DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them on Wednesday, intensifying its assault on shipping in the key waterway. The attacks came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports.

The standoff between the U.S. and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the strait — where 20% of the world’s traded oil passes in peacetime — with no end in sight. Iranian media said the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was bringing the two ships to Iran, marking a further escalation, though the White House said the seizures didn’t violate ceasefire terms.

The conflict has already sent gas prices skyrocketing far beyond the region and raised the cost of food and a wide array of other products. The price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, nosed over $100 per barrel, marking a 35% increase from prewar levels, but stock markets still appear to be shrugging it off.

The European Union energy commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, warned of lasting impact for consumers and businesses, likening it to other major energy crises over the last half-century. He said the disruption is costing Europe around 500 million euros ($600 million) each day.

Iran holds firm in apparent tit-for-tat with US

Iranian media said the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas were being escorted to Iran. The U.S. had earlier seized two Iranian vessels as the ceasefire talks were due to take place in Pakistan.

Technomar, the management company behind the Liberian-registered Epaminondas, said it was “approached and fired upon by a manned gunboat” off the coast of Oman. It said the ship’s bridge was damaged.

A second cargo ship came under fire hours later, with no report of damage, though the vessel was then stopped in the water. No injuries to the crew of either vessel were reported. The MSC Francesca’s owner could not be immediately reached for comment.

The Guard attacked a third ship, identified as the Euphoria, which had become “stranded” on the Iranian coast, Iranian media reported, without elaborating.

Iran taking control of two ships didn’t violate truce terms because “these were not U.S. or Israeli ships, these were two international vessels,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Channel.

There have been more than 30 attacks on ships in the Mideast since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28 with a surprise attack on Iran. Before then, the strait was open for all traffic.

Vortexa, an analytics firm focusing on global energy and freight markets, said it has recorded 34 movements of sanctioned and Iranian-linked tankers in and out of the Persian Gulf in the week after the U.S. imposed its blockade on April 13.

The firm identified 19 outbound and 15 inbound movements. Six of the outbound movements were “confirmed laden with Iranian crude, representing about 10.7 million barrels,” it said in an email.

It was not immediately clear whether all those barrels reached markets overseas.

It’s not clear when talks will restart

Iran’s ability to restrict traffic through the strait — which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean — has proved a major strategic advantage

While the ceasefire means that American and Israeli airstrikes have stopped in Iran — and Tehran’s missiles no longer target Israel and the wider Middle East — the maritime standoff continues and could escalate further.

Without any diplomatic agreement, the attacks will likely deter ships from even attempting to pass through the waterway, further squeezing global energy supplies.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker who met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Pakistan earlier this month, said a complete ceasefire “only makes sense” if not violated by the blockade that is “taking the world’s economy hostage.”

“Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such flagrant breach of the ceasefire,” he wrote on X.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told state TV that Iran has not decided whether to take part in a new round of negotiations with the U.S. He accused the United States of a “disregard and lack of good faith” in the negotiations.

Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, the head of the Iranian mission in Egypt, earlier told The Associated Press no delegation would go to Pakistan until the U.S. lifts its blockade.

Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told reporters that Trump hasn’t set a deadline for receiving a proposal from the Iranians. “Ultimately, the timeline would be dictated by the commander in chief in the United States,” she said.

In the Iranian capital, Tehran, many grappled with the uncertainty.

“We should know where we stand. Is it going to be a ceasefire, peace, or the war is going to continue?” said Mashallah Mohammad Sadegh, 59. “The way things currently are, one doesn’t know what to do.”

Another French peacekeeper dies after weekend attack in Lebanon

In southern Lebanon, three separate Israeli strikes killed at least five people and wounded others, according to local authorities. Israel denied carrying out one of the strikes and did not immediately comment on the others.

It came as Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors prepared for a new meeting in Washington on Thursday toward extending a fragile ceasefire.

An Israeli drone struck the village of Jabbour, killing one person and wounding two others, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. Israel’s military denied it attacked the area.

Lebanon’s health ministry said two Israeli strikes on al-Tiri killed two people and injured one journalist.

Authorities said the body of a Lebanese journalist killed in the airstrike Wednesday was pulled from under rubble hours later. Amal Khalil, a journalist for daily Al-Akhbar, had been covering Israel-Hezbollah hostilities since October 2023 and was reporting during the latest war, the newspaper said in confirming her death.

