NEO NEWS

Feb 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary, in an interview on Friday, urged Americans to ‌get vaccinated for measles, as the country faces its ‌largest measles surge in more than three decades.

"When we hear about cases of ​measles in an outbreak in South Carolina, that should serve as a good reminder for parents to make sure that their kids are vaccinated," Makary said during an appearance on MS NOW's "Chris Jansing ‌Reports".

The measles, mumps ⁠and rubella (MMR) two-shot protocol remains recommended at the federal level starting at 12 months of age, with ⁠a second at 4 to 6 years of age.

South Carolina reported 950 measles cases on Friday, including 17 new infections since Tuesday, ​according to ​state health officials. No deaths ​have been reported by the ‌state.

Among those infected, a significant majority of 883 individuals were unvaccinated, and 19 were partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccines.

Advertisement

"I think everyone in this administration has been pretty clear that the best way to prevent measles is to ‌get your kid vaccinated against measles," ​Makary added.

Earlier this week, National Institutes of ​Health Director Jay Bhattacharya ​also expressed his support for Americans getting vaccinated ‌against measles.

"The answer is yes," Bhattacharya ​said about the ​vaccines when asked by Reuters about recent outbreaks.

On Sunday, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz also ​urged Americans to ‌take the measles vaccine in an interview with CNN. "Take the ​vaccine, please," he said.

(Reporting by Sneha S K in ​Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)

The acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement says that two of its officers appear to have made "untruthful statements" about shooting a migrant in Minnesota and may face federal charges for their actions.

"Today, a joint review by ICE and the Department of Justice (DOJ) of video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements," Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a statement.

"Both officers have been immediately placed on administrative leave pending the completion of a thorough internal investigation. Lying under oath is a serious federal offense. The U.S. Attorney's Office is actively investigating these false statements," the statement said.

"The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct. Violations of this sacred sworn oath will not be tolerated. ICE remains fully committed to transparency, accountability, and the fair enforcement of our nation's immigration laws," Lyons added.

The statement from Lyons comes a day after the top federal prosecutor in Minnesota asked a judge to dismiss charges against two men, including one who was shot in the leg by an immigration agent, citing "newly discovered evidence" in what was initially framed as a "violent" attack on law enforcement during an enforcement operation.

"Newly discovered evidence in this matter is materially inconsistent with the allegations in the complaint affidavit. ... as well as the preliminary-hearing testimony,"  U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Daniel Rosen wrote in the filing Wednesday evening. It remains unclear what specific new evidence Rosen was referencing.

Rosen has asked the court to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning the charges cannot be refiled.

"Accordingly, dismissal with prejudice will serve the interests of justice," Rosen wrote.

In the wake of the shooting on Jan. 14 --  a week after an ICE agentfatally shot Renee Goodin Minneapolis -- the Trump administration said the man who was shot, Julio Cesar Sosa-Selis, attacked a federal law enforcement officer with a "shovel or a broom stick" and that the incident was part of "an attempt to evade arrest and obstruct law enforcement."

Minneapolis live updates: Minneapolis surge ending, Homan says

Lawyers for another man charged in the incident, Alfredo Aljorna, said surveillance videos did not corroborate the FBI's claims that an agent was assaulted and said Sosa-Celis was shot while standing at his doorway some distance away from the officer.

Earlier this month attorneys for Aljorna also urged a judge to prohibit the government from deporting key witnesses who they said cast doubt that an agent was repeatedly struck with a broom or a snow shovel, Judge Paul Magnuson granted the request.

The reversal on the assault charges for Sosa-Celis and Aljorna comes after several discrepancies emerged between statements from Department of Homeland Security officials and details outlined in court records regarding their arrests.

DHS initially said in statements to media that officers were conducting a "targeted traffic stop" for Sosa-Celis when he fled in his vehicle, crashed into another car and attempted to evade arrest. The agency alleged that Sosa-Celis "violently" assaulted an officer and that two other individuals exited a nearby apartment and joined the attack "with a snow shovel and broom handle."

Lawyers allege Dept. of Homeland Security is denying legal counsel to Minnesota detainees

According to DHS, Sosa-Celis struck the officer with "a shovel or broom stick," prompting the officer to fire what the agency described as a defensive shot "to defend his life," striking Sosa-Celis in the leg.

"What we saw last night in Minneapolis was an attempted murder of federal law enforcement," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in the Jan. 15 statement.

