Federal agents in Portland ordered to stop using munitions in certain cases

In the span of three days, two federal judges in Oregon made separate rulings prohibiting federal agents from deploying chemical munitions and other projectiles near the Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement building unless there is an imminent threat.

The judges allowed for preliminary injunctions intwo separate lawsuits, filed last year, against the Department of Homeland Security. Both lawsuits claimed federal agents affiliated with the Portland ICE facility used chemical munitions, projectiles and other aggressive tactics in recent months in a manner that harmed the public.

"This means the torture has to stop," said Jeffrey Dubner, an attorney with the non-profit organization Democracy Forward. The legal group helped file one of the lawsuits on behalf of residents of Gray's Landing, an apartment complex across the street from the Portland ICE building.

The suit claimed residents who were not engaged in protests suffered significant health complications like respiratory problems, slurred speech, and burning eyes as a result of the chemical deployments.

"The residents of Gray's Landing in southwest Portland have been exposed to tear gas in their homes over and over again for months," said Dubner. "The court has now said, that has to stop until the case is over."

The other federal lawsuit, filed on behalf of several citizens who were either involved in demonstrations or observing federal agents, alleged multiple people were injured by projectiles.

RELATED STORY |Portland residents who live near ICE facility seek relief from tear gas

Advertisement

The suit claimed one elderly woman, Laurie Eckman, 84, was struck with a canister that caused her forehead to bleed. She also had trouble breathing as a result of the chemical irritants.

"It gives me hope that a judge will listen to citizens' heartfelt objections to what DHS agents were doing to our First Amendment rights and say that this can't continue," Eckman said in a written statement. "Democracies like ours fail not in a sudden coup but over a long period and in small ways that accumulate, and this decision is one step back to normalcy, and to government by the people, for the people."

In a written statement provided to Scripps News, the Department of Homeland Security called the rulings unnecessary.

"Law enforcement does not use crowd control measures on protestors – they are only used on rioters," a spokesperson said. "The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly – not rioting. DHS is taking appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers and the public from dangerous rioters. We remind the public that rioting is dangerous—obstructing law enforcement is a federal crime and assaulting law enforcement is a felony."

A spokesperson also said, "DHS is authorized to do what is appropriate and necessary in each situation to diffuse violence against our officers in the most appropriate manner possible. We, as a federal law enforcement agency, will continue to safeguard the American people, our homeland, with honor, integrity and values in line with the U.S. Constitution and basic common sense."

Dubner said the ruling offers some relief for the people he represents, but the lawsuit is not over.

"It's not the end of the fight. The case will proceed to a judgment, but for now, it's a tremendous relief," Dubner said. "We're so grateful and humbled to be representing the residents of Gray's Landing, people who have been through an indescribable ordeal and have shown tremendous bravery in telling their stories in public and coming forward to say, 'No. This has to stop.'"

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

March 12, 2026

Federal agents in Portland ordered to stop using munitions in certain cases

In the span of three days, two federal judges in Oregon made separate rulings prohibiting federal agents from deploying c...

Read More

Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa withdraws from The Players Championship after one hole

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa withdrew fromThe Players Championshipafter one hole on Thursday.

Morikawa, the No. 4 player in the world, took a practice swing on the par-5 11th hole and reached for his lower back. He tried to stretch, and minutes later took a cart ride from an official into the clubhouse.

Morikawa won at Pebble Beach earlier this year, his first PGA Tour title in 16 months.

Advertisement

He was the second player to withdraw from the richest tournament in golf.Ryan Fox withdrewwith an illness before his afternoon tee time.

Morikawa was not replaced because he had already started the tournament.

AP golf:https://apnews.com/hub/golf

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

March 12, 2026

Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa withdraws from The Players Championship after one hole

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa withdrew fromThe Players Championshipafter one hol...

Read More

March Madness 2026: 5 NBA prospects with the most to gain in NCAA tournament

March Madnessis about Cinderellas. It's about upsets. And it's about the nation's best teams fighting for a national championship.

