Costco is now limiting members to just two units of motor oil per week. I checked in with local auto shops to see how the shortage is hitting them.

WATCH HERE:

At Christian Brothers Automotive in Woodway, mechanics say the price they pay for motor oil has surged dramatically.

"We've seen almost an increase of double," service manager Josh Ryan said.

Scripps News reports the U.S. imports more than 40% of its synthetic motor oil from the Middle East, where ongoing conflict in Iran has cut off oil supplies. The shortage started in May when refineries prioritized producing gasoline instead.

As the conflict continues, local mechanics say they are feeling the squeeze.

"We were paying three or four dollars a quart before, we're paying six or seven dollars a quart now," Ryan said.

Rising costs forced Ryan's team to make a tough choice for their customers.

"We have had to increase our oil change prices because of that, but we kind of did a fifty-fifty split where we absorb about 50%, and pass about 50% of that along," Ryan said.

Ryan says his team had to raise the price by several dollars. Though costs are up, he says they are not running dry just yet.

"As far as supply chain goes, we haven't had a low oil issue at all," Ryan said.

Ryan says drivers have not been shocked by the higher prices, though he is hoping the rate hike does not last much longer.

"Everyone has been understanding. You know with fuel prices up, diesel prices up, you know, it's not just hitting us, it's hitting everybody," Ryan said.

Christian Brothers Automotive is not alone. Several other auto shops in the area say they are also experiencing the same issues.

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.

The Bell County Sheriffs Office, Belton Police Department and other law enforcement agencies are asking the public to avoid the area of Farm to Market 93, east of IH93, due to an ongoing investigation.

The incident started around 10:45 a.m. Thursday when officers were called to the Belton area after a vehicle involved in a shooting in Troy around 1:20 a.m. was located.

Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect and the suspect fled into a wooded area nearby.

Multiple law enforcement agencies are at the scene and the public is asked to avoid the area or stay inside. Part of East 6th Avenue is also currently blocked off.

The Belton ISD campuses (Delta, Hubbard Branch, New Tech, DAEP, and BECS) are currently on a hold as a precaution, as well as Belton Christian Youth Center.

Something changed this summer that gave home buyers more negotiating power. 

As of August, sellers outnumbered buyers by 58% the biggest gap in more than a decade, according to Redfin. That doesn't mean home prices are about to crash, but after years of soaring prices, buyers may finally be getting some relief. 

"It used to be that if you wanted a house, you had to pretty much take what was available. What you could win the bidding war for," said Matt Frankel, a contributing real estate analyst at The Motley Fool.

RELATED STORY | US home sales weaken to slowest pace in more than a year as mortgage rates, home prices climb

Rather than prices taking a plunge, Frankel said sellers have adjusted their pricing strategies.  

"You're seeing a lot more incentives being offered. You're seeing more sellers willing to pay closing costs, for example, or to offer concessions at the end," Frankel said. 

Experts with Realtor.com say sellers are "getting real," pricing lower upfront so fewer homes need price cuts. The median listing price this summer was down 2.4% compared to last July. Less than 40% of homes currently on sale have seen a price cut, compared to 54% last year.  

Jake Krimmel, senior economist at Realtor.com, explains that the price movement reflects a change in seller behavior, not desperation. 

"When sellers listed their homes for slightly less this year than last, it wasn't because they were cutting. It was because they were listing more realistically from the beginning," he said. "That resulted in fewer homes seeing price cuts, fewer homes being so called 'on sale.'" 

Affordability still a major challenge

Buyers may have more homes to choose from due to higher inventory. They may even see slight price reductions in their market.  

"The big win is on selection," Frankel said. "There are a lot more homes on the market right now than there were a year ago."

What buyers can't escape are high mortgage rates which topped 7% this week for the first time in more than a year. 

"Which is really unfortunate as far as timing goes because the fall can be a really great time to buy because more homes are lingering around the market," Krimmel said. 

Chrissy Bernal, of Texas, is navigating both sides of today's housing market buying and selling. 

"We've looked at probably 20 homes and that is not an exaggeration," she said. Selling hasn't been simple either, "The offers we got in were ridiculous, like half of the house's value."

RELATED STORY | Interactive: Your home insurance deductible may have quietly increased

Her advice for buyers navigating the uncertainty: stay flexible and stay optimistic. 

"Our phrase is 'this or something better,'" Bernal said. 

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico campaigned at Baylor University, speaking at a private event for students and faculty.

WATCH HERE:

"All across this state, everywhere I go, everyone is struggling to survive in this economy. No matter how hard Texans work, no matter how much they save and stretch and sacrifice, those ends never seem to meet," Talarico said.

Talarico called out candidates who accept AIPAC money, including his Republican opponent, Ken Paxton.

"You should believe that our movement can beat their money because they sure do. Big money is powerful, but it is nothing compared to people power," Talarico said.

Baylor student Hanna Al-Hayek said she feels Talarico represents the people he would serve as Texas senator.

"So politicians weren't supposed to be whoever has the most money. They were supposed to represent, you know, their constituents," Al-Hayek said.

"And the fact that Talarico has not accepted a dime out of corporate, of corporate money, and is grassroot. You know, speaks volumes to who he's doing this for. It's not himself. It's, you know, it's all of us," Al-Hayek said.

Al-Hayek also encouraged voters to make their voices heard ahead of the Oct. 5 voter registration deadline in Texas.

"A lot of people don't vote. And I know how big of a problem that is. You know, people are constantly saying, well, if voting matters. Like my vote doesn't count. So why does it matter? If it didn't matter, then they wouldn't be trying so hard to close polling locations to disenfranchise people's votes," Al-Hayek said.

25 News reached out to the Paxton campaign but has not heard back. This story will be updated when a response is received.

Simmonsville Missionary Baptist Church is a total loss after a fire broke out from a neighboring lot, but the pastor and congregation say the church's legacy will continue.

Just one day after watching their building go up in flames, community members and leaders returned to the same spot with prayers of hope.

Gwendolyn Tyler has been a member for more than 40 years. She said the congregation had just celebrated a joyous 75th anniversary the Sunday before the fire.

"I just started thinking about all the memories, all the things that we've done, and then I started thinking about Sunday, what a glorious time we had in the Lord," Tyler said.

"We have been together, we have prayed together, and so I think right now this is just a test of our faithfulness, a test of our togetherness. This is the time when we, our scripture come to life," Tyler said.

Frank Washington attended the church with his aunt in the 1980s and said it was a safe haven for the Black community in Killeen.

"It's a real family oriented church. It was one of the churches you wanted to go to. Back then, it was really only two black churches...It meant a lot to the black community of Killeen. It wasn't really a lot for the black community of Killeen to do and that's a place where, more or less, the black community came together," Washington said.

As the fire burned, church and community members gathered to pray and worship amid the devastation. Deon Moore lives near the church and was one of the first to see the smoke.

"It's amazing that even then right as the fires happening, everybody at least took the time out to reverence God and know that this was an opportunity for something bigger," Moore said.

Pastor Deric Jones chose to continue the church's normal schedule, still holding their Wednesday prayer service. He said the response in the 24 hours following the fire was overwhelming and encouraging, and that the church's legacy will extend far beyond brick and mortar.

"God is still good, even in this process. Even though this hurts, even though there are memories in that building, the church is still intact. And what I mean by the church, the spiritual church, the church is in our heart. That's just a physical building," Jones said.

The building was deemed a total loss. Jones is continuing to ask for prayers and support from the community as they decide on next steps.

A new shortage of synthetic motor oil has retailers imposing new limits on purchasing.

Costco this week raised the prices of its store brand synthetic oil and placed maximum limits on synthetic oil purchases.

A two-pack of Kirkland Signature full-synthetic motor oil 5-quart bottles is now $58, up from about $30 the same time last year. Customers will be limited to two boxes of oil per week at Costco stores.

RELATED STORY | Oil prices leap to their highest since May and drag Wall Street lower

The shortage began in May as refineries put their focus on producing more gasoline.

Most synthetic motor oil is derived from the crude oil refinement process. The U.S. imports more than 40% of its supply from the Middle East, where the flow of oil has been restricted due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.

The cost of a barrel of oil pushed above $109 this week, and the cost of diesel fuel set another new record following last week's all-time high.

MORE ON ENERGY COSTS | Diesel prices set a new record as Trump calls on Ukraine to stop targeting Russian oil

President Donald Trump acknowledged Wednesday that gas prices were a little higher due to the war his administration began in Iran, but he said those prices are "a very inexpensive price to pay for what we've done."

"Even if it was a lot more," he said, the price would be worth preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability.

Watch the full story here:

SpaceX is taking legal action to prevent the release of documents sought through a public information request filed with Grimes County by a local advocacy group.

Grimes County Citizens for Responsible Development, known as GCCRD, filed the public information request with the county. SpaceX has now filed a lawsuit involving the company, the Texas Attorney General, and the county in an effort to keep some of that information from being released.

"We have been advocates of our county following the process that it is supposed to follow," GCCRD's Marie Egyed said.

GCCRD has hired an attorney out of Austin to help obtain the records the group requested.

"When the attorney general determines that information should be released, we believe the requester has the right to receive it," Egyed said.

A local attorney says the legal fight is simply the justice system functioning as intended.

"This is just the system playing out the way it should. It's all the noise outside of it that is not necessarily normal and not necessarily right," Joe Falco III said.

Falco said all parties are acting within their legal rights.

"Everybody's doing what they're entitled to do on that front. The legal front is fine," Falco said.

Egyed says her group wants all parties to follow existing law and if the outcome is unsatisfactory, to pursue changing those laws through proper channels.

"Let's all follow the rules and that if we don't like the outcome, then we need to change the rules. Texans have a right under the Public Information Act. We exercise those rights and we intend to protect them," Egyed said.

Some Grimes County residents say they are frustrated by what they see as a lack of transparency.

"The county don't want to release it. SpaceX don't want to release it, and what are they hiding? The county citizens would like to know, and I can't speak for everybody in the county, but it does, does seem kind of suspicious what's going on," local resident Charles Rogers said.

Egyed acknowledged the road ahead may be lengthy.

"It's a slow-moving train, but we are in it for the long haul," Egyed said.

I reached out to SpaceX for an interview or statement but have not received a response. I will update this story when new information is available.

As the Hydra Fire continues to burn, Clifton is feeling the impact. Last night, many Meridian residents were evacuated to the Clifton Civic Center. Two of those evacuees, who said the American Red Cross provided cots and everything they needed to get through the night.

