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The bridge that provides access to Mount Rainier has been permanently closed since April due to structural concerns. WILKESON, Wash. — The fate of a connection to a part of Mount Rainier National Park hangs in limbo as the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) considers options for the state Route 165 Fairfax Bridge.  The bridge, which has been closed since April, posed safety concerns due to the structural integrity of the bridge's steel supports. WSDOT made the decision to permanently close the bridge on April 22.  RELATED: 103-year-old bridge's closure isolates key areas of Mount Rainier National Park Now, WSDOT is considering two options following a planning study. One of those options keeps the bridge permanently closed.  "This fall, a WSDOT design team will start preliminary engineering and the environmental review phase on the two alternatives being advanced from the planning study," said Cara Mitchell with WSDOT in a statement to KING 5.  She said those alternatives are replacing the bridge in a location north of where the bridge currently sits or to "maintain the permanent bridge closure."  For the first option, Mitchell said the timeline for building a new bridge would take around six years. That timeline is from preliminary engineering to final construction. She added that WSDOT does not have construction funding allocated for the bridge.   "The build option looks at replacing the bridge within the first half mile north of the existing bridge," Mitchell said. "Preliminary cost estimates are at $160 million. While WSDOT has allocated preservation funding from the current transportation budget to start preliminary engineering and environmental review, the agency does not have construction funding assigned to the project."  For the second option, the Fairfax Bridge would be torn down. No alternative route would be available to that portion of Mount Rainier.  "State Route 165 would end south of Carbonado where the current closure is," Mitchell said.  She added that an early timeline for bridge removal is 1.5 to three years. This applies to the option of building a new bridge as well. "[The] bridge removal portion, in both the build and no-build option[s], is estimated at $15 million to $25 million," Mitchell said.  WSDOT said the environmental review stage will provide additional opportunities for community input on both options being considered. The agency said the timeline for that stage would be "roughly two years."

A $28 million endorsement deal linked to Kawhi Leonard and a company backed by Steve Ballmer is at the center of the probe. WASHINGTON — The Los Angeles Clippers and team owner Steve Ballmer are under investigation by the NBA after being accused of using a $28 million endorsement deal with Kawhi Leonard to get around following the NBA’s salary cap. On his podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” journalist Pablo Torre reported that documents show Leonard was paid through Aspiration, a now-bankrupt company Ballmer had invested in, in what a former employee described as an effort “to circumvent the salary cap.” Ballmer invested $50 million into Aspiration in September 2021, the same month the Clippers announced a $300 million sponsorship deal with the company. In April 2022, Leonard signed a four-year, $28 million endorsement agreement through his LLC, KL2 Aspire. The deal allegedly included a clause that would void payments if Leonard left the Clippers. A month before Ballmer’s investment into Aspiration, Leonard had signed a four-year, $176.3 million contract with the Clippers, which was the maximum allowed under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.  Torre said the endorsement allowed Leonard to decline work for Aspiration while still being paid. “We are aware of this morning’s media report regarding the LA Clippers and are commencing an investigation,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Wednesday.  The Clippers are denying any wrongdoing.  “Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration,” the Clippers said in a statement. “Any contrary assertion is provably false: The team ended its relationship with Aspiration years ago, during the 2022-23 season, when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations.” There is no evidence that Leonard did anything to publicly endorse Aspiration. Aspiration, which filed for bankruptcy in March 2025, is currently under federal investigation for fraud, after its co-founder, Joe Sanberg, pleaded guilty last month to wire fraud tied to a $248 million scheme defrauding investors and lenders. Under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, teams can be fined up to $7.5 million, lose draft picks or have contracts voided if it is found they have intentionally avoided the league’s salary cap.  The Associated Press contributed to the report. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

