NEO NEWS

By Erica Stapleton and Andrew Hay

Zorro Ranch is seen in an aerial view near Stanley, New Mexico

SANTA FE, Feb 16 (Reuters) - New Mexico lawmakers on Monday passed legislation to launch what they said was the first full investigation into what happened at Zorro Ranch, where the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is accused of trafficking and sexually assaulting girls and women.

A bipartisan committee will seek testimony from survivors of alleged sexual abuse at the ranch, located about 30 miles south of Santa Fe, ‌the state capital. Legislators are also urging local residents to testify.

Epstein died in what was ruled a suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges.

The so-called truth commission, comprising four lawmakers, seeks to ‌identify ranch guests and state officials who may have known what was going on at the 7,600-acre property, or taken part in alleged sexual abuse in its hacienda-style mansion and guest houses.

The Democratic-led investigation adds to political pressure to uncover Epstein's crimes that has become a major challenge for President Donald Trump, weeks after ​the Justice Department released millions of Epstein-related files that shed new light on activities at the ranch.

The files reveal ties between Epstein and two former Democratic governors and an attorney general of New Mexico.

The legislation, which passed New Mexico's House of Representatives by a unanimous vote, could pose risks to any additional politicians linked to Epstein in the Democratic-run state, as well as scientists, investors and other high-profile individuals who visited the ranch.

The $2.5 million investigation, which has subpoena power, aims to close gaps in New Mexico law that may have allowed Epstein to operate in the state. The committee starts work on Tuesday, and will deliver interim findings in July and a final report by year-end.

"He was basically doing anything he wanted in this state without any accountability whatsoever," said New Mexico state Representative Andrea Romero, a Democrat, who co-sponsored the initiative.

Testimony ‌to the committee could be used for future prosecutions, she said.

Victim advocates applauded the move, ⁠saying Zorro Ranch had been overlooked by federal investigations that focused on Epstein's Caribbean island and New York townhouse.

"Many of the survivors had experiences in New Mexico, and as we've learned, you know, there were local politicians and other people that were aware of what was happening in New Mexico," said attorney Sigrid McCawley, whose law firm has represented hundreds of Epstein survivors.

They include the late Virginia Giuffre, who ⁠was abused many times at the ranch, she said.

The U.S. Department of Justice passed a request for comment to the FBI. The FBI declined comment.

EPSTEIN OPERATED AT THE RANCH FOR DECADES

Several civil suits accuse Epstein of sexually assaulting girls at Zorro Ranch. He was never charged for the alleged offenses.

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Romero said there was no record of federal law enforcement searching what was known locally as "the playboy ranch" where Epstein is accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl as early as 1996.

Former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas launched a probe in 2019 that was put on hold at the ​request ​of federal prosecutors to avoid "parallel investigation," he said in a statement.

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez has assigned a special agent to probe allegations that ​may come through the truth commission, spokesperson Lauren Rodriguez said.

Democratic State Representative Marianna Anaya, an advocate for ‌sexual assault survivors who co-sponsored the legislation, is working on accompanying legislation to extend New Mexico's statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault that would allow civil actions by survivors of Epstein's alleged abuse.

Epstein bought the ranch in 1993 from Bruce King, a three-time New Mexico Democratic governor who died in 2009.

The financier flew in guests and "masseuses," and hired local massage therapists to work there, ranch manager Brice Gordon told the FBI in 2007, according to a report in the Epstein files.

In an unsealed 2016 court deposition, Giuffre testified Epstein's partner Ghislaine Maxwell told her to give the late former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson a "massage" at the ranch. In Giuffre's memoir, she said an instruction from Maxwell to provide a "massage" meant a victim should provide a sexual encounter to an abuser.

Richardson's representative Madeleine Mahoney in a 2019 statement said Giuffre's allegations were "completely false."

Gordon told the FBI that most of the masseuses Epstein used at the ranch were hired locally through the spa Ten Thousand Waves, a Santa Fe institution, or by referrals.

Spa spokesperson Sara Bean said in a ‌phone interview last Tuesday that Ten Thousand Waves neither provided nor referred masseuses to Zorro Ranch.

