White House withdraws hospitality executive as nominee to lead the National Park Service

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — President Donald Trump is withdrawing his nomination of ahospitality company executiveto lead the National Park Service, the White House announced Monday.

The withdrawal of nominee Scott Socha comes asthe park servicehas been shaken by widespread firings as part of the Trump administration's pledge to sharply reduce its size.

No reason was immediately given forSocha's withdrawal.

The park service is currently overseen by an acting director, agency comptroller Jessica Bowron. It did not have a Senate-confirmed director during Trump's first term, when it was led by a series of acting directors.

Socha is president for parks and resorts at Buffalo, New York-based Delaware North, which has service contracts with numerous parks and describes itself as one of the world's largest privately owned entertainment and hospitality companies. A White House spokesperson had said when he was nominated in February that Socah was “totally qualified” to execute Trump’s plans for the park system.

But some conservation groups had questioned if Socha's private sector work provided the experience he would need to oversee hundreds of national parks and monuments that range from the Statue of Liberty and other cultural sites, to remote sites in the Utah desert.

The Associated Press sent email messages to the White House and Interior Department seeking comment on Socha's withdrawal.

Thousands of employees have been fired or otherwise left the park service since Trump took office.

Advertisement

Emily Douce with the National Parks Conservation Association, an advocacy group, said Monday that the next director for the service needs to “undo the damage.”

“It’s very unfortunate that our parks have gone more than a year without a permanent director at a time when they need strong, steady leadership the most,” Douce said.

The Republican administration's proposed budget for next year would reduce staffing to 9,200 employees. That's down almost 30% compared to 2025 levels.

The park service's operating budget would be cut by more than $1 billion, to $2.2 billion, for the 2027 fiscal year that starts in October.

Similar cuts proposed for 2026 were blocked by lawmakers in Congress after park supporters and former employees warned the administration's proposal would have effectively gutted the agency.

The administration also has faced blowback for theremoval or planned removalof national park exhibits about slavery, climate change and the destruction of Native American culture. In February, a federal judge said an exhibit about nine people enslaved by George Washington must be restored at his former home in Philadelphia after the Trump administration had takenit down.

Administration officials have said they are removing “disparaging” messages under an order last year from Trump. Critics accuse it of trying towhitewash the nation’s history.

Under Trump's interior secretary, Doug Burgum, the park service has started charging millions of international tourists who visit U.S. parks each year$100 each to visitsites including Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. The service also has put Trump's image onto its annual passes for U.S. citizens, drawing a lawsuit from environmentalists who said the move was illegal.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 30, 2026

White House withdraws hospitality executive as nominee to lead the National Park Service

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — President Donald Trump is withdrawing his nomination of ahospitality company executiveto lead the National Park ...

Read More

Undermanned Wolves try to eliminate balanced Nuggets in Game 6

Faced with key injuries, the Minnesota Timberwolves will try to close out their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 on Thursday in Minneapolis.

Minnesota successfully managed Game 4 despite losing star Anthony Edwards and his starting backcourt mate, Donte DiVincenzo, early. But with Edwards sidelined due to a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee and DiVincenzo gone with a torn right Achilles tendon, the Timberwolves dropped a close-out opportunity on Monday in Denver, 125-113.

Edwards and DiVincenzo were both catalysts as Minnesota gained the early advantage in the series, with Edwards going for 30 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2. DiVincenzo scored a total of 31 points in Games 2 and 3, both Timberwolves victories.

With the two perimeter playmakers out Monday, Minnesota committed 25 turnovers -- two more than the Timberwolves lost in their previous two games combined, and a team-high dating back to before the All-Star break.

"A lot of silly, forced play by guys trying to make something out of nothing," Minnesota coach Chris Finch said of the Game 5 turnover woes.

Finch also pointed to Denver's defensive adjustments, noting that the Nuggets "put two (defenders)" on Ayo Dosunmu for the first time in the series.

Dosunmu, a late-season acquisition via trade from Chicago, emerged as the hero in Game 4 after Edwards and DiVincenzo exited. He scored 43 points, bookended by performances of 25 and 18 points, respectively, in Games 3 and 5.

Aside from Julius Randle's 27 points, however, no other Minnesota player managed more than 13 in Monday's loss.

