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NBC News predicts that Andy Barr has won the GOP nomination in Kentucky for Mitch McConnell, retiring Senator. Subscribe to this story to enjoy it ad free

Receive unlimited access to exclusive articles and ad free content. Barr, a seven term congressman, defeated former state attorney general Daniel Cameron, and other lesser known GOP candidates. the Republican primary Barr will be the heavy favorite in the general election against Charles Booker. Booker previously ran for Senate, and was up against another former Democratic Senate candidate, Amy McGrath. Since 1992, the state hasn’t elected a Democrat as senator. Wendell Ford was given a final and fourth term.

BBC News World

American doctor with Ebola evacuated in Germany, while wife and four kids are monitored in Congo.

When the American physician who was contracted Ebola the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday was flown to Germany to receive treatment, he could barely stand on his feet, according to the two leaders of the Christian Missionary Group where he worked. Subscribe to read the story without ads

took place. Myhre stated that Stafford operated days before the

on a 33 year old patient who had severe abdominal pain. The patient’s doctors initially thought he had a gallbladder disease. Myhre stated that

had performed an abdominal surgery and found out the gallbladder wasn’t abnormal. They closed him up but the patient died the next morning. Ebola outbreak They discovered days later that they had likely died of Ebola. The patient was buried without being tested. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Stafford began showing symptoms between the weekend and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the outbreak time period. Myhre, Stafford’s colleague, said that Stafford is a meticulous professional. “He would wear sterile clothing, gloves, hats, and glasses for each surgical case,” Myhre added. Stafford’s wife Rebekah Stafford is also a physician and treated the patient. Myhre says that she and her four children are currently in the Democratic Republic of Congo where they’re being monitored. According to Myhre, another physician, Dr. Patrick LaRochelle was also exposed by a second patient. He is currently being monitored. No one has shown any signs of illness. Myhre told reporters that “we don’t often see cases of Ebola in children, and we certainly hope this isn’t the case here.” Myhre said that Stafford was quarantined as soon as symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches and fatigue began. Myhre stated that Stafford was put in a plastic tube bed “the size of a small casket” to prevent the crew from becoming infected on the flight to Germany.

According to World Health Organization leaders, the virus’s incubation time is 21 days. The “scale and pace of the epidemic” has caused them to express serious concern. The [Stafford] It is believed that at least 131 central Africans have died, and 531 others are suspected of being infected.

This outbreak of Ebola is caused by a less common strain known as tested positive for Ebola on Sunday, which does not have a vaccine or approved treatment. The WHO reports that the death rate during

ranged between 30% and 50%.

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Are Americans finally cracking under the pressure of rising prices? We’re about find out

This week, four of America’s biggest retailers will release their quarterly earnings reports. The most pressing question will be whether Americans finally start to buckle under rising prices. Subscribe to this story to get unlimited access to exclusive content and ad free articles. Home Depot’s, Lowe’s’, Walmart’s and Target’s results will provide a clearer picture of how U.S. householders are managing an economy under increasing pressure from rising gas prices

Journalists, economists and investors will be analyzing the financial results of the companies and their accompanying comments to look for any signs of stress. Are consumers switching to cheaper products? Delaying home improvements? What about cutting back on purchases of discretionary items to focus on essentials? What is behind America’s inflation spike? stubborn inflation 01.24

Home Depot started the closely-watched earnings parade on Tuesday morning by reporting a 5% rise in sales over a year ago. Homeowners are “more financially protected” than other customers according to the company’s when many consumers are already stretched thin, but they still hold off on expensive projects. Housing affordability is a huge challenge. Average mortgage rates for 30-year fixed loans were 6.68 % nationwide on Monday,

. Home Depot’s results confirm early spring data on consumer spending that shows consumers are doing well, but not equally. According to a report by the Bank of America Institute published in April, total spending on credit and debit cards per household was up 4.8% compared to a year earlier. This is a record-breaking increase. A deeper divide, say economists, is emerging beneath the resilience of headlines. According to economists, the so-called K shape economy – in which wealthy households account for a large share of consumer spending and lower-income families struggle – has grown in recent months. The report revealed that lower- and mid-income families were cutting back on discretionary expenditures like dining and entertainment. Wealthier households, boosted by rising home equity and strong stock market gains, continued to spend at an accelerated pace. The economists warn, however, that the financial pressure on low-income households may increase, as inflation in April was 3.8%, which is above the 3.6% wage growth rate for that month. The gap could widen further, complicating the Federal Reserve’s course under Kevin Warsh. He is expected

on Friday. Warsh will take over the Fed’s top job, having already stated that he is open to ” ” at the Fed. This comes as persistent inflation may force the central banks to maintain interest rates higher than they could have anticipated just a few short months ago, to avoid the economy overheating. Higher benchmark interest rate from the Fed has a direct impact upon consumer lending costs. Therefore, the same elevated borrowing cost would continue to increase the pressure on business and consumers that are already struggling to cope with rising costs. The Bank of America economists stated that while households have some short-term buffers, such as tax refunds and saving, these are also unevenly distributed. This highlights the growing gap between headline resilient and stress experienced by certain households.

