National
National news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
National"A living and latent legacy": the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago prepares to open
Chicago is gearing up for the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center this week, with former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama in the city to celebrate the launch of what organizers describe as a "living and latent legacy." According to a statement, the Obamas arrived in Chicago over the weekend and toured the expansive $850 million campus, which includes campaign memorabilia, presidential artifacts, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, a regulation-sized basketball court, and more. Photos provided by the center captured the former president playing basketball on the premises and interacting with children at the center's new playground. Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation, stated, "As we prepare to welcome visitors to the Obama Presidential Center, President and Mrs. Obama are eager to see how community members make the campus their own." The center was built to be a place where people can gather, have fun, find inspiration, create connections, and bring about change. The museum, located at 6001 S. Stony Island Ave. in South Chicago, officially opens to the public on Friday, June 19. It will be open over the weekend for what organizers have labeled an "open house" event, featuring live entertainment, food trucks, "fan zones," face painting, and a variety of activities. The private grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center is scheduled for Thursday, with the former president and first lady expected to be joined by numerous dignitaries during the ceremony. While campus events will be open to the public throughout the weekend, tickets for the museum itself are sold out, according to authorities. In addition to street closures, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry announced it will be closed to the public on Thursday, June 18, to support the grand opening. The project, costing approximately $850 million, encompasses both the political and personal realms of the country's first Black president. The museum tower, which requires paid admission, showcases campaign memorabilia and presidential artifacts, while the public areas of the expansive campus feature other significant elements for Obama: a new library, a regulation-sized basketball court, a new playground, a park, and more. The museum will also include an exhibit dedicated to his time in the Oval Office, featuring a replica of the office itself. It will be the first fully digital museum of its kind, foregoing numerous displayed official documents. Instead, visitors will experience high-tech and interactive exhibits covering the campaigns, key moments from Obama's presidency, and life in the White House. Iconic dresses worn by Michelle Obama will also be on display, with around a dozen outfits on mannequins behind glass, including a black and red dress designed by Narciso Rodriguez that the former first lady wore on election night in 2008 in Chicago.
NationalWith the Strait of Hormuz open, will the economy improve?
The provisional agreement to end the war in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be good news for the global economy. However, while oil prices fell on Monday, many doubts remained about when and how oil would start flowing again through the world's most vital energy transport artery. Before the war, one-fifth of the world's crude oil passed through the strait. Now, it will take time for the hundreds of ships trapped in the Persian Gulf to navigate through the narrow passage. Additionally, Gulf oil producers who reduced their output will need time to reactivate crude flow. Analysts also point out that ship captains may take their time deciding whether the passage is safe and if the threat of an attack from Iran has truly diminished. In summary, oil prices, inflation, and energy flows will not return immediately to pre-war levels; it will take weeks or even months. This assumes that the agreement, which is set to be signed on Friday, proves to be durable. Details have yet to be disclosed. Even with the strait fully open, it will take time for tankers to enter, load, and make the journey to Asian countries, the main customers for Gulf oil from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Oman. A round trip to Japan can take between 45 and 50 days. Given the volatility of the situation, captains, insurers, and owners may take their time before attempting to cross. Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List, a maritime analysis and data company, noted that many warn that mine clearance and the return to using internationally recognized transit routes 'are prerequisites for safe navigation.' Ships have been trickling out through an inspection corridor managed by Iran in the northern part of the strait, while others have managed to leave with lights and tracking systems off, under the guidance of U.S. forces, through a southern passage along the coast of Oman. Iran had threatened to attack vessels using the internationally established transit routes in the center of the strait, designed to prevent collisions between incoming and outgoing vessels. Approximately 500 commercial ships remain in the Persian Gulf, according to maritime and energy intelligence firm Kpler, and not all can exit simultaneously through the narrow strait. Amena Bakr, head of energy and OPEC+ analysis for the Middle East at Kpler, estimated that mine clearance would take six months; the departure and return of ships for reloading, two to three months; and restoring production to pre-conflict levels in some countries, another three months. Iran has demanded the right to charge fees to ships using the strait, and in some cases, has already imposed payments to allow vessels to exit. Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the agreement involved a 'toll-free opening,' but there has been no confirmation from Iran. The period between the announcement of the agreement and its signing 'allows both parties to issue contradictory statements about the pact, especially regarding the extent to which Iran will manage traffic and demand payment of fees,' noted Torbjorn Soltvedt, senior Middle East analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft. The payment of fees would pose a dilemma for shipowners, given that the U.S. and EU have designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, and the U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned the entity Iran announced to manage the collections. Unless these sanctions are modified, making payments exposes shipping companies and banks to being sanctioned. Legal experts argue that allowing Iran to control the passage would violate international law on freedom of navigation, as established in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which obligates countries to allow innocent (or peaceful) passage through their territorial waters. The waters of the strait are shared by Iran to the north and Oman to the south. Some Middle Eastern producers suspended oil extraction—a process known as well closure—when they ran out of storage space. Restarting those operations can be a slow process. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which were able to export some of their oil through pipelines or alternative routes other than the Strait of Hormuz, could be among the first to resume production, noted Alan Gelder, senior vice president of refining, chemicals, and oil markets at Wood Mackenzie, an analysis firm. 'Places like Iraq could face greater difficulties, as they have suffered a much broader disruption of production and their fields are more complex... it could take nearly a year before they recover,' he stated. Claudio Galimberti, chief economist at Rystad Energy, noted in an emailed comment that 'sentiment has clearly improved. But sentiment is not the same as supply.' 'It will take time for production to increase again, for logistics to normalize, and for the risk premium embedded in crude prices to dissipate,' he said. Countries will not resume their activities until they are certain that the strait will remain open durably and that the ceasefire will last beyond 30 or 60 days, stated Daniel Sternoff, senior researcher at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University. Economists at Capital Economics estimate that energy flows will reach 80% of pre-war levels by September. Inflation will not drop immediately. Even if the agreement allows for the instant reopening of the strait, this will not lead to an immediate drop in inflation, according to economists. Inflation 'will remain above target in most major economies throughout this year and into the first half of next year, even as growth remains relatively weak,' said Neil Shearing, chief economist at Capital Economics. Inflation could even rise when government measures aimed at cushioning the energy impact expire, warned Joachim Nagel, president of the Bundesbank (Germany's central bank), during a speech on Monday. Among these measures is the temporary reduction of fuel taxes in Germany—by 17 cents per liter—effective until June 30. 'It will take months before oil supply returns to normal,' Nagel stated.
National"If necessary," Sheinbaum says she would call Trump to defend the USMCA
MEXICO CITY – President Claudia Sheinbaum insisted on Monday that she would defend the "benefits" of the trade agreement between Mexico, the United States, and Canada (USMCA), while indicating that if necessary, she would address the issue in a call with her U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump. "If necessary (to talk to Trump), yes, of course," the president responded during her morning press conference when asked about the possibility of a call or meeting with the U.S. leader to discuss the future of the trade pact. The Mexican leader noted that the main goal of her government in the discussions taking place this week in Washington is to preserve the regional agreement. "Well, first the maintenance of the treaty, which I believe all three countries agree on because it has benefited all three countries," she stated.
National"Soccer has to be something else": Sheinbaum rejects exorbitant World Cup prices
MEXICO CITY — President Claudia Sheinbaum urged FIFA on Monday to reflect on the high costs of tickets for the 2026 World Cup matches, stating that soccer should be much more than a business. "Soccer has to be something else," Sheinbaum said during her daily press conference, rejecting the exorbitant prices that have reached historic highs for the tournament. She suggested that "all of this should make FIFA reflect as well." Earlier this year, tickets went on sale ranging from $140 to $8,680. While some prices decreased, others soared to $32,970 for the final. Resale prices are even higher in the secondary market, with FIFA's own resale portal listing four tickets for the final at just under $2.3 million each in April.
NationalAnti-Piracy Operation: Mexico Blocks 57 Illegal Websites and Strengthens Combat Efforts
MEXICO CITY – The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) has blocked 57 internet addresses that aimed to illegally broadcast the opening match of the 2026 World Cup and has intensified operations against the sale of counterfeit merchandise related to the tournament, said its head, Vidal Llerenas, on Monday. The official stated at a press conference that the agency is working with FIFA, brands, and companies that hold broadcasting rights to take down unauthorized streaming websites and applications in real time, a scheme that primarily operates through sites already identified by rights holders. 'We proactively take down pages that claim they will broadcast the match to prevent them from doing so during that time,' Llerenas explained, noting that this strategy could pave the way for combating illegality in the sector. During Mexico's opening match, IMPI deployed 15 teams around the Estadio Ciudad de México to deter the sale of illegal merchandise, mainly jerseys, but also items like replicas of the trophy and other World Cup-related products.
