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Calls for a European-led World Cup boycott have grown louder and louder in recent weeks. Yet the possibility one could happen is "slim to none," said Alan Rothenberg, a man who knows a little bit about both World Cups and boycotts.

Rothenberg organized the soccer tournament at the 1984 L.A. Games, which was boycotted by 19 countries. Ten years later, he led the organization that put on the 1994 World Cup, the first held in the U.S. and still the best-attended in history.

So while politicians and soccer officials in several key European countries — Germany, France, Denmark and the United Kingdom, among others — haveraised the idea of skipping this summer's World Cup, largely in response to President Trump's demands that Denmark hand over Greenland, Rothenberg knows that talk is all bluster.

A boycott is not likely to happen for a number of reasons.

Read more:German soccer leader adds to calls for boycott of World Cup matches in United States

For starters the World Cup is run by the same organization, FIFA, which sanctions virtually every level of soccer globally, from the men's and women's World Cups, to confederation competitions including the UEFA Championships and the Copa América, to most major age-group tournaments. And since it both writes and enforces its own laws, it can ban a federation — and, by extension, its national teams — from any and all competitions.

So imagine the price a single country, say Spain, would pay for refusing to play World Cup games in the U.S. FIFA could ban its national team from the Euros and its women's team from next summer's World Cup, costing the federation millions of dollars in revenue. It could also prohibit Spanish youth teams from participating in age-group competitions and cut Spain off from any FIFA funding.

Consider the case of Russia. After that country invaded neighboring Ukraine in the winter of 2022, FIFA — under enormous international pressure — banned Russia from international soccer completely, barring it from competing in qualifying for the 2022 and 2026 World Cups and keeping it out of the 2024 Euros.

As a result, Russia has not played in a competitive match since November 2021.

(FIFA's penalties can be arbitrary and maddeningly inconsistent, however. In 2014, four days after the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia invaded Ukraine the first time, annexing Crimea. Yet less than four months later Russia played in the World Cup and four years later it hosted the tournament, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino sitting beside Vladimir Putin, who ordered both the 2014 and 2022 invasions. Now Infantino is pushing to lift the sanctions on Russia completely despite the fact Putin has stepped up the war, bombing civilians and resisting calls for peace.)

No country has boycotted a World Cup since World War II, though Olympic boycotts have been more frequent with coalitions of as many as five dozen countries refusing to take part in the Summer Games four times between 1956 and 1984.

Those protests were largely coordinated by politicians, not athletes or their federations. President Carter led the largest boycott, rallying more than 60 nations to skip the 1980 Moscow Olympics following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Four years later, a group of mostly Soviet Bloc countries stayed home from the L.A. Olympics in response.

No World Cup boycott could hope to succeed without a similar coalition and that's unlikely to happen. But that hasn't stopped people from talking about one just the same.

Read more:California lawmakers flag concerns about World Cup visas, ban threats and ticket prices

In Germany, Oke Gottlich, one of the German soccer federation's 11 vice presidents, said last month that it's time to "seriously consider a boycott." Bernd Neuendorf, the federation president, said the idea was not "a major debate at all," calling it "completely misguided."

Last Saturday, Germany officially ruled out a boycott.

In France, where politicians have discussed a boycott, sports minister Marina Ferrari and Philippe Diallo, president of the country's soccer federation, both dismissed such talk out of hand.

Still, the idea isn't completely dead. Mogens Jensen, who serves in the Danish parliament, said a World Cup boycott was "one of the last tools in the toolbox" and said if the U.S. were to instigate a real conflict, then a "boycott discussion in very, very relevant."

Still, as improbable as a boycott may be, keeping alive the possibility may be just as effective as actually following through with it. Talk of some sort of World Cup protest, for example, may have played a part in Trump's decision to back off his threats of invading Greenland, the issue that has most angered Europeans.

But that's not the only issue. Coverage of immigration raids in Minnesota and threats by Trump — the host of the U.S. portion of the World Cup — to bomb Iran (a World Cup qualifier) after using the military to extract the president of Venezuela have created a vision of violence and chaos in the U.S. that has frightened and appalled many in Europe.

"I don't know what things are going to look like in June," said Andrew Bertoli, an assistant professor at IE University in Segovia, Spain, and an expert on the social and political effects of sports. "But the perceptions right now are the United States is in a very volatile political situation and it's very unusual."

If national soccer federations feel trapped between a rock and the World Cup, however, there's nothing to keep fans from voting with their wallets and electing to stay home.

