U.S.-Iran talks stalled after Israel-Hezbollah fighting

Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz continues to fill out MU football’s 2027 recruiting class, with the commitments of three-star prospects Jaylen Hill and T’ari Miller. This brings the Tigers up to 16 commits in the class.

Miller is listed as a 6-foot-4 cornerback at 180 pounds. He is considered by 247Sports as the No. 76 cornerback in the nation and No. 83 overall player in Florida. Miller plays at Miami Central High School, coming off a 10-2 season as a junior.

The cornerback took his official visit to Mizzou on Friday, officially announcing his commitment two days later. He received offers from 29 schools, including other SEC teams Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M.

Miller will join a Mizzou cornerback room that will lose four of the seven members listed on the roster following the 2026 season. He is the only cornerback for coach Drinkwitz and cornerbacks coach Al Pogue in the 2027 recruiting class.

Hill was the other prospect joining the recruiting class, listed as a three-star offensive lineman from Lanett, Alabama. The tackle is 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds. He is listed as the No. 100 offensive tackle in the class and the No. 46 overall prospect from Alabama. Hill received snaps at both left and right tackle at Lanett High School last season, adding a potential versatility to his role in Columbia.

Hill took his official visit to Mizzou alongside Miller on Friday. He received 19 offers and took five official visits. His other visits included Arkansas, Kansas State, Mississippi State and Pittsburgh.

He is one of three offensive tackles currently committed to Mizzou in the 2027 recruiting class alongside fellow three-star prospects Lual Aleu and Jack Marquard. The Tigers will lose three of the six offensive tackles on the roster following 2026, most notably Cayden Green, who is destined for the NFL Draft. This makes Hill and the rest of the 2027 recruiting class extremely important for offensive line coach Brandon Jones to add quality depth to the roster.

With these two commits, Mizzou has the No. 31 overall recruiting class for 2027 according to 247Sports. The Tigers currently rank 10th in the SEC with five four-star prospects and 11 listed as three-stars.

MISSOULA, Mont. – National Pollinator Week is an annual celebration set for June 22 to June 28 to raise awareness and help pollinators that play a crucial role in daily life. 

Montana made its proclamation for Pollinator Week, stating pollinators such as birds and insects are essential partners for farmers and ranchers and the food supply grown with pollination.

National forests and grasslands rely on pollinators for healthy habitats. Wildlife and fish thrive with healthy lands, as do recreationalists that share the lands.

Montana ranked third in the nation for honey production with over 10 million pounds produced. 

Producers are provided with conservation assistance to promote responsible protection and maintenance of pollinators and their habitats as well as working lands and wildlands.

Popular events during Pollinator Week include planting for pollinators, hosting garden tours and workshops to identify bees and butterflies. 

Simple actions can be taken to help struggling pollinator populations. Montanans can plant native species, reduce unnecessary pesticide use, and let little leaf damage or natural debris such as fallen leaves be for hungry caterpillars.

The Missoula County Department of Ecology and Extension (MCDEE) and the Missoula Butterfly House sponsored an upcoming film event, The Little Things that Run the World, for the National Pollinator Week. Doors open for 7:00 p.m. screening on June 23 at the Roxy.

The Rocky Mountain Gardens will host evening hours. 

The MCDEE encourages community members to learn how to build a bee house or how to use iNaturalist to document pollinators.

More pollinator-friendly tips to help out the small creatures that play a big part in the world can be found in the Pollinator Week website and MCDEE’s blog.

LONG ISLAND, N.Y. -- Sam Burns (-3) finished in second place at the 126th U.S. Open.

The Shreveport native was even par for the tournament and in a tie for sixth place at the start of his final round. He was seven shots back of the leader and eventual winner Wyndham Clark (-4) at Shinnecock Hills.

Burns shot a final round 67 (-3), while Clark shot a final round 73 (+3).

This is Burns' third straight top-ten finish and best result at the U.S. Open. He was T9 in 2024 and T7 in 2025.

(The Center Square) - Roughly 70% of Americans said they were at least "somewhat concerned" that artificial intelligence could replace their jobs, according to a new poll. 

The Center Square's Voters Voice Poll found 34% of registered voters reported feeling "somewhat concerned" that AI would do their jobs. The poll also found roughly 36% of Americans said they were "very concerned about AI replacing them at work."

The Voters Voice Poll, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, surveyed 2,585 registered voters from June 1 to June 4. Respondents were comprised of 915 Republicans, 1,013 Democrats and 297 true Independents, which means individuals who did not lean toward either major party when asked. 

