JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 871

Chicago — Noah Schultz was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte and started his major-league debut Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, taking the loss as the Rays won 8-5. The White Sox reinstated Everson Pereira from a rehab assignment and placed right-hander Jonathan Cannon on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 13.

Chicago’s pitching prospect allowed four runs (three earned) over 4 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and four walks, while Pereira hit a three-run homer in his return. Shane McClanahan earned his first win since 2023, Munetaka Murakami added a late two-run homer and Bryan Baker recorded the final out as Tampa Bay extended its streak.

Washington: Israeli and Lebanese envoys met at the US State Department on April 14 for direct talks, with Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter describing a two-hour, 'wonderful' exchange and saying both sides are 'on the same side' in opposing Iran-backed Hezbollah; Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh also attended the meeting and the talks were mediated by US officials.

The engagement drew immediate security developments: Hezbollah reportedly fired rockets at northern Israel as the meeting began on Tuesday, and on Apr 15 Israeli officials declined to commit to a ceasefire, stressing protection of civilians; by Apr 16 US officials clarified that any ceasefire was not tied to separate Iran negotiations and described the process as focused on confidence-building measures.

United States — On the inaugural day of a U.S.-Iran blockade, no ships passed through the affected waters, initial reports said today. The reports indicate the blockade entered its first full day of enforcement, but officials did not provide specific details on the geographic scope, the identity of the enforcing parties or the operational rules governing passage. Independent verification of vessel movements and official statements remained pending at the time of reporting.

United States reporters said the immediate operational impact on scheduled commercial sailings and regional maritime services was unclear. Journalists and maritime monitors were seeking further details and confirmations from authorities and from ship-tracking services. Authorities and independent maritime trackers had not yet released consolidated data on vessel departures, transits or delays, leaving the scale of disruption unconfirmed at the time of reporting.

Iowa City. The NCAA announced Tuesday that the University of Iowa football program must vacate four wins from its 2023 season after finding that head coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant Jon Budmayr had impermissible contacts with a student‑athlete in November 2022, before the athlete entered the transfer portal, rendering the player temporarily ineligible.

The ruling includes one year of probation, a $25,000 self‑imposed fine, a two‑week self‑imposed recruiting communications ban for 2026 and the vacating of four 2023 victories; Ferentz and Budmayr previously served a one‑game suspension at the 2024 opener and statements from the program noted cooperation and a focus on moving forward.

Los Angeles — On Tuesday Lonna Drewes said during a Los Angeles news conference that Rep. Eric Swalwell raped her in 2018 in a Southern California hotel, alleging she had one glass of wine, believes her drink was drugged, and that she lost consciousness; she said she did not consent and plans to report the incident to law enforcement.

This week Swalwell ended his California gubernatorial campaign on Sunday and announced his resignation from Congress on Tuesday; his attorney issued categorical denials of the new claims, while media reporting noted at least six women have made misconduct allegations, and officials and advocates said accounts could lead to further inquiries or formal reports in the coming days.

Wichita, Kansas — On Tuesday the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that seven Kansas communities will receive $11,018,000 in grants and loans through the USDA Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to modernize drinking and wastewater systems and install emergency generators and SCADA upgrades.

Corpus Christi officials said this week the downtown Watergarden operates on a recirculating system and has a food-grade solar shield to reduce evaporation despite Stage 3 restrictions; in Robstown, TCEQ issued a March 13 notice after Nueces County Water Control and Improvement District 3 exceeded the total trihalomethanes limit, prompting a customer notification sent April 7.

MIAMI — Javier Mascherano resigned as Inter Miami head coach on Tuesday, April 14, 2025, citing 'personal reasons' in a team release after guiding the club to its first Major League Soccer Cup. Mascherano, appointed in 2024, thanked staff, players and fans and reflected on the club's recent achievements.

The club named sporting director Guillermo Hoyos as interim coach this week while chief soccer officer Alberto Marrero assumed sporting director duties; Inter Miami will manage match preparations and a leadership search amid the transition. The announcement follows the team's record 101-goal campaign and the recent opening of a new stadium near Miami International Airport.

Cheboygan, Michigan. Officials reported rapidly rising water levels at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex this week, with measurements rising from about 13.75 inches below the dam crest on Monday morning to roughly 7.7 inches below by Tuesday morning. State and local crews removed six gates, increased flow through a hydroelectric bay, and deployed pumps and sandbags.

Lansing officials extended the State Emergency Operations Center activation at noon April 14 to coordinate mitigation and supply deployment across Michigan, and a levee breach on Tuesday prompted evacuation orders for parts of Cheboygan. Emergency briefings Tuesday evening warned topping is expected, while forecasts of more rain and overnight storms increased flooding concerns and sustained operational response.

Washington — U.S. wholesale prices rose 4% year‑over‑year in March 2025 as energy costs surged following the Iran war, the Labor Department reported this week. The producer price index increased 0.5% from February, with energy prices up 8.5% month‑to‑month and core producer prices rising 0.1% in monthly terms. Wholesale gains were the largest annual increase in over three years.

Economists noted the wholesale gain was smaller than some forecasts, and officials said the surge complicates Federal Reserve policy as policymakers balance inflation risks and political pressure from President Trump to lower rates. Food prices fell 0.3% in March after a prior 2.4% increase, and wholesale data continue to serve as an early indicator of where consumer inflation may move in coming months.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Labor Department released March data Tuesday showing the Producer Price Index for final demand rose 0.5% for the month and accelerated to a 4.0% annual gain from 3.4% in February. The Labor Department also reported import prices increased 0.8% in March, with imported fuel and food contributing to the monthly rise.

Economists had expected larger monthly gains, with Reuters polling forecasting a 1.1% rise and some estimates at 1.2%, prompting revisions and a correction from dpa-AFX this week. Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel after measures announced in early April related to a U.S. blockade of ships departing Iran, pushing energy costs up more than 35% since late February.