MON SIX

The aircraft violated a Temporary ‌Flight Restriction around ⁠1:15 p.m. EDT (1715 GMT), NORAD said in a statement. ⁠That restriction is typically imposed when the U.S. president is in ​the area.

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"During ​the intercept, ​NORAD aircraft dispensed ‌flares, which may have been visible to the public," NORAD said. "The flares were used to draw attention from or communicate with the pilot," ‌and posed no danger ​to people on ​the ground, ​it said.

NORAD has reported a ‌number of similar incidents ​since ​Trump returned to power last year. All were resolved without reports ​of ‌threats.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos in New ​York; Editing by Sergio Non ​and Paul Simao)

U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson signed an order on Friday, March 27, dismissing the charges against Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany with prejudice, meaning federal prosecutors cannot bring the same charges against them again using the same evidence. Both Jaynes and Meany were involved in drafting the search warrant used in the botched raid that killedTaylor, 26, in March 2020.

The dismissal came a week after federal prosecutorsasked Simpson to dismiss the charges"in the interest of justice." It was an expected yet notable development in the federal case against the former Louisville police officers, which began in 2022.

Under PresidentDonald Trump, the U.S. Department of Justice has tried topause or dropmanycivil rights casesstarted under the previous administration. Though Meany and Jaynes were not present during the shooting, both wereaccused by federal prosecutorsof neglecting necessary steps to obtain the warrant for Taylor's apartment.

Meany was accused of knowingly providing false, misleading, and outdated information, while Jaynes was accused of supplying false information to secure the warrant.

The Louisville Metro Police Departmentfired Jaynes in 2021for policy violations anddismissed Meany in August 2022following his federal indictment.

Thomas Clay, Jaynes' lawyer, said the Department of Justice "has finally done what it should have done long ago" and that he was happy for Jaynes and his family. Michael Denbow, who represents Meany, said that his client is "overjoyed and incredibly relieved" now that the case has been dismissed.

Red flare for Trump:'No Kings' rallies a show of political force

Case against former Louisville police officers weakened by previous ruling

As it stood, the case against Jaynes and Meany had already been weakened. Last year, Simpson — an 80-year-old Reagan appointee —dismissed the most serious chargesafter ruling that the government could not prove Meany and Jayne's actions had directly caused Taylor's death.

Two other Louisville police officers, Brett Hankison and Kelly Goodlett, were also charged by federal prosecutors in 2022 in connection with the no-knock raid. Hankison iscurrently free on bondwhile he appeals a conviction for violating Taylor's civil rights, whichresulted in a 33-month sentence. During the raid, he fired 10 shots through a covered sliding glass door and window, with some rounds entering a neighboring apartment.

The 33-month sentence wasimposed by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings, despite theDepartment of Justice's requestof just one day. Hankison promptly sought his release, but Jennings denied the request.

He was thenreleased in December 2025after about two months of incarceration, when a Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled 2-1 that the former officer was not a flight risk or a danger to the community and that he had raised "compelling concerns" regarding his safety in federal custody. In that case, the Department of Justice also intervened on Hankison's behalf and sought his release.

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Goodlett, the fourth Louisville police officer,pleaded guilty in 2022to helping falsify an affidavit for the warrant for Taylor's apartment. She has not yet been sentenced.

Civil rights advocates: Dismissal of charges 'another troubling sign'

U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, who represents Louisville, sent a letter on March 27 to Attorney General Pam Bondi in the wake of the dismissal, asking the Department of Justice to "stop interfering with and undermining Louisville's efforts to deliver justice for Miss Taylor's family and atone for her death as a community."

"The DOJ's decision to walk away from this case and their argument that it is somehow 'in the interest of justice' is insulting given the Trump administration's persistent undermining of police and justice reform efforts here in Louisville and its utter abandonment of any kind of civil rights enforcement nationwide,"McGarvey wrote to Bondi.

In a statement, the NAACP Louisville Branch described the dismissal as "another troubling sign" that the current leadership of the Department of Justice "does not value accountability when Black lives are taken."

"Justice delayed has now become justice denied," the civil rights organization said in the statement. "This decision sends a dangerous message that those who abuse their authority and manipulate the system will not be held accountable."

'We will not let our history be erased:'Civil Rights vets share lessons with educators

What happened to Breonna Taylor?

Taylor, an emergency room technician, was inside her apartment when shewas fatally shot by plainclothes officersat around 12:40 a.m. local time on March 13, 2020, during a narcotics investigation.Officers, who said they knocked and announced themselves several times before forcibly entering, had been trying to serve a no-knocksearch warrant.