About 17% of registered voters said they were "not too concerned" about AI replacing their jobs and about 9% of voters said they were "not at all concerned." 

Overall, individuals with less education reported greater levels of concern about AI replacing their jobs. Roughly 40% of respondents with a high school degree or less said they were "very concerned" about AI taking their jobs. About 38% of respondents with no college degree said the same. 

Mike Noble, founder of Noble Predictive Insights, said people with less education were more concerned about AI replacing them. He said AI companies need to focus on ways to educate people about impact, rather than scaling data center facilities. 

"Instead of just, 'hey, we need to build this stuff,' they need to educate folks on what this does for them, and also how can they leverage it as a tool," Noble said. 

There also appeared to be a correlation in levels of concern and lower houshold income. Roughly 41% of individuals with a household income lower than $50,000 per year reported concerns about AI replacing them at work. 

"The lower education you have, the less kind of plugged in you are, the more concerned you are regarding it," Noble said. 

Across the political spectrum, Democrats appeared to be more concerned about AI's impact on the workforce, compared to Republicans. About 41% of Democrat respondents said they were "very concerned" about AI taking over their jobs, compared to 31% of Republicans who said the same. 

About 32% of true Independents said they were concerned that AI would take over their jobs. Overall, female respondents were more likely to be concerned about AI taking over their jobs whereas 11% of males said they were "not at all concerned" about AI taking their jobs – the highest percentage response in the category. 

Across age groups, most respondents shared similar levels of concern. About 72% of respondents age 65 and older reported concerns over AI replacing their jobs or those of others in the community. 

Respondents ages 18-29 and 30-44 appeared less concerned about AI replacing their jobs. About 66% of respondents age 18-29 reported concerns and 71% of adults ages 30-44 reported similar levels of concern. 

Noble said younger people have a greater understanding of the impact of AI on the workforce in the long run. He said educating people on AI's use as a tool, rather than a replacement is essential. 

"Anytime you add AI or artificial intelligence in there, people are just very skeptical of it," Noble said. 

ANACONDA, Mont. – Officials with the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Center reported that an investigation has been launched into a shooting that occurred Saturday evening on East Third Street.

The incident took place at Carmel’s Bar, located in the 600 block of East Third.

Authorities reported that a suspect has been taken into custody, and confirmed that no ongoing threat to the community remains.

Residents were urged to avoid the area through Saturday night, as law enforcement works at the scene to continue their investigative efforts.

No further information has been provided at this time.

More than 57,000 pet owners will see their pet insurance premiums rise sharply following the California Department of Insurance’s approval of substantial rate increases for Lemonade pet insurance policies. The CDI green-lighted an overall increase of 14%.

Currently, Californians with Lemonade pet insurance pay an average of $710 annually for their coverage. With the approved rate increase, the average premium will jump to $827 per year.

The rate increase will take effect on Nov. 24, 2024, and will affect all new policies and 57,471 existing policies.

Why the increase?

Inflation and the rising cost of veterinary care are driving pet insurance rate increases across the country. “Pet insurance firms have been increasing premiums to offset the rising cost of claims,” Srimukh Oddiraju, licensed insurance agent and CEO of Fletch, a technology provider to several leading insurance firms, told Insurify in May.

But in its state filings requesting the increase, Lemonade pointed out that its situation is more complex.

Lemonade — which also sells renters, homeowners, auto, and term life insurance — cited rising claims costs due to older pets. “As pets age, they are more likely to require veterinary care, and therefore have a higher premium,” the insurer said in its filing. “This is also evident in our higher loss trend when compared to competitors, as it anticipates more frequent and potentially more costly veterinary visits.”

What’s next: Preparing for higher insurance costs

Earlier this year, the CDI approved rate increases of 56% for MetLife and Embrace and 23% to 46% for American Modern Home. And Nationwide, one of the largest pet insurers in the country, has said it won’t renew 100,000 policies across the country.

Lemonade’s higher pet insurance rates take effect on Nov. 24, 2024, so policyholders have some time to comparison shop for cheaper pet insurance. But be sure to understand the terms, conditions, and limitations of any policy you consider buying, Oddiraju warned.

Most pet insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. So pet owners who decide to switch insurers and whose pets have pre-existing health conditions should comparison shop with caution. “Switching from one pet insurance firm to another ‘cheaper’ firm can be risky if certain existing conditions don’t get covered,” Oddiraju said.