Others have opted to attend matches only in Mexico or Canada, which are sharing hosting duties with the U.S., while some have changed their mind about coming to the tournament at all and have reportedly begun reselling their tickets. FIFA will benefit from the change in plans, gaining a 15% fee from the seller and a 15% fee from the buyer of resold tickets.

"I absolutely think that could prevent tourists from going to the United States," said Bertoli, the Segovia professor.

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This story originally appeared inLos Angeles Times.

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• Patrick Mahomes Sr., the father of NFL star Patrick Mahomes, had reportedly been arrested after he allegedly violated his probation

• The former MLB star pleaded guilty to his third DWI in 2024 and was allegedly caught consuming alcohol, multiple outlets reported Tuesday, Feb. 3

• If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison

Patrick Mahomes Sr.has been arrested after an alleged probation violation, according to multiple reports.

On Tuesday, Feb. 3, the 55-year-old father of NFL starPatrick Mahomes, 30, was booked into the Smith County Jail in Texas for allegedly consuming alcohol, Smith County District Attorney Jacob Putman toldKLTV.

Mahomes Sr.'s alcohol ankle monitor allegedly delivered a high reading on Jan. 1. He then took two urine test analyses, one on Jan. 5 and another on Jan. 9. They both allegedly came back negative at the time,TMZreported, citing court documents.

A motion has been filed to end the violation, and Mahomes Sr. can challenge the allegations, according toCBS 19.

PEOPLE reached out to Putman for comment.

Kara Durrette/Getty

His probation stems from his thirdDWI arrestin February 2024. At the time, his blood alcohol content was 0.23 when an officer pulled him over in Tyler, Texas.

He was arrested just eight days before his son and theKansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ersin the Super Bowl that year.

The following August, the former professional baseball playerpleaded guilty to the driving while intoxicatedcharge and agreed to five years of probation and one year of "intense supervision," local news stationKETKreported at the time.

If found guilty of violating his parole, Mahomes Sr. could face a 10-year prison sentence, according toCBS 19.

A hearing date has not been set for Mahomes Sr., per theKansas City Star.

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Since his father's third DWI, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback hasspoken outabout the incident.

"It was during that Super Bowl. It became a story, and so, I had to answer questions about it," Mahomes recalled during an August 2025 episode of ESPN's original seriesChiefs Kingdom.

Kevin Sabitus/Getty

"I think just knowing that it hurt me woke him up to know that like, you can't keep doing the same things," thefather of threeadded.

Mahomes Sr. also weighed in, saying, "For him to have to answer questions about me was probably the most embarrassing thing I've ever been through in my life. I called him right after and I told him, I said, 'I'm sorry that it's taking away from your time and taking away from your focus.'"

That same month,PEOPLE had an exclusive sneak peakof the series, in which Mahomes Sr. opened up about raising the Super Bowl champion.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE'sfree daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"As soon as he came out, he's had a ball in his hand," he said of his son. "I don't know if he thought he was going to be a professional athlete, but he always lived his life like he was going to be one."

Before his 2009 retirement, the former MLB player was a pitcher from 1992 to 2003. He played for the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates and earned himself a spot in theSioux Falls Canaries Hall of Fame.

Reps for Mahomes Sr. could not immediately be reached by PEOPLE on Tuesday.

Read the original article onPeople

Nikola Vučević is now a Boston Celtic, as the organization took on Vučević and a second-round selection for Anfernee Simons and a second-round selection.

(Confused about the second-round swap? We'll get to it.)

Let's get into some trade grades.

Chicago Bulls: B

The Bulls did Boston a solid by easing its tax burden, taking on over $6 million in salary in the swap.

You'd think lowering Boston's tax bill would be worth a second-rounder outright, but apparently not in this economy.

That said, the Bulls did move up, and significantly so.

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The Celtics relinquished a second, courtesy of the New Orleans Pelicans, which is currently slotted to land at No. 32, and the Celtics walk away with a 2027 second via Denver, which is expected to be low.

It's unclear if Simons will play a role in Chicago moving forward. His expiring contract, worth $27.6 million, is a number he's highly unlikely to receive again in free agency, meaning the Bulls could possibly get him back at a decent price.

For the rest of this season, Simons does work within Chicago's fast-paced offense in which it shoots a lot of 3-pointers and has a keen focus on offensive volume.

Will he get minutes alongside the recently acquired Ivey? Time will tell, but the Bulls currently have one of the deepest backcourts in the league from an offensive perspective.