Israel’s military alleged people al-Tiri violated the ceasefire and posed a risk to its troops safety. It denied it prevented rescue teams from reaching the area or that it targets journalists.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said a separate Israeli strike on the village of Yohmor killed two people and injured two others.

Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel from Lebanon days after the outbreak of the war, sparking heavy retaliatory strikes and an Israeli ground invasion. The 10-day ceasefire that started Friday has been marred by several Israeli strikes and Hezbollah claimed its first attack Tuesday.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron said a French peacekeeper who was wounded in a weekend attack in Lebanon died of his wounds. Another French peacekeeper was killed in the attack Saturday, in which the force came under small-arms fire in southern Lebanon.

Macron blamed the attack on Hezbollah, which denied involvement.

Since the war started, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran, according to authorities. More than 2,290 people have been killed in Lebanon, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen have died in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.

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This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the Epaminondas container ship.

___

Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo; Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Pakistan; Lorne Cook in Brussels; Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece; and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report.

The legislation also includes what Republican legislative leaders say are “commonsense measures to root out fraud, waste, and abuse in order to rein in costs.”

There was one no vote in each chamber.

The agreement comes after extensive negotiations between House and Senate Health Care committee chairs to address the Medicaid rebase funding needs and determine ways to address the program’s skyrocketing costs.

“We cannot continue to throw dollars at a program without making changes to protect taxpayers and ensure the North Carolinians who truly need Medicaid can get care,” Sen. Benton Sawrey (R-Johnston), chair of the Senate Health Care Committee, said. “Republicans in the General Assembly are taking fraud, waste, and abuse at all levels seriously, and this deal provides us an avenue to keep the program running while examining the reasons for the exorbitant cost increases.”

Republican House Speaker Destin Hall said, “Medicaid should serve the people who truly need it, and this bill makes sure that happens. After Gov. Stein and his administration let costs run wild, we’re tightening things up by adding common-sense guardrails that cut down on waste, fraud, and abuse in the program. North Carolina taxpayers deserve confidence that their money is being spent wisely, and patients deserve a system that prioritizes care for those who depend on it the most.”

Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance), chair of the Senate Health Committee, said, “It’s unrealistic to believe that we should just pour more money into a program without making sure it’s performing as well as it can. Putting these measures in place will help us create a more efficient, cost-effective Medicaid program that delivers better outcomes for patients.”

Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett), chair of the Senate Health Committee, said, “North Carolinians across the state who rely on Medicaid should rest assured that the General Assembly is committed to making sure the program prioritizes care for residents, not its bureaucracy. I’m encouraged by the Department’s willingness to work with the General Assembly to keep costs down.”

There was some criticism of the bill, noting some new requirements related to checks to verify Medicaid eligibility and requiring the Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) to share applicants’ information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

A statement for advocacy group El Pueblo said: “While approving the necessary and urgent funding for the state’s Medicaid program on which 3 million low-income people in North Carolina rely to access health care the Legislature has used this bill to impose harmful anti-immigrant requirements that could discourage thousands of families, especially mixed-status families, from seeking medical care for which they are legally eligible.”

In addition to the Medicaid funding, the bill also includes:

• $1 million nonrecurring to cover the remainder of the 2025-26 school year scholarship awards for students receiving the Children of Wartime Veterans Scholarship
• $10 million recurring in fiscal year 2026-27 for the Children of Wartime Veterans Scholarship program
• $80 million nonrecurring for the Department of Adult Correction
• $2.5 million recurring and $1.2 million nonrecurring for the State Bureau of Investigation
• $165,000 nonrecurring to maintain and operate the Business Court’s current case management software
• $13.1 million recurring and $8.5 million nonrecurring for the Division of Motor Vehicles

Final votes are expected in both chambers next week.

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market rallied to more records Wednesday after GE Vernova, Boston Scientific and other big companies joined the parade reporting fatter profits for the start of the year than analysts expected. But caution still hung over Wall Street, and oil prices rose on uncertainty about what will happen in the war with Iran.

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The S&P 500 jumped 1% and topped its prior all-time high set on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 340 points, or 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite set its own record after jumping 1.6%.