"Somewhat overwhelmed is the best way I can probably say it," said Meridian resident Christi Armstrong.

Christi Armstrong was evacuated Tuesday night from her independent living facility because of the Hydra Fire.

Bosque volunteer firefighters and other first responders have been battling the fire for three days as of Wednesday afternoon, working to keep folks like Christi out of harm's way.

Ive never been in this kinda scenario at all. This is new to me. When they told meI got my little bag right here. I packed my medicines, and everything like that and just did what they told me to do," said Armstrong.

The Civic Center in Clifton is where Armstrong spent the night, on a cot provided by the American Red Cross. While she said it was comfortable and shes happy to be safe, being away from home isnt easy.

But Armstrong has company. Her neighbor Diane Rogers was also evacuated with her.

Rogers said they made a few stops before arriving at the Civic Center, and processing everything isnt easy.

It was hard to find out this morning that nobody could take me back home, and its like you brought me here; why will you not take me home? We went to the church first and then here, and its just a wild goose chase," said Diane Rogers, a Meridian resident.

But during my interview with Armstrong and Rogers, they got the news they had been hoping for they had a ride home and a chance to stay there possibly for good.

And while Armstrong is relieved to be heading home, she said shes prepared for whatever comes next.

"If you have to come back tonight for whatever reasonwhat do you think youll be feeling?" said 25 News reporter Chantale Belefanti.

"What I felt last night. If I have to do it, I have to do it. Id rather be in a safe place knowing Im taking care of them, worrying.

Bell County added 15,684 new voters since March 2022, bringing its total registered voter count to 234,576, according to the Texas Secretary of State. With the midterms seven weeks away, residents are making sure they are on the voter rolls or registering for the first time.

For first-time voter Ze'ev Davis, turning 18 came with one perk that stood out above the rest: the ability to vote. A member of the Bell County Young Democrats, Davis said he has seen firsthand how much a single vote can matter.

"I swear this one really close election in San Angelo where this kind of unpopular county commissioner won his re-election bid by one vote," Davis said.

Officials say there are several ways to check your registration status. Voters can go online at votetexas.gov or call their local elections office.

Bell County Public Information Officer James Stafford said the registration process is more welcoming than many people expect.

"People think, like, oh, it's bureaucracy; it's going to be hard to register like they are so happy. It like going to the library; they are just excited you want to library card; they are not going to make it hard; they want you to vote, so it's great," Stafford said.

Officials also recommend registering with both a driver's license and a Social Security number to avoid complications down the road.

"So if you registered to vote with your Social Security and then you want a ballot by mail, and you use your driver's license, it won't work. So if you register to vote with both, you can't go wrong," Stafford said.

Bell County volunteer voting registrar Emmanuel Perez said local races make midterm participation especially important.

"Some of those elections are going to be the most local. Your city elections, your county elections, your state elections. It's the local election that matters the most and will affect you the most," Perez said.

Davis echoed that message, urging every eligible voter to participate.

"Texas is right now is a purple state; it's really competitive, so make everyone should go in and vote this election," Davis said.

Bell County officials say the last day to register to vote is Oct. 5. Early voting begins Oct. 19.

KILLEEN, Texas (KXXV) Two people were arrested in connection to the fatal crash that killed 25-year-old Faith Sidman in July.

Police say that Sidman who was visiting from Eugene, Oregon was a back-seat passenger in a gray 2019 GMC pickup being driven by 22-year-old Elwood Dentler from Fort Hood.

According to police, there was an argument that led to Sidman exiting the car while it was traveling on Interstate 14, which led to her falling into the roadway.

Dentler continued driving with a front-seat passenger, police say. After she fell, she was struck by two cars, a Toyota Prius and an Audi sedan.

The driver of the Prius, 64-year-old James Arthur Stevens, allegedly failed to stop and continued driving. The driver of the Audi stopped and remained at the scene where other motorists stopped to help.

After the crash, the front-seat passenger who had been travelling with Dentler returned to the area and was later located and arrested in Harker Heights for driving while intoxicated.

During the investigation, police say Dentler provided a false account of the craash and was arrested and charged with false statement to a police officer, a Class B misdemeanor. He posted bond and was released.

On Aug. 22, Dentler was also arrested for collision involving death. He later posted bond and was released.

Investigators would later identify Stevens using data obtained through the Flock camera system.

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, Stevens, the driver of the Prius, was arrested without incident and transported to Bell County Jail where is he waiting for his arraignment.

The Killeen Police Department Traffic Unit continues investigating the incident.

Roger Miller officially stepped down as Coryell County judge Monday following mounting criticism tied to delays and controversy surrounding the county budget process.

WATCH the full story here:

Despite his resignation taking effect immediately, Miller will remain in office under Texas law until a successor is named. County commissioners court is expected to appoint his successor at its next meeting Sept. 22.

Residents in Gatesville reacted to the news with a mix of frustration and cautious optimism.

Aeda Floyd, a community member, questioned the timing of Miller's departure.

"He didn't come forward with a budget, he was late on that. And now his escape is to resign for the people?" Floyd said.

Floyd also expressed concern about the county's recent trajectory.

"He's a nice guy, but I don't know what's happened. Because the last year or so, our county has been hurting," Floyd said.

Jordan Rhudy, another community member, took a more measured view, saying he believes the resignation could help the county move forward but called for greater transparency from county leadership going forward.

"I think it says something about him as a person that he was willing to resign and kind of help things move forward I'm fairly neutral, but I am pro accountability. People that are serving the public, they need to be held to the standard," Rhudy said.

Rhudy also raised concerns about how county funds have been managed.

"The way the money's been spent has been a little less transparent and that's definitely something we want in our leaders and politicians," Rhudy said.

Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board gave their first briefing Wednesday following the fatal Tuesday evening crash of a news helicopter in Southern California.

The NTSB and FAA had begun an investigation of the crash on Wednesday and were interviewing witnesses, National Transportation Safety Board investigator Fabian Salazar said. He added that the agency would not be seeking a probable cause in the accident during the first days of the investigation.

A full preliminary report from the NTSB would be released in about 30 days.

Video broadcast from the helicopter included the sound of an alarm from the cockpit and showed that the aircraft quickly lost altitude. Salazar said the video also appeared to include sound from the helicopter's engine, which he said would be analyzed.

That video is probably the most important evidence that we have discovered so far, Salazar said.

RELATED STORY | 3 dead after news helicopter crashes near site of bus crash in Los Angeles

The crash killed three people: NBC4 Los Angeles reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, and Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was on the ground when the helicopter crashed.

The helicopter crashed near Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley. It had been deployed to cover news of a bus collision that occurred earlier on Tuesday. At least two people were killed and six others injured in that accident.

Governor Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that FEMA has approved a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Hydra fire burning in Bosque County.

Texas will provide all necessary resources to protect Texans from the Hydra Fire, Governor Abbott said.

The grant allows Texas to be eligible for 75% reimbursement from the federal government for certain costs associated with fire suppression.

RELATED: Hydra Fire: Brush fire ignites in Bosque County, mandatory evacuations canceled

I thank the Trump Administration for this assistance, and the first responders working on the ground to keep communities safe. Texans should remain vigilant, follow the guidance of state and local officials, and take every precaution to prevent additional wildfires," Abbott continued.

The Hydra Fire has so far burned roughly 1,100 acres and is 25% contained as of Wednesday. The blaze also threatened more than 200 homes and forced evacuations.

On the banks of the Scioto River, as it snakes through downtown Columbus, Ohio, herons stalk fish as egrets wade in the shallows.

Wildlife isnt the only thing the river sustains. The Scioto helps to feed a public water system that serves more than 1.4 million customers in this fast-growing stretch of the state, where advanced manufacturing and tech companies are driving job gains.

The top water users here include entire suburbs, an Anheuser-Busch brewery and bottling plant, Ohio State University and a large Google data center in New Albany, a 20-minute drive northeast of downtown, according to public records.

As data center proposals proliferate across the country, neighbors are asking lots of questions about the industrys approach to water. But its tough to get clear answers about how much water these facilities need for cooling, to keep increasingly powerful computing equipment from overheating.

WATCH THE STORY BELOW:

Data center operators and other businesses are often reluctant to talk about how much water they use, citing competition and trade secrets. Most data centers in the United States tap into public water systems, but confidentiality agreements and state laws allow companies to shield details about their water consumption. Ohio is one of several states where legislators are considering mandatory reporting requirements for the industry.

Its very difficult to craft conservation standards and efficiency standards when you dont even know exactly how much water youre talking about, said Helena Volzer, director of water resources at the Alliance for the Great Lakes, a nonprofit focused on protecting the regions water quality and supply.

But consumption figures from Columbus Water & Power, obtained through a public records request, provide some details and context. The utility serves one of the nations data center hot spots, where developers have flocked thanks to heavy power, available land and state and local incentives.

In 2025, companies affiliated with two Google data centers one in New Albany, the other in Columbus were among the top 10 customers in the water departments footprint.

Records show Googles New Albany data center used more than 1 billion gallons of water last year. Thats more water than the nearby suburb of Bexley, home to approximately 13,000 people, consumed. The Google data center in Columbus drew down approximately 448 million gallons last year, or about 1.2 million gallons a day.

But there arent many data centers on a list of the heaviest water users in the region. Near the top, along with Ohio State, Google and a handful of cities, youll find facilities that make and package all sorts of products, from beer and soft drinks to pet food, soaps, baby formula and synthetic rubber gloves.

John Newsome, the citys water administrator, said data centers account for roughly 3% of overall consumption in the Columbus water departments service area.

People are gonna have different opinions of it, he said of that number. I would say 3 percents not a huge burden on our system.

Last year, the department supplied 156 million gallons of water a day to customers across more than two dozen communities. Thats well below the systems daily capacity of 245 million gallons, Newsome said.

Hes not worried about running out of water anytime soon. But hes watchful.

Im not tapped into Lake Erie or the Ohio River. Were in the middle of the state. We have to capture our water, he said. If we can find a very efficient way to continue to have industrial growth in our area, without compromising our water supply for drinking water, that buys us many, many generations into the future on water supply for central Ohio.

Industry reports and maps indicate there are more than 150 data centers operating or planned in central Ohio, ranging from closet-sized facilities to sprawling campuses.