Boston Celtics: B+

Look, this team needed a center, especially one who can stretch the floor. Vučević can do that. He's hit 39.1% of those shots over his last 121 games and is getting them up at a decent volume (4.5 per), which fits well with how Boston plays.

Vučević also provides the team with strong rebounding (10.4 for his career) and can string together nice passing patterns.

He'll give the Celtics an interior offensive boost they've lacked for a while, all while the organization saves money on its tax bill.

Yes, the Celtics did give up a high second in what could be an absolutely loaded draft, but if that means solving an issue and getting a more streamlined cap sheet, so be it. That should be worth it at the end of the day.

A painting of a cherub with a face bearing a remarkable resemblance to Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni had attracted large crowds to the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, one of the oldest basilicas in Rome. That angel's face was gone when the church opened its doors Wednesday: the cherub's body remains, but the face was erased with a sloppy slab of paint or plaster.

La Repubblica newspaper, which broke the story Saturday when it published the Meloni-esque angel on its front page, said the restorer responsible for making the Meloni cherub had covered it up overnight at the request of church authorities.

Restorer Bruno Valentinetti admitted to the paper that he had styled the angel on Meloni, but didn't say why.

The diocese of Rome and the Italian Culture Ministry had both launched investigations after the image of the cherub was first published.

The original painting only dated from 2000, so it wasn't a matter of damage to the church's historic patrimony. But Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the pope's vicar for Rome, insisted that a political figure had no place in church art.

The ruckus gave the basilica newfound celebrity status, with curious locals and tourists lining up to photograph the Meloni cherub, at times disrupting Mass.

In a statement Wednesday, the Culture Ministry set down the rules going forward: If the basilica plans to repaint the angel face, it needs prior authorization from the government which owns the church, the diocese of Rome which operates it and the culture ministry's special superintendency for Rome.

Lest there be any question, the Culture Ministry said that the request for permission must be "accompanied by a sketch of the image."

Valentinetti had first made the cherub in 2000, when one of the basilica's front chapels was renovated to include a bust of the last king of Italy, Umberto II. Included in the decoration was a cherub holding a map of Italy, seemingly kneeling down before the king.

The cherub was restored after water leaks damaged the basilica starting in 2023, and emerged with the face of Meloni.

The investigations that were launched were to identify how the original 2000 cherub looked, with the aim of restoring the painting to that image. The faceless cherub seen Wednesday appeared a temporary fix to erase Meloni's likeness from the work.

The Italian premier had made light of the whole thing. "No, I definitely don't look like an angel," Meloni wrote on social media on the weekend with a laughing/crying emoji alongside a photo of the work.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Health officials said the infant most likely contracted a Listeria infection after the child's mother consumed unpasteurized milk during pregnancy.

While investigators have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause of the infection, the department said the case highlights the serious risks raw dairy products pose to pregnant women, infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

RELATED STORY |Study finds cheese made with raw milk may contain active bird flu virus

"Individuals who are pregnant should only consume pasteurized milk products to help prevent illnesses and deaths in newborns," said Dr. Chad Smelser, deputy state epidemiologist for the New Mexico Department of Health.

Raw milk can contain disease-causing bacteria, including Listeria, which can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth or fatal infections in newborns. Even when a pregnant person experiences only mild symptoms, the bacteria can still severely affect a fetus.

RELATED STORY |Botulism outbreak sickens more than 50 babies and expands to all ByHeart products

In addition to listeria, health officials say raw milk products can also expose people to other pathogens, including bird flu, salmonella and E. coli.

Health officials note that pasteurization briefly heats milk to a temperature high enough to kill harmful germs.

"Consumers, particularly those at higher risk, are encouraged to choose pasteurized dairy products to reduce the risk of serious foodborne illness," said Jeff M. Witte, New Mexico secretary of agriculture.

Elizabeth and her mother were "picked up by ICE on their way to school" on Jan. 6 and were being held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, Zena Stenvik said in a statement. The ICE facility, which houses parents and children taken into federal custody over alleged violations of immigration law, is located in south Texas.

It wasn't clear when they would return to Minnesota due in part toa measles outbreakat the detention facility that "may require a quarantine period," Stenvik said, adding that "we do not know the status of Elizabeth's health at this time."

But, she went on to say, "We are filled with joy at the anticipation of the family when Elizabeth's father can once again be reunited with his daughter and wife."

Columbia Heights is the same city where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were detained last month in a case that sparked much controversy. Both werereleased from Dilley and returned home Sunday, a day after a federal judge ordered ICE to free them.

