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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor OrbΓ‘n concedes defeat after 'painful' election result

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbn conceded defeat on Sunday after what he called a painful election result, ending 16 years in power for a powerful figure in the far-right movement allied with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Partial official results show opposition leader Peter Magyar's party dominating the vote, in a bombshell election result with repercussions around Europe and beyond. Thank you, Hungary!'' Magyar posted on X, as thousands of his supporters thronged the banks of the Danube in Budapest.

Across town, Orban told his followers that I congratulated the victorious party.''

We are going to serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from opposition as well,'' he said.

With 60% of the vote counted, Magyars Tisza party had more than 52% support to 38% for Orbn's governing Fidesz party. That proportion will change as more votes are counted.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Vance in Hungary to back Trump ally Viktor Orban ahead of Sunday's election

It's a major blow for Orbn, the European Unions longest-serving leader and one of its biggest antagonists, who has traveled a long road from his early days as a liberal, anti-Soviet firebrand to the Russia-friendly nationalist admired today by the global far-right.

The parties of both Orbn and Magyar said they had received reports of electoral violations, suggesting some results could be disputed by both sides.

Voters showed up in droves

Turnout by 6:30 p.m. was over 77%, according to the National Election Office, a record number in any election in Hungarys post-Communist history.

Im asking our supporters and all Hungarians: Lets stay peaceful, cheerful, and if the results confirm our expectations, lets throw a big, Hungarian carnival, Magyar said.

Orbns chief of staff, Gergely Gulys, said the record high turnout showed that Hungarian democracy is extremely strong.

Choice between East or West

Orbn has repeatedly frustrated EU efforts to support Ukraine in its war against Russias full-scale invasion, while cultivating close ties to President Vladimir Putin and refusing to end Hungarys dependence on Russian fossil fuel imports.

Recent revelations have shown a top member of his government frequently shared the contents of EU discussions with Moscow, raising accusations that Hungary was acting on Russias behalf within the bloc.

The election was closely watched in countries around Europe and beyond, which is a testament to the outsize role Orbn occupies in far-right populist politics worldwide.

Members of Trump's Make America Great Again movement are among those who see Orbn's government and his Fidesz political party as shining examples of conservative, anti-globalist politics in action, while he is reviled by advocates of liberal democracy and the rule of law.

After casting his vote, Magyar told reporters that the election was a choice between East or West, propaganda or honest public discourse, corruption or clean public life.

Casting his ballot in Budapest, Marcell Mehringer, 21, said he was voting primarily so that Hungary will finally be a so-called European country, and so that young people, and really everyone, will do their fundamental civic duty to unite this nation a bit and to break down these boundaries borne of hatred.

Strained relationship with the EU

During his 16 years as prime minister, Orbn has launched harsh crackdowns on minority rights and media freedoms, subverted many of Hungary's institutions and been accused of siphoning large sums of money into the coffers of his allied business elite, an allegation he denies.

He also has heavily strained Hungary's relationship with the EU. Although Hungary is one of the smaller EU countries, with a population of 9.5 million, Orbn has repeatedly used his veto to block decisions that require unanimity.

Most recently, he blocked a 90-billion euro ($104 billion) EU loan to Ukraine, prompting his partners to accuse him of hijacking the critical aid.

Serious challenger on the rise

Magyar rapidly rose to become Orbn's most serious challenger. The 45-year-old leader of the center-right Tisza party, which led in independent polls, campaigned on issues affecting ordinary voters including Hungarys faltering public health care and transportation sectors and what he describes as rampant government corruption.

A former insider within Orbn's Fidesz, Magyar broke with the party in 2024 and quickly formed Tisza. Since then, he has toured Hungary relentlessly, holding rallies in settlements big and small in a campaign blitz that recently had him visiting up to six towns daily.

In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this month, Magyar said the election will be a referendum on whether Hungary continues on its drift toward Russia under Orbn, or can retake its place among the democratic societies of Europe.

Tisza won 30% of the vote in European Parliament elections in 2024, and Magyar took a seat as an EU lawmaker. Tisza is a member of the European People's Party, the mainstream, center-right political family with leaders governing 12 of the EU's 27 nations.

Uphill election battle

Magyar and Tisza face a tough fight. Orbn's control of Hungary's public media, which he has transformed into a mouthpiece for his party, and vast swaths of the private media market give him an advantage in spreading his message.

The unilateral transformation of Hungary's electoral system and gerrymandering of its 106 voting districts by Fidesz also will require Tisza to gain an estimated 5% more votes than Orbns party to achieve a simple majority.

Additionally, hundreds of thousands of ethnic Hungarians in neighboring countries had the right to vote in Hungarian elections and traditionally have voted overwhelmingly for Orbn's party.

Fidesz and Tisza both have launched platforms for reporting irregularities, accusing their opponents of planning to commit election abuses.

Russian secret services have plotted to interfere and tip the election in Orbn's favor, according to numerous media reports including by The Washington Post. The prime minister, however, has accused neighboring Ukraine, as well as Hungary's allies in the EU, of seeking to interfere in the vote to install a pro-Ukraine government.

Such accusations are part of why many in the EU see Orbn as a danger to the bloc's future.

But across the Atlantic, Trump and his MAGA movement are all-in for another Orbn term. Trump has repeatedly endorsed the Hungarian leader and U.S. Vice President JD Vance made a two-day visit to Hungary last week meant to help push Orbn over the finish line.

Suspect arrested after allegedly shooting & killing man in Pontiac robbery attempt

A 36-year-old man has been arrested after police say he shot & killed another man during a robbery attempt in Pontiac this weekend.

Deputies responded to a report of a shooting at a home in the 100 block of Crystal Lake just after 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 10.

Police found a man who had been shot in the back. That man identified as 28-year-old Kevonte Javon Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses told police that the suspect fled the area after the shooting. He was found three hours later, thanks to the help of a K-9 unit and drones.

Detectives say that the two men knew each other. They also say that the suspect was on probation on a drug conviction and had served prison time for an unarmed robbery conviction in 2016.

It is so sad to see when lives are lost for absolutely no reason, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a press release. We look forward to this individual being held to account for the suspected violent homicide. I am proud of our team that within three hours we were able to identify, locate, take into custody a suspect and recover the suspected murder weapon and clothing. A full team effort.

