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WASHINGTON — Numerous Social Security Administration offices nationwide are scheduled for closure this year. These closures stem from actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under Elon Musk's leadership, as part of the Trump administration's initiative to reduce the size of the government. DOGE is aiming to terminate nearly 800 federal property leases. The Associated Press has reviewed an internal planning document from the General Services Administration (GSA), the agency responsible for managing federal real estate, which details the expected timeline for nearly two-thirds of these lease cancellations. Related: These office closures are occurring despite the implementation of stricter identity verification protocols designed to combat fraud and abuse. These new measures will require millions of beneficiaries and applicants to visit local agency offices, rather than interacting with staff via telephone. The AP also obtained additional details regarding each lease on DOGE’s list from publicly accessible datasets. This information includes addresses, original lease start and expiration dates, and the names of the property owners. Of the 47 Social Security Administration offices targeted for closure, only some have confirmed dates for lease termination. Below is a state-by-state list of the 26 offices anticipated to close this year, along with their respective lease termination dates, as per GSA data: Alabama 634 Broad St., Gadsden: Sept. 30 Arkansas 965 Holiday Drive, Forrest City: April 25 4083 Jefferson Ave., Texarkana: May 25 Colorado 825 N. Crest Drive, Grand Junction: June 21 Florida 4740 Dairy Road, Melbourne: May 16 Georgia 1338 Broadway, Columbus: Sept. 30 Kentucky 825 High St., Hazard: April 24 Louisiana 178 Civic Center Drive, Houma: April 25 Mississippi 4717 26th St., Meridian: June 1 604 Yalobusha St., Greenwood: June 1 2383 Sunset Drive, Grenada: May 1 Montana 3701 American Way, Missoula: June 21 North Carolina 730 Roanoke Ave., Roanoke Rapids: Aug. 1 2123 Lakeside Drive, Franklin: June 23 2805 Charles Blvd., Greenville: June 24 1865 W. City Drive, Elizabeth City: June 24 North Dakota 1414 20th Ave. SW, Minot: June 21 Nevada 701 Bridger Ave., Las Vegas: June 1 New York 75 S. Broadway, White Plains: May 31 332 Main St., Poughkeepsie: July 31 Ohio 30 N. Diamond St., Mansfield: May 17 Oklahoma 1610 SW Lee Blvd., Lawton: April 25 Texas 1122 N. University Drive, Nacogdoches: May 7 8208 NE Zac Lentz Parkway, May 25 West Virginia 1103 George Kostas Drive, Logan: April 30 Wyoming 79 Winston Drive, Rock Springs: June 20 ```

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Good American Family Good American Family concludes positively after a difficult season. The finale depicts Natalia Grace (Imogen Faith Reid), who has a rare form of dwarfism, alongside her siblings in the home of her adoptive parents Cynthia Mans (Christina Hendricks) and Antwon Mans (Jerod Haynes), who are devout Christians, following a decade of family struggles. While the Mans family did adopt her in 2023 in reality, Natalia moved out soon after, finding them too restrictive. She is currently living with another family. Here’s a look at what has happened to Natalia in recent years and her current whereabouts. Why Natalia Grace left the Mans family As depicted in Good American Family, Natalia's early life was spent in a Ukrainian orphanage before she encountered Kristine and Michael Barnett, who adopted her in 2010 when she was around seven years old. The Barnetts believed she was an adult and had an Indiana court legally change her birth year from 2003 to 1989 in 2012. This decision was reversed in 2023 when the Mans family legally adopted her. The third season of The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, a docuseries about her life that aired in January 2025, reveals that Natalia had a disagreement with the Mans family. While the Mans family had insisted throughout the second season that Natalia never acted out, Antwon Mans claims she did exactly that during an angry phone call to the producers, which is included in the season's final minutes. Natalia states that the conflict began when the Manses attempted to restrict her Internet access because she was communicating with a boyfriend in the U.K. The producers, who had not intended to produce a third season, wanted to see the story through. In the latest season, Natalia and her boyfriend contacted Nicole and Vincent DePaul in upstate New York, a couple who had previously attempted to adopt Natalia in 2009 but were unable to do so due to financial constraints. In a scene reminiscent of a movie, Nicole and her daughter Mackenzie, who also has dwarfism, flew to the Mans family's church and picked up Natalia outside. Natalia Grace today Natalia has been living with the DePauls since 2023. It took time for the family of four to find harmony. In the docuseries, Nicole states that Natalia’s arrival was like “somebody put a bomb into our house.” However, in a January 13, 2025 interview, she mentioned Natalia has never been violent and that challenges are to be expected. Natalia hopes her story can inspire anyone facing obstacles. As she says in the docuseries, “I want people to remember me as someone who overcame what they went through…and grew.” Currently, according to People, Natalia is taking driving lessons and studying for her GED, with aspirations of becoming a school teacher. In her leisure time, she enjoys listening to Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. “I feel free,” she told the magazine.