NationalU.S. Citizen Claims He Was Detained by ICE While Heading to Work
A U.S. citizen alleges that on Sunday, June 7, he was temporarily held by immigration authorities in Maryland for nearly two hours without explanation. Samuel Guzmán stopped for coffee on his way to work in Annapolis and, upon leaving the café, noticed what appeared to be several vehicles from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) surrounding the parking lot; then, an agent approached him. Guzmán recounted that the agents handcuffed him and asked questions about his immigration status, while he repeatedly stated that he was born in the United States. 'I tried to tell him that I was from here, but he didn't believe me,' Guzmán said.
NationalB-52 Bomber Crashes After Taking Off from Edwards Air Force Base
A B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed on Monday shortly after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert, California, base authorities reported. The incident was reported around 11:20 a.m. Emergency teams responded to the scene, located about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. In an email to NBCLA, Edwards Air Force Base stated that more information would be provided when available. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range bomber used for a variety of military missions. Capable of flying at subsonic speeds and reaching altitudes of up to 50,000 feet, the bomber was a key asset during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and has been the backbone of the U.S. bomber fleet for decades. The extensive Edwards Air Force Base, covering 480 square miles and located in Kern County, is used for research, development, and testing of aircraft, weapon systems, software, and components for the U.S. Air Force.
NationalCalifornia Governor Says DOJ is Investigating Him and His Wife; Blames Trump
California Governor Gavin Newsom stated on Monday that the Department of Justice is investigating him and accused President Donald Trump of targeting him for political reasons. "Today, my wife and I became targets of Donald Trump. He has ordered his Department of Justice to investigate us," he said in a post on X. Agents have "knocked on the doors" of family friends and former employees. "Not because they found a crime, but because they are trying to find one," Newsom said in a video also posted on X. He claimed that investigators have demanded records and "random documents." Newsom, a Democrat who has repeatedly clashed with the president, said the investigation is politically motivated due to his criticisms of Trump and because he is also considering running for the White House. He added that he has done nothing wrong and that "we have nothing to hide." NBC News reached out to the Department of Justice and the White House for comments.
NationalWhat Does the America 250 Time Capsule Contain? It Will Be Unearthed in 2276
Paper, the traditional gift to commemorate a couple's first wedding anniversary, is also a great option for a 250th anniversary, especially when it fills a time capsule celebrating American independence. The 2016 law that created the bipartisan America 250 commission mandated that a time capsule be buried in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026, to be unearthed 250 years later, in 2276. Last week, the resulting 900-pound cylinder was sealed, capping years of technical design and construction, collaboration with state authorities, and meticulous review of the collected items. 'Once it was closed, it felt a bit anticlimactic, and then it was really emotional,' commented Michael Berilla, who leads the manufacturing technology agency at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and headed the team that designed and built the capsule. Designed to Stay Dry The agency led by Berilla, which is part of the Department of Commerce, has previously built coatings to protect historical documents, but those are usually stored indoors under carefully controlled conditions. With time capsules, the number one enemy is water, so much of the design work focused on how to keep it out. The stainless steel capsule is cylindrical in shape, rather than the typical box, because square edges tend to crack and break. It will be covered by a secondary cylinder that traps air and expels any approaching water, and the capsule itself is lined with a soft metal that compresses under pressure.
NationalSon of European Princess Found Guilty of Rape; Here Is His Sentence
Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday after being found guilty of rape. He was convicted on two of the four rape charges he faced and acquitted on the other two. Høiby was accused of sexually assaulting four women who were either asleep or otherwise unable to resist between 2018 and 2024. He also faced additional misdemeanor charges, including assault, drug-related offenses, and violations of a restraining order. Høiby denied the rape allegations but admitted to several of the misdemeanor charges. The trial, which lasted six weeks, concluded in March after testimonies from multiple complainants and the presentation of evidence, including messages, images, and videos from Høiby's cellphone. The rape charges involve four different women between 2018 and 2024, with each case alleging that the women were asleep or severely incapacitated.
NationalMore than 50,000 packages of Park St. Deli macaroni and cheese recalled
The FDA has announced a recall of over 58,000 packages of Park St. Deli macaroni and cheese due to an undeclared allergen. The product, produced by BEF Foods, Inc., may contain soy lecithin, which poses a risk for those with soy allergies. The affected packages, weighing 20 ounces each and sold at ALDI stores, are packaged in plastic containers within cardboard boxes, with each box containing nine individual packages. This recall is classified as Class II by the FDA, indicating that exposure could lead to temporary health issues or medically reversible consequences, although serious health risks are unlikely.