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SHREVEPORT, La. -- Miami Dolphins wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. was back in the Shreveport-Bossier area hosting a youth football camp, Saturday.

The former Parkway Panthers and LSU Tigers star partnered with Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation to host the camp at Lee Hedges Stadium.

It was for high schoolers in grades 9-12 with a focus on wide receivers and defensive backs.

Marshall's been in the NFL since 2021 and said this wouldn't be possible without help from others in the 3-1-8.

"It's specifically wide receivers and DBs, so I got Ar'Darius Washington, Robert Rochell, those guys are notable names in the city, guys that's in the NFL playing DB... I'm obviously going to be teaching the wide receivers, me and Marquez Stevenson.

"We just want to teach them as much as possible. We've been through different stuff in this game and we just want to give that back to the youth in the best way possible," he explained.

Marshall signed with the Dolphins in February.

Mizzou baseball has acquired infielder Ethan Moore through the transfer portal, Moore announced on X. Moore redshirted at Tennessee last season and will have all four years of eligibility remaining.

A switch hitter, Moore was rated the No. 2 shortstop and No. 5 overall prospect in the state of Illinois by Perfect Game before signing with Tennessee.

In 2025, he was a class 4A All-State honoree after his senior season at his Oak Park, Illinois high school. He will look to help fill the void in Mizzou's middle infield following the departure of Blaize Ward and the possibility Kam Durnin will sign following next month's MLB draft.

Between Moore and the pickup of Wilfred Gonzalez earlier in the offseason, the Tigers have prioritized the middle infield. Other positions are still in need of pickups.

In the outfield, Donovan Jordan is likely to see major playing time. The sophomore started in 25 games last season and provided a .255 average with 18 RBI. The other two starters, however, have yet to be named. Head coach Kerrick Jackson will likely look to target those replacements soon.

Meanwhile, former MU catcher Mateo Serna on Friday announced via Instagram that he is signing with Alabama. The Crimson Tide last season finished 42-21 and made it to the NCAA College World Series, where they lost games to Oklahoma and Texas to be eliminated.

(The Center Square) – Illinois state Rep. Chris Miller says Gov. J.B. Pritzker should address the political motivations behind a Grant Park cross burning after the University of Illinois Chicago student accused in the incident said it was intended as a protest against the Trump administration.

Pritzker condemned the June 10 incident on social media after reports emerged that a burning cross had been found in Chicago's Grant Park.

"Let me be clear that hate has no home here in Illinois," Pritzker wrote. "This symbol has one purpose: to stir up intimidation and terror. We will not be silent — those responsible must be held accountable."

Authorities later identified 21-year-old University of Illinois Chicago student Merlin Lu as the person responsible.

Lu told media outlets he placed a red MAGA-style hat on top of the cross before setting it ablaze as a protest against what he described as "MAGA Christian nationalist" politics. He said he was unaware of the historical racial significance associated with cross burnings and insisted the demonstration was not racially motivated.

Speaking with The Center Square, Miller said the incident was clearly political and questioned whether Pritzker would condemn anti-Trump sentiment with the same force he used to denounce the initial reports of a cross burning.

"I look forward to J.B. Pritzker holding Merlin Lu accountable for MAGA hate because MAGA hate shouldn't have a home here in Illinois, right?" Miller said.

Miller argued that the student's actions were influenced by political rhetoric directed at President Donald Trump and his supporters.

"Obviously, this wasn't intended to be a hate crime. This was politically motivated, and it's all the direct result of the dangerous rhetoric that's been spewed by these people," Miller said.

The Republican lawmaker also blamed what he described as ideological influences on college campuses, saying young people are often more susceptible to political activism because of their lack of life experience.

Asked whether Pritzker should specifically condemn the anti-Trump message behind the protest, Miller said, "I think it's a no-brainer," arguing the governor reacted before all the facts surrounding the incident were known.

Miller further contended that the controversy has distracted from issues Illinois residents care more about, including taxes, energy costs and public safety.

"I would guess that a very, very small percentage of Illinoisans would even care that this guy burned a MAGA hat," Miller said. "They're worried about how they're going to pay their real estate tax bill. They're worried about the high escalating cost of energy. They're worried about safer communities."

Pritzker's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the governor's position changed after Lu publicly explained his motivations.

Cross burnings have historically been associated with racial intimidation and white supremacist groups in the United States, particularly the Ku Klux Klan. However, Lu has publicly stated that his actions were intended as a political protest against the Trump administration rather than a racially motivated act.

