico, a country known for its macho culture. The winner is set to begin a six-year term on Oct. 1. Polls closed across much of Mexico at 6 p.m. local time with the exception of the country’s westernmost time zone, which includes the northern Baja California peninsula. In Mexico City, where a tight contest is expected for mayor of the capital, both main candidates said they had internal polls saying they had won. Ruling party MORENA said its polls showed their candidate Clara Brugada had won the contest, while Santiago Taboada – representing a coalition of opposition parties – said his team had surveys showing he was victorious. An exit poll by the El Financiero newspaper said Brugada had a “slight advantage” without giving exact figures. On her way to vote on Sunday morning, Sheinbaum told journalists it was a “historic day” and that she felt at ease and content. “Everyone must get out to vote,” Sheinbaum, a physicist and former Mexico City mayor, said on local TV. Galvez, a businesswoman and former senator who represents an opposition coalition comprised of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the right-wing PAN and the leftist PRD party, chatted with supporters before casting her ballot early on Sunday. “I am very very optimistic,” Galvez said, adding that she was expecting a busy day. Lopez Obrador, Sheinbaum’s mentor, greeted supporters and posed for photos as he walked from the presidential palace to vote with his wife. “I never imagined that one day I would vote for a woman,” said 87-yearold Edelmira Montiel, a Sheinbaum supporter in Tlaxcala, Mexico’s smallest state. “Before we couldn’t even vote, and when you could, it was to vote for the person your husband told you to vote for. Thank God that has changed and I get to live it,” Montiel added. Almost 100 million Mexicans were eligible to vote in Sunday’s election. ‘Flooded with blood’ “The country is flooded with blood as a result of so much corruption,” said Rosa Maria Baltazar, 69, a voter in Mexico City’s upper-middle class Del Valle neighborhood. “I wish for a change of government for my country, something for a better life.” Lopez Obrador has loomed over the campaign, seeking to turn the vote into a referendum on his political agenda. Sheinbaum has rejected opposition claims that she would be a “puppet” of Lopez Obrador, though she has pledged to continue many of his policies including those that have helped Mexico’s poorest. “She is the most truthful,” said retiree and Sheinbaum-voter Antonio Cruz, 83, at a park in downtown Monterrey, Mexico’s northern industrial hub. Polls indicate that MORENA, the ruling party of Lopez Obrador and Sheinbaum, will likely fall short of securing a two-thirds majority in Congress. That would make it more difficult for Sheinbaum to push constitutional reforms past opposition parties. Among the new president’s challenges will be tense negotiations with the United States over the huge flows of U.S.-bound migrants crossing Mexico and security cooperation over drug trafficking at a time when the U.S. fentanyl epidemic rages. Mexico Continued from Page 1NN Claudia Sheinbaum, presidential candidate of the ruling party, casts her vote at a polling station in Mexico City, Mexico, Sunday. RAQUEL CUNHA/REUTERS Mexico's opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez, right, chatted with supporters at her poll site. PEDRO PARDO/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

NATION & WORLD EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | 5NN Boeing, NASA target Wednesday for Starliner flight Boeing and NASA said on Sunday that their teams are preparing to launch the new Starliner space capsule on Wednesday after scrubbing its inaugural test flight launch attempt on Saturday. The Starliner capsule had stood ready for blast-off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday before a ground system computer triggered an automatic abort command that shut down the launch sequence. NASA said its teams worked overnight to assess the ground support equipment at the launch pad that encountered issues during the countdown and identified an issue with a ground power supply within one of the chassis which provides power to a subset of computer cards controlling various system functions. The chassis containing the faulty ground power unit was removed, visually inspected, and replaced with a spare chassis, the space agency said. The CST-200 Starliner’s first crewed voyage to the International Space Station, with two astronauts aboard, remains a key milestone for Boeing as it scrambles to gain a greater share of lucrative NASA business now dominated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Washington Post executive editor steps down The executive editor of the Washington Post, Sally Buzbee, the first woman to lead the newspaper’s newsroom, has stepped down from her role, the publication said on Sunday. Matt Murray, ex-Editor in Chief of the Wall Street Journal, will replace her until the November 2024 presidential election, and will then be followed by Robert Winnett of the Telegraph Media Group, who will become the newspaper’s editor, the Washington Post said in a post on its website. Charges dropped in traffic stop that left Black motorist dead Prosecutors in Minnesota on Sunday dismissed charges against a state trooper accused of unintentional murder and manslaughter in the shooting death of Black motorist Ricky Cobb II last year, citing new evidence that weakened their case. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said prosecutors were not exonerating State Trooper Ryan Londregan, only that they no longer believed they could meet their burden of proof at trial. Asked about the dismissal of charges, defense attorney Christopher Madel said in an email, “It’s about (expletive) time.” Cobb’s killing took place in the same city where George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in 2020. During a traffic stop in July 2023, troopers informed Cobb he was wanted for another offense and they planned to arrest him, according to the criminal complaint. Londregan shot Cobb after he put the car in gear and took his foot off the brake, the complaint said. Upon announcing charges, prosecutors said they believed Londregan failed to follow his training against firing into a moving vehicle. Since then, a trainer of state troopers said officers were never instructed to refrain from shooting into a moving vehicle, only that it was best practice, prosecutors said in a statement. Additionally, in a pretrial hearing in April, defense attorneys told the court Londregan was prepared to testify he saw Cobb reach for his gun, the statement said. Those two developments led the state to dismiss the case, the statement said. Russia-China gas pipeline deal stalls over price demands Russia’s attempts to conclude a major gas pipeline deal with China have run aground over what Moscow sees as Beijing’s unreasonable demands on price and supply levels, the Financial Times reported on Sunday citing three people familiar with the matter. China had asked to pay close to Russia’s heavily subsidized domestic prices and would only commit to buying a small fraction of the pipeline’s planned annual capacity of 50 billion cubic meters of gas, the report said. Russia has been in talks for years about building the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline to carry 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year from the Yamal region in northern Russia to China via Mongolia. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said last month that Russia and China expect to a sign a contract “in the near future” on the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline. Reuters IN BRIEF Merchan from the case, repeated allegations of bias by the judge and the district attorney who prosecuted the case. “The United States Supreme Court MUST DECIDE!” Trump wrote on social media. Trump plans to appeal after his July 11 sentencing date, his lawyers say. If an appeal in New York state courts proves unsuccessful, he could appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump’s attorneys would have to persuade at least four of the court’s nine justices to hear his case. To prevail, Trump would then have to demonstrate that the state prosecution violated his federal constitutional rights and that his legal team followed proper procedures during earlier stages of his legal proceedings. Trump has used his conviction to step up his fundraising efforts but has not otherwise sought to mobilize his supporters, in contrast to his comments protesting his 2020 loss to Biden that were followed by a deadly attack by his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, on the U.S. Capitol. Asked what Trump supporters should do if he were jailed, Republican National Committee Co-Chair Lara Trump told CNN: “Well, they’re gonna do what they’ve done from the beginning, which is remain calm and protest at the ballot box on November 5th. There’s nothing to do other than make your voices heard loud and clear and speak out against this.” Some Trump supporters have hung U.S. flags upside down following the verdict. The inverted flag has been a symbol of distress or protest in America for over 200 years. At least one Democratic lawmaker expressed concern on Sunday about the potential for Trump’s supporters to respond violently to his conviction. “His base listens to him. They don’t listen to Lara Trump. And this is another dangerous appeal to violence,” Democratic U.S. Rep.Adam Schiff told CNN. But House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump ally, said any response must be lawful. “We are the rule of law party – chaos is not a conservative value. We have to fight back and we will with everything in our arsenal. But we do that within the confines of the rule of law,” Johnson told “Fox News Sunday.” The matter is unlikely to be resolved before the November presidential election, when he will seek to take back the White House from Biden. Opinion polls show a close race between the two men and suggest that his conviction could hurt him with some Republican voters and independents. Trump Continued from Page 1NN Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced July 11, four days before Republicans gather to formally choose their presidential nominee in November’s election. ANDREW KELLY/REUTERS DUBAI – The head of Dubai airline Emirates urged Boeing to pick an engineering and business heavyweight to lead a deep overhaul of the U.S. aerospace giant and said the task of ending the plane-maker’s recent confidence crisis “must get done.” “Is it fixable and salvageable? Yes it is. Will it get things back to where it needs to? It must. And you’ll only do that with very strong leadership, who are fixated on doing the right thing,” Emirates Airline President Tim Clark told reporters on the sidelines of a major airlines summit. Turning round the manufacturer after a series of safety and industrial problems, to the point where it can meet existing and new demand smoothly, may take five years, he said. Emirates is the world’s largest buyer of long-haul jets to feed its Gulf hub. Boeing is looking for a new CEO after announcing that Dave Calhoun would step down by the end of the year following back-to-back crises exacerbated by the blowout of a loose door plug on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 jet in January. Clark, who has been one of Boeing’s severest critics during the crisis, told Reuters he had never met Calhoun, who was appointed CEO in January 2020 following a pair of 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed nearly 350 people. Boeing had no immediate comment on his remarks. In December, Boeing named Stephanie Pope to the newly created position of group-wide chief operating officer in a move seen at the time as positioning her as a leading contender to take over from Calhoun at some point in the next few years. Asked what he would like to see in a new Boeing CEO, Clark said: “I think that people who have got a really broad aerospace engineering capability, who are good business managers as well, are the people that you need to bring back and sort this one out. Whether Stephanie Pope is going to be able to step up and do that (as well as) anybody, time will tell.” He added: “But we need airplanes, we cannot face constant delays. We’ve got a business to run and if we’re having to foot the bill for refurbishing all these (existing) airplanes it should be put at Boeing’s door.” Emirates, the largest operator of the 777 family, is carrying out what it calls the largest cabin refurbishment on existing planes as it awaits the first delivery of the Boeing 777X, delayed by at least five years from 2020. Clark said Boeing could not yet give a precise delivery for the plane’s first delivery. It has said it will be in 2025. Emirates said he planned to meet Pope in her capacity as Boeing’s recently appointed plane-making chief on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association being held in Dubai over the next two days. The unit Pope previously led, Global Services, was Boeing’s only profitable division in the first nine months of 2023. In March, in the wake of the blowout incident, it announced Calhoun’s earlier-than-expected planned departure and named Pope as head of its Commercial Airplanes division, replacing Stan Deal who was fired as part of the same shake-up. Analysts say Pope continues to be cited in some quarters as a contender for the CEO role alongside several outside contenders including Spirit AeroSystems CEO Pat Shanahan. Emirates boss says Boeing needs strong CEO to end crisis Tim Hepher and Alexander Cornwell REUTERS Clark SYDNEY – An annual poll of how Australians view foreign relations showed trust in the United States has dipped, although most (83%) saw the U.S. alliance as important for security, and 63% said it makes Australia safer from attack or pressure from China. Cyberattacks from other nations were seen as the top threat (70%), while concern over potential conflicts over Taiwan (59%) and the South China Sea (57%) also loomed large. Australia has boosted its military cooperation with alliance partner the United States, including in the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, as government concern over the risk of conflict in the IndoPacific region rises. The Lowy Institute poll, conducted annually by the foreign policy think-tank for 20 years, found Australians rank Japan highest of all countries in terms of trust (87%). Trust in China to act responsibly in the world was low at 17%, which Lowy said was a sharp drop from 52% six years ago. Levels of trust toward the United States dropped five points to 56% from a year ago. “Australians are far less trusting of China and they are worried about the risk of war in our region. One constant is that they continue to see the alliance with the United States as important to Australia’s security,” said Lowy Institute executive director Michael Fullilove. Most (83%) of 2000 people surveyed in March said the U.S. alliance was important for Australia’s security. Sixty-three percent said the U.S. alliance makes Australia safer from attack or pressure from China, although threequarters also believe the alliance makes it more likely Australia will be drawn into a future war in Asia. Seventy-one percent said China would become a military threat to Australia in the next 20 years. Asked about the 2024 U.S. presidential election, 68% said they would prefer to see Joe Biden reelected, compared with a third (29%) preferring Donald Trump. Australian trust in US fell, security alliance between nations vital, poll says Kirsty Needham REUTERS President Joe Biden, right, meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the AUKUS summit in San Diego Calif., in 2023. JIM WATSON/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

