Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico returned to the campaign trail over the weekend after a 12-day absence that fueled speculation about his whereabouts.

His opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and other Republicans questioned Talarico's explanation that he had been home with the flu.

At one point, Paxton called for "proof of life" in a social media post questioning Talarico's whereabouts.

The speculation included unsubstantiated claims circulating online that Talarico had been receiving treatment at a mental health facility in Ohio.

I had the flu," Talarico insisted in an interview with MS Now on Sunday. "This is the craziest thing Ive ever heard. Its wild that someone can just post something on the internet and then the media just runs with it."

The rumors prompted the Lindner Center of HOPE to publicly deny that Talarico had been a patient.

"Representative James Talarico has never received treatment from Lindner Center of Hope," Lindner Center HOPE posted on X.

Talarico responded to the post by saying, "Ive never even been to Ohio "

Over the weekend, Talarico was seen meeting with potential voters at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. He also attended a Kacey Musgraves concert in Dallas on Saturday, where he met with the country singer.

The Texas Senate contest is among the most closely watched races in the country as Democrats seek their first statewide election victory in more than 30 years.

Federal agents on Monday searched the home of Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a frequent target of Trump administration criticism, as part of a criminal investigation, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The search was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations agents, said the people, who were not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. More details about the investigation were not immediately clear, though Vice President JD Vance has in the past accused Omar of committing immigration fraud an allegation she has denied and has said he and a top White House official were trying to figure out how to investigate the Minnesota congresswoman.

An email seeking comment was sent Monday to a representative for Omar.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Man who sprayed vinegar at Rep. Ilhan Omar during town hall pleads guilty to assault

The Justice Department said in a statement Monday that HSI agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the department in the Washington, D.C., area but provided no other details. The street was blocked off Monday morning as HSI agents remained near the home.

This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the department said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, of which Homeland Security Investigations is part, referred questions about the search to the Justice Department.

Omar represents Minnesotas 5th District, including Minneapolis. She was first elected to the House in 2018 and has been a member of what's called The Squad of female lawmakers known for their progressive views and pointed opposition to President Donald Trump, a Republican.

Republicans have raised questions about Omar's past since before she was even elected, including asserting that she had married her brother and committed immigration fraud. Omar has broadly denied the allegations as disgusting lies.

It certainly seems like something fishy is there, but everybody's entitled to equal justice under the laws, Vance told reporters in May. So we're going to investigate it. We're going to take a look at it. If we think there's a crime, we're going to prosecute that crime.

In a separate interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, Vance said without offering evidence that we actually think that Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America.

He said that he and deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller had been discussing it and trying to look at what the remedies are.

Thats the thing that were trying to figure out," he said. "What are the legal remedies now that we know that shes committed immigration fraud. How do you go after her? How do you investigate her? How do you actually do the thing? How do you build the case necessary to get some, some, some justice for the American people?

Omars office in March dismissed Vances claims as fabricated and defamatory.

This is rich coming from someone who literally said they were willing to create stories to redirect the media, Omars chief of staff, Connor McNutt, said in a statement.

This is a ridiculous lie and desperate attempt to distract from the pedophile protection partys unpopular war of choice, increasing gas prices, and rapidly dropping polling numbers, McNutt said of the vice presidents allegations and comments.

Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Rachel drenched the Las Vegas valley on Sunday morning, causing widespread flooding.

More than one inch of rain fell early in the morning on the west side of the valley, which prompted a Flash Flood Warning. Cameras captured floodwaters across Las Vegas, leaving cars stranded and forcing road closures.

[RAW VIDEO] Cars left stranded in flood waters near Koval, Winnick in Las Vegas WATCH: Flooding behind The LINQ near the Las Vegas Strip [RAW VIDEO] Flood waters behind The LINQ in Las Vegas WATCH: Floodwaters move through near Hotel Rio [RAW VIDEO] Heavy flood waters move through near Hotel Rio

The flooding stretched to near the Nevada-California state line, with all lanes closed at I-15, according to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

Meteorologists say Sunday afternoon will be partly cloudy with the potential for additional showers and thundershowers. The evening will see only an outside chance for more rain. A Flood Watch and Wind Advisory are in effect through 5 a.m. Monday.This story was originally published by the

Scripps News Group in Las Vegas.

Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodular lesion on his lung that was recently discovered during medical checks.