2 teens shot and killed in Inkster as police search for suspect

2 teens have died after being shot in Inkster this weekend, police tell us.

Police responded to a call around 4:50 a.m. on Sunday morning to a report of a man who had been shot at a home in the 2600 block of Penn.

First responders performed life-saving measures on the teen, 17, but those attempts were unsuccessful and the victim was pronounced dead at the hospital.

While canvassing the area, investigators found a trail of blood leading to a backyard on the same block, where a gun was found. A second gunshot victim was also found at that location, with that 15-year-old being pronounced dead at the scene.

Inkster Police say there is no immediate threat to the public, with this being investigated as a double homicide. No suspect has been identified by police in this case.

1 dead, 3 hospitalized in head-on Orion Township crash

One man has died, and three people have been hospitalized after a head-on crash that happened in Orion Township this weekend, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office tells us.

We're told the crash happened just after 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon (April 10) near Lapeer Road and Greenshield Road.

Investigators say that a 63-year-old Hazel Park man was heading northbound on Lapeer Road in a Ford Fiesta when he left the roadway. Police say it's unclear why he left the roadway.

The Hazel Park man proceeded to drive through the median and into the southbound lane of Lapeer Road, striking the driver of a Lincoln MKX head-on.

The driver of that Lincoln, 86-year-old Alfred Henry Young, died in the hospital after the crash, we're told. His 86-year-old wife, the Hazel Park man, and his 60-year-old wife were all hospitalized with what authorities are calling critical injuries.

The Sheriffs Office Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating the incident. Alcohol, drugs and speed do not appear to be factors in the crash, the Sheriff's Office said.

DPD officer arrested, placed on adminstrative leave after getting involved in OWI hit-and-run crash

A Detroit Police officer has been arrested and placed on administrative leave after she was driving while impaired and got involved in a hit-and-run crash, authorities tell us.

We're told that the incident happened late Friday night, when police in Sterling Heights responded to a crash at the intersection of Metropolitan Parkway and Van Dyke Avenue.

No injuries were reported by police in that crash. Investigators say that a 17-year-old driver was heading eastbound on the Parkway through a green light when the driver of a blue Camry came through the intersection and struck the young driver.

The incident caused the 17-year-old's vehicle to strike a fire hydrant. After the car suffered front-end damage, the driver of the Camry fled the scene, police tell us.

Sterling Heights police made contact with the driver of the Camry after obtaining her license plate, tracing her back to a Sterling Heights house. The officer was arrested on suspicion of Operating While Impaired and placed in the Macomb County Jail. Anyone with more information on the crash is asked to contact the Sterling Heights Police Department.

On Sunday afternoon, DPD provided us with a statement below on the officer:

"That type of conduct is not in line with our core values. Internal Affairs is conducting an administrative investigation, and we will ensure the officer is held accountable.The officer has been placed on Administrative duty."

Viral TikTok video saves a 19-year-old's struggling Michigan taco restaurant from closing its doors

A 19-year-old restaurant owner in Taylor whose business was on the brink of closure is now selling out nearly every night after a heartfelt plea on TikTok went viral.

Watch Faraz Javed's video report below Viral TikTok video saves a 19-year-old's struggling Michigan taco restaurant from closing its doors

Alexander Quinones, a Taylor High School graduate, opened Detroit Loves Tacos 2 last November. He invested $5,000 of his savings and graduation money into the business, and his mother, Julie Stevens, also contributed to keep the dream alive.

However, the restaurant struggled to bring in customers. Stevens said Quinones was making just enough to cover daily expenses and his one employee. Just two weeks ago, they faced a breaking point.

"We had a difficult discussion that day. We're gonna have to close if something doesn't give," Stevens said.

"I felt like I was failing in life a little bit. I put all my money into this, I put all my time into this. So it really, really hurt me," Quinones said.

Facing closure, Quinones posted a 30-second video on TikTok.

"No shortcuts, no big investors, just me working every single day, long nights, with a vision," Quinones said in the video.

"I woke up in the morning, and he was viral, literally, like overnight. It was like a blessing," Stevens said.

The video drew Mexican food lovers from across Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and Canada. Siblings Breanna Huynh and Jordan Huynh drove across the border from Windsor to support the business.

"It's really good," Breanna Huynh said.

"It's just amazing, balanced bite, it's great," Jordan Huynh said.

Isabel Zuniga and Breanna Niese made a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Ohio after seeing the video.

"This place is great," Niese said.

"Worth the drive," Zuniga said.

Another customer, Dallas, also praised the menu.

"They got this pineapple pork, and I love it," Dallas said.

Quinones discovered his passion for the restaurant business at age 12 at Detroit Loves Tacos in Corktown, which stemmed from Stevens' catering business. Now, Stevens helps in the kitchen at the Taylor location due to the overwhelming customer response.

"He is the first one in, the last one to leave. He has watched me his whole life. That's how my mom raised us," Stevens said.

"His work ethic has always been stellar," Stevens said.

"Restaurant's like my passion. I love serving people with food. I love seeing their smiles. It means the world to me," Quinones said.

Quinones said he is grateful for the community support and tries to ensure he has enough inventory to feed everyone, as the restaurant almost completely sells out every day.

"That's crazy," Niese said.

"All I thought was a simple video, just to get my name out there," Quinones said.

"I'm so grateful, I've almost sold out, almost completely everyday out of the week. But I try and make sure that I have enough inventory, just to feed everybody," Quinones said.

Quinones plans to expand, including opening more stores and food trucks. He hopes his story encourages others to never give up on their dreams.

"Definitely lean on the people around you," Breanna Huynh said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A $1 million Picasso is due to be sold for just $116

For the price of a dinner in Paris, somebody will soon walk away with a Picasso valued at more than $1 million.

The 1 Picasso for 100 euros raffle offers entrants the chance to take home the artists 1941 gouache Tte de Femme. The price of a ticket is as the name of the contest suggests 100 euros, or about $116.

A total of 120,000 tickets are available for the drawing on April 14. Proceeds will be donated to the Alzheimers Research Foundation, which supports clinical research into the disease across Europe.