Columbia Heights schools reopened Tuesday followinga racially and politically motivated bomb threatthat forced them to close for the day on Monday,CBS News Minnesota reported.

While it was a relief for district residents to seeLiam return home, Stenvik said the struggle is far from over.

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"Having Liam return to his family has provided us with a glimmer of hope, but it is bittersweet," she said, pointing out that four other Columbia Heights students were still in federal custody at Dilley. Elizabeth's release would leave three.

Stenvik also said dozens of parents of Columbia Heights elementary schoolers have been taken by federal agents.

She observed that while many people are hoping for de-escalation of tensions and of the ICE presence in the district, she hasn't seen any.

In her statement late Monday, Stenvik said, "We have been very concerned about (Elizabeth) and our other students and families who are unjustly being held in detention centers. We seek the full release of all children and unjustly detained parents from detention center across our country.

"We seek a diplomatic and peaceful solution to end this terror that the enhanced immigration enforcement is causing in our community, our state and our county."

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TUCSON, Ariz. — Bryce James, youngest son of NBA star LeBron James, is going to redshirt his freshman year at Arizona.

James has yet to appear in a game for the top-ranked Wildcats this season and coach Tommy Lloyd confirmed on Tuesday the 6-foot-5 guard will redshirt.

"The redshirting decision was just a long play, to give Bryce the most options in his career as his career unfolds," Lloyd told the Big 12 Network. "I have real strong belief that Bryce will be a contributor at Arizona in the near future. He's really shown a lot of progress, not only learning our system but just physically maturing."

James arrived at Arizona as part of a heralded freshman class headlined by Koa Peat and Brayden Burries.

The Wildcats (22-0) are off to the best start in program history, so Lloyd and his staff have been able to take their time in developing James, whose older brother, Bronny, plays with their father for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The trade on Tuesday was first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania. Cleveland becomes the sixth team in Harden's 17-year career.

Harden, who averages 25.4 points, 8.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds, gives Cleveland another scoring option for the remainder of the regular-season. After all, he is No. 9 all-time in NBA scoring history with 28,805 points. For what it's worth, he's No. 12 all-time in assists.

TheCavaliersacquire a combo guard in Harden who can play shooting guard and run a team as a point guard. He's played with superstars his entire career and has had success, especially in the regular season.

Having played with an array of stars like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving and Chris Paul throughout his 17-year NBA career, he should have no issue gelling with Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell.

Harden, who stands at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, gives Cleveland more size in their backcourt, a difference from Garland's 6-foot-1, 192-pound frame.

He should fit right in with Cleveland, who has been looking for a consistent secondary scorer after Mitchell. They happened to get one of the best offensive players in the game's history.

Harden joins the team as someone who control an offense. He's a constant scoring threat whether via penetration or knocking down perimeter shots. He's second all-time in NBA history with 3,310 3-pointers made.

Harden has been successful in his career when paired with other shooters or an athletic big who can set screens and finish above the rim, an archetype that matches both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

With the Cavaliers sitting at No. 5 in the Eastern Conference standings with a 30-21 record, Harden's addition gives them someone who can add a veteran presence and playoff experience.

On the receiving end of the trade are the Clippers who not only get a scorer at the point guard, right after losing one, but they also get younger in the process. Garland, who turned 26 in January, gives the team in Inglewood an 18 point-per-game scorer who turns out nearly seven assists per game this season.

The Clippers started the season with a 6-21 record by Dec. 18, and looked like they were headed towards the lottery with the Oklahoma City Thunder owning their pick.

But since then, the Clippers have turned their season around, having won 17 of their last 22 games. They now sit at the No. 9 spot in the Western Conference standings, which would qualify them for a NBA Play-in Tournament berth.

Garland can help recently named All-Star Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers creep into a potential playoff-berth by reaching the No. 6-spot or even better. They have a long way to go, as they stand seven games behind the No. 6-best Minnesota Timberwolves. But it's not entirely impossible.

The Kawhi Leonard-era isn't over just yet with the Clippers, this is just the latest iteration. From Paul George to Harden, now Garland attempts to help bring the Clippers over the hump and a chance to make and win their first ever NBA championship.

See how others are reacting to the NBA news:

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

More NBA trade news:Chicago Bulls agree to trade Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics

Sports world, fans react to Harden-Garland trade:

See immediate reactions and feedback from the NBA world, from NBA experts and insiders to fans of the game.

Experts and insiders:

Take a look at what some of the NBA experts and pundits had to say about the Harden trade.