The 71-year-old pope said the nodule was found at an early stage and was circumscribed or well-localized. The Vatican later said Leo would undergo surgery in the first days of the week, with an expected recovery time of a week.

The American pope made the announcement during his Sunday noon blessing. He thanked the crowd for their closeness and entrusted himself to their prayers.

A lung nodule is a small abnormal area measuring less than 3 centimeters (1 inch) that sometimes appears on a CT scan of the chest or abdomen, according to the American Cancer Society. Often, the scans are done to investigate trauma or a lung infection, unrelated to a lung cancer screening.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | One year in: How Chicago's Pope Leo XIV has led the Catholic Church and challenged Washington

Leo has no previously known health problems and is considered physically active, with weekly tennis games and swimming at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo.

The pope has a major trip planned Nov. 6-17 to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It's unclear whether the planned surgery and recovery would affect the itinerary, but Leo said earlier in his remarks Sunday that he planned to go.

In his remarks, delivered in Italian, Leo said during a recent medical check, doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is circumscribed. The doctors believe its best to take action, so, following their advice, Ive decided to have surgery to remove it."

The surgery is already scheduled for the coming days. Thank you for your spiritual support, and I entrust myself to your prayers, he said.

Leos predecessor, Pope Francis, died April 21, 2025, of a stroke following a long hospitalization brought on by a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. Francis suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man.

Leo is expected to undergo surgery at Rome's Gemelli hospital, where Francis and popes before him were treated and where there is a special apartment for pontiffs.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, among the few outsiders to visit Francis during his long final hospitalization, expressed her support, and that of the Italian government, to Leo as he faces this challenge in the coming days. In a statement, she added that the serenity and calm with which he spoke about it were reassuring.

Christa Pike, who survived Tennessees attempt to execute her by lethal injection, has been moved back to prison, according to a statement released by her attorneys.

Pike, 50, was discharged from the hospital and is back at the Deborah K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center, the womens prison where she was housed for 30 years, her attorneys said in a statement.

She is grateful to the first responders and her medical team for their care in these extraordinary circumstances. She is continuing to receive medical care at the prison, and we will continue to track her recovery, her attorneys said in a statement released Saturday.

Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital as the state attempted to execute her by lethal injection on Sept. 30 for the 1995 beating and stabbing death of classmate Colleen Slemmer. Pike had been in a hospital since the failed execution.

Golden State Valkyries owner Joe Lacob proclaimed that his team would win a championship within its first five years when he bought the expansion franchise.

The Valkyries are now one step away from achieving his mandate way ahead of schedule as it only took two years for Golden State to reach the WNBA Finals. They'll face the Atlanta Dream in the best-of-seven series that begins Saturday, Oct. 17.

They had this vision from the start, to see it come to fruition in Year 2 is pretty amazing, Valkyries forward Kiah Stokes said. It's pretty special. We're looking forward to the finals."

RELATED STORY | A'ja Wilson wins her third straight WNBA MVP and record fifth overall

The league will have a first-time champion. The Valkyries became the quickest WNBA expansion franchise to reach the finals since the league first began 30 years ago. That topped the Dream, who did it in their third year.

Golden State has done an incredible job in building the franchise into one of the premiere ones in the league quickly. The second-seeded Valkyries led the league in attendance, which helped them achieve the best home record this season. They defeated the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, sweeping them in three games with Friday's overtime victory. They made a big move in free agency this offseason, signing Gabby Williams.

She has been one of the best players in the league on both ends of the court. Williams raised her game in the postseason, averaging 22.7 points from the 14.4 in the regular season. Golden State has been built around 3-point shooting, a solid set of reserves and defense.

The Dream reached the Finals for the first time since 2013 after taking out the New York Liberty in three games as well. Now both teams will have a week off before the championship round begins.

We want to enjoy this moment. were very proud of getting there, Atlanta guard Jordan said. It took a lot of hard work. ... Proud of getting there, but knowing that the job is not done.

Atlanta reached the WNBA Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013, but got swept each time. This is a different Atlanta roster with a bunch of stars including Angel Reese, Canada, Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.

RELATED STORY | Former NBA player ejected from WNBA game after confrontation with Chicago player

Gray, the Dreams leading scorer, injured her left hand in the semifinals opener and missed the next two games. Having the time off before the Finals begin will be big for her.

The Dream also added veteran DeWanna Bonner late in the season, which has proven to be a huge addition with her playoff experience.