GE Vernova flew 13.7% higher after the company, whose products help generate about a quarter of the world’s electricity, reported profit for the first three months of the year that blew past analysts’ expectations.

Like the broader stock market, GE Vernova is benefiting from the rise of artificial-intelligence technology, and its electrification business booked more equipment orders for data centers during the quarter, $2.4 billion, than it did during all of last year. The company also raised its forecasts for revenue and other financial measures over the full year.

The vast majority of companies in the S&P 500 have so far been delivering results for the start of 2026 that have topped analysts’ expectations, even with the war in Iran driving up oil prices and uncertainty for the global economy. Such strong performances have helped the S&P 500 power higher, and the index recorded its 13th gain in its last 16 days.

Boston Scientific rallied 9%, Boeing climbed 5.5%, and Philip Morris International rose 7% after all likewise delivered results for the latest quarter that were stronger than analysts expected.

Still, another rise in oil prices helped keep enthusiasm in check on Wall Street. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, climbed 3.5% to $101.91 on uncertainty about when the war with Iran could let up and allow petroleum to flow freely to customers from the Persian Gulf again.

The war has restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway off Iran’s coast that oil tankers typically use to exit the Persian Gulf. Iran fired on three ships in the strait and seized two of them on Wednesday.

A day earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire but also said he was maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports. The blockade keeps Iran from making money by selling its own crude oil.

The standoff over Iran’s closure of the strait and the U.S. blockade raised doubts about when or if talks would resume to end the crisis.

Brent crude has shot up from roughly $70 per barrel since before the war on worries about a long-term disruption to the flow of oil. But moves in both the oil and stock markets have become more modest in recent weeks, following vicious swings where Brent’s price briefly topped $119 and the S&P 500 dropped nearly 10% below its prior all-time high.

On the losing end of Wall Street Wednesday was Best Buy, which fell 4.6% after the electronics retailer announced the departure of CEO Corie Barry. She will be replaced by longtime insider Jason Bonfig, the company’s chief customer, product and fulfillment officer.

Stocks of cannabis companies rose amid reports that the Trump administration is preparing to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Trump signed an executive order in December meant to speed up the Drug Enforcement Administration’s process for reclassifying the drug, a move that would not make it legal for recreational use by adults nationwide, but could change how the drug is regulated and reduce a hefty tax burden on the cannabis industry.

Tilray Brands jumped 14.2%, and Canopy Growth soared 20.2%.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 73.89 points to 7,137.90. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 340.65 to 49,490.03, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 397.60 to 24,657.57.

In stock markets abroad, indexes fell in Europe following a mixed finish in Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.4%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng sank 1.2%.

In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady despite the gain in oil prices. The yield on the 10-year Treasury remained at 4.30%, where it was late Thursday.

A day before, it had climbed after Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, said he never promised Trump he would cut interest rates even though Trump has been angrily calling for lower rates.

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AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed to this report.

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market rallied to more records Wednesday after GE Vernova, Boston Scientific and other big companies joined the parade reporting fatter profits for the start of the year than analysts expected. But caution still hung over Wall Street, and oil prices rose on uncertainty about what will happen in the war with Iran.

The S&P 500 jumped 1% and topped its prior all-time high set on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 340 points, or 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite set its own record after jumping 1.6%.

GE Vernova flew 13.7% higher after the company, whose products help generate about a quarter of the world’s electricity, reported profit for the first three months of the year that blew past analysts’ expectations.

Like the broader stock market, GE Vernova is benefiting from the rise of artificial-intelligence technology, and its electrification business booked more equipment orders for data centers during the quarter, $2.4 billion, than it did during all of last year. The company also raised its forecasts for revenue and other financial measures over the full year.

The vast majority of companies in the S&P 500 have so far been delivering results for the start of 2026 that have topped analysts’ expectations, even with the war in Iran driving up oil prices and uncertainty for the global economy. Such strong performances have helped the S&P 500 power higher, and the index recorded its 13th gain in its last 16 days.

Boston Scientific rallied 9%, Boeing climbed 5.5%, and Philip Morris International rose 7% after all likewise delivered results for the latest quarter that were stronger than analysts expected.

