2 U.S. service members missing in Morocco drill

May 4, 2026

Summary

U.S., Moroccan forces searched for 2 missing U.S. service members near Tan-Tan during the African Lion exercise.

Why this matters

The incident occurred during U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual joint exercise, involving thousands of personnel from more than 40 countries. It also highlights the operational risks that can arise during multinational military training.

Two U.S. service members taking part in the African Lion joint military exercise were reported missing near Tan-Tan in southern Morocco, U.S. Africa Command and the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces said Sunday.

U.S., Moroccan, and other partner forces launched coordinated search-and-rescue operations using ground, air, and maritime assets near the Cap Draa training site, according to separate statements from the two militaries.

The Moroccan army said the service members went missing near a cliff.

African Lion is U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual joint exercise and is intended to improve interoperability among U.S. forces, NATO allies, and African partner nations.

This year’s exercise runs from April 27 to May 8 in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The largest portion is taking place in Morocco, with about 5,000 personnel from more than 40 countries, according to U.S. Africa Command.

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Hawaii

Hawaii nonprofit report cites funding, staffing strain

63% of nonprofits saw demand for services increase, 61% did not expect to meet needs in the coming year.

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A new statewide report found Hawaii nonprofits face rising demand, workforce shortages, and limited financial flexibility as lawmakers finalize state budget priorities and uncertainty continues over federal funding.

Released Tuesday by the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, “The View From Here: Insights from Hawaii Nonprofits” said Hawaii has 8,037 registered charitable organizations, including 5,982 that are financially active. More than 90% of nonprofits serve rural areas.

Together, nonprofits generate $45.4 billion in economic output, or 11.9% of the state’s gross domestic product, and employ 10.3% of the civilian workforce.

Hawaii’s high cost of living was a major management challenge for 58% of nonprofits, the report said. Only 27% said they could pay all full-time employees a living wage, compared with 42% nationally, while 26% said they could not pay a living wage to any full-time staff. Another 39% reported difficulty recruiting enough workers to meet demand.

“Hawaii’s nonprofits are essential infrastructure,” Melissa Miyashiro, president and CEO of HANO, said in a statement. “They feed families, provide housing and healthcare, support keiki and kupuna, and respond to disasters. But many nonprofits are being asked to do more with less at a time when federal disruption, tight state budgets, and rising costs are putting additional pressure on their staff and the communities they serve.”

The report said 73% of organizations had difficulty raising unrestricted revenue, and only one-quarter received most of their funding in flexible form. More than half reported late government payments, some by more than 90 days. About 1 in 5 had one month or less of cash on hand, and nearly half had no reserve funds beyond operating cash.

About 22% of Hawaii nonprofits reported operating at a deficit in 2024, lower than the national rate, but the report said low reserves and restricted funding pointed to a weaker financial position. It also said 66% of Hawaii nonprofits had annual budgets under $1 million, compared with 45% nationally.

The report said federal grants that support health care, human services, and Native Hawaiian-serving programs were politically vulnerable. It recommended more multiyear and unrestricted funding, better indirect cost reimbursement, simpler grant processes, and more investment in workforce development.
Hawaii Community

Murder trial opens in 2022 Chinatown bus stop shooting

Prosecutors and defense began presenting evidence in Samuel Carter’s trial in the 2022 killing of Alize Agresor-Ayala.

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Samuel Carter, also known as Tony Johnson, went on trial this week in the Aug. 19, 2022, death of Alize Agresor-Ayala, a 24-year-old pregnant woman who was sitting at a Chinatown bus stop.

Carter, 62, was indicted on charges of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, unlawful ownership or possession of a firearm, and two counts of carrying a firearm in the commission of a separate felony.

According to police reports and court documents, Agresor-Ayala was arguing with family friend Michael Yonenaga when her husband, Manuel Thomas, approached. After the argument ended, Carter, who knew Agresor-Ayala, came up from behind Yonenaga and fired one shot, according to police. Authorities said the shot struck Agresor-Ayala in the head and nearly hit Yonenaga, leading to the attempted murder charge.

Testimony Wednesday showed that a bullet fragment was recovered from Agresor-Ayala’s head and a bullet from her neck during an autopsy. Police had initially reported she suffered a single gunshot wound to the head.

Defense attorney Aaron Wills said he intended to argue that the state had not proved identification, intent, and other elements beyond a reasonable doubt.

A Honolulu police criminalist testified that 2022 testing found DNA on a spent cartridge casing recovered on North Hotel Street, but comparing it with Carter’s cheek swab was inconclusive under the methods then in use.