This is the third edition of the campaign. The first 1 Picasso for 100 euros was held in 2013, with funds donated to the preservation of Tyre, a historic city in Southern Lebanon. A second edition in 2020 supported clean water and hygiene programs during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Olivier Widmaier Picasso, grandson of the legendary Spanish artist, told CNNs Paula Newton that his grandfather created Tte de Femme in the same studio where he painted his masterpiece Guernica.

He said he believed the work is being undervalued. Its worth much more than $1 million, Widmaier Picasso said, so it will be really a big prize.

Picassos have fetched staggering sums at auction in the past. Les Femmes dAlger (Version O) sold for more than $179 million in 2015.

The Opera Gallery, which donated the painting, says Pablo Picasso was in Paris when he painted Tte de Femme. World War II was raging across Europe and much of France was under German occupation.

Tte de Femme is about 15 inches tall and 10 inches wide. The womans expression, painted in different shades of gray, is intentionally distorted in Picassos signature Cubist style. The Opera Gallery says the gouache reflects a moment of introspection and concentrated studio work for the artist.

Widmaier Picasso says that a friend of his came up with the 1 Picasso for 100 euros initiative.

She thought it was a modern vision of charity by offering people the option to get a real artwork of my grandfather and to participate in humanitarian operations, he said.

Widmaier Picasso believes his grandfather would support 1 Picasso for 100 euros.

My grandfather was a pioneer in many ways, he said. I think that he was always very interested in participating in new things. I would say that today he would have been interested in video or maybe in artificial intelligence.

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Widmaier Picasso says whoever wins Tte de Femme is free to do whatever they would like with it. The winner of the first contest, for example, decided to display their prize in a museum.

Anyone can do what they want, he said. They can keep it in the living room, they can show it in an exhibition or they can resell it.

Widmaier Picasso said his grandfather would agree with letting the winner decide, because thats how he operated.

He said his grandmother, Marie-Thrse Walter, who was only 17 years old when Picasso began a romantic relationship with her, was showered with art. The artist was in his mid-forties at the time, married with a young son.

Marie-Thrse Walters features appeared in Picassos work over the next decade. Widmaier Picasso says his grandfather repaid her for the years of inspiration.

When my grandfather was giving artworks, it was forever, he said. It was a decision you do what you want with it. Pablo gave a lot of artworks to his lady, and she kept everything until she died. So Im offering all options.

The-CNN-Wire & 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

Red Wings extend NHL's longest current playoff drought that has dragged on for a decade

The Detroit Red Wings sat on the bench, stewing in stunned silence, after their latest loss sealed their fate as a franchise relegated to watching the NHL playoffs on TV.

Again.

Detroit lost three leads in its last home game, falling 5-3 to the out-of-contention New Jersey Devils on Saturday, in what coach Todd McLellan called a microcosm of a disappointing season that extended the NHL's longest postseason drought that has dragged on for a decade.

Red Wings fans, the relative few who stayed in their seats until the bitter end, let their voices be heard with a chorus of boos.

To hear that is very difficult, captain Dylan Larkin said. We're down. I'm as down as I could be right now.

McLellan said the team deserved it.

That's what we earned, he said.

Detroit was expected to compete for a spot in the playoffs this season and it did, holding a playoff position for nearly 80% of the season. The Red Wings became the second team in NHL history to have at least 69 points in the first 53 games and miss the playoffs. The Canadiens, who also had 69 points, did it in 1969-70.

The Red Wings were in a playoff position for 148 days of the season, according to Sportradar, to raise expectations higher than theyve been since the hockey-crazed state experienced a 25th consecutive postseason in 2016.

In late January, the Red Wings led the Atlantic Division and were one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Even though Detroit slipped in the standings, it was still clinging to a wild card as late as March 21.

We put ourselves in a really good position coming out of the Olympic break, and we let it slip away from us, winger Lucas Raymond said. You look back in a lot of games where you lost late leads or came up flat, and you just cant afford that at this time of the year.

In the loss that allowed the Red Wings to make tee times for next weekend, they went ahead against New Jersey in the first, second and third periods and lost every lead.

On an odd-man rush, New Jersey's Jesper Bratt scored the go-ahead goal for his second score of the game from the left circle off a perfect pass from Jack Hughes as John Gibson flailed around in an attempt to stop the puck.

The fourth (goal) is on me, Larkin said softly in the team's dressing room, which is adorned with photos of the team's all-time greats above each locker stall. It's my responsibility to stay back and cover for the D.

McLellan entered his first full season on the bench this year, trying to get the team to be physically harder to play against, mentally resilient and to manage games better.

I thought we were making gains in those areas, but since the Olympic break, we didn't have much of that and that cost us, he said. That starts with me.

Detroit dashed hopes with a late-season slide, raising more questions about general manager Steve Yzermans plan to turn around the team he led as a Stanley Cup-winning captain. The franchise brought Yzerman back seven years ago to turn things around and it simply has not happened.

It's been too many years in a row, we've been right there just havent been able to get it done, Raymond said. We got to figure it out and we got to figure it out fast, and take the next step.

"We got to look ourselves in the mirror, everyone here in this building, and we got to be better than this.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Trump threatens Strait of Hormuz blockade after US-Iran ceasefire talks end without agreement

President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. Navy would immediately begin a blockade to stop ships from entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S.-Iran peace talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement.

Trump sought to exert strategic control over the waterway responsible for the transportation of 20% of global oil supplies before the war, hoping to take away Irans key source of economic leverage in the fighting.

The president added that he has instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.

RELATED STORY | Vance says talks with Iran have ended without an agreement to end war

Trump also said the U.S. was ready to finish up Iran at the appropriate moment," stressing that Tehran's nuclear ambitions were at the core of the failure to end the war.

Face-to-face talks ended earlier Sunday after 21 hours, leaving a fragile two-week ceasefire in doubt.

U.S. officials said the negotiations collapsed over what they described as Irans refusal to commit to abandoning a path to a nuclear weapon, while Iranian officials blamed the U.S. for the breakdown of the talks without specifying the sticking points.

Neither side indicated what will happen after the 14-day ceasefire expires on April 22. Pakistani mediators urged all parties to maintain it. Both said their positions were clear and put the onus on the other side, underscoring how little the gap had narrowed throughout the talks.

We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon, Vice President JD Vance said after the talks.

Irans parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who led Iran in the negotiations, said it was time for the United States to decide whether it can gain our trust or not.