Offense may be hard to come by for both teams as they are two of the best defensive squads in the league. Golden State won all three of the regular-season meetings with the last coming on July 4.

Three years after October 7, Gaza still isn't at peace, and the fighting has spread into a wider war with Iran. Scripps News Chief International Correspondent Jason Bellini has covered the story since the first days. He joins Jon Leiberman to talk about where things stand and where they could go next.

That's just the start. Alex Miller has the latest on the ongoing situation at Cornell.

A new Gallup report says only 31% of Americans think a college education is "very important," so we ask Stacey Cohen, Fordham adjunct professor, TEDx speaker and CEO of Co-Communications, whether college is still worth it. Food Babe founder Vani Hari was at the White House Make America Healthy summit with Vice President Vance and Secretary Kennedy, and she explains why even some MAHA loyalists aren't on board.

Monica Caison, founder of the CUE Center for Missing Persons, explains how to keep a case from disappearing along with the person, and how you can help.

Our panel also weighs in on the week's biggest stories. In our hidden headlines, Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley is facing online backlash after his property was marked as a public toilet on Google Maps, as scrutiny of the company's surveillance cameras grows.

Join the conversation! Text the word Scripps to 202-968-2449 to comment or be part of an upcoming panel discussion.

President Donald Trump announced Katie Zacharia will serve as the new permanent White House Press Secretary, filling a role vacated by Caroline Leavitt at the end of August.

Trump taps Katie Zacharia to be the new Press Secretary

In a post on social media, President Trump said Zacharia "has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning. She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA! I am confident that Katie will deliver strong results for our Country as the next White House Press Secretary, as she has the respect of, and will work fantastically with, the Media, the American People, and my Administration."

Zacharia acknowledged the appointment on social media, writing in part:

"Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime. President Trump has shown America that we can be great again, and he works to effectuate that greatness every single day. His confidence is a true privilege, and his leadership is a blessing to this country."

In comments to Fox News on Friday, Zacharia said her first day on the job would be Monday.

RELATED STORY | Karoline Leavitt to leave role as White House press secretary

Zacharia is a conservative commentator and also briefly served as spokeswoman for former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem left that role at the end of March.

Zacharia currently works for Trump Media and Technology Group, the company that operates the Truth Social media platform.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Panama on Friday morning, shaking buildings as far away as the capital and prompting evacuations, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake was centered about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, near Panamas southern tip, the USGS said. It struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles).

Tremors were felt in Panama City, where buildings shook and people evacuated into the streets. Visibly shaken residents gathered outside as they waited for news of the quakes impact.

RELATED STORY | These are some of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded

We felt it very strongly. It knocked things over in the kitchen, but were okay, though were very scared," Rosendo Domnguez, 60, who is from Herrera province, where the earthquake struck, told The Associated Press by phone. Everyone is outside, scared.

The National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning Friday for the coasts of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

Local media reported that the quake was also felt in parts of neighboring Colombia. Panama's Civil Protection said it was investigating possible damage in regions near where the earthquake took place.

The Arlington County Board in Virginia filed a lawsuit Thursday opposing the construction of the Triumphal Arch, becoming the first governmental body to take legal action against President Donald Trump's planned monument.

The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, criticized the speed at which the project slated for Memorial Circle has moved without going through the full review process.

The National Park Service, the agency responsible for projects on national park land such as Memorial Circle, is proceeding full-speed toward ground-disturbing construction, the lawsuit said. Although the agency has claimed that a final decision to construct the Arch has not yet been made and purports to be engaged in a routine decisional process, that rushed process appears to be a pretext designed to shore up justifications for building the Arch in accordance with the Presidents repeated marching orders.

The lawsuit asks that the agency's feverish pace toward construction of the arch be halted to ensure that the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act be followed and proper analysis and testing be done.

The Arlington County Board has filed this lawsuit because our community has the most to lose from this egregious and unlawful proposed project, Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said in a statement. He added that the county has acted in good faith in the review process, pointing out the severe, unique, and wide-ranging negative impacts the project will have on the county and its residents, only to see them ignored.

Memorial Circle sits on federal parkland west of the Potomac River across the Memorial Bridge and immediately adjacent to Arlington County.

The county is being represented in the lawsuit by legal advocacy group Democracy Forward.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle said the Trump administration and White House have been "fastidiously compliant with all procedural and legal requirements and are certain this meritless and dilatory lawsuit will be dismissed.