However, an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Timothy Schanz, who investigated the shooting, stated that ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations agents were attempting to stop a different man identified as Joffre Stalin Paucar Barrera -- not Sosa-Celis -- whom they believed was in the country illegally. According to Schanz, agents later identified the driver DHS agents stopped as a different man, Aljorna.

Schanz wrote that Aljorna struck a light pole and fled on foot toward his apartment building.

Sosa-Celis was allegedly standing on the porch and yelling at Aljorna to run faster, the affidavit says. Aljorna slipped and allegedly "began tussling" with the agent before Sosa-Celis grabbed a broom and began striking the agent, according to the affidavit.

The agent "then saw who he believed was a third Hispanic male approach with a snow shovel, and this male also began striking" him, Schanz said in the affidavit. The third man was identified as Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez-Ledezma by DHS, who accused him of also assaulting the officer.

Sosa-Celis was shot in the leg as he attempted to go inside the apartment, the affidavit says.

Video reviewed by ABC News' Visual Verification team includes a 911 call from individuals identified as relatives of Sosa-Celis, who said agents fired as he was attempting to close the door.

After Lyons issued his statement on Friday, attorney Brian D. Clark shared a reaction from the families of Sosa-Celis and Aljorna.

"Julio, Alfredo, and their families are overjoyed at this news. The charges against them were based on lies by an ICE agent who recklessly shot into their home through a closed door," they said in the statement. "They are so happy justice is being served by the government's request to dismiss all charges with prejudice. The identify of the ICE agent should be made public and he should be charged for his crime."

Slade Gorton & Co., Inc, is recalling lot 3896 of Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon sold in 2-lb bags at BJ's Wholesale Club stores

NEED TO KNOW

• The recall comes from the FDA due to the product being contaminated with listeria

• The products were sold in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia from Jan. 31 through Feb. 7.

Salmon produced by Wellsley Farms has been recalled in seven states due to listeria contamination.

"Slade Gorton & Co., Inc, is recalling lot 3896 of Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon sold in 2-lb bags at BJ's Wholesale Club stores due to the potential for the product to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes," a statement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began.

The recalled salmon was sold only in BJ's Wholesale Club stores in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia from Jan. 31 through Feb. 7. It is packaged in 2-lb bags with the Wellsley Farms logo and Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon on the front. The UPC code (888670025963) and recalled lot number (3896) are on the reverse of the bag, below the cooking instructions and Nutrition Facts panel, per the FDA.

Consumers who believe they purchased the product call 1-888-628-0730 at any time for instructions on how to obtain a full refund and what to do with the remaining product, per the FDA.

Advertisement

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.

Listeria is defined as "an illness caused by bacteria that can spread through many foods," perMayo Clinic. "It can be very serious for pregnant women, people older than 65 and people with weakened immune systems," the clinic defines.

The most common foods to be infected with listeria are soft cheeses, deli meats and dairy products that haven't been pasteurized to kill bacteria, according to Mayo Clinic.

The recall comes after another widespread cheese recall that affected 20 states in January. Ambriola Company, a supplier to popular brands likeBoar's Head Brandand Locatelli,issued a recall of select pecorino Romano cheese productsback on Nov. 24. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reclassified the recall as Class I on Jan. 6.

The affected products came from five brands — Locatelli, Pinna, Boar's Head, Sam's Club's brand Member's Mark and Ambriola — and were sold directly to consumers and in large-scale sizes for restaurants.

Read the original article onPeople

The class-action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination against the NFL filed by former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, later joined by former Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks and longtime assistant Ray Horton, can be tried in open court, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled on Friday.

The rulingupheld previous decisionsby the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan and U.S. District Court Judge Valerie Caproni that stated Flores would be able to take his lawsuit to court, rather than go through arbitration that would have been overseen by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

"The court's decision recognizes that an arbitration forum in which the defendant's own chief executive gets to decide the case would strip employees of their rights under the law," Flores' attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor and David E. Gottlieb,said in a statement. "It is long overdue for the NFL to recognize this and finally provide a fair, neutral and transparent forum for these issues to be addressed."

Flores' lawsuit against the NFL, Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Houston Texans alleges racial discrimination in the league's hiring process for coaches.

An assistant for 11 years before being hired as the Dolphins' head coach, Flores was fired after the 2021-22 season. While pursuing other head-coaching opportunities as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he alleged that the Giants and Broncos only interviewed him to accommodate the league's Rooney Rule that mandates teams consider minority candidates for head-coach openings. The suit claims that those teams did not view him as a legitimate candidate for those jobs.