The New Albany International Business Park is home to 40 data centers so far, with more on the way. Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft all have planted a flag at the park, along with operators including QTS, CyrusOne, EdgeConneX and Vantage. They sit side-by-side with manufacturers, distributors and biotech companies.

WATCH: Ohio's data center boom really started in New Albany. Here's what it looks like.

In late 2025, the entire 12,000-acre business park consumed about 9 million gallons of water a day about 56% of the 16 million gallons its entitled to under a service plan with the Columbus water department. That service plan was approved in 2015, long before New Albany became a destination for the data-center industry.

In most cases, its unclear how much water individual facilities are using. Columbus water officials see customer names and addresses. They dont know for sure if a building is a data center, a manufacturing facility, a warehouse or a power plant.

Economic-development contracts between companies and New Albany spell out expectations around water use. But businesses typically ask public officials to black out that information when copies of those agreements are released, citing trade secrets.

And in early 2026, the state legislature started requiring public entities to treat any information related to economic-development assistance applications as confidential a move that created tremendous uncertainty and the threat of criminal charges for officials. The Ohio General Assembly narrowed those new confidentiality requirements in June, but the recent updates to state law dont take effect until Sept. 23.

Water use at data centers also varies dramatically, depending on where the facilities are located and how they cool down computer hardware, which throws off a lot of heat.

Every time we are building a cooling system, it is based on that climate, said Adam Kramer, who leads the data center group for Panattoni Development Company, a major real estate developer working on projects in Ohio and across the country. And its based on the community. And its based off of the water infrastructure that is or isnt available.

Some data centers rely on air conditioning and fans to keep temperatures low.

There are water-based systems that cool the air through evaporation and closed-loop systems that recirculate coolants, like glycol, to absorb and release heat. Some data centers combine multiple methods, with different cooling systems inside and out.

Theres also immersive cooling, which allows workers to submerge servers in tanks filled with a special, heat-absorbing fluid. Each approach has trade-offs when it comes to up-front costs, complexity and water and energy use.

Its important to make sure that our cooling decisions are not one-size-fits-all, said Suzie Shin, who manages data center sustainability programs at Google.

The tech giant releases water-use information for its computing halls and offices as part of a yearly environmental report. The company has several data centers that use more than a billion gallons of drinkable water each year, like the one in New Albany.

But Google also uses air-cooling technology in some cities. A data center in Georgia depends on recycled wastewater, from toilets and sinks, for cooling.

If there is scarcity or a high risk of scarcity or a high risk of depletion, then we look for alternatives, said Shin, describing the companys approach to water as hyper-local.

Volzer, at the Alliance for the Great Lakes, wants to see disclosure requirements for all large water users. That would help policymakers and researchers get a better sense of who is consuming a lot of water and how to manage demand.

She and her colleagues have been studying water use at data centers, digging into everything from how wastewater gets handled to how much water the industry indirectly consumes for off-site power generation. Much of that research focuses on the recent wave of massive projects, the so-called hyperscale facilities designed to meet the ever-growing demand for data processing, cloud storage and artificial intelligence.

This is larger than anything weve seen before, Volzer said.

It might seem odd to have a conversation about water availability in the Great Lakes region, which is home to 20% of the worlds surface freshwater supply.

But, Volzer said, we have a responsibility to manage that water sustainably for not just generations today, but generations to come.

In Columbus, the water department recently flattened out its rate structure, getting rid of a system where commercial customers paid progressively lower rates as their water use increased. Officials are studying whether it makes sense to introduce a peak-rate system like surge pricing where businesses would pay more at times when their demand spikes.

Newsomes also exploring the possibility of using wastewater for cooling, starting in an industrial area south of the city. That recycled water would flow through a separate set of pipes to data centers, manufacturers and other businesses.

The businesses would pay to build that new infrastructure, allowing the city to turn wastewater into a commodity. Companies tapped into that system could pay a lower rate.

Thats very innovative, Newsome said. We have an opportunity to do it here, and were trying to take advantage of that opportunity.

The water department hopes to solicit proposals for that project next year.

After all, Newsome said, We only have so much water supply. We have a bucket. Once that buckets empty, then theres no more water put in.

This story was originally published by Michelle Jarboe at the Scripps News Group station in Cleveland.

New businesses are popping up across Bellmead, and city leaders say the growth is only getting started.

Edward Curtis, a decade-long Bellmead resident, said he has watched the city change over the years.

"It's grown a lot. It's grown a lot."

Curtis said he has noticed new retailers and restaurants moving into the area.

"You got more like Academy and all that that came to Bellmead, and you know, you got this other little restaurant down the street that's opened up. So, it's a lot of stuff growing. It's growing in Bellmead, though."

Watch Full Story Here:

While Curtis said he welcomes the new businesses and opportunities, he acknowledged one familiar downside to a growing city.

"I like the growth. It's just the traffic, you know what I'm saying? The growth is good, but the traffic."

Bellmead City Manager Yost Zakhary said that traffic is directly tied to one of the city's biggest advantages its location.

"Bellmead is exceptionally positioned very well. We have an excellent opportunity for the future because of, again, our location. You have I-35, which provides you a north-south corridor. You have Loop 340, you have Bellmead Drive, then you have Highway 77."

Zakhary said the arrival of national retailers signals confidence in Bellmead's future.

"We're really seeing a great deal of growth in our commercial development just in the last few years, and it's exciting to see national retailers. It's great to have the locals, but it's also exciting to see the national retailer because, you know, they've done their research, and they're not going to invest millions if they're not going to get a return on their investment."

The city is actively encouraging commercial development as a way to ease the financial burden on residents. Zakhary said commercial growth benefits the community in more ways than one.

"The less of a burden it is on the local taxpayers. And again, commercial development offers both property tax values and it offers sales tax, so it's a win-win. And this city is encouraging commercial development."

The City of Bellmead expects the growth to continue for years to come.

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

Seven people in Texas who are not U.S. citizens have been charged with illegally voting in federal elections or falsely claiming citizenship, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas announced Tuesday as part of a broader Trump administration focus on noncitizen voting.

District Attorney Ryan Raybould said investigators determined the alleged conduct was not a misunderstanding or paperwork error.

The announcement came amid President Donald Trump's broader efforts to draw attention to noncitizen voting ahead of the midterm elections and claim it's a widespread problem, even though research shows it to be rare. Voting by noncitizens is punishable as a felony and can result in deportation.

The Texas charges were previewed earlier Tuesday by U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche during a White House news conference. He told reporters there would be a big development on illegal voting in Texas.

Of those seven, Rayboulds office said, some voted while others attempted to vote in the 2024 and 2018 general elections. Others falsely claimed citizenship on a drivers license or knowingly registered to vote. The office did not make any claim that the seven were colluding with each other.

Those charged ranged in age from 20 to 69 and had citizenship in countries including Mexico, India, Nigeria and Congo. Six of the seven charged were lawful permanent residents, according to a news release from Raybould's office. One had been ordered to be deported in July.

Trumps efforts to turn the spotlight on noncitizen voting have included pushing the U.S. Postal Service to send mail ballots only to voters verified as U.S. citizens, a plan that was rejected Monday by the Supreme Court, and having the Justice Department sue to force the release of detailed voter data in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Those lawsuits have so far been unsuccessful.

Department of Homeland Security employees also have been examining state voter rolls in a hunt for noncitizens. A whistleblower statement released this week suggested the activity could run afoul of state laws.

In 2025, election officials in Texas investigated 2,724 registered voters flagged as potential noncitizens after the secretary of states office checked a federal database that is used to verify citizenship against the state's voter rolls.

That office announced Tuesday that it has referred 117 of those cases to the Texas attorney general's office for investigation of potential noncitizen voting after cross checking the results from the federal database with other agencies and passport information. That represents a minute fraction of the nearly 18 million registered voters in Texas.

One of the units involved in the investigation that led to the seven charges announced Tuesday is part of Attorney General Ken Paxton's office. Paxton is in one of the most closely watched U.S. Senate races this year against Democrat James Talarico.

When disaster strikes, most homeowners expect their insurance to cover a huge chunk of repairs. But a growing number are discovering they are responsible, out of pocket, for far more than they expected.

Carl Roberts learned that firsthand after a tree damaged his roof. He found out he would have to cover the first $4,000 in repairs himself.

"That's a pretty significant deductible," he said. "My spouse and I were a little shocked when we found that out."

Roberts said he didn't realize his policy had changed to 1% of his home's value.

RELATED STORY | US home sales weaken to slowest pace in more than a year as mortgage rates, home prices climb

"For a medium house of $400,000, that would mean you would have a $4,000 deductible," Roberts said.

In the past, he said he would have owed only $1,000.

WATCH as a homeowner warns how a rising deductible can be very costly:

What's driving insurance costs higher?

Extreme weather is a major factor driving insurance costs up.

The U.S. experienced 23 climate disasters with $1 billion or more in damages in 2025, according to LexisNexis Risk Solutions. That's $115 billion in damages and the third-highest year of billion-dollar climate events on record.

But George Hosfield, vice president and general manager of home insurance at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, said weather is only part of the equation.

"I think the inflation and the underlying cost to repair a home that's what's really hitting consumers now," he said.

Here's what you can do

Some consumers choose higher deductibles to lower their monthly premiums. While a viable option for managing monthly costs, that can leave homeowners paying thousands of dollars before insurance coverage kicks in.

Hosfield said homeowners should review their coverage regularly, especially after making changes to their property.

"If you've done major renovations or additions to your home you name it those are the kinds of things that can really change how much coverage you need," he said.

RELATED STORY | Is your home covered? Why summer is peak season for insurance claims

Hosfield also urged homeowners to know exactly what their deductible is before they need to file a claim, "It's worth the consumer's time to take that call and have that conversation," he said.

In the end, Roberts found a contractor to fix his roof and gutter for under $2,000 but had to pay for it entirely out of pocket.

"That's a huge impact," he said.

Reviewing your policy before the next storm hits could save you from a costly surprise, so you dont waste your money.

_______________________________

Follow John:

For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com

A news helicopter crashed in a Los Angeles neighborhood on Tuesday and burst into flames, killing at least three people while reporters were covering the collision of an SUV and a city bus, officials and the news outlet said.

Colleen Williams, an NBC4 Los Angeles anchor, confirmed during live broadcasts that two people were killed when the chopper went down. At least one other person was killed on the ground, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, process it, Williams said, her voice shaking with emotion. Moments later the coverage cut off.