The possibility arrives days after Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's engagement announcement. WASHINGTON — Could Taylor Swift headline the next Super Bowl halftime show? NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell isn't ruling it out.  During an interview on "TODAY" Wednesday, Goodell answered questions about the upcoming 2025 NFL season. When asked bluntly about whether Swift could headline next year's show, the NFL commissioner hinted at the possibility. "We would always love to have Taylor play. She is a special, special talent and obviously, she would be welcome any time," Goodell said.   "TODAY" host Savannah Guthrie pushed further, asking whether a Swift Super Bowl halftime show was in the works.  “I can’t tell you anything about it,” Goodell replied, before answering "maybe" when asked again.  [embedded content] With a possibility in play, Craig Melvin asked when people should expect a full answer.  “I’m waiting on my friend Jay-Z,” Goodell joked. “It’s in his hands. I’m waiting for the smoke to come out.” Roc Nation, founded by Jay-Z, is the current entertainment adviser to the NFL and is behind the decision for who gets to play the halftime show. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins served as co-executive producers for the recent halftime show. Goodell also confirmed that he is a "Swiftie." This isn't the first time Swift's name has been thrown around for the Super Bowl halftime show.  In 2022, fans of the popstar, known as "Swifties," speculated that the singer would be tapped for the 2023 show after the NFL announced a new sponsor for the show. However, days later, the Roc Nation and Apple Music announced that Rihanna was taking the big stage. Goodell's comments come days after Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce's engagement announcement.  Their relationship was documented in countless shots of Swift celebrating at Chiefs games and fan videos of Kelce dancing along at Swift’s Eras Tour — including a surprise appearance on-stage at one concert — as it traveled the globe. When is the Super Bowl? Super Bowl 60 will take place in the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8, 2026. How much do Super Bowl performers get paid? The NFL may cover travel costs for artists, but maintains its long-standing tradition of not paying performers for the pregame and halftime shows beyond the minimum union scale requirements. Under union agreements, this typically amounts to around $1,000 per day for rehearsals and the performance itself. That means no splashy appearance fees for these major artists.  However, the real value of the Super Bowl halftime show lies in its unprecedented exposure. The 2024 performance headlined by Usher drew massive viewership, continuing the trend set by Rihanna's 2023 show which attracted 115 million viewers. For artists, this exposure typically translates into significant increases in music sales and streaming numbers.

Lady Gaga's new single coincides with her appearance in episode seven of the show's second season. WASHINGTON — Lady Gaga is in Netflix's "Wednesday."  And to celebrate her debut in the Addams Family-reboot show, Gaga dropped her new song, "the Dead Dance," with a Tim Burton-directed music video.  The music video hit Youtube and streaming platforms, fittingly, on Wednesday morning.  Lady Gaga's new single coincides with her appearance in episode seven of the show's second season. And it's a surprise new drop, considering it's only been a few months since she released her seventh studio album, "Mayhem," in March.  The music video is mostly in black and white, invoking the memory of old-school horror movies. It opens with Gaga posed next to a bunch of creepy dolls, before she begins dancing in a jerking way like a zombie freshly risen from the grave.  [embedded content] Despite the song's catchiness, it's unlikely her dance moves will replace the now-iconic dance Jenna Ortega's Wednesday performs during the first season of the show.  [embedded content] Lady Gaga's seventh album, Mayhem, dropped on March 7. The mainly synth-pop inspired record blends a blur of genres. And fans who have listened already might notice a new track when they open the album in Spotify. The new song, the Dead Dance, was added to the album in a digital reissue, becoming the album's third single.  Wednesday stars the titular Wednesday Addams, played by Jenna Ortega, as she solves mysteries and uncovers the secrets of Nevermore Academy. Lady Gaga's character is Rosaline Rotwood, the ghost of a former teacher at the school.  Gaga is no stranger to acting, performing a starring role in 2018's "A Star Is Born" and "Joker: Folie à Deux."

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years and for older kids in certain instances. VALRICO, Fla — Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced the state's Department of Health will be working to end all vaccine mandates. At a news conference in Valrico, the health official said the government doesn't have the right to tell citizens what to put in their bodies. Ladapo didn't give a specific timeline for when the mandates would be ended or how his team would achieve this. "Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery," he said. "Who am I to tell you what your child should put in your body?"  School immunization requirements for Florida include MMR, Hepatitis B, Polio, Measles-mumps-rubella, chickenpox and several others.  "It's not that sometimes people will end up regretting the decision they made, and we've seen a lot of that from the COVID-19 pandemic. I mean, how many people put that poison in their bodies and wish they could turn back the hands of time?" Ladapo said.  The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years and advises for older children if parents want their kids vaccinated. That differs from controversial guidance established under U.S. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which doesn't recommend the shots for healthy children of any age but says kids may get them in consultation with physicians.  Kennedy also announced in August that the federal Department of Health would cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines being developed to fight respiratory viruses.  Florida would be the first state to not have a vaccine mandate if this plan goes through. No other state has a complete ban, but all states allow exemptions from immunization requirements for medical reasons. State laws also vary regarding religious or personal reasons, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also announced the creation of a commission that will help implement policies to "Make America Healthy Again," stemming from federal efforts to create policies and strategies to address and end childhood chronic diseases. Kennedy has brought children's health to the forefront of the national policy conversation, unveiling in May a much-anticipated “Make America Healthy Again” report that described kids as undernourished and overmedicated, and raised concerns about their lack of physical activity.  The Florida commission will work to implement principles such as individual medical freedom, parents' rights and informed consent, according to DeSantis.  Like the federal government, Florida officials said they will work to determine the causes of chronic diseases and help "restore trust" in Floridians with health care officials.  The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