(The Center Square) – A U.S. Senate bill would give the federal government a 50% ownership stake in the largest artificial intelligence companies, creating a sovereign wealth fund its sponsor estimates would be worth $7 trillion. One policy analyst called the idea "nutty" while others said it would put American AI companies at a combative disadvantage and would lead to offshoring.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, which would impose a one-time 50% tax on AI company stock and deposit those shares into a fund that could pay every American more than $1,000 annually.

Sanders said AI was built on "the collective knowledge of humanity and the creative work of tens of millions of people" and that the public deserves a direct ownership stake in the companies that have profited from it.

The fund would be managed by a seven-member independent commission, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, with authority to use its voting shares to block corporate decisions it determines hurt the American people.

The bill would also require large companies that operate both AI and non-AI businesses to separate those operations, with the public receiving an ownership stake in the AI side.

The bill would apply to AI companies with at least $200 million in annual revenue, and any new company that reaches that threshold would also be subject to the stock transfer. OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and Google each reported well over $200 million in AI-related revenue in 2025, according to public financial reports and company statements.

The largest AI companies named in the legislation did not respond to questions about how the bill would affect their operations by deadline.

The bill had not been assigned a number or referred to committee as of Friday afternoon. No cosponsors were listed.

Sanders said his proposal goes further than what President Donald Trump or AI company executives have suggested, describing their approach as offering "5% of our profits back into the government" rather than direct public ownership.

Trump said June 5 that a government stake in AI firms could be "a partnership with the American public" and that his administration would "look into" the concept.

Trump signed an executive order in February 2025 directing his administration to develop a plan for a sovereign wealth fund, though no fund has been established.

OpenAI proposed in its April policy paper "Industrial Policy for the Intelligence Age" a public wealth fund that would provide every citizen "a stake in AI-driven economic growth." Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei wrote recently that universal basic income "could be financed through taxes on relevant companies."

Elon Musk, owner of xAI, said in an April post on X that "universal HIGH INCOME via checks issued by the Federal government is the best way to deal with unemployment caused by AI."

Sanders estimates the fund would be worth about $7 trillion at current valuations. A 5% annual dividend could generate direct payments of more than $1,000 to every American – about $1,045 per person, based on 5% of the estimated $7 trillion fund divided by the current U.S. population – with additional gains directed toward health care, education and housing. If AI company valuations decline, Sanders said, the companies would bear the losses, not the federal government.

Sanders said the bill would ensure AI wealth benefits the public rather than shareholders.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., said in opening remarks at a June 11 Banking Committee hearing on AI that the committee's primary objectives are "protecting consumers and American workers, supporting domestic innovation, and ensuring that AI technology is developed by American companies with American values rather than ceding leadership to China."

Scott's office and Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.

Tad DeHaven, a Cato Institute policy analyst who studies government taxation and spending, wrote this month that Sanders "wants political control" over AI companies through voting shares and board representation, and warned that Trump's own pursuit of government equity stakes in private companies had "opened the door" for the Sanders proposal.

Phillip Magness, an Independent Institute economist who studies taxation and capital markets, said the one-time stock transfer carries its own capital flight risks.

"Since the tech industry tends to be highly mobile and under intense competition from abroad, a tax of this type could trigger offshoring to reduce the tax burden, or could place AI companies that remain in the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage against the rest of the world," he told The Center Square.

"Legislators seeking to justify new and expansive forms of taxation almost always overestimate their ability to raise revenue," he said. "Sanders is likely basing his AI company tax proposal on current market valuations, which would also be adversely affected by the implementation of the same measure."

Bruce Schneier, a Harvard fellow and security technologist who has written extensively on AI policy and technology governance, called the approach "absolutely nutty," saying the bill would not achieve Sanders' goal of democratic control over AI development.

"Control will be maintained by the tech oligarchs," Schneier told The Center Square. "The only difference is that the government will now have a conflict of interest when it comes time to regulate them."

Schneier said the better approach is to tax AI companies directly to return profits to the public, and separately create a government-run public AI option that operates outside the for-profit market.

"Let government do what it does best, and create a thing that lives outside of the for-profit market system," he told The Center Square. "The goal here isn't to replace corporate AI, but to provide an alternative."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-6-26 in May directing state agencies to evaluate policies to address AI-related job losses, including whether residents should receive direct ownership stakes in companies or funds generating AI-driven income.