RELATED STORY | Trump administration defends authority to start work on massive DC arch

The arch will become one of the world's most iconic landmarks, he added. "It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike.

The lawsuit came a day after the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA President Sara Nelson expressed concerns that the 250-foot (76-meter) arch compounds multiple safety issues that she said have gone unaddressed since a deadly January 2025, crash over the Potomac River that killed 67 people. Nelson also criticized Trumps plan to turn the arch into a top grade military complex able to host drones and snipers while storing ammunition.

Though the arch has received early approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were all tapped by Trump, a group of three veterans and an architectural historian sued in federal court in Washington, D.C., saying the project needs to be approved by Congress. The judge in that lawsuit said the administration must give the court 48 hours before undertaking any activities related to or in preparation for construction of the arch.

The arch is one of several projects around Washington that Trump has undertaken as he remakes the city, from renovating one of its storied public golf courses to threatening to demolish the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The Financial Times reported that Starbucks has explored a potential acquisition of Chipotle in recent months.

It remains unclear whether Starbucks made a formal offer or how likely a deal is to materialize. Neither Starbucks nor Chipotle would comment on the report.

RELATED STORY | If you want more, ask: Chipotle CEO promotes bigger portions

Following the report, Chipotle shares rose about 7%, while Starbucks stock fell about 2%.

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol previously led Chipotle before joining Starbucks in 2024.

Starbucks has about 41,000 locations, while Chipotle has nearly 4,200 locations.

RELATED STORY | Pumpkin spice season isnt over, but Starbucks has its holiday drinks on deck

An Arizona man has been criminally charged after allegedly threatening to carry out mass bombings at the White House and other locations in the Washington, D.C., area.

Jacob Hicks, 46, of Tucson, was arrested after authorities received a tip about an email containing threats against the White House on September 23.

According to a criminal complaint, Hicks allegedly emailed a local news station claiming there would be an imminent bomb attack targeting the White House and other locations in Washington, D.C.

Scripps News' KGUN9 received an email that contained threats against the White House, which was shared with the authorities.

The FBI confirmed to KGUN9 that the email the station forwarded prompted law enforcement to launch an investigation. During the investigation, officials identified Hicks as the alleged sender of the email.

Investigators say they also discovered additional unsent email drafts that contained similar language, linked to the same account allegedly used by Hicks.

The draft emails, also dated Sept. 23, were addressed to other news organizations and contained similar threats against the White House.

Hicks has been charged by criminal complain with Making an Interstate Threat to Injure.

Officials are continuing their investigation into the incident.

This story was originally published by KGUN 9 News Staff with the Scripps News Group station in Tucson.

The Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the execution would be "public."

Hegseth, speaking to the conservative TV outlet Real America's Voice News on Wednesday, said the execution of Hasan will take place at Fort Hood on Dec. 3. Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 others in a shooting at the military base in 2009.

RELATED STORY | Trump approves firing squad execution for Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan

"We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public," Hegseth said.

Hegseth spoke to the outlet aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier while visiting the long-deployed crew, who supported the Iran war, before their arrival at their home port in San Diego.

When asked if Hasan had made any final requests or reached out to the Trump administration, Hegseth simply replied: "Don't care. We'll see him on December 3rd."

Officials in the Pentagon clarified Thursday that the execution will be livestreamed and that more details would follow.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell had said Monday that President Donald Trump had approved the execution of Hasan.

FROM THE ARCHIVES | Fort Hood Shooter Wants To Become A 'Citizen' Of ISIS

The White House on Thursday immediately referred questions about the plans for the livestreamed execution to the Pentagon.

Hegseth said the military hasn't executed a servicemember by firing squad since World War II. The last military execution took place on April 13, 1961, when Army Private John Bennett was executed by hanging.

The University of Arizona has suspended activities at its fraternities following persistent reports of misconduct, including assault, hazing, and drug and alcohol-related behavior, a university official said.

Just seven weeks into the fall semester, the university's Dean of Students Office was investigating multiple misconduct reports involving nearly half the school's Interfraternity Council chapters, Dean Chrissy Lieberman said Monday in a letter to the school's fraternities and sororities announcing the suspension.

The reports follow misconduct findings against some interfraternity chapters in the spring and multiple criminal investigations, according to the letter.

"The number of cases under investigation and the severity of the concerns is egregious," Lieberman wrote.