For a select few players, it's also about looking ahead to the NBA. March is the final proving ground for NBA prospects seeking to improve their draft stock. In those terms, this March is like few others before it.

This upcoming draft class is special, thanks to one of the best freshman classes in college basketball history with the potential to produce numerous NBA All-Stars. Several of those players will have more on the line in the upcoming weeks than cutting down the nets.

Here's a look at five players with the most to gain from the2026 NCAA tournament.

Darryn Peterson, Kansas

Before he ever played a college game, the consensus projections for this year's NBA Draft had Darryn Peterson going No. 1 overall.

This is despite Peterson playing in a historic freshman class featuring AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson — all players who would be contenders for the top pick in most NBA Drafts. And there's a boatload of high-end prospects behind them.

[Enter Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem now for your shot at $50K]

Now, with the regular season done, Peterson's spot at the top isn't so secure. Peterson has flashed the otherworldly gifts that made him a seemingly can't-miss prospect — elite playmaking, shooting and athleticism combined with a 6-foot-5 frame to make him a three-level scorer. He's arguably the best perimeter defender in the draft.

But flashed is the key word here. Peterson's been a model of inconsistency with Kansas. His pile of DNPs and early exits for various reasons could reasonably give scouts second thoughts about spending No. 1 pick capital on a guy who may not have a passion for playing the game.

To be clear, the state of Peterson's basketball drive isn't known. He may be as driven as his fellow No. 1 pick contenders. But Peterson's not saying anything to set the record straight.

Without clarity, NBA executives are now left to parse his shaky availability in their assessment of Peterson based on what they've seen. And nobody wants to be on the hook for a Ben Simmons redux — especially when there are elite talents sitting right behind him with zero questions about their basketball drive.

Peterson isn't plummeting down draft boards. His talent is simply too tantalizing. But a strong showing when the stakes are highest could go a long way in cementing his spot at the top.

AJ Dybantsa, BYU

Dybantsa, meanwhile, has not disappointed.

The freshman forward arrived at BYU with enormous expectations and has met them. If Peterson falls, Dybantsa could be the biggest beneficiary.

There's little not to like about Dybantsa's game. A 6-9 forward with a 6-11 wingspan, he has prototypical NBA size. He's a tremendous athlete who can face up and attack the basket or use his footwork and length to back down overmatched defenders.

He dunks. A lot.

Dybantsa is a three-level scorer who can pull up from mid-range over shorter opponents or cross up his defender for a bucket. He's a capable if not spectacular 3-point shooter (33.9%). He's a strong rebounder and a willing playmaker and passer who rarely makes bad decisions with the ball.

He has upside as a high-level defender in the NBA who can leverage his size and athleticism to defend multiple positions.

Dybantsa led the nation in scoring in the regular season, averaging 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1 steal per game while shooting 51.2% from the floor.

There's room for him to move up to No. 1 in this draft, especially if he can demonstrate improved 3-point shooting. And fans of the team who selected him there would be hard-pressed to find reason to complain.

The biggest hindrance for Dybantsa improving his stock is his team. BYU was once 17-2 and ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation. But it lost nine of its last 14 regular-season games to fall out of the rankings and drop its NCAA seeding stock.

The drop-off is largely due to an ACL tear to All Big-12 guard Richie Saunders. He won't be back for the tournament, and an early exit isn't out of the question.

Advertisement

A run to the second weekend of tournament play or beyond on Dybantsa's back would give him the opportunity to further make his case to be the No. 1 pick.

Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

Acuff arrived at Arkansas this season asa top-10 prospectand the gem of John Calipari's recruiting class.

His name was not, however, mentioned among the elite NBA prospects of this year's freshman class. A standout campaign for the Razorbacks has changed the conversation and rocketed him up draft boards.