A few weeks ago James Harden was waxing poetic about his time in LA, telling ESPN how "blessed" he'd felt to play in his hometown. I believe he was genuine in those sentiments. But this is a business decision for all involved. Garland is 10 years younger and gives the Clippers…https://t.co/aY8fqeeOaX

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne)February 4, 2026

By targeting Cleveland as his next destination, James Harden had to waive almost all of his $2.3 million trade bonus. He wanted the Cavaliers, like he wanted the Clippers... like he wanted the Sixers... It's honestly impressive this man keeps pointing at a team and getting there.https://t.co/SpOZrKhdTz

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer)February 4, 2026

Here are the salaries in the Cleveland/LAC trade:To ClevelandJames Harden: $39.2M, $42.3M ($13.3M GTY)Note: 2026-27 is a player option. If Harden opts-in, the contract is not guaranteed until 7/11To LA ClippersDarius Garland: $39.5M, $42.2M, $44.9M

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42)February 4, 2026

"I would not trade Darius Garland for James Harden under any circumstances. You know why?… All this guy does is quit on teams and fold in the playoffs."@getnickwrightsounds off about James Harden:pic.twitter.com/GsP6pZINuv

— First Things First (@FTFonFS1)February 3, 2026

I enjoyed covering James Harden during his time with the Clippers.On multiple occasions he stated his desire to finish his career in his hometown of Los Angeles. But the business side of things didn't line up that way.Should be an interest night at Intuit Dome tomorrow with…

— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_)February 4, 2026

Harden x Spida 😤This new duo in Cleveland 🔥pic.twitter.com/rWbX8akhrD

— ESPN (@espn)February 4, 2026

NBA, sports fans around the world:

Check out these reactions from various sports fans around the world.

Cavs got an old, washed James HardenClippers got a 26 year old who still isn't in his primeWe ALL know who wonhttps://t.co/OzYMLZTz8g

— Trey Park, College Basketball Insider (@tp13enthusiast)February 4, 2026

So next season Cavs gonna have James Harden, LeBron James, and Donovan Mitchellhttps://t.co/4oXRPhs6sA

— Blake / Tech2000 💿 (@ucegotthejuce)February 4, 2026

As a long time James Harden hater and day 1 Darius Garland fan, I will simply never recover from this. I hate everything.https://t.co/kJ9xTIubIQ

— Kayley (@kayleyk)February 4, 2026

Dear James Harden, from the night you got traded here it's been an absolute honor to witness you play on this team. Never sat out any games, never complained, gave it 100%. I appreciate everything you've done for this team. Thank You and Good luck in Cleveland GOAT 😭😭🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️❤️1️⃣pic.twitter.com/5nvRh8VuyL

— AMB🫀 (@AMBGotAura)February 4, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:James Harden, Darius Garland trade: Reactions to Clippers-Cavs deal

Backstage at theIntuitfor Education Super Bowl Financial Literacy Forum, the running back spoke candidly about what the offseason looks like for a player who carries such a heavy load.

"How much time do you have?" he joked when asked about how he recovers following a season. "It's an all-year commitment and 24-7 commitment to putting your body in the best position it can be in to go out there and do what I have to do for my team."

McCaffrey explained he meticulously trains in phases mapped to the calendar, recovery cycles built around his workload.

Super Bowl 60 updates:Latest news, events for Patriots vs. Seahawks.

"It's just a consistent effort to find the exact best thing to do and the time that you have and commit to a plan," he said.

This year, the grind begins under a familiar cloud of disappointment: the49ersaren't playing the pinnacle football game on their home turf ofLevi's Stadium. The running back didn't pretend that feels normal, or easy.

"Any time you're not playing in the Super Bowl, everybody's bitter," he said. "There's only one team happy at the end of the year."

Instead of watching from inside the stadium, he will be on a plane heading to see family with his wife,Olivia Culpo, and their six-month-old daughter, Colette. He's "hoping it's a good game," not committing to rooting for theSeattle Seahawksor New England Patriots. Instead, his mind is looking toward the fall.

"Every year you have to start from zero, getting young guys on board, and starting fresh from that," he said. "So we really take it one day at a time and it starts with offseason training."

That attention to process is also what brought him to the Intuit forum, a day centered on teaching high school students financial discipline.

McCaffrey told the room of Bay-area teenagers that success, whether on the field or with money, requires the right motivation.

"I don't play football for money, and I don't play football even for accolades," he said. "I never have, and I never will. The guys that love the game, ironically, are the ones that get the money and the accolades."

The running back may get his next accolade Feb. 5. He's a finalist for Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year at theannual NFL Honors.