6NN | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | NATION & WORLD EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK K1 SINGAPORE – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the ShangriLa Dialogue on Sunday that diplomacy – in the form of a peace summit later this month – was the best way to end a “cruel war” that has killed thousands in his country since 2022. In an address at the security conference in Singapore, Zelenskyy said 106 countries and organizations had signed on for the peace summit in Switzerland, but noted it was disappointing that some world leaders had not yet offered their support. Russia was trying to disrupt the peace efforts, he said. “We are convinced that our world wants to be united and be capable of acting in complete harmony,” Zelenskyy said. He later told a news conference that he was not able to meet the Chinese delegation at the conference and was disappointed that Beijing would not attend the summit. “China, unfortunately … is working for countries not to come to the peace summit,” he said. In an address to delegates on Sunday, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun said his country had been careful not to support either Russia or Ukraine. “On the Ukraine crisis, China has been promoting peace talks with a responsible attitude,” Dong said. “We have never provided weapons to either party of the conflict. We have put strict controls on exports of dual-use items, and have never done anything to fan the flames. We stand firmly on the side of peace and dialogue.” Zelenskyy thanked countries, including the United States, Germany and the Netherlands, for their military assistance, particularly with air defense systems. Zelenskyy cited a Russian attack on Sunday with nearly 100 missiles – something he said had happened hundreds of times – and noted “no country could handle this alone.” He later said that although he was grateful to the U.S. for allowing Kyiv to use U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to fire across the Russian border in the Kharkiv region, it was not enough. He said Russia was using many airfields to launch attacks on Ukraine “knowing that Ukraine will not fire back because it has no responding systems and no permissions.” Zelenskyy and his defense minister, Rustem Umerov, held talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for more than an hour on Sunday on the sidelines of the conference before his speech. Austin updated Zelenskyy on Washington’s military assistance to Kyiv and “reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to maintaining the strong support” during the meeting, a Pentagon official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. “The two leaders pledged to further strengthen the strategic defense partnership between the United States and Ukraine,” the Pentagon official said. On the social media platform X, Zelenskyy said he had also met Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto; a delegation from the U.S. Congress; and the president of Timor-Leste, Jose RamosHorta. He said Ramos-Horta had agreed to attend the peace summit, scheduled for mid-June in Switzerland. At last year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, Prabowo had proposed an Indonesian plan for ending the war in Ukraine. The Shangri-La Dialogue, organized by the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies, ends on Sunday. Russia has not attended the security summit in Singapore since it invaded Ukraine in 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meet at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Sunday. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS Zelenskyy meets leaders in Singapore Ukraine’s president seeks support for upcoming peace summit in Switzerland Gerry Doyle REUTERS a good deal but we dearly want the hostages released, all of them.” Biden, whose initial lockstep support for Israel’s offensive has given way to open censure of the operation’s high civilian death toll, on Friday aired what he described as a three-phase plan submitted by the Netanyahu government to end the war. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Sunday that if Hamas agrees to the deal to end the Gaza war, the U.S. expects Israel to also accept the plan. “This was an Israeli proposal. We have every expectation that if Hamas agrees to the proposal ... as was transmitted to them, an Israeli proposal ... then Israel would say yes,” Kirby said in an interview on ABC News’ “This Week” program. Later on Sunday, the U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate phone calls about the proposal with Gallant and Benny Gantz, a centrist minister who joined Netanyahu in an emergency coalition. In the call with Gantz, Blinken “emphasized that Hamas should take the deal without delay,” the department said in a statement. Hezbollah drone falls in northern Israeli city; no injuries reported A drone launched by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fell in the Israeli coastal city of Nahariya on Sunday, causing a fire but no injuries, Israel’s military and local media reported. Air raid sirens had sent the city’s roughly 75,000 residents running for shelter, after a day of continuous rocket fire from Lebanon at northern Israel. Israel’s military said throughout the day it had responded by striking Hezbollah targets. Nahariya is about 4.4 miles from the Lebanese border. Israel’s military said in a statement that it tried unsuccessfully to intercept the drone. Several killed in Israeli attack in Syria, state media reports A number of people were killed in an Israeli air attack targeting sites in the vicinity of the Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, Syrian state media said citing a military source, the second reported attack on the country in less than a week. The strikes at around 12:20 a.m. local time on Sunday “led to a number of fatalties and some material damage,” the source said, without elaborating. Israel launched air attacks on May 29 on Syria’s central region as well as the coastal city of Baniyas, killing a child and injuring ten civilians, according to Syrian state media. For years Israel has been carrying out attacks against what it has described as Iran-linked targets in Syria, where Tehran’s influence has grown since it began supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that started in 2011. A woman looks through a window as people take part in the Israel Day on Fifth Parade in New York City on Sunday. ANDREW KELLY/REUTERS Displaced Palestinians with their belongings travel by van in al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday. EYAD BABA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Hamas Continued from Page 1NN

NATION & WORLD EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | 7NN AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu slows the progression of breast cancer by about five months in women whose disease worsened after endocrine therapy – even if they had very low levels of the mutant protein targeted by the drug, according to trial results announced on Sunday. The findings, presented in Chicago at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, significantly broaden the range of breast cancer patients that could benefit from Enhertu, an antibody-drug conjugate designed to deliver toxic chemotherapy directly to tumors. The data showed an “unprecedented” improvement in progression-free survival, supporting the thesis that antibody-drug conjugates can deliver their payloads more specifically to cancer cells, ASCO President Dr. Lynn Schuchter said. Study participants given Enhertu lived for a median of 13.2 months before their cancer worsened, compared with 8.1 months for those given chemotherapy. Results were similar for patients with low and “ultra-low” levels of HER2 – the protein targeted by the drug. About 70% of breast cancer cases are hormone-receptor positive, and are initially treated with endocrine drugs that interfere with hormones like estrogen. If the cancer worsens, the only current option for those patients is chemotherapy. Another 20- 25% of breast cancers are HER2 positive, or HER2 “high,” and can be treated with drugs like Roche’s Herceptin. Enhertu is currently approved as a second-line treatment for HER2 positive and HER2 low breast cancer. Sales of the drug totaled about $2.6 billion last year. If approved for HER2 low and ultralow breast cancers after endocrine therapy, eight of 10 women with metastatic breast cancer could be treated with Enhertu, AstraZeneca oncology research chief Susan Galbraith said. As tumor mutation testing improves, the number of patients with no HER2 could be so small that Enhertu becomes a preferred choice for almost all patients in approved settings, Jefferies analyst Peter Welford said in a research note on Sunday. Galbraith said Astra is working with global regulatory agencies to submit the latest Enhertu breast cancer data. A number of other trials are underway aimed at moving the drug into earlier lines of therapy. Galbraith said Enhertu is effective at reaching tumors with low levels of HER2 due to the mechanism linking the antibody to the drug. Data show drug slows breast cancer Enhertu could benefit broad range of patients Deena Beasley REUTERS AstraZeneca’s cancer medicine Enhertu was developed jointly with Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo. ASTRAZENECA/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS SAO PAULO PRIDE People attend a march through Paulista Avenue to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights during the annual Pride parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday. CARLA CARNIEL/REUTERS LONDON – British opposition leader Keir Starmer will pledge on Monday to secure the country’s nuclear deterrent, trying to reassure voters before an election that the nation would be safe in the hands of a Labour government. Describing Labour as the “party of national security,” Starmer will turn his campaign focus to defense, seen as a weak spot for Britain’s main opposition party under his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, a long-time supporter of nuclear disarmament. With conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, defense is taking center stage before the July 4 election, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying last month that only his Conservative Party could keep voters safe in an increasingly dangerous world. “National security will always come first in the changed Labour Party I lead. Keeping our country safe is the bedrock of stability that the British people rightly expect from their government,” Starmer said in a statement. “My message to them is clear: Labour has changed. No longer the party of protest, Labour is the party of national security.” He will make a commitment to a socalled “nuclear deterrent triple lock” – constructing four new nuclear submarines, maintaining a continuous at-sea deterrent and the delivery of all future upgrades needed for those submarines. Even though Labour is far ahead in the polls, officials say they still need to convince thousands of undecided voters to back what Starmer repeatedly calls a “changed party”, one which can be trusted on defense, health and tackling immigration. The Conservatives believe they have a stronger defense offering, with a pledge to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP a year by 2030 – a target Labour says it wants to match but only when “resources allow.” UK’s Starmer seeks to reassure voters REUTERS Starmer Vows nuclear deterrent package in bid to shift view of Labour Party FRANKFURT – A firefighter died while trying to rescue trapped residents and several thousand people were forced to leave their homes as heavy rain caused flooding in southern Germany. The 42-year-old man who died was in a rescue boat carrying four firefighters that capsized late on Saturday. His body was recovered early on Sunday, said a spokesperson for the Bavarian town of Pfaffenbach an der Ilm, around 30 miles north of Munich. Municipalities had days to prepare for the flooding but around 3,000 people had to be evacuated in southern Germany as the water cut off some areas, authorities said. “We owe our thanks and respect to the rescue workers and helpers who are battling the consequences of the floods in many places,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on X. Scholz is scheduled to travel to the region on Monday, where he will meet with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Bavaria’s premier to get an overview, a government spokesperson said. Economy Minister and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck pledged support for the affected regions during a visit on Sunday and noted that climate change is causing more severe weather events. “Natural disasters have always accompanied mankind. What we are seeing is that the frequency of these events is increasing significantly. Record floods occur every few years … record rainfall every few years,” Habeck, of the Greens Party, told broadcaster n-tv. Parts of Europe were hit by major flooding in 2021 that killed nearly 200, with Germany bearing the brunt. The disaster was largely blamed on the consequences of climate change and prompted calls for stricter warning and safety measures. Rescue worker dies, thousands evacuated in Germany floods Christoph Steitz and Christian Kraemer REUTERS Firefighters pile sandbags on a flooded street in Baar-Ebenhausen, Germany, Sunday. LUKAS BARTH/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

SPORTS EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | 1NS SPORTSEXTRA SUBSCRIBER-EXCLUSIVE SECTION Yuka Saso has brought golfing glory to two different nations. In 2021, when she won her first major title, it marked the first time a woman from the Philippines won the U.S. Women’s Open. Three years later, Saso has switched her sporting nationality to Japan – she has one parent from each country – and on Sunday became the first player flying the Japanese flag to win the championship. Saso shot a 2-under 68 in her final round to capture her second U.S. Women’s Open on Sunday at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club. “I think winning in 2021, I represented the Philippines (and) I feel like I was able to give back to my mom,” Saso said at her trophy presentation. “This year, I was able to represent Japan, and I think I was able to give back to my dad. I’m very happy that I was able to do it.” Saso was one of just two players to finish the week under par. She started the day three off the pace but used four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine to separate from the pack and shoot 4-under 276 for a threestroke victory. Saso, 22, experienced a three-year drought of wins of any kind, major or not, since her first U.S. Women’s Open. “I think it just makes it special because after a long wait, and I wasn’t expecting to win the U.S. Women’s Open, every time I – last time, too, I wasn’t expecting it, and this time, too, I wasn’t expecting it,” Saso said. “I think that’s why it made me a bit emotional. “Winning just makes you look back GOLF Saso rallies to win 2nd U.S. Women’s Open FIELD LEVEL MEDIA Yuka Saso holds the Harton S. Semple trophy following the final round of the U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club on Sunday. PATRICK SMITH/GETTY IMAGES See OPEN, Page 2NS Austin Cindric was happily surprised and heartbroken after winning for the first time this year on Sunday. Cindric took advantage of a Team Penske teammate’s misfortune to break an 85-race winless streak and claim the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Ill. As reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney came down the frontstretch toward the white flag with a healthy lead over Cindric, his No. 12 Ford slowed dramatically. “I’m out of gas!” shrieked Blaney, who is winless in 2024. Cindric roared by Blaney as they headed into Turn 1 for the final time and went on to notch his second career win in 94 starts. He beat Denny Hamlin by 3.844 seconds to become the ninth different winner this season. “Honestly, I’m heartbroken for the 12 team,” said Cindric, who handed Team Penske its first win since Oct. 29 at Martinsville Speedway. “I don’t know what happened to them at the end of the race, but they deserved to win this race. Ryan’s been a hell of a leader on this team. “To have two (Penske) cars in the fight and an eventual 1-2 (finish) there makes it heartbreaking, but this is huge for me and this team.” Blaney won that Martinsville race and appeared to be on his way to his first of this season after fending off a hard charge by Christopher Bell (race-high 80 laps led) before Bell’s No. 20 developed a mechanical problem. Bell finished seventh. “Never thought in my mind we were short,” said Blaney, who finished 24th. “I don’t know what I’ve got to do to get some luck on our side. Gosh, wrecked the last two points races and thought we NASCAR Austin Cindric celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Enjoy Illinois See NASCAR, Page 3NS 300 at WWT Raceway on Sunday in Madison, Ill. SEAN GARDNER/GETTY IMAGES Cindric wins after Blaney’s tank hits empty FIELD LEVEL MEDIA Connor McDavid collected a goal and an assist to pace the host Edmonton Oilers to a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Sunday that sends them to the Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers, who last reached the championship round in 2006, will face the Florida Panthers in a best-seven series that begins Saturday in Sunrise, Fla. Zach Hyman also scored for the Oilers, who won three consecutive games to claim the Western Conference final in six games. Goalie Stuart Skinner made 34 saves and defenseman Evan Bouchard netted a pair of assists. Mason Marchment replied with the lone goal for the Stars, who were the conference’s regular-season champions. Goalie Jake Oettinger stopped eight shots. McDavid’s highlight-reel-worthy goal on a power play opened the scoring at 4:17 of the first period, converting his team’s first shot on net. The Oilers’ NHL PLAYOFFS OILERS 2, STARS 1 Connor McDavid (97) and Stuart Skinner of the Oilers celebrate after beating the Stars 2-1 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final at Rogers Place on Sunday. CODIE MCLACHLAN/GETTY IMAGES Oilers stop Stars McDavid lifts Edmonton to Stanley Cup Final FIELD LEVEL MEDIA See OILERS, Page 8NS