Neither Taylor nor Kenneth Walker, her boyfriend at the time, was the target of the investigation, and no drugs were found in the home. Walker and several neighbors also said they did not hear the officers identify themselves as law enforcement.

As police entered the apartment, Walker shot an officer in the leg. He later said he believed the officers were intruders.

Taylor's death sparked months of protests in Louisville and around the country. In December 2024, the Louisville Metro Police Department and the city's governmentreached an agreement on civil rights reformswith the Department of Justice. But the plan was delayed by a lack of approval from a federal judge, and federal prosecutors announced in May 2025 that they wouldabandon negotiations.

Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY; Josh Wood, Louisville Courier Journal

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal:Federal judge ends case against officers tied to Breonna Taylor raid

A campaign group this weekend claimed that more than 70 Britons have beenarrested over photographs and filmsof Iranian attacks in the gulf state since war broke out.

Tourists and expats in citiessuch as Dubaiwere quick to start filming and taking pictures whenIran began firing missilesand drones at the UAE when the Middle East conflict began at the end of February.

The state's authorities, however, clamped down on the practice andwarned residentsand holidaymakers that they could face prison for posting such material.

Since then rules have become even more strict, with police now arresting some bystanders in targeted areas for having photographs of missiles on their phone – even if they have not been posted online.

Even receiving an image could be deemed illegal under the gulf state's strictest laws – and carry a sentence of 10 years in prison or fines of up to £200,000.

Dubai Watch, a campaign group, is representing eight Britons who have beenarrested under the laws, which UAE authorities say are enforced to protect "national security and stability".

David Haigh, its founder, said trusted local lawyers had told him at least 35 Britons had been detained in Dubai along with a similar number in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital.

While some Britons may have been released from detention, it is also possible that some holidaymakers or expats might not have informed the Foreign Office of their arrest.

Some detainees – who include a cabin crew member – have been held in overcrowded police cells as a result of these arrests and in some cases, reportedly denied sleep, food and medicine.

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Mr Haigh, who was detained in Dubai himself for 23 months a decade ago, said the situation had "definitely got worse".

"Before it was just warnings online and now they are arresting people and actually putting them in jail," he said.

Mr Haigh said he had heard of one case where a woman had been locked up and was facing the UAE's federal court over taking a photograph she never published.

"Police are now at these sites and asking to go through people's phones," he added.

"Even a picture – not even sent it or shared it anywhere – they are taking you in for questioning."

The Telegraph previously revealed the arrest of a 60-year-old British tourist who was arrested after allegedly filming missiles.

The London-based holidaymaker was later charged along with 20 other people under the Gulf state's cybercrime laws – despite the man deleting the video from his phone immediately when asked and telling police he had no intention of doing anything wrong.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, the group supporting the tourist, said at the time: "The charges sound extremely vague but serious on paper. In reality, the alleged conduct could be something as simple as sharing or commenting on a video that is already circulating online.

"Under UAE cybercrime laws, the person who originally posts content can be charged, but so can anyone who reshapes, reposts or comments on it. One video can quickly lead to dozens of people facing criminal charges."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are providing consular assistance to a small number of British nationals detained in the UAE in connection with this issue, and our ambassador is engaging with the Emirati authorities about their cases."

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.

In the eyes of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, it won't be as simple as a one-on-one.

"You do it by committee," Staley said.

A key committee member: freshman guard Agot Makeer. Johnson, a senior who is the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, has mentored Makeer to become the next leader of South Carolina's "Seatbelt Gang."

"I feel like that title goes to elite defenders," Makeer said. "Obviously with Raven leaving, someone has to take that title and take that kind of pressure."

Johnson and former Gamecock Bree Hall started the "Seatbelt Gang" last season, adding players such as Te-Hina Paopao -- and now Makeer. Their defensive tenacity has "locked up" many players, and they need another signature performance on March 30 against TCU to reach the Gamecocks' sixth consecutive Final Four.

"The future of the seat belt gang, as of today," South Carolina assistant coach Wendale Farrow said, "is Agot Makeer strapped up with the seat belt."

Michigan State's Rashunda Jones (1) walks off the court following a second-round game in the NCAA women's basketball tournament between the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday March 22, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kamy Peppler #1 of the Green Bay Phoenix reacts against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the third quarter during the First Round of the Women's NCAA Tournament at Williams Arena on March 20, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Phoenix 75-58.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament

Michigan State's Rashunda Jones (1) walks off the court following a second-round game in theNCAA women's basketballtournament between the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday March 22, 2026.

When Johnson was a freshman, she dubbed upperclassmen such as Aliyah Boston the "Grandmas" because of how they mentored her with tough love. Similarly, Johnson has thrown Makeer in the fire.