Acuff is an explosive scorer and offensive weapon who propelled Arkansas to a third-place finish in a strong SEC. In a conference loaded with individual talent,Acuff was named SEC Player of the Yearas the conference leader in both scoring (22.2 ppg) and assists (6.4 apg).

His production, impact on winning and relentless motor have prompted chatter that he's the most NBA-ready guard in the draft — even more so than Peterson. He's a three-way scorer who's crafty at the rim and developed into one of the nation's best 3-point shooters (43.7% on 5.6 attempts per game).

His 49-point effort against Alabamawas one of the best individual performances of the college basketball season.

There are questions about his NBA profile. He doesn't jump off the charts athletically. At 6-foot-3, he doesn't posses prototypical height. He's strong at 190 pounds, but there are concerns about whether he can be an effective defender in the NBA against bigger guards.

Acuff's height shouldn't be a concern on offense at the next level. Jalen Brunson, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, Darius Garland, Trae Young and De'Aaron Fox — all 6-3 or shorter — have all proven that you don't need to be 6-6 to be an All-Star level weapon out of the backcourt.

His perceived shortcomings could end up acting as at tiebreaker on draft boards. But a strong NCAA tournament showing could be the difference in Acuff being selected high in the lottery or dropping closer to the teens.

Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville

Mikel Brown Jr. is another explosive guard with high-lottery upside alongside concerns that could drop him lower in the draft. His trajectory has moved opposite of Acuff's.

A 6-foot-5 scoring point guard, Brown arrived at Louisville mentioned alongside Boozer and Wilson as an ACC Freshman and Player of the Year contender and a potential top-five pick. An inconsistent and inefficient scoring season with the Cardinals dropped him out of both awards conversations and has put his draft prospects on shakier ground.

Brown instead finished third-team All-ACC and will enter NCAA tournament play with questions about his health.Brown is skipping this week's ACC tournamentwith a lingering back injury that's plagued him all season and could, in part, explain his efficiency issues.

He's doing so in hopes of playing in the NCAA tournament, where he's hoping he can strengthen his draft stock alongside leading Louisville on a deep run.

Brown has ideal size for a point guard and can take over a game on offense with his shooting. He has the deepest shooting range of any guard in the draft. He flashed that explosiveness this season, most notably in a 45-point effort against NC State in which he shot 10 of 16 from 3.

Brown averaged 18.2 points an 4.7 assists per game.

But his shooting was streaky. His 41% field-goal rate (34.4% from 3) is probably the biggest concern for NBA scouts, and he had five games in which he was held below 10 points. He's not a tremendous athlete, and he doesn't play above the rim despite his height.

Brown's upside is undeniable as that of an All-Star level guard who can light up the scoreboard. He probably has more to gain than anybody on this list from a strong NCAA tournament showing. That is, if he plays.

Koa Peat, Arizona

Koa Peat's draft projections are all over the board. Some think he's a lottery pick. Some think he's a late first-rounder. Some think he'll be best-served by returning to college for another season.

A 6-8, 235-pound forward, Peat is a classic high-performing college forward. A five-star recruit, he's been one of the three best players alongside senior guard Jaden Bradley and fellow freshman standout Brayden Burries on an Arizona team that's spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. Arizona's a virtual lock for a No. 1 seed alongside Duke and Michigan.

Peat is a physical scorer and rebounder who averaged 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in the regular season while shooting 54.8% from the floor. He's a high-energy guy who stepped immediately into a leadership role as a freshman. He burst onto the scene with 30 points in his college debut to lead Arizona past reigning champion Florida.

There are questions about how well his game translates to the next level. He's a reluctant and below-average 3-point shooter (31.6% on 0.7 attempts per game) who doesn't have great floor-spacing upside. He doesn't have the height or size to bully NBA players in the post or to be an effective rim protector.

A strong performance in a deep Arizona run — particularly one with improved shooting — could go a long way to help Peat's draft stock.

