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There are happy hours that function as post-work gatherings, fueled by discounted pitchers of beer, buckets of chicken wings, sliders and the sort of commiserating that can only happen between colleagues. If the beer is cold and the chicken wings properly sluiced in hot sauce and ranch dressing, this happy hour can be the happiest of hours.

But it wasn’t until I was seated at the bar of Josiah Citrin’s Citrin in Santa Monica that I understood a happy hour’s full potential. Here, happy hour is known as Glass Off, a 90-minute stretch of food and drink specials at the bar. Instead of a truncated list of fried foods intended to coat your stomach while you sip on discounted wine, you’ll find tasting-size portions of some of Citrin and fellow chef-partner Ken Takayama’s signature dishes.

Those spot prawns with young turnip and green tomato finished with a nori sabayon that normally cost $52 an order? You can enjoy a smaller portion at the bar for $22. The $49 risotto studded with Dungeness crab, artichoke and peas with aged Parmesan and Meyer lemon? During Glass Off, you can taste a portion of it for $24.

At the following restaurants, happy hour is designed to give diners a glimpse at a kitchen or bar’s full potential, at a more accessible price point. It’s not simply about ordering as many discounted drinks as possible during a limited window. That’s the sort of thinking that prompted the state of Massachusetts to ban happy hours in 1984. It’s prohibited in six other states, and allowed but highly regulated in a handful of others.

In the great state of California, happy hours abound. Just make sure you indulge responsibly.

Here’s a list of my current favorite happy hours. Save me a seat at the bar, will you?

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday promised to quickly sign off on a new, Republican-leaning congressional voting map gerrymandered to help the GOP maintain its slim majority in Congress.

“One Big Beautiful Map has passed the Senate and is on its way to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law,” Abbott said in a statement. The bill’s name is a nod to President Trump’s signature tax and spending bill, as Trump urged Abbott to redraw the congressional districts to favor Republicans.

Texas lawmakers approved the final plans just hours before, inflaming an already tense battle unfolding among states as governors from both parties pledge to redraw maps with the goal of giving their political candidates a leg up in the 2026 midterm elections.

In California, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has approved a special election in November for voters to decide whether to adopt a redrawn congressional map designed to help Democrats win five more House seats next year.

Meanwhile, Trump has pushed other Republican-controlled states, including Indiana and Missouri, to also revise their maps to add more winnable GOP seats. Ohio Republicans were also already scheduled to revise their maps to make them more partisan.

In Texas, the map includes five new districts that would favor Republicans.

Democrats vow to challenge it in court

The effort by Trump and Texas’ Republican-majority Legislature prompted state Democrats to hold a two-week walkout and kicked off a wave of redistricting efforts across the country.

Democrats had prepared for a final show of resistance, with plans to push the Senate vote into the early morning hours in a last-ditch attempt to delay passage. Yet Republicans blocked those efforts by citing a rule violation.

“What we have seen in this redistricting process has been maneuvers and mechanisms to shut down people’s voices,” said state Sen. Carol Alvarado, leader of the Senate Democratic caucus, on social media after the new map was finalized by the GOP-controlled Senate.

Democrats had already delayed the bill’s passage during hours of debate, pressing Republican Sen. Phil King, the measure’s sponsor, on the proposal’s legality, with many alleging that the redrawn districts violate the Voting Rights Act by diluting voters’ influence based on race.

King rejected that accusation, saying, “I had two goals in mind: That all maps would be legal and would be better for Republican congressional candidates in Texas.

“There is extreme risk the Republican majority will be lost” in the U.S. House of Representatives if the map does not pass, King said.

Battle for the House waged via redistricting

On a national level, the partisan makeup of existing districts puts Democrats within three seats of a majority. The incumbent president’s party usually loses seats in the midterms.

The Texas redraw is already reshaping the 2026 race, with Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the dean of the state’s congressional delegation, announcing Thursday that he will not seek reelection to his Austin-based seat if the new map takes effect. Under the proposed map, Doggett’s district would overlap with that of another Democratic incumbent, Rep. Greg Casar.

Redistricting typically occurs once a decade, immediately after a census. Though some states have their own limitations, there is no national impediment to a state trying to redraw districts in the middle of the decade.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 2019 ruled that the Constitution does not prohibit partisan gerrymandering to increase a party’s clout, only gerrymandering that’s explicitly done by race.

Other states

More Democratic-run states have commission systems like California’s or other redistricting limits than Republican ones do, leaving the GOP with a freer hand to swiftly redraw maps. New York, for example, cannot draw new maps until 2028, and even then only with voter approval.

Republicans and some Democrats championed a 2008 ballot measure that established California’s nonpartisan redistricting commission, along with a 2010 one that extended its role to drawing congressional maps.

Both sides have shown concern over what the redistricting war could lead to.

California Assemblyman James Gallagher, the Republican minority leader, said Trump was “wrong” to push for new Republican seats elsewhere. But he warned that Newsom’s approach, which the governor has said is an effort to “fight fire with fire,” is dangerous.

“You move forward fighting fire with fire, and what happens?” Gallagher asked. “You burn it all down.”

Vertuno, Cappelletti and Golden write for the Associated Press and reported from Austin, Washington and Seattle, respectively. AP writer Kimberlee Kruesi in Providence, R.I., contributed to this report.

The strawberry delivery driver was making his last drop-off in Little Tokyo, unloading nearly a dozen boxes onto the sidewalk outside the Japanese American National Museum.

Inside the building, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his allies were holding a news conference about a Democratic Party plan to fight back against President Trump’s efforts to maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives through redistricting in Texas.

Angel Rodrigo Minguela Palacios knew nothing of the powerful men’s clash as he stacked cardboard boxes filled with ripe, red fruit Thursday morning. He also didn’t know that dozens of Border Patrol agents were massing nearby.

Angel Rodrigo Minguela Palacios at his 48th birthday celebration this year.

(Courtesy of the family)

Minguela was caught between the two spectacles. His life was about to be upended.

In the days that followed, Newsom accused the Trump administration of trying to intimidate the president’s political opponents by sending the immigration agents. Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin has said the agents were “focused on enforcing the law” not on Newsom.

Newsom has since submitted a Freedom of Information Act request seeking records from the administration about why agents arrived at the museum as he was announcing his latest skirmish with the president.

For Minguela, who has been in the country for close to a decade, that day felt a lot more personal. He was arrested by Border Patrol agents and now faces deportation back to Mexico. Speaking from behind a plexiglass window at the “B-18” federal detention center in downtown L.A. on Monday, Minguela stressed that he is not a criminal.

“One comes here to work, not commit crimes,” said Minguela, who wore the same red T-shirt and jeans he’d been arrested in four days prior.

When asked last week whether the person arrested outside the news conference had a criminal record, a Homeland Security spokesperson said the agency would share a criminal rap sheet when it was available. After four follow-up emails from a reporter, McLaughlin on Saturday said agents had arrested “two illegal aliens” in the vicinity of Newsom’s news conference — including “an alleged Tren de Aragua gang member and narcotics trafficker.”

Asked twice to clarify whether the alleged gang member and narcotics trafficker were the same person, Homeland Security officials did not respond. But when presented with Minguela’s biographical information Monday, the department said he had been arrested because he overstayed his visa — a civil, not criminal, offense.

Border Patrol Sector Chief Gregory Bovino told Fox News on Aug. 15 that operations were based on intelligence about the alleged Tren de Aragua gang member. They arrested that man two blocks away from Newsom’s news conference.

Angel Rodrigo Minguela Palacios took this image of a federal agent looking at his identification outside the Japanese American National Museum on Aug. 14.

(Angel Rodrigo Minguela Palacios)

Two law enforcement sources who asked to remain anonymous as they were not authorized to speak with the media told The Times they had received word from federal authorities that Little Tokyo had been targeted because of its proximity to the Newsom event.