He did not mention the core disputes in a series of social media posts, though Iranian officials earlier said the talks fell apart over two or three key issues, blaming what they called U.S. overreach.

Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons but has insisted on its right to a civilian nuclear program. It has offered affirmative commitments in the past in writing, including in the landmark 2015 nuclear deal. Experts say its stockpile of enriched uranium, though not weapons-grade, is only a short technical step away.

Since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28, it has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,020 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and caused lasting damage to infrastructure in half a dozen Middle Eastern countries. Irans grip on the Strait of Hormuz has largely cut off the Persian Gulf and its oil and gas exports from the global economy, sending energy prices soaring.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Pope Leo XIV steps up criticism of US-Iran conflict, urges end to war

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his country will try to facilitate a new dialogue between Iran and the U.S. in the coming days.

It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to cease fire, Dar said.

The deadlock and Vances take-it-or-leave-it proposal that Iran end its nuclear program mirrored Februarys nuclear talks in Switzerland. Though Trump has said the subsequent war was meant to compel Irans leaders to abandon nuclear ambitions, each side's positions appeared unchanged in negotiations following six weeks of fighting.

An Iranian diplomatic official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the closed-door talks, denied that negotiations had failed over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Iran is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, but it has the right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, they said, reiterating Iran's longstanding negotiating position.

There was no word on whether they would resume, though Iran said it was open to continuing the dialogue, Irans state-run IRNA news agency reported.

We have never sought war. But if they try to win what they failed to win on the battlefield through talks, thats absolutely unacceptable, 60-year-old Mohammad Bagher Karami said in downtown Tehran.

US moves to shift status quo in Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran entered talks with sharply different proposals and contrasting assumptions about their leverage to end the war. Before negotiations began, the ceasefire was already threatened by deep disagreements and Israels continued attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Irans 10-point proposal ahead of the talks called for a guaranteed end to the war and sought control over the Strait of Hormuz. It included ending fighting against Irans regional allies, explicitly calling for a halt to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah.

Pakistani officials told The Associated Press in March that the U.S. 15-point proposal included monitoring mechanisms and a rollback of Irans nuclear program. Speaking on condition of anonymity as they werent authorized to discuss details, they said it also covered reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Indeed, Irans closure of the strait has proved its biggest strategic advantage in the war.

During the talks, the U.S. military said two destroyers transited the critical waterway ahead of mine-clearing work, a first since the war began. Irans state media, however, reported the country's joint military command denied that.

Were sweeping the strait. Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me, Trump said as talks extended into early Sunday morning.

Artemis II's moon-traveling astronauts return home to cheers after a record-breaking trip

Still marveling over their moon mission, the Artemis II astronauts received a thunderous welcome home Saturday from hundreds who took part in NASA's lunar comeback that set a record for deep space travel.

The crew of four arrived at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center and Mission Control, flying in from San Diego, where they splashed down just offshore the evening before.

After a quick reunion with their spouses and children, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada's Jeremy Hansen took the hangar stage, surrounded by space center workers and other invited guests. They were introduced by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, among the first to greet them aboard the recovery ship Friday.

Ladies and gentlemen, your Artemis II crew, Isaacman said to a standing ovation.

RELATED STORY | New reentry strategy guides Artemis IIs historic return to Earth

The jubilant crowd included flight directors and the launch director, Orion capsule and exploration system managers, high-ranking military officers, members of Congress, the space agencys entire blue-suited astronaut corps and even retired ones, and more.

Their homecoming was poignant: They returned to NASA's Houston base on the 56th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 13, whose Houston, weve had a problem refrain turned a near-disaster into triumph.

This was not easy. an emotional Wiseman said. Before you launch, it feels like its the greatest dream on Earth. And when youre out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends. Its a special thing to be a human, and its a special thing to be on planet Earth.

Added Glover: I have not processed what we just did and Im afraid to start even trying."

Hansen said the four of them embodied love and extracting joy out of that as the four joined together to stand in a row, embracing one another. When you look up here, youre not looking at us. We are a mirror reflecting you. And if you like what you see, then just look a little deeper. This is you.

During Artemis II's nearly 10-day mission, the astronauts voyaged deeper into space than the moon explorers of decades past and captured views of the lunar far side never witnessed before by human eyes. A total solar eclipse added to the cosmic wonder.

On their record-breaking flyby, the astronauts reached a maximum 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers) from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, eclipsing Apollo's 13 distance record.

The mission also revealed a new side of our planet with an Earthset photo, showing our Blue Marble setting behind the gray, pockmarked moon. The image echoed the famous Earthrise shot from 1968 taken by the worlds first lunar visitors, Apollo 8.

Honestly, what struck me wasnt necessarily just Earth, it was all the blackness around it. Earth was just this lifeboat hanging undisturbedly in the universe, Koch said. Planet Earth you are a crew.

RELATED STORY | Heat shield data from Artemis II could define timeline of future lunar missions

Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem a malfunctioning space toilet. NASA promised a design fix before longer moon-landing missions.

Wiseman, Glover, Koch and Hansen were the first humans to fly to the moon since Apollo 17 closed out NASA's first exploration era in 1972. Twenty-four astronauts flew to the moon during Apollo, including 12 moonwalkers.

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell who also flew on Apollo 8 cheered the Artemis II crew on in a wake-up message recorded before he died last summer.

It was crucial for NASA that Artemis II go well. The space agency is already preparing for next year's Artemis III, which will see a new crew practice docking its capsule with a lunar lander in orbit around Earth. That will set the stage for the all-important Artemis IV moon landing in 2028, when two astronauts attempt a touchdown near the lunar south pole.

The long wait is over. After a brief 53-year intermission, the show goes on, Isaacman said.

1% Event Detroit to be held April 25 in Troy

1% Event Detroit is the city's newest event for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and aspiring business owners.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at Troy Banquets in Oakland County. The mission of 1% Event Detroit is simple, everyone in the room leaves at least 1% better than they walked in.

For additional event and ticket information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1-event-detroit-tickets-1983365326081

All Things Detroit Day is a celebration of art, fashion, food, culture and community

Detroits biggest day to shop small, shop local, and show out is back this year with a retro twist.