2NS | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | SPORTS EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK GOLF Robert MacIntyre’s first victory on the PGA Tour will be memorable for countless reasons. His father was there every step of the way in the RBC Canadian Open as a fill-in caddie. “That’s the guy that taught me the game of golf,” MacIntyre said. “… He was trying to tell me to stay focused, swing smooth.” They could celebrate together after the Scottish golfer shot 2-under-par 68 for a one-stroke tournament victory Sunday at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ontario. MacIntyre, a left-hander who earned his PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour Race to Dubai rankings, finished at 16- under 264. That was one stroke better than Ben Griffin, who shot a bogey-free 65. Dougie MacIntyre did his part as the caddie. “I’m speechless,” the younger MacIntyre said during a post-round television interview. “That’s everything for me and my family. To have him on the bag, I’m crying with joy, but I’m laughing because I didn’t think it was possible.” Now, MacIntyre has a spot in the U.S. Open in less than two weeks. He’s full of gratitude. “The whole support I’ve had from Scotland, (for) me and my family,” he said. “… I honestly can’t believe this.” When MacIntyre made the turn, he held a four-stroke lead with six golfers sharing second place. But the tournament had been far from decided, not to mention MacIntyre’s apparent irritation because of noise stemming from a CBS drone. Griffin, who joined MacIntyre in the final pairing and also was vying for his first PGA win, had a late rally with three straight birdies, but was unable to sink a birdie putt from the fringe on the last hole. “I fought hard,” said Griffin, who posted a final-round 65. “It felt like there was a lid on the cup for most of the day for me. I hit so many pretty good putts.” Griffin, who was part of a group tied for second place entering the round, had a strange day, with a birdie on the par-4 third hole after his tee shot settled on the seventh fairway. He recovered, but he made all pars until birdies on Nos. 15, 16 and 17. The putt on the 16th green was from nearly 40 feet. “(MacIntyre) was kind of scrambling a lot down the stretch and I looked at it as an opportunity to kind of make a charge and it was a ton of fun and wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Griffin said. “Even though I finished second, tons of positives from this week and game feels good.” Third-place finisher Victor Perez of France shot a bogey-free 64, capped by a birdie putt on the final hole. South Korea’s Tom Kim and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy made charges with 64s to share fourth place at 13 under. Canada’s Corey Conners (65) was sixth at 12 under. “If somebody would have told me 64 at the start of the day I would have taken it, for sure,” Perez said. MacIntyre’s lead grew to five shots after a birdie on No. 11. But by the time he bogeyed the next two holes, Kim and McIlroy had wrapped up their rounds to sit just two shots back. When Perez finished, MacIntyre had four holes left and only a one-stroke edge. MacIntyre immediately birdied No. 15 to go up two, with Griffin joining Perez at 14 under. While Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes moved into contention by late Saturday, it was Conners who made a strong push in the final round in an effort for a Canadian to win the event for the second year in a row. Conners had four straight birdies from Nos. 11-14 and moved closer with a birdie on No. 17 before closing with a bogey. “I felt like I holed some really good putts today and definitely felt some nerves out there,” Conners said. “But honestly playing in front of this crowd is incredible and really motivates you to settle in and hit a good shot.” Conners won the Rivermead Cup for the best score among Canadian entrants. “I guess it’s a nice consolation prize,” he said. “Pretty special winning that a few years ago. Definitely something to be proud of. Obviously disappointing to not win the big trophy, but, yeah, it’s a cool honor.” The only American golfers to finish inside the top nine were Griffin and Maverick McNealy (65), who tied Hughes (70) and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox (70) for seventh place at 10 under. PGA TOUR MacIntyre narrowly wins Canadian Open FIELD LEVEL MEDIA Robert MacIntyre poses with the trophy alongside his caddie and father Dougie MacIntyre after winning the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club on Sunday in Hamilton, Ontario. VAUGHN RIDLEY/GETTY IMAGES DES MOINES, Iowa — The fourth time is the charm. It took four appearances at the Principal Charity Classic for Ernie Els to get his first win there, with the South Africa native simultaneously earning his first PGA Tour Champions win this season. “It’s very special,” Els said. “I haven’t won for a while, and I’ve had quite a few chances. But it gets tougher when you don’t get it over the line.” Els finished at 21-under 195, winning by two strokes. The 54-year-old had two birdies on the front nine Sunday and three more on the back. He picked up an eagle on lucky number 13, which gave Els the padding needed for the win, even with making par on the final three holes. “I was lucky enough to make birdie on 11,” Els said. “I didn’t need a very good approach, made a good putt. And then 12, but 13 was big to make eagle late on the back nine, that was key. Got me into a three-shot lead, and (I) kept with it.” The win at the Wakonda Club marked the first PGA Tour Champions win of the season for Els, who entered the Principal Charity Classic ranked 16th in the Schwab Cup Standings through eight events. He claimed the winner’s purse of $300,000, which brings his total winnings the $785,017 this season. Els has now finished in the top 10 three times this season, including third-place ties in the Regions Tradition and Chubb Classic and a tie for sixth at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. Els finished two shots ahead of Stephen Ames, the tournament’s defending champion, but it was a close race throughout. Four players were tied for first after finishing the front nine: Ames, Rod Pampling, Els and Bernhard Langer. Then, the front group started to split apart. Ames picked up two birdies to start the back nine, then made par on 12 and 13, and saved par on 14. Els made par on 10, then picked up back-to-back birdies and an eagle on the next three holes to take a two-shot lead. Langer also hit par to start the back nine, then made three birdies in a row before a bogey on 14. Els’ eagle on lucky number 13 that proved to be the winning shot in Sunday’s competition. Ageless wonder Langer, who tore his Achilles tendon while playing pickleball on just four months ago, shot a 63 on Saturday, the 15th time the 66-yearold has shot his age or better on PGA Tour Champions. On Sunday, he shot 68 and tied for third alongside David Duval and Pampling. PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS Els wins, Langer ties for 3rd at Principal Charity Classic Alyssa Hertel Des Moines Register USA TODAY NETWORK Ernie Els reacts on the 18th hole after winning the Principal Charity Classic at Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa. JEFFREY BECKER/USA TODAY SPORTS in all the things that your family and your team and my sponsors, they supported me throughout good or bad.” The three 54-hole co-leaders were Minjee Lee of Australia, Andrea Lee and Wichanee Meechai of Thailand at 5 under par. All three dropped down the leaderboard as they battled the difficult scoring conditions. Saso swept in a 20-foot birdie putt at the second hole before her biggest hiccup, a four-putt double bogey at the par-3 sixth. She trailed Minjee Lee by two when she reached the par-3 12th and made the first of two consecutive birdies. After another birdie at No. 15 gave her a two-shot cushion, Saso drove the green at the 232-yard par-4 16th and two-putted for birdie. She saved bogey from 3 1/2 feet at No. 17 before hitting a chip onto the 18th green that finished less than 2 feet away to set up a clinching par. “I chipped from the front yesterday, too, and I left it more than 10 feet,” Saso said, “and I just told myself, be aggressive and not to be short 10 feet, and I’m glad that I was able to do it.” Hinako Shibuno shot a 72 on Sunday to make it a 1-2 finish for Japan, finishing the week 1 under. Andrea Lee bogeyed her final two holes to shoot 75 and fell to a tie for third at even par. “It was tough out there,” said the 25- year-old Californian, who made a double bogey, four bogeys and one birdie Sunday. “Obviously didn’t have my best right from the start. I was pretty nervous, but yeah, just didn’t have great shots out there. I had a couple of drives that really cost me, especially the double on 4.” Ally Ewing joined Andrea Lee in third place as she tied the round of the day with a bogey-free 66. Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol posted 69 to take fifth at 1 over. Meechai, who shot in the 60s for three straight days, posted a 77 to drop to 2 over and a tie for sixth with Ayaka Furue of Japan (68) and Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand (68). Minjee Lee (78) was tied for ninth at 3 over. Andrea Lee reacts after a putt during the final round of the U.S. Women's Open in Lancaster, Pa. PATRICK SMITH/GETTY IMAGES Open Continued from Page 1NS

SPORTS EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | 3NS AUTO RACING DETROIT - Scott Dixon’s calculated risk to emerge from the chaos paid off in the 2024 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix with his record-setting fourth win at the Detroit Grand Prix. Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing decided to remain on the course in his No. 9 Honda during Lap 65 while most of the field decided to make a pit stop under a caution flag, allowing the New Zealand racer to move into the lead, which he did not relinquish in the final 35 laps for his fourth win in the Motor City and his second win of the 2024 IndyCar season. This is the first time Dixon has won on the new downtown street course, which returned for the second year after he recorded three wins on Belle Isle between 2012 and 2019. He had to navigate a dizzying amount of crashes and yellow caution flags caused by the challenges of Detroit’s city streets and withstand a late push from second-place finisher Marcus Ericsson in the No. 28 Honda and third-place finisher Marcus Armstrong in the No. 11 Honda. “Any win is special but it is cool to get two wins in different places,” Dixon said. Ericsson finished 0.86 seconds behind Dixon, and Armstrong was 4.91 off the winning time. Kyle Kirkwood in the No. 27 Honda finished in fourth and Alexander Rossi, No. 7, was the lone Chevrolet driver in the top five, finishing fifth, 8.95 seconds off Dixon. “It felt good to spoil the party, for sure,” Ericsson said about Honda sweeping the podium under GM’s headquarters. “I think Honda did a great job this weekend.” The 100-lap race around the 1.645- mile track, circling the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit, started with a green flag at 12:42 p.m. and ran until 2:47. Racers came into the week with more knowledge of the new downtown track, but bumpy roads, tight turns, narrow walls and a brief spell of rain caused most of the race to happen under the yellow caution flag. There were eight caution periods and a total of 1 hour, 5 minutes of race time spent under a yellow flag compared to an hour under a green flag. Tire choice in the rain, avoiding crashes, and ultimately fuel consumption over the 100-lap auto marathon proved to be the biggest factors in moving up and down the leaderboard. “You are on confined streets, it is really tough if you make any kind of mistake,” Dixon said. Dixon was able to build a three-second lead after he stayed on the course instead of re-fueling. He was able to maintain that lead down the stretch in part because of a crucial pass of pole winner Colton Herta, lapping him and creating distance between himself and Ericsson at the end. The racing down the stretch was certainly interesting, but it was impossible to ignore the sheer amount of chaos created by some bad weather and Detroit’s narrow course. “I think some of today was a little bit of luck,” Dixon said. “Today, it kind of played our way a little bit but it was still very tight. There were many people on our strategy and they couldn’t make it.” On the very first turn of the race seconds after the green flag was waved, 2022 Detroit Grand Prix winner Will Power, driving the No. 26 Chevy for Team Penske, was hit while making the first turn in front of Hart Plaza by Theo Pourchaire driving the No. 6 Chevy on the inside, causing him to spin around and leading to a seven-car pileup. The first yellow caution flag came out immediately to clear out the traffic jam in Turn 3. “People are driving reckless on the restarts,” Ericsson said. “Obviously, there’s opportunity in restarts but I don’t know if we need to look at how we steward these kind of races.” Herta in the No. 26 Honda for Andretti Global started the race in pole position after finishing Saturday’s qualifying with the fastest time, followed by 2023 Grand Prix winner Alex Palou in second in the No. 10 Honda. Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden started in third along with fellow Team Penske teammate and Chevy driver Scott McLaughlin in the second row. Palou, who started the race on alternate tires, began dropping from second in Lap 10 with McLaughlin climbing to second and Kyle Kirkwood, driving the No. 27 Honda, moving to third. Palou had to pit for a new set of alternate tires, dropping into the 20s by Lap 11. On Lap 16, Santino Ferrucci drove his No. 14 Chevrolet into the rear of Helio Castroneves, causing him and Kyffin Simpson to hit the barriers, bringing out a second caution flag. The caution lasted until Lap 22, with Herta, McLaughlin and Kirkwood in the top 3, and Ferrucci was assessed a stop-and-go penalty. On Lap 25, Christian Rasmussen had to bow out of the race after his engine failed, causing the No. 20 Chevy to go up in smoke. The third caution flag came out on Lap 32 when McLaughlin lost his grip and slid into the barrier on Turn 5 while in second place and then Newgarden passed Kirkwood for third. When the caution flag was out, rain started falling, causing the track to be slicked up, adding a layer of strategy on tire choice a third of the way into the race. “I’m sure it was dramatic and fun to watch but at some point also, we need to have a bit better of a standard,” Ericsson said. Several cars pitted during Lap 35 to put on rain tires, while others remained on the track with slick tires, splitting the field. Christian Lundgaard, who started in the 11th spot in the No. 45 Honda, jumped to first while staying on the track with slick tires. The drama with the rain continued into Lap 38 with more cars pitting for new tires, but Lundgaard gambled and stayed out with the slicks. The rain stopped minutes later, making the gamble pay off for Lundgaard, who remained in first when the green flag waved again on the Lap 41 restart. The green flag lasted all of 30 seconds, as Rinus Veekay and Power collided in the first turn, bringing out another caution. “It was very slippery,” Armstrong said. “For whatever reason, the tires this season have been very, let’s say robust, and you can’t really generate temperature. Even towards the end of the stint, it’s not quite there in the right window. So I think a lot of the mistakes are also caused by the fact that the tire is not working early in the run. especially when they’re cold.” INDYCAR Dixon claims Detroit Grand Prix Jared Ramsey Detroit Free Press USA TODAY NETWORK Scott Dixon climbs out of the car after winning the IndyCar Series Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday. JUNFU HAN/DETROIT FREE PRESS had a great shot to win today and ended up bad.” Rounding out the top-five finishers were Brad Keselowski, Tyler Reddick and Joey Logano. After scoring his third pole of the season, Michael McDowell came home 25th in his Ford. In the drivers’ third visit to the track across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, McDowell led much of the 45-lap first stage until Bell passed him in the closing circuits. Coming off his win last Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600, Bell’s Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota again took the checkers in the segment for his third straight stage win including the Charlotte race and Gateway, beating the Fords of McDowell and Blaney. On Lap 70, Bell passed defending race winner Kyle Busch, who had stayed out, and held the point in the 95-lap second stage, and Toyota teammate Martin Truex Jr. eased into second before pitting just before Lap 100. After the green-flag pit stops jostled the field, six Fords paved the way, led by Penske’s Cindric and Blaney. As seventh-place Busch and eighthplace Kyle Larson ran side-by-side and wrecked into the Turn 1 wall, Bell drove off to yet another stage win on Lap 140 with Cindric nearly a second behind him. Busch, whose last win was at Gateway a year ago, went to the garage and recorded his first DNF of 2024. Inside the last 100 laps, the Team Penske drivers and Bell headed the field as the two camps were on different pit strategies. Bell relinquished the lead with 46 laps remaining, and Keselowski took the point with a nine-second lead over Chase Elliott and Larson after a pit cycle. NASCAR Continued from Page 1NS Austin Cindric (2) and Ryan Blaney (12) race during the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway. LOGAN RIELY/GETTY IMAGES