"Usually Ray has the defensive assignment of the game," Makeer said. "She'll come up to me and she'll be like, 'Do you want to guard her?' I'll be like, 'OK, yeah, I got you.' Just her believing in me to guard her matchup has been really cool."

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Johnson, though, doesn't want the "Grandma" moniker.

"No, no, no," Johnson said. "Don't ever consider me that. I'm still young and turnt, I will always be young and turnt and forever be young and turnt."

Regardless of Johnson's characterization, she is among the most impactful leaders on this South Carolina team.

"Raven just pours into everybody," sophomore guard Maddy McDaniel said. "All the underclassmen, everybody under her, she is so excited for just seeing people flourish and grow."

Gamecocks players and coaches feel certain that Johnson-esque elite defensive seasons -- and the accolades that come with it -- are in Makeer's future.

"I think Gotti is the perfect person to carry that legacy," freshman guard Ayla McDowell said.

Perhaps Makeer also is the perfect defensive menace to help Johnson stop Miles and carry South Carolina past TCU, into another Final Four.

Dylan Clearfield is a student in the University of Georgia's Carmical Sports Media Institute.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:South Carolina's Raven Johnson faces TCU's Olivia Miles in women's Elite 8

But you made it. AndMajor League Baseball's lovable slog should get more recognizable after this seemingly eternal opening weekend.

And while the sample produced was still remarkably small, there were still a few cogent data points, many of them apparently giving signal rather than noise.

With that, USA TODAY Sports takes a look at the winners and losers of opening weekend, with another week's worth of oversized flags and home openers upon us already:

Winners

The youth brigade

And to think No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin's ticket to the minor leagues might have dimmed thestart of the season for prospect heads.

Nope, the kids showed out beyond anyone's wildest dreams right from the first pitches on Thursday – such as the oneKevin McGonigle smoked for a doubleseconds into his major league career, part of a four-hit debut for the Detroit Tigers.

Kevvy Mac (someone has to come up with a nickname, right?) added another hit and two more RBIs in his second game, starting at both third base and shortstop. An incredibly valuable piece already for the pennant-chasing Tigers.

And while he might make the most impact on the pennant race and, maybe, the playoffs, he was arguably not the most spectacular performer at their beautillion ball.

The dynamic JJ Wetherholt homered in his debut and notched a two-run walk-off hit in his second game and got another knock in his third as the rebuilding Cardinals took a series from Tampa Bay. The Mets' Carson Benge homered on the first pitch he saw of his MLB debut.

And while Chase DeLauter technically got his feet wet with a wild card series cameo in 2025, he scorched four homers and broke up a no-hitter in his first four games for Cleveland. Same with Owen Caissie, who enjoyed a cortado-length stay with the Cubs last summer, got traded to the Marlins and hit a walk-off two-run homer to sweep the Rockies in his Miami debut.

Konnor's gonna have to play catch-up.

A Yankees-Blue Jays pennant race repeat

The death of the tiebreaker game can take some shine off a great divisional race. So it was last year when the Blue Jays and Yankees each won 94 games and Toronto won the division based on head-to-head record.

With the Blue Jays significantly altered yet also nursing a World Series hangover and the Yankees in apparent danger of run-it-back syndrome, it was unclear how the AL East beasts might break from the gate in 2026.

Turns out they missed nary a beat.

Both clubs registered convincing sweeps against decent but unproven opponents, as the Blue Jays got leadoff homers and walk-off hits and 21 combined punchouts from Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease to sweep the A's.

The Yankees, meanwhile, were in run-prevention mode in San Francisco, where the Giants are typically cooperative in such matters. Oh, Aaron Judge pounded a couple more home runs and Cam Schlittler looks very much like theplayoff beast he was last year. Yeah – they'll be fine 'til Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole step back on the scene.

The Pirates, trying to win

Sometimes, fans and media alike can get a little too caught up in off-season transactions. Yet for Pittsburgh Pirates fans, screaming at management to "Do Anything" winter after winter almost always fell on deaf ears.

Finally, the Pirates did something this winter. And lo and behold, the product appears healthier!

Offseason trade acquisition Brandon Lowe pounded a pair of home runs in their opening series against a very good Mets team. Free agent signee Ryan O'Hearn – no, not a Kyle Schwarber splash but a very good acquisition – had three hits and drove in the winning run in the 10thinning as they salvaged the final game of three.

Pittsburgh took New York to extra innings in Game 2, too, with Oneil Cruz's sun-splashed outfield debacle the only element making them non-competitive all weekend. Not to say they can stay with the Brewers and Cubs all summer.

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But trying really is a lot more fun.