All Things Detroit Day is a celebration of art, fashion, food, culture and community all in one place. The citys premier marketplace is happening April 12 in sheds 3,4 & 5 of the Easter Market on Detroit's east side.

To times and ticket prices, visit https://events.allthingsticketing.com/events/ATDDAY2026

or https://easternmarket.org/events/all-things-detroit-day-2026/

Vance says talks with Iran have ended without an agreement to end war

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said negotiations ended early Sunday between the United States and Iran without a peace deal after the Iranians refused to accept American terms to not develop a nuclear weapon.

The high-stakes talks ended after 21 hours, Vance said, with the vice president in constant communication with U.S. President Donald Trump and others in the administration.

But the simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon, Vance told reporters. That is the core goal of the president of the United States. And thats what weve tried to achieve through these negotiations.

RELATED STORY | Pope Leo XIV steps up criticism of US-Iran conflict, urges end to war

The vice president said he spoke with Trump a half dozen times, a dozen times, over the past 21 hours and also spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the United States Central Command.

We were constantly in communication with the team because we were negotiating in good faith, Vance said, speaking at a podium in front of a pair of American flags with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to his side. And we leave here, and we leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. Well see if the Iranians accept it.

Trump had said he would suspend attacks against Iran for two weeks. Vances comments did not indicate what will happen after that time period expires or if the ceasefire will remain in place.

War enters seventh week

The historic talks ended days after a fragile, two-week ceasefire was announced, as the war that has killed thousands of people and shaken global markets entered its seventh week. Two Pakistani officials said discussions between the heads of the delegations will resume after a break.

Some technical personnel from both teams are still meeting, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the press.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military said two destroyers transited the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz ahead of mine-clearing work, a first since the war began. Irans state media, however, said the joint military command denied that.

Were sweeping the strait. Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me, Trump told journalists as talks continued and the time approached 2 a.m. in Islamabad. He called negotiations very deep. Iranian state TV noted what it called serious differences.

The U.S. delegation led by Vance and the Iranian one led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf discussed with Pakistan how to advance the ceasefire already threatened by deep disagreements and Israel's continued attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose health ministry said the death toll has surpassed 2,000.

Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, the most direct U.S. contact had been in 2013 when President Barack Obama called newly elected President Hassan Rouhani to discuss Irans nuclear program. Obama's secretary of state, John Kerry, and counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif later met during negotiations toward the 2015 Iran nuclear deal a process that lasted well over a year.

Now the far broader talks feature Vance, a reluctant defender of the war who has little diplomatic experience and warned Iran not to try and play us, and Qalibaf, a former commander with Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard who has issued some of Iran's most fiery statements since fighting began.

Iran sets red lines including compensation for strikes

Irans state-run news agency said the three-party talks began after Iranian preconditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, were met.

Iran's delegation told state television it had presented red lines in meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including compensation for damage caused by U.S.-Israeli strikes that launched the war on Feb. 28 and releasing Irans frozen assets.

The war has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,020 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and caused lasting damage to infrastructure in half a dozen Middle Eastern countries. Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz has largely cut off the Persian Gulf and its oil and gas exports from the global economy, sending energy prices soaring.

Reflecting the high stakes, officials from the region said Chinese, Egyptian, Saudi and Qatari officials were in Islamabad to indirectly facilitate talks. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

In Tehran, residents told The Associated Press they were skeptical yet hopeful after weeks of airstrikes left destruction across their country of some 93 million people.

Peace alone is not enough for our country because weve been hit very hard, there have been huge costs, 62-year-old Amir Razzai Far said.

In his strongest words yet, Pope Leo XIV denounced the delusion of omnipotence fueling the war.

US sending forces to help mine-clearing on the strait

Irans closure of the Strait of Hormuz has proved its biggest strategic advantage in the war. Around a fifth of the worlds traded oil had typically passed through on over 100 ships a day. Only 12 have been recorded transiting since the ceasefire.

On Saturday, Trump said on social media that the U.S. had begun clearing out the strait.

RELATED STORY | Democrats grow bolder on talk about removing Trump from office after his Iran threats

Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon, U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper later said. The U.S. statement about the destroyers added: "Additional U.S. forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said Tehran was entering negotiations with deep distrust after strikes on Iran during previous talks. Araghchi, part of Irans delegation in Pakistan, said Saturday that his country was prepared to retaliate if attacked again.

Irans 10-point proposal ahead of the talks called for a guaranteed end to the war and sought control over the Strait of Hormuz. It included ending fighting against Irans regional allies," explicitly calling for a halt to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah.

The United States 15-point proposal includes restricting Irans nuclear program and reopening the strait.

Israel and Lebanon will have direct negotiations

Israel pressed ahead with strikes in Lebanon after saying there is no ceasefire there. Iran and Pakistan have disagreed.

Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin Tuesday in Washington, Lebanese President Joseph Aouns office has said, after Israel's surprise announcement authorizing talks despite the countries lack of official relations.

But as thousands in Lebanon protested the planned negotiations on Saturday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he had postponed a planned trip to Washington in light of the current internal circumstances. His absence should not affect talks as the first round is expected to be at the ambassadorial level.

Israel wants Lebanon's government to assume responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, much like was envisaged in a November 2024 ceasefire. But the militant group has survived efforts to curb its strength for decades.

Hezbollah joined the war in support of Iran in the opening days. Israel followed with airstrikes and a ground invasion.

The day the Iran ceasefire deal was announced, Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes, killing more than 300 people in the deadliest day in Lebanon since the war began, according to the country's Health Ministry.

Birmingham Police investigate shooting at a short-term rental property

A shooting at a short-term rental property in Birmingham left a typically quiet neighborhood stunned on Saturday.

Watch Tiarra's video report below Birmingham Police investigate shooting at a short-term rental property

The shooting happened shortly after 6:15 a.m. at a home on E. Lincoln Street near Woodward Avenue.

Birmingham police said no injuries were reported and a party was taking place inside the house which was being rented out.

I spoke to the owners of the house off camera, and they said the property was an Airbnb.

Officers detained one person who had a gun and fled the area. Police also took others in for questioning.

Phoebe Essak was at her brothers house, a few doors down from where the shooting took place. She described the community as typically peaceful.

"Very much quiet, not a lot of noise, its just like heavy traffic, thats the most," Essak said.

"We started peeping through our window, and we see that theres like an argument, everybodys kind of huddled over there," Essak said.