Still, another rise in oil prices helped keep enthusiasm in check on Wall Street. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, climbed 3.5% to $101.91 on uncertainty about when the war with Iran could let up and allow petroleum to flow freely to customers from the Persian Gulf again.

The war has restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway off Iran’s coast that oil tankers typically use to exit the Persian Gulf. Iran fired on three ships in the strait and seized two of them on Wednesday.

A day earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire but also said he was maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports. The blockade keeps Iran from making money by selling its own crude oil.

The standoff over Iran’s closure of the strait and the U.S. blockade raised doubts about when or if talks would resume to end the crisis.

Brent crude has shot up from roughly $70 per barrel since before the war on worries about a long-term disruption to the flow of oil. But moves in both the oil and stock markets have become more modest in recent weeks, following vicious swings where Brent’s price briefly topped $119 and the S&P 500 dropped nearly 10% below its prior all-time high.

On the losing end of Wall Street Wednesday was Best Buy, which fell 4.6% after the electronics retailer announced the departure of CEO Corie Barry. She will be replaced by longtime insider Jason Bonfig, the company’s chief customer, product and fulfillment officer.

Stocks of cannabis companies rose amid reports that the Trump administration is preparing to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Trump signed an executive order in December meant to speed up the Drug Enforcement Administration’s process for reclassifying the drug, a move that would not make it legal for recreational use by adults nationwide, but could change how the drug is regulated and reduce a hefty tax burden on the cannabis industry.

Tilray Brands jumped 14.2%, and Canopy Growth soared 20.2%.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 73.89 points to 7,137.90. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 340.65 to 49,490.03, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 397.60 to 24,657.57.

In stock markets abroad, indexes fell in Europe following a mixed finish in Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.4%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng sank 1.2%.

In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady despite the gain in oil prices. The yield on the 10-year Treasury remained at 4.30%, where it was late Thursday.

A day before, it had climbed after Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, said he never promised Trump he would cut interest rates even though Trump has been angrily calling for lower rates.

___

AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed to this report.

In a release, town leaders said that 58 acres located behind Community Park will be the future home of the Smithfield Tobs, a major step in bringing collegiate summer baseball to the community.  The Tobs played in Wilson until last year, as the former Carolina Mudcats moved to that city and became the Wilson Warbirds.

The land was donated by the Lampe family but was not available during the Town’s earlier site selection processes because the property transfer had not yet been completed.

Following additional due diligence, site evaluation, community input, and cost parameters, Town leadership identified the Community Park site as the most viable long-term location.

“This decision reflects a thoughtful and strategic approach to ensuring the long-term success of this project,” said Interim Town Manager Kim Pickett. “We listened to our community, carefully evaluated our options, and, after multiple meetings and discussions, are moving forward with a plan that positions Smithfield for both immediate and future success.”

This transition to the larger acreage at Community Park allows the Town to move forward with a more practical and sustainable solution that, not only offers additional parking, but allows for expansive growth to Community Park, including the potential for multiple soccer fields, a cross-country course, and other recreation amenities. The Town will begin planning for necessary site improvements to the new location with plans for the Smithfield Tobs for their season in 2027.

Local and state leaders announced Wednesday (April 22) that AbbVie will build the campus to support the production of immunology, neuroscience and oncology medicines. Construction will begin this year, with completion expected by the end of 2028.

Over the next four years, AbbVie plans to hire 734 people, including engineers, scientists, manufacturing operators and laboratory technicians. The project will also support the local economy by generating more than 2,000 construction jobs during campus development.

This is AbbVie’s first major investment in North Carolina. The AbbVie Durham campus, located near Research Triangle Park, was selected for the strength of the region’s local workforce and its ability to support future expansion.

The first phase of construction will include the building of small volume parenteral (SVP) drug product manufacturing facilities, next-generation laboratories, a warehouse, administrative offices and employee wellness facilities to support AbbVie’s growing pipeline. When completed, this campus will serve as AbbVie’s U.S. Center of Excellence for SVP manufacturing, delivering next-generation medicines to patients worldwide.

“Durham County is excited to welcome AbbVie and their transformative investment to our community,” said Dr. Mike Lee, Chair of the Durham Board of County Commissioners. “We are laser-focused on recruiting great paying jobs with meaningful career pathways for Durham residents. The quality of entry-level jobs included with this announcement provide genuine opportunities for economic mobility that we so greatly value. We are thrilled that AbbVie chose Durham County and look forward to this partnership.”