4NS | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | SPORTS EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK MLB Juan Soto drilled a go-ahead home run in a four-run ninth inning and the New York Yankees hit for the cycle in their final at-bat en route to completing a three-game sweep of the host San Francisco Giants with a 7-5 victory Sunday afternoon. In a game where starting pitcher Blake Snell had to leave with an injury in the fifth inning, Heliot Ramos delivered a two-run single in the sixth and the Giants retained a 5-3 advantage before turning the ball over to closer Camilo Doval (2-1) in the ninth. Gleyber Torres ignited the New York comeback with a single, then scored on Anthony Volpe’s triple to make it a onerun game. Soto then rocketed his second homer of the game, a blast over the high wall in right-center field to put the visitors on top. The Yankees weren’t done. After Aaron Judge walked and stole second, Giancarlo Stanton launched a ground-rule double to rightcenter, making it 7-5. Cardinals 5, Phillies 4, 10 innings Nolan Gorman hit a two-run homer and smacked the decisive RBI single as the visiting St. Louis Cardinals edged the Philadelphia Phillies in 10 innings. Alec Burleson added a two-run homer for the Cardinals, who avoided a three-game sweep. Bryson Stott drove in two runs for the Phillies, while Nick Castellanos went 2- for-5 with a run, recording his 1,500th career hit in the process. Reds 5, Cubs 1 Jake Fraley went 3-for-3 and Nick Lodolo was solid through six innings to help the Cincinnati Reds take the series against the host Chicago Cubs. Lodolo (5-2) gave up two runs on seven hits and struck out three in six innings. Alexis Diaz tossed a no-hit ninth for his 12th save. Cubs starter Ben Brown (1-2) pitched five innings, allowing five runs on six hits and fanning six. Mariners 5, Angels 1 Luis Castillo pitched seven scoreless innings as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Los Angeles Angels to sweep the three-game series between the American League West rivals. Luke Raley homered and was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Mitch Garver added a three-run double for the division-leading Mariners, who have won seven of their past eight games. The last-place Angels, who have lost eight of nine, avoided a second consecutive shutout by scoring an unearned run in the ninth inning. Kevin Pillar drew a one-out walk, took second on defensive indifference, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on Zach Neto’s two-out grounder into center field. Dodgers 4, Rockies 0 Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman hit first-inning home runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers finished off a victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies. Gavin Stone went five scoreless innings as the Dodgers won for the fifth time in their last six games and won a home series for the fourth time in their last five tries. Stone (6-2) gave up four hits with two walks and six strikeouts one start after he went seven scoreless against the New York Mets. Austin Gomber gave up three runs in just three innings for the Rockies after skipping his last start with a sore elbow. Brewers 6, White Sox 3 Rookie Jackson Chourio belted a three-run homer and the Milwaukee Brewers completed a three-game sweep with a victory over the visiting White Sox, extending Chicago’s season-high losing streak to 11 games. The White Sox have lost 11 straight for the first time since 1956. Chicago has lost 15 of its last 16 games and 17 of 20. The Brewers, winners of five straight, erased a 2-0 deficit with four runs after two outs in the second, capped by Chourio’s three-run homer. Joey Ortiz singled with two outs and Jake Bauers followed with an RBI double to right. Gary Sanchez was hit by a pitch. Chourio, who entered the game hitting .207, then jumped on the first pitch for his sixth homer, and first since May 15. Royals 4, Padres 3 Nelson Velazquez’s two-run triple and Nick Loftin’s sacrifice fly rallied the Kansas City Royals past the visiting San Diego Padres to salvage the final game of the weekend series. With the Royals trailing by two, Vinnie Pasquantino singled and Salvador Perez walked to lead off the ninth. Velazquez blasted a 1-1 slider from Yuki Matsui (3-1) deep to center field, tying the game. Loftin delivered a game-winning sacrifice fly to right as Kansas City snapped a three-game losing streak. The Padres gained a 3-1 lead with four straight hits to open the eighth. Diamondbacks 5, Mets 4 Ketel Marte hit two homers, including the go-ahead two-run shot in the ninth inning, as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the host New York Mets to salvage a split of the four-game series. The Diamondbacks won the last two games of the series following a fivegame losing streak. The Mets fell to 0- 6-1 in their last seven series since sweeping a rain-shortened two-game set from the St. Louis Cardinals on May 6-7. Marte led off the game by homering against Jose Quintana, who then gave up a one-out homer in the first to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and an RBI groundout to Kevin Newman in the second before the Mets scored four times in the third against Brandon Pfaadt. Rangers 6, Marlins 0 Andrew Heaney struck out seven across six scoreless innings to lead the Texas Rangers to a victory over the host Miami Marlins in the rubber match of a three-game series. Heaney (2-6) yielded just four hits and didn’t issue a walk as Texas blanked Miami for the second time in as many days. All seven of the Marlins’ hits were singles. Nationals 5, Guardians 2 Jake Irvin allowed two runs and struck out six over six solid innings, while Joey Meneses and Lane Thomas each had two RBIs, as the visiting Washington Nationals cooled off the Cleveland Guardians. Ildemaro Vargas added two hits with an RBI for the Nationals, who avoided a series sweep by halting Cleveland’s nine-game home winning streak. Irvin (3-5) allowed those runs in the second inning – after Washington scored four in the top of the frame against Carlos Carrasco – and five hits while receiving some needed run support after his teammates scored just nine runs in his five May starts. Carrasco (2-5), meanwhile, returned from a brief stint on the injured list with neck spasms, and allowed five runs and seven hits in four innings. Cleveland’s Daniel Schneemann lined the first pitch he saw in his major league career into the right-field corner for a two-run double, but the AL Central-leading Guardians mustered nothing more in losing for just the fourth time in 19 games. Blue Jays 5, Pirates 4 Daniel Vogelbach hit a go-ahead tworun double in the fifth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Davis Schneider added an RBI double for Toronto in the rubber match of the three-game series. Former Blue Jay Rowdy Tellez had three hits, a walk and four RBIs for the Pirates, who completed a 2-3 road trip. Braves 3, Athletics 1 Sean Murphy’s bloop double produced the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and helped the Atlanta Braves beat the visiting Oakland A’s to win the rubber game of their three-game series. Murphy, who spent four seasons with the A’s before being acquired by the Braves in 2023, lofted a perfectly placed double near the right-field line to drive home Adam Duvall, whose one-out walk began the rally against Austin Adams (0-1). Oakland’s Luis Medina made his first appearance of the season. The righthander sprained the MCL in his right knee during spring training and missed the first 60 games. He pitched 52⁄3 innings and allowed one run (unearned) on two hits, two walks and six strikeouts. Tigers 8, Red Sox 4, 10 innings Wenceel Perez had three hits and scored twice while Javier Baez drove in two key insurance runs for the Detroit Tigers, who rattled off a four-run 10th inning to finish off a come-from-behind win over the host Boston Red Sox. Baez hit a two-run single that highlighted the go-ahead inning against Boston reliever Cam Booser (0-2), helping Detroit salvage a four-game series split. In the ninth, after a Rob Refsnyder two-out single through the right side and back-to-back walks issued by two Detroit relievers, Connor Wong’s deep fly ball was caught in right to force extras. Rays 4, Orioles 3 Jose Siri’s two-run double in the eighth inning allowed the Tampa Bay Rays to overcome what had been a three-run deficit in a victory against the host Baltimore Orioles. Jose Caballero homered and Amed Rosario had three hits for the Rays, who were in danger of enduring a threegame series sweep. They won for the fourth time in their last 13 games. Gunnar Henderson, who homered, and Adley Rutschman both had three hits for the Orioles, who lost for just the second time in their last 10 games. Twins 4, Astros 3 Jose Miranda clubbed a game-tying home run in the sixth inning before producing a go-ahead, run-scoring double in the top of the eighth as the visiting Minnesota Twins topped the Houston Astros to claim the rubber match of this three-game weekend series. Miranda finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. His sixth home run, a solo shot to left-center field, knotted the score at 3-3 after the Twins coughed up a two-run lead. Miranda delivered again with one out in the eighth, stroking an RBI double that plated Manuel Margot, who pinchran for Trevor Larnach after Larnach worked a leadoff walk against Astros reliever Ryan Pressly (0-3). The Astros used a pair of homers to erase an early 2-0 deficit. Victor Caratini blasted a solo shot, his fourth, to right-center with two outs in the second off Twins rookie right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson that shaved the deficit to one run. An inning later, Alex Bregman smacked his eighth homer, a two-run blast to left-center that scored Kyle Tucker and provided a 3-2 lead. SUNDAY’S ROUNDUP Soto, Yankees rally past Giants FIELD LEVEL MEDIA Yankees right fielder Juan Soto tosses his bat after hitting a home run against the Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. DARREN YAMASHITA/USA TODAY SPORTS Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) throws to first after a getting Rockies outfielder Hunter Goodman (15) out at second. JAYNE KAMIN-ONCEA/USA TODAY SPORTS

SPORTS EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | 5NS MLB St. Louis 5, Philadelphia 4 (10) St. Louis 202 000 000 1 —593 Phila ..... 020 020 000 0 —470 St. Louis AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Winn ss 4 3 1 0 1 1 .299 Burleson lf 5 1 1 2 0 0 .273 Goldschmidt 1b 5 0 1 0 0 3 .221 Gorman 2b 4 1 2 3 1 2 .223 Arenado 3b 4 0 2 0 1 1 .257 Carpenter dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 .205 a-Fermin ph-dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 .150 Herrera c 4 0 1 0 0 0 .260 Carlson rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .133 Siani cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .211 Totals 39 5 9 5 3 9 Philadelphia AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Schwarber dh 5 0 1 0 0 3 .239 Stott ss 4 0 1 2 1 0 .239 Harper 1b 5 0 0 0 0 3 .270 Bohm 3b 5 0 0 0 0 0 .304 Marsh lf 3 1 1 0 1 1 .265 b-Pache pr-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 .216 Castellanos rf 5 1 2 0 0 1 .215 Merrifield 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .176 Stubbs c 4 1 1 1 0 1 .176 Rojas cf 3 1 1 1 0 0 .225 Totals 39 4 7 4 2 11 a-grounded into a fielder’s choice for Carpenter in 10th. b-ran for Marsh in 8th. E: Lynn, Herrera, Winn. 2B: Herrera (3), Stubbs (1). HR: Burleson (6), Gorman (11). RBI: Burleson 2 (20), Gorman 3 (28), Stott 2 (32), Stubbs (3), Rojas (18). SB: Stott 2 (16). S: Rojas. Runners left in scoring position: St. Louis 4 (Fermin, Herrera 2, Siani), Philadelphia 7 (Schwarber 2, Bohm, Marsh 2, Castellanos, Rojas). RISP: St. Louis 1 for 8, Philadelphia 3 for 17. St. Louis IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Lynn 4.0 3 4 0 2 4 78 3.23 Liberatore 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 12 4.85 Fernandez 0.2 2 0 0 0 0 16 3.04 Romero 1.1 0 0 0 0 2 14 1.24 Kittredge 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 16 3.00 King W, 2-1 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1.50 Helsley S, 19 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 11 2.42 Philadelphia IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Walker 5.0 5 4 4 3 5 93 5.73 Strahm 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 14 0.75 Kerkering 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 16 1.33 Hoffman 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 14 1.05 Alvarado 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 9 3.20 Soto L, 1-3 1.0 2 1 0 0 0 17 4.91 Lynn pitched to 4 batters in the 5th. Inherited runners: Liberatore 2-2, Romero 2-2. Umpires: HP-Riggs, 1B-Johnson, 2B-Eddings, 3B-Valentine. T: 3:04. A: 41,190 (42,792). N.Y. Yankees 7, San Francisco 5 NYY ............ 100 020 004 — 7 11 0 SF .................011 102 000 — 5 11 1 N.Y. Yankees AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Volpe ss 5 2 2 1 0 1 .284 Soto rf 5 3 3 3 0 2 .322 Judge cf 3 1 2 0 2 1 .288 Stanton dh 4 0 1 1 1 2 .231 a-Jones pr-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Verdugo lf 4 0 1 2 1 0 .261 LeMahieu 3b 5 0 1 0 0 2 .222 Rizzo 1b 5 0 0 0 0 2 .240 Torres 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .230 Trevino c 3 1 0 0 1 1 .262 Totals 38 7 11 7 5 12 San Francisco AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Ramos lf 5 1 2 3 0 3 .286 Wisely 2b 5 0 1 0 0 3 .333 Flores 1b 4 0 0 0 1 0 .207 Chapman 3b 5 0 1 0 0 0 .233 Soler dh 4 2 3 0 0 0 .215 Matos rf-cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 .220 Schmitt ss 4 1 2 2 0 1 .233 Fitzgerald cf 3 0 1 0 0 1 .254 Yastrzemski rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .213 Casali c 3 0 0 0 0 1 .217 Totals 38 5 11 5 1 10 a-ran for Stanton in 9th. E: Casali. 2B: Stanton (9), Verdugo (12), Chapman (15), Soler (9). 