Brad Host is a commissioner for the city of Birmingham. He has voiced concerns about short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods for years.

"This thing that happened this morning certainly is a poster child for how these short-term rentals can become detrimental to a neighborhood," Host said.

Host said he hopes to discuss what the city can do about short-term rentals at the next commission meeting on Monday.

"Its a detriment to the ambiance of the neighborhood. Its a disruption to the sense of community, and its also not a neighborly situation," Host said.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Captain Michael Simpson at (248) 530-1770.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

β€˜Babies become sitting ducks’: Measles resurges in South Carolina amid anti-vaccine push

With baby Arthur too young for the measles vaccine and a sibling due in June, the Otwells grew nervous when the threat of the highly contagious virus started factoring into their grocery run.

We go to the Costco that was kind of a hotbed, said John Otwell, who knew about the state health department's warnings of public exposures at the store. A lot of people just dont get it; they think its just a cold. Its not.

By Arthurs 9-month checkup, the South Carolina outbreak had exploded into the nation's worst in more than 35 years, surpassing last year's in Texas. That meant that under state guidance, Arthur could get his first dose of the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella earlier than the usual 12 to 15 months old. Their new baby wont be able to get the shot until at least 6 months a prospect that worries parents of infants wherever measles spreads.

RELATED STORY | Measles outbreak reported at ICE facility on Texas military base

Babies too young to be vaccinated are among the most vulnerable in a measles outbreak. The disease can wreak havoc on their fragile bodies, making them so sick they stop eating and drinking. They can develop pneumonia or brain swelling, and sometimes die.

Babies depend entirely on herd immunity at least 95% of a community must be vaccinated to prevent measles outbreaks. But dropping vaccination rates have eroded protection in South Carolina and across the nation. In Spartanburg County, the outbreak's epicenter, less than 90% of students have gotten required vaccines.

Babies become sitting ducks, said Dr. Deborah Greenhouse, a Columbia pediatrician. The burden is on all of us to protect all of us.

But increasingly, some policymakers and officials push a view of vaccination as an issue of individual freedom and parents' rights, rather than one of public health to safeguard the population as a whole.

At the federal level, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine crusader, has sought to remake vaccine policy and oversaw billions in public health cuts. And though a temporary ruling from a federal judge has slowed his momentum, a raft of bills has been introduced in states, including South Carolina, that threaten to further reduce vaccination rates.

South Carolinas measles outbreak, totaling about 1,000 cases, has slowed. But measles is spreading in many states, with 17 outbreaks this year and 48 last year, and the U.S. on the verge of losing its status as a country that has eliminated measles.

Doctors work to protect the youngest against measles

Dr. Jessica Early never thought shed have to deal with measles, but the pediatrician feared for her patients and her own baby when it popped up in her Greer community. She and other doctors began offering an approved infant MMR dose as early as 6 months old. Her practice also started giving the second MMR dose usually for ages 4 to 6 years old early.

To the chagrin of many doctors, no one knows how many South Carolina infants have gotten measles or been hospitalized by it.

State officials will disclose only that 253 of the 997 cases were among children 4 and younger; they say they wont break cases down further for confidentiality reasons. Its not uncommon to group statistics this way.

Officials also dont know exactly how many infants were hospitalized with the virus because, as in some other states, hospitals aren't required to report measles-related admissions.

Across the state, doctors said they got many questions about whether it was safe to bring infants to waiting rooms or day care.

Thomas Compton regional director of Miss Tammys Little Learning Center, a child care network operating across the outbreak region said 18 parents pulled children out of his facilities, though they had no confirmed cases. Some abandoned deposits days before their kids were scheduled to start, forcing the company to lay off a teacher.

Although licensed day cares must require vaccines under state law, families can easily get religious exemptions. About a fifth of Miss Tammy's 300 children have vaccine waivers.

When measles surged, Compton said state officials gave little guidance. His staff scrubbed down surfaces, as they did when COVID-19 was raging; tracked local measles cases on Facebook; and relied on Google for information about the disease.

A lot of parents were really stressed out, Compton said. Anytime that we had a little sickness going on or something, they were like, Do you think its the measles?

State legislation would prohibit vaccines for children under 2

Last year, an Associated Press investigation found that Trump administration officials were directing activists to push anti-science legislation in statehouses. Nationally, around 350 anti-vaccine bills were introduced as of late October, AP found, including at least eight in South Carolina.

This year, a state bill would prohibit requiring vaccines for children under 2.

In other words, it would get rid of those requirements in the day cares, pediatrician Greenhouse said. And for people like me, that is a gut punch that is terrifying.

In a subcommittee discussion, Republican State Sen. Carlisle Kennedy said his bill aims to protect parents rights. His baby was born in August without working kidneys and got vaccines on a personalized schedule, in coordination with doctors.

We didnt want to put vaccines in his body before his body was able to survive them, he said.

Opponents countered that herd immunity protects children in these situations.

The Senate subcommittee advanced the legislation. Greenhouse fears it has momentum.

RELATED STORY | South Carolina measles outbreak shows little sign of slowing, surpasses Texas' 2025 total

"In the climate that we are currently living in, I think any bill potentially could have legs," she said. It is our job to do our absolute best to make sure that those legs dont go anywhere.

Whether the bill becomes law, doctors say this sort of legislation fuels vaccine skepticism and confusion. While the American Academy of Pediatrics advises giving babies all the vaccines theyve gotten for years, some parents tell Greenhouse they know the government has called for fewer.

They dont actually know who they can trust, she said.

South Carolina, like other states, has made nonmedical vaccine exemptions easier to get, noted Dr. Martha Edwards, president of the state's American Academy of Pediatrics chapter. In the outbreak's epicenter, religious exemptions have more than doubled since 2020. Statewide, 4% of school-age students have such exemptions in 2025-26.

Parental choice is a big buzzword in a lot of the Southern states, Edwards said. But the choice not to vaccinate, she said, impacts other parents rights to keep their children safe.

Nationwide, protection fades as measles spreads

Doctors expect things will only get worse.

In the first three months of 2026, the U.S. logged 1,671 measles cases. Thats 73% of the total from 2025, the worst year for the virus in more than three decades. In November, international health officials will determine whether measles is still considered eliminated in the U.S.