NationalTrump Heads to G7 Summit to Meet World Leaders
President Donald Trump departed for the French Alps on Monday to attend the G7 summit, following the announcement of a deal aimed at ending the U.S. conflict with Iran. Despite ongoing tensions, Trump hopes to leverage this agreement during discussions with G7 leaders, many of whom have criticized his handling of the situation. The deal, which includes the potential lifting of the blockade at the Strait of Hormuz, is expected to be a key topic at the summit. Additionally, Trump warned French President Macron about imposing tariffs on French wines unless a digital tax on U.S. tech firms is removed.
NationalAfter Controversies, FIFA Will Include Spanish in Press Conferences for the 2026 World Cup
FIFA has announced that Spanish will be included in press conferences for the 2026 World Cup, allowing questions in Spanish after recent controversies involving players like Achraf Hakimi and Vinícius, who were unable to respond in Spanish during their pre-match press appearances. Historically, FIFA provided translators primarily for English, but the decision to include Spanish reflects the significant number of Spanish-speaking media and players familiar with the language. The change comes after players expressed a desire to answer questions in Spanish, highlighting the importance of accommodating diverse languages in international events.
NationalDeal is reached to end Iran war and Trump orders stop to US naval blockade
The United States and Iran have reached an agreement to end the ongoing war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for global trade. The deal, mediated by Pakistan, will be signed in Switzerland on Friday. President Trump announced the cessation of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, which was imposed earlier due to tensions over Iran's control of the strait. While the agreement addresses immediate military operations, discussions on Iran's nuclear program will continue over the next 60 days. Iran confirmed the deal but will only implement it after the signing, amid ongoing regional tensions.
NationalAt Texas GOP convention, friction overshadows talk of unity
During the Texas GOP Convention held in Houston from June 12-14, 2026, initial signs of unity among delegates quickly gave way to visible tensions. Governor Greg Abbott and other leaders urged party members to unite against Democrats ahead of the midterm elections. However, the convention saw significant discord, including the ousting of party chair Abraham George and booing directed at House Speaker Dustin Burrows. Disagreements over issues like tort reform and anti-Islam sentiment surfaced, revealing fractures within the party. Despite calls for solidarity, some leaders displayed divisive rhetoric, raising concerns about the GOP's unity as it prepares for a challenging electoral season.
NationalTrump celebrates turning 80 with a UFC cage-fighting event while big issues loom over his presidency
President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday on June 11, 2026, with a UFC cage-fighting event on the South Lawn of the White House. The extravagant show featured seven fights and drew over 4,000 spectators, despite ongoing challenges such as a costly war in Iran and declining approval ratings. The event, tied to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, was seen as a distraction from pressing issues. UFC chief Dana White praised the spectacle, while concerns about weather disruptions loomed. Trump remains a controversial figure, with polls indicating skepticism about his health and fitness for office.
NationalDonald Trump Celebrates His 80th Birthday with a UFC Card at the White House
Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday with a UFC event at the White House, dubbed UFC Freedom 250. The event featured military flyovers and performances, including the Marine Band and Zac Brown singing the national anthem. Trump, a longtime UFC supporter, joined Dana White on the Blue Room balcony as chants of 'USA!' filled the air. The night included seven fights, with Bo Nickal winning by TKO in a standout match. Thousands gathered outside on the Ellipse to watch on giant screens, although some, like UFC champion Sean Strickland, faced issues gaining entry due to political tensions. The event marked a unique blend of sports and patriotism.
NationalDonald Trump Celebrates His 80th Birthday with a UFC Fight Card at the White House
Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday with a UFC event at the White House, dubbed UFC Freedom 250. Joined by UFC chief Dana White, Trump emerged to chants of 'USA!' as military jets flew overhead. The event featured several fights on the South Lawn, including a TKO victory by Bo Nickal over Kyle Daukaus. The evening was marked by patriotic performances, including the Marine Band and a flyover by military aircraft. While many fans gathered outside to watch on large screens, UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland was escorted away by police, raising questions about his absence from the event due to his outspoken views on Israel.
NationalWhen Will Gas Prices Drop? Experts Weigh In After Iran-US Agreement
Experts indicate that high oil and gasoline prices will not resolve quickly, despite the recent agreement between Iran and the U.S. to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. It may take months for energy companies to resume operations to meet global demand. Delays in transporting and refining crude oil, along with security concerns in the Strait, mean immediate effects are unlikely. Oil prices did drop slightly following the announcement, with Brent crude at $83.89 and U.S. crude at $80.85 per barrel, but these figures remain significantly higher than pre-war levels around $70. Resuming production in regions like Iraq may take up to a year.