JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 852

Stillwater, Oklahoma — USA Rare Earth announced on Monday that it has agreed to acquire Serra Verde Group, owner of the Pela Ema rare earth mine in Goiás, Brazil, for $300 million in cash plus 126.849 million newly issued shares. The firms said the transaction implies an equity value near $2.8 billion and total consideration roughly $3.1 billion, and they expect the deal to close in the third quarter of 2026 subject to regulatory approvals.

On Monday the companies disclosed a 15-year offtake agreement committing 100% of Phase 1 production to a U.S.-capitalised special purpose vehicle with guaranteed price floors. USA Rare Earth and Serra Verde have reported government-backed financing commitments — including a $1.6 billion package for USA Rare Earth and a $565 million financing for Serra Verde — and Phase 1 is projected to reach full capacity by the end of 2027 with stated EBITDA estimates for that period.

Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. On April 7, Pauls Valley High School principal Kirk Moore confronted a man who entered the school's lobby with a firearm, tackled and disarmed the suspect and suffered a gunshot wound to the leg during the struggle; no students were injured. Authorities identified the alleged shooter as 20-year-old Victor Hawkins, a former Pauls Valley student, and filed charges including feloniously pointing a firearm, shooting with intent to kill and carrying a weapon to a public assembly.

On Friday night students voted to honor Moore as prom king; video of the ceremony shows students cheering and giving him high fives as he stepped forward to receive his crown. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesman Hunter McKee said the actions of the staff and the principal stepping in as soon as they saw a subject with a firearm saved lives. Local reports said Moore was celebrated as a hero and that authorities credited the prompt intervention with preventing further harm.

Richmond, Va. meteorologists with 12 On Your Side issued Monday and Tuesday forecasts this week reporting a cool, breezy start with frosty nights, high gusts and significantly dry fuels that elevate brush-fire danger across parts of central Virginia; forecasters also predicted a midweek warmup into the 70s and 80s and scattered shower chances by Wednesday and the weekend.

Atlanta broadcasters warned of low afternoon humidity and ongoing drought through Friday that increases fire risk, while Atlanta News First and WSMV in Nashville noted a return to unsettled weather Saturday and a monitored, potential severe-storm threat for Middle Tennessee next Monday; officials advised following frost advisories, burn bans and staying tuned to updates from local weather teams.

Taiwan: Investec Bank plc filed a Form 8.5 public dealing disclosure on 20 April 2026 reporting that it acted as an exempt principal trader with recognised intermediary status and as joint broker to Gamma Communications Plc. The filing records dealings undertaken on 17 April 2026 in ordinary shares, showing purchases of 200,169 shares and sales of 205,475 shares. The table in the filing lists a price per unit of 926899 for the transactions. The form states no cash‑settled or stock‑settled derivative transactions and discloses no indemnities or other dealing arrangements.

The disclosure meets Rule 8.5 of the UK Takeover Code and was made to a Regulatory Information Service, creating a public record of Investec’s broker relationship and the dates and volumes of its reported trades. The form lists the disclosure date as 20 April 2026 and provides a contact name and telephone number for Investec. The Takeover Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit and the Code are referenced in the notice for guidance.

Indianapolis. Fernando Mendoza, the transfer quarterback who left California for Indiana, became a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion and is now positioned as a presumptive No. 1 pick in this week’s NFL draft; teammates and scouts described his 2022 work ethic and combine presence during interviews this week.

The prospect’s rise prompted teams with quarterback needs to evaluate him closely this week, with media and analysts projecting a Thursday night selection and draft activity continuing through Saturday; Diego Pavia’s finalist status also amplified Latino representation among top prospects, and NFL clubs will finalize decisions during draft rounds this week.

California: Rock band The Strokes ended their Weekend 2 Coachella set on April 20 by screening a video montage that accused the CIA of enacting regime changes and displayed footage of Israeli strikes in Gaza alongside footage of U.S. military action in Iran, while performing the song 'Oblivius', a track not played live since 2016.

The unexpected multi-minute segment, shown on large LED screens behind the band and accompanied by an illuminated mosque backdrop, surprised live and online audiences on Saturday; reports from Variety and wire services this week note on-screen captions such as 'Over 30 universities destroyed in Iran', and multiple outlets published accounts of the performance the same day.

Boston — On Monday a rider portraying Paul Revere reenacted the April 18, 1775 midnight ride in Boston’s North End in broad daylight, accompanied by a police escort. Organizers ran the event during daytime hours for safety and visibility, while referencing Revere’s original route and warnings to Samuel Adams and John Hancock.

Residents lined narrow streets to watch as the rider passed, recording on phones and applauding; attendees including Mary McCabe and her daughter Cecily described the display as educational. The Paul Revere Memorial Association provided context through quotes from executive director Nina Zannieri, and local authorities managed traffic and safety during the Monday reenactment.

Los Angeles. Eddie Murphy received the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award at the Dolby Theatre Saturday night, where peers and family gathered to honor his career; he accepted the award and delivered remarks, and Mike Myers paid tribute onstage while wearing full Shrek makeup, reflecting their long-running collaboration over four Shrek films spanning roughly 25 years.

Los Angeles. The ceremony prompted standing ovations and gathered entertainers including Kevin Hart, Spike Lee, Dave Chappelle, Arsenio Hall, and Kenan Thompson; Murphy said he was 'filled up' and nearly cried. The tribute will be released as a Netflix special on May 31, and the AFI recognition will likely increase attention to Murphy's body of work in the coming weeks.

Oklahoma City — The Thunder routed the Phoenix Suns 119-84 in Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round series Sunday at Paycom Center, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 25, Jalen Williams adding 22 and Chet Holmgren contributing 16 as Phoenix shot below 35 percent. Oklahoma City opened with a 17-2 burst, grabbed 19 offensive rebounds that produced 25 points and converted Suns mistakes — 19 turnovers — into 34 points. Down 30 with seven minutes to play, Suns coach Jordan Ott emptied his bench. Ott, in his first season as Phoenix coach, stood on the sideline alongside Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault, who is in his sixth season as Thunder coach.

Both coaches are 41 and were born in 1985; neither played college basketball. Ott worked as a graduate assistant and video coordinator under Tom Izzo at Michigan State, later becoming an NBA video coordinator with the Atlanta Hawks, while Daigneault worked as a student manager under Jim Calhoun at Connecticut and rose through the college ranks. Ott led a rebuilding Suns team to 45 wins and was a Coach of the Year candidate until injuries affected Phoenix late in the season. The Suns reached the playoffs via the Play-In after a loss to Portland and a win over Golden State, while Oklahoma City had rested. Players and coaches said adjustments are necessary — keep the ball moving, avoid contested two-point attempts and limit transition — as Phoenix seeks to be competitive in a series many view as a steep test for the young coach.

Cleveland — The Toronto Raptors fell further behind the Cleveland Cavaliers after Monday night's Game 2 in Cleveland, with the visitors prioritizing shots for leading scorer Brandon Ingram but failing to capitalize; Ingram finished 3-for-15 for seven points and five turnovers as Cleveland secured the win and a 2-0 series lead.

After Sunday's public practice meeting between coach Darko Rajakovic and Brandon Ingram, team members expressed support but results did not improve, leaving the Raptors to return to Toronto to re-evaluate strategy; meanwhile, early Sunday in Natchitoches Parish a separate incident saw 23-year-old Jacob R. Ingram die in a single-vehicle crash, with impairment suspected.