For those who know Minguela, it felt like mala suerte — bad luck.

As Martha Franco, one of Minguela’s employers, put it, “He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

::

Like every other weekday, Minguela rose before the sun to start his 2 a.m. delivery route Thursday. He had around eight places to hit.

He’d worked for the same produce company for around eight years and never missed a day.

That day, Minguela left his partner and their three children — ages 15, 12 and 7 — asleep in their home, hours before the kids would head off for their first day of school. His partner, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, had worked the night before as a cashier at a liquor store. She did not get off work until about 12:30 a.m. She brought him coffee as he started his day.

Shortly before 6 a.m., Minguela called his partner to wake her up so she could take the kids to school. Throughout the morning, they checked in with each other on how the day was progressing.

She called to warn him about immigration agents at Slauson and Miles avenues in Huntington Park. Over the last couple of months, as immigration raids became a part of daily life, the couple’s world had slowly shrunk.

Minguela had overstayed a tourist visa after fleeing the Mexican state of Coahuila in 2015 because of violence he faced there, his partner said. She said he had worked servicing ATMs there, was kidnapped twice and at one point was stabbed by people intent on stealing the money. After his employers cut staff, she said, he lost his job, helping drive his decision to leave.

Because he was undocumented, he rarely went out, leaving the house only for work and errands. Minguela began wondering whether it was even safe for him to pick up the kids from school, his partner said. He planned ahead, made copies of his keys and left money for his family in the event that he was grabbed by immigration agents.

That morning, he reassured his partner he was fine. He was heading to his last stop at a tea room in Little Tokyo.

“Ten mucho cuidado,” his partner told him.

Be very careful.

::

The Border Patrol agents descended on 1st Street in Little Tokyo about 11:30 a.m., just as Newsom’s news conference got underway.

They were decked out in camouflage and helmets, their faces obscured by black masks. One wore an American flag neck gaiter. They were armed, some with AR-15-style weapons.

Nearby, Minguela was busy unloading several boxes of strawberries and a box of apples. He didn’t notice the agents until they were close behind him. Then, he ducked back inside the van.

A video shared with The Times shows at least eight Border Patrol agents as they passed the van, its side door wide-open. They did not stop. Then, one appeared to double back and peek inside.

Minguela said he feels he was targeted based on his physical appearance.

When the agent began asking him questions, Minguela said he pulled a red “know your rights” card out of his wallet and handed it to the agent.

“This is of no use to me,” he said the agent told him. Another agent soon joined them.

Minguela told them he didn’t have to talk. But they kept asking questions, he said. What was his nationality? What was his name? Did he have papers?

“They demanded I show them some kind of identification,” he said. “Insisting, insisting.”

The agents were armed, and Minguela said he grew scared. Believing he had no choice, Minguela said, he gave one of the agents his California driver’s license.

Minguela tried to call his partner twice, but she was at a doctor’s appointment and couldn’t answer. At 11:22 a.m., he sent her three WhatsApp messages:

“Amor ya me agarró la migra..no te preocupes.”

“Todo va a estar bien.”

“Diosito nos va a ayudar mucho.”

Federal agents produced a show of force outside the Japanese American National Museum, where Gov. Gavin Newsom was holding a redistricting news conference on Aug. 14.

(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)

Immigration had gotten him, he said, but everything would be fine. God would help them, he assured her.

Minguela sent her a picture of an agent holding his license and seemingly plugging the information from it into a phone. Then, the agent arrested him.

Video captured Minguela, hands cuffed behind his back, as the agent linked an arm through his. He walked Minguela away from the van, toward Bovino.

After conferring with colleagues, the agent walked Minguela back toward his delivery van. Bovino patted the agent on the back and said, “Well done.”

At about the same time, one of Minguela’s employers, Isaias Franco, received a call from Little Tokyo warning him about the immigration activity. He immediately called Minguela, whose cell number is saved in his phone under “paisa,” countryman. Both hail from the Mexican city of Torreón.

No answer.

Franco texted him, trying to tell him what was unfolding.

By that time, though, Minguela was already in handcuffs.

::

Hours before visitation began at the detention center in downtown L.A. on Monday, families began lining up along a driveway where “B-18” was stamped in black on a concrete wall.

Someone had scrawled on the ground in chalk: “Abolish ICE” and “Viva La Raza.” Another message read, “Civil disobedience becomes a duty when the state becomes lawless and corrupt.”

By 11:30 a.m., 18 people were waiting for visitation to start at 1 p.m. In less than an hour, that number had ballooned to 33.

Three siblings there to visit their uncle who had been arrested at a car wash in Long Beach the day before. A woman whose uncle was taken from a Home Depot in Pasadena. Two sisters whose loved one had been arrested at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement check-in.

They carried bags of medication and sweaters for detained loved ones, because they’d heard it was cold inside. Each person hoped to get in before visitation ended at 4 p.m., although it seemed increasingly unlikely for those at the back of the line.

Martha and Isaias, Minguela’s employers, were among the hopeful. It was their third attempt to see him. The day of Minguela’s arrest, they got there too late.

The next day, they arrived earlier and were in luck. On the advice of others in line, they brought a jacket to keep Minguela warm.

In the years they’ve employed Minguela, they’ve only ever seen his serious, professional side. But during the five minutes they got to visit with him Friday, he spent most of it in tears, hardly able to speak.

The couple assured him they would help however they could.

They returned on Monday, this time bringing a blue Ralph Lauren shirt and a pair of black New Balance socks so he could change clothing. Isaias and the couple’s son, Carlos, had both come, despite starting their workday at 2 a.m.

“We’re going to be with him until the end,” Martha said. “He’s part of our family. He’s one of us.”

As the hours wore on, people in line squatted or sat on the concrete to rest their aching legs. Martha flitted around, advising people to bring sweaters for loved ones and letting them know the officers allowed in only one item of clothing for each detained person.

By the start of visitation, 44 people were in line. Martha was No. 19. Families exited red-eyed, tears dripping down their cheeks after getting only a few minutes with their loved ones.

Angel Rodrigo Minguela Palacios several years ago, with his son.

(Courtesy of the family)

About 3 p.m., after waiting three and a half hours, the Francos handed the officer their passports and identification, before finally making it inside. They had to turn off their phones. They could give Minguela only the T-shirt. The officer said no to the socks, a prohibited second item of clothing.

Minguela beamed when he saw the Francos, who greeted him through the plexiglass window. He was trying to maintain his spirits, but said he felt “impotente.” Powerless.

The Francos told him not to sign anything.

“Vamos a estar con usted,” Isaias told Minguela, letting him know they would be with him. He and Carlos fist bumped Minguela through the Plexiglass.

“Échale ganas,” Isaias added, keep going.

::

Minguela’s children have hardly stopped crying since his arrest.

During the eight years he and his partner have been together, he’s helped raise her two children and their 7-year-old son, who is autistic.

Minguela’s lawyer, Alex Galvez, said the hope is that his client will be released on bond, as he initially entered the country lawfully and is the primary breadwinner for the family. The lawyer said he believes Minguela was arrested in defiance of a federal judge’s order that immigration authorities cannot racially profile people or use roving patrols to target immigrants.

“It was a political opportunity. He was one of the two guys picked up right during Newsom’s press conference,” Galvez said. “They had to show something for it.”

Just days before his arrest, Minguela’s family had celebrated his 48th birthday. His partner made him his favorite dish, shrimp ceviche.

Her birthday was Tuesday. The family had planned to go on a rare outing for a dinner of enchiladas de mole.

But they spent the day without him. There was no celebration.

The children asked their mother, as they have every day for nearly a week: When is papá coming home?

Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

“Miracle Mile” takes place in a city in the throes of chaos as Angelenos flee the threat of a nuclear strike. The film was released in 1988, but it has resurfaced in the last few years, attracting sold-out crowds at the American Cinematheque and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Written and directed by Steve De Jarnatt and made for $3 million, the film was restored and re-released by boutique film distributor Kino Lorber in 2024. In her commentary for the Blu-ray, author Janet Fitch (“White Oleander”) said “Miracle Mile” depicts “the kind of apocalypse that L.A. people imagine.”

Los Angeles knows how to weather a crisis — or two or three. Angelenos are tapping into that resilience, striving to build a city for everyone.

And even though it did not make a big impression when it opened, De Jarnatt said the film has gained what he called “cult status.”

Much of the appeal of “Miracle Mile” appeal can be attributed to the film’s obvious affection for the stretch of Wilshire Boulevard bordered by La Brea and Fairfax Avenues. Featured locations include the May Co. and Orbach’s department stores (now the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the Petersen Automotive Museum, respectively), the nearby Park La Brea towers and Johnnie’s Coffee Shop, which is closed and used primarily for film and TV productions.

The movie, which takes place over the course of 24 hours, starts out as a lighthearted romance. Anthony Edwards plays Harry Washello, a struggling trombone player who falls for coffee shop waitress Julie Waters (Mare Winningham) after they meet cute at the La Brea Tar Pits. The couple make a date to meet after her evening shift is over.

But their plans fall apart. Harry unwittingly intercepts a call at a phone booth, and the caller tells him nuclear missiles will strike Los Angeles within the hour. As the city unravels, Harry and Julie try to save their upended romance.

The ending is both sad and happy. “To be with the one you love at the end, even if it’s a brand new love who you met at the La Brea Tar Pits, which is like a time portal and a museum dedicated to extinction, is as good a way as any to go out,” De Jarnatt says.

(And it was a particularly happy ending for Edwards and Winningham, who bonded while filming the project. At the time, both were married to other people and stayed friends while working together on other projects — including “ER,” in which Edwards played the lead role as Dr. Mark Greene. The two eventually became a couple and wed in 2021.)

Parking at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, is a distinctly different experience than parking at Dodger Stadium.

It’s about to be similar, however, when it comes to price.

City crews installed about 400 signs in downtown San Diego last week to let drivers know about new street parking-meter rates taking effect Sept. 1, calling it a special event zone. The hourly rate will increase from $2.50 to $10 starting two hours before games or concerts at the stadium, and will remain at that rate for six hours.

Getting to the stadium an hour before a three-hour game and perhaps enjoying a drink or meal at one of the establishments in the Gaslamp Quarter a short walk from the stadium can lift the cost of parking from $15 to $60.

And it could get worse. The variable parking rate policy change that the San Diego City Council approved in June allows the city to charge as much as $20 an hour, but officials are starting with $10.

The Padres were taken by surprise by the city’s action and objected to the increase, complaining that it was implemented without significant input from the team.

“We look forward to better understanding the city’s plan,” Padres spokesperson Vanessa Dominguez said.

Watching the kerfuffle must be amusing for Dodgers officials, who long have taken it on the chin for seemingly exorbitant parking fees and an enormous, barren parking lot that has all the charm of, well, an enormous, barren parking lot.

Parking at Chavez Ravine is not nearly as fun as at Petco Park, where the dozens of nearby restaurants, bars, shops and music venues make it akin to attending a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field.

General admission parking at Dodger Stadium is $35 if prepaid and $40 at the gate, but it’s a long hike to the seats. Preferred parking — translation: a shorter walk — is $60, the same as the six-hour meter charge will be at Petco.

Dodgers fans have their complaints about parking — primarily a postgame snarl to get out of the Stadium that makes navigating the 405 seem like a breeze — and drama too often colors the experience.

A tailgating ban is enforced so diligently that fans can’t even enjoy an El Ruso taco leaning over the trunk of their car without being scolded by a security officer. Safety is difficult to ensure as well: Fans have been beaten senseless walking to or from their cars.

And through no fault of the Dodgers, a procession of vehicles identified as federal agents attempted to enter the stadium on June 19, a day immigration raids capped two weeks of roundups by arresting “30 illegal aliens in Hollywood … and nine illegal aliens in San Fernando and Pacoima,” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.

Federal officials said the gathering of vehicles was to conduct a briefing, and the Dodgers denied the vehicles entry into the stadium.

Parking near Petco Park is relatively safe, with well-lit lots and streets part of the fabric of a neighborhood packed with revelers. And Padres fans don’t require a metered street spot to park. The team runs several lots a few blocks from the stadium where parking can be reserved ahead of time. Rates range from $10 to $40.

The quadrupled special-event metered rate changes near Petco were included in a sweeping package of new parking rules throughout San Diego designed to increase revenue.

No more free parking on Sundays. Soon, no more free parking at the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and Mission Bay Park. Free beach parking will be a perk of the past.

The city doubled meter rates to $2.50 an hour in most places. And meter hours around the city will be extended by at least two hours later this summer. The increase is expected to bring in about $4 million through the remainder of the fiscal year, and at least $9.6 million annually starting next fiscal year, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

“This city is a playground for folks,” San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera said at a recent meeting. “It is really important to me that San Diegans not be subsidizing the vacations of tourists who have the financial capability of coming here and enjoying this city.”

Most Padres fans are San Diego-area residents, although when the Dodgers visit the city to their south the crowd is noticeably peppered with folks wearing Dodgers gear. As the rivalry between the teams has grown in recent years, Petco has become a favorite destination for Dodgers fans.

Groups like Pantone 294 — the Dodgers official blue-tone color is listed as Pantone 294 — organize “takeovers,” with hundreds of Dodgers fans purchasing tickets in the same section of an opposing ballpark. For the short trip to San Diego, fans can join others on tour buses or drive their own cars.

When it comes to parking those cars, fees will have risen. Savvy fans who don’t mind taking the time can reduce the cost by parking near a San Diego trolley or MTS bus station: The fare remains $2.50.

A French holidaymaker has shared a “hidden gem” Spanish town that is just an hour away from the popular tourist destination of Marbella – and it’s perfect for those wanting to avoid the crowds

With just a month of summer remaining, many might be scrambling to secure a last-minute getaway or beginning to fantasise about next year’s destinations, with Spain continuing to be amongst the top choices for British holidaymakers.

Whilst renowned tourist hotspots such as Benidorm, Barcelona and Marbella have witnessed locals demonstrating against the massive influx of annual visitors, several lesser-known towns remain relatively uncrowded – and they’re practically on our doorstep. However, if you’re keen to explore somewhere fresh, choosing your ideal destination can feel daunting. To help, a French traveller called Marina has revealed her “hidden-gem” location for those seeking to enjoy the Spanish culture without the crowds.

Amongst the numerous lesser-known towns is Iznájar. Situated in Córdoba province within Andalucia in southern Spain, this town houses 4,960 residents yet maintains a lively community atmosphere.

“One of the most beautiful villages of Spain,” Marina wrote her TikTok video whilst showcasing highlights from her trip. Strolling through the cobbled lanes wearing a vibrant yellow dress, Marina showed the whitewashed buildings adorned with blue flowering plants, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Greece‘s Santorini.

Marina wrote in the caption of her video: “Save this for one of the most beautiful villages of Spain. Which one is your favourite?”

She went on to share the exact details of the destination where she filmed the video: “Iznájar – a must see of the Pueblos Blancos This exact spot is called Patio de las Comedias.”

Patio de las Comedias is a tapas establishment situated at the town’s heart, near the historic castle. Not only does it serve traditional Spanish tapas, it also boasts amazing views that overlook the rest of the town.

She then revealed a breathtaking view from a vantage point, showcasing endless rows of charming white buildings with olive groves stretching into the distance. Olive harvesting is a key economic activity in Iznájar, but tourism is on the rise.

For those keen to immerse themselves in Spanish nature, Marina also highlighted the Iznajar Reservoir that encircles the town. It’s the largest in Andalucía and transforms into a bustling “beach” during the summer season.