Advertisement

Denver, meanwhile, got 18-plus points from four of its five starters in the elimination contest. Among the quartet was forward Spencer Jones, who has seen a significant uptick in minutes with Aaron Gordon dealing with a calf injury.

Jones, who scored 11 total points in the series' first four games, went for 20 in Game 5. Gordon, who averaged 16.2 points per game in the regular season, played limited minutes in Game 4, but missed both Games 3 and 5 and is listed as questionable for Thursday.

Jones, who averaged just 5.5 points per game in the regular season, delivered his highest-scoring performance since Dec. 1 (28 points) at an opportune time.

"It's something that happened throughout the season, guys going down and me getting an opportunity to start," Jones said. "I'll get more minutes, but the role is still the same, the duties are still the same."

Building on the momentum from his making four 3-pointers Monday, Jones could play a role in Denver's key perimeter scorer, Jamal Murray, finding cleaner looks from beyond the arc.

Murray has scored 30 points three times in the series, and with his 24 in Game 5, he is up to 26.0 points per game through the five contests. That's a team-high, outpacing three-time league Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic's 25.4 ppg.

However, Murray has gone 0-for from deep twice, including the Game 3 loss.

Jokic, meanwhile, had his best game of the series Monday, finishing as a plus-18 with 27 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds. He was a plus-one, minus-21 and minus-12 in Denver's three losses.

--Field Level Media

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 30, 2026

Undermanned Wolves try to eliminate balanced Nuggets in Game 6

Faced with key injuries, the Minnesota Timberwolves will try to close out their Western Conference first-round playoff series against t...

Read More

Man with schizophrenia who killed British father-of-two in Australia declared unfit for trial

A man who killed a British father-of-two in an Australian town has been declared mentally unfit to stand trial.

Court documents state Royce Mallett from County Durham, who was 30 years old at the time, was visiting the town of Albury in New South Wales in July 2024 when he was stabbed once in the chest while sitting in the driver’s seat of a car parked outside the Hume Inn Motel.

His attacker, David Summers-Smith,has schizophreniaand was displaying symptoms of psychosis at the time of the 2024 incident.

He subsequently pleaded not guilty to the murder due tomental impairment.

On Tuesday, Supreme Court justice Dina Yehia, determined Summers-Smith did commit the murder but could not be held criminally responsible.

Advertisement

She ordered Summers-Smith to be held indefinitely in a mental health facility.

In her consideration, Justice Yehia said: "I am satisfied that the accused has established on a balance of probabilities that at the time he stabbed the deceased, he was suffering from a mental health impairment that had the effect that he did not know that the act was wrong: that is, he could not reason with a moderate degree of sense and composure about whether the act, as perceived by reasonable people, was wrong."

In a victim impact statement read out by Justice Yehia, Mr Mallett’s partner Caitlin O’Keeffe said his death has caused immense emotional and financial strain for the family.

"It affects not just today but every future moment that he should have been part of, and everyday moments that he’s already missed," Ms O’Keefe said in a letter.

The court also heard Mr Mallett’s father Roy no longer enjoys the hobbies he used to share with his son and struggles to find the motivation to do anything.

Any potential recovery for Summers-Smith will be monitored by the Mental Health Review tribunal, which has the power to revise his detention order.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 30, 2026

Man with schizophrenia who killed British father-of-two in Australia declared unfit for trial

A man who killed a British father-of-two in an Australian town has been declared mentally unfit to stand trial. Court documents s...

Read More

“Ted Lasso” Season 4 Cast: Which Stars Are Returning for the Apple TV Comedy?

In July 2025, Apple TV announced that Ted Lasso was back in production for season 4

NEED TO KNOW

• Cast members Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham and more are returning to reprise their roles

• The third season of Ted Lasso ended nearly three years ago on May 31, 2023

Some familiar faces are returning to the pitch forseason 4ofTed Lasso.

The Emmy-winning Apple TV phenomenon ended its three-season story in May 2023, but in July 2025, it was announced thatTed Lassoseason 4 wasofficially in production. Filming kicked off in Kansas City, Mo., the hometown of series starJason Sudeikis.

More recently, on April 28, Apple TV released thefirst teaser trailerfor the new season, featuring a reunion with the comedy's returning cast.