What’s behind America’s new inflation spike

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Pentagon’s own watchdog investigates U.S. strikes allegedly on drug boats

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The inspector general of the Defense Department said Monday it is investigating U.S. Southern Command for its targeting of suspected drug-smuggling ships in the military campaign against drug cartels. Subscribe to read the story without ads

assessment of… programs and operational activities. The letter states that the probe will include investigations at the Pentagon as well as the Southern Command’s Miami headquarters. No comment was made by Southern Command or the Pentagon. According to the correspondence, the investigation will focus on the military doctrine that guides how Southern Command targets small boat drug runners. According to the U.S. Official, in this context, targeting is divided into six phases – the commander’s intention, the development and analysis of each target and the intelligence surrounding it, as well as the decision to strike that target. The senior military attorney for the combatant commands overseeing the lethal strikes against the alleged drug smuggler boats near Venezuela did not agree with the Trump administration that the operations were legal, and was ignored,

. Many lawmakers have questioned the legality of these operations and demanded more oversight. The ongoing strikes have been overshadowed by the conflict with Iran. Pentagon data indicates that Southern Command has carried out three strikes this month, killing seven individuals. In one case, the U.S. attacked a boat with survivors, and then returned to kill them, potentially violating the law of armed conflicts. letter from the Pentagon’s Office of Inspector General After the Pentagon’s campaign against drug cartels began in September, Adm. Alvin Holsey of Southern Command announced that he would be stepping down from his position after just one year. Frank Donovan was appointed to replace him.

Smoke rises from a boat after a U.S. strike in the Eastern Pacific on April 13, 2026.

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Gov. Hochul says a deal has been reached to end the Long Island Rail Road strike. Kathy Hochul

After an incredibly hectic Monday for thousands of Long Island Rail Road passengers trying to enter and exit New York City, things will start to return to normal on Tuesday. Kathy Hochul. Subscribe to read the story ad free

At 12:01am on Saturday, over 3,500 LIRR employees left their jobs after the long-running contract talks broke down. The MTA refused to give the wage and cost-of living increases the workers demanded. Arriving in New York City Monday morning, commuters were met by dozens of striking union employees outside Penn Station and other travel hubs of the city chanting “No contract, No service!” No contract, no peace!

Hochul, fearing a rush-hour nightmare, had encouraged commuters to work at home if they could. “Let’s be honest: It’s difficult to replace the LIRR service,” Hochul told reporters at a Sunday news conference. She said that the commute on Monday went “smoother” than expected. “I thank the employers.”

Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) workers picket in front of Penn Station in New York City — As Hochul spoke to the crowd, negotiators of the five striker unions, and the MTA (which runs the LIRR) returned to the table to try and reach an agreement. The five unions include the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Transportation Communications Union. Hochul met with MTA leadership as well. “Our goal to get this over quickly,” she said. Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive on Long Island called on Hochul during the strike to suspend congestion pricing. Blakeman, a Republican running to unseat Hochul said: “It is a pity that we are going to charge New Yorkers an extra $9 to travel on public roads that they paid for with their taxes, especially during the strike, when many people have no choice but to drive.” Congestion pricing is intended to reduce gridlock, pollution and fund public transportation. Blakeman has been endorsed by President Donald Trump against Hochul. Hochul said that there was no “legal mechanism” for suspension of congestion pricing. “Anyone who says they can’t doesn’t understand federal laws,” said Hochul. The MTA has mapped out alternative transit options ahead of the first LIRR strike since 1994. These include free shuttle buses between seven locations on Long Island and two subway stations in Queens

as well as additional subway service. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that police officers will be deployed on major roads and inside subway stations in order to “ensure commuter safety, prevent illegal parking, and ensure traffic is moving.” Mamdani added that inspectors are making sure parking garage operators don’t raise rates for drivers driving into Long Island, by reminding them of the 60-day notice requirement. MTA CEO Janno Lover said that they were available to negotiate if the unions wanted to. “They walked and they went out on strike.” The unions claimed that there was a difference of less than a percentage-point between the two sides before the talks broke down on Friday night. They also said that the strike could have been avoided. He said that his estimate was based in part on inflation and ridership patterns.

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From The Sports Desk: The NBAs Final Four is here

The Cleveland Cavaliers shocked the basketball world Sunday with a 31-point road win in Game 7 to advance past the Detroit Pistons and into the Eastern Conference Finals. There they’ll meet the red-hot New York Knicks, who have not lost in the postseason since May.

In the West, the Victor Wembanyama-led San Antonio Spurs will face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a matchup of the top two teams in the league. That series starts tonight and will be streamed on Peacock.