In the documentary "Surviving Jeffrey Epstein," former Santa Fe massage therapist ​Rachel Benavidez accused Epstein of sexual abuse when she was hired to work at the ranch.

Investment consultant Joshua Ramo said on Sunday he visited the ranch ​once for a 2014 lunch on behalf of professors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, who were ​present. Ramo, at the time CEO of consulting firm Kissinger Associates, said he and Epstein met with business figures and scientists around 14 times in New York between 2013 and 2016.

"I deferred to the due diligence ‌of the institutions involved, assuming that his presence signaled he had been appropriately vetted," Ramo, in ​a statement, said of his ranch visit and other meetings with ​Epstein. "I feel a deep sense of grief for the survivors of his crimes."

Emails show Epstein contacted Ramo in 2015 to tell him he was going to Ten Thousand Waves, suggesting they meet for lunch in Santa Fe. Ramo responded, "I assumed we were meeting at the pink bottom ranch." Ramo, who is currently CEO of consulting firm Sornay LLC, said he had no recollection of that comment, or whether the two met that day.

Over the years, Epstein contributed to the political campaigns ​of New Mexico Democrats such as Richardson and King's son Gary King, a former New Mexico ‌attorney general. When contributions were reported in the press, the men pledged to either return the money, or give it to charity.

Gary King flew on a plane chartered by Epstein when he was running for New Mexico ​governor in 2014, according to emails in the Epstein files. Epstein said he would cover around half the cost of the $22,000 charter and King would pay the rest. King did not respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting ​by Erica Stapleton in New Mexico and Florida, reporting by Andrew Hay in New Mexico; editing by Donna Bryson and Diane Craft)

In 1947, African American brothers James and Robert Paschal launched a scrappy luncheonette in Atlanta'sCastleberry Hill neighborhood, their fried chicken earning renown as the house's go-to specialty. Within 15 years, Paschal's Restaurant & Coffee Shop had become not just a beloved community eatery but a supporting player in the civil rights movement.

In the years before passage of the1964 Civil Rights Act, the soul food restaurant offered more than nourishment: Not far from the offices of Martin Luther King Jr.'sSouthern Christian Leadership Conference, Paschal's was a hub for civil rights luminaries such as King, John Lewis and Julian Bond as well as a refuge for Atlanta parents waiting to reunite with students arrested for conducting lunch counter sit-ins.

As the civil rights movement gathered momentum in the 1950s and early 1960s,Paschal'sand other Black-owned restaurants played crucial roles throughout the South, offering affirmation, security and even financial support, with food as the common thread.  As with Black churches and Black-owned salons and barbershops, they provided gathering space free from the scrutiny and disrespect community members often faced elsewhere.

"These restaurants lent themselves to the movement because they had the autonomy to decide for themselves what happened under the roof of their place," said Bobby J. Smith, an associate professor of African American studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. "They were able to welcome all people, particularly those who did not have the opportunity to be part of other restaurant spaces."

As dining establishments, he said, they provided cover for revolutionary activity.

"On the outside it looked like people were just going in to gather around gumbo or pork chops," said Smith, author of "Food Power Politics: The Food Story of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement." "But inside, they were planning one of themost important social movementsin American history. It's a covert network of public spaces hidden in plain sight."

That's why such restaurants were important from a strategic standpoint, said Marcia Chatelain, a professor of Africana studies at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and author of "Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America."

"During the era of segregation, there were few places where African Americans could dine without fear they would be treated poorly or harmed by other patrons," she said.

It wasn't only restaurants: People like Montgomery's Georgia Gilmore also embraced food as a weapon in thewar against discrimination. A cook who lost her job at a White-run restaurant after testifying in support of the 1956 Montgomery bus boycott, Gilmore started acatering businessthat helped feed and raise funds on the sly for civil rights activists in Alabama.

"She used food as a way to support the movement," Smith said.

Meanwhile, across town, the constant lines of people waiting for barbecued ribs and chicken atBrenda's Bar-Be-Que Pithelped the Montgomery take-out stand likewise lend financial support to ongoing activism.