Japanese sluggers

They were the highest-profile hitters coming from foreign lands this winter, yet Kazuma Okamoto and Munetaka Murakami's combined value of their contracts didn't even reach $100 million. Contact concerns, and the worry that power in Japan would transfer to the big leagues.

Well, guess who's trailing only DeLauter in major league home runs?

Murakami went deep thrice in Milwaukee, the bright spot in a Chicago White Sox sweep at the hands of the Brewers. Meanwhile, Okamoto had four hits in 12 at-bats, homered himself and posted a .429 OBP in his first three games for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Not a total endorsement just yet of the $60 million Toronto committed to Okamoto or the $34 million the White Sox are paying Murakami. Yet it's a nice bit of relief for a pair of teams who rolled the dice and enjoyed positive first looks.

(Salaries in present-day value calculated by MLB Labor Relations Department, impacted by deferrals and signing bonuses)

1. Juan Soto, Mets - $61,875,000

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 2. Cody Bellinger, Yankees - $42,500,000

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 3. Bo Bichette, Mets - $42 million

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 3. Zack Wheeler, Phillies – $42 million

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays - $40,214,286

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 6. Aaron Judge, Yankees – $40 million

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 7. Anthony Rendon, Angels - $38,571,429

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 8. Jacob deGrom, Rangers - $38 million

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 9. Mike Trout, Angels – $37,116,667

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 10. Gerrit Cole, Yankees – $36,000,000

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 11. Jose Altuve, Astros – $33 million

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 11. Kyle Tucker, Dodgers - $33 million

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 13. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers - $32,500,000

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 14. Francisco Lindor, Mets - $32,477,277

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 15. Tarik Skubal, Tigers – $32 million

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 16. Carlos Correa, Astros – $31,500,000

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 16. Corey Seager, Rangers - $31,500,000

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 18. Sonny Gray, Red Sox – $31 million

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 19. Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks – $30,790,069

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 20. Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees - $29 million

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 21. Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers – $28,536,643

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 22. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers – $28,206,684

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 23. Dansby Swanson, Cubs – $28 million

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 24. Carlos Rodon, Yankees – $27,833,333

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 25. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (*retired) – $27,814,045

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 26. Bryce Harper, Phillies - $27,538,462

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 27. Trea Turner, Phillies – $27,272,727

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 28. Blake Snell, Dodgers - $27,152,056

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 29. Kris Bryant, Rockies - $27 million

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 30. Yordan Alvarez, Astros - $26,833,333

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

(Salaries in present-day value calculated by MLB Labor Relations Department, impacted by deferrals and signing bonuses)1. Juan Soto, Mets- $61,875,000

Losers

Rookie managers

Hey, not all of them. Beltways bros Craig Albernaz of Baltimore andBlake Butera of Washingtoneach won their first two games, the Nationals startling the Cubs at windy Wrigley Field.

Yet it was two surprise hires – relative greenhorns – who had a rough go of it.

You've surely heard aboutTony Vitello making the jumpfrom collegiate ball to the majors. It's a big deal and at the same time potentially not the big deal folks have made of it, so long as Tony V wins the usual 81 games near China Basin and doesn't look too weird doing it.

Well, about that…

The Giants scored just one run in three games against the mighty Yankees, a series that featured a fiery pregame speech and then perhaps a little too much panic after their second shutout loss.

"We're all major league players," pitcher Robbie Ray said when asked whether Vitello got them too wound up. "We can handle the ups and downs."

Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Angels' latest see-if-this-sticks move was tossing Kurt Suzuki in the dugout after no on-field coaching experience. And giving him a one-year contract, perhaps the most cynical maneuver for an aimless franchise keeping one eye on a potential lockout.

Unlike Vitello, Suzuki's weekend went south as a direct result of strategic button-pushing.

The Angels blew a six-run lead March 28 and a 6-4 lead a day later, his handling of starters Reid Detmers and Jack Kochanowicz and then the bullpen certainly questionable.

The Angels did come out of Houston with a split of four games. Yet this will still be a trial by fire for a guy who simply does not yet have the dugout reps.

NL West teams north and south of Vin Scully Way

They're a combined 1-11.

The Arizona Diamondbacks suffered three particularly soul-crushing losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who wore their gold-lined championship togs all weekend and simply kept hitting balls over the fence, the last off Will Smith's bat to cap the sweep.

The Giants were flattened. San Diego could not hang with the Tigers. And yes, the Rockies are winless, and it will only get more difficult for a 119-loss team that couldn't ring in a new year with even one victory in Miami.

CB Bucknor

No, ABS was not meant to humiliate. It just works out that way sometimes.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:MLB winners and losers: Top prospects shine, rookie managers flop