PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona is expected to have at least two competitive U.S. House races in November while Democrats will be defending their seats for governor, attorney general and secretary of state.

Yet so far, it’s been the office running elections in the state’s most populous county that has commanded much of the spotlight.

Republican Justin Heap is an election skeptic who will be overseeing his first statewide election in Maricopa County. He has been engaged in a bitter legal feud with the county board of supervisors over election procedures, has put in place a controversial system for checking signatures on mail ballots and has run voter records through a federal system to check for noncitizens despite questions about its accuracy. Heap also has made overtures to the Trump administration in its quest for voter and election records.

His actions have drawn heated comments from members of that board, which splits election oversight with Heap’s office, and rebukes from the attorney general and secretary of state. A ruling this week in the legal case will give Heap more authority over election operations.

The turmoil has created an air of uncertainty about how the midterm elections will go in a county that has been a regular target of election conspiracy theorists and is pivotal for deciding statewide races in one of the nation’s most important political battlegrounds.

State Sen. Lauren Kuby, a Democrat who sits on a legislative elections committee and represents part of Phoenix, said the discord between the recorder and county board is sowing confusion and distrust.

“We’re one of the biggest counties in the country, and we have all of our election administrators fighting right now,” she said. “So I imagine if you’re a voter, you’re pretty confused and worried.”

The Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, which Heap runs, did not provide a response to questions despite multiple requests for comment. Heap did issue a statement in response to the court ruling, saying it “restores both the authority and the resources necessary for my office to do its job.”

A power struggle and heated accusations

Heap took office after defeating the incumbent in the 2024 Republican primary. He quickly began challenging the board of supervisors, which is majority Republican.

He sued them in June 2025 with the backing of America First Legal, a conservative group founded by Stephen Miller, now a deputy chief of staff in the White House. The lawsuit accused the board of negotiating an agreement with Heap’s predecessor to transfer money, information technology staff and certain election functions away from his office, including management of ballot drop boxes, processing of early arriving ballots and placement of sites used for early voting.

Voting by people who are not U.S. citizens is rare, and the SAVE system has been criticized by some election officials and experts who say it frequently identifies eligible voters as noncitizens. Arizona’s secretary of state, Democrat Adrian Fontes, said in an interview that the program is unreliable.

“The SAVE system is notoriously inaccurate,” he said. “You can’t depend on that to take somebody off the voter rolls or to start the removal proceeding.”

The recorder’s office announced its use of the SAVE system the same day Heap attended a news conference outside Phoenix, where then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was promoting a congressional bill that would require documented proof of citizenship to register and vote.

Fontes said his office has not received any additional information from the recorder about the alleged noncitizen voters and that the timing of the announcement makes it seem like “more of a headline grab than anything without more information.”

Fears of undermining confidence in elections

Heap’s presence at Noem’s February news conference was not the only instance when the recorder has appeared close with the Trump administration.

Correspondence obtained from the recorder’s office through a public records request shows a willingness to defer to the U.S. Department of Justice. This year the department seized ballots and other records related to the 2020 election from Georgia’s Fulton County, which includes Atlanta.

Meanwhile, the FBI subpoenaed similar Maricopa County records from the state Senate president.

Harmeet Dhillon, who oversees the department’s Civil Rights Division, wrote to Fontes, Heap and county officials in September seeking preservation of county election records. Heap replied the next day, stressing in his letter that his office is “committed to full cooperation with the Department of Justice as it conducts its investigation,” before adding: “We share your goal of safeguarding election integrity.”

As it has done in other states, the department sued Arizona months later for failing to comply with its request for detailed voter information.

The state’s attorney general, Democrat Kris Mayes, told a local media outlet that Heap is “trying to undermine Arizonans’ trust in our election system” and warned him not to provide voter lists to the federal government.

With the state’s July primary approaching, some observers are concerned that Heap’s feuding with the board and other actions could undermine public confidence in elections.

“The voters need to have a sense that this county is well-run, that the recorder and the board of supervisors have the best interest of every voter,” said Pinny Sheoran, state advocacy chair with the League of Women Voters of Arizona. “And that is frayed with this discord.”

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Leo XIV said Saturday that it was “not in my interest at all” to debate U.S. President Donald Trump about the Iran war, but that he would continue preaching the Gospel message of peace.

Leo spoke to reporters aboard the papal plane flying from Cameroon to Angola as part of his 11-day tour of Africa.

He addressed the spiraling back-and-forth saga of Trump’s critiques of his peace message, which have dominated news headlines this week. But the American pope also sought to set the record straight, insisting that his preaching isn’t directed at Trump, but reflects the broader Gospel message of peace.

“There’s been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects, but because of the political situation created when, on the first day of the trip, the president of the United States made some comments about myself,” he said.

“Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary, trying to interpret what has been said.”

Trump launched the criticism on his social media platform Truth Social on the night of April 12, when he criticized Leo’s preaching about peace as the war, which began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 and was followed by Iran’s retaliation, raged on. Trump accused Leo of being soft on crime, cozy with the left and said that the first American pontiff owed his election to Trump.

Leo has issued consistent calls for peace and dialogue, and has denounced the use of religious justification for war. Specifically, he called Trump’s threat to annihilate Iranian civilization “truly unacceptable.”

The Vatican has stressed that when Leo preaches about peace, he is referring to all wars ravaging the planet, not just the Iran conflict. The Russian Orthodox Church, for example, has justified Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as a “holy war.”

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Leo referred specifically to his remarks earlier this week to a peace meeting in Bamenda, Cameroon. The city is the epicenter of a separatist conflict that has been raging in the western, Anglophone region of the country for nearly a decade.

Leo said that his remarks, in which he blasted the “handful of tyrants” who were ravaging Earth with war and exploitation, were written two weeks ago, long before Trump’s criticisms began.

“And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all,” he said.

Looking ahead, however, he said that he would continue preaching the Gospel.

“I primarily come to Africa as a pastor, as the head of the Catholic Church to be with, to celebrate with, to encourage and accompany all the Catholics throughout Africa,” he said.

He drew attention to some upcoming liturgical readings about what it means to be Christian and to follow Christ, promote fraternity and brotherhood, “but also looking for ways to promote justice in our world, promote peace in our world,” he said.

Leo arrived later Saturday in Angola, the third stop on his four-nation tour. A message of peace would be especially relevant for the southern African country, which was ravaged by a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002 but has left deep scars.

Leo will meet with Angolan President Joao Lourenco and deliver his first speech before government authorities, when he hopes to bring joy and encouragement to Angola’s long-suffering people.

Fans have been left unhappy with the club’s direction in recent seasons but the mood has been particularly low during a run of five defeats from six games, which has included their bruising exit from the Champions League last 16, which came by an 8-2 aggregate scoreline at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

Anthony Thompson, from Deane, died at 64 after “finding himself in difficulty” while diving off the coast of the island, reports MaltaToday.

They said the incident happened at around 3.30pm on Friday and despite being rushed to hospital, doctors were unable to save him.

Anthony’s younger brother, Geoff Thompson, said it was “shocking” to learn of the dad-of-four’s death and he “will be sorely missed”.

Geoff (left) and Anthony Thompson (right) (Image: Geoff Thompson)

Geoff, 62, said: “He died doing what he loved and that’s what I take solace in – everybody is shocked, it’s terrible.

“He’s just going to be sorely missed – he was a well-known character in Bolton.”

Anthony, who worked as a truck driver, was living in Wales and had taken up diving a few years ago.

He had also served in the Royal Navy during the Falklands War.

Geoff said they didn’t know Anthony was in Malta until the police knocked on his brother’s door on Saturday morning to tell the family of his death.

Anthony Thompson (Image: Geoff Thompson)

Geoff said: “He was my big brother and he’s from a big family – there’s seven of us, five boys and two girls.

“If you just look at my Facebook post you can see from the comments how many people are devastated by it.”

MaltaToday reported that police investigations are ongoing and a magisterial inquiry has been opened by magistrate Philip Galea Farrugia.

It stated that 64-year-old man lost his life after finding himself in difficulty while diving at Wied iż-Żurrieq.

The area is said to be very popular with visitors for the Blue Grotto caves, and with scuba divers for Um El Faround wreck, a 110m Um El Faroud wreck, a 110-metres long Libyan tanker.

Women looking to get pregnant may also want to consider taking it

Advertisement

If you want to conceive or are currently pregnant, you may benefit from a key vitamin. That’s according to the NHS.

The National Health Service (NHS) states that folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a vitamin also known as vitamin B9. Folate supports the production of healthy red blood cells and naturally occurs in a variety of foods, such as broccoli.

People take the vitamin for a number of reasons, including pregnancy. The health service states: “It’s recommended you take folic acid as soon as you start trying for a baby (ideally for 3 months before) and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. This will help your baby’s brain and spine to develop normally.”

Pregnant women can also “take folic acid after 12 weeks.” It notes that the vitamin helps to produce red blood cells. “Your doctor or midwife may recommend that you keep taking folic acid throughout pregnancy if you are anaemic or at risk of anaemia”, it adds.

How much folic acid should I take?

The amount of folic acid you need and how long you take it for will depend on the reason it has been prescribed. Always ask your doctor for advice before taking any new medication, vitamins, or supplements.

The usual recommended dose is 400 micrograms per day. However, your doctor may suggest a higher dose, typically 5 mg, if there is an increased risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect, such as a condition affecting the brain or spine like spina bifida.

Your chance of having a baby with a neural tube defect may be higher if:

• You have previously had a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect
• You or the baby’s biological father has a neural tube defect
• You or the baby’s biological father has a family history of neural tube defects
• You have diabetes
• You’re very overweight
• You have sickle cell disease
• You’re taking certain epilepsy medicines
• You’re taking antiretroviral medicines for HIV

If you are not pregnant but trying, the NHS stresses that there is “no evidence that folic acid reduces fertility in either men or women. Folic acid does not help you get pregnant, but it’s recommended while you’re trying to get pregnant and in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.”

Should I take folic acid with food?

The NHS suggests: “You can take folic acid with or without food. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water.

“If you’re taking folic acid as a liquid, it will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure out the right dose. If you do not have one, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount.”

I forgot to take folic acid, what should I do?

Missing one or two doses is unlikely to have a significant effect. However, if you frequently forget to take folic acid or feel unsure about continuing it, you should speak with your doctor.

It further warns: “Never take 2 doses to make up for a forgotten one. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.”

While taking too much folic acid is “unlikely to cause any harm” with folic acid being classed as “generally very safe”, you should always “speak to your pharmacist or doctor” if you are worried.

Good sources of folate in food

Folate is found in small amounts in many foods. Good sources include:

• broccoli
• brussels sprouts
• leafy green vegetables, such as cabbage, kale, spring greens and spinach
• peas
• chickpeas and kidney beans
• liver (avoid liver if you are pregnant)
• breakfast cereals fortified with folic acid

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday directed his administration to speed up reviews of certain psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, which recently has been embraced by combat veterans and conservative lawmakers despite having serious safety risks.

Ibogaine and other psychedelics remain banned under the federal government’s most restrictive category for illegal, high-risk drugs. But the administration is taking steps to ease restrictions and spur research on using the drugs for medical purposes, including conditions like severe depression.

“Today’s order will ensure that people suffering from debilitating symptoms might finally have a chance to reclaim their lives and lead a happier life,” Trump said as he signed an executive order on the drugs. The Republican president said his directive will help “dramatically accelerate” access to potential treatments. “If these turn out to be as good as people are saying, it’s going to have a tremendous impact,” he said.

Veteran organizations and psychedelic advocates have long contended that ibogaine, which is made from a shrub native to West Africa, has great promise for hard-to-treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction.

Trump’s announcement follows pledges by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other administration officials to ease access to psychedelics for medical use, an issue that has won rare bipartisan support.

Joining Trump in the Oval Office were his top health officials, conservative podcaster Joe Rogan and Marcus Luttrell, the former Navy SEAL whose memoir about a deadly mission in Afghanistan was the basis of the film “Lone Survivor.” Rogan said he texted Trump information on ibogaine and the president responded: “Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it.”

“You’re going to save a lot of lives through it,” Luttrell told Trump during the ceremony. “It absolutely changed my life for the better.”

The Food and Drug Administration next week will issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelics, which the agency’s commissioner, Marty Makary, said will allow certain drugs to be approved quickly “if they are in line with our national priorities.” The vouchers can cut review times from several months to a period of weeks. It is the first time the FDA has offered that fast-tracking to any psychedelics.

The FDA is also taking steps to clear the way for the first-ever human trials of ibogaine in the U.S.

Trump’s action surprised many longtime advocates and researchers in the psychedelic field, given that ibogaine is known to sometimes trigger potentially fatal heart problems. The National Institutes of Health briefly funded research on the drug in the 1990s, but discontinued the work due to ibogaine’s “cardiovascular toxicity.”

No psychedelic has been approved in the United States, but a number of them are being studied in large trials for various mental health conditions, including psilocybin, MDMA and LSD. All those drugs remain illegal, classified as Schedule I substances alongside drugs such as heroin. Two states — Oregon and Colorado — have legalized psychedelic therapy with psilocybin.

Ibogaine was first used by members of the Bwiti religion in African nations like Gabon during their religious ceremonies.

In recent years, U.S. veterans have reported benefiting from the drug after traveling to clinics in Mexico that administer it.

Backing from veterans groups and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry led to a law last year providing $50 million for ibogaine research in that state. Perry, who co-founded a group called Americans for Ibogaine, recently appeared on Rogan’s podcast, making the case for reducing federal limits on the drug. It was his second time talking about ibogaine on the popular podcast in the past two years.

Trump’s order calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to direct at least $50 million to states that have enacted or are developing programs to advance psychedelic drugs for serious mental illness. It’s described as a federal-state partnership to provide funding, technical assistance and data sharing.

Ibogaine is known to cause irregular heart rhythms and has been linked to more than 30 deaths in the medical literature, according to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a nonprofit that conducted some early studies in patients outside the U.S.

The group’s co-executive director, Ismail Lourido Ali, said Trump’s order might encourage other states to follow the Texas model.

“The stigma around Schedule I drugs is significant,” Ali said. “It feels like this would give pretty substantial cover for Republican governors and legislatures to step into the ring in terms of funding research programs at their universities.”

Owners of ibogaine clinics said the impact of the order will not be immediate.

“There will be no insurance coverage, it will still be considered unapproved and non-covered care,” said Tom Feegel of Beond Ibogaine, which operates a clinic in Cancun, Mexico. “But what it does mean is that ibogaine shifts from being fringe and underground to being federally acknowledged.”

Feegel says his clinic treated 2,000 people with ibogaine last year for between $15,000 and $20,000 per person. The company also gave free treatment to about 100 veterans.

Clinics that use the drug typically monitor patients’ heart readings and have emergency medical equipment on hand.

One of the only recent studies conducted by U.S. researchers found that veterans treated with ibogaine showed improvements in symptoms of traumatic brain injury, including PTSD, depression and anxiety. The Stanford University study was small — enrolling 30 veterans who received the drug in Mexico. It did not include a placebo group for comparison, an essential feature of rigorous medical research. Patients in the study received a combination of ibogaine mixed with magnesium intended to reduce heart risks.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

NPR received its largest-ever donation from a living donor this week when billionaire philanthropist Connie Ballmer gave $80 million to the media organization.

Ballmer — a former member of the NPR Foundation’s board — told the Wall Street Journal that she poured money into NPR because “we need fact-based journalism, and we need local journalism.”

She told the paper that she’s been a fan of the organization since her 20s and that she listens to it “when I walk, I listen in the car, I listen at home and at work.”

“I support NPR because an informed public is the bedrock of our society, and democracy requires strong, independent journalism,” Ballmer said in a statement on Wednesday. “My hope is that this commitment provides the stability and the spark NPR needs to innovate boldly and strengthen its national network.”

Ballmer and her husband, LA Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, have donated more than $3 billion in recent years, according to an interview they gave in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Her donation comes at an important time for NPR. Last year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order ending federal funding for public TV and radio organizations.

Approximately 1 percent of NPR’s budget was funded through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. However, the Corporation was responsible for up to half of the operating budgets of some smaller NPR member stations in rural areas, according to the broadcaster.

NPR pushed back and sued the Trump administration, arguing that the executive order broke federal law. The broadcaster earned a win in March after a judge ruled that the Trump administration could not use its power to slash funding for NPR.

Despite the court victory, Trump’s actions have left NPR to seek funding elsewhere.

“This is a tough time for independent journalism,” Katherine Maher, the CEO of NPR, told the Journal.

She told the paper that Ballmer’s gift would allow the company to become “more sustainable.”

Ballmer said that she understands the difficulties of running the network of some of the smaller networks from her time on NPR’s foundation board.

“Helping them modernize and take advantage of the digital age is a great role for philanthropic dollars and something I’m proud to support,” she told the Journal.

Ballmer wasn’t the only one dropping big money to keep NPR on the airwaves. The news organization also announced on Wednesday that it had received a $33 million donation from an anonymous donor.

In total, NPR received $113 million between the donations.

Maher said that the gifts would help the network and its member stations to prepare for the next 50 years, calling them “catalytic investments” in NPR’s future, according to the broadcaster.

It can cause big problems and be very expensive

Surging fuel costs are top of mind for many drivers at the moment, but with online searches for “wrong fuel in car” increasing by 163% between January and March this year compared to the previous quarter, drivers could also be experiencing a costly mistake at the pumps. That’s according to experts at MoneySuperMarket.

Misfuelling is an expensive error that can cause serious engine damage if not caught immediately. Specialist fuel rescue services charge between £120 and £1,000 to drain and flush the fuel tank of the wrong fuel and without the right insurance, the cost falls on the driver.

Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, has explained what drivers should do the moment they realise they’ve put the wrong fuel in their car.

What to do if you put the wrong fuel in your car

Alice said the immediate thing to remember was not to start your car. After misfuelling, keep the engine off. If you’ve already started it, switch off the ignition immediately.

Move your vehicle to a safe place. Put the car in neutral and roll it away from other pumps so your breakdown provider can reach you safely.

Call your breakdown provider. It will have specialist equipment to drain and flush the tank. Don’t attempt to do this yourself.

Alicia said: “Misfuelling is a potentially expensive mistake that can catch drivers out all year around, although recently there has been an increase in online searches for information about what to do if you accidentally put the wrong fuel in your car.

“If it happens to you, it’s important to know how to respond, as misfuelling can seriously damage your car if not dealt with quickly. If possible, don’t start your car. Starting your engine after putting in the wrong fuel can increase repair costs by hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

“If you’ve already started it, switch off the ignition as soon as possible. Move your car to a safe place by putting into neutral and rolling the vehicle and call your breakdown provider or garage to drain and flush the tank.

“Misfuelling is not typically covered by car insurance, so it isn’t a mistake to take lightly. In most cases, you will need to add additional misfuelling insurance to your policy to include that protection, although some comprehensive policies may include misfuelling under accidental damage.

“Make sure you check your insurance cover to ensure you have the right protection in place should this happen to you.”

MoneySuperMarket said the Google search data used was correct as of April 2026.

If you want daffodils to come back year after year, daffodil care is key once they have finished flowering.

Advertisement

Daffodils are a reliable sign of spring and bring beautiful colour to gardens. What’s more, daffodil bulbs naturally deter squirrels and other rodents, making them an excellent option if you’ve previously had trouble with troublesome small animals treating your garden bulbs as a meal.

These bright flowers are incredibly straightforward to cultivate, naturalise effectively and return in increasing numbers each year, provided they receive proper care.

On his gardening TikTok account, @joesgarden, Joe revealed a “quick tip to keep daffodils flowering year after year”. All that’s required is some clean, sharp secateurs and 10 seconds of your time.

One challenge gardeners might encounter when growing daffodils that flowered the previous year is that they can emerge “blind” – producing foliage but no blooms.

Prevent this by deadheading the faded flowers and allowing the foliage to die back naturally without tying it into a knot. This will usually need doing from mid to late April.

Joe explained the process. He said, “Once the heads die back, locate the seed pod, grab your snippers and just cut.

“Leave the foliage to die back to return the energy straight back into the bulb.”

Ensure you avoid tying up daffodil leaves or trimming them back while they’re still green, as this could diminish flowering next year.

Keep your plants watered and fed if they’ve been in the pot or the ground for some time, as they will be lacking nutrients.

Additionally, if the bulbs have been in the ground for several years, they may have become overcrowded. Should this be the case, dig them up and replant the larger, healthier bulbs, as smaller ones could take several years to reach flowering size.

Since daffodils finish flowering by mid-spring, they ought to be planted together with plants that flourish during summer, such as dahlias, geraniums and peonies.

Glenn Hoddle believes Chelsea will not sack Liam Rosenior and will keep him as manager for the start of next season.

Chelsea suffered their fourth Premier League defeat in a row on Saturday night as Manchester United sealed a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

The result leaves Chelsea sixth in the Premier League and they will be seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool if they beat Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.

Rosenior replaced Enzo Maresca as manager in January but the 41-year-old is already facing calls from some Chelsea supporters to be sacked.

Hoddle, however, feels his former club will keep their faith in Rosenior over the summer but warns a change will be made if a poor start is made next season.

‘They’re in a really sticky position,’ Hoddle told Premier League Productions.

‘For me, for Liam to stay in that job now until the end of the season, I think they’ll give him that opportunity but he’s got to finish on a high note, he’s got to get some wins under his belt.

‘The reason they brought him in is he’s a young manager, he’s part of their project, if you like, if you want to use that word, and I think they’ll give him that chance.

‘But he’s going to have to start winning, even if he doesn’t get in the Champions League, they’re in the FA Cup semi-final so they could actually win a trophy still.

‘I think they’ll stay with him and give him a pre-season and I think they’ll start with him but he’s going to have to start next season in a positive way, if not, I think then he could be on a bit of dodgy ground.’

Speaking after Chelsea’s defeat, Rosenior admitted he was unsure about the consequences of missing out on Champions League football for next season.

‘The honest answer is I don’t know. The honest answer is we’re still fighting and we’ll address that situation at the end of the season, whatever the situation is,’ Rosenior said.

‘In terms of the game tonight, it’s a really, really difficult one to take because people don’t want to hear me say how well we played and didn’t win the game. We’re here to win.

‘There are many elements actually that the process of underlying things that we’re looking into that suggest that if you stay in this process we will win games of football. It doesn’t look like it at the moment but the reality is Manchester United have come in, had one shot, won a goal against 10 men and won a game 1-0 which should be pretty much impossible.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Chelsea star told he is ‘not good enough to be a starter’ after Manchester United defeat

MORE: Liam Rosenior reveals Chelsea star was ‘crying at half time’ in Man Utd defeat

MORE: Joao Pedro out of Chelsea vs Manchester United due to injury