The helicopter, used by NBC and Telemundo, went down near a large storage facility in the neighborhood of Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley, officials said. News crews were reporting on a collision from earlier in the day, when an SUV slammed into the middle of a city bus, killing at least two people and injuring six others. Photos and videos online showed half the SUV lodged in the side of the bus.

From the helicopter itself, its pretty well destroyed, Capt. Branden Silverman, a spokesperson for the fire department, said. So we are going to have to go through the rubble and see how many victims there were on board, as well as identify the helicopter; we couldnt even see a tail.

At least four cars and two storage containers on the ground burned after the helicopter caught fire, which was quickly put out, according to officials. NBC4 reporter Robert Kovacik was at the bus scene and saw black smoke and rushed to the helicopter crash site. Dozens of police cars surrounded the scene as ambulances entered.

Two people were brought to a hospital, said Rico A. Gross, a fire department battalion chief. Their conditions were not immediately released.

Williams and the stations website identified the dead aboard the helicopter as Eliana Moreno, a familiar voice for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 during the stations aerial coverage, and pilot George Marciniw. Both were employees of Angel City Air, which operated the chopper.

Moreno, born in Orange County, joined the Angel City Air helicopter team in 2010, the same year she earned a broadcast journalism and political science degree from Chapman University. She reported for several Southern California news outlets and began flying with Marciniw in 2023, the NBC4 website said.

Marciniw grew up in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974.

Losing five Angelenos is very painful, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. And I know this community of Chatsworth, hit hard, will be grieving for some time.

NBC4 and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles said in a statement they are deeply saddened and extended heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.

Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked the emergency crews responding to both crashes and said in a post on X that our hearts are with the victims and families.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said personnel will arrive Wednesday to begin an investigation into the cause of the helicopter crash.

There have been at least eight fatal crashes involving news helicopters in the U.S. since 2000, killing 16 people, according to a review of federal accident records and news accounts.

They include a 2023 crash in a New Jersey forest that killed the pilot and a photographer aboard a helicopter used by Philadelphia station WPVI and a 2022 crash beside a Charlotte, North Carolina, interstate that killed a pilot and meteorologist during a training flight for WBTV.

Dr. Steve "Doc" Forsythe, a longtime Lampasas agricultural educator, has received the Blue and Gold Award one of the highest honors in Texas FFA recognizing more than three decades of service to agricultural education.

WATCH the full story here:

Forsythe received the award during the 98th Annual Texas FFA Convention. The honor is given to those who have made extraordinary contributions to Texas FFA and agricultural education.

"It was really a shock and I'll have to say I kinda had some moisture come out of my heart through my eyes to be a part of that and then to be given this award is just very, very special," Forsythe said.

For Forsythe, a career in agricultural education was always about more than the classroom.

"I decided I wanted to teach and help kids The kids in the ag program are more than just a name and a student number. They become a part of your life," Forsythe said.

Former students say his impact extended well beyond academics. Former student Mariah Clary credited Forsythe with helping her recognize her own potential.

"He helped me realize that I had potential where not everybody always saw. He helped me just know that I could succeed as long as I pushed myself and I wanted it," Clary said.

Caul Smith, a former student and Lampasas business owner, said Forsythe had a reputation that reached far beyond Lampasas.

"There's probably very few ag teachers probably in the whole state of Texas that are as well known as Doc Forsythe is If you didn't know what you wanted to do, Doc would find something for you to do until you figured out what you wanted to do," Smith said.

Even in retirement, Forsythe continues mentoring first-year agricultural teachers and supervising student teachers across Texas. He said the legacy he hopes to leave behind is straightforward.

"You're gonna get me teared up here I'd like to be known as somebody that made a difference in somebody's life - a positive difference," Forsythe said.

College Station residents oppose Flock camera contract renewal

Watch the full story here:

College Station city leaders are set to vote on renewing the city's contract with Flock, a license plate reader camera system, and some residents are urging them to walk away from the deal.

The issue has been a topic of debate in the community for the past six months. Several residents say the cameras, which scan and record license plates, amount to an invasion of privacy.

"I don't like them, to put it bluntly," John Hamilton, a local resident, said.

Ivan Svreck said he was troubled when the cameras began appearing in the area.

"I've known about them for a little while and then I was disappointed when I saw them starting to pop up around here. I figured it wasn't a thing that we do here in Brazos County," Svreck said.

Resident Ben Stillwell echoed those concerns.

"I don't like the idea of... having cameras surveilling me wherever I go, even if they are just reading license plates," Stillwell said.

Some residents also raised concerns about how the footage can be accessed and what guardrails exist around its use.

"Once the cameras are in place, it becomes very easy to change what they are used for," Duke Blaney, a local resident, said.

Svreck pointed to what he sees as an inconsistency in how the system is regulated compared to other forms of surveillance.

"The key difference here is that this system does not require warrants, but our cell phones and everything else does," Svreck said.

Blaney called on the city council to end the contract entirely and reject similar systems going forward.

"Vote to terminate the contract and also to vote against any other ALPR providers like Axion or that provide similar services in the future," Blaney said.

He also stressed the need for thoughtful policy if any surveillance technology is used.

"Public safety versus privacy is a very hot issue, and it requires a lot of well thought out policy to put things in place to make sure systems don't get abused and privacies aren't being trampled," Blaney said.

Residents are encouraged to attend the city council meeting and speak during public comment. The meeting will be held next Thursday at 3 p.m. in Council Chambers.

A 1st Cavalry Division soldier was killed in a vehicle rollover during a training exercise at Fort Hood on Monday.

Officials said a second soldier was injured in the incident and is receiving medical care.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our First Team soldier," said Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the trooper's family, loved ones and teammates. The 1st Cavalry Division is steadfast in supporting them through this difficult time."

The soldier's identity is being withheld until next of kin have been notified.

No additional details have been released.

The incident remains under investigation.

A 75-year-old church in North Killeen was destroyed by a fire Tuesday after flames spread from a neighboring property.

The fire at Simmonsville Missionary Baptist Church (509 S 42nd St.) started at about 11:52 a.m. Construction work was being done at the lot next door to the church, where a contract company was doing welding on a fence. The welding caught the neighboring property on fire, and the flames spread to the church.

Pastor Deric Jones said he received a call from his finance director informing him the church was on fire. People inside the building tried to exit through the back door, but found both of the church's vans engulfed in flames and were unable to get out that way. They exited through the front door through the sanctuary and called 911.

Jones said dry conditions and brush contributed to how quickly the fire spread.

"The fire engulfed the vans, the church, and the rest of what you see now is completely demolished," Jones said.

Despite the loss, Jones said the congregation remains hopeful.

"We still have hope, you know, we still serve a God who's bigger than all of this. This is just material stuff. This is just the building. The church is in us. We are the church, so we can't be restricted to just these four walls, but I know that God has something better for us," Jones said.

Jones said the church carries deep history for the community.

"There's so much history, rich history, especially on this side of town, but in those four walls as well as the church, the smaller church on Todd Street back there where they started at," Jones said.

Jones addressed members of the congregation directly.

"To the members of Simmonsville Missionary Baptist Church, just be encouraged. This is just a setback. Life is full of tests and trials, but we serve a God who's greater than all of our tests and trials, and we have to remember the things that God has done in our lives, past, present, and the things that He's going to do in the future. God bless you and God keep you is our prayer," Jones said.

Pet Circle Regional Animal Center in Waco is overcapacity, with adoption rates falling dramatically and a donation-based food pantry stretched to its limits.

WATCH HERE:

Windy Leal, a senior public information and communication specialist at the shelter, said the numbers tell a troubling story.

"We are down 302 adoptions from this time last year and it is very much putting a strain on the shelter and we are so overcapacity."

Pet adoption is slowing nationwide, according to USA Today, largely due to the rising costs of owning a pet. Leal said the shelter is feeling those impacts firsthand.

"This is a nationwide trend, unfortunately, and we really think it has a lot to do with economic strain, it has a lot to do with restrictions where people live, it has a lot to do with you know rising living costs."

The shelter operates a donation-based food pantry for pet owners in need and has distributed about 4,000 pounds of food this year. But when I asked Leal to show me the donation bin, we were both shocked by its current state.

"This is the container that we currently keep the dog food in, and it is currently empty."

Leal said the shelter is caught between two compounding problems.

"We're having an issue with lower donations, as well as more need, and so it's just, it's a catch-22."

Beyond food, the shelter also needs more volunteers to help care for animals and assist with laundry. Anyone 10 years or older is eligible to volunteer.

"Even a young kid can, you know help us make enrichment and pass it out to the dogs, you know there's a lot of things that a ten year old can do, that is just as important as the things that an adult can do."

For those not ready to commit to adoption, Pet Circle offers alternative programs. The Bark Break program allows visitors to take a dog out for 30 minutes or even a full day to get a feel for the animal. The Sleepover Rover program lets a pet spend the night with a potential adopter to see how it fits in with the family.

For those ready to adopt, fees are $24 on weekdays and half price on weekends.

To donate food, volunteer, or learn more about adoption, click here.

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 25-year-old man from Honduras is facing one count of capital murder of multiple people and three counts of abandoning or endangering a child in connection with the shooting deaths of four members of the same family near San Benito.

Christian Joel Maldonado Pacheco appeared before a judge for a formal reading of the charges with the help of an interpreter.

A judge ordered Maldonado Pacheco held without bond, citing the seriousness of the charges, flight risk and the potential threat to the community.

Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevio said the four victims were Mexican nationals and members of the same family.

The victims were two men, ages 50 and 29, and two women, ages 28 and 67.

The 28-year-old woman and 29-year-old man were the parents of three children, ages 9, 5 and 2 months. Trevio said the children were inside the home during the shooting but were not hurt.

Authorities are not releasing the victims' names or photos at the family's request.

Trevio said Maldonado Pacheco was not related to the victims by blood but had lived with the family for about four years. He reportedly referred to the 67-year-old woman as "Mom."

"What motive can this individual give to justify taking the life of four people that he lived for the past four years with?" Trevio said.

According to Trevio, Maldonado Pacheco told investigators that the victims had bullied him. However, Trevio said investigators have not found evidence supporting that claim.

Authorities also said there is no indication Maldonado Pacheco is affiliated with a gang and that they do not believe anyone else was involved in the killings.

During the investigation, authorities recovered a 9mm Glock handgun. Investigators have not confirmed whether it was the weapon used in the killings.

Trevio also said Maldonado Pacheco smelled of alcohol when he was taken into custody. Testing is being conducted to determine whether he was under the influence.