A later method, called STRmix analysis, found the DNA profile on the casing was very likely Carter’s.
South Carolina

South Carolina kratom limits stalled, likely to return

The measure was one of several addressing increasingly popular products with limited regulation. A separate bill to ban some nitrous oxide, or “whippets,” was awaiting a House vote.

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A South Carolina bill to further restrict kratom stalled in the Senate on Thursday, ending its chances of becoming law this year. Senators said they expected the issue to return next year, with three days left in the 2026 regular session.

Opponents said the bill would effectively remove kratom from stores, including lower-potency products some people use for chronic pain or to avoid opioids. Supporters said any death linked to kratom was too many and argued that the current law does not limit potency.

Lawmakers last year barred anyone under 21 from buying kratom, a substance whose effects can vary by dose. House members pushing the new bill said stronger limits were needed because some products can cause addiction, liver toxicity, and death.

Senators on the Medical Affairs Committee said they agreed more oversight may be needed, but they did not vote on the bill, saying they needed more information.

“We all know it’s addictive,” said Senate Medical Affairs Chairman Danny Verdin, R-Laurens. “I want to know if it’s debilitating. I want to know if it’s killing people.”

A central dispute was how to distinguish natural kratom from synthetic or altered products. Kratom comes from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. Researchers and doctors told senators this week that as the U.S. market grew, companies developed synthetic forms that were more potent and more likely to cause harmful side effects.

Last year’s law banned laboratory-made versions.

Opponents said the bill would effectively remove kratom from stores, including lower-potency products some people use for chronic pain or to avoid opioids. Supporters said any death linked to kratom was too many and argued that the current law does not limit potency.
Virginia

FBI searches properties tied to Virginia Senate leader

Federal officials haven’t said what prompted the searches or whether the investigation was tied to Lucas’ cannabis business, legislative work, or another matter.

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Federal agents executed court-authorized search warrants Wednesday at properties in Portsmouth tied to Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The FBI’s Richmond Field Office said it was conducting “court-authorized federal search warrant” activity in Portsmouth and said there was no threat to public safety. The agency said the investigation was ongoing and that no additional information was available Wednesday afternoon.

Television footage and photos posted online showed federal agents and law enforcement vehicles outside locations associated with Lucas, including her legislative office and a nearby cannabis business in Portsmouth.

In a statement released Wednesday evening, Lucas said, “Today’s actions by federal agents are about far more than one state senator; they are about power and who is allowed to use it on behalf of the people. What we saw fits a clear pattern from this administration: when challenged, they try to intimidate and silence the voices who stand up to them.”

Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott said, “While we await the full facts of the investigation, it must be acknowledged that this FBI raid occurs in the broader context of President Trump’s repeated abuse of the Department of Justice to target his perceived political opponents.” Scott also said Lucas “has a right to due process and a presumption of innocence.”

Lucas, a Portsmouth Democrat, has served in the state Senate since 1992 and is president pro tempore and chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. She has also been involved in debates over Virginia’s cannabis laws and co-owns a cannabis-related business in Portsmouth.

A 2022 investigation by the Virginia Mercury reported that some products sold at the business contained THC levels that did not match product labeling during a period when retail marijuana sales remained illegal in Virginia.
North Carolina

NC bill would require app stores to verify ages

More than a dozen states have passed social media age-verification laws, though federal judges have blocked some of them in constitutional challenges.

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A group of North Carolina House Republicans is seeking to expand a bill that would restrict minors’ access to social media by requiring app stores to verify users’ ages.

At a Thursday news conference, Rep. Jeff Zenger, R-Forsyth, said House Bill 301 is intended to protect children from online predators. He said app stores would fund an age-verification clearinghouse, an approach he said could serve as a model for other states.

Zenger said Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, supports the bill and suggested legislation that would require age verification through app stores.

Under the bill, children younger than 14 would be barred from having social media accounts. Users ages 14 and 15 would need a parent’s or guardian’s consent to create or maintain accounts.

Facebook already prohibits children younger than 13 from opening accounts. Most social media platforms have age restrictions, but children younger than 13 still use them.

The House passed the bill with broad bipartisan support last year. Senate committees are now considering it.
North Carolina

Hall says budget talks progressed, no deal reached

Lawmakers failed to pass a budget last year amid disagreements over teacher raises and tax cuts, leaving North Carolina without an enacted budget in the current fiscal year.

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North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said Thursday that House and Senate budget negotiators had made progress but had not reached an agreement over the state budget.

A central dispute is whether to allow previously approved cuts to the state’s personal and corporate income taxes to take effect. Under a state law passed years ago, the cuts are scheduled for this year and next if revenue meets certain targets. State economists and Democratic Gov. Josh Stein have warned the cuts could create a state budget deficit as soon as next year.

House Republicans, like Stein, want to delay the next round of tax cuts. Senate Republicans want the cuts to proceed as scheduled.