During a news conference, the women shared their experiences and called for transparency and accountability. WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse made their voices heard Tuesday on Capitol Hill, pressuring lawmakers to force the release of the sex trafficking investigation into the late financier and pushing back President Donald Trump's effort to dismiss the issue as a “hoax.” In a news conference on the Capitol lawn that drew hundreds of supporters and chants of “release the files,” the women shared — some publicly for the first time — how they were lured into Epstein's abuse by his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. They demanded that the Trump administration provide transparency and accountability for what they endured as teenagers. It was a striking stand as the push for disclosure of the so-called Epstein files reached a pivotal moment in Washington. Lawmakers are battling over how Congress should delve into the Epstein saga while the Republican president, after initially signaling support for transparency on the campaign trail, has been dismissing the matter as a “Democrat hoax.” “No matter what you do it’s going to keep going,” Trump said Wednesday. He added, “Really, I think it’s enough." But the survivors on Capitol Hill, as well as at least one of Trump's closest allies in Congress, disagreed. Some of the women pleaded for Trump to support their cause. “It feels like you just want to explode inside because nobody, again, is understanding that this is a real situation. These women are real. We’re here in person,” said Haley Robson, one of the survivors who said she is a registered Republican. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that said he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls. The case was brought more than a decade after he secretly cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida to dispose of nearly identical allegations. Epstein was accused of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them. Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime confidant and former girlfriend, was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for luring teenage girls for him to abuse. Four women testified at her trial that they were abused by Epstein as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at his homes in Florida, New York and New Mexico. The allegations have also spawned dozens of lawsuits. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is usually closely aligned with Trump, described her support for a bill that would force the Justice Department to release the information it has compiled on Epstein as a moral fight against sexual predation. “This isn’t one political party or the other. It’s a culmination of everyone work together to silence these women and protect Jeffrey Epstein and his cabal,” Greene said at the news conference. She is one of four Republicans — three of them women — who have defied House GOP leadership and the White House in an effort to force a vote on their bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to quash the effort by putting forward his own resolution and arguing that a concurrent investigation by the House Oversight Committee is the best way for Congress to deliver transparency. “I think the Oversight probe is going to be wide and expansive, and they’re going to follow the truth wherever it leads," Johnson, R-La., said. He added that the White House was complying with the committee to release information and that he had spoken with Trump about it Tuesday night. “He says, ‘Get it out there, put it all out there,’" Johnson told reporters. The Oversight Committee on Tuesday night released what it said was the first tranche of documents and files it has received from the Justice Department on the Epstein case. The folders — posted on Google Drive — contained hundreds of image files of years-old court filings related to Epstein, but contained practically nothing new. Meanwhile, the White House was warning House members that support for the bill to require the DOJ to release the files would be seen as a hostile act. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who is pressing for the bill, said that the White House was sending that message because “They’ve dug in.” “They decided they don’t want it released,” he said. “It’s a political threat.” But with Trump sending a strong message and Republican leadership moving forward with an alternative resolution, Massie was left looking for support from at least two more Republicans willing to cross political lines. It would take six GOP members, as well as all House Democrats, to force a vote on their bill. And even if that passes the House, it would still need to pass the Senate and be signed by Trump. Still, the survivors saw this moment as their best chance in years to gain some justice for what had been done by Epstein, who died in as New York jail cell in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges. “Justice and accountability are not favors from the powerful. They are obligations decades overdue” Jess Michaels, a survivor who said she was first abused by Epstein in 1991, told the rally on the Capitol lawn. “This moment began with Epstein’s crimes. But it’s going to be remembered for survivors demanding justice, demanding truth, demanding accountability.” Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

The U.S. Geological Survey captured footage of a whirlwind forming over lava fountains in the Halemaumau Crater during the volcano’s latest eruption. WASHINGTON — Something unusual was spotted swirling inside the summit crater of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano during its latest eruption this week, leading scientists to declare a “volnado.” It all started when lava emerged from the north vent in Halemaumau Crater after midnight. The vent began shooting fountains of lava at 6:35 a.m. HST, the U.S. Geological Survey said. By mid-morning, it was also erupting from the crater’s south vent and a third vent in between. The USGS shared footage Tuesday of a whirlwind forming inside Halemaumaucrater as the lava fountains shot hundreds of feet into the air. The vortex, which resembled a dust devil or tornado, kicked up loose ash deposits and smoke as it spun across the crater floor before dissipating in the lava fountain. “We know you've heard of a volcano... but how about a volnado?” the USGS joked in a post on X.  We know you've heard of a volcano...but how about a volnado?This afternoon, during episode 32 fountaining at Kīlauea the V3 live camera (https://t.co/tCc5xGmMcO) caught this whirlwind kicking up loose ash deposits along the active fountain and flow within Halemaʻumaʻu crater. pic.twitter.com/wCwhZgoFV8— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) September 3, 2025 While “volnado” is not an actual scientific term, the USGS noted that similar whirlwinds have been observed during other eruptive episodes at Kilauea, both inside the crater and along its rim.  The events are caused by the turbulent mixing of hot and cold air. Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It’s located on Hawaii Island, the largest of the Hawaiian archipelago. It’s about 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of the state’s largest city, Honolulu, which is on Oahu. Tuesday’s activity marked the 32nd time the volcano released molten rock since December, when its current eruption began. So far, all the lava from this eruption has been contained within the summit crater inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