If you’re itching for more than just a quaint town experience, you’ll be pleased to know that Iznájar is merely an hour’s drive from vibrant Marbella, perfect for a city escape.

Accessing this historic town is a breeze for international travellers, with Marbella airport being the nearest gateway.

The comments section was quickly flooded with enthusiasm, as many expressed their desire to visit on their next holiday.

“Stunning! Love all the colour,” remarked one user, while another shared: “Love! My favourite was Frigiliana.”

“We couldn’t love Spain more, and there are so many gorgeous Pueblos to discover,” commented another admirer.

Robert Wilson, a leader in avant-garde theater who collaborated with Philip Glass, David Byrne and Lady Gaga over his six-decade career, has died. He was 83.

The “Einstein on the Beach” director died Thursday at his home in Water Mill, N.Y., after a “brief but acute illness,” according to his website.

“While facing his diagnosis with clear eyes and determination, he still felt compelled to keep working and creating right up until the very end,” the statement reads. “His works for the stage, on paper, sculptures and video portraits, as well as the Watermill Center, will endure as Robert Wilson’s artistic legacy.”

Wilson was born on Oct. 4, 1941, in Waco, Texas, to a conservative Southern Baptist family. He struggled with a speech impediment and learning disabilities as a child but was aided by his ballet teacher, Byrd Hoffman.

“She heard me stutter, and she told me, ‘You should take more time to speak. You should speak slowly,’ ” he told the Observer in 2015. “She said one word over a long period of time. She said go home and try it. I did. Within six weeks, I had overcome the stuttering.”

In 1968, Wilson opened an experimental theater workshop named after his mentor: the Byrd Hoffman School of Byrds. He created the Byrd Hoffman Water Mill Foundation in 1969, under which he established the Watermill Center in 1992.

In his early 20s, Wilson moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., where he studied interior design and architecture at the Pratt Institute. Later, he joined the recreation department of Goldwater Memorial Hospital, where he brought dance to catatonic polio patients with iron lungs.

“Because the patients were largely paralyzed, the work he was doing with them was more mental than physical,” wrote his former colleague Robyn Brentano in Frieze. “With his unconventional frankness and tenderness, he drew out people’s hidden qualities.”

Wilson started teaching movement classes in Summit, N.J., while he wrote his early plays. One day in 1968, he witnessed a white police officer about to strike a deaf, mute Black boy, Raymond Andrews, while walking down the street. Wilson came to Andrews’ defense, appeared in court on his behalf and eventually adopted him. Together, Andrews and Wilson created “Deafman Glance,” a seven-hour “silent opera,” which premiered in 1970 in Iowa City, Iowa.

“The world of a deaf child opened up to us like a wordless mouth. For more than four hours, we went to inhabit this universe where, in the absence of words, of sounds, 60 people had no words except to move,” wrote French Surrealist Louis Aragon after the 1971 Paris premiere. “I never saw anything more beautiful in the world since I was born. Never, never has any play come anywhere near this one, because it is at once life awake and the life of closed eyes, the confusion between everyday life and the life of each night, reality mingles with dream, all that’s inexplicable in the life of deaf man.”

In 1973, Glass attended a showing of Wilson’s “The Life and Times of Joseph Stalin,” which ran for 12 hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The two artists, united by their interest in experimenting with time and space in theater, soon teamed up to create “Einstein on the Beach,” which premiered in 1976 in Avignon, France.

“We worked first with the time — four hours — and how we were going to divide it up,” Glass told the Guardian in 2012. “I discovered that Bob thinks with a pencil and paper; everything emerged as drawings. I composed music to these, and then Bob began staging it.”

Times classical music critic Mark Swed called “Einstein” “easily the most important opera of the last half century,” even though “nothing about what composer Philip Glass and director Robert Wilson put onstage was opera.” Indeed, “Einstein” has become a cult classic despite the fact it has no Einstein, no beach and no narrative.

Wilson and Glass partnered again to create “the CIVIL warS: a tree is best measured when it is down,” which also featured music from Talking Heads frontman Byrne, for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The project, meant to span 12 hours, was ultimately never completed due to funding problems. In 1995, Wilson shared his concerns about arts funding in the U.S. with The Times.

“The government should assume leadership,” Wilson told Times contributor Jan Breslauer. “By giving the leadership to the private sector in a capitalistic society, we’re going to measure the value of art by how many products we can sell. We need to have a cultural policy [instead]. There has to be a balance between government and the private sector.

“One of the few things that will remain of this time is what artists are doing,” Wilson says. “They are the journal and the diary of our time.”

In addition to his stage work, Wilson created drawings, sculptures, furniture and installations, which he showed at the Paula Cooper Gallery in New York beginning in 1975. In 2004, Wilson produced a series of video portraits featuring Brad Pitt, Winona Ryder, Renée Fleming and Alan Cumming. He would return to the medium again in 2013 with Lady Gaga as his subject.

His work on the installation “Memory/Loss” earned him a Golden Lion for sculpture at the Venice Biennale in 1993.

One of Wilson’s last projects was an installation commissioned by Salone del Mobile in April Centering on Michelangelo’s Rondanini Pietà at Milan’s Castello Sforzesco, the project explored the Virgin Mary’s pain following Christ’s death with a combination of music, light and sculpture.

“I’m creating my own vision of the artist’s unfinished masterpiece, torn between a feeling of reverential awe and profound admiration,” he told Wallpaper.

Wilson is survived by Andrews; his sister, Suzanne; and his niece, Lori Lambert.

Less than a day after city workers painted the 2nd Street Tunnel, long an L.A. graffiti haven, taggers covered the walls of the iconic tunnel again, according to an Instagram post.

Video footage posted by user @grafftv appeared to show people spray-painting new graffiti on top of blank walls as motorists drove by.

“Less than 24 hours after the 2nd Street tunnel in downtown Los Angeles was painted a sterile white for the first time in over six months, the city’s graffiti underground roared back to life,” the user posted. “What had been a clean slate at noon became by midnight a living gallery of street expression, filled with burners, rollers, and painted signatures from L.A.’s most well known vandals.”

City officials did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether or when they would repaint the walls of the tunnel, which was finished in 1924 and runs from South Figueroa Street to Hill Street.

The 1,500-foot white-tiled tunnel is an L.A. landmark, featured in Hollywood movies such as the sci-fi epic “Blade Runner” and the biographical drama “The Soloist.” It is also a popular location for car commercials, with more than 70 shot there between 2006 and 2009.

SAN DIEGO — As the Chargers’ team bus rolled down the freeway past Poway and toward San Diego, Tony Jefferson couldn’t help but smile.

This feels like home.

Eight years after the Chargers left San Diego, the organization is reintroducing itself to the city with two days of training camp this week. Fans who couldn’t secure tickets to practice at the University of San Diego on Tuesday still clamored for a glimpse from the top of a nearby hill. Jefferson, a San Diego native who grew up rooting for the Chargers, has been happy to see the support grow after the franchise’s contentious departure.

“With any sports team that leaves the city, [fans] feel empty when it comes to that spot,” said Jefferson, who signed with the Chargers last year. “But I think we’re gradually filling that void back.”

Coach Jim Harbaugh’s numerous ties to San Diego and instantaneous winning appeared to smooth out a potential reunion with the city. When team executives approached him about returning to San Diego for training camp, the coach eagerly agreed. He suggested the University of San Diego campus, where he got his head coaching start in 2004 for the Toreros.

More than two decades later, this week’s practices are a homecoming for Harbaugh, but it’s not an olive branch for the Chargers organization, he insisted.

“It is all about the great fans we have,” Harbaugh said in June. “We want to go to our fans. We want to go to our Chargers supporters and they’re everywhere.”

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh instructs players during training camp in San Diego on Tuesday.

(Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Although the Chargers returned this week, they didn’t throw the doors open to all fans. Both of their practices were limited in attendance. Tuesday’s practice was open to only active-duty military and veterans. Wednesday’s is reserved for season ticket holders.