National MMR vaccination rates which dropped to 92.5% among kindergartners in the 2024-25 school year, from 95.2% in 2019-20 obscure much lower rates in certain communities. At one Spartanburg County school, 21% of kids received all required vaccines.

Doctors worry its just a matter of time before all sorts of vaccine-preventable diseases threaten lives like they did a century ago.

The whole concept of immunization is one of the best things that has ever happened to medicine, Greenhouse said. To see that we are actually going backwards is just confounding.

Helen Kaiser, who lives in the outbreak area, vaccinated her twin 2-year-old boys early to protect them and the community.

I would never forgive myself, she said, if I knew that my son had gotten another baby very sick and it was something I could have prevented.

Pope Leo XIV steps up criticism of US-Iran conflict, urges end to war

In his strongest words yet, Pope Leo XIV on Saturday denounced the delusion of omnipotence that is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and demanded political leaders stop and negotiate peace.

Leo presided over an evening prayer service in St. Peters Basilica on the same day the United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan and as a fragile ceasefire held.

Historys first U.S.-born pope didnt mention the United States or President Donald Trump in his prayer, which was planned before the talks were announced. But Leos tone and message appeared directed at Trump and U.S. officials, who have boasted of U.S. military superiority and justified the war in religious terms.

RELATED STORY | US, Iran agree to two-week ceasefire that will reopen the Strait of Hormuz

Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Leo said. Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!

In the basilica pews was the archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu. The U.S. was represented in the diplomatic corps by its deputy chief of mission, Laura Hochla, the U.S. Embassy said.

In the first weeks of the war, the Chicago-born Leo was initially reluctant to publicly condemn the violence and limited his comments to muted appeals for peace and dialogue. But Leo stepped up his criticism starting on Palm Sunday. And this week, he said Trumps threat to annihilate Iranian civilization was truly unacceptable and called for dialogue to prevail.

On Saturday, Leo called for all people of good will to pray for peace and demand an end to war from their political leaders. The evening vigil in Rome, which featured Scripture readings and meditative recitation of the Rosary prayers, was taking place as simultaneous local prayer services were being held in the U.S. and beyond.

Praying for peace, Leo said, was a way to break the demonic cycle of evil to build instead the Kingdom of God where there are no swords, drones or unjust profit.

RELATED STORY | Trump says Iran has 'no cards' as Vance heads to Pakistan for peace talks

It is here that we find a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive, he said. Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.

Leaders have used religion to justify their actions in the war. U.S. officials and especially Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have invoked their Christian faith to cast the U.S. as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes.

Leo has said God doesnt bless any war, and certainly not those who drop bombs.

Leo presided over the service sitting off to the side of the altar on a white throne, wearing his formal red cape and liturgical stole and praying with a Rosary in his hands. Many of the priests and nuns in the pews fingered Rosary beads as the Our Father and Hail Mary prayers were recited.

The Vatican is particularly concerned about the spillover of Israels war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, given the plight of Christian communities in the south.

Following new USDA food pyramid would raise grocery bills by nearly one-third

There is a new food pyramid, and analysis shows that following the updated guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture could cost Americans significantly more.

Data compiled by market analysis firm Numerator indicates a typical household would spend $1,012 more annually to follow the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans compared with the previous version. The guidelines, published every five years, place greater emphasis on meat and fat sources, such as butter, and less on whole grains and plant-based proteins, such as beans.

According to Numerator, grocery bills would rise by nearly one-third under the new guidance. Changes involving protein have the biggest effect: The new guidelines recommend Americans eat nearly twice as much protein especially from meat as prior guidelines.

The report advises adults to consume 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily. For example, a 200-pound person should eat between 109 and 146 grams of protein each day. Previous recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration for a person that weight were about 73 grams.

RELATED STORY | New US dietary guidelines urge more protein, fewer ultraprocessed foods

Numerators data show that in November 2025, a typical American spent about $37.33 per month on meat-based proteins to meet previous serving sizes. Under the new guidance, that figure would climb to $71.27 monthly to meet recommended protein intake.

Grains, which are relatively inexpensive, saw smaller changes. Reducing grain consumption would save the typical American about $2.24 monthly.

The new guidelines also put more emphasis on whole foods unprepared fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy and less on ultraprocessed and prepackaged items. According to Numerator, nearly 49% of total grocery sales come from the center of stores, where foods are typically already processed. About 42% of sales come from the perimeter, where fresh produce, meat and dairy are sold, with the remaining 9% from frozen aisles.

The guidelines help shape policy and influence menus for school lunches, Meals on Wheels and other federally funded food programs. While Numerators research does not address the impact on schools and government-funded programs, it suggests those following the updated guidance could face higher costs.

RELATED STORY | Whole milk returns to schools but is it the healthier choice?

Reducing ultraprocessed foods has widespread support, but some parts of the new guidelines have faced criticism notably the potential increase in saturated fat consumption, which scientists say can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The Trump administration has sent mixed messages on saturated fat intake. Earlier this year, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the government was ending its war on saturated fat by promoting meat-based proteins and fat sources such as butter and beef tallow in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Kennedys department largely ignored a panel of experts who favored plant-based proteins such as beans and lentils. However, the new guidelines retain the recommendation to limit saturated fat to no more than 10% of daily calories.

Average new car price nears $50,000, squeezing middle-class buyers

After a few years of sharing a 2019 Chevrolet Trax, Dana Eble and Tyler Marcus are finally looking for a second car. But as they jump into the market, the young married couple isn't sure what they can afford.

I just keep seeing a lot of different aspects of life getting more expensive, and its harder, said Eble, an account manager for a public relations agency.

Car ownership has long been integral to the American dream. But as automakers slash the production of inexpensive models to cater to customers who can afford oversized pickups and sport utility vehicles, buyers find themselves facing sticker shock at the same time they are already frustrated by the lingering effects of high inflation.

Consumer prices rose 3.3% in March, the biggest yearly increase since May 2024, while new car prices were up 12.6% from a year ago, the Labor Department reported Friday.

New vehicles now sell for an average of nearly $50,000, up 30% in six years, and average monthly payments based on 10% down and a 6-year note recently hit $775. Looking for something on the cheap end? The share of vehicles listing for less than $30,000 is about 13% down from 40% five years ago, per the car review site CarGurus.