During his court appearance, Maldonado Pacheco said he is not a U.S. citizen and is from Honduras.

Trevio said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement identified Maldonado Pacheco and determined he is in the country illegally. ICE then placed an immigration detainer on him.

Maldonado Pacheco initially said he was unsure whether he wanted the Honduran consulate notified. After the judge asked him again, he requested that consular authorities be informed of his arrest and charges.

Maldonado Pacheco also told the judge he did not plan to request or hire an attorney. When asked whether he intended to represent himself, he responded through an interpreter, "If possible, yes."

The judge explained that he will need to be interviewed to determine whether he understands the implications of representing himself and is capable of doing so. Officials will also determine whether he qualifies for appointed legal representation.

Maldonado Pacheco remains in custody without bond as the investigation continues.

Congress is debating how and whether to regulate artificial intelligence, but meaningful legislation appears unlikely in the near term as key leaders pump the brakes on swift action.

Anthropic CEO and co-founder Dario Amodei is among those who have warned about the development of AI, joining a chorus of current and former employees of major AI companies raising alarms on Capitol Hill.

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social Monday calling those warnings a hoax, suggesting nefarious actors seeking to damage the United States may be behind the push to regulate the technology. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has echoed that caution, signaling the House does not want to move too quickly on AI legislation.

RELATED STORY | Trump downplays need for AI guardrails as industry leaders call for regulation

Among the proposals being discussed is a so-called kill switch law that would allow the federal government to shut down AI systems if they are deemed out of control. But with top leaders resistant to fast action, that and other ideas remain in early stages.

A complicating factor is that many lawmakers still do not fully understand artificial intelligence or the threats it may pose making it difficult to build support for specific legislation. Briefings between lawmakers and leaders of major AI companies are expected in the coming days.

"Everybody has different ideas on this. We have to be very careful about this, as I've explained and many people have explained. We have to maintain our edge over China. So we will strike the right balance, but we are not going to act irrationally or haphazardly," Johnson said.

Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for faster action.

"And it requires decisive congressional action immediately in a manner consistent with what some of the leading AI voices in the country are now saying," Jeffries said.

While AI legislation stalls, the House is expected to vote Tuesday on the Ratepayer Protection Act a bipartisan bill targeting the financial impact of data centers on nearby communities. The legislation would strongly encourage utility boards across the country to ensure that costs associated with building and operating data centers are not passed on to residents living nearby.

RELATED STORY | Poll: Americans want stronger rules for AI in schools

Multiple studies have shown that electricity and water bills have increased for individuals living near data centers in recent years. The bill aligns with Trump's stated position that he supports data center construction but wants tech companies not surrounding communities to bear the associated costs.

The Senate has already signaled caution about the Ratepayer Protection Act's prospects in their chamber.

A U.S. government watchdog released its first report Monday on the impact of the Iran war, acknowledging the military's advanced weapons shortfalls and offering the first public look at the damage to American aircraft, bases and diplomatic outposts in the Middle East.

Much of the information has been previously reported over the past six months, but the Pentagon inspector general's report offered the fullest official accounting so far of the conflict's costs in American lives, taxpayer dollars and physical damage. It included information from the watchdogs for the Defense and State departments as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development.

RELATED STORY | Iran reports commercial vessel struck in Strait of Hormuz

The report, whose publication was first reported by NBC News, noted that the U.S. war with Iran has resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply in regard to advanced weapons. Experts have previously said it will take about three years for military contractors to replenish advanced missiles and defensive missile interceptors to prewar levels.

The Pentagon has repeatedly pushed back against reports of any munitions shortage, saying the U.S. military has all the weapons it needs to fight any conflict. President Donald Trump said in a social media post Monday that the U.S. is producing more Exquisite and Elite Weapons than at any time in our History.

They are being delivered on a daily basis to our Forces in the Middle East, and beyond, he wrote.

Iran destroyed hundreds of buildings at US bases

The watchdog report, which covers April 1 to June 30, also acknowledged that Iranian strikes damaged and destroyed hundreds of buildings and other structures at U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan.

It noted that the U.S. naval base in Bahrain, a Navy logistics hub in the region, was targeted with Iranian drones and ballistic missiles. U.S. Central Command had to shift to supply lines to alternate hubs that were much farther away, including Diego Garcia, a U.S.-U.K. base on an island in the Indian Ocean. It required 14- to 18-day logistics cycles" to support operations in the Middle East, the report said.

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao acknowledged in an interview with The Epoch Times last week that they blew the hell out of Bahrain and said he has a task force looking into whether the Navy would need to repair the base in Bahrain to sustain its forces in the region.

RELATED STORY | Trump says Iran War will end after the midterm elections

Dozens of American aircraft and drones also were destroyed or damaged by Iran, including the destruction of as many as 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones that cost around $30 million apiece, the report said. Seven KC-135 refueling aircraft were damaged or destroyed, including five that were struck by Iranian munitions while on the ground in Saudi Arabia.

Another KC-135 crashed in Iraq, killing six service members, following a collision with another KC-135. Those deaths, and the death of a pilot of a helicopter that crashed into the Arabian Sea, are listed as occurring during non-hostile events. Eleven other service members are listed as killed in action in Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

State Department details costs of damage to diplomatic facilities

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress in late July that the war had cost $37.5 billion so far.

The costs in physical damage to U.S. diplomatic facilities, however, had not been previously publicly released. Such outposts in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were damaged by Iranian strikes, with an estimated cost of $184 million, according to the report.

The State Department reported in early June that its other costs from the conflict came to $113 million, with nearly $80 million used to respond to contingency plans, including evacuation expenses for U.S. personnel and their families as well as other American citizens and eligible third-country nationals.

The State Department reported that in the weeks and months after the U.S. and Israel first struck Iran on Feb. 28, the Trump administration evacuated about 9,000 U.S. citizens from countries in the Middle East and Europe. Through private and commercial flights as well as land and water travel, the cost of the departments evacuation operation was more than $11 million as of late June.

State determined that consular officers would not be able to fully document travel itineraries required to seek reimbursement from evacuees and therefore it would be impracticable to seek reimbursement from them, the report states.

The majority of the evacuations were made from Israel, with Iraq and Jordan following shortly behind. While the U.S. only evacuated 1,200 Americans from the United Arab Emirates, those trips to Istanbul, Athens and Washington cost the most, at more than $4 million.

RELATED STORY | After six months of war in Iran, is the US achieving its goals?

The State Department reported that more than $44 billion in emergency and non-emergency military sales also were made in that span of time, with the majority of sales going to Saudi Arabia. Sales included military helicopters, munitions and munitions support as well as advanced precision weapons system.

Other regional countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, UAE and Israel, also received billions in sales, as Iran retaliated against nearly every country in the region that hosted a U.S. military base.

Grocery prices remain one of the biggest financial stress points for Americans, even as inflation data shows prices leveling off.  

The government's consumer price index shows that grocery prices were flat from July to August and up just 2.2% from a year ago. But that stability is not translating into relief at the checkout line. 

"Grocery is the thing we buy most often, right? It hits our wallet and our time every single week," said John Laramie, founder of the price comparison tool CartHappy.

Research by Motley Fool Money found the average American household spent $677 a month on groceries in 2025 up 31% from 2019, or about $160 more each month than before the pandemic. 

RELATED STORY | Shoppers are turning to international markets for deals on grocery staples

Jack Caporal, research director at The Motley Fool, says spending more does not necessarily mean more food at home. 

"Some people will substitute in and out items that are a little bit cheaper in order to maintain their same level of spending," he said, "or they'll buy the same products, but they'll buy less of it to keep costs down." 

Didn't retailers drop prices?

Some retailers, most notably Walmart, lowered prices on hundreds of items over the summer. But experts say those savings only benefit consumers who buy the same discounted products each week. And they don't expect the savings to last.  

"Some of them are being funded by tariff refunds, and that is a one-time infusion of cash, so there's no guarantee that those cuts will be long-term," Caporal said. 

Laramie agrees a handful of price cuts does not change the broader picture. 

"A round of price cuts from one retailer is a real welcome data point. But it's a moment inside of a market that is wildly volatile on a day-to-day basis," Laramie said. 

How technology can help find lower prices 

Many of the factors driving food prices from weather and livestock supply to tariffs are outside shoppers' control. That's where shopping tools can help.  

CartHappy, an AI-powered browser extension, helps shoppers compare prices and apply coupons automatically as they shop online. 

"We'll tell you that, 'Hey, you do have the best price and it's not worth going somewhere else.' Or, 'Hey, you could go save 10, 15, 20% by splitting to two retailers or three retailers,'" Laramie said. 

RELATED STORY | One in five Americans are using their personal savings to pay for groceries

Grocery shopping for many consumers is habitual shopping at the same store on the same day every week. But Laramie points out that prices are constantly changing, and staying on top of those changes is a challenge.  

"This is the gap that CartHappy exists to close," he said. "It's sort of turning that velocity into savings and helping consumers understand when and where to buy a product or their overall cart on a day-to-day basis." 

Where prices go from here

The latest food price outlook from the USDA forecasts that grocery prices could rise about 2% in 2027. But the agency says there is still a wide range of possibilities from a 5% drop to a 10% increase underscoring just how unpredictable food prices remain. 

Motley Fool Money recommends the following strategies to help offset rising costs:  

Eight Waco ISD campuses received failing grades in the state's latest accountability ratings, and district leaders are now outlining steps they say will turn those scores around.

The Texas Education Agency grades schools using several benchmarks, including student performance on standardized tests, academic growth, how well campuses close achievement gaps for at-risk students, and at the high school level college, career and military readiness. Repeated failing grades at a single campus can eventually trigger state intervention across the district.

Waco ISD Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Spicer said the letter grades do not define the district.

"When people say, 'oh my gosh, this letter, um, does it sting?' Maybe, yeah, but does it faze me? No, because I know we're doing the right work," Spicer said.

Spicer said students across the district are achieving at high levels despite the ratings.

"One thing does not define who our district is. When you look at a student, they're not a number. There's so much more than that. So, I want to make sure that everybody knows that our students are amazing. They're doing great things now, even in this space. But even when they leave us, we have students going to Harvard, they're going to UT, they're going to A&M, they're going to Baylorthey're going to all the places. I know our students are benefiting and I also know that we're making a difference in our community," Spicer said.