Cornell officials pressed by faculty as outrage mounts over alleged gang rape

University spokesman Nick Prevenas did not immediately respond to a request for more information about the criminal investigations on Wednesday.

The Associated Press left messages with the university's police agency. Officer Frank Magos, a spokesperson for the Tucson Police Department, said he was unaware of recent cases involving fraternities that were investigated by the city's police agency.

Prevenas also did not say whether the suspension was triggered by recent public outcry over how Cornell University handled allegations that multiple fraternity brothers sexually assaulted a woman in 2024. Lieberman's letter noted that "the value of the Greek experience is under scrutiny nationwide."

The suspension prohibits fraternities from hosting, attending, participating in and sponsoring any organizational activities at least until their advisers have met with Lieberman at one of three meetings that were scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Oct. 12, according to the letter.

The letter said the dean's office had reached "capacity" to investigate misconduct reports, and that reports continued even after the university's president warned Interfraternity Council presidents at an August meeting about the possibility of additional consequences.

RELATED STORY | Prosecutor 'investigating' report of police interview transcript in Cornell sexual assault case

"It is time for the University of Arizona Greek community to step up and set an example for good," the letter said. "It is time to have difficult conversations with each other and the members of the community."

The university had previously suspended activities at the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity after new members last year were reportedly forced to consume large quantities of alcohol and live goldfish and were subjected to screaming, degradation, and threats, according to a Sept. 2 letter from a university official to the fraternity.

An email and phone message at the fraternity's national headquarters were not immediately returned. The AP also reached out to six other fraternity chapters at the University of Arizona's campus via social media seeking comment on the suspensions.

Worries around artificial intelligence cross party lines, with the vast majority of Americans saying the U.S. government should prioritize keeping AI under human control and protecting workers.

A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that most Americans, 64%, think AI is developing too fast, while 27% say its development has been about right and only 8% say it's moving too slow.

The risk that powerful AI models could evade human control and hurt humanity, once the stuff of science fiction, has been emerging as a more pressing concern. Even leaders of the companies that are developing frontier AI models are calling for a slowdown so that government regulation can catch up. President Donald Trump has pushed back against slowing down AI development because of concerns that China will gain an advantage with the technology. Data centers powering AI projects have also taken a prominent role in major political races as the midterm elections approach.

About 8 in 10 U.S. adults say it's extremely or very important for the U.S. government to ensure that AI stays under human control, and they are about as likely to want the government to prioritize protecting the country's workforce. Most U.S. adults also think minimizing environmental harm and growing the U.S. economy are highly important. About half say this about promoting technological innovation, and slightly fewer say that about competing with China.

There's bipartisan concern about the speed of AI's development, but few Americans think either major political party has an advantage in handling artificial intelligence. Trump, a Republican, also gets a low rating on his handling of the issue, with 67% of U.S. adults disapproving of his performance on AI.

Stephanie Stewart, a junior-high science teacher in Sunset, Utah, said she is frustrated by the presidents opposition to AI regulation.

There is no handling of the issue except for were just going to allow these companies to do whatever they want, and were not going to regulate them, said Stewart, 53.

RELATED STORY | Most Americans use AI, but few are willing to pay for it

Most say protecting workers should be a priority for the government

Ron Theusch, a truck driver who lives in rural Alden, Minnesota, said his No. 1 concern with AI is the potential loss of jobs including his own.

I can just see a train of self-driving trucks 24/7, just running up and down I-35, loading and unloading. I can just see that happening, said Theusch, 58.

Most Democrats and Republicans agree on the importance of protecting workers and keeping AI under human control, the poll found.

There was a movie called Terminator, where the robots came back and killed everybody, Theusch said. People relate to that ... I dont know where its going to land. I really dont have anything I can do to control it, you know. Its going to evolve.

There's less consensus about the importance of other priorities when it comes to AI. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say its highly important to grow the U.S. economy and to compete with other countries like China. Democrats, on the other hand, are more likely to say its at least very important to minimize environmental harm.

I dont understand how, because theyre doing something as well as us, that we cant be more human about it and more humane about it than just to say, Well, theyre doing it, so we have to do it, Stewart said of U.S. competition with China.

And while about three-quarters of Democrats say AI is developing too fast, only about half of Republicans share that worry. People under 30 years old also express higher levels of concern than people 60 or older, the survey found.