Spring is nearly upon us, at least according to the calendar. The vernal equinox occurs on Thursday, signifying the commencement of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. At the equator, the sun will be positioned directly overhead at midday. Equinoxes are unique in that they are the only instances when both poles receive sunlight simultaneously. These events have been commemorated globally for centuries. For instance, Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, is timed to coincide with the spring equinox. Furthermore, at the Mayan archaeological site of Chichen Itza in Mexico, people congregate during the equinox to observe the sun's shadow casting a serpent-like image down the El Castillo pyramid. But what exactly is transpiring in the sky? Here's what you should understand about how the Earth's orbit dictates our yearly divisions. What is the equinox? As the Earth orbits the sun, it does so on a tilted axis. For much of the year, the Earth's axis leans either towards or away from the sun. This results in an uneven distribution of solar energy and light across the northern and southern halves of the globe. During the equinox, the Earth's axial tilt and its orbital path align in such a way that both hemispheres receive an equal amount of sunlight. The term "equinox" originates from Latin words meaning "equal" and "night." This is because, during the equinox, the duration of day and night is nearly identical, although a slight difference of a few minutes may occur depending on your location. The Northern Hemisphere's spring (or vernal) equinox can occur between March 19 and 21, contingent on the year. The autumn equinox can occur between September 21 and 24. What is the solstice? Solstices mark the points in the year when the Earth's tilt relative to the sun is at its most extreme. This results in the most significant differences in the amount of sunlight received by each hemisphere, leading to the most unequal day and night lengths. During the Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice, the upper half of the Earth is tilted towards the sun, resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the year, occurring between June 20 and 22. Conversely, at the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year, which falls between December 20 and 23. What’s the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons? These represent two distinct methods of dividing the year. While astronomical seasons are determined by the Earth's movement around the sun, meteorological seasons are defined by weather patterns. They divide the year into three-month periods based on average temperature trends, with spring commencing on March 1, summer on June 1, autumn on September 1, and winter on December 1. ```

A neighbor's aggression fueled by territorial ambitions. A blatant disregard for international legal norms. A disagreement involving critical minerals, reminiscent of disputes with the Trump administration. This isn't about Ukraine; it's a description of the unfortunate situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda supported a rebellion in Congo in 2021, marking the fifth such instance in three decades. The conflict intensified in January, with Rwandan forces and their M23 rebel allies threatening to seize Bukavu and Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo and home to 3 million residents. Similar to Russia's justifications for its actions, Rwanda asserts it's protecting an ethnic minority, the Tutsi, present in both countries. Echoing Vladimir Putin, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, also a Tutsi, claims his nation faces critical security threats. However, Rwanda's motives have been widely questioned. The Congo crisis has displaced numerous people since the start of the year and resulted in fatalities. Humanitarian organizations are struggling to provide food and shelter, especially after USAID significantly reduced its $800 million aid to the Congo, a considerable portion of the country's aid budget. The crisis also jeopardizes the stability of the Congolese government in Kinshasa and neighboring Burundi, which has deployed troops to assist Congo. Without intervention, this conflict could destabilize the entire central African region. Unlike the response to Ukraine, the international community initially showed limited engagement with the Congo crisis. For three years, the U.K. and the E.U. increased aid to Rwanda, despite its support for the M23. The U.S. remained Rwanda's largest donor. The small developing nation, with a population of 14 million, has successfully positioned itself as valuable, even essential, to Western powers. It has sent troops to northern Mozambique, where a jihadist insurgency endangers significant French and Italian gas ventures, and controversially offered to host asylum seekers deported from the U.K. and Denmark. Nevertheless, the West has substantial influence. While Rwanda has diversified its income sources, including increasing mineral exports to over $1 billion, largely believed to originate from the Congo, it depends on maintaining its standing with foreign donors. In 2012, the Obama Administration played a crucial role in resolving a similar crisis involving Rwanda's support of the M23 rebels by cutting aid and dispatching a senior diplomat to mediate a peace agreement. Although the U.S. has reduced aid and sanctioned senior Rwandan officials this time, more can be done, such as imposing visa restrictions, issuing business and travel warnings, and urging the World Bank to halt development projects. The private sector also has a responsibility. Soccer teams like PSG, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich are inadvertently participating in sportswashing by advertising "Visit Rwanda" on their jerseys and in their stadiums. Celebrities, including Naomi Campbell, Tony Blair, Natalie Portman, and Akon, have visited Rwanda in recent years, often posing with President Kagame. Notably, John Legend performed in Kigali shortly after the M23 attack on Goma and Bukavu. In response to criticism, he stated that he doesn't believe in punishing the people of Rwanda for disagreements with their leaders. Increased pressure on Rwanda could lead to a short-term resolution of the Congo crisis. Belgium, Rwanda's former colonial power, engaged in discussions with the country on Monday regarding its involvement in the Congo. The E.U. also imposed sanctions on Rwanda on the same day for its incursion into eastern Congo and the exploitation of its mineral resources. The hope is that these measures will first bring about a ceasefire, compelling Rwandan forces and the M23 to withdraw from eastern Congo, followed by an agreement with the M23 rebels that respects Congolese sovereignty. Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi met in Qatar on Tuesday and called for a "cessation of hostilities" in eastern Congo, but it remains uncertain whether the M23 will comply, especially after withdrawing from peace talks earlier in the week. However, this recurring cycle of Rwandan-backed rebellions demands a more sustainable solution. The persistent governance challenges in the Congo cannot be ignored. The Congolese army, numbering 130,000 and supported by Burundians, local militias, and a regional force comprising South Africans, Malawians, and Tanzanians, was defeated by a combined Rwandan and M23 force of approximately 10,000 to 14,000. Some Congolese politicians and religious leaders have incited hate speech against the Congolese Tutsi community, from which many M23 leaders originate. In many respects, Kinshasa's challenges are self-inflicted. Congolese leaders often resort to scapegoating and blaming Rwanda for their problems. However, they also need to introspect. The ongoing suppression of the opposition and Tshisekedi's attempts to alter term limits to remain in power have driven some opponents to align with the M23 and Rwanda. Neglect of the security services has fostered corruption and disarray within the army and police. Ultimately, the Congolese people must address the pervasive issues of corruption and poor governance, particularly within the security forces, a long-standing demand of Congolese protest movements. The primary challenge lies in transforming a conflict-driven economy into one of peace. Historically, Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi coexisted peacefully. In the 1970s and 80s, they established a regional bank that invested in agriculture, as well as an electricity company. Even during the recent conflict, officials from all three countries continued to manage a hydroelectric dam on their shared border. Currently, billions of dollars worth of gold, tin, and tantalum are smuggled to Congo's neighboring countries annually. These countries could collaborate on refining and tracing these minerals, turning them into a source of growth rather than a cause of conflict. ```

KYIV, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine stated on Wednesday that Vladimir Putin's promise to avoid targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure "very much at odds with reality," referencing the overnight drone attacks across the country. Zelensky mentioned his upcoming conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, where he anticipates receiving updates on Trump's discussion with Putin regarding a ceasefire and outlining subsequent actions. “Even last night, after Putin’s conversation with … Trump, when Putin said that he was allegedly giving orders to stop strikes on Ukrainian energy, there were 150 drones launched overnight, including on energy facilities,” Zelensky told reporters alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Helsinki. These strikes, impacting civilian zones and damaging a hospital, occurred after Putin declined to support a full 30-day ceasefire during his talks with Trump. The White House characterized the Trump-Putin call as an initial step towards a "movement to peace," with hopes for a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and, ultimately, a complete and lasting resolution to the conflict. However, there was no indication that Putin had softened his stance on the conditions for a potential peace agreement, which Kyiv strongly opposes. Zelensky highlighted that territorial concessions would be a major point of contention in future negotiations. “For us, the red line is the recognition of the Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories as Russian,” he stated. “We will not go for it.” Shortly after the extensive phone call between Trump and Putin on Tuesday, air raid sirens blared in Kyiv, followed by explosions as residents sought shelter. Despite defense efforts, several strikes hit civilian infrastructure, including a direct drone strike on a hospital in Sumy and attacks on cities in the Donetsk region. Russian drones were also reported over Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy regions. The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that its air defenses intercepted 57 Ukrainian drones over the Azov Sea and several Russian regions, including the border provinces of Kursk and Bryansk, and the nearby regions of Oryol and Tula. Separately, authorities in the Krasnodar region, bordering the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, reported that a drone attack ignited a fire at an oil depot.