One of the state's evaluation benchmarks measures how well campuses close achievement gaps for at-risk students. To address that, Waco ISD has created a new at-risk specialist position designed to identify students who may need additional academic or personal support.

"We've also created another position called an at-risk specialist. As you know, we have about 88-89% low socioeconomic status students, and so, sometimes their needsthere are at-risk indicators that we are accustomed to. There's about 17 of those things. And so, those are students who, for whatever reason, are at risk of not being successful. And so, what we do is we have people in place who monitor those students, and then we bring all the people to the table and talk about wraparound services," Spicer said.

District leaders said they are working to strengthen support for both students and teachers, with the goal of improving campus ratings across Waco ISD.

The national average for a gallon of diesel surged above $6.20 Monday, marking the highest price ever recorded.

These prices are up more than $0.30 in just one week and about $2.50 higher than they were a year ago.

The record cost could soon impact the price of almost everything we buy: Diesel is used to power much of the country's freight and delivery infrastructure, which carries groceries, consumer goods and the raw materials that businesses need as inputs.

Democrats are accusing the president of throwing a party in Dallas last week instead of focusing on affordability for American people.

"Trump promised to lower prices on day one. But last week, the broken old man threw a two-day party in Texas while it costs more than ever fill up your truck, to stock your fridge and to power your home," said Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA).

RELATED STORY | Diesel hits record $6 a gallon in US, raising fears of higher consumer prices

President Trump has said the prices for diesel and gasoline likely won't come down until after the midterm elections in November. On Monday, he also blamed surging fuel prices on the war in Ukraine, saying Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries are contributing to a fuel shortage.

Mr. Zelenskyy has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia, Trump said Monday, speaking to reporters while he attended the Irish Open at the Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, Ireland.

"We spoke to Mr. Zelenskyy about it. There are plenty of other targets. Dont hit diesel fuel, because thats hurting, thats hurting the world."

Trump said Monday that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to stop targeting each other's energy infrastructure. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said no formal agreement had been reached and that Ukraine would support such a ceasefire if Russia also committed to ending its strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

While Ukrainian strikes have damaged Russian refineries and contributed to tighter diesel supplies, analysts say they are not the only factor driving prices higher. Disruptions stemming from the U.S. war with Iran and instability in the Middle East have also significantly reduced global fuel supplies.

As Grimes County grows and new subdivisions emerge, questions are rising about whether there will be enough water available to fight fires in residential areas. The county has approved new regulations requiring fire water sources in new developments, but some residents worry the changes may not go far enough.

Kirk Cloyd, a development services technician with the county, said growth in the area has been significant.

Hear from officials and residents in the player above.

"I know of at least 5 of them that they're working on right now and possibly more," Cloyd said.

Volunteer fire departments responding to emergencies in these subdivisions can haul water with them, but the supply is limited. Shiro VFD Chief Dan Sharron said his department can only transport 2,000 gallons at a time not nearly enough for a structure fire.

"150 gallons a minute will last 13 minutes. We're required by NFPA 1710 to pump 300 gallons a minute for a structure fire, and that will last 6 minutes. Can't put much fire out in 6 minutes," Chief Sharron said.

Sharron said the county is working to address the gap.

"They're required to put some type of fire water in on the subdivisions so we can have the fire water there if we ever have an emergency," according to Sharron.

Cloyd said the new requirements are tied to the county's recently established fire marshal's office.

"With the brand new county fire marshal, those are regulations that they are putting in place. They were not in place before," Cloyd said.

He said the regulations have now been formally adopted.

"Our county engineer has taken the new regulations to the Commissioner's Court and the commissioners have approved them. So moving forward, we can require all new developments to meet those new standards," Cloyd said.

Cloyd added that on-site water access is now a priority.

"Having a water source right inside the division is something that is going to be or is in the process of being required."

But for some longtime residents, the progress feels overdue.

Paul Padron, who has lived in the area for 73 years, remains skeptical, saying, "We just don't have the capabilities. I don't believe to do that."

Padron said little has changed over the decades.

"I've been living here for 73 years and you know, we really haven't made any progress on any of that."

The county said subdivisions permitted before the new regulations were adopted are grandfathered in. Residents should check with their developer or the county to determine whether their subdivision is in compliance.

BOSQUE COUNTY (KXXV) The mandatory evacuation notice for the City of Meridian has been canceled at this time but residents are warned this may change on short notice, according to the Bosque County Sheriff's Office.

Those returning home is encouraged to remain prepared and evacuate quickly.

Residents located in the area of SH 6 from CR 3105 to SH 22 in Meridian and SH 22 from SH6 to FM 2136 are encouraged to remain evacuated.

Meridian High School is being used as a shelter.

The large brush fire ignited in Bosque County Monday, according to the Clifton Texas Police.

Fire crews from across the county are working on the fire near State Highway 6 and County Road 1035. The fire is estimated to be burning around 400 acres with 0% containment.

The public is being asked to avoid the area.

The Baptist Church and Clifton Civic Center are open for shelters.

Officials say pets are welcome at the evacuation center if they are non-vicious and a pet. Livestock are not to be taken to the shelter.

The City of Clifton is also asking all residents and businesses to stop all outdoor watering until further notice as the city is under Stage 2 Mandatory Water Restrictions due to the Hydra Fire.

Residents should:

The restrictions are mandatory and will be enforced. The City's utility system tracks water usage with time and date stamped data.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday went after the Supreme Court after it rejected his push to restrict mail-in voting in this years midterms, saying justices who opposed him were not the people I interviewed.

The Trump administration had made a last-minute push to have the U.S. Postal Service play a central role in deciding who would be able to receive a mail ballot. But state election officials argued there was not enough time to make the changes for the Nov. 3 midterm elections and said their systems were already secure and accurate.

The court ruled late Monday in an emergency order that the restrictions would likely lose in court, at least for this years election.

PREVIOUS REPORTING | Second federal judge freezes Trump mail ballot order with US Supreme Court poised to weigh in

The Courts inability and unwillingness to do the right thing for our Country will go down, in a very negative way, in the annals of History, Trump wrote in a lengthy social media post Tuesday. This Supreme Court is bullied and cajoled by the Radical Left into making decisions that have set America back at least a hundred years.

Justices Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh were all nominated by Trump in his first term but ruled against him in Mondays decision.

MIDTERMS NEWS | 'Pretend that I'm on the ballot': Trump courts Republicans at unusual GOP midterm convention

These are not the people I interviewed to serve on the United States Supreme Court, they are merely a shell of their original selves, Trump said, continuing that the court "is costing the United States Trillions of Dollars with shockingly bad rulings that are of such magnitude that it wont be easily possible for our Country to recover or heal.

Trump has opposed mail voting and falsely blamed it for his 2020 election loss. A report by the Brookings Institution published in 2025 found that mail voting fraud occurred in only about four cases out of every 10 million mail ballots cast.

Roughly a third of voters use mail ballots, and mail voting has already begun in some states. The decision allows states to continue sending out mail ballots under the same processes theyve used for years.

Texas A&M volleyball head coach Jamie Morrison says his program is in a different place than it used to be, and the proof is in how his players respond to losses.

Coming off a split weekend that included a win over Stanford and a hard-fought loss to Wisconsin in front of 9,300 fans at Reed Arena, Morrison said the disappointment his team felt after the Wisconsin match speaks volumes about where the program stands.

"We went through last week and we took care of business in Orlando against Stanford and then turned around and had a whole match in front of 9,300 people," Morrison said. "And we lost a hard fought battle against Wisconsin and we were disappointed. And I think if you rewind in this program and talk about that, I don't know, statement you'd think you were crazy of we're out there and we're competing against the best teams in the country."

Morrison said the team's internal expectations have risen, and that the ability to recover from adversity is improving. He pointed to consistency and serving as two areas the Aggies are focused on sharpening as the season progresses.

"If you look early in the season we weren't missing enough like we're being too passive," Morrison said. "We were putting pressure on them for six straight rotations from the service line and I thought that was one of the reasons like we made a really good passing team not look good."

Morrison uses a term he calls an "agrafe" a blend of aggressive and safe to describe the standard he holds his team to on serve. He said not all service errors are created equal, and the goal is to eliminate unforced mistakes while continuing to apply pressure.

"If we're gonna play it safe, keep it in, but if we're aggressive error that's going right on the top of the tape and it's a ball that kind of is about to trickle over but goes onto our side, like I'm perfectly good with that," Morrison said. "We don't wanna give up more than five unforced errors a game, and that's including service errors, attacking errors, and the things that come along with it, but we wanna make people earn points."

On the roster front, Morrison gave an update on Margot, who has been sidelined recently, saying she is working her way back and could return soon, though he does not expect her to play Tuesday. He also praised middle blocker Eliza Sharp, calling her one of the best in the country at her position and saying she still has significant room to develop.

"She's an explosive athlete," Morrison said. "That body piece she's developed into one of the best athletes in the country, and she's developed into one of the best middle blockers right now in my opinion in the country and going back to what I said about our entire team, the thing that excites me the most is the fact that there's still a lot of room for her to grow."

Morrison also addressed the growing trend of college volleyball being played in unique venues, including AT&T Stadium, Wrigley Field, and the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. He said he is actively exploring similar ideas for Texas A&M, including the possibility of hosting a match at the Hall of Champions on campus, while also pushing for more marquee home matches at Reed Arena.

"I think it's really awesome that people are invested in our sport enough to go put it in unique venues right now," Morrison said. "But at the same time, you just saw 9,300 people here and I haven't been able to capitalize on the fact that we won a national championship because I'm not allowed to play a home match this year."

Morrison said the energy inside Reed Arena during the Wisconsin match was something he will not forget, describing a moment during the fourth set when he looked up mid-timeout and realized the arena was full.

"I had a giant smile on my face," Morrison said. "The most memorable moment of the match was before it started. I was watching the best rendition of the national anthem I've ever heard live in my entire life, and I'm sitting there looking at the student section full and looking at what's happening at Reed Arena, and there was just a prideful moment of what we built."

Morrison said he feels a responsibility to the fans and to the players who came before to keep the program competing at the highest level.

"Everything I do from now on is gonna be fueled from having to live up to what they built," Morrison said.

Texas A&M hosts Kentucky on Saturday at Kyle Field in the Aggies' first SEC game of the season. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. Central on ESPN.

Head coach Mike Elko expressed significant respect for the Wildcats heading into conference play, particularly for first-year head coach Will Stein, who came to Kentucky after serving as offensive coordinator at Oregon.