I think I have all the normal concerns, right? I think its wonderful for certain applications, but I also feel like it will be overused and can create a lack of personal connections. It can make people lazy because information is just given to them without really having to research things on their own, said Kelly Opp, a 62-year-old Republican in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Like everything else, once you get that ball rolling, it progresses fast on its own, but I think that it will continue to keep progressing. So the speed doesnt really bother me, she said.

RELATED STORY | Trump administration accuses Microsoft of fraud, bars it from green card program

Americans have little confidence in Democrats or Republicans on AI

As a teacher, Stewart regularly uses AI to help with her work, including with creating assignments or assisting with tests. But she is deeply concerned about AI's effects on children.

Youve got to protect kids. Youve got to protect teens. You've got to protect privacy ... we need to try to do something, she said.

Americans have little trust in either party when it comes to the handling of AI issues. About 4 in 10 Americans say they dont trust either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party on AI, according to the poll, while nearly 2 in 10 trust both parties equally, and the rest are split between trusting the Republicans and the Democrats.

Even people who identify with the parties are ambivalent about their ability to handle the issue. Only about half of Republicans and Democrats say their party is better equipped to handle AI issues, and roughly 3 in 10 in each case say neither party is.

I am kind of moderate. And I see that theres good on both sides," said Stewart. "Anyone back in Washington is weak on doing anything for anyone but themselves right now. So, no, I dont think the Democrats would do a better job per se. Maybe they would definitely tout it. But until I see anything coming from anyone, Im going to be like, Yeah, no. Youre all just sitting there.

RELATED STORY | Nearly 500 communities across the country have paused data centers

Trump pushes for more development

Meanwhile, President Trump has touted what hes dubbed super intelligence, with the midterm election just weeks away.

It is seen as an economic issue for voters. It's data centers; they see those as raising their utility costs. It is this idea that the technology could threaten American jobs, and it's why the president's rhetoric doesn't really line up with where most voters are, and even most Republicans running for office this time around, said Scripps News Group political director Andrew Rafferty.

Trump has advocated for supporting its development, pointing to guardrails within existing law enforcement, warned anyone not using his terminology is the enemy and doubled down on data centers during his midterm campaign blitz.

We're also taking historic action to ensure that big tech data centers benefit local communities, he told a crowd in Ohio last weekend.

Were getting rid of artificial intelligence and were changing it to super intelligence, he told a crowd rallying in San Antonio, TX Wednesday.

It comes after the President announced the Super Intelligence Force led by DNI Jay Clayton, and that companies signed on to an accord at the White House amidst concerns raised within the industry on the pace of development.

It is nice to be able to make AI assisted progress on lots of things. The more bearish case, though, right now on AI, I think stems from public anxiety, and I think very legitimate public anxiety, because right now, whether they want to be or not, the public and the policymakers who represent them are just not in the loop and not in control of what's happening in frontier AI right now. It's just a small number of people at a very small number of companies making decisions about obscure technologies behind closed doors that are in control, said Stephen Casper, an assistant professor at Harvard University.

Thursday, Trump awarded national medals to leaders in technology, including those at the forefront of AI, at Science: A New Golden Age Summit.

It included Elon Musk, the founder of Google and heads of Nvidia, AMD, Microsoft and Dell.

From day one my administration has taken decisive action to ensure that America continues to dominate the frontiers of science and technology, Trump said.

The summit also included more than $6 billion in investments in the government, industry, academia and philanthropy, according to the White House, and the launch of initiatives.

These initiatives will equip scientists with the tools to harness SI-driven scientific revolution, support the best and brightest American STEM students and early-career scientists, revive the pursuit of ambitious national scientific missions, and encourage the creation of new scientific institutions, the White Houses fact sheet stated.

President Donald Trump ruled out attacking Iran before November's midterm elections.

In a post on Truth Social Thursday, Trump said the U.S. is having "productive discussions" with Iran.

"Iran is in very bad condition, both Economically and Militarily," Trump said, adding that the blockade would remain in place.

RELATED STORY | US has lost or sustained damage to 81 aircraft in the Iran war, worth up to $3.3 billion, report says

The president did not rule out attacking Iran after the Nov. 3 elections.

The war with Iran has become a major issue on the campaign trail as Americans continue to face high gas prices because of the conflict.

While Trump insists millions of barrels of oil are moving through the Strait of Hormuz, fuel prices remain elevated.