“This is a defining moment for the City of Durham. The largest private investment in the history of our city and a powerful signal that our city is competing—and winning—on a global stage,” said City of Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams. “With more than 700 new jobs and a strong commitment to our community, this project delivers both immediate impact and long-term opportunity. It reflects the strength of our economy, the talent of our workforce, and our commitment to building a future where growth is shared and inclusive. We are proud to welcome AbbVie to Durham and look forward to the lasting impact this investment will have on our residents for generations to come.”

AbbVie’s investment in North Carolina represents a significant milestone for our company as our largest capital investment to date and an important expansion of our manufacturing footprint into a new region of the United States,” said Robert A. Michael, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AbbVie. “By establishing this campus, we are strengthening our ability to support future medical breakthroughs while also creating new jobs and a long-term partnership with Durham and the State of North Carolina.”

“This decision further cements North Carolina’s position at the forefront of the global life sciences industry,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “As our pharmaceutical sector grows, we remain fully committed to cultivating the highly skilled workforce, infrastructure, and ecosystem needed to deliver lifesaving medicines to patients around the world for companies like AbbVie.”

Positions with the company will include engineers, lab technicians, manufacturing operators, and scientists. Although salaries for the positions will vary, the average annual salary will be $118,041, exceeding the Durham County average of $102,817. These new jobs could create a potential annual payroll impact of more than $86.6 million for the region.

“We are thrilled to welcome this significant investment, which serves as a powerful testament to Durham’s growing reputation as a premier global hub for innovation and talent,” said Geoff Durham, President and CEO of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. “Beyond the economic impact, this partnership highlights the company’s deep-rooted commitment to our community through sustainable growth and meaningful local engagement. Their decision to call Durham home reinforces our shared vision of a thriving, inclusive economy where corporate success and community prosperity go hand in hand.”

AbbVie is a Fortune-100 Company headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois. Its mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. With a presence in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, AbbVie employs approximately 29,000 people in the U.S.

AbbVie’s operation in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a State of North Carolina Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG), which was approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $8 billion. The Durham County Board of County Commissioners and Durham City Council are both scheduled to consider local awards to support the JDIG at upcoming meetings this Spring.

“Durham’s talented workforce and culture of collaboration landed this project,” said Matthew Filter, Economic Development Manager for Durham County. “The County, City, Chamber, and numerous other local partners worked hand-in-hand alongside our State and regional partners to deliver this incredible project. Durham has a great economic development team, and we’re excited to welcome AbbVie to Durham.”

“We’re incredibly grateful that AbbVie chose Durham—bringing more than 700 high-quality jobs with six-figure average salaries. This is what real economic mobility looks like—creating pathways into the life sciences industry for more of our residents,” said Joshua Gunn, Director of the City of Durham’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “This win reflects what makes Durham special—strong partnership with the County, the Chamber, and coordinated execution across every City department—and we’re proud to welcome AbbVie as a long-term community partner committed to our future.”

“AbbVie has been an incredible community member in the Chicago area, making massive investments in people and local organizations as well as thousands of hours of volunteer time,” said Matt Gladdek, the Vice President of Economic Development with the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. “We are excited to have a company of this caliber coming to make Durham home. We look forward to decades of growth and collaboration.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Dave Mason — the co-founder of the psychedelic British band Traffic, songwriter behind classic rock hits “Feelin’ Alright” and “Hole in My Shoe,” and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer — died Sunday at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada. He was 79.

His death was confirmed by Mason’s publicist Melissa Dragich. A cause was not immediately revealed. He had canceled his remaining tour dates last summer and announced his retirement months later, citing health issues stemming from an infection for “closing the curtain on 60 remarkable years of rock n’ roll.”

Mason was born May 10, 1946, in Worcester, England, and founded Traffic in 1967 with singer/multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood, drummer Jim Capaldi and keyboardist/saxophonist Chris Wood. The psychedelic band became celebrated for its pioneering and inventive spirit, along with Mason’s songwriting and intricate guitar solos.