"A lot of respect for Will Stein and the job that he does as an offensive coach, has been one of the best in the country for the last few years. Did a really phenomenal job at Oregon, combined him with Coach Sloan, and it's going to be another formidable offensive attack. And then obviously have a ton of respect for Jay Bateman and the job that he does on defense," Elko said.

Bateman previously worked at Texas A&M, giving him familiarity with the Aggies' program. Elko acknowledged that familiarity creates unique challenges but said his staff has been proactive about changing terminology and personnel packages to limit any advantage. He described himself as being on the "extreme paranoid end" when it comes to protecting the program's systems, noting he is likely on the 7th version of defensive terminology in the last 8 years.

The Aggies are coming off a win over Arizona State in which they dominated the fourth quarter 24-0, a performance Elko credited directly to defensive depth. Texas A&M is rotating as many as 9, 10, or even 11 defensive linemen this season, and Elko said keeping players fresh has become a deliberate weapon especially with the SEC's new 9-game conference schedule.

"One of our goals specifically on defense really as a program, but specifically on defense is to get a lot of guys that are capable of playing at a high level so that the level doesn't drop. And if you can do that and you can rotate guys even just specifically to the one Arizona State game, I think you see that play out in the 4th quarter. I don't think it's a mistake that we won the 4th quarter 24 to 0," Elko said.

Halftime adjustments have also been a theme through the first two weeks of the season. The Aggies have played significantly better in the second half in both games, and Elko said the ability to adapt mid-game is something the program takes pride in.

"You get into a situation in the game and they find some creative ways to go after your structure and your personnel and now moving forward you've got to find creative ways to adapt and adjust and make sure that that doesn't become a problem. And I think one of the things we've always been good at is finding those solutions in game and particularly at halftime," Elko said.

One area Elko identified as needing improvement heading into SEC play is the running game. Texas A&M averaged just 2.6 yards per carry against Arizona State in the first half, though the backs averaged over 5 yards per carry after the break. Elko said breakdowns occurred at all three levels the offensive line, the running backs, and perimeter blockers and was direct about the urgency to fix it.

"We're not gonna be very successful much longer if we don't find better ways to run the football. There's no doubt about it," Elko said.

The energy surrounding SEC play is something Elko said is impossible to contain, and he does not try to. He said the moment an SEC logo goes up on the screen during the Monday morning team meeting, the entire room shifts.

"The second you throw up an SEC logo on that Monday meeting, you just kinda see everything perk up a little bit," Elko said. "I certainly don't tell them like, OK, hey, it's an SEC game, so now we've gotta try, but you certainly see the energy in the room change."

The Aggies also received good news on the injury front. Wide receiver Landon Rink, who left the Arizona State game late, is expected to play Saturday. Running back Chovon Ball, who also left the field late in that game, is also expected to be available.

Texas A&M and Kentucky kick off Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Central on ESPN at Kyle Field.

City leaders in Killeen could move forward with a plan to add an extra layer of zoning rules to the north side of town, with a final council vote scheduled for Oct. 20.

The North Killeen Overlay District would stretch from Fort Hood Street to S WS Young Drive, changing zoning rules to allow for tiny homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on existing properties. The overlay would also prohibit certain businesses from being added to the area, including after-hours nightclubs, private gambling clubs, BYOB establishments and outside sales of secondhand goods.

The overlay builds on the North Killeen Revitalization Program, an ordinance adopted in 2015 to encourage new investment and redevelopment of the area. In March 2026, the Killeen City Council approved a request to discuss increasing affordable housing opportunities by allowing tiny homes and ADUs in appropriate locations. The following month, council directed staff to develop the zoning overlay.

Jason Deckman with the City of Killeen said the plan is designed to expand housing options not force changes on property owners.

"The biggest misconception is this is going to force homeowners to make changes that they didn't want. This just gives them the option. There's been some comments about the city's going to take your property. That's not true. This doesn't authorize any kind of eminent domain," Deckman said.

Deckman said the goal is to encourage growth while keeping current residents in place.

"The idea is to promote infill development, to have more housing, more choices available, to let the property owners develop on their property, and I think that's one of the key points that we want to make is this doesn't require you to build," Deckman said.

The overlay area includes 201 properties. Of those, 99 are zoned R1, R2 or R3; 45 are zoned B5; and 51 fall within the Historic Overlay District. Seven properties are affected by a floodplain. The average property size in the area is 2,500 square feet, with a median of 2,878 square feet. 55 properties are less than 2,000 square feet.

Deckman said the overlay is also intended to improve the overall appeal of the neighborhood.

"We don't want to kick folks out of their home. We want people to stay where they're at. We want people to feel safe living in the community, but we want them to have that sense of ownership and sense of pride that being able to build on your property," Deckman said.

Neighbors have been pushing for more resources on the north side of Killeen, including a grocery store. I asked Deckman whether the overlay could help attract one.

"It's one of those where it'll be kind of an indirect consequence. So this doesn't do anything that will directly bring a grocery store, but what it does and what we've heard as there's been the discussion of attracting a grocery store, is that more rooftops equals more customers, and that's going to change the equation," Deckman said.

"[Tiny homes and ADU's] does increase the housing supply and then that does increase the number of potential customers, then that turns around could attract a grocery store," Deckman said.

Notices were mailed to area property owners on Aug. 26. The final decision goes before the Killeen City Council on Oct. 20.

Click here for more information on the North Killeen Overlay District

President Trump's ban on Canadian alcohol imports has a Waco liquor store owner worried about his bottom line as the September 29 deadline approaches.

WATCH HERE:

Last week, Trump announced the ban on Canadian exports of alcohol, dairy products, and motorcycles after Canada imposed counter-tariffs on roughly $20 billion in U.S. goods. Canadian alcohol including beer, wine, spirits, and other drinks will be banned.

Nilesh Valappil, the owner of 18th Street Liquor Store, said the ban has him concerned.

"It will all affect the bottom line."

Valappil said Canadian whiskey is a major money-maker for his store.

"Crown is one of our top-sellers, so if you don't have it, that will affect the business. We sell, pretty much every day, Crown, at least in some form."

The ban's fine print does provide a workaround for whiskey only it can cross the border as long as it is in a container larger than 4 liters. Crown Royal also recently opened a facility in Montgomery Alabama.

However, Valappil said he is still worried about current Crown shipments and how everything will unfold.

"We are not able to get. Last week I ordered like 3 cases, and we didn't get none, and we are supposed to get some more today. Keeping my fingers crossed."

He said what is on the shelves is all he has left.

"I hope things change around, and hopefully we will be back to normal, how it was before."

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.

Animal hoarding cases are increasingly challenging rescuers nationwide.

In recent months, stations with the Scripps News Group have reported several rescues involving dozens of animals, many living in overcrowded unhealthy conditions.

In South Florida, investigators uncovered a collie hoarding case. In Cleveland and west Michigan, rescuers removed large groups of neglected dogs from overcrowded homes and breeding operations. And in Tampa, two dozen abandoned rabbits were rescued after they were found dumped in the wild.

RELATED STORY | Dogs know if were happy, sad or scared just from our expressions, study suggests

Experts say many such hoarding cases start out with good intentions, but they can quickly spiral beyond what a rescuer can handle.

Animal law and mental health experts say hoarding is often linked to deeper psychological issues.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund says most cases involve cats. Lots of hoarders see themselves as animal saviors, not abusers. But those good intentions can quickly become harmful, trapping animals and cities in a cycle that is difficult to break.

The Environmental Protection Agency said Monday it is repealing rules that limit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants fueled by coal and natural gas, an action the agency said would remove more than $300 billion in costs for the industry and help unleash American energy. The rule change, first proposed last year, represents a fundamental shift from efforts by Democratic Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama to address climate change and clean up industrial pollution. EPA officials said the change would allow utilities to make the best decisions for their ratepayers rather than be forced to close aging or inefficient plants.

The rule, which is expected to face immediate legal challenges, also could prevent future administrations from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

EPA chief Lee Zeldin, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are hosting a G20 ministerial meeting on energy abundance in Houston. The site is both a nod to the important role the oil-rich state plays in the energy industry and a potential snub of European and other international allies in attendance who have pursued environmentally friendly policies that the Trump administration has moved to undo.

Republican President Donald Trump called climate change the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world at a speech to the United Nations last year, and his administration withdrew the U.S. for the second time from the 2015 Paris climate accord that sets voluntary goals to curb planet-warming emissions.

Trump has boasted of U.S. energy abundance even as the Iran war continues to disrupt global fuel markets and gas prices top $4.31 a gallon, up more than a dollar from a year ago.

The rollbacks are meant to fulfill Trumps repeated pledge to unleash American energy and make it easier for utilities to supply electricity for homes and businesses.

The power plant rule is among nearly three dozen environmental regulations that Zeldin targeted in early 2025 when he announced what he called the most consequential day of deregulation in American history.

Zeldin said in proposing the new rules last year that they were meant to end the Biden and Obama administrations war on so much of our U.S. domestic energy supply.

Environmental and public health groups called the rollbacks dangerous and vowed to challenge the rules in court.

Tearing down our national protections against climate pollution from power plants will have enormous costs for the health, safety and well-being of families across the country, said Vickie Patton, general counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund. Americans everywhere are already suffering from record-breaking heat, more dangerous floods and storms, and skyrocketing insurance costs.

The EPA has a legal responsibility to protect the public from harmful pollution, Patton said, adding that clean, affordable and reliable technologies are widely available to power our homes and businesses.

Coal, gas and oil-fired power plants are responsible for about one-quarter of the nations total climate pollution, second only to the transportation sector. Pollution from power plants is one of the largest sources of climate-changing pollution in the world.

The rules targeted by Trumps EPA could prevent an estimated 30,000 deaths and save $275 billion each year they are in effect, according to an Associated Press examination last year that included the agencys own prior assessments and a wide range of other research.

Even a partial dismantling of the rules would mean more pollutants such as smog, mercury and lead and especially more tiny airborne particles that can lodge in lungs and cause health problems, the AP analysis found. It would also mean higher emissions of greenhouse gases, driving Earths warming to deadlier levels.

Biden, a Democrat, had made fighting climate change a hallmark of his presidency. Coal-fired power plants would have been forced to capture smokestack emissions or shut down under a strict EPA rule issued in 2024. Those rules are now being upended.