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

March 12, 2026

March Madness 2026: 5 NBA prospects with the most to gain in NCAA tournament

March Madnessis about Cinderellas. It's about upsets. And it's about the nation's best teams fighting for a n...

Read More

For nearly two weeks, Chinese fighter jets stopped buzzing Taiwan. No one seems to know why.

Taiwan's military has grown used to the daily task of tracking Chinese warplanes flying near the island. Some days there are a handful. On others, many more. But they are a near-constant presence.

So when the aircraft suddenly stopped coming for nearly two weeks, the silence was both striking and deeply puzzling.

That spell was broken on Thursday with five People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft operating around the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours, according to Taiwan's military, with several flying near the median line that divides the waterway.

Analysts say it was the longest pause in Chinese air activity since Taiwan began publicly releasing daily military data.

"This is frankly unlike anything we've seen in recent history in terms of PLA activity around Taiwan," Ben Lewis, founder of PLATracker, an open data platform that tracks Chinese military movements around Taiwan, Japan and the South China Sea, told CNN.

"Since Taiwan's defense ministry began releasing this data in 2020 the trend has been up, up, up," Lewis said. "And now this lull, which maybe has ended today, maybe not, represents a very significant change in the pattern."

Beginning February 27, Taiwan recorded 13 consecutive days without Chinese warplanes flying near the island.

One brief exception came on March 6 when two aircraft were detected in the far southwestern corner of Taiwan's air defense identification zone, but analysts say the broader pattern still represented a striking break from recent years of steadily increasing Chinese military activity.

The sudden quiet puzzled analysts and raised a range of possible explanations.

One theory is that Beijing may be trying to avoid escalating tensions ahead of a planned meeting later this month between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, where trade, technology and Taiwan are expected to feature prominently.

"If I was in Vegas, I would put it on the Trump visit," Lewis said.

Others have pointed tothe war involving Iranand the potential impact on global energy markets, though analysts say that connection is less certain.

Some observers also note that China's annual parliamentary meetings, known as the "Two Sessions," are concluding this week, a period when military activity has occasionally slowed in the past.

Advertisement

Taiwan's defense minister Wellington Koo urged caution about drawing conclusions from the lull, noting that Chinese naval activity around Taiwan has continued throughout the period.

"There are a lot of theories out there," Koo told reporters on Wednesday. "But we still see Chinese naval vessels operating around Taiwan on a daily basis, and these efforts to turn the Taiwan Strait into China's internal waters have not stopped."

Indeed, Taiwan continued to track several Chinese warships operating around the island throughout the period, even as the skies above remained unusually quiet.

Lewis said the limited number of aircraft detected Thursday may not signal a full return to normal activity.

The flights came the same day a US Navy P-8 surveillance aircraft transited the Taiwan Strait, in what the 7th Fleet says is a demonstration of Washington's "commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," and the Chinese planes may have been deployed simply to monitor the American aircraft.

Even then, the response appeared muted compared with past incidents when US ships or aircraft passed through the waterway.

"Relative to previous incidents when the US Navy transited the Taiwan Strait, the number of Chinese aircraft deployed today was actually quite low," Lewis said.

That uncertainty leaves analysts watching closely to see what happens next.

Over the past five years, Beijing has dramatically increased the number of aircraft it sends near Taiwan, gradually normalizing what once would have been considered major military incursions.

On some days, Taiwan has reported dozens of Chinese aircraft operating near the island.

In that context, Lewis said, the sudden disappearance of the flights has been just as striking as their return.

"It used to be that five aircraft would make headlines," he said. "Now we're talking about zero, and that's what's unusual."

For now, the mystery remains unsolved.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

March 12, 2026

For nearly two weeks, Chinese fighter jets stopped buzzing Taiwan. No one seems to know why.

Taiwan's military has grown used to the daily task of tracking Chinese warplanes flying near the island. Some days th...

Read More

At least 50 people killed and 125 others reported missing after landslides sweep Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — At least 50 people have died and 125 others are missing after landslides hit three districts in southern Ethiopia following a week of heavy rains, a local official said Thursday.