ISTANBUL — In a significant escalation of the Turkish government's crackdown on opposition and dissent, police in Turkey arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, along with other notable individuals on Wednesday. The arrests are reportedly linked to investigations into alleged corruption and ties to terrorism. According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, prosecutors issued warrants for the detention of Imamoglu and approximately 100 others, including Murat Ongun, a close associate of the mayor. In what appeared to be an effort to prevent potential protests following the arrests, authorities reportedly closed several roads in Istanbul and prohibited demonstrations in the city for a period of four days. Private NTV television reported that two district mayors in Istanbul were also among those detained. Critics argue that the crackdown is a consequence of the ruling party's significant losses in local elections last year, amidst increasing demands for early national elections. Government officials, however, maintain that the courts are independent and deny any political motivation behind the legal actions against opposition figures. The arrest reportedly occurred during a search of Imamoglu's residence, although it remains unclear whether police seized any items from the site. Dilek Imamoglu, the mayor's wife, informed Now television that police arrived at their home before dawn, and the mayor was taken into custody around 7:30 a.m. News of the mayor's arrest caused the Istanbul Stock Exchange's main index to plummet by 7%, leading to a temporary suspension of trading to prevent panic selling and stabilize the market. Silencing the opposition The day before, an Istanbul university invalidated Imamoglu's diploma, effectively making the popular opposition figure ineligible to run in the upcoming presidential race. A university degree is a mandatory requirement for running in elections under Turkish law. Imamoglu was expected to be chosen as the candidate for future presidential elections at a primary to be held on Sunday by his party, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). While Turkey's next presidential vote is scheduled for 2028, early elections are considered probable. The widespread arrests on Wednesday made it seem unlikely that the primary vote would proceed. "We are facing great tyranny, but I want you to know that I will not be discouraged," Imamoglu stated earlier in the day in a video message shared on social media. He accused the government of "usurping the will" of the people. In an English-language social media post, Imamoglu declared: "The will of the people cannot be silenced through intimidation or unlawful acts. I stand resolute, entrusting myself not only to the 16 million residents of Istanbul but to the 86 million citizens of (Turkey.)" CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel condemned Imamoglu's detention as a "coup." "Currently, there is a power in place to prevent the nation from determining the next president," he said. "We are facing an attempted coup against our next president." Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party denounced the detentions and demanded the immediate release of all those taken into custody. "The dawn raid and detention of the mayor of the country’s largest city for political motives is a disgrace that will not be forgotten for centuries. This operation, which shatters faith in justice, is an attempt to redesign politics through the judiciary," Tulay Hatimogullari, the party’s co-chairwoman, wrote on X. As he was being arrested, Ongun, Imamoglu’s aide, posted on X about his detention, though he at the time did not appear to know that the mayor was also being taken into custody. "They think they can silence us and prevent us from defending and supporting Ekrem Imamoglu," Ongun said. "I entrust Ekrem Imamoglu to the Turkish nation. Protect, watch over and support him. They cannot be defeat the nation." Separately, police also detained Ismail Saymaz, a prominent investigative journalist, for questioning, according to the opposition-aligned Halk TV. Meanwhile, internet-access advocacy group netblocks.org reported on Wednesday that access to popular social media platforms has been restricted in Turkey. In nullifying Imamoglu's diploma, Istanbul University cited alleged irregularities in his 1990 transfer from a private university in northern Cyprus to its Faculty of Business Administration. Imamoglu has stated his intention to challenge the decision. Legal obstacles The opposition leader is currently facing multiple lawsuits, including allegations of attempting to influence a judicial expert involved in investigating opposition-led municipalities. These cases could potentially lead to prison sentences and a ban from political activity. Imamoglu is also appealing a 2022 conviction for insulting members of Turkey's Supreme Electoral Council, a case that also carries the risk of a political ban. He was elected as mayor of Turkey's largest city in March 2019, marking a significant setback for Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party, which had maintained control over Istanbul for a quarter of a century. The party subsequently pushed to invalidate the municipal election results in the city of 16 million, citing alleged irregularities. This challenge led to a repeat election a few months later, which Imamoglu also won. The mayor retained his position following local elections last year, during which his party achieved considerable gains against Erdogan's governing party. —Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. Associated Press writer Lorian Belanger in Bangkok contributed to this report. ```