In its proposal last year, the Trump EPA argued that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from fossil fuel-fired power plants do not contribute significantly to dangerous pollution or climate change and therefore do not meet a threshold under the Clean Air Act for regulatory action. Greenhouse gas emissions from coal and gas-fired plants are a small and decreasing part of global emissions, the EPA said.

Zeldin, a Republican and former New York congressman, said Biden-era actions were designed to suffocate our economy in order to protect the environment, with the intent to regulate the coal industry out of existence and make it disappear.

The coal industry and groups representing coal-fired power plants have denounced the Biden rule as overreach by the EPA and urged its repeal. Lifting the rule will protect grid reliability and shield electricity consumers from higher costs at a time of surging demand from data centers, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, according to Americas Power, a trade organization for the U.S. coal fleet.

Bob Mackie, the fashion designer whose visually provocative Hollywood style defined glamour for the 1970s including putting Carol Burnett in some of her kookiest getups and Cher in her raciest ones died Monday. He was 87.

"He lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of being a Fashion and Costume Designer, which is all he ever wanted to do," read a statement on his social media accounts. "His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world."

Dubbed the "Designer to the Stars," Mackie won nine Emmy Awards, a Tony Award and was nominated for three Oscars, including one for Barbra Streisand's "Funny Lady," in which she wore a sheer batwing gown. He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame in 2002.

He designed gowns for Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Sharon Stone, Diana Ross and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and concert costumes for Pink. When Marilyn Monroe delivered a breathy, seductive take on "Happy Birthday" at a fundraiser for President John F. Kennedy and the Democratic National Committee, she did it in a sheer, beaded gown that Mackie dreamed up in a sketch.

Bob Mackie's style influences Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift

His influence can be seen in the styles of Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid. His archival pieces are worn today by the likes of Anya Taylor-Joy, Miley Cyrus and Zendaya, the latter who wore a Mackie gown to honor Cher at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. When Taylor Swift wanted to look like a showgirl on the cover of her 2025 album "The Life of a Showgirl," she turned to some Mackie originals.

Sequins and embellishment were natural tools other nicknames were the Sultan of Sequins, the Rajah of Rhinestones and the Guru of Glitter but he had a simple motto: "You don't try to change anybody, you just try to make them look better than ever," he told The Associated Press in 2018.

Tributes came from fellow designers and those lucky enough to wear his outfits. Actor Kristin Chenoweth called him a "legend" and designer Isaac Mizrahi wrote, simply, "heartbroken." Actor Alyssa Milano called him "one of the best that ever was" and model Mikhaila "Coco" Rocha wrote that "his clothes had wit, drama, fantasy and joy."

On Broadway, Mackie dressed the casts of "On the Town" in 1971 and "Moon Over Buffalo" in 1995. He also created costumes for Burnett in the revue "Putting It Together," Debbie Reynolds in "Debbie" in 1976, Liza Minnelli in "Minnelli on Minnelli" in 1999 and, most recently, the cast of "The Cher Show," winning his Tony Award.

Mackie was a Southern California native and embraced the idea of Hollywood movie glamour as a young child, inspired by Technicolor musicals. He would dream elaborate costumes for his mother and sister and sketch them, and he was active in costume and set design of his high school plays. He went to Pasadena City College to study advertising and illustration, and then costume design at LA's Chouinard Art Institute.

He also grew up a fan of all the variety-show and pop stars of the 1950s and '60s and especially their glitzy wardrobes. He went to work for costume designer Edith Head, then got the gig for "The Carol Burnett Show."

Bob Mackie's close relationships with Cher and Carol Burnett

He and Burnett had a close friendship and collaborated on memorable characters such as Nora Desmond, Eunice and her take on Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind" called Starlet O'Hara wearing her green curtain dress on its rods. "I love doing funny things," Mackie said in a 1999 interview with the AP. "One week I'd have to make Carol an unattractive postal worker, and who knows what I'd have to do the next." (Starlet's dress is now part of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.)

Mackie's TV work continued on "The Sonny and Cher Show," after Cher had guest-starred on Burnett's show and took a liking to him. He had said that her Laverne character, with her leopard-print jumpsuit and dangling earrings, was one of his favorites.

He and Cher took a much sexier turn when she moved to movies and was invited to the Academy Awards. All those beaded, belly-baring numbers she'd wear on the stuffy red carpets came from Mackie.

Mackie attended the 1974 Met Gala with Cher on his arm dressed in what is perhaps one of the most famous so-called naked dresses of all time: a sheer beaded gown with white feathered sleeves and a white feathered skirt. She and the dress ended up on the cover of Time magazine.

Looks like the 1986 beaded spiderweb worn with complementary Mohawk and the barely-there gown she wore for her best actress win in 1988 turned heads and set tongues wagging at the time.

"The outfits are sometimes mistaken for fashion, but they're costumes like for a character in a play," Mackie told the AP in 1999. "I want people to have fun. I want people to say 'Wasn't that interesting?' or 'Wasn't that wild?'"

Bob Mackie had mixed feelings on the naked dresses of today

Mackie had some retail success in the 1980s and '90s, launching a ready-to-wear line in 1982 that would ultimately land on the runway at New York Fashion Week, and he was an early partner of QVC.

Naked dresses only got more popular but Mackie later in life was unimpressed. "You watch awards shows and say, 'Oh, cover up! Put it away! Honey, I don't need to see all of that!' It gets to be so vulgar, you don't even want to look at it anymore," he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2024. "I was so bored watching The Met Ball everyone exposing everything, the same lookalike dress I shut it off. If you've seen one Kardashian, you've seen them all. And we have seen all of them."

Mackie also created dozens of different Barbie dolls for Mattel, with a wide variety of face sculpts, body types and storylines. He is credited as the first designer to create a complete doll. One was Lady Dracula Cher, with little baby fangs and her box resembling a coffin.

"I always tried to make Barbie different," he told the Hollywood Reporter. "She wasn't a secretary, a waitress, not somebody's mommy. It was always something most young girls could never be. Who wants to look at the norm at 11 inches high? Or any height. Normal doesn't work for me."

Among many honors, he was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The documentary "Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion" debuted in 2024. A Mackie dress Cher wore in 1975 was auctioned off in 2024 for $101,600, 25 times its original estimate.

Mackie was married to showgirl Lulu Porter from 1960 until 1963; their son, makeup artist Robert Gordon Mackie Jr., died from AIDS at age 35. Costume designer Ray Aghayan, his longtime partner, died in 2011.

He had said practicality was never a driving force in his design; he was more interested in the fantasy that clothes could create: "It's all about looking good and living your fantasies."

In 2017, a 71-year-old Cher once again turned heads, dressed in two Bob Mackie specials at the Billboard Music Awards. It was a blast from a different era, unlike the boring fashion world he saw.

"Nothing is very interesting anymore," he told Vogue in 2017. "You just keep seeing the same thing over and over again and there are no surprises. Unfortunately, you don't see much fashion anymore."

President Donald Trump is downplaying the need for new guardrails on artificial intelligence, pushing back against some of the technologys most prominent leaders who are calling for greater government oversight as AI systems rapidly become more powerful.

The only control or guardrails that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades! Trump wrote in a social media post on Monday.

RELATED STORY | Anthropic says it blocked possible attempts to use AI to develop bioweapons

Trump said the federal government already has tremendous criminal and regulatory power over AI companies. He also argued that additional restrictions could jeopardize how the United States competes in the field, especially against China.

WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS! Trump wrote.

RELATED STORY | Anthropic CEO warns AI could outpace safety measures within a year

The comments come amid a growing debate within the AI industry over whether development is moving faster than companies and governments can safely manage. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have both recently called for additional safeguards, including government involvement and independent oversight.

No amount of American competitive pressure should justify recklessness, or let capabilities get ahead of alignment and monitoring, Altman stated in a post on X Sunday night.

RELATED STORY | Gambling with our lives: Another AI employee quits over safety concerns

Trump continued to dismiss concerns about AI later Monday, comparing warnings about the technology to concerns about climate change.

"The people that say AI is going to destroy the World, and that Data Centers are bad for your neighborhood, are the same people that said, just a short time ago, that the World would be extinguished by 'Climate Change,'" Trump wrote.

Trump also accused people raising concerns about AI and data centers of working against U.S. interests.

Holiday airfare prices are climbing fast, and travel experts warn this is not the year to wait on booking flights for the November or December holidays.

"Thanksgiving and Christmas. That's basically what I'm looking for, and it's really expensive," said airline passenger Srinivas Grandhi, who is already feeling the impact while searching for flights.

Rising jet fuel prices are driving airfares higher than usual, prompting experts to ditch the traditional advice of waiting a month or two before the holidays to book.

RELATED STORY | Fall travel deals harder to find this year, as gas prices and airfares soar

According to The Points Guy, Thanksgiving fares have been running 9% to 13% higher compared to last year. Christmas fares range from 12% to 18% higher.

WATCH as a travel expert shows how to get the cheapest flights this holiday season:

"There are some substantial price increases, but it could get a lot worse from here," said travel expert Clint Henderson, "and that's why our advice is go ahead and book now."

Finding potential flight savings

If you book a flight now and prices unexpectedly drop, you can get credit for the difference as long as you don't book basic economy.

Booking a basic economy ticket saves money upfront, but there is typically no flexibility and no opportunity for refunds if you find a cheaper flight.

Henderson said new AI tools can track price drops automatically.

"We were trying out ones called Autopilot, pAiback, and Junova. I've been experimenting with those, and I've already saved $1,000 this year," Henderson said.

Travelers can also track prices manually using familiar comparison sites such as:

"At the very least set flight alerts on Google Flights and just monitor prices because unfortunately, we at The Points Guy believe that prices will just go up," Henderson said.

When prices are high, it might be the best time to dip into the stash of points and miles you may have saved up over time.

When to travel around the holidays

According to The Points Guy, there's no cheapest day to book a flight or find better flight deals, but when you travel does matter.

Midweek travel is generally cheaper than flying on the weekends with savings up to $100 or more around the holidays.

You can often find a better deal by flying on the actual holiday itself rather than the few days before or few days after the holiday.

Lastly, early departures can typically save you money and help you avoid cancellations and delays.

With the average airfare currently $100 higher compared to last year, travelers across the country are bracing for higher prices.

"We haven't got Christmas yet, but I can only imagine," said airline passenger Lyndsay Gunn.

So book those holiday flights, or at least monitor the prices, so you can budget accordingly and you don't waste your money.

_____________________________________

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For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com