Ethiopia Landslide

The landslides happened in Gamo Zone and affected the Gacho Baba District, Kamba District and Bonke District, according to Gamo Zone director of disaster response Mesfin Manuqa.

Manuqa said that one person was pulled out of the mud alive during the rescue operation.

The Gacho Baba District communication chief, Abebe Agena, said most of those who died were found buried in the mud. It is not yet clear how many households were affected.

Advertisement

Tilahun Kebede, president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, expressed his sorrow over the disaster and urged residents to move to higher ground as rains continue.

"Given that it is the rainy season and these types of disasters could happen again, I am calling on communities living in the highlands and flood-prone areas to take the necessary precautions," he said.

Mudslides and floods caused by heavy rainfall are common in Ethiopia, especially during the rainy season.

In July 2024, adeadly mudslidecaused by heavy rain claimed the lives of 229 people in southern Ethiopia.

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

March 12, 2026

At least 50 people killed and 125 others reported missing after landslides sweep Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — At least 50 people have died and 125 others are missing after landslides hit three districts...

Read More

Russian court convicts 19 people over deadly 2024 Moscow concert hall attack

MOSCOW (AP) — A court in Moscow on Thursday convicted 19 people of involvement in the 2024 shooting rampage at aMoscow concert hallthat killed 149 people and wounded over 600 in one of the deadliest attacks in the capital in years.

Russia Trial

A faction of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the March 22, 2024, massacre at the Crocus City Hall concert venue. Authorities said four gunmen, identified as citizens of Tajikistan, shot people who were waiting for a show by a popular rock band and then set the building on fire.

All 19 defendants were handed lengthy prison terms: 15 received life sentences, one got 22 1/2 years, and three were given 19 years and 11 months each.

Those with life sentences will serve part of them in a prison and the rest in a special regime penal colony, according to the verdict.

They were also ordered to pay fines ranging from 500,000 rubles (about $6,300) to 2.7 million rubles ($34,000).

Advertisement

The trial began in August 2025 in a military court, as is customary for terrorism charges, and took place behind closed doors, with authorities citing security concerns. Three military court judges presided.

PresidentVladimir Putinand other Russian officials have claimed, without presenting evidence, that Ukraine had a role in the attack. Kyiv has strongly denied any involvement.

The Investigative Committee, Russia's top criminal investigation agency, said the attack was "planned and carried out in the interests of the current leadership of Ukraine in order to destabilize the political situation in our country."

It also noted the four suspected gunmen tried to flee to Ukraine. They were arrested hours after the attack and laterappeared in a Moscow courtwith signs of being severely beaten.

Those tried alongside them included three men who sold the suspected gunmen a car, a man they rented an apartment from, and 10 others accused of terrorist ties, according to independent Russian news site Mediazona.

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

March 12, 2026

Russian court convicts 19 people over deadly 2024 Moscow concert hall attack

MOSCOW (AP) — A court in Moscow on Thursday convicted 19 people of involvement in the 2024 shooting rampage at aMoscow co...

Read More

What we know on the 13th day of the US and Israel’s war with Iran

The US and Israel'swar with Iranis spreading to the seas, with oil tankers hit by Iranian attacks, an Omani port set ablaze, and multiple vessels hit by projectiles near the Strait of Hormuz – a critical waterway normally used to transport much of the world's oil.

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that the war in the Middle East is causing the "largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market," as a global body of countries agrees to release emergency oil reserves to help absorb the shock.

Advertisement

And, US President Donald Trump continues to give conflicting comments about when the war might end.

Here's what to know on Day 13.

What's happening in the region?

• Strikes target oil: Two foreign oil tankers in Iraqi waters were set ablaze by an Iranian attack, killing at least one person, with 38 other crew members rescued. Iraq's oil ports subequently completely halted operations. Separately, emergency crews in Oman are battling a fire at fuel storage tanks, after a social media video geolocated by CNN appeared to show an Iranian drone hitting a tank at the port. And Bahrain said that Iranian attacks targeted fuel tanks in the country's north early Thursday local time.