Bryan West is a music reporter at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him onInstagram,TikTokandX as @BryanWestTV.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Christian McCaffrey featured for Super Bowl 60 week in San Francisco

"The Florida Department of Education recently received correspondence from members of the Florida legislature regarding reports of organized student protest activity occurring during the school day," Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said in a letter issued Feb. 3 to Florida school districts. "I want to thank them for bringing this matter to my attention and for their leadership in elevating concerns related to student safety, instructional time, and the appropriate role of public schools."

He didn't specify which district the reports came from, but the letter came about 24 hours after posts about walkouts at high schools throughout Brevard began circulating online, prompting both School Board Chair Matt Susin and Superintendent Mark Rendell to warn students that if they participated, they would face discipline.

"While students may express their views in appropriate, lawful ways outside of the school day and off school property, disruptions to learning and campus operations will not be tolerated," Susin said in a statement posted to Brevard Public Schools' website.

Both Susin and Rendell said the walkouts were not affiliated with the district.

The letter won't change how the district will respond to walkouts, said Janet Murnaghan, chief strategic communications officer for BPS.

"Yesterday, Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell shared a letter with families outlining the district's expectations," Murnaghan said in an email to FLORIDA TODAY. "As noted in that communication, walkouts during the instructional day are not permitted, and standard attendance and disciplinary policies will apply."

Here's what Kamoutsas said.

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Students have rights but may still be disciplined

Kamoutsas reminded educators and leaders that they "carry a responsibility to safeguard instructional time;" keep campuses safe; and follow the law, Board of Education rules and school board policies.

Still, he added that students have a constitutional right to free expression, adding that this includes the ability to participate in peaceful protests if "such expression complies with applicable law and school district policy."

"Any student whose actions are to the contrary should be appropriately disciplined," he said. "Districts have a responsibility to ensure that any protest activity does not interrupt instructional time, school operations and campus safety."

He went on to say that adults may not encourage, promote, organize or otherwise facilitate student participation in protests during the school day, and that conduct that distracts or undermines instruction could warrant discipline.

Additionally, he cited a Florida Board of Education rule that requires educators to "take reasonable precautions to distinguish between personal views and those of any educational institution or organization with which the individual is affiliated."

Addressing parents, he encouraged families to have conversations with students about the "importance of not allowing civic engagement to detract from time in the classroom."

Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker atfwalker@floridatoday.com. X:@_finchwalker.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today:Florida's education head sends guidance on ICE protests

NEED TO KNOW

• Neighbor Anthone Medina waited on the ground to catch the baby as he was lowered to safety in a car seat carrier held up by what appeared to be a tow strap

• The Milwaukee Fire Department saved eight people from the building, which reportedly had no sprinklers built in to fight fires

A family saved a baby from a burning building in an unconventional way in Milwaukee on Sunday, Feb. 1.

The Milwaukee Fire Department responded to the scene as the infant was lowered to safety in a car seat carrier held up by what appeared to be a tow strap, local ABC affiliateWXOWreported. "We knew there were a lot of people potentially still inside. We had people hanging from outside of windows," Milwaukee Fire Department Battalion Chief Nickolas Trost told the outlet.

The fire happened occurred near 77th and Green Tree Avenue,ABC 7 Chicagoreports. Neighbor Anthone Medina told the outlet that he assisted in the rescue, waiting on the ground to catch the baby as the flames grew.

"Since they didn't arrive immediately, we tried to save the baby's life by lowering him down with a blanket to get him to safety," Medina told ABC 7 in an interview translated from Spanish to English.

ABC 7 reports that the building had no sprinklers, citing the MFD.

Two people suffered leg injuries after jumping from the building, WXOW reports, citing the MFD.

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"The heaviest part of the fire was on the first floor, in the hallway. That was a big part of this story," Trost told WXOW, while noting that residents had to use alternate escape routes due to the size of the fire. Firefighters rescued eight people, all who are expected to survive, per the outlet.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Dramatic cell phone video footage obtained by local ABC affiliateWISNshowed heavy smoke filling the building. The bulk of the fire began on the first floor, the outlet reports.

Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski told ABC 7 Chicago that several city departments are actively working to create a database that will notify dispatchers of which buildings do not have sprinkler systems to fight fires.

PEOPLE has reached out to the MFD for further comment, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Read the original article onPeople

Lemonwas one of several journalists in attendance at the Jan. 18 protest of Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Demonstratorsentered the church during a service, alleging that one of the church's pastors, David Easterwood, worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Videos of the protest showed demonstrators chanting "ICE out" and lead pastor Jonathan Parnell shouting, "Shame on you, this is the house of God and we are worshipping."