Leads Sudeikis (Ted Lasso), Jeremy Swift (Leslie Higgins),Hannah Waddingham(Rebecca Welton) andJuno Temple(Keeley Jones) were seen in a first-look video and photo released by Apple TV in July 2025, confirming they would be back in the beloved series. However, quite a few otherTed Lassostars — including Phil Dunster (Jamie Tartt) — are not expected to appear in the upcoming season.

Season 4, which premieres Aug. 5, will follow Ted as he takes on his "biggest challenge yet: coaching a second division women’s football team," according to the series' synopsis.

So, who will and won't be returning to AFC Richmond? Here's everything to know about the cast ofTed Lassoseason 4, so far.

Which stars are returning forTed Lassoseason 4?

The following actors have been confirmed forTed Lasso season 4.

Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso

The Emmy-winning actor will keep coaching as the titular Ted Lasso.

In a March 2025 press release announcingTed Lassoseason 4, Sudeikis said, "As we all continue to live in a world where so many factors have conditioned us to 'look before we leap.' In season four, the folks at AFC Richmond learn to 'leap before they look,' discovering that wherever they land, it's exactly where they're meant to be."

Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent

Brett Goldstein will be back as the gruff but lovable Roy Kent.

SinceTed Lassoseason 3, Goldstein has been part of another Apple TV series,Shrinking.

Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton

Hannah Waddingham will reprise her role as Rebecca Welton, owner of AFC Richmond.

In a May 2023Deadlineinterview, when asked aboutTed Lassoseason 3 concluding with her character getting a deserved happy ending, Waddingham said Rebecca is "a very good egg, and I treated her with great love."

Juno Temple as Keeley Jones

Juno Temple will return as Keeley Jones.

During a March 2023 interview withTown & Country, theFargoactress said returning forTed Lassoseason 3, "felt like coming home."

"It's like a safe place, seeing all these incredible faces that have guided you through this extraordinary experience," Temple continued. "All getting back together feels cozy, feels safe. There's a safety net around it, which is really awesome."

Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard

Brendan Hunt will be back as Ted's right-hand man, Coach Beard.

In June 2025, Hunt toldEntertainment Tonightthat he "can't wait" to return for season 4.

"We're getting going on that. We start shooting pretty soon," he teased.

Jeremy Swift as Leslie Higgins

Jeremy Swift will return as Leslie Higgins, head of football operations.

During a For Your Consideration Emmys event in June 2023, on the future ofTed Lasso, Swift said, “I don’t know about any more seasons blah, blah, blah, but you can see that there is potential for other things."

"It’s great that even if it doesn’t go anywhere, you can see that those characters aren’t just going to stay where they were, they’re going to move on," he continued, perThe Hollywood Reporter. "That’s an incremental part of how the show has always moved ahead, it’s always moved the characters ahead and it did that even in the last episode."

Which stars are not expected to return forTed Lassoseason 4?

The following actors have not been confirmed as returning for the upcoming season, but they could still appear as guest stars.

Phil Dunster as Jamie Tartt

Phil Dunster, who played football star Jamie Tartt, will not be returning, in part due to a scheduling conflict, "but could potentially reprise his role in some limited capacity,"Deadlinereported in March 2025.

Dunster is part of the ensemble of the HBO comedy,Rooster, starring Steve Carell. The series — which was co-created by Bill Lawrence, who also co-createdTed Lasso— premiered in March 2026.

Advertisement

Nick Mohammed as Nathan Shelley

Nick Mohammed has not been announced as reprising his role of Nathan "Nate" Shelley, but he did tease a potential return.

In January 2025, Mohammad announced he would have to reschedule some dates of his comedy tour,Show Pony, due to filming conflicts.

“I cannot say what that filming is. But it will be announced shortly,” he said in aX video, perDeadline. "In the meantime, I would really appreciate if people just didn’t speculate as to what they think it might be," Mohammad continued, not-so-subtly holding up aTed Lasso"Believe" sign.

Sarah Niles as Dr. Sharon Fieldstone

Sarah Niles played sports psychologist Dr. Sharon Fieldstone. There has been no confirmation as to whether or not she will appear in the upcoming season.