"The significance of the Second Circuit's decision cannot be overstated," Wigdor and Gottlieb added. "For too long, the NFL has relied on a fundamentally biased and unfair arbitration process—even in cases involving serious claims of discrimination.

"This ruling sends a clear message: that practice must end. This is a victory not only for NFL employees, but for workers across the country—and for anyone who believes in transparency, accountability and justice."

Flores provided evidence in his filing showing text messages from former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick congratulating him for getting the Giants' head-coaching job. However, Flores told Belichick that he had not yet interviewed for the position. Belichick believed his messages were going to Brian Daboll, who was hired by the Giants.

Wilks joined the class-action suit with claims against the Cardinals. He was fired as Arizona's head coach after only one season, after which the team hired Kliff Kingsbury. Wilks alleges he was only viewed as a one-year "bridge" during the 2018 season.

Horton named the Titans in his claims, alleging that the team had already decided to hire Mike Mularkey in 2016 when interviewing him, then the defensive coordinator, for its head-coaching position.

An NFL memo sent Friday morning informed all teams that the players association no longer can publish its annual report cards, which rank the franchises on everything from the locker room to the owner to the treatment of families.

That is the result of a grievance filed by the league against the NFL Players Association, according to the memo.

"We are pleased to report that the NFL prevailed in the grievance filed against the NFL Players Association, challenging its practice of creating and publicizing annual 'Team Report Cards'," the memo said. "The arbitrator held that the publication of Report Cards disparaging NFL clubs and individuals violates the Collective Bargaining Agreement and issued an Order prohibiting the NFLPA from publishing or publicly disclosing the results of future player Report Cards."

The 2025 report was the third produced by the NFLPA. The NFLPA made it clear in a statement that it still plans to collect the report cards even if the results can no longer be made public.

"The ruling upholds our right to survey players and share the results with players and clubs," the NFLPA statement said. "While we strongly disagree with the restriction on making those results public, that limitation does not stop the program or its impact. Players will continue to receive the results, and teams will continue to hear directly from their locker rooms.

"Importantly, the arbitrator rejected the NFL's characterization of the process, finding the Team Report Cards to be fair, balanced, and increasingly positive over time. Our methodology is sound. The Team Report Cards exist to serve players. That mission remains unchanged. We will continue working to ensure players' experiences are heard, respected, and acted on - by their teams, by their union, and wherever else possible."

The survey was designed to improve overall working conditions for the players but also to give them the information they need when considering factors to help them make career decisions, such as free agency.

Teams were given letter grades in 11 categories that concerned ownership, coaching, strength and conditioning programs, as well as areas such as travel, locker room facilities, nutrition and treatment of player families.

Advertisement

Last year, the Miami Dolphins ranked first overall out of the 32 teams, with No. 1 votes in seven of the categories. Owner Stephen Ross was the highest-graded owner. He received an A-plus rating, as did head coach Mike McDaniel, who was fired after the conclusion of the season.

Coming in at No. 2 were the Minnesota Vikings, who ranked first in treatment of families and locker room. Head coach Kevin O'Connell and the owners, the Wilf family, ranked third overall.

In last place were the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals were dinged, especially, for their facilities, but players also said the team needed an upgraded food and dining area. Coach Jonathan Gannon received an A grade from players -- the only A on the Arizona report card -- while ownership ranked No. 30 overall with a D-minus grade.

Gannon also was fired at the end of the season.

Coming in No. 31 were the New England Patriots. After the 2024 survey, owner Robert Kraft made improvements, such as investing $50 million in a new facility next to the stadium, currently under construction, and improving services for family members.

Still, Kraft --whose teams have won six Super Bowl games -- ranked only No. 30 among team owners with a D.

The Patriots, under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, won the AFC title in 2025 but lost to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX last weekend.

--Field Level Media

Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine will undergo season-ending surgery on his right hand after the All-Star break, longtime NBA insiderChris Haynes reported Friday.

LaVine, a two-time All-Star, was averaging a team-leading 19.2 points per game and shooting 47.9% from the field, including 39% from 3, this season, his second with Sacramento afterhe was traded midseason from the Chicago Bulls last yearin the three-team deal that sent now-two-time All-Star guard De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Kings have been riddled by injuries this season. Notably, center Domantas Sabonis missed extensive time earlier in the 2025-26 campaignwith a partially torn meniscus.