Players signed autographs for almost an hour after practice Tuesday. Quarterback Justin Herbert looped back twice in front of a swath of fans that ran three bus-lengths long. Safety Derwin James Jr., who never played in San Diego after getting drafted in 2018, was in awe of all the No. 3 jerseys he saw in the crowd.

“It made my heart warm just having so much support,” James said. “I can’t wait to give them something to cheer for.”

Harbaugh’s history as a player has helped the Chargers tap back into their roots while celebrating their most iconic players. The coach who played two seasons for the Chargers called former teammate Rodney Harrison to inform the safety that he would be inducted into the Chargers’ Hall of Fame in October. Legendary tight end Antonio Gates will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in less than two weeks. Five years after playing the final season of his 17-year career with the Indianapolis Colts, quarterback Philip Rivers reversed course to put a more fitting punctuation mark on his career by announcing Monday that he would officially retire as a Charger.

Doubling down on the nostalgia, the Chargers unveiled throwback alternative navy jerseys that were a hit among players and fans. Seeing the navy uniform with gold-lined white lightning bolts “struck me at the core,” Jefferson said. It was just like the first NFL jersey he owned: a Junior Seau jersey he received for Christmas.

The Chargers were at the center of almost all of Jefferson’s core NFL memories growing up. He sat in the nosebleeds with his girlfriend at his first NFL game between the Chargers and Raiders. He played his last high school football game for Chula Vista Eastlake High in Qualcomm Stadium.

Chargers running back Omarion Hampton runs through a drill during training camp in San Diego on Tuesday.

(Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

But the stadium grew outdated, prompting the Chargers to relocate. Now when Jefferson drives south on Interstate 15, he still hates looking to his right because he misses the familiar venue.

“This type of stuff just happens,” Jefferson said. “It happened to the Raiders. They’re our rival and they’re pretty big in what they represent organization-wise and they moved, too. It’s just the business.”

The Padres are the only remaining major pro sports team in San Diego and the city pride runs deep. When the Chargers celebrated the Dodgers’ World Series title last year, die-hard Padres fan Jefferson recoiled at the sight of a floor-to-ceiling congratulatory message in the Chargers practice facility.

But with no pro football in the city, Jefferson, who still lives in San Diego, tries to remind fans that this team is still the Chargers.

“Us just being two hours away, SoFi is a perfect venue for fans, I don’t see why we shouldn’t have the San Diego fans,” Jefferson said. “I think coming here is just opening up the arms again and letting them know.”

Etc.

Rashawn Slater missed a third consecutive day of practice and is “working through something,” Harbaugh said. The coach characterized the undisclosed injury as minor, tip-toeing around suggestions that Slater is trying to wait out negotiations for a contract extension. … The Chargers signed running back Nyheim Hines to bolster a position that is still waiting for Najee Harris’ return. Harris remains on the non-football injury list after suffering an eye injury from a fireworks accident, but has been attending team meetings. While signing Hines, the Chargers waived offensive lineman Savion Washington with a failed physical designation. Washington was on the physically unable to perform list.

Discovering a tranquil beach town without masses of tourists felt like stumbling across a true hidden gem.

I love getting away and spending a few days exploring a new city, imagining what my life might look like if I decided to skip my Ryanair flight home and stay, and Copenhagen isn’t exempt from this.

Considering that it was recently voted the most liveable city in the world, I was already daydreaming about life here after the clean and efficient ride into the city on the airport shuttle, which felt like a holiday in itself.

However, I was only in the city for a brief moment this time around, and rather than spending my time cycling around to cosy coffee shops and museums as I had done on previous trips, I was instead heading to what many Danes refer to as the ‘Copenhagen Riviera’.

While Denmark isn’t necessarily the first place that might spring to mind when thinking of where to head for a coastal retreat, Hornbaek is seaside town just an hour from Copenhagen that’s doubles up as a popular holiday destination.

The town is also where many Danes choose to keep holiday homes, spending summers relaxing on the endless stretches of sandy beaches that have become increasingly popular with surfers.

Despite being just 50km north of Copenhagen, Hornbaek feels worlds apart, especially when you compare it to the popular seaside towns in the UK that are close to cities like London.

In fact, I often find a visit to some of the UK’s seaside towns more stressful than relaxing, especially during the peak summer months when city folk like myself look to cool down by the coast.

With a permanent population of just 3,000 residents, it didn’t feel like visiting a city that’s conveniently placed next to the sea, as Brighton or Margate often does, instead it felt like a proper retreat away from the hustle and bustle.

Most of the houses are built in the style of traditional wooden cottages, helping it feel even more laidback, and the town can easily be reached by following trails that take you through tranquil woodlands.

While surfing and paddle boarding are popular activities, I visited during September, which was slightly chilly for my liking. Nonetheless, there were still some swimmers nearby that were brave enough to head in for a dip.

With nearly 3km of golden sandy beaches overlooking the Baltic Sea, reports the Express, September made for some incredible sunsets as the long summer came to an end.

While the beach wasn’t vastly different, or necessarily superior to those found in the UK, the tranquillity experienced when it merged with the woodlands was truly a peaceful escape.

Visiting in September also meant there was little else to do but stroll along the beach with friends and unwind in the cottage we stayed in, meaning I returned home feeling more refreshed than ever.

That doesn’t meant there isn’t plenty to do if you feel like exploring. The town boasts a buzzy street food market named Det Fedtede Hjørne, a 14km coastal bike track, and even sunrise yoga sessions at Hotel Hornbækhus.

We took the train to Hornbæk and despite needing to switch trains at Helsingør Station, the journey was incredibly smooth and well worth it.

WNBA All-Star weekend is only a few days away, with the anticipation of hometown favorite Caitlin Clark serving as captain of Team Clark for the game in Indianapolis palpable among fans.

Nothing like a pulled muscle to mute the buzz.

The Indiana Fever superstar guard grabbed her right groin and appeared to be holding back tears as she exited with 39.6 seconds to play in a victory against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night.

“[Clark] just felt a little something in her groin,” Fever coach Stephanie White told reporters. ”She’s being evaluated, we’ll see where we are with that, and certainly we’ll have another evaluation, probably a conversation in the morning, and see where we are.”

Teammate Aliyah Boston tried to console Clark as she walked to the basket stanchion and tapped her forehead against it before sitting down and covering her head with a towel. She did not speak with reporters after the game.

This is the fourth leg injury of the season for Clark, who is averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and five rebounds a game. She missed five games — including the Commissioner’s Cup Championship — because of a left groin strain and missed five games with an injury to her left quad. She also missed the Fever’s preseason opener May 3 because of tightness in her quad.

Before this season, Clark, 23, had never missed a game in college or the WNBA because of injury. She played all 139 games at Iowa, then 46 games in a row to start her WNBA career.

“It’s been challenging mentally, just, you know, staying in it,” Clark told reporters July 8 before her return from the left groin injury. “I’ve been here for hours and hours on hours trying to get my body right and do everything I can to put myself in a position to be available the rest of the year.”

The Fever plays the New York Liberty on Wednesday at Barclay Center ahead of the All-Star Game, which will be played Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Fever’s home arena. Clark is also scheduled to compete in the 3-point contest Friday.

Clark and Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx were named captains of the All-Star teams and drafted the rosters after getting the most fan votes. Clark finished with a record 1,293,526 fan votes and Collier received 1,176,020.

Fauja Singh, a torchbearer at the 2012 London Olympics and the world’s oldest marathon runner, died Monday in a hit-and-run, according to police in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab. He was 114.

Born in India in 1911, Singh lived much of his life in London. On Oct. 13, 2011, in Toronto, he set a flurry of world age-group records at a meet established especially for him, the Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational.