Mason wrote and performed many of Traffic’s biggest singles. And even though “Feelin’ Alright?” was not an immediate hit, it became one thereafter, covered by the likes of Joe Cocker, the Jackson 5, Gladys Knight, Paul Weller and Grand Funk Railroad.

Mason’s relationship with the band was tenuous; he left and returned multiple times. In 1969, he launched a solo career that resulted in three albums certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (1970’s “Alone Together,” which produced his hit “Only You Know and I Know,” 1974’s “Dave Mason” and 1978’s “Mariposa de Oro”) as well as one platinum title: 1977’s “Let It Flow.”

In addition, Mason played on a number of all-star sessions, The Rolling Stones’ “Beggars Banquet,” George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass,” Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Venus and Mars” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland” among them.

Mason was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 for his work with Traffic. His old bandmate shared a tribute to him Wednesday.

“Dave was part of Traffic during its earliest chapter, and played an important role in shaping the band’s sound and identity during that time,” Winwood wrote on Instagram. “His songwriting, musicianship and distinctive spirit helped create music that has lasted far beyond its era, and continues to mean so much to listeners around the world.”

“Those years remain a special part of the band’s story, and Dave’s contribution to them is not forgotten. His place in that history will always be remembered, and through the music, his presence endures. At this sad time, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and all those who loved him and his music,” Winwood wrote.

Survivors include his wife Winifred Wilson, daughter Danielle, nephew John Leonard, niece Michelle Leonard and his brothers in law, Sloan Wilson and Walton Wilson.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation made the arrest after an investigation requested by the Johnston County District Attorney.

Peter Alphonso Blake, 33, has been charged with: 1 count of forcible rape, 1 count  of First Degree Kidnapping, 1 count of First Degree Burglary and 1 count of  Involuntary Sexual Servitude

Earlier this month, allegations of sexual assault were brought to the Benson Police Department. Benson Police Chief Greg Percy immediately reported that information to the Johnston County District Attorney’s Office. On April 8, Johnston County District Attorney Jason Waller and the Benson Police Chief requested the assistance of the NC SBI, and an investigation was initiated.

Following a thorough investigation conducted by the SBI’s Capital District, a warrant was obtained for Blake’s arrest. He was taken into custody today without incident.

Blake was transported to the Johnston County Detention Center, where he was processed and has a first court appearance scheduled.

The SBI investigation remains ongoing.

Ingredients

• 1 medium green cabbage (about 2–2.5 lbs)
• 1–1½ tbsp non-iodized salt (sea salt or kosher)

Instructions

1. Prep the cabbage

Remove outer leaves, then finely shred the cabbage. Set aside a clean outer leaf for later.

2. Add salt & massage

Place the shredded cabbage in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and massage/squeeze for 5–10 minutes until it softens and releases liquid.

3. Pack the jar

4. Weigh it down

Use a fermentation weight, small jar, or clean object to keep cabbage below the brine.

5. Ferment

6. Taste & store

Once it reaches your preferred sourness, seal and refrigerate.

Long hours, contributing to a lack of sleep and relaxation, are one of several factors that add to stress for the individual. Brown also acknowledges that during planting season, there may not be much opportunity for rest, yet there are strategies that can help growers regarding reduction of fatigue and stress.

For starters, “Try to build in short breaks whatever you’re doing, try to take a little short walk.”

Getting as much sleep as possible, regardless of the circumstances of the field and farm, indeed is important even during busy times like planting and harvest. When there is downtime, Brown suggests taking a few minutes for relaxation in the form of deep breathing, exercise, prayer or meditation.

“Try to focus on when you have that time. Do your go-to thing that helps you relax. What is that one item that you can rely on when you have that little bit of downtime, that you can relax?”

Another tip in longer periods of downtime, if there is a particular hobby of interest and enjoyment, Brown says that can assist in relaxation, as social interaction is also a stress-reduction strategy.

“Who can you talk to? Who can you socialize during the time, those off hours when you can actually get out and about, who can you socialize with?”

Brown adds there are several resources available to producers in the way of stress-reduction techniques and strategies.

“Any of the extension services across the nation have farm stress websites. You miss, Mike, go to farm stress, and many of them have a lot of different items to talk about.”

Also available are several farm stress hotlines for growers to call if they need resources or just someone to talk to, including those through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, a collaboration of regional networks operated by land-grant universities with support from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture