The American Express Times
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Ceasefire Tested in Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. military engaged Iranian forces to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, sinking six Iranian boats and escorting American merchant ships through the vital shipping lane amid Iranian attacks on the UAE and nearby vessels. This confrontation heightens the risk of renewed conflict in a region critical to global energy supplies, disrupting maritime security and…
★ Featured Stories
Sixers get Hopes up
The Sydney Sixers have named former Australian all-rounder James Hopes as their head coach on a two-year contract starting with the 2026-27 Big Bash League…
Corrie’s Killer Line-up of Suspects Revealed
Police have identified six main suspects in the murder investigation of Theo on Coronation Street, each with potential motives linked to his violent past and…
Race Results and Racing News from UK and Ireland
Hawk Mountain triumphed in a Group 3 race at Chantilly under Christophe Soumillon, marking a strong seasonal debut for the colt. This victory enhances his…
Fantastic Forest close to safety
Nottingham Forest defeated Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, with Taiwo Awoniyi scoring twice and goalkeeper Matz Sels saving a penalty, moving Forest six points clear…
★ All Stories
Dermy in race to make history
Illawarra Grange will hold its first race meeting on Tuesday, featuring advanced track design aimed at reducing weather-related cancellations. Trainer Edward Cummings and jockey Jay…
Tribune Wins Pulitzer for Local Reporting
The Chicago Tribune won the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting for its detailed coverage of Operation Midway Blitz, a 64-day federal immigration enforcement campaign in…
Brookfield Zoo Union Workers Go on Strike
Over 100 Brookfield Zoo workers began striking after contract talks with management broke down over wages, healthcare, and staffing concerns. While the zoo remains open…
Arab interests must define resolution of Strait of Hormuz crisis
Tensions have escalated in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran and Arab Gulf states clash over control and security of the vital maritime corridor. The…
Illinois Childhood Vaccine Rates Remain High Despite Controversy
Illinois reported that over 95% of children statewide have received the required vaccines for school entry, maintaining high immunization rates despite national vaccine debates. This…
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Marks Completion of New Forrestal Elementary School
The new Forrestal Elementary School in North Chicago was completed and will open for the 2026-27 school year, allowing students to continue fourth and fifth…
Parent Takeover Strategy Defuses Hyde Park Teen Takeovers
Hyde Park parents, collaborating with police and school staff, successfully prevented a disruptive teen gathering on 53rd Street by showing a strong adult presence that…
Voices on Gerrymandering and Voting Rights Act Following Supreme Court Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District map under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a decision critics say may enable partisan…
Activists hope U.S. Steel brings cleaner technology to Gary Works
U.S. Steel is investing $1.9 billion to build a new direct reduced iron facility in Arkansas to boost steel production efficiency and support expansion of…
New Mexico seeks child safety fixes at Meta trial
New Mexico prosecutors have entered the second phase of a trial seeking court-ordered reforms to Meta’s Facebook and Instagram platforms to address child safety and…
FEMA offers jobs back to workers let go in January amid lawsuit
FEMA has started offering reappointments to disaster workers whose contracts were not renewed in January, reversing a prior decision that led to legal challenges. This…
Supreme Court Restores Temporary Nationwide Access to Abortion Pill
The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked a lower court’s order requiring in-person prescriptions for the abortion pill mifepristone, restoring nationwide access to the drug by…
Shakira thrills at free beach concert
Shakira gave a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, drawing an estimated 2 million attendees as part of her “Las Mujeres Ya…
Trial Begins for Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele's trial began Monday on charges related to a November 2024 DUI crash where she struck two vehicles…
Illinois General Assembly Misses Ballot Deadline for Reforms
The Illinois General Assembly failed to meet the deadline to place constitutional amendments on the November ballot, postponing voter decisions on reforms like independent redistricting,…
Illinois’ Credit Card Fee Crackdown and Its Implications
Illinois passed the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, which bans credit card processing fees on sales taxes and tips starting July 1, aiming to reduce costs…
U.S. Indictment of Mexican Politicians Challenges U.S.-Mexico Relations
The U.S. Justice Department unsealed indictments against 10 Mexican politicians, including Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, accusing them of colluding with drug cartels to influence…
Nostalgia grows for ‘old Target’ as retailer seeks store revamp
Target is planning to revamp its stores to recapture the nostalgic features and vibrant atmosphere that longtime customers miss, as the retailer faces challenges from…
Trump rhetoric prompts questions about gold storage repatriation
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bank of England remain the primary custodians of the world's largest gold reserves, holding over 500,000…
Obesity drug Wegovy shows promise in reducing alcoholism
A clinical trial in Denmark found that the obesity medication Wegovy significantly reduced heavy drinking days among individuals with alcoholism. This suggests Wegovy could offer…
Drone Strike on Moscow Apartment Building Highlights Ukraine-Russia Conflict
A drone hit a high-rise apartment building in Moscow near the Kremlin, causing significant damage but no injuries. The attack, occurring days before Russia’s scaled-back…
Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized with Pneumonia, Remains in Critical Condition
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is in critical but stable condition after being hospitalized with pneumonia and placed on a ventilator, complicated by…
Judge Questions Detention Conditions of Suspect in White House Gala Shooting
A federal magistrate judge raised serious concerns about the harsh detention conditions of Cole Tomas Allen, who is charged with attempting to assassinate former President…
Kane County’s Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve Opens to Public with New Bison Herd
Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve in Kane County has reopened after renovations to support a newly introduced herd of six American bison. The initiative aims to…
Illinois Shifts School Attendance Metrics Amid Concerns
The Illinois State Board of Education has proposed replacing the chronic absenteeism metric with a consistent attendance measure that rewards schools for higher attendance without…
Supreme Court Ruling Restricts Voting Rights Act and Prompts Debate on Gerrymandering
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race cannot be the predominant factor in drawing congressional districts, striking down a Louisiana map that relied heavily on…
Spirit Airlines workers ‘left with nothing’ after sudden shutdown
Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down operations on Saturday, leaving thousands of employees without jobs or benefits amid failed attempts to secure a $500 million federal…
Spirit Airlines demise could lead to higher fares for flyers
Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased operations, resulting in roughly 17,000 job losses and significant travel disruptions due to its prolonged financial decline and bankruptcy filings. Its…
United Airlines plane hits light pole while landing at Newark airport
A United Airlines Boeing 767 struck a light pole during its landing approach to Newark Liberty International Airport, damaging the pole, a tractor-trailer, and a…
Target Overhauls Store Experience Amid Sales Struggles
Target is overhauling its store experience by introducing new employee dress codes, enhanced training, technology tools, and merchandise updates to improve customer service and address…
Southern States Move Quickly to Redraw Congressional Maps After Supreme Court Ruling
Southern states including Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Florida are holding special legislative sessions to redraw congressional district maps following a Supreme Court ruling that limits…
Photographer Documents Declining Local Newsrooms Across America
Photographer Ann Hermes has documented about 50 shrinking local newsrooms across the U.S., capturing the people and spaces affected by the ongoing decline of community…
The night Capone’s vault was opened on live TV
On April 21, the 40th anniversary of the live broadcast of "The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults" rekindled interest in the gangster’s legacy and the…
Long Island Sees Steady Rise in ICE Immigration Arrests Amid Federal Crackdown
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has increased immigration arrests on Long Island by about 60% compared to New York City and the Hudson Valley, leveraging…
Western States Use AI to Enhance Early Wildfire Detection
AI technology detected the early stages of the Diamond Fire in Arizona, enabling rapid human verification and firefighting response that contained the blaze before it…
Brother wavers on confronting sister over past harmful actions
A man cut ties with his sister after she sent him a book containing hateful anti-gay claims but is now grappling with her recent apology…
Princess Eugenie expecting third child
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank are expecting their third child this summer, Buckingham Palace confirmed. King Charles III welcomed the news, highlighting the continued expansion…