RELATED STORY | New car prices hit historic high as average cost surpasses $50,000 for first time

To cope, buyers are spreading their payments out longer. Consumers choosing 7-year loans make up more than 12% of all sales, up from nearly 8% a year ago, according to auto buying resource J.D. Power. Such contracts wind up costing more in the long run because of interest payments.

The ability to buy transportation is still out there. The question is just, what do you get for your money? Charlie Chesbrough, a senior economist at Cox Automotive, said.

The rising cost of cars is contributing to increased concerns about affordability throughout American life. Consumers, especially young people, say they feel like everyday needs like housing, food, utilities and child care are getting costlier and wages aren't keeping up.

It is a vulnerable position for Republicans ahead of this years midterm elections, especially as the Iran war has pumped up gas prices that makes getting behind the wheel even more expensive.

Size, technology and must-have features add to costs

Sticker prices have been rising since automakers discovered Americans are willing to pay more for bigger, more expensive SUVs and pickup trucks that bring the companies more profit from each sale. They have largely phased out smaller, cheaper sedans.

That is especially true for domestic carmakers; the average selling prices for many vehicles from Ford Motor Co., General Motors and Jeep-maker Stellantis have generally trended higher than those for Asian companies Honda, Hyundai, Mazda and Subaru.

RELATED STORY | Auto loan delinquencies on the rise: Here's what that means for the economy

Car companies are also savvy about placing desired options in more expensive trim levels that can lure consumers into a vehicle that costs more than they planned, said David Undercoffler, the head of consumer insights at CarGurus.

Advanced safety technology lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, collision warnings and more all add to the cost of a vehicle. Automakers are required by federal industry rules to add some features, such as rear-view cameras.

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed up auto prices because production fell, affecting both the new and used markets. Though production recovered, other supply chain disruptions and tariffs have affected prices. Meanwhile, government data shows that car insurance prices have soared 55% compared with six years ago, or just before the pandemic, driving up the number of Americans going without. Car repairs, on average, are 48% more expensive.

The share of new car buyers earning below $100,000 fell to 37% last year, down from 50% in 2020, according to Cox Automotive.

Some carmakers have acknowledged affordability concerns. In February, Ford said it would have several vehicles prices under $40,000 by the end of the decade. GM has pointed to vehicles from Buick and Chevrolet, including the Trax, as cheaper options.

Looking to used market for relief

Chesbrough thinks consumers are sometimes unrealistic in their wants.

There are vehicles out there for less than $30,000. What everybody wants is the mid-sized SUV with leather seats and the sunroof for $25,000, and thats not available, Chesbrough said.

Those buyers, he said, are being pushed into the used market.

But as those buyers shift to used, they are finding fewer affordable options there, too. The share of used vehicles priced less than $30,000 fell from 78% in 2021 to 69% in February, according to CarGurus. The average used vehicle sold for about $25,000 in February, and the average used monthly payments hit $560.

The inventory of used cars is being hit by a couple of trends. One is that consumers keen to avoid a big expense are hanging on to their cars longer nearly 13 years on average now, 18 months longer than a decade ago, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. And a downturn in the popularity of leasing means fewer two- and three-year-old cars hitting the market after leases expire.

J.D. Power estimates that consumers might spend up to $140 less on a lease payment than the average finance commitment, a good option especially for drivers whose annual mileage is predictable. But experts say there is still an affordability challenge.

What buyers can do

Sam Dykhuis, 27, of Chicago, needed to buy her first car recently when she started a new job as a scheduler for United Airlines. She searched for something used under $20,000, and eventually paid a little more than that for a 2021 Mazda CX-5. To hold down the cost, she tapped savings to buy the car outright. She pays insurance six months at a time to save a few bucks, too.

Still, My paycheck went down and my expenses went up, Dykhuis said. Certainly, I have to be more just on top of it than I was previously."

Eble, 30, and Marcus, 31, say they appreciate cool vehicles but don't consider themselves car people" and are hoping their search is easier as a result. Still, finding something in their $20,000 to $30,000 budget might not be as easy as it once was.

They are considering cars such as a newer Trax, a Mazda or maybe an electric vehicle. New EVs generally cost more upfront, but consumers can save in the long run. The used EV market will also soon be flooded with two- or three-year-old EVs that were leased at the time federal credits were generous.

Like Dykhuis, they say they also might buy their new ride outright to avoid a new monthly payment.

It feels like if anything happens out of our control it just seems so much more difficult to figure out how to orient our finances," Eble said.

Heat shield data from Artemis II could define timeline of future lunar missions

By all indications, Artemis IIs landing was a success, as it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday after a nine-day journey that included a flyby of the moon.

After traveling more than 250,000 miles from Earth, the Artemis II Orion spacecraft landed within a mile of its intended target, reaching speeds of up to 24,664 mph.

RELATED STORY | Artemis II crew splashes down in Pacific, ending historic moon mission

This crew has said time and again that they were going for all of humanity. And today we fulfilled that objective by completing their journey and returning them safely to Earth, said Rick Henfling, Artemis II entry flight director.

The mission was the first to send humans toward the moon in more than 50 years and was designed as a stepping stone for future lunar missions. Artemis III, scheduled for launch in mid-2027, will not travel to the moon as originally planned. Instead, the crew will use the flight to test equipment and docking capabilities.

NASA plans to send astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028 with the Artemis IV mission.

One key set of data could determine whether NASA can stay on schedule.

Problems emerged after Artemis Is landing in 2022, when engineers found issues with the Orion spacecrafts heat shield. NASA said the shield exhibited more cracking and charring than expected.

In response, NASA changed how the heat shield was applied to Orion and adopted a different landing angle to minimize stress on the shield. Officials said late Friday it was too soon to know how successful those changes were, but they expect to have answers soon.

RELATED STORY | New reentry strategy guides Artemis IIs historic return to Earth

Lori Glaze, deputy associate administrator for NASAs Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, said data from the spacecraft was sent instantly to Mission Control and is now being analyzed.

She added that divers photographed the heat shield while Orion was still in the ocean, before recovery.

Howard Hu, Orion program manager, said the spacecraft will undergo a 30-day inspection period culminating with a report. He said NASA expects to reuse 286 components from Artemis II.

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