3B: Volpe (5). HR: Soto 2 (17), Ramos (3), Schmitt (2). RBI: Volpe (25), Soto 3 (53), Stanton (32), Verdugo 2 (33), Ramos 3 (16), Schmitt 2 (5). SB: Judge 2 (4). Runners left in scoring position:N.Y. Yankees 7 (Volpe, Verdugo 2, LeMahieu 2, Rizzo 2), San Francisco 4 (Wisely, Soler, Schmitt, Casali). RISP: N.Y. Yankees 3 for 11, San Francisco 2 for 10. N.Y. Yankees IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Cortes 4.1 7 3 3 0 7 95 3.46 Santana 1.1 3 2 2 0 0 18 5.01 Gonzalez 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 6 3.24 Tonkin W, 1-1 2.0 1 0 0 1 2 30 2.12 Holmes S, 17 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 12 1.37 San Francisco IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Snell 4.2 5 3 3 3 7 99 9.51 Miller 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 14 4.00 Walker H, 10 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 14 2.90 Rogers H, 9 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 10 2.89 Doval L, 2-1 BS, 2 0.2 4 4 4 2 1 32 4.24 Rogers 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2.78 Inherited runners: Santana 1-1, Gonzalez 2-2, Miller 3-1, Rogers 2-2. HBP: Casali. WP: Snell 2, Doval. Umpires: HP-Parra, 1B-Wendelstedt, 2B-Hudson, 3B-Mahrley. T: 2:55. A: 39,485 (41,331). Seattle 5, L.A. Angels 1 LAA ..............000 000 001 —142 Seattle .........000 100 04x —551 L.A. Angels AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Rengifo 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .322 Moniak cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .167 Ward dh 3 0 1 0 1 1 .265 Calhoun 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .275 Pillar lf 2 1 0 0 1 1 .330 O’Hoppe c 3 0 0 0 1 1 .250 Adell rf 4 0 0 0 0 3 .201 Neto ss 4 0 1 1 0 0 .250 Paris 2b 2 0 1 0 1 1 .136 a-Thaiss ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Totals 31 1 4 1 4 9 Seattle AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Crawford ss 4 0 0 0 0 2 .212 Rojas 3b 3 1 1 0 1 0 .277 Rodriguez cf 3 1 0 0 1 1 .270 Raleigh c 4 0 1 0 0 2 .209 France 1b 4 1 0 0 0 0 .251 Raley lf 2 2 1 2 0 0 .265 Garver dh 4 0 2 3 0 1 .170 Canzone rf 2 0 0 0 2 0 .174 Bliss 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .091 Totals 30 5 5 5 4 7 a-fouled out for Paris in 9th. E: Paris, Neto, Crawford. 2B: Ward (11), Rojas (8), Garver (8). HR: Raley (6). RBI: Neto (19), Raley 2 (15), Garver 3 (17). CS: Pillar (2). Runners left in scoring position: L.A. Angels 3 (Calhoun, Adell, Thaiss), Seattle 4 (Raleigh, Bliss 3). RISP: L.A. Angels 1 for 6, Seattle 1 for 9. GIDP: France. DP: L.A. Angels 1, Seattle 1. L.A. Angels IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Canning L, 2-5 6.2 4 1 1 1 4 93 4.69 Strickland 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1.85 Moore 0.1 0 2 0 2 1 18 5.82 Garcia 0.1 1 2 0 1 1 23 4.21 Suarez 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 7 6.54 Seattle IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Castillo W, 5-6 7.0 2 0 0 3 6102 2.99 Stanek H, 9 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 18 3.86 Baumann 1.0 1 1 0 1 1 26 2.86 Inherited runners: Strickland 2-2, Garcia 2-0, Suarez 2-2. HBP: Pillar, Raley 2. Balk: Canning (2). Umpires: HP-Dreckman, 1B-Rehak, 2B-Vondrak, 3B-Wegner. T: 2:39. A: 35,990 (47,480). L.A. Dodgers 4, Colorado 0 Colorado .....000 000 000 —051 LAD .............. 201 000 01x —480 Colorado AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Blackmon rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .237 Tovar ss 4 0 0 0 0 2 .297 McMahon 3b 2 0 1 0 2 1 .284 Rodgers dh 4 0 0 0 0 2 .265 Bryant 1b 3 0 1 0 1 1 .186 Doyle cf 3 0 0 0 0 2 .260 Stallings c 3 0 1 0 0 1 .319 Goodman lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .189 Trejo 2b 3 0 1 0 0 1 .108 Totals 29 0 5 0 3 11 L.A. Dodgers AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Betts ss 4 1 1 1 1 0 .318 Ohtani dh 3 0 0 0 1 2 .322 Freeman 1b 1 2 1 2 3 0 .293 Hernandez rf-lf 5 0 0 0 0 1 .255 Pages cf 3 0 1 0 1 1 .258 Rojas 2b 3 0 1 1 1 0 .279 Hernandez 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .198 Vargas lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 .250 Heyward rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 .234 Barnes c 4 0 2 0 0 1 .208 Totals 31 4 8 4 7 5 E: Stallings. 2B: Blackmon (11). HR: Betts (9), Freeman (7). RBI: Betts (32), Freeman 2 (35), Rojas (10). SB: Freeman (2). SF: Freeman. Runners left in scoring position: Colorado 2 (Tovar 2), L.A. Dodgers 7 (Ohtani, Hernandez 4, Hernandez, Vargas). RISP: L.A. Dodgers 1 for 11. GIDP: Tovar, Rodgers, Bryant. DP: L.A. Dodgers 3. Colorado IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Gomber L, 1-3 3.0 5 3 3 3 2 79 3.06 Lambert 2.2 1 0 0 3 3 72 6.47 Molina 2.1 2 1 1 1 0 26 7.84 L.A. Dodgers IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Stone W, 6-2 5.0 4 0 0 2 6 75 2.90 Grove H, 6 2.0 0 0 0 1 2 26 5.04 Vesia H, 3 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 8 1.35 Hudson 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 9 2.35 Inherited runners: Molina 3-3. IBB: Lambert (2), Molina (1). WP: Lambert. Umpires: HP-Tomlinson, 1B-Segal, 2B-Vanover, 3B-Rackley. T: 2:29. A: 48,251 (56,000). Milwaukee 6, Chicago White Sox 3 CWS............. 200 100 000 —350 Milwaukee ..040 000 02x — 6 9 0 Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Pham lf-cf 3 0 0 0 1 3 .280 Lopez 2b 4 1 2 0 0 0 .245 Julks dh 4 1 1 0 0 1 .311 Sheets 1b 4 0 1 1 0 1 .237 DeJong ss 2 1 1 2 0 1 .231 Lee c 3 0 0 0 1 1 .256 Colas rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .000 Sosa 3b 3 0 0 0 0 2 .156 Fletcher cf 2 0 0 0 1 1 .173 a-Remillard pr-lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 Totals 29 3 5 3 3 12 Milwaukee AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Turang 2b 3 0 1 0 1 1 .299 Contreras c 4 0 0 0 0 0 .316 Yelich lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .323 Adames ss 3 1 1 0 1 2 .260 Frelick cf 4 1 0 0 0 0 .257 Ortiz 3b 3 1 2 0 1 0 .293 Bauers 1b 3 1 1 1 1 1 .209 Sanchez dh 3 1 1 2 0 1 .228 Chourio rf 4 1 2 3 0 1 .214 Totals 31 6 9 6 4 6 a-ran for Fletcher in 8th. 2B: Lopez (4), Bauers (9). HR: DeJong (9), Chourio (6). RBI: Sheets (22), DeJong 2 (20), Bauers (25), Sanchez 2 (21), Chourio 3 (19). CS: Ortiz (3). SB: Bauers (7). SF: DeJong. Runners left in scoring position: Chicago 2 (Colas 2), Milwaukee 3 (Contreras, Chourio 2). RISP: Chicago 1 for 4, Milwaukee 2 for 7. GIDP: Contreras. DP: Chicago 1, Milwaukee 1. Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Nastrini L, 0-5 4.0 3 4 4 3 1 78 9.74 Banks 2.1 1 0 0 0 2 27 4.28 Anderson 0.2 2 0 0 0 1 15 5.87 Hill 0.1 2 2 2 0 0 7 4.79 Brebbia 0.2 1 0 0 1 2 18 7.45 Milwaukee IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Peralta W, 4-3 5.0 4 3 3 1 7 97 3.74 Herget H, 1 2.0 0 0 0 2 5 31 2.35 Paredes S, 1 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 13 0.00 K.Herget pitched to 2 batters in the 8th. Inherited runners: Brebbia 2-0, Paredes 2-2. HBP: DeJong, Sanchez. WP: Peralta. Umpires: HP-Jimenez, 1B-Scheurwater, 2B-Baker, 3B-Carlson. T: 2:29. A: 30,442 (41,700). Cincinnati 5, Chicago Cubs 2 Cincinnati . 041 000 000 — 5 10 0 CHC ..............000 011 000 —280 Cincinnati AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Friedl cf 5 1 1 3 0 1 .167 De La Cruz ss 5 0 0 0 0 4 .233 Candelario 3b 4 1 2 0 0 0 .229 Steer 1b 4 0 2 0 0 0 .234 Fraley dh 3 1 3 1 0 0 .295 Stephenson c 4 1 1 0 0 1 .248 Hurtubise lf 3 1 1 0 0 1 .222 India 2b 2 0 0 1 1 1 .228 Benson rf 2 0 0 0 2 2 .197 Totals 32 5 10 5 3 10 Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Hoerner 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 .262 Suzuki rf 4 0 1 0 1 3 .264 Bellinger cf-1b 4 0 3 1 0 0 .265 Morel dh 3 0 0 0 0 1 .195 Wisdom 1b 3 1 1 0 0 0 .220 a-Tauchman ph-cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .264 Happ lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 .221 Swanson ss 4 0 0 0 0 2 .203 Bote 3b 3 0 0 1 0 1 .000 c-Busch ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .241 Amaya c 3 0 0 0 0 0 .186 b-Crow-Armstrong ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .246 Totals 34 2 8 2 2 7 a-grounded out for Wisdom in 8th. b-flied out for Amaya in 9th. c-walked for Bote in 9th. 2B: Fraley (6), Bellinger (10). HR: Friedl (1). RBI: Friedl 3 (6), Fraley (8), India (19), Bellinger (27), Bote (1). SF: Fraley, India. Runners left in scoring position: Cincinnati 3 (De La Cruz 2, Stephenson), Chicago 5 (Suzuki, Morel 3, Wisdom). RISP: Cincinnati 2 for 7, Chicago 1 for 11. GIDP: Stephenson, Morel. DP: Cincinnati 1, Chicago 1. Cincinnati IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Lodolo W, 5-2 6.0 7 2 2 1 3 90 3.11 Martinez H, 2 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 22 4.20 Diaz S, 12 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 17 5.64 Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Brown L, 1-2 5.0 6 5 5 1 6 76 3.33 Smyly 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 19 4.76 Hendricks 3.0 3 0 0 2 3 45 9.38 HBP: Hurtubise, Morel, Happ. Umpires: HP-O’Nora, 1B-Conroy, 2B-Miller, 3B-Thomas. T: 2:24. A: 38,129 (41,649). Kansas City 4, San Diego 3 San Diego . 000 010 020 — 3 10 0 Kansas City.. 000 100 003 —471 San Diego AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Arraez 1b 3 0 1 1 0 0 .340 Wade 2b 2 1 1 0 0 1 .263 Tatis Jr. rf 3 1 1 1 1 1 .261 Profar lf 3 0 1 0 1 1 .325 a-Merrill pr-cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 Machado dh 4 0 1 1 0 1 .240 Solano 3b 4 0 2 0 0 1 .404 Cronenworth 2b-1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .262 Kim ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 .222 Campusano c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .224 Azocar cf-lf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .242 Totals 35 3 10 3 2 7 Kansas City AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Garcia 3b 3 1 0 0 1 0 .263 Witt Jr. ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 .313 Pasquantino 1b 3 1 1 1 0 0 .244 Perez dh 3 0 1 0 1 1 .315 b-Blanco pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .255 Frazier rf 2 0 1 0 1 0 .212 c-Velazquez ph 1 1 1 2 0 0 .219 Loftin 2b 2 0 1 1 0 0 .250 Melendez lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .167 Fermin c 3 0 1 0 0 2 .296 Isbel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .208 Hampson cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 .314 Totals 27 4 7 4 3 5 a-ran for Profar in 8th. b-ran for Perez in 9th. c-was announced for Frazier in 9th. E: Zerpa. 2B: Solano (3), Azocar (2). 3B: Velazquez (1). RBI: Arraez (17), Tatis Jr. (31), Machado (30), Pasquantino (40), Velazquez 2 (23), Loftin (7). CS: Witt Jr. (7). SF: Pasquantino, Loftin. S: Loftin. Runners left in scoring position: San Diego 3 (Cronenworth 2, Kim), Kansas City 2 (Melendez, Fermin). RISP: San Diego 3 for 8, Kansas City 1 for 4. GIDP: Campusano, Loftin. DP: San Diego 1, Kansas City 1. San Diego IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA King 7.0 4 1 1 2 4105 3.82 De Los Santos H, 5 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 12 3.63 Matsui BS, 3 0.1 2 3 3 1 0 16 3.91 Kansas City IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Ragans 6.0 5 1 1 2 6 97 3.21 Schreiber 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 11 2.88 Zerpa 0.0 4 2 2 0 0 21 2.31 McArthur 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 11 5.11 Klein 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 11 6.00 Zerpa pitched to 4 batters in the 8th. Inherited runners: McArthur 2-2. Umpires: HP-Muchlinski, 1B-Hanahan, 2B-Visconti, 3B-Fletcher. A: 0. Toronto 5, Pittsburgh 4 Pittsburgh .. 001 020 001 — 4 11 1 Toronto .......001 031 00x — 5 11 0 Pittsburgh AB R H BI BB SO Avg. McCutchen dh 3 0 1 0 1 2 .239 Reynolds lf 3 0 1 0 1 1 .253 Joe rf 4 1 1 0 0 2 .280 Cruz ss 5 2 2 0 0 2 .245 Hayes 3b 5 1 1 0 0 2 .243 Gonzales 2b 5 0 1 0 0 1 .308 Tellez 1b 4 0 3 4 1 0 .194 a-Triolo pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215 Bae cf 5 0 1 0 0 1 .208 Koch c 3 0 0 0 0 2 .000 b-Grandal ph-c 1 0 0 0 0 0 .179 Totals 38 4 11 4 3 13 Toronto AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Schneider lf-2b 4 1 2 1 0 1 .245 Jansen c 4 0 2 0 0 0 .295 Guerrero Jr. 3b-1b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .291 Bichette ss 4 0 0 0 0 2 .236 Vogelbach dh 4 0 2 2 0 0 .228 Turner 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .212 Kiermaier cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 Springer rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .205 Varsho cf-lf 3 2 2 0 1 0 .213 Kiner-Falefa 2b-3b 3 1 1 0 0 0 .268 Totals 34 5 11 4 1 4 a-ran for Tellez in 9th. b-grounded out for G.Koch in 8th. E: Stratton. 2B: Cruz (13), Tellez (4), Schneider (14), Vogelbach (5), Varsho (10). RBI: Tellez 4 (12), Schneider (30), Guerrero Jr. (26), Vogelbach 2 (8). CS: Varsho (1). Runners left in scoring position: Pittsburgh 6 (Reynolds 2, Hayes 2, Bae, Koch), Toronto 3 (Jansen, Turner, Varsho). RISP: Pittsburgh 3 for 16, Toronto 3 for 9. Pittsburgh IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Priester L, 0-5 4.2 8 4 4 0 3 87 4.83 Stratton 1.1 3 1 0 0 0 33 4.40 Mlodzinski 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 17 8.31 Nicolas 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 15 6.00 Toronto IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Bassitt W, 6-6 5.0 8 3 3 1 7100 4.13 Green H, 4 1.0 0 0 0 2 2 27 1.69 Richards H, 4 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 11 3.18 Pearson H, 2 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 16 4.03 Garcia S, 3 1.0 2 1 1 0 3 26 1.57 Inherited runners: Stratton 2-0. HBP: McCutchen, Reynolds, Joe. WP: Priester. Umpires: HP-Bacchus, 1B-Diaz, 2B-Gibson, 3B-Ramos. T: 2:57. A: 34,887 (49,286). Detroit 8, Boston 4 (10) Detroit . 000 011 200 4 — 8 14 1 Boston.... 111 000 010 0 —480 Detroit AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Vierling 3b-cf 6 1 2 0 0 1 .294 Greene cf-lf 4 1 2 0 1 0 .249 Perez rf 5 2 3 1 0 0 .268 Canha dh 4 1 1 1 1 0 .247 Keith 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .227 d-Ibanez ph-2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 .276 Urshela 1b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .275 Baddoo lf 3 0 1 0 1 1 .214 c-Rogers ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .218 McKinstry 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185 Baez ss 5 1 1 2 0 1 .191 Kelly c 5 0 2 1 0 3 .238 Totals 42 8 14 7 3 8 Boston AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Duran lf-cf 3 0 2 1 2 0 .262 Abreu rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .272 b-Westbrook ph-rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 ... Smith 1b 3 1 0 0 1 0 .195 e-Wong ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .327 Dalbec 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .132 Devers 3b 4 1 2 2 1 1 .283 Valdez 2b 5 0 1 1 0 0 .180 Cooper dh 5 0 0 0 0 2 .167 McGuire c 4 0 0 0 0 2 .226 Rafaela cf-ss 3 0 0 0 1 1 .209 Hamilton ss 2 1 1 0 0 1 .274 a-Refsnyder ph-lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 .337 Totals 36 4 8 4 6 7 a-lined out for Hamilton in 7th. b-walked for Abreu in 9th. c-grounded out for Baddoo in 10th. d-doubled for Keith in 10th. e-flied out for Smith in 9th. E: Keith. 2B: Perez (6), Ibanez (4), Urshela (5), Kelly (3), Abreu (14). 3B: Devers (2). HR: Devers (11). RBI: Perez (15), Canha (25), Ibanez (13), Urshela (13), Baez 2 (25), Kelly (13), Duran (24), Devers 2 (29), Valdez (15). CS: Duran (3), Rafaela (4). SB: Greene (3), Canha (2). SF: Urshela. Runners left in scoring position: Detroit 6 (Vierling, Greene, Perez, Keith 2, Baez), Boston 5 (Wong 2, Cooper 2, McGuire). RISP: Detroit 6 for 20, Boston 2 for 11. GIDP: Canha. DP: Boston 1. Detroit IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Mize 4.0 5 3 2 4 4 82 4.70 Holton 2.1 0 0 0 0 1 24 4.06 Faedo BS, 3 1.1 2 1 1 0 0 15 3.55 Foley 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 8 3.22 Chafin W, 3-1 1.1 0 0 0 2 2 22 4.58 Boston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Bello 6.1 8 4 4 3 5 95 4.36 Slaten BS, 2 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 10 2.73 Weissert 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 7 2.52 Jansen 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 17 2.89 Booser L, 0-2 1.0 4 4 3 0 0 28 4.35 Inherited runners: Chafin 1-1, Slaten 2-0. WP: Bello. Umpires: HP-Jimenez, 1B-Ceja, 2B-Blaser, 3B-Tichenor. T: 3:01. A: 34,662 (37,755). Arizona 5, N.Y. Mets 4 Arizona........ 210 000 002 —590 NYM ........... 