Jeanette Vizguerra, who moved from Mexico City to Colorado in 1997 and became known as a janitor and advocate for immigration reform, has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) confirmed to TIME that the detention of Vizguerra, a mother of four and NDWA member, comes amid what appears to be an increase in immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump. Daniela Perez, media relations director for the NDWA, told TIME on Tuesday, “We’re urgently working on collaborating with partners to demand her immediate release. Lawless ICE detainments and deportations are attacks on all of our freedoms. We will not allow ICE or leaders who stoke fear and division to terrorize our loved ones and neighbors.” According to Jordan Garcia of the American Friends Service Committee, Vizguerra was arrested at a Target store in Denver on Monday. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston stated that Vizguerra’s arrest “is not about safety” and likened it to “Putin-style persecution of political dissidents.” Protesters have gathered outside a detention center in Aurora, a Denver suburb, where Vizguerra's family says she is being held, to demand her release. Vizguerra gained prominence in 2017 when she lived in Denver churches for three months after Colorado Senator Michael Bennet and then-Representative (now Governor) Jared Polis, both Democrats, introduced legislation to help her and another Mexican immigrant remain in the United States. One of the first actions Trump took in his second term was to rescind a policy that protected "sensitive" locations like schools, hospitals, and churches from ICE arrests. Subsequently, the Department of Homeland Security issued a memo titled “Enforcement Actions in or Near Protected Areas,” granting ICE agents broader access to these locations. Vizguerra was featured in TIME’s TIME100 list. America Ferrera wrote, “Jeanette moved to the U.S. to be a janitor, working as an outspoken union organizer and building her own company before becoming an advocate for immigration reform—a bold and risky thing for an undocumented immigrant. … The current Administration has scapegoated immigrants, scaring Americans into believing that undocumented people like Jeanette are criminals. She came to this country not to rape, murder or sell drugs, but to create a better life for her family. … This is not a crime. This is the American Dream.” Vizguerra sought refuge in a church after her deportation stay was not renewed. She left the church grounds in 2020 and later obtained a U-Visa, which is sometimes granted to crime victims, according to Garcia. She had fled Mexico after her husband, a bus driver, was held up at gunpoint three times, as detailed in a 2011 documentary about their immigration experience. Historically, immigration enforcement has focused on individuals posing threats to national security or public safety. However, Trump broadened enforcement priorities during his first and second terms, fulfilling his campaign promise to pursue “mass deportations.” Vizguerra is the mother of three U.S. citizens and one “Dreamer,” a beneficiary of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA provided work permits and protection from deportation to certain undocumented immigrants who arrived as children. Trump rescinded DACA during his first term, but President Joe Biden reinstated it. Vizguerra would have qualified for the similar Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program, which Trump also canceled during his first term. At the beginning of his second term, Trump also revoked previous guidelines, which prioritized those with "serious" criminal records, in favor of a more expansive crackdown on all unauthorized immigrants. John Fabbricatore, a former Denver field office director for ICE, commented on Tuesday that the Biden Administration had previously prevented him from deporting Vizguerra. Fabbricatore, a vocal Trump supporter, wrote, “She should have been deported in 2009 as well. She is a criminal, hates Trump, and is an open-borders, abolish-ICE advocate. Bye!!!!” In addition to entering the country illegally, Vizguerra was convicted in 2009 of misdemeanor possession of forged documents, which she stated were necessary for employment. In 2011, a judge suspended a deportation order but allowed her to remain in the U.S. under ICE supervision. Vizguerra’s lawyers told the AP that ICE is now attempting to deport her based on that original order, which they contend was never valid. “The only thing that I’ve done is use false documents to put food on the table of my family,” Vizguerra said through a translator during an address to supporters and media outside a Denver church in 2017. Vizguerra filed a lawsuit in 2019 alleging that ICE “carried out a yearslong campaign” to deport her without “valid justification.” According to the AP, she later dropped the lawsuit. As of late Tuesday, neither ICE nor DHS had publicly confirmed Vizguerra’s detention or commented on recent developments in her case. Neither agency immediately responded to TIME’s requests for comment. ```