The actress recently appeared in the summer racing blockbusterF1andThe Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Anthony Head as Rupert Mannion

Anthony Head played Rupert Mannion, the former owner of AFC Richmond and the main villain onTed Lasso, though it is unclear whether he will reprise his role for season 4.

Rupert suffered public humiliation on the football field in theTed Lassoseason 3 finale, but Head had a different ending in mind for his character.

"I thought he might go down for fraud. Something that would undermine the core of his business," he toldVulturein June 2023. "Because there has been a bit of that. People who have lots of money can be pulled to that sort of thing."

Toheeb Jimoh as Sam Obisanya

Toheeb Jimoh starred as AFC Richmond player Sam Obisanya.

In March 2023, at theTed Lassoseason 3 premiere, Jimoh told PEOPLE about the strong connection between the series' cast.

"We really have bonded. I think you can tell from the way we interact with each other, wherever we go, that there's a real genuine connection between all of us," he explained. "I think a lot of that was, on season 2, we were filming during a pandemic. There was a time where people couldn't be around each other. Thankfully, I think we all saved each other."

Jimoh has not spoken about a potential return to the series.

Cristo Fernández as Dani Rojas

Cristo Fernández played the happy and optimistic soccer star Dani Rojas.

It has not been revealed if Fernández will return, but in a January 2025ScreenRantinterview, the actor said he "would love to see [more] Dani."

"Ted Lassohas meant so much to me, not only to me as an actor, and having more opportunities and work, but just a message that has spread to so many fans around the globe," he continued. "And I hope there's more. I hope there's moreTed Lasso. I hope there's more Dani Rojas."

Kola Bokinni as Isaac McAdoo

Kola Bokinni played Isaac McAdoo, Richmond Team Captain.

In June 2023, Bokinni told theAssociated Pressthat the last day of filmingTed Lasso"was weird" for him.

"It was surreal. It didn't quite hit me. You know, we had a couple of drinks afterwards and we we were celebrating, but I was kind of like a little bit solemn because I didn't really know that it was the end," he said.

"I'm just really thankful that I got to be a part of it. To be honest," the actor added.

It is unconfirmed if Bokinni will return for season 4.

Billy Harris as Colin Hughes

Billy Harris played footballer Colin Hughes, who came out as gay in season 3.

In April 2023, when asked about a potential fourth season ofTed Lasso, Harris toldThe Hollywood Reporter, "The moment that there is a season four, I’ll be ready with my football boots, ready to go again. I am as excited as and as curious as the whole world is, because I have no idea."

James Lance as Trent Crimm

James Lance played journalist Trent Crimm.

Trent started out on the series as a sports reporter, but went on to write a book,The Richmond Way, about the underdog football team.

Lance has not spoken about returning to the series.

Read the original article onPeople

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 30, 2026

“Ted Lasso” Season 4 Cast: Which Stars Are Returning for the Apple TV Comedy?

In July 2025, Apple TV announced that Ted Lasso was back in production for season 4 NEED TO KNOW Cast members Jas...

Read More

WNBA star Caitlin Clark to publish a children's book based on her life

NEW YORK (AP) —Caitlin Clarkwill have a picture book out this fall based on her own life, one she knows is like few others’.

Fever Clark Returns Basketball

Random House Books for Young Readers announced Tuesday that “EXTRAordinary! A Little EXTRA to Reach BIG Dreams” will be published Nov. 3. In rhyming verse, theWNBAstar shares a message about the importance of effort and support.

Advertisement

Clark, whose book features illustrations by Adriana Predoi, was inspired by an inscription above the mirror that hung in her childhood bedroom: “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the little EXTRA.”

“Basketball has given me so many incredible opportunities, but what has always meant the most to me are the people who’ve supported me along the way,” Clark said in a statement. “I hope this book reminds kids that they’re never alone in chasing their dreams and that giving a little extra to the people and moments is what makes them EXTRAordinary.”

The 24-year-old Indiana Fever guard, widely credited with raising the profile of women's basketball, returned to action recently after injuries limited her to 13 games in 2025. She scored seven points Saturday in a preseason victory over the New York Liberty.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 30, 2026

WNBA star Caitlin Clark to publish a children's book based on her life

NEW YORK (AP) —Caitlin Clarkwill have a picture book out this fall based on her own life, one she knows is like few others’. Fev...

Read More