In a nearlyseven-hour livestreamon his YouTube channel, Lemon spoke with congregation members, protesters and one of the church's pastors.

Demonstrators have a right to assemble and exercise free speech. Journalists are allowed to cover newsworthy events. But churchgoers are also guaranteed the right to practice their religion.

"I think you could teach a course on constitutional law from all the things that have happened in Minneapolis in the last month," saidThomas Berg, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis.

First, federal agents flooded the state in what PresidentDonald Trump's administration has referred to asthe "largest immigration operation ever."

ThenICE agent Jonathan Rossshot andkilled 37-year-old Renee Nicole Goodin Minneapolis on Jan. 7, followed by Border Patrol shooting andkilling 37-year-old Alex Prettion Jan. 24. Bothshootings prompted massive protests.

The arrests of Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort for their coverage of the church demonstration came less than a week after Pretti's death.

"Every one of the five freedoms of the First Amendment are in play on the streets of Minneapolis right now," saidKen Paulson, director of Middle Tennessee State University'sFree Speech Centerand former USA TODAY editor in chief.

Line between First Amendment rights, impeding federal operations

TheTrump administration has maintainedthat its actions in the state do not threaten First Amendment rights.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the U.S. Constitution "protects speech and peaceful assembly – not rioting" in a statement to USA TODAY on Feb. 3.

"DHS is taking appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers and the public from dangerous rioters," McLaughlin said. "We remind the public that rioting is dangerous – obstructing law enforcement is a federal crime and assaulting law enforcement is a felony."

Attorney GeneralPam Bondisaidin a Jan. 8 social media postthat peaceful protest is a "sacred American right protected by the First Amendment" but that it is a federal crime to impede or attack federal law enforcement or damage federal property.

On the same day, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanchewrote in partthat law enforcement officials are not required to "gamble with their lives in the face of a serious threat of harm."

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told USA TODAY on Feb. 3 that the administration "is committed to protecting all Americans' First Amendment freedoms - whether that be worshipping in church or protesting in the streets."

At the same time, she said, those who impede federal operations or otherwise break the law "will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

Several of those who werearrested in connection with the church protesthavedescribed their prosecutions as politically motivated.

Freedom of the Press

A slew ofpress freedom groups condemned the arrestsof Lemon and Fort, both of whom cited the First Amendment in defense of their reporting.

"The First Amendment of the Constitution protects that work for me and for countless other journalists who do what I do," Lemon told reporters outside the courthouse where he had his initial appearance,according to Politico. "I stand with all of them and I will not be silenced."

Invideo posted on her Facebook pageon Jan. 30, Fort said agents were at her door over her coverage and that she was advised by her attorney to go with them.

"I don't feel like I have my First Amendment right as a member of the press," she said.

Press freedom is not an unlimited right, and journalists are not immune from legal repercussions if they break the law in pursuing the news, experts said.

It wouldn't be unheard of for a journalist to face a trespassing charge, for example, but they said such charges are typically issued by state and local governments. It is much more unusual, they said, for the federal government to get involved.

"This is like unleashing the U.S. Army when a ... hometown patrolman could do the job," Paulson said.

He sees a "clear parallel" between the press freedom questions involved in the matter and the legal precedent that journalists generally have the right to publish classified information.

"The journalists are not breaking the law, they are accessing the information they need to share with their audience," Paulson said of the Minnesota case.

It would be harder to argue that the journalists had a First Amendment right to report on the church protest if they were found to have been collaborating with the protesters, as federal prosecutors have alleged, Berg said.

Still, the administration's actions against Lemon and Fort seem "beyond the pale," saidKatie Fallow, deputy litigation director at the Knight First Amendment Institute.

They are "part and parcel of the numerous actions by the Trump administration to curtail press freedom and target disfavored journalists," she said.

Freedom of Religion

Those who were worshiping at Cities Church when the service was disrupted also have a First Amendment right to practice their religion.

The Trump administration has also invoked theFreedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994in its efforts to prosecute journalists covering the protest.

Among other actions, the law makes illegal "intentionally injuring, intimidating or interfering with" a person attempting to seek or provide services at a reproductive health facility or place of worship. It specifies, however, that the act should not be used to "prohibit any expressive conduct – including peaceful picketing or other peaceful demonstration" protected by the First Amendment.

Trump's White House has accused past administrations ofusing the law to target religious Americans.