"Brenda's was very dynamic, very involved in the movement," said Georgette Norman, the retired former director of Montgomery'sRosa ParksMuseum at Troy University. "Food was one of the ways that money was raised. Everybody has to eat. These days, people say, send me a check. But back then people cooked, and people bought, and people ate. Brenda's was part of that."

Robert and James Paschal passed away in 1997 and 2008, respectively, but their descendants continue to operate the restaurant, which reopened in a more modern Castleberry Hill neighborhood location in 2022. Its walls continue to exude history in the form of mounted photos of King and others who were once regular patrons.

Paschal's and Brenda's are some of the few establishments central to the civil rights movement that have stood the test of time. Here are some others that continue to operate today.

Dooky Chase's, New Orleans

The first time Raphael Cassimere Jr. tried going to Dooky Chase's he waited two hours in line and never got in. That was in 1959, and Cassimere was a fresh high school graduate in New Orleans;Dooky Chase's, in the city's Treme' neighborhood, was one of the few fine dining spots where Black people were welcome.

"There was another high school graduation the same night," he said.

Cassimere, who retired in 2007 after 37 years as a professor of history at the University of New Orleans, recalled finally entering the famed restaurant a year later as a member of the city's youth council, accompanying a lunch group that included a high-ranking NAACP official.

Dooky Chase's etouffee, stuffed shrimp and jambalaya drew steady crowds that eventually included civil rights advocates like Thurgood Marshall, A.P. Tureaud andErnest "Dutch" Morial. In the 1960s, King convened with Freedom Riders in the private dining room upstairs to plan and strategize as the movement heated up.

Cassimere was among the young activists who attended meetings there.

"(Chef) Leah (Chase) would serve us herself," he said. "There were not many places where Black and white activists could meet together."

In 1941, jazz trumpeter Edgar "Dooky" Chase Jr. had taken over the late-night po'boy sandwich stand opened by his father, and before long his wife Leah began introducing Creole dishes to the menu. As the couple transformed the place into a sit-down restaurant with linen tablecloths, Leah Chase took over as chef in 1952, eventually earning acclaim as "The Queen of Creole Cuisine."

Acclaimed Black music artists like Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughn and Cab Calloway stopped at Dooky Chase's post-performance, unable to patronize other establishments.

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"Dooky Chase's was a fine dining restaurant, one of the first Black-owned restaurants of its kind in the nation," said Smith, of the University of Illinois. "Leah Chase had worked in those kinds of places in New Orleans and she wanted to give Black people a space to experience a different level of dining rooted in their cultural foodways. She wanted them to know they mattered."

For civil rights activists, that upper room became a place to be fed and reenergized, "a space where people could meet and organize, or just catch their breath," Smith said. "It became thisSituation Room, if you will, a space where they could talk over food about what to do to change the trajectory of the nation."

Four Way Grill, Memphis

In summer 2022, California chef Geoff Davis enjoyed a transformative lunch at what's now called simply the Four Way as he and his mother traveled through Tennessee, visiting friends and civil rights landmarks in Nashville and Memphis.

At the time, Davis was preparing to open Burdell, the reimagined soul food restaurant he owns in Oakland, California, and he wanted to see what other restaurants were doing.

TheFour Way, a modest stone structure minutes from the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis'SoulsvilleDistrict, was on his list. Having been underwhelmed by most places he'd visited, his expectations were low – but this experience took him by surprise.

"It's pretty powerful being in there given the sense of history that place has," Davis said. "The food was phenomenal — really vibrant and delicious and comforting."

Irene and Clint Cleaves opened what was then theFour Way Grillin 1946, a Southern food sanctuary with an integrated clientele and a back door through which Stax musicians sometimes entered to avoid attention. During the civil rights movement, activist leaders such as King, theRev. Jesse Jacksonand theRev. Al Sharptontalked strategy over meals of fried chicken and greens.

Davis said he and his mother actually became emotional as they enjoyed their lunch from Four Way — fried chicken, stewed neckbones, lima beans, macaroni and cheese, cornbread and other items that unlocked vaults of memories.

"Some of the dishes tasted like the ones we grew up eating at home or at the homes of family members who have since passed away," he said. "So it was nourishing in that way too."

The experience, Davis said, informed his menu atBurdell.