House Republicans proposed average teacher raises of more than 8% over two years and a $32.6 billion budget for the current year. Senate Republicans proposed average teacher raises of 3.3% and a $32.3 billion budget.
North Carolina

NC athletics group backs coach mental health bill

The measure was introduced last year but did not advance out of the Senate Rules Committee.

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North Carolina middle and high school coaches could be required to complete mental health training under proposed legislation backed by the state high school athletic association.

Supporters said Senate Bill 550, known as the Coaches Care Act, would help coaches recognize student mental health needs and connect students with resources. The bill would require coaches to complete mental health first aid training.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for children in North Carolina, and 1 in 7 youths ages 6 to 17 experience a mental health disorder each year nationwide, according to supporters of the bill.

This week, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association voted 17-0 to support the bill which remained in committee and would need Republican support to advance.
Parris Island Community

SCDOT details I-95 widening plan in Jasper County

The project is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2030. During construction, the agency plans to keep two lanes open in each direction by working in stages.

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The South Carolina Department of Transportation is advancing an $825 million, five-year project to widen a 10-mile stretch of Interstate 95 in Jasper County, one of the state’s most congested freight corridors.

The project runs from 1 mile past the Georgia state line to just north of U.S. 278 at mile marker 9. It includes 14 bridges, changes to Exits 5 and 8, and widening the interstate to three lanes in each direction. A proposed Exit 3 interchange is a separate project by the town of Hardeeville.

Initial work is focused south of Exit 5 while the John Smith Road overpass near Exit 8 is rebuilt. A detour is in place. Construction began in April and is scheduled to finish by the end of the year.

The project also includes replacing the dual, two-lane Interstate 95 bridges over the Savannah River with two new three-lane bridges. South Carolina contractors are building the new spans, though Georgia owns the existing bridges.

Northbound widening will happen in two stages, with traffic expected to shift several times. Crews added a temporary shoulder lane for northbound drivers while they build part of the new roadway in the median. Traffic will then move onto the new road while crews rebuild the old lanes. Completion of the new northbound bridge is expected by spring 2029.

After that, southbound traffic will shift onto the northbound bridge, separated by concrete barriers, while crews build the new southbound bridge and lanes.

Georgia is covering 50% of the bridge replacement costs and 100% of the bridge approaches on its side, with a $132 million investment.
Parris Island Community

Beaufort County moves to buy Parker’s lot in Port Royal

Beaufort County is nearing a $700,000 purchase of a vacant Parker’s site tied to future traffic upgrades in Port Royal.

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Beaufort County is moving to buy a vacant convenience store and gas station at 1451 Ribaut Road at Lady’s Island Drive in Port Royal for $700,000.

County Council passed an ordinance Feb. 23 authorizing the purchase. Chairperson Alice Howard said Thursday the county was waiting to close on the sale.

The property has been vacant for more than a year. When council approved the purchase, county staff wrote: “Acquiring the parcel at this time provides the county with strategic flexibility and reduces the likelihood that private redevelopment would constrain future improvement options or significantly increase acquisition costs.”

Howard said the county wants to preserve the corner to support future redesign of the Ribaut Road-Lady’s Island Drive intersection, a main route for traffic between Lady’s Island, the Sea Islands, Port Royal, and Beaufort. In 2025, average daily traffic on Lady’s Island Drive between Meridian Drive on Lady’s Island and Casablanca Circle in Port Royal was 28,000 vehicles, according to the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

Howard said congestion regularly causes backups on Ribaut Road and Lady’s Island Drive during morning and evening rush hours.

On April 13, County Council approved $151,205 to hire Kimley-Horn to design a dedicated right-turn lane from Lady’s Island Drive onto Ribaut Road, along with traffic signal changes. Howard said the Parker’s property would help accommodate that work.

Howard said buying the property could give the county options for additional lanes, pedestrian and bicycle access, and stormwater improvements.
North Carolina

Kinston man arrested in online minor exploitation case

Investigators alleged that French used Snapchat to engage in sexual communication and produce explicit content involving more than a dozen minors in North Carolina and other states, some as young as 12.

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A 20-year-old Kinston man was arrested May 7 in an investigation into the online exploitation of minors, according to the Craven County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said Ashton French was arrested by its Internet Crimes Against Children unit with assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation and the Kinston Police Department.

Officials said the investigation began in December 2025 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent a CyberTip involving the online solicitation of a minor through Snapchat.

Authorities also alleged that French sent explicit images of himself to multiple minors and, in some cases, traveled to meet minors for sexual activity. Investigators said they identified a 13-year-old victim in Craven County.

French was being held without bond at the Craven County Confinement Facility, officials said.

The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify additional victims.