• Attacks near strait: A container ship off the coast of the United Arab Emirates was struck by an "unknown projectile" early Thursday – after another three vessels were hit by projectiles near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. So far six vessels have been struck in the Persian Gulf in the last two days. The straits carries roughly one-fifth of global crude oil shipments. Representatives of G7 nations met on Wednesday to discuss possibly escorting ships "when security conditions allow."

• Iran, Hezbollah and Israel: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it carried out a joint attack with the militant group Hezbollah on Israel, striking more than 50 targets across five hours of sustained fire on Wednesday. Israel later carried out a wave of strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure across Lebanon, its military said. One strike in the capital Beirut killed eight people, at a beach that was housing many displaced residents. And Israeli drone strikes targeted IRGC and Basij checkpoints in Tehran, killing at least 10 "security defenders," Iranian state media said.

• Expanding Israeli operations: Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz has on Thursday instructed the military to prepare for expanding operations in Lebanon. Israel has already issued vast evacuation orders in southern and central Lebanon, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to abandon their homes.

• Millions displaced: Up to 3.2 million people have been displaced inside Iran since the conflict with Israel and the US began on February 28, according to the United Nations' refugee agency. Most of them are reportedly fleeing from Tehran and other urban areas toward the north of the country and rural areas in search of safety, the UNHCR said in a statement. "This figure is likely to continue rising as hostilities persist, marking a worrying escalation in humanitarian needs," it said.

• Gulf nations: Kuwait's international airport was damaged in a drone attack Thursday morning, the country's civil aviation authority said. Other Gulf states intercepted new waves of Iranian drones and missiles early Thursday morning too, including in the global business hub of Dubai, where a drone fell on a building near the luxury neighborhood of Creek Harbour.

What are the other main headlines?

• Oil supply disruption: The flow of crude and oil products through the crucial Strait of Hormuz has reduced to "a trickle," the IEA said in its monthly oil report, as it warned of an unprecedented disruption to global oil supplies. Global oil supply would plunge by 8 million barrels per day this month, it said.

• Emergency reserves: Member countries of the International Energy Agency (IEA) agreed Wednesday to release 400 million barrels of oil into the global market – the largest release of emergency oil stocks in history. Soon after, US President Trump authorized the US to release 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve beginning next week.

• Surging prices: Despite the IEA's announcement, oil prices rose past $100 per barrel again for a period overnight into Thursday – three days after it hit a four-year high.

• Emergency measures: Several Asian countries are taking drastic action to reduce their oil consumption. Universities in Bangladesh have closed to save energy. Austerity measures in Pakistan have shuttered schools and shifted services online. Vietnam is calling on companies to encourage remote working while Thailand has ordered government workers to work from home.

• Trump's speech: Speaking in Kentucky on Wednesday, Trump claimed that "we won" in Iran, without providing evidence. It also contradicts his earlier comment that "we're not finished yet" with the war. Later that night, he told reporters: "It's just a question of when, when do we stop?"

• Scrutiny back home: The Pentagon told US lawmakers in a private briefing Tuesday that preliminary estimates suggest the war cost at least $11 billion in the first six days. And in a rare show of GOP criticism, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski slammed Trump's handling of the war, demanding public hearings and saying that mixed messaging from the administration is leading to confusion.

• The school strike: The US military accidentally struck an Iranian elementary school likely due to outdated information about a nearby naval base, according to sources who were briefed on the preliminary findings of an ongoing military investigation. The attack killed at least 168 children and 14 teachers, Iran's state media reported.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

March 12, 2026

What we know on the 13th day of the US and Israel’s war with Iran

The US and Israel'swar with Iranis spreading to the seas, with oil tankers hit by Iranian attacks, an Omani port set ...

Read More