"The simplicity of it really stuck with me," he said. "We're slightly fancier, but some of the dishes there were how I remembered them as a kid. Going to Four Way really gave me the confidence to say, we're going to do smothered cabbage and do it straight up. It doesn't need garnishes; it just needs to be the best cabbage we can find. Having that homestyle element is really special."

Big Apple Inn, Jackson

In the 1950s and early 1960s,Farish Streetwas the heart of the Black community in Jackson, Mississippi, a thriving hub of entertainment and economic activity that defied the oppressive weight of segregation.

"It was one of the only places where Black people could go out and be social," said Smith, of the University of Illinois. "In New Orleans there's a level of racism that people know and see, but in Mississippi you can feel it as well."

It was on Farish Street that Mexico City native Juan "Big John" Mora, who ended up in Jackson after train-hopping through the U.S. seeking work, had set up a tamale stand that would lead to a brick-and-mortar restaurant called theBig Apple Innin 1939.

By 1952, the Big Apple Inn had moved across the street into a two-story building, with Mora's tamales sharing the spotlight with smoked sausage and pig ear sandwiches. Civil rights activistMedgar Evers, who had a second-floor office, began conducting meetings in the downstairs eatery.

That the Big Apple was owned by Mora and his wife, who was Black, provided a level of protection that activists found in rare supply.

"A lot of these independent business owners weren't necessarily immune from economic reprisal, but usually families who owned restaurants were in a better financial space to take more political risks," said Chatelain, of the University of Pennsylvania. "They could be movement-friendly because they were the bosses of their own businesses."

The Big Apple is now run by Geno Lee, Mora's great-grandson, and its menu remains very much the same as it was, with regulars stopping in for "smokes" and "ears" and tamales made according to Mora's own recipe, though now with turkey instead of beef.

Davis, the Oakland chef, said restaurant owners who hosted or enabled civil rights activity "were very brave to have their spaces be hubs for that. There's a bit of revolutionary spirit in entrepreneurship, and that's doubling down on being willing to take a risk."

Since everyone needs to eat, he said, such restaurants helped nurture the soul.

"Restaurants are gathering places," Davis said. "Everyone's full and happy, and when you're talking about difficult things it's good to have some comfort to go alongside that."

USA TODAY Network reporter Todd A. Price contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Black-owned restaurants played vital role in civil rights movement

A Mardi Gras social group says it is investigating an incident on a float during its Feb. 14 parade in which a Black doll appeared to hang by the neck from a necklace of beads.

Photos and videos of the doll being held over the side of the float using beads, necklaces commonly tossed to parade revelers at Mardi Gras, began circulating after it was spotted during aKrewe of Tucksorganizationparade in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Videos appear to show the doll hanging by its neck from a strand of beads as it's held alongside other necklaces waiting to be tossed into the crowd of paradegoers. A young girl caught the doll attached to the beads at the parade,according to a postby the City of New Orleans.

The Krewe of Tucks organization condemned the action following the parade, writing in astatement posted on social mediathat the "behavior is intolerable and completely contrary to the beliefs and values that the Krewe of Tucks holds."

"We intend to fully investigate this incident and the responsible riders will no longer be permitted to have any association with the parade," the statement read. "The leadership wishes this had been brought to our attention during the parade because it would have been addressed immediately. This was brought to our attention through social media and we are immediately investigating."

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Elana Meyers Taylor won the Olympicgold medal for Team USAin women's monobob on Monday, making her the most decorated U.S. female bobsledder out there.

She beat Germany's Laura Nolte. Fellow American, Kaillie Armbruster Humphries, who's won gold three times, took home the bronze.

Meyers Taylor, a 41-year-old five-time Olympian, previously won silver three times and bronze twice. She also has more medals to her name than any Black athlete in Winter Olympics history, according to Team USA.

With Monday's gold, she's also tied speed skater Bonnie Blair for the most medals by a female U.S. Winter Olympian. Speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, who earned eight medals across three Winter Olympics, holds the overall top spot for U.S. Winter Olympians.

Meyers Taylor is also now the oldest American woman to ever win gold at the Winter Games.