The sequel comes hot on the trail of 2025's box office success and official restart of the DC Studios universe "Superman." LOS ANGELES — Hot on the trail of box office success "Superman," director James Gunn announced the title and release date of its sequel.  "Man of Tomorrow. In theatres July 9, 2027," Gunn wrote on social media with a photo of Superman smirking while leaning against a frowning Lex Luthor in his iconic green and purple Warsuit. "Superman" starred David Corenswet as the superhero in red and blue, Rachel Brosnahan as his love interest and Daily Planet colleague Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as his post popular enemy Lex Luthor.  It's unclear who will make a reappearance in the sequel, but Corenswet and Hoult shared the news on social media with similar images, tagging each other over their respective characters. Gunn commented on both posts with a variation of "see you soon!" Man of Tomorrow. In theatres July 9, 2027. pic.twitter.com/hegJEuRMTk— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) September 3, 2025 The movie, despite some controversy about Superman being a literal alien from planet Krypton and immigrant, was overwhelmingly considered a success by Gunn and the studio.  Gunn, a popular superhero movie director who directed Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" movies and DC Comics' "Suicide Squad" among many other things, is the co-CEO of DC Studios.  Despite the mostly slow box office this summer, “Superman” grossed $406.8 million worldwide in two weeks this July, according to the Associated Press. The worldwide total as of Sept. 3 is $611 million, according to IMDbPro. It's the first movie in what's to be the "restarted" Warner Bros. and DC Studios universe.  The movie was the first in Gunn's larger 10-year plan for DC Comics adaptations. While we don't know what "Superman: Man of Tomorrow" has in store, both Craig Gillespie’s "Supergirl" and James Watkins’ "Clayface" are arriving in 2026.  The next in line will be "The Batman Part II," set for 2027. It's still unclear of Robert Pattinson's Batman will be "canon" for the restarted DC Studios universe, since the first movie released before Gunn was at the head of the ship. 

Security video captured the man stealing the wedding gift box, filled with tens of thousands of dollars from guests, right off the table. WASHINGTON — A California couple's wedding ceremony took an unexpected turn when a wedding crasher stole a gift box with tens of thousands of dollars.  The heist was all caught on video.  George and Nadeen Farahat were celebrating their nuptials on Saturday at the Renaissance Event venue in Glendale, California. As the party was winding down, an unknown man approached the couple's table, swiped the gift box, which was stuffed with cash and checks, and left in a getaway car.  The couple estimated that there was about $80,000 to $100,000 in the stolen gift box, they told CBS Los Angeles.  "We did have a lock for the box. The box was secured," the bride, Nadeen, said.  For the couple, it was more than just the money. "Really it's just an invasion of privacy. People write special notes, thank yous, congratulations and that's been taken from us as well," the groom, George, said. According to the groom, the man "walked around" and was "holding doors open for people." One of the couple's close friends said the man was dressed in black and was communicating with someone through an earpiece. The couple said they don't think it's the suspect's first time stealing from a wedding, as he had chatted with guests and even the bartender for roughly two hours before he ran off with the gift box.  Glendale police are currently investigating the wedding heist as a grand theft, according to CBS Los Angeles. The wedding had about 300 guests, and the couple had even paid for private security at the event.  "It's extremely frustrating. We all feel collectively violated by what happened," Jerry Haddad, one of the couple's close friends, told CBS Los Angeles. CBS Los Angeles via CNN Newsource contributed to this report

The three leaders are meeting at the symbolic event to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. HONG KONG, — As Chinese troops prepared to showcase their military strength during a lavish parade in central Beijing, President Xi Jinping was flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The prominent position of the three leaders at the symbolic event to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II represents a show of unity during ongoing pressure from the United States. Putin and Kim were among some two dozen top foreign leaders who attended a high-profile event that signals China’s growing diplomatic influence in the Global South and other emerging economies. While other leaders walked behind the trio towards the viewing platform overlooking Tiananmen Square, Xi and Kim smiled as they chatted through an interpreter. Xi also talked to Putin while they walked. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.