Also, our World Cup countdown continues with Colombia star Luis Díaz. For more WNBA and World Cup coverage, check out the NBC News website.

NBA Conference Finals Preview

Donovan Mitchell reacts during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs. — Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs in Detroit on Sunday.Gregory Shamus /

After a blowout win Sunday by the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 of their second-round series, the conference finals are now set: The Cavaliers will play the New York Knicks in the East, and the San Antonio Spurs will play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West. Here’s a quick preview of both matchups.

Let’s start with the Thunder and Spurs, a titanic clash that begins tonight between the two best teams from the regular season. Let me put this as simply as I can: Whether you love the NBA or not, you need to find a way to watch every minute of this series. This is the first time since 1998 that two teams with at least 62 regular-season wins have met in the playoffs, and we should be in store for an incredibly hard-fought battle.

This matchup features two ascendant young stars in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama (who finished first and third in MVP voting, respectively), exciting young talent, a legitimate regional rivalry and two suffocating defenses. It’s as high-level as hoops gets on the court, with the added bonus of animus and history off the court to ratchet up the tension.

San Antonio won the regular-season series over OKC 4-1, but the Thunder practically never had their full squad available. Game 1 should be a little bit of a feel-out process for both sides.

In the East, the dominant Knicks will take on Cleveland. New York has won seven straight playoff games and owns a playoff-best 20.0 net rating. The Knicks should be heavily favored this series as the Cavs have labored through the playoffs, needing seven games to win in each round.

Cleveland is coming off its most inspiring performance, however, eliminating Detroit on the road. It will have to overcome the duo of Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, who are thriving. Brunson is averaging 27.4 points on a career playoff-best 48.5% shooting, while Towns is averaging a career playoff-best 6.6 assists, adding 17.4 points for good measure.

World Cup Countdown

Luis Diaz of Bayern Munich controls the ball. — Luis Diaz of Bayern Munich controls the ball at Allianz Arena in Munich on Saturday.Adam Pretty /

Leading up to the 2026 World Cup, we’re counting down 26 players to watch. They may be household names or unsung heroes, but they are crucial to their team’s success. They are the players you need to know before the games start. Today’s entry is Colombia’s Luis Díaz.

The 29-year-old Colombian winger/midfielder is one of the best goal scorers in the sport, currently lighting it up on the club level for Bayern Munich, after three years with Liverpool. Diaz should be eager and aggressive in what will be his first World Cup appearance after Colombia missed out on the 2022 tournament.

Exactly how excited is Diaz to play in his first World Cup? He scored a whopping seven goals during qualification, second only to Argentina’s Lionel Messi among South American players. In between qualifiers, Diaz also helped Colombia reach the 2024 Copa América Final, scoring two goals in a tournament in which Los Cafeteros finished second. In only 72 appearances for Colombia, Diaz has already scored 21 goals, putting him fourth on the country’s all-time list.

He also has a flair for the dramatic. In Diaz’s first major tournament with Colombia, the 2021 Copa, he scored his first goal via bicycle kick against Brazil. He should also be familiar with American soil, scoring once each in two friendlies that took place in the United States last fall.

Colombia’s best finish at the World Cup came in 2014, when the country made it to the quarterfinal. It could be in a position to make its best run yet, as Diaz is entering the tournament hot. Between the Bundesliga and Champions League, during the 2025-26 season, Diaz scored 22 goals, a career-best mark. With a hot scorer in the prime of his career, Colombia could be a major threat as long as Diaz is in top shape.

Friday’s entry was South Korea’s Son Heung-min. Read about him here.

What We’re Reading

With ICE officers potentially at World Cup matches, vendors are weighing the risk of working.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr nearly walked away from Golden State.

Listen closely for Jamal Crawford’s new, signature catchphrase.

The woman who keeps beating men in ultramarathons runs on mashed potatoes.

Jannik Sinner has completed the “Career Golden Masters” at just 24.

Aaron Rodgers is a Steeler again, officially.

What We’re Watching

Arguably the best matchup that could take place in the NBA happens tonight, when the Spurs will face the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. San Antonio is led by superstar big man Victor Wembanyama, who is averaging 20.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.1 blocks over 10 postseason games. His counterpart, Oklahoma City’s do-everything guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has the Thunder a perfect 8-0 so far in the playoffs.

Meanwhile in the NHL, we get a Game 7 between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres to determine who goes to the Eastern Conference Finals. Buffalo is coming off a dominant 8-3 win to push this series to the brink. The winner will take on the Carolina Hurricanes.

All times are Eastern:

7:30 p.m.: No. 2 Buffalo Sabres vs. No. 3 Montreal Canadiens, on ESPN
8:30 p.m.: No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 2 San Antonio Spurs, on NBC/Peacock
That’s it for now! We’ll be back Tuesday.