"I love going fast and I love being able to control this thing that should be out of control, that should be uncontrollable," she told CBS News before the race. "It's just so much fun to me and when you hit the curves right and when you're gliding, it feels like being a superhero."

Meyers Taylor also competes in two-woman bobsled.

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Last year, she took home bronze in the world championships. Overall, she's earned 10 medals across her years competing in the world championships.

Meyers Taylororiginally had hopes of competing in the Summer Olympics as a football player, but told CBS News she "had a disaster of a tryout." Her parents, who'd seen bobsledding on TV, suggested she give it a shot.

Husband Nic Taylor is a former Olympic bobsledder.

A mom of two, Meyers Taylor is also an advocate for children who have disabilities. Both of her sons, Nico and Noah, are deaf and Nico also has Down syndrome. In addition to training for the Olympics, she's also juggled normal parenting responsibilities and learning sign language.

In November, Meyers Taylor told CBS News that when all the training is done and she's in race mode, "I don't think about anything. My mind goes completely blank, and I'm just fully in the moment, fully present. And I think that what keeps bringing me back is there's very few times in life that you can be that present."

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MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs want more.

Having finally made a long awaited return to the postseason and even earning a series victory in the wild-card round against the Padres last October, a lofty standard has been reestablished for one of baseball's most prominent franchises. On Monday, ahead of their first full-squad workout, the Cubs spoke of their hunger for an even deeper postseason run and how the core that has grown together over the past half-decade is eager for the opportunity ahead — with some new reinforcements along for the ride.

A year ago, Cubs camp opened just days after Alex Bregman chose the Boston Red Sox to conclude his first foray into free agency, a decision that was felt in Mesa, with Chicago having pursued Bregman to no avail. The Cubs made their own splash earlier that winter with the acquisition of Kyle Tucker, but Tucker arrived with just one year remaining on his contract, making his presence feel tenuous even then. A largely successful season for both player and team ensued, but the partnership did end up being temporary, as Tucker joined the Dodgers this winter.

[Get more Chicago news: Cubs team feed]

But in Bregman's second trip to the open market, after he opted out of his Red Sox deal,the Cubs got their man. A heavily deferred, five-year, $175 million deal brought Bregman into the fold as a pillar for the franchise — a sharp contrast to Tucker's arrival the year prior. Bregman joins a roster loaded with veterans who have already experienced a lot together and are looking to take the next step. And afterfielding questions about missing out on Bregmanon the first day of workouts last February, Cubs personnel on Monday got to talk about his value as a teammate.

"I think he fits our team really well," said outfielder Ian Happ, the longest-tenured Cub. "But I think the group as a whole, we know each other. We know what each other is working on and, you know, what the offseason goals were for everybody. So it's really fun when you get to put a group back together … that part of it is so exciting because you know what everybody's capable of, and the group collectively is just trying to raise the level."

Now a decade removed from the drought-breaking triumph in 2016, the Cubs' core — bolstered this winter by Bregman and hard-throwing right-hander Edward Cabrera in the rotation — is not shying away from expectations to deliver another special season.

"I think the expectations as a whole for the team are a deep playoff run. But that starts with your process every day," Happ said. "And you can talk about winning the World Series all you want, but the way you get there is by being really diligent to your process every day and focusing on little things one day at a time. Sounds cliche, but it's very true."

Process and patience are crucial principles, especially with months and months of baseball ahead. But Chicago's experience of finally returning to the October stage has only amplified the team's level of urgency and ambition in 2026. Left-hander Matthew Boyd is entering his second season with the Cubs, a refreshing bit of continuity after he bounced among three teams the previous three seasons. Boyd made his first All-Star team at age 34 last year, a remarkable, late-career breakout that instilled some much-needed dependability in Chicago's rotation. But for all the important innings Boyd threw in the regular season, taking the mound in October left a visceral impression on him that has carried into his preparation this spring.

"The playoffs are just — they're addictive, right? Like, you play it, and you go, 'Man, I want more of that,'" Boyd said. "And I've gotten to experience it three out of the last four years now, and it's something that you don't want to not do. So I think that collectively, we all have that. Collectively, we knew that, like, man, we were more than capable to win that first series and go on and play. And that we weren't afraid of anybody that was ahead of us.

"But we didn't get there. So I think that the hunger, the feeling of what we got, where we got — that was awesome, but we want more. And then you add the guys that we added in this clubhouse. It's exciting to know that we're all going to be collectively working toward that goal."

To be sure, last year's NLDS defeat against the rival Brewers provides more than enough motivation. But the Cubs' roster — and the contract status of several key players — adds another layer that could contribute to the level of urgency. Boyd, who has a $15 million mutual option for 2027, is one of several key Cubs who can become free agents after this season, along with Happ, starting pitchers Jameson Taillon and Shota Imanaga, outfielder Seiya Suzuki and second baseman Nico Hoerner. Depending on how the season unfolds, that could be a challenging dynamic to manage. But Hoerner — having been the subject of ample trade speculation this winter — spoke of the collective contractual circumstances as more of an opportunity than an obstacle.

"The cool part is that we all do share a pretty amazing opportunity for this season," he said. "I think that's going to be something here a lot of guys talk about. There's plenty of guys who are in their last year here, and that's also an opportunity, though — because we've been fortunate to play as a group for a while, and I think that just it creates excitement. You don't get to share a locker room with guys, a consistent core, a lot in the big leagues. And so to have that opportunity, to have gotten better and to now be in a place where we can really seize that opportunity is super exciting."

On Monday, manager Craig Counsell also spoke about the delicate balance between players arriving at such a critical junction in their careers and tackling the team task at hand.

"Every player's got a situation. And frankly, if you're at the point where you're in a free-agent year, you're doing pretty good — things have gone pretty well," he said.

"But I think it'sthis team, it'snow. It's about being present. And what you have the opportunity to accomplish with your friends, with your teammates, with guys that you've gone through some different times with — that's a real opportunity."

More news and notes from the Cubs' first full-squad workout

Matt Shaw, displaced from his native third base by Bregman's arrival, will be taking on more of a superutility role in his sophomore season, including spending some time in the outfield. That marks his first exposure to the outfield in pro ball, as he had exclusively played second, third and shortstop since joining the Cubs organization as a first-round pick in 2023. But Shaw did play some outfield as a freshman at the University of Maryland and during summer ball in college. He's also in a good position to relearn some of the intricacies of outfield play from stellar defenders such as Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong.

"He's got some pretty good outfielders to defer to," Crow-Armstrong said. "I mean, it's a nice situation for him. It may not be the exact situation he thought he'd be in, but considering the circumstances, I think he's got a good group to lean on, and we're definitely gonna be there for him because it's not easy having to shift."

With Happ and Crow-Armstrong entrenched in left and center, respectively, right field is the natural spot for Shaw to see the most time. While Seiya Suzuki is expected to take on the bulk of right-field reps in the wake of Tucker's departure, he'll need some DH days, which could open at-bats for Shaw in the outfield when he isn't playing the infield.

Suzukiis preparing not just for increased outfield responsibility in Chicago but also for Samurai Japan as he gears up for the World Baseball Classic. Suzuki wanted to participate in the 2023 edition but was unable due to an oblique injury, making the upcoming tournament all the more exciting for the 31-year-old slugger. Shohei Ohtani's presence as the DH ensures that Suzuki will be in the outfield for Team Japan; exactly which outfield spot remains something of an open question because of the other options on the roster.

But we got a hint about where Suzuki might be deployed when his teammate and Team USA outfielder Crow-Armstrong was asked for his thoughts on the tournament and the prospect of playing against Team Japan.

"I'm excited to watch Seiya play center field," Crow-Armstrong said. "That'll be really fun. I think it's a good opportunity for him to show people that he's a really good defender. And I don't think he gets enough credit for his abilities out there. So that'll be fun."

When asked about his defense and the prospect of playing center in the WBC, Suzuki said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry, "I feel like I've been moving well. It's something I worked on in the offseason. And I think getting those reps in, I think that's going to be beneficial for me in the season, too. And if Pete wants an off-day or something, that's my chance to play center field."

It remains to be seen whether Suzuki will start in center for Japan — he has started one game there in the majors and only a handful during his NPB career — but it's not entirely implausible. Japan has one natural center fielder in Ukyo Shuto, but he's mostly on the roster for his speed, and his bat lags far behind the other available outfielders. So if Japan wants to put out its best lineup, manager Hirokazu Ibatamight indeed be best suitedputting Suzuki in center flanked by some combination of Masataka Yoshida, Kensuke Kondoh and Shota Morishita.

But no matter where he's playing, Suzuki is excited about the possibility of facing off against his teammate in the tourney.

"I want to see Pete throw his helmet," Suzuki said with a smirk. "And then if he hits the ball to center field, I want to make sure I catch it and dance on it."

— It's no secretCrow-Armstrongis seeking more consistency at the plate after last season's severely uneven campaign, which featured a terrific first half followed by a brutal run of poor production down the stretch. But the soon-to-be 24-year-old sees room for improvement beyond the batter's box, too, even if those elements of his game are already renowned as elite.

"The throwing decisions," Crow-Armstrong said when asked how he can upgrade as a defender, even while he already rates asone of the game's best. "I think that's been kind of the kicker my whole career so far. Just gave up some extra bases last year. Dropping the ego and not feeling like I'm gonna throw somebody out from 300 feet — because I'm not Jackie Bradley. I think there will be times when I can let one loose, and the situation will have to call for that. But there's little moments from last year that I can kind of pick out … decision-making wise. I think it probably wasn't my strongest suit."

Crow-Armstrong was also one of themost impactful baserunnersin MLB last season, but he identified at least one area for growth on the basepaths as well.

"I feel like I could probably steal third base more," said Crow-Armstrong, whostole second base 31 timesin 2025, tied for ninth in MLB, but stole third on only four occasions, which ranked 24th. "It's kind of like the throws, picking your times … forcing things is never really going to work in your favor. … But it's playing the game, picking your spots, just being a little more patient. I think I can probably apply that to a lot of my game right now."

The Cleveland Browns will reportedly hire Atlanta Falcons defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg as defensive coordinator, according toESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The Browns hired Rutenberg over Browns linebackers coach Jason Tarver and Houston Texans defensive passing game coordinator Cory Undlin.

Rutenberg will replace Jim Schwartz, the former Browns defensive coordinator whoresignedafter the team selectedTodd Monkeninstead of him for the head coaching position. This will be Rutenberg's first time as a defensive coordinator. Similarly, the Browns' new offensive coordinator, Travis Switzer, is serving in this role for the first time.

Before joining the Falcons, Rutenberg coached under Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh with the New York Jets and the San Francisco 49ers. The Titans requested to interview him for their defensive coordinator opening before hiring Gus Bradley.

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The 44-year-old also spent time in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Commanders and at the collegiate level with New Mexico State and UCLA.

Rutenberg will take over for a Browns defense that ranked in the top five in yards allowed and sacks last season. The team is also expected to bring back2025 Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, who set theNFL's single-season record with 23 sackslast season. Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger also won Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Browns are coming off a 5-12 season and missed the playoffs the last two seasons.

President Donald Trump downplayed acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez's recentcomment to NBC Newsthat Nicolás Maduro is still the legitimate leader of Venezuela, telling reporters Monday that the response was one of political necessity.

"I think she probably has to say that. I think politically, maybe she has to say that," Trump said during a conversation with reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Washington from Florida.

"The relationship with Venezuela, she's doing a very good job, and I fully understand that statement."

Rodríguez made the comments in an exclusive interview with NBC News last week with "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker in Caracas.

"I can tell you President Nicolás Maduro is the legitimate president. I will tell you this as a lawyer, that I am. Both President Maduro and Cilia Flores, the first lady, are both innocent," Rodríguez said.

TheU.S. captured the pairin a stunning surprise raid early last month. Maduro and his wife were indicted on narco-terrorism conspiracy charges andpleaded not guiltyin federal court in New York just days later.

Since Maduro's capture, Trump has praised Rodríguez's leadership and touted the potential benefits ofVenezuela's oil resourcesfor both countries.

In her interview with NBC News, Rodríguez also said she had been invited to come to America, while Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who had traveled to Venezuela to meet with the new leader,told reporters before his departurefrom the country that he and other Cabinet secretaries, and possibly Trump, would return.