004 000 000 —450 Arizona AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Marte 2b 3 2 3 3 1 0 .270 Carroll cf 4 0 0 0 1 0 .194 Gurriel Jr. lf 5 1 1 1 0 2 .235 Walker 1b 5 0 1 0 0 2 .260 Grichuk rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 .291 a-McCarthy ph-rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 .276 Suarez dh 2 1 0 0 1 1 .205 d-Pederson ph-dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 .305 Alexander 3b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .269 Newman ss 4 0 1 1 0 2 .259 Barnhart c 3 0 0 0 0 2 .154 c-Moreno ph-c 1 1 1 0 0 0 .234 Totals 36 5 9 5 3 13 N.Y. Mets AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Lindor ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 .227 Alonso 1b 4 1 1 1 0 2 .239 Nimmo lf 4 1 1 2 0 2 .212 Martinez dh 4 0 1 1 0 2 .279 Stewart rf 3 0 1 0 0 2 .190 b-Bader pr-cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 .270 Vientos 3b 3 0 0 0 1 2 .321 Taylor cf-rf 3 1 1 0 0 0 .235 McNeil 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 .227 Torrens c 2 1 0 0 1 0 .000 Totals 31 4 5 4 2 12 a-struck out for Grichuk in 7th. b-ran for Stewart in 6th. c-doubled for Barnhart in 9th. d-struck out for Suarez in 8th. 2B: Marte (14), Grichuk (7), Alexander (6), Moreno (8), Taylor (6). 3B: Nimmo (2), Martinez (1). HR: Marte 2 (12), Gurriel Jr. (7). RBI: Marte 3 (32), Gurriel Jr. (32), Newman (12), Alonso (30), Nimmo 2 (31), Martinez (15). Runners left in scoring position: Arizona 5 (Carroll 2, Gurriel Jr. 2, Alexander), N.Y. Mets 1 (Stewart). RISP: Arizona 1 for 8, N.Y. Mets 3 for 6. GIDP: McNeil. DP: Arizona 1. Arizona IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Pfaadt 6.0 5 4 4 2 8 91 4.32 Martinez W, 2-0 2.0 0 0 0 0 3 26 0.44 Sewald S, 5 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 18 1.08 N.Y. Mets IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Quintana 4.0 4 3 3 3 4 84 5.17 Nunez 1.1 1 0 0 0 3 19 2.61 Young H, 1 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 9 0.00 Garrett H, 6 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 11 3.00 Ottavino H, 10 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 9 5.24 Diekman L, 1-2 BS, 2 0.1 2 2 2 0 0 13 4.26 Reid-Foley 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 10 2.16 HBP: Marte, Grichuk. Umpires: HP-Ortiz, 1B-Marquez, 2B-Barrett, 3B-Ripperger. T: 2:40. A: 31,059 (41,922). Texas 6, Miami 0 Texas ..........300 001 002 — 6 10 0 Miami......... 000 000 000 —070 Texas AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Semien 2b 2 1 1 0 3 0 .258 Seager ss 5 1 1 0 0 1 .268 Grossman dh 3 1 1 1 0 0 .204 a-Jankowski ph-dh 2 0 1 1 0 0 .253 Garcia rf 5 1 2 2 0 0 .231 Heim c 4 0 0 0 0 2 .245 Langford lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .222 Hill lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 Smith 3b 4 1 2 0 0 1 .287 Duran 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 .270 b-Lowe ph-1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 .258 Taveras cf 3 0 1 1 1 0 .246 Totals 36 6 10 5 4 5 Miami AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Myers rf-lf 4 0 0 0 0 3 .250 De La Cruz lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .249 Pereda c 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Burger 1b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .222 Bell dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 .243 Chisholm Jr. cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .252 Rivera 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 .212 Lopez 2b 3 0 1 0 0 1 .295 Anderson ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 .191 Fortes c 2 0 1 0 0 0 .176 c-Sanchez ph-rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 .250 Totals 32 0 7 0 0 11 a-singled for Grossman in 8th. b-singled for Duran in 9th. c-singled for Fortes in 8th. 2B: Smith (14). HR: Garcia (13). RBI: Grossman (7), Jankowski (7), Garcia 2 (40), Taveras (13). Runners left in scoring position: Texas 4 (Seager, Garcia 2, Minnesota AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Larnach lf 3 1 1 1 1 1 .270 b-Margot pr-lf 0 1 0 0 0 0 .209 Jeffers c 3 0 0 0 0 1 .246 Miranda 3b 4 1 2 2 0 0 .280 Farmer 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .163 Kepler rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .271 Buxton cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .232 Castro ss 4 1 1 0 0 1 .260 Kirilloff dh 4 0 1 1 0 3 .218 Santana 1b 4 0 2 0 0 0 .215 Julien 2b 2 0 0 0 1 1 .207 Totals 32 4 7 4 2 10 Houston AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Tucker dh 3 1 1 0 1 0 .263 Bregman 3b 4 1 2 2 0 1 .229 Alvarez lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .282 Pena ss 4 0 0 0 0 2 .296 Meyers cf 3 0 0 0 1 2 .275 Dubon 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .305 Caratini c 4 1 1 1 0 1 .247 Abreu 1b 2 0 0 0 1 0 .116 a-Altuve ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .290 McCormick rf 3 0 1 0 0 1 .209 c-Singleton ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .221 Totals 33 3 6 3 3 8 a-struck out for Abreu in 9th. b-ran for Larnach in 8th. c-flied out for McCormick in 9th. E: Jeffers. 2B: Miranda (9), Kirilloff (7). HR: Larnach (6), Miranda (6), Bregman (8), Caratini (4). RBI: Larnach (18), Miranda 2 (20), Kirilloff (19), Bregman 2 (28), Caratini (15). SB: Santana (1), Pena (8), Meyers (4). S: Jeffers. Runners left in scoring position: Minnesota 3 (Buxton, Julien 2), Houston 4 (Alvarez 2, Dubon, Abreu). RISP: Minnesota 1 for 6, Houston 1 for 6. Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Woods Richardson 4.1 3 3 3 2 6 66 3.05 Thielbar 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 9 4.73 Alcala 1.1 1 0 0 1 1 19 2.20 Okert W, 2-0 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 16 2.79 Jax H, 11 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 14 2.13 Duran S, 10 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 17 3.00 Houston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Brown 6.0 5 3 3 1 7 95 6.18 Abreu 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 17 3.23 Pressly L, 0-3 1.0 1 1 1 1 0 16 5.24 Montero 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 10 2.92 Thielbar pitched to 1 batter in the 6th. Inherited runners: Alcala 1-1, Okert 2-2. Umpires: HP-Walsh, 1B-Moscoso, 2B-Carapazza, 3B-Hamari. T: 2:49. A: 34,242 (41,168). Tampa Bay 4, Baltimore 3 Tampa Bay . 000 010 120 — 4 13 0 Baltimore....101 100 000 — 3 15 0 Tampa Bay AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Diaz 1b 4 0 1 1 0 0 .243 Arozarena lf 4 0 1 0 1 0 .162 Ramirez dh 3 0 2 0 0 0 .276 b-Lowe ph-dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 .183 Paredes 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .291 f-Palacios pr-2b 1 1 0 0 0 0 .262 Rosario 2b-3b 4 1 3 0 0 0 .293 Siri cf 4 0 1 2 0 0 .189 DeLuca rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .182 Caballero ss 3 2 2 1 0 0 .260 Jackson c 3 0 1 0 0 0 .054 d-Aranda ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .213 Rortvedt c 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 Totals 37 4 13 4 1 3 Baltimore AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Henderson ss 3 2 3 1 2 0 .268 Rutschman dh 5 0 3 1 0 0 .304 Mountcastle 1b 5 0 1 0 0 1 .291 Santander rf 5 0 1 1 0 0 .217 Westburg 3b-2b 5 0 1 0 0 1 .293 Hays lf 4 0 2 0 0 0 .190 e-O’Hearn ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .268 Mullins cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .181 c-Cowser ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .236 Mateo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 .246 a-Urias ph-3b 2 0 1 0 0 1 .229 McCann c 4 1 1 0 0 0 .200 Totals 40 3 15 3 2 4 a-struck out for Mateo in 4th. b-flied out for Ramirez in 7th. c-grounded out for Mullins in 9th. d-struck out for Jackson in 8th. e-singled for Hays in 9th. f-ran for Paredes in 8th. 2B: Diaz (11), Rosario (9), Siri (6), Hays (4). HR: Caballero (3), Henderson (19). RBI: Diaz (29), Siri 2 (20), Caballero (18), Henderson (42), Rutschman (38), Santander (31). CS: Rosario (4), Siri (6). SB: Henderson (8). SF: Diaz. Runners left in scoring position: Tampa Bay 3 (Arozarena, Ramirez, DeLuca), Baltimore 7 (Rutschman, Mountcastle 3, Hays, Mullins 2). RISP: Tampa Bay 1 for 7, Baltimore 3 for 8. GIDP: Mountcastle, Mullins. DP: Tampa Bay 2. Tampa Bay IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Littell 6.0 11 3 3 1 2 93 3.56 Armstrong W, 2-1 1.0 2 0 0 0 2 14 3.49 Cleavinger H, 5 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 18 1.46 Fairbanks S, 6 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 12 3.71 Baltimore IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Irvin 6.1 8 2 2 1 1 90 2.84 Tate L, 2-1 BS, 1 1.1 4 2 2 0 1 28 2.79 Coulombe 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 14 2.74 Inherited runners: Coulombe 1-1. HBP: Caballero, Urias. Umpires: HP-Clemons, 1B-Torres, 2B-Wills, 3B-Fairchild. T: 2:44. A: 32,463 (45,971). Langford), Miami 2 (Chisholm Jr., Anderson). RISP: Texas 3 for 12. GIDP: Heim, De La Cruz, Fortes. DP: Texas 2, Miami 1. Texas IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Heaney W, 2-6 6.0 4 0 0 0 7 94 3.99 Latz 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 16 3.12 Robertson 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 11 3.00 Anderson 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 13 6.43 Miami IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Rogers L, 1-7 6.0 6 4 4 2 3 87 5.68 Puk 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 20 7.17 Cronin 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 14 1.30 Smith 1.0 3 2 2 1 1 29 3.76 Umpires: HP-Little, 1B-Wolcott, 2B-Barksdale, 3B-Lentz. T: 2:24. A: 13,351 (37,446). Washington 5, Cleveland 2 Washington 040 100 000 —580 Cleveland....020 000 000 —260 Washington AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Thomas cf 3 0 1 2 0 1 .211 Garcia Jr. 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Winker lf 4 0 0 0 0 3 .230 Ruiz c 4 1 1 0 0 1 .203 Senzel 3b 3 0 1 0 1 2 .244 Rosario rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .176 Meneses dh 4 1 1 2 0 0 .240 Gallo 1b 3 1 1 0 1 1 .151 Vargas ss 4 1 2 1 0 0 .288 Totals 33 5 8 5 2 8 Cleveland AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Kwan lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .362 Freeman cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .219 Ramirez dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 .272 Naylor 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .227 Brennan rf 3 1 2 0 1 0 .237 Arias 3b 3 1 1 0 0 1 .209 a-Manzardo ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .226 Naylor c 3 0 0 0 0 0 .173 Schneemann 2b 3 0 1 2 0 1 .333 Rocchio ss 3 0 1 0 0 1 .203 Totals 32 2 6 2 1 7 a-flied out for Arias in 9th. 2B: Senzel (7), Rosario (8), Meneses (7), Arias (7), Schneemann (1). RBI: Thomas 2 (15), Meneses 2 (29), Vargas (8), Schneemann 2 (2). CS: Senzel (3). SB: Vargas (5). SF: Thomas. Runners left in scoring position: Washington 2 (Garcia Jr., Rosario), Cleveland 3 (Freeman, Manzardo, Rocchio). RISP: Washington 3 for 6, Cleveland 1 for 5. GIDP: Freeman. DP: Washington 1. Washington IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Irvin W, 3-5 6.0 5 2 2 1 6 98 3.39 Garcia H, 8 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 15 4.82 Harvey H, 18 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 16 2.08 Finnegan S, 16 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 9 1.57 Cleveland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Carrasco L, 2-5 4.0 7 5 5 1 5 71 5.66 Hentges 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 20 3.60 Sandlin 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 10 2.77 Herrin 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 22 1.08 Avila 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 14 3.54 Umpires: HP-Merzel, 1B-Whitson, 2B-Miller, 3B-Moore. T: 2:18. A: 25,521 (34,830). Atlanta 3, Oakland 1 Oakland........000 000 100 —121 Atlanta..........100 000 11x —370 Oakland AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Toro 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .277 Andujar lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .394 Bleday cf 2 0 0 0 2 1 .244 Rooker dh 2 0 0 0 2 1 .280 c-Cameron pr-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Brown rf 3 0 0 0 1 2 .197 Gelof 2b 4 1 1 1 0 0 .182 McCann c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .302 Schuemann ss 3 0 1 0 1 1 .268 Soderstrom 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 .174 a-Davis ph-1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225 Totals 27 1 2 1 7 9 Atlanta AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Harris II cf 3 0 0 0 1 2 .260 Riley 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .234 Ozuna dh 3 1 1 0 1 0 .313 b-Martinez pr-dh 0 1 0 0 0 0 ... Olson 1b 4 0 1 1 0 1 .241 Albies 2b 4 0 1 1 0 1 .270 Duvall rf 3 1 1 0 1 2 .204 Kelenic lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 .268 Murphy c 3 0 1 1 1 1 .158 Arcia ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 .230 Totals 31 3 7 3 5 8 a-walked for Soderstrom in 7th. b-ran for Ozuna in 8th. c-ran for Rooker in 8th. E: Medina. 2B: Riley (10), Ozuna (12), Kelenic (8), Murphy (1). HR: Gelof (4). RBI: Gelof (12), Olson (33), Albies (26), Murphy (2). Runners left in scoring position: Oakland 2 (Andujar, Brown), Atlanta 6 (Riley 2, Olson, Arcia 3). RISP: Atlanta 3 for 12. GIDP: Rooker. DP: Atlanta 1. Oakland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Medina 5.2 2 1 0 2 6 89 0.00 Basso 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0.00 Adams L, 0-1 1.0 2 1 1 2 2 20 2.70 Jimenez 1.0 3 1 1 1 0 22 3.78 Atlanta IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Morton 6.0 1 0 0 5 6 97 3.88 Lee W, 2-1 BS, 1 1.0 1 1 1 1 2 17 1.71 Jimenez H, 12 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 15 2.74 Iglesias S, 15 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 9 2.42 Inherited runners: Basso 1-1. HBP: Soderstrom. IBB: Adams (1). Umpires: HP-Drake, 1B-Reyburn, 2B-Libka, 3B-Hoye. T: 2:28. A: 37,853 (41,184). Minnesota 4, Houston 3 Minnesota......110 001 010 —471 Houston ...... 012 000 000 —360 SUNDAY’S BOX SCORES Royals second baseman Nick Loftin (12) and outfielder Nelson Velázquez (17) are doused by left fielder MJ Melendez (1) after the win over the Padres at Kauffman Stadium. DENNY MEDLEY/USA TODAY SPORTS

6NS | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | SPORTS EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK PARIS - Jannik Sinner took time to get his engine going before motoring into the French Open quarter-finals while defending champion Iga Swiatek raced through on Sunday as scheduling at the Grand Slam came under scrutiny after Novak Djokovic’s overnight marathon. Second seed Sinner kept his hopes of taking Djokovic’s top ranking alive with a battling 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-1 win over local favourite Corentin Moutet in front of partisan fans on Court Philippe Chatrier. With Roland Garros still abuzz after an epic duel where Djokovic prevailed after the tournament’s latest finish at just past three a.m local time, Swiatek provided a masterclass to beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0 6-0 in 40 minutes. American Coco Gauff was not as ruthless as her Polish rival but equally efficient as she powered past Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1 6-2 in an hour before Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova mowed down Serbian Olga Danilovic 6-4 6-2. Ons Jabeur continued her quest to win an elusive maiden Grand Slam by taking out Danish player Clara Tauson 6-4 6-4 before breaking into a song with her fans as matches were wrapped up in double quick time. It was a largely a similar tune on the men’s side too, as third seed Carlos Alcaraz thumped Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-3 6-1 to set up a rematch of his 2023 quarter-final with Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Matteo Arnaldi 3-6 7-6(4) 6-2 6-2. “I love these kinds of matches,” Alcaraz said. “Hopefully the crowd enjoys (it) as much as I’m going to. Let’s see how it’s going to be.” Alcaraz’s entertaining win meant the entire day session for singles on Court Philippe Chatrier was completed in exactly four hours, 29 minutes less than Djokovic needed to defeat Italian Lorenzo Musetti in a five-setter overnight. SCHEDULING RETHINK The late finish came under criticism as Swiatek and Gauff said that Grand Slams needed a scheduling rethink. There were more complaints on social media as fans were left twiddling their thumbs for hours before the night session, where Sinner sent the last local hope Moutet packing. “I was always one of the players that said that we should start a little bit earlier,” Swiatek said of the Djokovic match. “I don’t know if fans are watching these matches if they have to go to work next day when the matches are finishing at two or three a.m.” Organisers were forced to add a match on the main showcourt before Djokovic played due to rain delays. “It’s a complicated thing, but for the health and safety of the players, it would be in the sport’s best interest to try to avoid those matches finishing – or starting - after a certain time,” Gauff said. Grigor Dimitrov later showed it was never too late to break new ground, as the in-form Bulgarian 10th seed outlasted Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(5) 6-4 7-6(3) to reach his first quarter-final at the French Open and complete his set of Grand Slam last eight appearances. TENNIS FRENCH OPEN Sinner, Swiatek reach quarterfinals Shrivathsa Sridhar REUTERS Jannik Sinner returns a shot during his match against Corentin Moutet during the French Open at Stade Roland Garros. SUSAN MULLANE/USA TODAY SPORTS Iga Swiatek reacts after a point during her match against Anastasia Potapova on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the French Open. DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Betnijah Laney-Hamilton scored 20 points in 25 minutes as the host New York Liberty recorded a wire-to-wire 104-68 victory over the Indiana Fever on Sunday night in their opening Commissioner’s Cup game. The Liberty (7-2) won their third straight and beat the Fever for the third time this season. New York has won the three meetings by a combined 83 points. The Liberty held rookie Caitlin Clark to a season-low three points on 1- of-10 shooting. Jonquel Jones added 18 points and 13 rebounds for her second straight double-double. Sabrina Ionescu contributed 16, six assists and six rebounds as New York shot a season-best 57.6 percent and scored 44 points in the paint. Breanna Stewart finished with 13 points and reserve Kennedy Burke chipped in 10 as the Liberty scored 100 points for the second time this season – both against the Fever. New York has scored at least 100 points in four of the past five meetings against Indiana. Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 points on 9- of-19 shooting but Indiana (2-9) was unable to win consecutive games for the first time this season after eking out a 71-70 home victory over the Chicago Sky on Saturday afternoon. NaLyssa Smith added 17 as Indiana shot 37 percent and missed 21 of 28 3- point tries, including a 1-for-7 night from deep by Clark. Stewart and Ionescu sank 3-pointers about a minute apart to open a 26-6 lead with 2:38 remaining and helped give the Liberty a 31-13 edge through the opening quarter. Mercury 87, Sparks 68 Hot-shooting Diana Taurasi scored a season-high 31 points and Natasha Cloud racked up 21 points and 12 assists as the host Phoenix Mercury emphatically ended a four-game losing streak by routing the Los Angeles Sparks. Taurasi scored 15 straight points for Phoenix (4-5) bridging the second and third quarters. She made 9 of 14 shots from the field and tied a season high with seven 3-pointers in nine tries. Cloud netted 11 points in the third quarter and finished 7-for-16 from the field, including 3-for-5 from long range. Dearica Hamby led the Sparks (2-6) with 23 points and added four rebounds and three steals. Her streak of consecutive games with at least 17 points and nine rebounds ended at seven, a WNBA record. Taurasi’s 3-pointer with 7:55 left in the game put the Mercury ahead 74-51, but the Sparks scored 12 straight points, including five from Zia Cooke, to pull within 74-63. However, Cloud’s threepoint play pushed the lead to 14 with 3:29 to go, and Los Angeles didn’t threaten again. Kahleah Copper, who entered Sunday as the league’s third-leading scorer at 24.3 points per game, was held to 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting for the Mercury, who shot 42.4 percent from the floor. Sophie Cunningham had 10 points for Phoenix while Kia Nurse added 12 for Los Angeles, which shot 40 percent overall. Lynx 87, Wings 76 Napheesa Collier scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and the Minnesota Lynx pulled away for an 87-76 win over the Dallas Wings on Sunday evening in Minneapolis. Kayla McBride scored a team-high 25 points for Minnesota, which won its second straight game at home. Courtney Williams scored 10 points and Alanna Smith chipped in eight. Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas with 21 points to go along with six rebounds, six assists and six steals. Monique Billings recorded a double-double with 19 points and 15 boards. The Lynx entered the fourth quarter with a 61-57 advantage and started the period on a 16-2 run to take control. Ogunbowale made a jump shot from 18 feet to pull the Wings within two with 9:10 to go, and the Lynx reeled off the next 16 points to seize a 77-59 advantage with 4:56 remaining. Dorka Juhasz started the decisive run with a layup off an assist from McBride. Collier and McBride combined to score the next 14 points, with Collier netting nine and McBride tallying five. Neither team led by more than single digits during a hard-fought third quarter. Ogunbowale drew a technical with 5:57 left in the quarter, and Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve picked up a technical with 4:21 to go. Sun 69, Dream 50 DeWanna Bonner produced a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Connecticut Sun stayed perfect with a road victory over the Atlanta Dream in College Park, Ga. DiJonai Carrington poured in 15 points for the Sun (8-0), who have won their first eight games, a franchise record. Tyasha Harris scored 13 points and Alyssa Thomas nearly had a triple-double with eight points, 14 boards and 11 assists for the WNBA’s only unbeaten team. Atlanta (4-3) saw its two-game winning streak snapped despite a doubledouble from Tina Charles, who scored 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Facing off in the first Commissioner’s Cup game of the year for both teams, the Dream and Sun played a tightly contested first quarter that featured six ties and ended with the score tied at 17-17. WNBA ROUNDUP Liberty stop Fever, hold Clark to 3 points FIELD LEVEL MEDIA Fever guard Caitlin Clark walks back to the bench in the third quarter against the Liberty at Barclays Center. WENDELL CRUZ/USA TODAY SPORTS

SPORTS EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | 7NS Liel Abada scored twice to help visiting Charlotte FC to a 3-2 win against Atlanta United on Sunday. Charlotte (7-6-4, 25 points) had been winless in its past three (0-1-2). Thiago Almada tallied for Atlanta (4- 8-4, 16 points), which has lost five straight home matches. The hosts controlled the ball for much of the first half, managing nine shot attempts, including three on target, while owning nearly 60 percent of the touches. Charlotte had just two shots, one on target. Saba Lobjanidze had several early chances for Atlanta United, including sending one over the crossbar in the second minute and a shot from the top left corner of the box that rolled just past the right post in the ninth minute. Atlanta finally connected in the 35th minute. Lobjanidze directed a pass toward Almada that deflected off a Charlotte player en route, and Almada quickly fired a left-foot strike into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. Charlotte benefitted from an own goal in the 40th minute to tie it. Defender Jere Uronen took a corner, and his shot deflected off Derrick Williams in front. The play was initially ruled a save when goalkeeper Josh Cohen dived to get his hand on the ball, but the call was overturned after video review confirmed the ball completely crossed the line. Abada put Charlotte ahead 2-1 in the 56th minute when he fired one off his right foot from outside the box into the lower right corner. In the 68th minute, Abada had time and space inside the box to tally his second of the match for a 3-1 lead. Atlanta, which had been quiet for much of the second half, pulled within one in the 76th minute. Xande Silva took a cross through the box from Ajani Fortune and sent it through a pair of defenders into the far side, cutting it to 3-2. SOCCER MLS Abada’s brace helps Charlotte FC edge Atlanta United FIELD LEVEL MEDIA Charlotte FC forward Liel Abada celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half against Atlanta United. BRETT DAVIS/USA TODAY SPORTS Simone Biles won a record-extending ninth all-around title at the U.S. championships in Fort Worth, Texas on Sunday as the four-time Olympic gold medalist continues to impress in the run-up to the Paris Games. After soaring into the lead on Friday, Biles picked up right where she left off on the final night of the competition, shaking off a misstep at the beginning of her balance beam routine to finish with a solid performance. Her high-flying floor routine earned a 15.10 from the judges and an emotional response from her mother in the stands as the 27-year-old added to her lead. Biles fell backwards while attempting to land a difficult vault in the third rotation but closed the night with a solid outing on the uneven bars to seize the title with a wire-to-wire victory. She also swept the titles for the individual events. “Today it was just about getting out here, getting comfortable and confident in my gymnastics and hopefully going to Olympic trials and taking that next step towards Paris,” Biles said. “I couldn’t be more proud of how I’m doing at this time of the year and gaining confidence in front of a crowd.” Biles finished with 119.750 points ahead of Skye Blakely, who was 5.900 behind. Kayla DiCello was third, 8.950 back of the winner. Tokyo all-around champion Sunisa Lee finished fourth with 110.650 points. Biles missed much of the Tokyo Games due to the “twisties” – a mental block where gymnasts are disoriented in midair - and then stepped away from competition for two years but looked sharper and more resilient than ever this weekend. “I’m a little bit older so I know exactly how to reboot, collect myself and move on to the next event even if I feel like something wasn’t how it was supposed to go,” she said. “I know exactly how to switch my mindset and keep going. “It’s years of therapy … as well as having good team mates.” Not in action at the championships was Shilese Jones, who is considered the most likely gymnast after Biles to make the five-member Paris team. She withdrew ahead of the competition to rest a sore shoulder to ensure she is at full strength for the Olympic trials later this month in Minneapolis, where the squad will be named. “It’s feeling a little bit better today than it has this whole week,” Jones told NBC Sports. GYMNASTICS Simone Biles performs on uneven bars during the U.S. Gymnastics Championships at Dickies Arena. JEROME MIRON/USA TODAY SPORTS Biles wins 9th national crown Rory Carroll REUTERS Skye Blakely performs on floor exercise during the U.S. Gymnastics Championships at Dickies Arena. JEROME MIRON/USA TODAY SPORTS

8NS | MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024 | SPORTS EXTRA - USA TODAY NETWORK Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER CO, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional offers not available in DC, Nevada, New York or Ontario. All times Eastern MLB American League East Division W L Pct GB N.Y. Yankees 42 19 .689 — Baltimore 37 20 .649 3 Boston 30 30 .500 11½ Tampa Bay 29 31 .483 12½ Toronto 28 30 .483 12½ Central Division W L Pct GB Cleveland 39 20 .661 — Kansas City 36 25 .590 4 Minnesota 33 26 .559 6 Detroit 29 30 .492 10 Chicago 15 45 .250 24½ West Division W L Pct GB Seattle 34 27 .557 — Texas 29 30 .492 4 Houston 26 34 .433 7½ Oakland 24 37 .393 10 L.A. Angels 21 38 .356 12 National League East Division W L Pct GB Philadelphia 41 19 .683 — Atlanta 33 24 .579 6½ Washington 27 31 .466 13 N.Y. Mets 24 35 .407 16½ Miami 21 39 .350 20 Central Division W L Pct GB Milwaukee 36 23 .610 — St. Louis 28 29 .491 7 Chicago 29 31 .483 7½ Pittsburgh 27 32 .458 9 Cincinnati 26 33 .441 10 West Division W L Pct GB L.A. Dodgers 38 23 .623 — San Diego 32 30 .516 6½ San Francisco 29 31 .483 8½ Arizona 27 32 .458 10 Colorado 21 37 .362 15½ Saturday’s Scores Pittsburgh 8, Toronto 1 Baltimore 9, Tampa Bay 5 Boston 6, Detroit 3 Oakland 11, Atlanta 9 Cleveland 3, Washington 2 Houston 5, Minnesota 2 San Diego 7, Kansas City 3 Texas 7, Miami 0 Milwaukee 4, Chicago 3 Arizona 10, N.Y. Mets 5 Chicago 7, Cincinnati 5 Philadelphia 6, St. Louis 1 Seattle 9, L.A. Angels 0 N.Y. Yankees 7, San Francisco 3 L.A. Dodgers 4, Colorado 1 Sunday’s Scores Minnesota 4, Houston 3 Tampa Bay 4, Baltimore 3 Detroit 8, Boston 4 Atlanta 3, Oakland 1 Toronto 5, Pittsburgh 4 Washington 5, Cleveland 2 Texas 6, Miami 0 Arizona 5, N.Y. Mets 4 Kansas City 4, San Diego 3 Milwaukee 6, Chicago 3 Cincinnati 5, Chicago 2 N.Y. Yankees 7, San Francisco 5 L.A. Dodgers 4, Colorado 0 Seattle 5, L.A. Angels 1 St. Louis 5, Philadelphia 4 Monday’s Games Milwaukee (Wilson 3-1) at Philadelphia (Wheeler 6-3), 6:40 p.m. N.Y. Mets (Quintana 1-5) at Washington (Gore 4-4), 6:45 p.m. Baltimore (Rodriguez 5-2) at Toronto (Gausman 4-3), 7:07 p.m. Detroit (Skubal 7-1) at Texas (Eovaldi 2-2), 8:05 p.m. St. Louis (Gibson 4-2) at Houston (Verlander 3-2), 8:10 p.m. Cincinnati (Abbott 3-5) at Colorado (Feltner 1-4), 8:40 p.m. San Diego (Waldron 3-5) at L.A. Angels (Anderson 5-5), 9:38 p.m. San Francisco (TBD) at Arizona (Nelson 3-4), 9:40 p.m. NBA FINALS No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks Thursday: Mavericks at Celtics, 8:30 p.m. June. 9: Mavericks at Celtics, 8 p.m. June 12 Celtics at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. June 14: Celtics at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. x-June 17: Mavericks at Celtics, 8:30 p.m. x-June 20: Celtics at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. x-June 23: Mavericks at Celtics, 8 p.m. NHL CONFERENCE FINALS (Best-of-7; x- if necessary) EASTERN CONFERENCE Florida Panthers 4, New York Rangers 2 May 22: Panthers 3, Rangers 0 May 24: Rangers 2, Panthers 1 (OT) Sunday: Rangers 5, Panthers 4 (OT) Tuesday: Panthers 3, Rangers 2 (OT) Thursday: Panthers 3, Rangers 2 Saturday: Panthers 2, Rangers 1 WESTERN CONFERENCE Edmonton Oilers 4, Dallas Stars 2 May 23: Oilers 3, Stars 2 (2OT) May 25: Stars 3, Oilers 1 Monday: Stars 5, Oilers 3 Wednesday: Oilers 5, Stars 1 Friday: Oilers 3, Stars 1 Sunday: Oilers 2, Stars 1 STANLEY CUP FINAL (Best-of-7; x- if necessary) Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers Saturday: Oilers at Panthers, 8 p.m. June 10: Oilers at Panthers, 8 p.m. June 13: Panthers at Oilers, 8 p.m. June 15: Panthers at Oilers, 8 p.m. x-June 18: Oilers at Panthers, 8 p.m. x-June 21: Panthers at Oilers, 8 p.m. x-June 24: Oilers at Panthers, 8 p.m. MLS Eastern Conference W L T Pts GF GA Inter Miami CF 10 3 5 35 42 27 Cincinnati 10 3 3 33 23 16 NY City FC 9 5 2 29 24 17 NY Red Bulls 8 3 5 29 29 22 Charlotte FC 7 6 4 25 18 18 Toronto FC 7 7 3 24 26 26 Columbus 6 2 6 24 21 13 Philadelphia 4 4 8 20 27 23 Nashville 4 5 7 19 20 22 D.C. United 4 6 7 19 25 31 Orlando City 4 7 5 17 16 24 CF Montreal 4 7 5 17 23 35 Atlanta 4 8 4 16 22 21 Chicago 3 8 6 15 17 29 New England 3 10 1 10 11 27 Western Conference W L T Pts GF GA Real Salt Lake 9 2 6 33 36 19 Los Angeles FC 9 4 3 30 28 19 Minnesota 8 3 4 28 27 20 LA Galaxy 7 3 7 28 31 25 Vancouver 7 5 4 25 24 19 Austin FC 6 6 5 23 21 25 Houston 6 6 4 22 18 18 Colorado 6 7 4 22 29 31 Portland 5 7 5 20 32 32 Seattle 4 6 6 18 19 19 Saint Louis 3 4 8 17 23 25 FC Dallas 3 8 4 13 17 24 San Jose 3 11 2 11 24 39 Sporting KC 2 9 5 11 24 31 Friday, May 31 NY City FC 5, San Jose 1 Saturday, June 1 D.C. United 2, Toronto FC 2 Inter Miami CF 3, Saint Louis 3 NY Red Bulls 1, Orlando City 0 Philadelphia 2, CF Montreal 2 Minnesota 3, Sporting KC 1 Nashville 1, New England 2 Chicago 2, LA Galaxy 1 Real Salt Lake 5, Austin FC 1 Los Angeles FC 1, FC Dallas 0 Portland 2, Houston 2 Vancouver 2, Colorado 1 Sunday, June 2 Atlanta 2, Charlotte FC 3 WNBA Eastern Conference W L Pct GB Connecticut 8 0 1.000 — N.Y. Liberty 7 2 .778 1½ Atlanta 4 3 .571 3½ Chicago 3 4 .429 4½ Indiana 2 9 .182 7½ Washington 0 8 .000 8 Western Conference W L Pct GB Minnesota 6 2 .750 — Las Vegas 4 2 .667 1 Seattle 5 3 .625 1 Phoenix 4 5 .444 2½ Dallas 3 4 .429 2½ L.A. Sparks 2 6 .250 4 Saturday, June 1 Indiana 71, Chicago 70 Sunday, June 2 Connecticut 69, Atlanta 50 Phoenix 87, L.A. Sparks 68 N.Y. Liberty 104, Indiana 68 Minnesota 87, Dallas 76 Tuesday, June 4 Washington at Connecticut, 7 p.m. N.Y. Liberty at Chicago, 8 p.m. Phoenix at Seattle, 10 p.m. GOLF RBC Canadian Open Final Round Robert MacIntyre64-66-66-68—264 (-16) Ben Griffin ...........70-65-65-65—265 (-15) Victor Perez.........70-68-64-64—266 (-14) Tom Kim...............70-68-65-64—267 (-13) Rory McIlroy .........66-72-65-64—267 (-13) Corey Conners......69-67-67-65—268 (-12) Ryan Fox...............66-64-70-70—270 (-10) Mackenzie Hughes 69-64-67-70—270 (-10) Maverick McNealy74-65-66-65—270 (-10) Sam Burns................63-71-67-70—271 (-9) Joel Dahmen ..........67-65-69-70—271 (-9) Keith Mitchell .........69-67-68-67—271 (-9) Chandler Phillips....69-70-68-64—271 (-9) Jacob Bridgeman..69-68-68-67—272 (-8) Beau Hossler.........70-70-66-66—272 (-8) Michael Kim............71-68-66-67—272 (-8) Andrew Novak .......66-67-70-69—272 (-8) Aaron Rai ................67-70-65-70—272 (-8) Sam Stevens .........68-68-68-68—272 (-8) Carson Young ........68-69-67-68—272 (-8) Tommy Fleetwood..67-70-64-72—273 (-7) Taylor Pendrith......69-69-66-69—273 (-7) David Skinns ............62-71-73-67—273 (-7) Zac Blair..................67-68-71-68—274 (-6) Tyler Duncan ..........67-71-68-68—274 (-6) Chad Ramey...........68-70-66-70—274 (-6) Stewart Cink ...........70-66-72-67—275 (-5) Trace Crowe ...........66-68-67-74—275 (-5) Sean O’Hair..............63-71-71-70—275 (-5) Thorbjørn Olesen ...68-68-72-67—275 (-5) Jhonattan Vegas ...70-69-69-67—275 (-5) Matt Wallace..........68-72-65-70—275 (-5) Shane Lowry..........72-68-68-68—276 (-4) Vince Whaley ........68-69-69-70—276 (-4) Pierceson Coody.....70-66-70-71—277 (-3) Ryo Hisatsune .......69-69-69-70—277 (-3) Nicolai Hojgaard....68-69-72-68—277 (-3) Ryan Palmer...........65-73-70-69—277 (-3) C.T. Pan...................70-70-68-69—277 (-3) Ben Silverman ........68-71-70-68—277 (-3) Sami Valimaki..........70-67-71-69—277 (-3) Harry Hall.................69-71-71-67—278 (-2) Nick Hardy..............66-69-70-73—278 (-2) Garrick Higgo.........69-69-70-70—278 (-2) Mark Hubbard........70-68-70-70—278 (-2) Kelly Kraft..............70-70-69-69—278 (-2) Nate Lashley...........71-69-72-66—278 (-2) Adam Scott............70-69-70-69—278 (-2) Erik van Rooyen......66-70-70-72—278 (-2) Kevin Yu...................70-70-67-71—278 (-2) Joseph Bramlett.....68-72-69-70—279 (-1) A.D. De Chassart......67-72-70-70—279 (-1) Lanto Griffin ............68-71-72-68—279 (-1) Chesson Hadley......71-69-69-70—279 (-1) Adam Svensson......72-68-69-70—279 (-1) Gary Woodland.......70-70-70-69—279 (-1) Myles Creighton ......71-68-71-70—280 (0) Mac Meissner..........67-73-68-72—280 (0) Kevin Streelman .....71-68-69-72—280 (0) Akshay Bhatia ..........69-69-74-69—281 (1) Ryan Moore...............69-68-71-73—281 (1) Wil Bateman ............70-66-72-74—282 (2) Jorge Campillo ........69-69-72-72—282 (2) Brandon Wu .............71-68-70-73—282 (2) Erik Barnes...............70-69-74-70—283 (3) Vincent Norrman......71-68-71-73—283 (3) Chez Reavie ..............69-71-72-71—283 (3) Kevin Tway...............70-67-75-73—285 (5) David Hearn .............67-73-72-76—288 (8) U.S. Women’s Open Sunday Lancaster, Pa. Lancaster Country Club Purse: $12 million Yardage: 6,583; Par: 70 Final Round Yuka Saso...............68-71-69-68—276 (-4) Hinako Shibuno .......71-70-66-72—279 (-1) Ally Ewing ...............74-72-68-66—280 (0) Andrea Lee .............69-69-67-75—280 (0) Arpichaya Yubol .......72-72-68-69—281 (1) Ayaka Furue..............71-72-71-68—282 (2) Wichanee Meechai..69-67-69-77—282 (2) Atthaya Thitikul.......74-72-68-68—282 (2) Sakura Koiwai ..........72-69-70-72—283 (3) Minjee Lee ..............70-69-66-78—283 (3) Rio Takeda ...............74-69-69-71—283 (3) Jin Hee Im ...............73-68-70-73—284 (4) Hyo Joo Kim............75-73-67-69—284 (4) Miyu Yamashita.........72-71-70-71—284 (4) Ruoning Yin ..............73-71-69-71—284 (4) Hannah Green ..........76-71-72-66—285 (5) A Lim Kim .................74-71-70-70—285 (5) Mi Hyang Lee............74-67-71-73—285 (5) Carlota Ciganda.......72-73-72-69—286 (6) Charley Hull..............75-72-72-67—286 (6) Chisato Iwai ..............70-71-73-72—286 (6) Yan Liu ......................73-74-72-67—286 (6) Jenny Shin................70-78-71-67—286 (6) Wei-Ling Hsu............72-69-74-72—287 (7) Jiwon Jeon ................75-71-71-70—287 (7) Aditi Ashok................73-71-73-71—288 (8) Min Byeol Kim ..........72-71-70-75—288 (8) Sophia Popov............72-72-71-73—288 (8) Pia Babnik ................70-77-72-70—289 (9) Jodi Ewart Shadoff ...72-71-75-71—289 (9) Sarah Kemp..............75-72-72-70—289 (9) Su Ji Kim ..................73-73-70-73—289 (9) Jin Young Ko............75-73-72-69—289 (9) Xiyu Lin .....................72-73-73-71—289 (9) Albane Valenzuela....72-71-76-70—289 (9) Kristen Gillman ......73-75-73-69—290 (10) Anna Nordqvist ......74-72-70-74—290 (10) Amiyu Ozeki...........74-72-69-75—290 (10) Yui Kawamoto ...........71-71-73-76—291 (11) Hyun Kyung Park .....74-73-74-70—291 (11) Gaby Lopez...............75-72-73-71—291 (11) Yuna Nishimura ........73-74-72-72—291 (11) JiYai Shin...................73-72-75-71—291 (11) Mariel Galdiano........71-76-74-71—292 (12) Nasa Hataoka .........73-70-74-75—292 (12) Megan Khang .........75-73-74-70—292 (12) Alison Lee ...............78-70-72-72—292 (12) Catherine Park........70-72-72-78—292 (12) Megan Schofill.........70-71-77-74—292 (12) Asterisk Talley.........70-71-78-73—292 (12) Ashleigh Buhai ........74-73-71-75—293 (13) Alexandra Forsterling 70-78-71-74—293 (13) Sofia Garcia .............75-73-71-74—293 (13) Danielle Kang .........74-69-76-74—293 (13) Gabriela Ruffels......75-73-75-70—293 (13) Hae Ran Ryu ............77-71-73-72—293 (13) Yuri Yoshida ............70-74-75-74—293 (13) Na Rin An .................74-72-77-71—294 (14) Celine Boutier.........72-75-75-72—294 (14) Amelia Garvey.........76-71-74-73—294 (14) Kim Kaufman..........76-72-70-76—294 (14) Maude-Aimee Leblanc 71-75-73-75—294 (14) Jeongeun Lee6.......75-71-70-78—294 (14) Alexa Pano ..............76-72-72-74—294 (14) Emily Pedersen.......75-73-72-74—294 (14) Alana Uriell..............76-72-72-74—294 (14) Adela Cernousek ...69-79-69-78—295 (15) Ai Suzuki.................72-70-73-80—295 (15) Caroline Inglis .........74-74-76-72—296 (16) Madelene Sagstrom73-75-73-75—296 (16) Marissa Steen.........73-74-74-75—296 (16) Casandra Alexander.71-74-77-75—297 (17) Isi Gabsa..................73-74-74-78—299 (19) Akie Iwai ..................75-71-76-79—301 (21) Cheyenne Knight....75-71-75-81—302 (22) AUTO RACING NASCAR Cup Series Schedule June 2 — Enjoy Illinois 300, Madison June 9 — Toyota Save Mart 350, Sonoma, Calif. June 16 — Iowa Corn 350, Powered by Ethanol, Newton June 23 — USA Today 301, New Hampshire June 30 — Ally 400, Nashville July 7 — Grant Park 165, Chicago July 14 — NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono, Pocono July 21 — Brickyard 400, Speedway, Ind. Aug. 11 — Cook Out 400, Richmond, Va. Aug. 18 — FireKeepers Casino 400, Brooklyn Aug. 24 — Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona Beach, Fla. Sept. 1 — Cook Out Southern 500, Darlington, SC Sept. 8 — Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart, Hampton, Ga. Sept. 15 — Go Bowling at The Glen, Watkins Glen International, NY Sept. 21 — Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Bristol, Tenn. Sept. 29 — Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas City, Kan. Oct. 6 — YellaWood 500, Talladega, Ala. Oct. 13 — Bank of America ROVAL 400, Concord, NC Oct. 20 — South Point 400, Las Vegas, Nev. Oct. 27 — Race at Homestead-Miami, Homestead, Fla. Nov. 3 — XFINITY 500, Martinsville, Va. Nov. 10 — NASCAR Cup Series Championship, Avondale, Ariz. NASCAR Cup Series Point Leaders Through June 1 1. Denny Hamlin, 492. 2. Martin Truex Jr., 487. 3. Kyle Larson, 486. 4. Chase Elliott, 475. 5. William Byron, 461. 6. Tyler Reddick, 437. 7. Ty Gibbs, 435. 8. Alex Bowman, 408. 9. Brad Keselowski, 397. 10. Ross Chastain, 392. 11. Christopher Bell, 387. 12. Ryan Blaney, 376. 13. Bubba Wallace, 355. 14. Kyle Busch, 346. 15. Chris Buescher, 345. 16. Chase Briscoe, 334. 17. Joey Logano, 315. 18. Daniel Suárez, 276. 19. Josh Berry, 263. 20. Austin Cindric, 249. TRANSACTIONS Sunday’s Transactions BASEBALL Major League Baseball BOSTON RED SOX — P Garrett Whitlock Transferred to 60-Day IL Right elbow surgery - out for season. SS Romy Gonzalez Placed on 10-Day IL Strained left hamstring. 1B Bobby Dalbec Called Up from Minors. Jamie Westbrook Purchased From Minors. 2B Vaughn Grissom Placed on 10-Day IL Strained right hamstring. CHICAGO CUBS — P Adbert Alzolay Transferred to 60-Day IL Strained right forearm. David Bote Purchased From Minors. 3B Nick Madrigal Sent to Minors. CHICAGO WHITE SOX — LF Andrew Benintendi Placed on 10-Day IL Left Achilles tendinitis. Oscar Colas Called Up from Minors. CINCINNATI REDS — P Alex Young Sent to Minors. P Justin Wilson Removed From 15-Day IL Left shoulder tightness. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — P Eli Morgan Placed on 15-Day IL Right elbow inflammation. RF Johnathan Rodriguez Sent to Minors. P Carlos Carrasco Removed From 15-Day IL Neck spasms. Daniel Schneemann Purchased From Minors. KANSAS CITY ROYALS — P Michael Wacha Placed on 15-Day IL Fractured left foot. P Daniel Lynch IV Called Up from Minors. LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Ben Joyce Called Up from Minors. MIAMI MARLINS — P Sixto Sanchez Placed on 15-Day IL Right shoulder inflammation. P Emmanuel Ramirez Called Up from Minors. NEW YORK METS — P Josh Walker Sent to Minors. P Drew Smith Removed From 15-Day IL Right shoulder inflammation. P Drew Smith Recalled From Minors Rehab. OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Luis Medina Removed From 60-Day IL Right knee sprain. Luis Medina Recalled From Minors Rehab. P Aaron Brooks Designated for Assignment. PITTSBURGH PIRATES — P Quinn Priester Called Up from Minors. 2B Alika Williams Placed on 10-Day IL Strained right wrist. WASHINGTON NATIONALS — C Drew Millas Called Up from Minors. C Riley Adams Sent to Minors. SCOREBOARD New BetMGM customers can sign up today and get a First Bet Offer up to $1,500 using bonus code USATSPORTS. Just download the BetMGM app, deposit at least $10 and place your first wager on any game. If your first bet loses, you will receive bonus bets in the amount of your bet (up to $1,500). Just make sure you use bonus code USATSPORTS when you sign up. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US). Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). First Bet Offer for new customers only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in North Carolina, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.Odds available as of print deadline. ODDS SPONSORED BY BETMGM.COM The Washington Commanders have released kicker Brandon McManus days after he was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit. The team announced the release Sunday. On Monday, ESPN reported two women were suing McManus for incidents that occurred when he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. During a team flight to London during the 2023 season, the women allege McManus "grinded" on them during the flight and that the team failed to supervise McManus, as well as create a safe environment for flight staff. "These are absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations made as part of a campaign to defame and disparage a talented and well-respected NFL player," McManus' attorney, Brett R. Gallaway, said in a statement Monday to ESPN. "We intend to aggressively defend Brandon's rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims truly are – an extortion attempt." A team spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Sports it was aware of the lawsuit and it was "looking into the matter." The team was also in communication with the league and McManus' representation regarding the lawsuit. McManus spent the 2023 season with the Jaguars after spending nine seasons with the Denver Broncos, with whom he won a Super Bowl 50 title. Last season, McManus was 30-for-37 on field goal attempts and he made all 35 extra point attempts. The kicker signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Commanders in March. With McManus' release, the Commanders do not have any kicker on the roster. NFL Commanders release kicker after lawsuit emerges Jordan Mendoza USA TODAY McManus captain eluded a couple of defenders with slick toe drags before chipping a back-hand tally for his fifth goal of the playoffs. Hyman added another man-advantage marker at 15:42 of the first to double the lead. McDavid slipped a pass to Hyman as he headed to the slot, and he ripped a top-corner shot for his leaguebest 14th goal of the postseason. Marchment finally solved Skinner with his team’s 30th shot of the night at 9:18 of the third period. Marchment’s shot off the rush went wide, but Tyler Seguin gained possession and sent a pass for Marchment at the doorstep, and he buried it for his third goal of the playoffs. The Stars, who were the dominant team from the drop of the puck, pushed feverishly but could not find the equalizer during a frantic finish. Dallas failed to convert during three power-play opportunities, and failed to score a man-advantage marker during the whole series. Edmonton has successfully killed 28 short-handed situations in its last 10 postseason games. Oilers forward Evander Kane played only a few shifts in the final two periods after sustaining an injury in the opening period. He spent the bulk of the game sitting on the bench supporting his teammates. Oilers Continued from Page 1NS Edmonton 2, Dallas 1 Dallas 0 0 1 — 1 Edmonton 2 0 0 — 2 First Period—1, Edmonton, McDavid 5 (Draisaitl, Bouchard), 4:17. 1, Edmonton, Hyman 14 (McDavid, Bouchard), 15:42. Penalties—Tanev, DAL (Tripping), 3:35. Edmonton bench, served by Hyman (Too many men), 7:14. Suter, DAL (Slashing), 14:22. Kulak, EDM (High-sticking), 17:21. Second Period—None. Penalties—None. Third Period—1, Dallas, Marchment 3 (Seguin, Tanev), 9:18. Penalties—Draisaitl, EDM (Delay of Game), 4:32. Shots on Goal—Dallas 12-9-14—35. Edmonton 3-5-2—10. Power-play opportunities—Dallas 0 of 3; Edmonton 2 of 2. Goalies—Dallas, Oettinger 10-9-0 (10 shots-8 saves). Edmonton, Skinner 11-5-0 (35-34). A—18,347 (18,347). Jocelyn Erickson went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, blasting a three-run home run in the sixth inning, to lift Florida to a 6-4 victory over Alabama on Sunday in an elimination game in the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. The Gators (53-14) will take on second-seeded Oklahoma in the WCWS semifinals, which begin Monday morning. Florida would need to beat the Sooners twice to advance to the championship series. The Crimson Tide finished their season with a 39-20 record. Keagan Rothrock (32-8) went the distance for Florida, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits in her seven innings. She walked one and struck out five. Two of the runs Rothrock yielded came in the sixth, but Alabama’s comeback bid came up short. Marlie Giles went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI for the Tide. Alabama starter Kayla Beaver went four innings, giving up two runs and six hits to go along with one walk and zero strikeouts. Jocelyn Briski (10-6) took the loss after giving up Reagan Walsh’s RBI single in the fifth, which snapped a 2-2 tie. Stanford 3, UCLA 1 NiJaree Canady struck out eight in going the distance as the Cardinal knocked off the Bruins in an elimination game. Stanford (50-16) advances to face Texas on Monday in the semifinals. The Cardinal would need to beat the Longhorns twice in back-to-back games to advance to the championship series. Texas beat Stanford 4-0 in Thursday’s opening round. UCLA’s season ends 43-12 after being held to just one run over back-to-back losses. Canady, the national player of the year, has pitched all 19 innings for the Cardinal in the WCWS. She got off to a hot start, striking out Bruins’ star Maya Brady looking to begin the game. Canady struck out Brady three times, Brady’s second consecutive game with three strikeouts after just one pitcher in the regular season – Canady – struck her out twice in a game. Canady retired 12 consecutive batters before hitting Savannah Pola with two outs in the seventh. Thessa Malau- ’ulu singled after the hit batter to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but Canady got Ramsey Suarez to ground out to end the game. WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES ROUNDUP Erickson’s 4 RBIs help Florida beat Alabama FIELD LEVEL MEDIA Florida catcher Jocelyn Erickson heads to home plater after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against Alabama. BRETT ROJO/USA TODAY SPORTS