Singh, nicknamed the “Turbaned Tornado,” ran the 100 meters in 23.14, 200 meters in 52.23, 400 meters in 2:13.48, 800 meters in 5:32.18, 1500 meters in 11:27.81, one mile in 11:53.45, 3000 meters in 24:52.47 and 5000 meters in 49:57.39. He was 100 years old.

“He rested between the events by sitting down and having a few sips of tea,” Ontario Masters official Doug Smith told the New York Times in 2017. “He was actually running — both feet off the ground.

“It was the most astonishing achievement.”

Singh became the first centenarian to finish a marathon three days later, completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8 hours, 11 minutes and 6 seconds. He didn’t begin the race until 14 minutes after the starting gun because of the congestion of runners, so his official time was 8:25:17.

Guinness World Records wouldn’t recognize the feat because Singh didn’t have a birth certificate. India didn’t keep official birth records when he was born in 1911. The birth date on his passport was April 1, 1911.

A Punjabi Sikh, Singh moved to London in 1992 to live with an adult son after his wife, Gian Kaur, a son and a daughter died. He took up running two years later to alleviate his grief after the death of his fifth son, Kuldip.

“The villagers would tell one of his sons to take him to the UK because he would keep visiting the cremation ground and sit there for hours,” his biographer, Khushwant Singh, told NDTV.

Running soon became his passion. Easily identified by his long white beard and orange Sikh turban, Singh was honored with a letter from Queen Elizabeth II of England when he turned 100 and was the subject of a biography launched in the House of Lords.

In all, Singh completed nine marathons and ran his last competitive race in February 2013 when he was 101, finishing a 10K run in Hong Kong in 1 hour 32 minutes and 28 seconds.

Singh returned to India during the pandemic and was hit by a car Monday while on his daily walk in his home village of Beas Pind. He died in a hospital, his former coach Harmander Singh told the New York Times.

“We would always tell him that someone his age running in India would always run the risk of being hit given how reckless the driving here is,” Khushwant Singh said. “This is what ultimately happened, unfortunately,”

The stunning lake has been compared to the Maldives thanks to its clear blue water and floating lodges

Kent, often referred to as the Garden of England, might not be the first place you’d think of when picturing turquoise waters and floating lodges. However, this county, known for its charming cathedrals and rugged coastlines, is also home to a lake that’s been likened to the Maldives.

St Andrews, once a chalk quarry, is now a stunning lake nestled in the Kent countryside. The water is so pure it’s almost potable, although it’s probably best not to drink it.

Located in the quaint village of Halling, the lake’s vibrant colour comes from suspended chalk particles reflecting light. While there’s a sandy beach for lounging, the lake is more famous for its array of attractions.

Visitors can rent kayaks, paddle boards and pedalos for a jaunt across the lake. Sailing courses and swimming are also on offer for those seeking a less intense activity, with the water reaching a warm 22C in summer. However, if you fancy a swim, you’ll need to complete an open water swim induction first, reports the Express.

The lake’s most renowned attractions, aside from the dazzling blue water, are the two aqua parks situated on the 70-acre lake. A new addition this summer is a towering water slide named La Jefa.

While the main aqua park welcomes visitors aged six and above, there’s also a kids’ aqua park suitable for kids between the ages of two and six.

For adults seeking a tranquil retreat, the wellness offerings include a more sophisticated tour of the lake coupled with access to invigorating facilities such as a sauna, hot tub, and plunge lagoon, complemented by premium sun loungers in the relaxation area.

But there’s also an abundance of excitement to be had on the ground; you can view the quarry from a breathtaking vantage point on the 33ft high zip wire. For additional thrills, try your hand at axe throwing, test your aim with archery, or scale the 23ft rock climbing tower.

When it’s time to wind down after a day brimming with adventure, St Andrews beckons guests to one of its serene floating lodges on the lake for an overnight getaway, each boasting their very own hot tub.

One enchanted Tripadvisor reviewer shared: “Absolutely lovely. The lodges are gorgeous and I could not get enough of sitting on the deck looking at the beautiful lake.”

Echoing the sentiment, another guest who revelled in the delights of Coots Lodge remarked: “Had Coots lodge, unreal views and stunning setting, the smallest fish I saw was 8-10lb, like being in the Maldives.”

Welcoming visitors daily from 10am, St Andrews is a mere stone’s throw away from Halling and a straightforward 40-minute drive from London; alternatively, guests can hop on a train to Halling and find themselves at the lake following a brisk 10-minute stroll.

It’s advisable to book activities in advance through the lake’s website to secure your spot, particularly during the bustling summer season.

Major expansion plans have been revealed, as one of the UK’s busiest railway stations looks to double its passenger capacity over the next three years – handling thousands of passengers every hour

One of the UK’s busiest railway stations has unveiled ambitious expansion plans to handle millions of extra passengers over the next three years.

Earlier this month (Thursday, July 3) St Pancras Highspeed and Eurostar penned a letter of intent to expand capacity at St Pancras International – to support growing demand for ‘sustainable cross-border travel’. The partnership follows an independent study commissioned last year that explored how the popular station could evolve to meet rising visitor numbers in the future.

According to Rail UK, architecture practice Hawkins\Brown has been appointed to undertake and deliver a detailed design and feasibility study. This will allow the businesses to assess how the station can be reimagined to accommodate more passengers and operate more efficiently.

The expansion will be conducted in three phases, with bold aims for the station to be able to handle a staggering 5,000 passengers per hour by 2028. Phase three will take place in the 2030s, and will explore long-term opportunities to ‘drive growth’ following the capacity increase – including potentially relocating the arrivals flow to upstairs.

READ MORE: Tiny UK airport named country’s quietest only used by 2.8k passengers every year

Richard Thorp, chief operating officer at London St. Pancras Highspeed, said the station was ‘delighted’ to be joining forces with Eurostar to expand its capacity. “With growing passenger demand for international train travel, it is important that St. Pancras International station is future-proofed and optimised to accommodate this,” he added.

“With a shared ambition and collaborative approach, we can ensure our iconic station is ready to support this demand. We’re looking forward to getting started on a new era of connectivity between London and Europe.”

Simon Lejeune of Eurostar also welcomed the news, stating it was ‘proud’ to be part of plans to better the customer experience and ‘reimagine our space for the future’. Describing Eurostar as the ‘green gateway to Europe’, he added: “As we plan to expand our fleet from the early 2030s and increase services to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and now Germany and Switzerland, this project will play a vital role in enabling that growth and continuing our seamless and unique customer experience.”

The concept design and feasibility study are due to be finished towards the end of the year, when a formal design and construction plan has been developed. At the time of writing, no estimated costs for the project have been released.

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The announcement comes shortly after Eurostar’s monopoly of the Temple Mills depot site has fallen under close scrutiny – with several competitors showing interest in running similar routes from England to France. A report conducted by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) earlier this year found there is ‘some available capacity’ at the depot for more trains to be stabled, serviced and maintained.

The conclusion was well received by Virgin Group, which says it is now ‘ready to take up the challenge’ of launching high-speed passenger train services through the Channel Tunnel. “The Temple Mills depot is the only facility in the UK which can accommodate European-style trains and claims suggesting it was at capacity have been blocking Virgin from coming to the line,” a spokesperson said. “Virgin is therefore very pleased with the outcome and we thank the ORR for commissioning this report, which will now unlock competition on the cross-Channel route for the benefit of all passengers.”

French manufacturer Alstom is also eyeing up Temple Mills, after signing an €850 million (around £715 million) contract to provide and maintain 12 of its double-decker trains for a Proxima, a private operator in France – as well as France’s state-owned company The Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF).

As previously reported, Chief Executive Henri Poupart-Lafarge says the new fleet could lower fares and increase capacity in the undersea Channel Tunnel. However, it will first need to seek approval from regulators to make sure it adheres to strict Channel Tunnel safety rules.