A three-time All-Star himself, Sabonis returned before the trade deadline. He had been the subject of trade talks this season, and so had LaVine and fellow veteran DeMar DeRozan.

The Kings, currently an NBA-worst 12-44 at the break and losers of 14 consecutive games, didn't deal any of them, although general manager Scott Perry did send Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder to the Cleveland Cavaliersin a three-team trade that brought them back De'Andre Hunterand also moved Dario Šarić to the Chicago Bulls.

Šarić has since been traded again and waived.

As for the soon-to-be-31-year-old LaVine, he sat out the past three games with what the team described as a "right fifth finger tendon injury."

That shooting-hand issue is reportedly requiring a procedure that will end LaVine's 12th season in the league.

Earlier this season, he sustained a left ankle injury when he landed awkwardly on a drive into the paint against his old team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, on Dec. 14.

He missed nine games in a row as a result.

LaVine has a $48.9 million player option for next season. He's expected to pick that up, but the trade rumors likely will resume in the offseason.

Although he led an imbalanced Kings roster in scoring this season, his 2.3 assists per game were the fewest he's averaged in his career. Plus, he was reeling in under three rebounds a contest for just the third time, and the first since the 2015-16 campaign.

Known for his uber athleticism, LaVine made a name for himself as a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion with the Timberwolves, who took him No. 13 overall in the 2014 draft.

Perhaps ironically, Friday marked the 10-year anniversary ofLaVine's high-flying showdown versus Aaron Gordonin the memorable 2016 dunk contest.

MALAKOFF, Texas (AP) — Some school districts in the U.S. dropped plans for class pictures after widespread social media posts linked a billionaire with ties toJeffrey Epsteinto the photography giant Lifetouch, which on Friday called the claims "completely false."

The disruption to school picture plans in Texas and elsewhere began after online posts linked Lifetouch, which photographs millions of students each year, to the investment fund manager Apollo Global Management. Apollo's former CEO is billionaire investor Leon Black, who met regularly with Epstein and was advised by Epstein on financial matters.

Black led the company in 2019, when funds managed by Apollo bought Lifetouch's parent company, Shutterfly. The $2.7 billion deal closed in September 2019 — a month after Epstein's death by suicide behind bars as he awaited trial over allegations from federal prosecutors that he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of girls.

Both Lifetouch and Apollo noted that timeline in statements Friday, two days after Lifetouch CEO Ken Murphy said in an Instagram post that neither Black nor any of Apollo's directors or investors ever had any access to Lifetouch photos.

"No Lifetouch executives have ever had any relationship or contact with Epstein and we have never shared student images with any third party, including Apollo," Lifetouch said in its statement Friday. "Apollo and its funds also have no role in Lifetouch's daily operations and have no access to student images."

The canceled school pictures are another ripple effect over the release of millions of files from the Epstein investigation, including documents showing Epstein's regular contacts with CEOs, journalists, scientists and prominent politicians long after a 2008 conviction on sex crimes charges.

In the small Texas town of Malakoff, the local school district canceled a student picture day after several parents told the district they weren't comfortable with Lifetouch photographing their children, spokesperson Katherine Smith said in a statement e-mailed Friday. Several other schools and districts in Texas also canceled or changed plans, as well as a charter school in Arizona, according to Facebook announcements posted by the schools.

"We decided our students and families would be best served by keeping all of our pictures in-house for the rest of this year, and we are looking at all of our options for the 2026-2027 school year," Smith said.

Parents concerned about Lifetouch included MaKallie Gann, whose children attend schools in Howe, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Dallas. She said she was worried about how much information Lifetouch collects on students.

"Whenever you order the pictures, it has their name. It has the age, of course. It has their grade, their teacher, the school that they're in," she said.

No evidence of Epstein or anyone in his orbit seeing Lifetouch photos has emerged from news organizations' review ofthousands of documents released this monthby the U.S. Department of Justice, though there are at least 1.7 million records.

The review shows Black's name appeared 8,200 times, though that figure likely includes some duplicate records.Black stepped downas Apollo's CEO in March 2021, saying he wanted to focus on his family, health, and "many other interests."

That was two months after a committee of the company's boardissued a reportconcluding that Epstein had advised Black personally on estate planning, tax issues, charitable giving and running his "family office," but provided no services to Apollo or invested in no Apollo funds.

The report also said the review — which Black requested — found "no evidence" that he was involved with Epstein's alleged criminal activities "in any way" or "at any time." ___

Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. Also contributing was Associated Press writer Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota.