A small Mexican Navy plane transporting a young medical patient and seven others crashed Monday near Galveston, killing at least five people and setting off a search in waters along the Texas coast, officials said.

Four of the people aboard were Navy officers and four were civilians, including a child, Mexicos Navy said in a statement to The Associated Press. Two of the passengers were from a nonprofit that provides aid to Mexican children with severe burns, including transports to a Galveston hospital.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Baker said at least five aboard had died but did not identify which passengers.

RELATED STORY | NTSB begins investigating plane crash that killed former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Mexicos Marines said in a statement that it is sending its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident.

The crash took place Monday afternoon in Galveston Bay near the base of the causeway that connects Galveston Island to the mainland. Emergency responders and search teams rushed to the scene near the popular beach destination along the Texas coast that is about 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) southeast of Houston.

RELATED STORY | U.S. admits Army, FAA failures contributed to deadly D.C. mid-air collision

Sky Decker, a professional yacht captain who lives about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the crash site, said he jumped in his boat to see if he could help. He said he picked up two police officers who directed him through thick fog to a nearly completely submerged plane. Decker jumped in the water and found a badly injured woman trapped beneath chairs and other debris.

I couldnt believe. She had maybe 3 inches of air gap to breathe in," he said. "And there was jet fuel in there mixed with the water, fumes real bad. She was really fighting for her life.

He said he also pulled out a man sitting in front of her who had already died. He described both of them as dressed in civilian clothes.

Mexico's Navy said the plane was helping with a medical mission in coordination with the Michou and Mau Foundation, which provides emergency transports to children with life-threatening burns to Shriners Children's hospital in Galveston, according to the nonprofit's website.

The foundation said in a post on social media, We express our deepest solidarity with the families in light of these events. We share their grief with respect and compassion, honoring their memory and reaffirming our commitment to providing humane, sensitive, and dignified care to children with burns.

The statement from Mexicos Navy said the plane had an accident during its approach to Galveston but did not elaborate.

Teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have arrived at the scene of the crash, the Texas Department of Public Safety said on the social platform X.

A spokesperson from NTSB said they are aware of this accident and are gathering information about it. The Galveston County Sheriffs Office said officials from its dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit and patrol were responding to the crash.

Its not immediately clear if weather was a factor. The area has been experiencing foggy conditions over the past few days, according to Cameron Batiste, a National Weather Service meteorologist. He said that at about 2:30 p.m. Monday a fog came in that had about a half-mile visibility.

The U.S. Department of Justice has released thousands more documents related to its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after missing the deadline on Friday to release its entire cache of records as required by law.

The latest trove of documents can be found on the Justice Department's website under "Data Set 8 Files."

The Justice Department says some of the documents include "untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump."

"To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already," the department said.

Scripps News is going through the files and will update this story with significant developments.

RELATED STORY | Limited Epstein files release includes extensive redactions, images of notable figures

All of the files were supposed to be released on Friday under the law. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said that the delay is due to the department's review of documents to ensure victims are protected.

"The same individuals that are out there complaining about the lack of documents that were produced on Friday are the same individuals who apparently dont want us to protect victims," Blanche told NBC's Meet the Press.

RELATED STORY | Epstein survivors demand accountability from DOJ, Congress over release of files

However, a group of his survivors on Monday accused the agency of legal violations and demanded accountability. The group said that the partial release on Friday made it nearly impossible for any of them to find documents that were relevant to their particular cases or their search for accountability. They also claim the DOJ didn't communicate to them or their representatives what documents were withheld in the release and why.

RELATED STORY | Lawmakers threaten legal action over delayed Epstein files release

Some lawmakers are threatening to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt for failing to meet a congressional deadline to release all the files.

The Powerball jackpot has jumped to an eye-popping $1.7 billion, after the 46th drawing passed without a big winner.

The numbers drawn Monday night were 3, 18, 36, 41, 54 and the Powerball 7.

Since Sept. 6, there have been 46 straight drawings without a big winner.

The next drawing will be on Christmas Eve, with the prize expected to be the 4th-largest in U.S. lottery history.

RELATED STORY | Slimmer odds and costlier tickets: What's driving the lottery's sky-high jackpot?

Powerballs odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes growing as they roll over when no one wins. Lottery officials note that the odds are far better for the games many smaller prizes. There are three drawings each week.

The estimated $1.6 billion jackpot goes to a winner who opts to receive 30 payments over 29 years through an annuity. Winners almost always choose the games cash option, which for Monday nights drawing would be an estimated $735.3 million.

Powerball tickets cost $2, and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

U.S. regulators on Monday gave the green light to a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval handed drugmaker Novo Nordisk an edge over rival Eli Lilly in the race to market an obesity pill. Lillys oral drug, orforglipron, is still under review.

Both pills are GLP-1 drugs that work like widely used injectables to mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness.

In recent years, Novo Nordisks injectable Wegovy and Lillys Zepbound have revolutionized obesity treatment globally and in the U.S., where 100 million people have the chronic disease.

The Wegovy pills are expected to be available within weeks, company officials said. Availability of oral pills to treat obesity could expand the booming market for obesity treatments by broadening access and reducing costs, experts said.

RELATED STORY | Medicare Part D recipients to see lower prices on Ozempic, Wegovy and more

About 1 in 8 Americans have used injectable GLP-1 drugs, according to a survey from KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group. But many more have trouble affording the costly shots.

Theres an entire demographic that can benefit from the pills, said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, a Massachusetts General Hospital obesity expert. For me, its not just about who gets it across the finish line first. Its about having these options available to patients.

The Novo Nordisk obesity pill contains 25 milligrams of semaglutide. That's the same ingredient in injectables Wegovy and Ozempic and in Rybelsus, a lower-dose pill approved to treat diabetes in 2019.

In a clinical trial, participants who took oral Wegovy lost 13.6% of their total body weight on average over about 15 months, compared with a 2.2% loss if they took a placebo, or dummy pill. Thats nearly the same as injectable Wegovy, with an average weight loss of about 15%.

Chris Mertens, 35, a pediatric lung doctor in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, joined the Novo Nordisk trial in 2022 and lost about 40 pounds using the Wegovy pill. The daily medication worked to decrease his appetite and invasive thoughts of food, he said.

If there were days where I missed a meal, I almost didnt realize it, Mertens said.

Participants in a clinical trial who took the highest dose of Lillys orforglipron lost 11.2% of their total body weight on average over nearly 17 months, compared with a 2.1% loss in those who took a placebo.

Both pills resulted in less weight loss than the average achieved with Lillys Zepbound, or tirzepatide, which targets two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, and led to a 21% average weight loss.

All the GLP-1 drugs, oral or injectable, have similar side effects, including nausea and diarrhea.

Both daily pills promise convenience, but the Wegovy pill must be taken with a sip of water in the morning on an empty stomach, with a 30-minute break before eating or drinking.

Thats because Novo Nordisk had to design the pill in a way that prevented the drug from being broken down in the stomach before it could be absorbed by the bloodstream. The drugmaker added an ingredient that protects the medication for about 30 minutes in the gut and makes it easier to take effect.

RELATED STORY | White House announces more deals to bring down prescription drug prices

By contrast, Lillys orforglipron has no dosing restrictions. That drug is being considered under the FDAs new priority voucher program aimed at cutting drug approval times. A decision is expected by spring.

Producing pills is generally cheaper than making drugs delivered via injections, so the cost for the new oral medications could be lower. The Trump administration earlier this year said officials had worked with drugmakers to negotiate lower prices for the GLP-1 drugs, which can cost upwards of $1,000 a month.

The company said the starting dose would be available for $149 per month from some providers. Additional information on cost will be available in January.

Its not clear whether daily pills or weekly injections will be preferred by patients. Although some patients dislike needles, others don't seem to mind the weekly injections, obesity experts said. Mertens turned to injectable Zepbound when he regained weight after the end of the Wegovy pill clinical trial.

He said he liked the discipline of the daily pill.

It was a little bit of an intentional routine and a reminder of today Im taking this so that I know my choices are going to be affected for the day, he said.

Dr. Angela Fitch, an obesity expert and chief medical officer of knownwell, a health care company, said whatever the format, the biggest benefit will be in making weight-loss medications more widely accessible and affordable.

Its all about the price, she said. Just give me a drug at $100 a month that is relatively effective.

Vince Zampella, one of the creators behind such best-selling video games as Call of Duty, has died. He was 55.

Video game company Electronic Arts said Zampella died Sunday. The company did not disclose a cause of death.

In 2010, Zampella founded Respawn Entertainment, a subsidiary of EA, and he also was the former chief executive of video game developer Infinity Ward, the studio behind the successful Call of Duty franchise.

A spokesperson for Electronic Arts said in a statement on Monday that Zampella's influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching."

A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come, a company spokesperson wrote.

RELATED STORY | 'Buck Rogers' star Gil Gerard dies at 82

One of Zampella's crowning achievements was the creation of the "Call of Duty" franchise, which has sold more than half a billion games worldwide,

The first person shooter game debuted in 2003 as a World War II simulation and has sold over 500 million copies globally. Subsequent versions have delved into modern warfare and there is a live-action movie based on the game in production with Paramount Pictures.

In recent years, Zampella has been at the helm of the creation of the action adventure video games "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" and "Star Wars Jedi: Survivor."

Beef prices just keep going up, with no obvious relief in sight.

Despite the Trump administration's efforts to rein in the cost of beef products, The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports ground beef cost an average of $6.78 a pound in November. That is a 2.1% increase from September and 15% higher than this time last year.

RELATED NEWS | 'It's been really hard': Tariffs, drought push US beef prices to record highs

The beef industry has been battling multiple challenges: a prolonged drought across key cattle states, recordhigh feed costs and the smallest U.S. cattle herd in 75 years. All have contributed to the record prices consumers are paying in grocery stores.

Tighter supplies are pushing up the cost of lean and ground beef, which are the types most commonly imported in the U.S. High tariffs on Brazilian beef imports and restrictions on Mexican beef imports tied to screwworm concerns are also driving prices higher.

The pressures have contributed to the expected closure of at least one large meat processing plant in Lexington, Nebraska. Tyson, which runs the plant, is expected to lay off some 3,200 workers in January. The cuts affect nearly a third of the town's population of around 11,000.

In November, President Donald Trump rolled back some of the tariffs he imposed on beef products from Argentina.

He acknowledged at the time that his tariff policies have translated to increased costs for American consumers.

I say they may, in some cases," he said.

But to a large extent theyve been borne by other countries, he said.

The Kansas City Chiefs will be moving to the state of Kansas after calling Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri home for over 50 years, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday.

Kelly said the team will bring 20,000 jobs and over $4 billion in economic impact with a new domed stadium, team headquarters and practice facility just over the Kansas-Missouri border in Wyandotte County.

Officials expect the new stadium to open in time for the 2031 season.

The move comes after a Kansas legislative committee approved a bonding package to support the move earlier in the day.

The Legislative Coordinating Council, which includes the state's top lawmakers, voted unanimously inside a packed room at the state capitol to allow for STAR bonds to be issued to cover up to 70% of the cost of a stadium and accompanying district. The bonds would be paid off with state sales and liquor tax revenues generated in a defined area around it.

The Chiefs have played at Arrowhead Stadium on the Missouri side of Kansas City since 1972. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and city officials planned to address the media later Monday.

While considered a win for Kansas, the move by the Chiefs is a massive blow to Missouri lawmakers and Gov. Mike Kehoe, who had been working on their own package to prevent a second NFL franchise in a decade from leaving their borders. The Rams left St. Louis for Los Angeles in part due to their inability to secure funding to help replace The Dome at Americas Center.

Missouri State Rep. Mark Sharp (D - Jackson County) issued a statement critical of Monday's announcement.

"As a Kansas Citian and a Jackson County resident, my heart goes out to a fan base that remained local through decades of disappointment long before the recent success of the Patrick Mahomes era," Sharp said. "That loyalty built Chiefs Kingdom - and it deserved far better than what has unfolded.

Sam Hartle and Charlie Keegan with the Scripps News Group station in Kansas City contributed to this report.

Bourbon maker Jim Beam is halting production at one of its distilleries in Kentucky for at least a year as the whiskey industry navigates tariffs from the Trump administration and slumping demand for a product that needs years of aging before it is ready.

Jim Beam said the decision to pause bourbon making at its Clermont location in 2026 will give the company time to invest in improvements at the distillery. The bottling and warehouse at the site will remain open, along with the James B. Beam Distilling Co. visitors center and restaurant.

The company's larger distillery in Boston, Kentucky, will continue to operate, the company said.

"We are always assessing production levels to best meet consumer demand," the company said in a statement that added they were talking with the distillery's union to determine whether there will be layoffs or other reductions.

Bourbon makers have to gamble well into the future. Jim Beam's flagship bourbon requires at least four years of aging in barrels before being bottled.

Whiskey makers are dealing with back-and-forth arguments over tariffs in Europe and in Canada, where a boycott started after the Trump administration suggested annexing the country into the U.S.

Overall exports of American spirits fell 9% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to a year ago, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. The most dramatic decrease came in U.S. spirits exports to Canada, which fell 85% in the April-through-June quarter

Bourbon production has grown significantly in recent years. As of January, there were about 16 million barrels of bourbon aging in Kentucky warehouses more than triple the amount held 15 years ago, according to the Kentucky Distillers' Association.

But sales figures and polling show Americans are drinking less than they have in decades.

About 95% of all bourbon made in the U.S. comes from Kentucky. The trade group estimated the industry brings more than 23,000 jobs and $2.2 billion to the state.

A representative for former President Bill Clinton gave a new statement Monday calling for the release of any remaining files from the Department of Justice's Epstein investigation that reference Clinton.

"What the Department of Justice has released so far, and the manner in which it did so, makes one thing clear: someone or something is being protected. We do not know whom, what or why. But we do know this: We need no such protection," reads the statement from Clinton's spokesman Angel Urea.

"Accordingly, we call on President Trump to direct Attorney General Bondi to immediately release any remaining materials referring to, mentioning, or containing a photograph of Bill Clinton."

"Refusal to do so will confirm the widespread suspicion the Department of Justice's actions to date are not about transparency, but about insinuation."

RELATED NEWS | Limited Epstein files release includes extensive redactions, images of notable figures

Bill Clinton appeared in images in a partial release of the Epstein files last week, including one in which he is seen swimming alongside an unknown individual whose identity is redacted.

At the time, his spokesperson Urea released a statement:

"The White House hasn't been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton. This is about shielding themselves from what comes next, or from what they'll try to hide forever. So they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be. Susie Wiles said Donald Trump was wrong about Bill Clinton."

"There are two types of people. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. We're in the first. No amount of stalling by the people in the second group will change that."

American singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, known for his hit songs like "Mandy" and "Copacabana," revealed Monday that he is undergoing surgery to have a "cancerous spot" on his left lung removed.

Manilow, 82, said in a post on social media that he's optimistic because the cancer was discovered quickly, but that he will have to postpone some concerts while he recovers.

"It's pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That's the good news," Manilow said in a statement. "The bad news is that now that the Christmas A Gift of Love concerts are over I'm going into surgery to have the spot removed. The doctors do not believe it has spread and I'm taking tests to confirm their diagnosis. So, That's it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns."

"The only follow-up is a month to recover and that means we have to reschedule the January arena concerts," Manilow added. "... I'm very sorry that you have to change your plans."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Barry Manilow (@barrymanilowofficial)

Manilow recently wrapped up a series of concerts at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Springs, California. In his announcement, he was saddened to announce the postponement of his upcoming January concerts, but assured fans that he plans to be back on stage in February and is "counting down the days" until he returns to the Westgate Las Vegas for a weekend of Valentine's Day concerts beginning on Feb. 12, 2026.

"I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year," Manilow said. "And remember, if you have even the slightest symptom... get tested!"

FROM THE ARCHIVES | Manilow Misses Opening Of Off-Broadway Show After Positive COVID Test

From department stores to grocery stores, most retailers across the U.S. close early on Christmas Eve and shut their doors entirely on Christmas Day while others opt to cut back hours. But there's also a handful of businesses that will be open during the holiday.

Before you run out the door this Christmas whether it's to buy last-minute gifts or simply get out of the house it's wise to double-check operating hours, which can differ depending on their location. When in doubt, call ahead or look up more specific schedules online for stores in your neighborhood.

Here are some of the grocery, convenience and retail stores that are CLOSED on Christmas Day:

ALDI Costco Harris Teeter Home Depot IKEA Jewel-Osco Kroger Lowe's Macy's Meijer Publix Sam's Club Sprouts Farmer's Market Target Trader Joe's Walmart Whole Foods

Here are some of the grocery, convenience and retail stores that are OPEN on Christmas Day (or have select locations that are):

Albertsons: Select locations may remain open with adjusted hours CVS: Hours may vary based on location. Denny's: Most locations are open but check your local hours. Dunkin': Most locations are open but check your local hours. McDonald's: Many locations are open on holidays like Christmas, but hours vary by location. Ralph's: Some stores open with reduced hours. Safeway: Many stores are closed, but there will also be some locations open with adjusted hours. Sheetz: Stores are open with regular hours (24/7). Starbucks: Some locations are open. Hours may vary. 7-Eleven: Most stores are open 24/7 (including on Christmas), but some locations' hours can vary. Waffle House Walgreens: Stores will be open on Christmas Day but pharmacy hours may vary. Wawa: Most locations are open.

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland insisted Monday that the United States won't take over Greenland and demanded respect for their territorial integrity after President Donald Trump announced the appointment of a special envoy to the semi-autonomous territory.

Trump's announcement on Sunday that Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry would be the envoy prompted a new flare-up of tensions over Washington's interest in the vast territory of Denmark, a NATO ally. Denmark's foreign minister told Danish broadcasters that he would summon the U.S. ambassador to his ministry.

"We have said it before. Now, we say it again. National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said in a joint statement. "They are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security."

"Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the U.S. shall not take over Greenland," they added in the statement emailed by Frederiksen's office. "We expect respect for our joint territorial integrity."

ICYMI | Trump doesn't rule out military force to acquire Greenland for 'international security'

Trump called repeatedly during his presidential transition and the early months of his second term for U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland, and has not ruled out military force to take control of the mineral-rich, strategically located Arctic island. In March, Vice President JD Vance visited a remote U.S. military base in Greenland and accused Denmark of under-investing there.

The issue gradually drifted out of the headlines, but in August, Danish officials summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen following a report that at least three people with connections to Trump had carried out covert influence operations in Greenland.

On Sunday, Trump announced Landry's appointment, saying on social media that "Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country's Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World."

Landry wrote in a post on social media that "it's an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S."

Danish broadcasters TV2 and DR reported that in comments from the Faroe Islands Monday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen said he summon the U.S. ambassador in Copenhagen, Kenneth Howery, to his ministry.

WATCH: Cold War Base in Greenland, Hot Again

Greenland's prime minister wrote in a separate statement that Greenland had again woken up to a new announcement from the U.S. president, and that "it may sound significant. But it changes nothing for us here at home."

Nielsen noted that Greenland has its own democracy and said that "we are happy to cooperate with other countries, including the United States, but this must always take place with respect for us and for our values and wishes."

Earlier this month, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service said in an annual report that the U.S. is using its economic power to "assert its will" and threaten military force against friend and foe alike.

Denmark is a member of the European Union as well as NATO.

Anouar El Anouni, a spokesperson for the EU's executive Commission, told reporters in Brussels on Monday that it wasn't for him to comment on U.S. decisions. But he underlined the bloc's position that "preserving the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, its sovereignty and the inviolability of its borders is essential for the European Union."

Chris Rea, the singer and songwriter best known for the hit "Driving Home for Christmas," has died at 74, his family said Monday.

Rea died in the hospital following a short illness, according to a statement from his family to Britain's Press Association news agency.

Rea found fame in the 1980s in Britain with hits such as "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" and "Let's Dance."

Two of his studio albums, "The Road to Hell" in 1989 and "Auberge" in 1991, went to number one in the country.

"Driving Home for Christmas," did not become an overnight hit when it was first released in 1986, but the gentle track proved to be an enduring success over the decades and remains one of the U.K.'s most-loved festive songs. It featured in a TV advertisement for the retailer Marks and Spencer just this year.

The musician was born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, in northeast England, to an Italian father and Irish mother. He took various jobs after leaving school and helped out in his family's ice cream business.

He came late to the guitar, picking one up at 21, and played in bands before going solo.

He had suffered from health problems including pancreatic cancer, and in 2016 he suffered a stroke. In more recent years he turned away from pop and released several bluesy records.

Rea is survived by his wife and two daughters.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that it is now offering a $3,000 stipend and a free flight to undocumented migrants who sign up to self-deport through the CBP Home app by the end of the year.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift or face arrest.

"Since January 2025, 1.9 million illegal aliens have voluntarily self-deported and tens of thousands have used the CBP Home program," Noem said in a statement. "During the Christmas Season, the U.S. taxpayer is so generously TRIPLING the incentive to leave voluntarily for those in this country illegally- offering a $3,000 exit bonus, but just until the end of the year."

RELATED STORY | Trump expands travel ban and restrictions to include an additional 20 countries

Earlier this year, the Trump administration offered $1,000 incentives to undocumented migrants who agreed to leave the country voluntarily. Then, in October, it introduced a separate program offering unaccompanied migrant teenagers those 14 and older who entered the country illegally without a parent or legal guardian a one-time payment of $2,500 to self-deport.

Under both programs, the stipend would only be paid after the individual returned to their home country. However, some migrants who chose to self-deport have claimed the payments were either delayed, misdirected or never arrived.

WATCH | Trump claims over $1 billion in immigration 'gold cards' have been sold

Instacart said Monday that its ending a program where some customers saw different prices for the same product ordered at the same time from the same store when using the delivery companys service.

The program was meant to help grocers and other retailers learn more about what kinds of prices customers would pay for items, similar to how stores offer different prices for the same products at different locations. But it raised alarms after a report from Consumer Reports and two progressive advocacy groups, Groundwork Collaborative and More Perfect Union, said Instacart offered nearly three out of every four grocery items to shoppers at multiple prices in an experiment.

RELATED STORY | Same groceries, same store: So why did you pay more than your neighbor?

At a time when families are working exceptionally hard to stretch every grocery dollar, those tests raised concerns, leaving some people questioning the prices they see on Instacart, the company said in a Monday blog post. Thats not okay especially for a company built on trust, transparency, and affordability.

Retailers will continue to set their own prices on the delivery website and they may still offer different prices at different brick-and-mortar locations, Instacart said, but from now on, Instacart will not support any item price testing services.

Instacart said these services were neither dynamic pricing, a system where the price for something can go up when demand is high, nor surveillance pricing, where prices can be set based on a user's income, shopping history or other personal information. Instead, the company said it was offered to customers at random.

Some customers would simply see a slightly higher price for an item, while others would see a slightly lower price. The experiment by Consumer Reports and the two progressive advocacy groups, for example, found that Instacart customers saw one of five different prices for the same dozen of Lucerne eggs from a Safeway store in Washington, D.C.: $3.99, $4.28, $4.59, $4.69, or $4.79.

Instacart had been offering the price-testing service to retailers since 2023. The company declined to say how many customers may have been affected, but it will end the service, effective immediately.

RELATED STORY | Why Instacart is expected to send $60 million in refunds to customers

Last week, in a separate case, Instacart agreed to pay $60 million in customer refunds to settle federal allegations of deceptive practices. The Federal Trade Commission had accused Instacart of falsely advertising free deliveries and not clearly disclosing service fees, which add as much as 15% to an order and must be paid for customers.

Instacart denied FTC allegations of wrongdoing and said it reached a settlement in order to move forward and focus on its business.

Trust is earned through clarity and consistency, Instacart said in its blog post Monday. Customers should never have to second-guess the prices theyre seeing.

The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday was pursuing another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea as the Trump administration appeared to be intensifying its targeting of such vessels connected to Venezuelan government.

The pursuit of the tanker, which was confirmed by a U.S. official briefed on the operation, comes after the U.S. administration announced Saturday it had seized a tanker for the second time in less than two weeks.

The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the ongoing operation and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Sunday's pursuit involved a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuelas illegal sanctions evasion.

The official said the vessel was flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.

The Coast Guards pursuit of the tanker was first reported by Reuters.

RELATED STORY | What's really behind the tension between the US and Venezuela?

Saturdays predawn seizure of a Panama-flagged vessel called Centuries targeted what the White House described as a falsely flagged vessel operating as part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil.

The Coast Guard, with assistance from the Navy, seized a sanctioned tanker called Skipper on Dec. 10, another part of the shadow fleet of tankers that the U.S. says operates on the fringes of the law to move sanctioned cargo. It was not even flying a nations flag when it was seized by the Coast Guard.

President Donald Trump, after that first seizure, said that the U.S. would carry out a blockade of Venezuela. It all comes as Trump has ratcheted up his rhetoric toward Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro.

This past week Trump demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a blockade against oil tankers traveling to or from the South American country that face American sanctions.

Trump cited the lost U.S. investments in Venezuela when asked about his newest tactic in a pressure campaign against Maduro, suggesting the Republican administrations moves are at least somewhat motivated by disputes over oil investments, along with accusations of drug trafficking. Some sanctioned tankers already are diverting away from Venezuela.

U.S. oil companies dominated Venezuelas petroleum industry until the countrys leaders moved to nationalize the sector, first in the 1970s and again in the 21st century under Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chvez. Compensation offered by Venezuela was deemed insufficient, and in 2014, an international arbitration panel ordered the countrys socialist government to pay $1.6 billion to ExxonMobil.

Maduro said in a message Sunday on Telegram that Venezuela has spent months denouncing, challenging and defeating a campaign of aggression that goes from psychological terrorism to corsairs attacking oil tankers.

He added: We are ready to accelerate the pace of our deep revolution!

RELATED STORY | Trump announces blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers

The targeting of tankers comes as Trump has ordered the Defense Department to carry out a series of attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean that his administration alleges are smuggling fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the United States and beyond.

At least 104 people have been killed in 28 known strikes since early September. The strikes have faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, who say the administration has offered scant evidence that its targets are indeed drug smugglers and that the fatal strikes amount to extrajudicial killings.

Trump has repeatedly said Maduro's days in power are numbered. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in an interview with Vanity Fair published last week that Trump wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that Trump's use of military to mount pressure on Maduro runs contrary to Trump's pledge to keep the United States out of unnecessary wars.

Democrats have been pressing Trump to seek congressional authorization for the military action in the Caribbean.

We should be using sanctions and other tools at our disposal to punish this dictator who is violating the human rights of his civilians and has run the Venezuelan economy into the ground, Kaine said. "But Ill tell you, we should not be waging war against Venezuela. We definitely should not be waging war without a vote of Congress.

WATCH | Congress questions Hegseth on drug boat deaths as Venezuela military operations expand

At least three people were turned away from a naturalization ceremony in Indianapolis on Thursday as federal officials implement enhanced screening for applicants from what the Department of Homeland Security calls "high-risk countries."

The ceremony was expected to welcome 100 new citizens, but only 83 people took the oath of citizenship. Several reserved seats remained empty as some were denied their moment after years or decades of waiting.

"The man I saw that was turned away he was blindsided. He brought his paperwork, he showed up to take the oath and was turned away," said Kate Sweeney Bell.

One man who was turned away told the Scripps News Group in Indianapolis that he received a phone call notifying him his ceremony was canceled, but he didn't know why.

RELATED STORY | Trump expands travel ban and restrictions to include an additional 20 countries

One of those turned away was from Niger, according to Sweeney Bell, which appears on the Department of Homeland Security's list of high-risk countries.

A Homeland Security spokesman said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has paused all adjudications for people from high-risk countries so they can be vetted and screened "to the maximum degree possible."

The agency provided the same statement when more than 30 people were turned away at a ceremony on December 9.

"The safety of the American people always comes first, and the pause will ensure additional screening for each person," the statement said.

For those who did become citizens on Thursday, the moment carried deep significance after long journeys to reach this milestone.

"My journey here started 30 years ago a lot of paperwork, a lot of specific understanding of what you have to do, effort to understanding citizenship," said Siddharth Bose, who became a U.S. citizen Thursday.

Bose reflected on what it would mean to be turned away at the final step.

"It would be incredibly hard to find out it might not happen now," Bose said.

For his family, the ceremony represented the end of a decades-long journey.

"It means the world. My family, kids and wife are here, parents are here. I've been an immigrant in two countries. It's finally great to call some place home, especially the U.S.," Bose said.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump admin lifts age limit for new ICE recruits to bolster immigration force

Another new citizen, Satnam Singh, expressed his joy at finally reaching citizenship.

"I'm really happy. Finally, I got my citizenship after a long time. I'm so happy," Singh said.

The Trump administration continues its crackdown on immigration policies.

The New York Times reports the administration wants U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field offices to escalate litigation on denaturalization cases. President Trump has also placed entry restrictions on immigrants from 19 countries, mostly located in the Middle East and Africa.

This story was originally published by Nicole Griffin with the

Scripps News Group in Indianapolis.

WATCH | Immigrant father says family trip to FIFA match led to ICE detention

An Arizona business owner is working to make Christmas brighter for thousands of children across the border in Mexico, continuing a tradition that started 25 years ago.

Janneth Cardenas, owner and founder of Bravo Services, is sorting through stacks of letters written by children living in difficult conditions in Nogales, Mexico. This year, more than 7,500 kids wrote letters to Santa and Cardenas is stepping up to answer as many of those wishes as she can.

"This room is where all the magic happens," Cardenas said, showing boxes of gifts at her business.

RELATED STORY | These are the most wanted gifts across all 50 states this holiday season

What began as a lesson of gratitude for her kids in 1999 has turned into a massive cross-border effort to help families in need, now involving partnerships with local organizations and volunteers on both sides of the border.

"It started just as a family effort. It was just us and the kids trying to make a difference. Our goal was 100 families. We thought, okay, if we could help 100 families, that would be huge. Like I thought that was a lot," Cardenas said.

In early September, volunteers and university students went into remote neighborhoods in Nogales, Mexico, to identify the families most in need, working alongside local organizations. The letters to Santa are also collected during this time through these collaborative efforts.

"To see that there are children living in landfills, that they don't know what it's like to live in a home that has a floor. There's not a ground--soil under their feet. To see that they don't have running water, that they may not have all the things that they need to live, to me is heartbreaking," Cardenas said.

The Christmas drive has grown beyond local support, with people from across the country contributing to the effort. Cardenas also thanks local businesses and influencers who are supporting the cause.

"We have such an opportunity to take a little bit of what we have and make a difference in somebody else's life. And it may mean nothing to us. It might be a tiny sacrifice for us, but it's everything to them, right," she said.

RELATED STORY | Buying gift cards this holiday? Heres how to make sure the one you give actually works

With fewer sponsors this year, they expect to fulfill about 5,000 presents. The effort relies on collaboration with Mexican organizations and support from donors nationwide.

"We've had a decline in sponsors, and I think life happens, right? There's changes in the economy, there's changes in family circumstances, and that's okay. So, at the end of the day, whether we help one child or 5,000 children, I'm really grateful for that," Cardenas said.

Cardenas says anyone wanting to help can grab a letter, buy a gift, donate food or simply wrap up the gifts.

"It plants these seeds of hope, and it gives them an opportunity to see that there's goodness in the world and that their condition and how they live doesn't define who they become," she said.

If you're interested in donating or volunteering, call 520-295-9469.

This story was originally published by Jacqueline Aguilar with the

Scripps News Group in Tucson.

WATCH | Ham over beef, and other ways to keep Christmas meal costs down

With tariffs and inflation driving up car prices, more Americans are finding they cannot keep up with their auto loan payments and repossessions are on the rise.

New data from Cox Automotive, a global automotive services and technology company, shows repossessions increased 43% over a one-year period. The company expects that trend to continue.

RELATED STORY | Auto loan delinquencies on the rise: Here's what that means for the economy

If your vehicle is repossessed, experts recommend acting quickly. Start by calling your lender to confirm the repossession and learn where your car is located. Once you have that information, you can plan your next steps.

One of those steps should include contacting your insurance provider, since coverage requirements may vary. In some states, such as Florida, you are also required by law to retrieve and surrender your license plate after a repossession.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Record number of people are making monthly payments of $1,000 or more for their cars

After addressing immediate concerns, finding a credit counselor may help you navigate the financial fallout. A low credit score can lead to higher auto insurance costs if you try to buy another car.

This story was originally published by Susan El Khoury with the

Scripps News Group in Tampa.

WATCH | Looking for a safe first car? Here are the top picks for teen drivers