Meanwhile, Eurostar has already pledged to ramp up its offering as part of a major €2 billion (approximately £1.7bn) investment. Last month, the company announced it would launch a fleet of up to 50 trains that will be in service from the early 2030s, operating three new direct routes. You can learn more about the upcoming routes here.

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WASHINGTON — After an overnight session and hours of floor debate, the House voted Thursday to approve the “Big Beautiful Bill” — clearing its final hurdle in a landmark achievement for President Trump, who wrangled Republican lawmakers to pass the most expensive legislation in history by the Fourth of July.

The 218 to 214 vote, which saw two Republican members side with the Democrats in opposition, was delayed by a record-breaking speech on the House floor by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that lasted eight hours and 44 minutes. “I’m going to take my time,” Jeffries said before launching into a marathon excoriation of the legislation, its Medicaid cuts and its Republican backers. “Shame on this institution if this bill passes.”

The bill encompasses Trump’s domestic agenda, extending tax breaks to millions of American households and businesses that are projected to add trillions to the national debt. The legislation also introduces new tax relief for senior citizens, tip and overtime workers, and new parents.

To offset a fraction of those costs, Republicans approved new barriers to access for Medicaid and cut funding streams under the Affordable Care Act, placing the healthcare of nearly 12 million in jeopardy over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food stamps, was also cut.

It has been a controversial bill within the Republican Party ever since it was conceived at the beginning of Trump’s second term, with fiscal hawks decrying its record contributions to annual deficits, and moderate Republicans fearing its cuts to healthcare would come back to haunt them in future elections.

Speaking with reporters after the vote, senior White House officials said Trump was the “omnipresent force behind the legislation,” crediting his personal relationships with lawmakers on the Hill for its ultimate success.

“I’ve lost count of the number of meetings the president has had,” one White House official said, adding that the bill “satisfies virtually every campaign promise the president made.”

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said that Republicans defied the “doubters and the panicans” to secure passage of legislation that would “add funding for at least 1 million deportations per year.”

Beyond tax relief and healthcare cuts, the bill increases defense spending and adds a historic $150 billion to fund border security and mass deportations, exponentially increasing the budget of Immigration and Customs Enforcement — a fund larger than many national armies.

The president, Leavitt said, would host a “big, beautiful signing ceremony” Friday at 5 p.m. Eastern, marked by fireworks on the National Mall celebrating Independence Day — a deadline he imposed on the Republican caucus to secure passage of the legislation.

It also includes a host of parochial provisions. The bill provides $1 billion for security, planning and other costs for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and $30 million for the construction of a sculpture-laden “American Garden of Heroes” to be built at an undetermined location.

In total, the Congressional Budget Office projects the bill could add up to $3.3 trillion to the debt by 2034. Republicans dispute the figure as inflated, arguing the CBO assumes status economic growth, while still other groups say the projection is conservative.

In a statement after the vote, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which has advocated fiscal responsibility for decades, warned the bill “would add more than $4 trillion to the debt, accelerate the insolvency of Social Security and Medicare, and leave us even more vulnerable to the whims of the Treasury markets.”

“In a massive fiscal capitulation, Congress has passed the single most expensive, dishonest, and reckless budget reconciliation bill ever — and, it comes amidst an already alarming fiscal situation,” the group said. “Never before has a piece of legislation been jammed through with such disregard for our fiscal outlook, the budget process, and the impact it will have on the well-being of the country and future generations.”

And yet, despite issuing scathing criticisms of the Senate language for its historic contributions to the debt, opposition from the House Freedom Caucus, also founded to advocate for fiscal responsibility, all but melted away in the early hours of Thursday under intense pressure from the White House.

Several of the Medicaid provisions kick in only after the 2026 midterms, buying Republicans time to sell the bill without facing its real-world consequences before the next election. But Democrats are already campaigning against the legislation as the greatest attack on healthcare since Republicans tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017, which prompted a Democratic wave in midterms the following year.

The legislation introduces a work requirement for Medicaid enrollment that will require extensive new paperwork for applicants, and restricts state taxes on healthcare providers, known as the “provider tax,” an essential tool for many states in their efforts to supplement Medicaid funding.

Several Republican lawmakers fear that provision could have devastating effects on rural hospitals. The Senate added a rural hospital fund to the bill to help mitigate some of the impacts of the funding cuts.

The bill also rolls back green energy tax credits that have fueled an entire manufacturing workforce in wind and solar energy in states across the country.

The bill passed through the Senate despite bipartisan opposition, with three Republicans joining Democrats to vote against it. House approval of the Senate text Thursday morning occurred barely 24 hours after the upper chamber’s vote.

On Wednesday night, a number of House Republican lawmakers had said openly they would not support a rushed process to approve the bill. But a floor vote on debate rules kept open by House Speaker Mike Johnson throughout the night kept conversations active, and ultimately swayed the holdouts.

Two Republican House members, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted against the final bill, citing its effects to the healthcare system and to the national debt, respectively.

“What a great night it was,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform before the final vote. “One of the most consequential Bills ever. The USA is the ‘HOTTEST’ Country in the World, by far!!!”

In the call with reporters, one White House official also credited Vice President JD Vance for his efforts to secure a victory on the legislation, noting his huddle hours before a final Senate vote on Tuesday with Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a lawmaker who secured exceptional carve-outs for her state in the bill and yet still expressed disappointment with its harshest provisions after voting to approve it.

Democrats will welcome the vice president receiving credit. Several expressed hope to The Times they can tie any successor of Trump’s to unpopular healthcare cuts in 2028.

An Israeli drone attack on a car killed at least one person and injured three others near the Lebanese capital Beirut on Thursday during rush hour, according to local authorities. Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr was at the scene as officials inspected the wreckage.

WASHINGTON — There’s no filibuster in the House, but Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries essentially conducted one anyway.

Jeffries held the House floor for more than eight hours Thursday, taking his “sweet time” with a marathon floor speech that delayed passage of Republicans’ massive tax and spending cuts legislation and gave his minority party a lengthy spotlight to excoriate what he called an “immoral” bill.

As Democratic leader, Jeffries can speak for as long as he wants during debate on legislation — hence its nickname on Capitol Hill, the “magic minute,” that lasts as long as leaders are speaking.

He began the speech at 4:53 a.m. EDT and finished at 1:37 p.m. EDT, 8 hours, 44 minutes later, breaking the record set by then-Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) in 2021, when he was the GOP leader. McCarthy spoke for 8 hours, 32 minutes when he angrily criticized Democrats’ “Build Back Better” legislation, breaking a record set by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), when she spoke about immigration for 8 hours, 7 minutes in 2018.

“I feel an obligation, Mr. Speaker, to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time,” Jeffries said as he opened.

The speech pushed a final vote on Republican President Trump’s tax bill, initially expected in the early morning, into the daylight hours. The New York Democrat used the time to criticize the bill’s healthcare and food aid cuts, tax breaks for the wealthy and rollbacks to renewable energy programs, among other parts of the bill that Democrats decry.

He also killed time by riffing on hip-hop, King George III and his own life story, among other diversions. He called out Republicans who have voiced concerns about the bill, read stories from people concerned about their health care from those GOP lawmakers’ districts and praised his own members, some of whom sat behind him and cheered, clapped, laughed and joined hands.

“This reckless Republican budget is an immoral document, and that is why I stand here on the floor of the House of Representatives with my colleagues in the House Democratic caucus to stand up and push back against it with everything we have,” Jeffries said.

He ended the speech in the cadence of a Sunday sermon, with most of the Democratic caucus in a tight huddle around him. One colleague called out, “Bring it home, Hakeem!”

“We don’t work for President Donald Trump,” Jeffries said, as a handful of Republicans across the aisle sat silent and occasionally snickered at the leader as he kept talking.

He invoked the late John Lewis, a civil rights activist in the 1960s and longtime Democratic congressman from Georgia. “Get into good trouble, necessary trouble,” Jeffries said. “We’re going to press on until victory is won.”