Days after taking office for the second time, Trump pardoned nearly two dozenanti-abortion activists. The group included individuals charged withconspiring to storm a reproductive health clinicin Washington in October 2020.  Amongtheir charges were violationsof the FACE Act.

Trump's Department of Justicealso invoked the law in its lawsuitsagainst those involved in a Pro-Palestinian demonstration outside a New Jersey synagogue in 2024.

Freedom of Speech

While the demonstrators involved in the protest have the right to free speech, "there's no First Amendment right to disrupt activities on private property," including a church, Berg said.

Experts pointed to other elements of the ongoing developments in Minnesota that implicate the freedom of speech.

There's the Trump administration's reportedinvestigation into Minnesota Gov. Tim Walzand Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in relation to a suspected conspiracy to impede federal immigration enforcement, as well as numerousclashes between federal agents and protesters.

Law enforcement's response to protests in the area "sends a chilling message to others to not engage in that kind of conduct because you might get arrested or beaten up or maybe even killed," Fallow said.

Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon has been arrested on Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Don Lemon attends the 2022 CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

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Former CNN host Don Lemon arrested. See his career in photos

Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon hasbeen arrestedon Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.

Courts will decide

Ultimately, the legal system will be responsible for determining whether and to what extent various parties violated the law through their actions in Minnesota.

"Courts are not a perfect forum, but they're the best place we have for sorting out people's competing assertions and basing the decision on the facts as best we can understand them," Berg, the law professor, said.

Paulson, who runs the First Amendment center, said the events in Minnesota have fostered a "renewed understanding of the importance of the First Amendment and the role it plays in keeping this country free."

"It's been a refresher for more than 300 million people," he said.

Contributing: Michael Loria and Natalie Neysa Alund

BrieAnna Frank is a First Amendment reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her atbjfrank@usatoday.com.

USA TODAY's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.Funders do not provide editorial input.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:First Amendment rights collide with protest in a Minnesota church

A coastguard ‌official said they spotted a dingy transporting migrants towards Chios, which lies a few miles off the ‌coast of Turkey, and ordered them to turn back.

"The smugglers manoeuvred toward the coast guard vessel causing a collision," the official told Reuters.

The coast guard said 25 migrants were rescued but one of them, a woman, later died. A search and rescue ⁠operation was ongoing.

Reuters was ‌unable to independently verify how the collision occurred. The nationality of the migrants was not clear.

Two coast guard officers were injured ‍and transferred to hospital, a second official told Reuters. Witnesses reported that about 30-35 people were on board, a government official said.

Greece, in the southeast corner of the European Union, ​has long been a favoured gateway to Europe for migrants and refugees from ‌the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

In 2015-2016, Greece was at the frontline of Europe's migration crisis and nearly one million people landed on its islands, including Chios, from Turkey.

In recent years, arrivals have dropped and Greece has toughened its stance on migrants. Since 2019, the centre-right government has reinforced border controls with ⁠fences and sea patrols.

Greece has come under scrutiny ​for its treatment of migrants and refugees approaching ​by sea, including one shipwreck in 2023 in which hundreds of migrants died after what witnesses said was the coastguard's attempt to tow ‍their trawler.

The EU border ⁠agency said last year that it was reviewing 12 cases of potential human rights violations by Greece, including some allegations migrants seeking asylum were ⁠pushed back from Greece's frontiers.

Greece denies that it violates human rights or that it forcefully ‌returns asylum seekers from its shores.

(Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas, Yannis Souliotis ‌and Renne Maltezou; Editing by Edward McAllister)

Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, sent shockwaves through Japan ‌after he shot and killed its longest-serving prime minister with a homemade gun in July 2022, while Abe was delivering a campaign speech in the western ⁠city of Nara.

"An appeal ‌was filed," said the spokesperson. The Osaka High Court will review the appeal.

Yamagami, who ‍admitted to killing Abe, was handed a life term by the court last month, in line with prosecutors' demands, ​though his defence had sought no more than ‌20 years, citing family issues linked to the Unification Church.

Media have quoted Yamagami as telling the court he held a grudge against the Unification Church after his mother's large donations to it caused financial hardship ⁠for the family.

He took out ​his anger on Abe after ​the former prime minister had sent a video message to an event organised by a ‍church affiliate, media ⁠added.

Founded in South Korea in 1954, the Unification Church is famed for its mass weddings and ⁠counts Japanese followers as a key source of income.

(Reporting by ‌Kiyoshi Takenaka and Kaori Kaneko; Editing by ‌Himani Sarkar and Clarence Fernandez)