RELATED STORY | About Two Weeks: New project takes aim at Trumps shifting Iran war timeline

According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline stood at $4.36 Thursday, compared with $3.11 at the same time last year.

Diesel prices have fallen from their all-time high of more than $6.50 a gallon but remain elevated. As of Thursday, the national average stood at $6.28 a gallon.

The war in Iran has gone on for more than seven months. Trump initially said the conflict would only last for several weeks.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story contains details of an alleged sexual assault that some may find triggering. Viewer discretion is advised.

An Arizona Congressional candidate says she was sexually assaulted in August while repairing her campaign signs.

 

The first couple of weeks after, I was very angry, Bernadette Green-Placentia, Democratic candidate for Arizonas 8th Congressional District, said. I was just so mad, after being a long-haul truck driver for 27 years, across 4 million miles, I had taken care of myself, and for something like this to happen so close to home, I was just furious.

The Maricopa County Sheriffs Office confirms there is now an active investigation in connection with the incident.

 

Greene-Placentia is now opening up about the night she says she was attacked and raped.

Hear Bernadette Greene-Placentia in her own words from the full sit-down interview below:

AZ CD-8 candidate Bernadette Greene-Placentia recounts sexual assault while fixing campaign signs

Its hard. It really makes me think of why other women dont come forward, she told the Scripps News Group station in Phoenix in a one-on-one interview.

 

The Democratic Congressional candidate says she regularly repaired campaign signs damaged by monsoons at night to avoid traffic and the heat.

 

Usually I would go out with my husband, a staffer, she said.

 

But she says she was alone around 1 a.m. on August 14, when she went to repair a sign near 99th Avenue and Bell Road in Sun City.

 

Greene-Placentia believes she was hit in the head and lost consciousness.

 

Then it was like, wait a minute. I'm on the ground, and then I feel sharp pain down there. And I open my eyes, and there's a guy climbing off me, Greene-Placentia said.

 

She says a second man approached too.

 

I started fighting, and then he just was like, Ah, it's not worth it, she said.

 

Then, both men took off. Greene-Placentia says she was left bruised and experiencing gaps in her memory.

 

I look back and it's like, why didn't I go to the hospital? she said. I'd always consider myself a strong person, and so I was embarrassed.

 

Greene-Placentia reported the alleged assault on August 31. When asked, MCSO stated that they cannot release the paperwork or comment until the ongoing investigation is completed.

 

Greene-Placentia is challenging Republican incumbent Abe Hamadeh for the 8th Congressional District seat to serve cities like Peoria, Surprise, and Sun City.

 

Rep. Hamadeh sent a statement to the Scripps News Group saying:

 

I have read the disturbing story and call upon authorities to investigate these serious allegations thoroughly, including finding all possible camera footage of the time and place in order to prosecute the crime to the fullest extent of the law. No American should become a victim of a crime in their own community.

 

As for whether she believes she was targeted because of her campaign, Greene-Placentia says she doesnt know.

 

Maybe I was recognized, but I think it was probably a crime of opportunity. I just don't have a way of knowing, she said.

 

Her campaign says it cannot afford additional security, but is taking extra precautions.

 

Greene-Placentia says she does not want the attack to define her campaign, but hopes speaking out helps other survivors.

 

I believe very strongly in women's bodily autonomy, and I was angry that these men used their physical size to take that autonomy from me, Greene-Placentia said. Speaking up was me taking it back.

This story was originally reported by Jane Caffrey at the Scripps News Group station in Phoenix.

Getting health advice from an influencer may also mean getting a sales pitch.

A new analysis by the Pew Research Center examined more than 500,000 Instagram, TikTok and YouTube posts from more than 6,000 health and wellness influencers.

Researchers found that 38% of the posts promoted a product, service or subscription. When influencers discussed over-the-counter medications or dietary supplements, about two-thirds of those posts included a promotional element.

Overall, influencers were more likely to post about healthy living topics, such as fitness and nutrition, than about medical issues.

RELATED STORY | America's supplement habit: 80 percent of adults are taking at least one

"Our previous research has found that around a quarter of Americans who get information from health and wellness influencers say this content makes them feel more worried about their overall health," Pew said. We wanted to find out whether this content frequently warns of specific health harms, like risks from certain health practices or the perceived dangers of different drugs and treatments."

Pew said that 11% of posts warn about a direct health harm, while 9% refer to an outside source while making a health claim.