Jeffries sneaked small bites of food and drank liquids to boost his energy, but did not leave the chamber or his podium. The speech would be over if he did.

Democrats were powerless to stop the huge bill, which Republicans are passing by using an obscure budget procedure that bypasses the Senate filibuster. So they were using the powers they do have, mostly to delay. In the Senate, Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York forced Senate clerks to read the bill for almost 16 hours over the weekend.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) similarly gained attention in April when he spoke for more than 25 hours on the Senate floor about the first months of Trump’s presidency and broke the record for the longest continuous Senate floor speech in the chamber’s history. Booker was assisted by fellow Democrats who gave him a break from speaking by asking him questions on the Senate floor, but Jeffries’ “magic minute” did not allow for any interaction with other members.

Republicans who were sitting on the floor when Jeffries started trickled out, leaving half the chamber empty. When the speech was over, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) called it “a bunch of hogwash.”

The speech “will not change the outcome that you will see very shortly,” Smith said.

After the bill passed, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said that Democrats “wanted to speak for hours and hours and break records because they wanted to stand in the way of history.”

Jalonick writes for the Associated Press. A.P. writers Matt Brown, Kevin Freking, Lisa Mascaro and Leah Askrinam contributed to this report.

Two friends who visited Barcelona on holiday were left considering their options after finding themselves on the receiving end of a problem plaguing the city within an hour of arriving

Two young tourists have shared their shock and disbelief after an unfortunate incident occurred within an hour of them arriving on holiday in Barcelona. Spain, with its warm climate, rich culture, delicious food and stunning landscapes, is a top choice for holidaymakers from around the globe during the summer months.

Indeed, millions flock to the country each year to soak up the sun in its numerous coastal spots and explore its bustling cities. Barcelona, as one of the most frequented cities, offers the perfect blend of city life and beach relaxation. The city boasts a lively cultural scene, breathtaking architecture including the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, and a plethora of traditional tapas bars and high-end eateries.

However, the city has recently gained a reputation as one of Europe‘s most unsafe due to a worrying surge in thefts.

WARNING – explicit language in TikTok video below, viewer discretion advised

Growing concerns about security in Barcelona are particularly focused on heavily populated areas such as the historic centre, public transport hubs, and tourist hotspots.

Moreover, incidents of pickpocketing, snatch thefts, and violent robberies are on the rise, causing distress for both locals and tourists. This harsh reality was experienced first-hand by two young tourists who chose the Catalan capital for their getaway.

One TikTok user, @orangieyt, turned to social media sharing their unfortunate travel experience shortly after landing in Barcelona saying, “First hour in Barcelona and Brian got robbed already,” they cursed in a clip. “They took my chain.”

Elaborating on the incident on the platform, they described the events: “We were walking down a normal street… a random man approached me, looked at me, grabbed my chain and ran off.”

The disheartened friends posed the question in their video: “Are we leaving Barcelona? Now everyone seems suspicious.”

A number of TikTok users from Barcelona responded, one whom commented cynically: “Welcome to Barcelona, I live there and everyday it’s getting more dangerous.”

Another one extended an apology for the mishap, stating: “Barcelona is the worst thing about Spain right now, I’m really sorry.”

A third TikTok user added: “It’s totally normal that tourists want to visit Barcelona it’s one of the most famous cities in Spain. But if you’re a foreigner planning to come here, especially to Barcelona, make sure to look into the recent rise in crime. It’s really important to stay alert right now.”

Meanwhile, a fourth individual recommended better alternatives for holiday-goers: “Why [do] tourists continue to visit Barcelona? I don’t understand, there’s literally 1,000 places way prettier, safer and better. A Coruña, Pontevedra, Gijón, Alicante, Sevilla, Granada… etc etc etc. Go search a plane Barcelona – A Coruña. If you don’t fall in love, I’ll pay for the flight.”

BENFICA’s Club world Cup clash with Auckland City has suffered a huge hold-up – as fans run for cover from predicted lightning.

Organisers warned there could be a delay of more than an hour – with the Portuguese giants 1-0 up on the brink of half-time.

One warning predicted “excessive lightning2 in the area of the Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

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WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN

OMAHA, Neb. — UCLA head coach John Savage walked out of the dugout and to freshman pitcher Wylan Moss. The righty sat down the first two batters he faced Tuesday morning but stepped into trouble with a walk and a base hit. When Moss’s first pitch to LSU’s Steven Milam didn’t catch the strike zone, Savage wanted to give the righty encouragement.

Milam singled to continue the two-out rally. It was the first of four Tigers two-out RBIs on Tuesday, fifth of the game. LSU went 7-for-15 with two outs. It didn’t matter if it was Moss or one of the seven other Bruins pitchers that faced LSU. Even reliable closer Easton Hawk gave up a final RBI in the bottom of the eighth, preventing UCLA from building momentum from a scrappy eighth inning.

“Just seemed like we were swimming upstream a little bit most of the game,” Savage said.

LSU leapfrogged UCLA’s three-run first inning by scoring four, giving the Tigers an early lead on Monday night. They maintained that lead for 15 hours as storms rolled over Charles Schwab Field, forcing the game to continue Tuesday morning. LSU scored two when play resumed in the fourth. UCLA scrapped together an eighth-inning rally until Phoenix Call, the potential tying run, grounded out to shortstop, dooming the Bruins to a 9-5 loss in the Men’s College World Series. The Bruins now face Arkansas and possible elimination at 4 p.m. PDT Tuesday. The game will air on ESPN.

“We put up three and then they put up four. Then they come out and do a good job with two outs in the fourth, and they got two there,” Savage said. “And it seemed like we were just trailing a little bit from the mound, mostly.”

None of the eight pitchers used in the loss recorded more than six outs. Landon Stump allowed five runs in two-plus innings before Chris Grothues ended the third inning going into the weather delay. Moss only pitched two outs. Sophomore Cal Randall came in to provide 1.2 innings of one-hit relief. Ian May, Jack O’Connor, August Souza and Hawk combined to throw under three innings, allowing three hits, two runs and two walks.

“They were competing. Just some days you have it better than others,” said Cashel Dugger, who caught all eight pitchers. “We’re in the World Series. They’re giving it their all. Just some days you don’t have it as good as others.”

UCLA sophomore pitcher Cal Randall delivers the ball from the mound during a Men’s College World Series game against LSU on Tuesday, July 17, 2025. The Bruins lost the game that started Monday night and resumed Tuesday following a weather delay.

(Mac Brown / UCLA Athletics)

The Bruins’ bats struggled to answer the call. Collectively, UCLA lead-off batter went 1-for-11 (.091) in the game. The Bruins went 2 of 10 with two outs, 4 of 14 with runners on base. Dugger was one of three Bruins with two hits, joining Mulivai Levu and AJ Salgado.

At the core of UCLA’s offensive struggles is standout shortstop Roch Cholowsky. While his sacrifice bunt against Murray State on Saturday started a rally, he’s still without a hit in the College World Series after going 0-for-5 against LSU. He hadn’t done that since early March against UConn. Cholowsky is now hitless in his last 12 at bats.

He popped out in foul territory to start the eighth inning, where UCLA made it’s last stand. Payton Brennan scored Levu on a fielder’s choice and Blake Balsz sent an RBI single up the middle to give the Bruins momentum. Dugger then walked to load the bases. LSU brought in sophomore righty Chase Shores to face Phoenix Call, the tying run. Call swung at the first pitch, a dribbler to the shortstop. The rally ended with a flip to second.

“We had some opportunities, but at the end of the day I just thought they were the better team today,” Savage said. “So we’ve got to regroup and focus on Arkansas now.”

The Bruins dodged bad Big Ten weather all season. Now they will play their first doubleheader of the season in the College World Series. Awaiting them in the elimination game is a team riding the emotional high of a 19-strikeout no-hitter on Monday.