Saturday, April 11, 2026

Melania Trump denies Epstein connection

First lady Melania Trump said individuals are attempting to "defame" her reputation with "lies." It's Thursday's news. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
Read in browser

eNewspaper   |    Crosswords   |    Horoscopes

 

The Short List

Thu Apr 9 2026

 

Rebecca Morin Senior National News Reporter

@RebeccaMorin_

👋 Happy weekend-eve! Rebecca Morin here, thinking about why someone would steal 96 bananas. 🍌

In Thursday’s news:

First lady Melania Trump denounced "lies" about her connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Why gas prices are so high even as most U.S. oil doesn’t come from the Middle East.
The Artemis II astronauts are heading home

But first: A real life Hannah Montana scenario. "The Housemaid" author is revealing her true identity . 📚

Melania Trump denounces 'lies' about her and Epstein

First lady Melania Trump denied having any connection to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein , saying that individuals are attempting to "defame" her reputation with "lies." In a statement at the White House, she said she wasn't friends with Epstein, never flew on his private plane, never visited his private island and that he did not introduce her to her husband, President Donald Trump.

The first lady also called for more action from Congress on Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in prison while awaiting sex trafficking charges. The Trump administration received widespread backlash last year over the handling of documents associated with Epstein’s case. It’s unclear why Trump made her statement now. 

2269958372

First lady Melania Trump walks from the Blue Room as she arrives to speak in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, DC on April 9, 2026.

MANDEL NGAN, AFP via Getty Images

Why are gas prices so high?

It’s true, most of the oil in the U.S. doesn’t come from the Middle East. Then why have prices gone up since the United States’ war with Iran? It’s about the supply. The war crippled supply in the region due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the sudden danger in shipping oil, among other factors. Even with a ceasefire, don’t expect prices to drop down anytime soon.

The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is still underway, but threats are still flying between the two countries ahead of peace talks this weekend. 

Who does the ceasefire deal really help?
Why Israel is bombing Lebanon amid the ceasefire.
Eligible men will soon be automatically registered for military draft.

Syndication The Record

The Iran war has caused pain at the pump for American motorists.

Michael Karas/NorthJersey.com, Michael Karas/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Real quick

Don’t worry, Michael J. Fox is alive and doing "OK."
A U.S. Army veteran is facing criminal charges for allegedly sharing top-secret information with a journalist.
Uh oh, you better watch out for these deadly ants! 🐜
That vague social media post might actually be about you.
Are football fans paying more in subscription fees? The DOJ is investigating.

Tee time

The Masters teed off Thursday , the annual tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia that brings together golf's biggest names. Last year’s champ, Rory McIlroy, is hoping to win back the coveted green jacket this year. But the odds are always open for a longshot winner.

One big rule of the tournament: Don’t use your cell phone! (Just ask Masters runner-up Mark Calcavecchia.)
Before the tournament kicked off, it was a family affair on the green

Pga Masters Tournament First Round

Rory McIlroy putts on the 18th green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026.

Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Heading back to Earth

From around the moon and back. The astronauts with Artemis II are heading home after their monumental trip around the moon, where they traveled farther from Earth than any humans and became the first to see the far side of the moon. The crew is expected to splashdown off the coast of California on Friday. 

Where the astronauts are now.

Artemis II astronauts

The NASA Artemis II crew are, from left, mission specialist Christina Koch, mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, pilot Victor Glover and commander Reid Wiseman inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home after a flyby of the far side of the noon on April 6, 2026.

NASA via Reuters

A break from the news

Summertime is approaching! How to make your backyard into an oasis. ☀️
These are the best places to work in the U.S.
Ditch the frozen aisle version of this classic, tasty snack! 🍕🥯

Rebecca Morin is a senior news reporter at USA TODAY. I’m still in awe of the Artemis II mission, and I wish I could have been that close to the moon. Would you travel to space? Let me know at rdmorin@usatoday.com

Emperor penguins are seen near Dumont d'Urville Station in Antarctica on April 10, 2012.

Since 2016, sea ice levels have dramatically declined. Thousands of chicks have frozen or drowned, the wildlife fund said.

Shay Taylor-Allen worked as a janitor at Yale New Haven Hospital for 10 years. This summer, she’ll walk the same halls as a doctor.
 

She went insanely viral for her medical school 'match day' video. Here's why.

Shay Taylor-Allen worked as a janitor for 10 years at Yale New Haven Hospital. Now, she's going back — this time as a doctor.

A bottle of Eli Lilly’s Foundayo weight-loss pills is show in an undated illustration.
 

Amazon will sell new weight-loss pill via kiosks, home delivery

Amazon will offer delivery of Eli Lilly's new weight-loss pill Foundayo and stock it at kiosks at some of the company's health clinics.

Lynette Hooker is pictured in a selfie posted on Facebook.
 

Michigan man arrested in wife's disappearance on Bahamas boat trip

Lynette and Brian Hooker have been documenting their sailing adventures on social media for years. Now he's been arrested for questioning in her disappearance.

Man and woman with hands showing off engagement ring and wedding band
 

Why getting married may lower your risk of cancer

In sickness and in health? A new study found tying the knot may be linked to a lower risk of cancer.

The seal of the Justice Department is seen on the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the attorney general in Washington, Jan. 24, 2023.
 

Ohio man first person in US convicted under new federal deepfakes law

James Strahler, 37, pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, producing obscene visuals of child sexual abuse material, and publishing digital forgeries.

Title: Polar Bear on Sperm Whale | A female polar bear feeds on a sperm whale carcass in the polar pack ice north of the Norwegian archipelago, Svalbard. 82° North, International Waters, on July 8, 2025.
 

From war to wonder: World Press Photo 2026 winners

The 2026 winners are the best of 57,376 photos by 3,747 photographers from 141 countries, spanning conflict, resilience and intimate stories.

Crews battling a massive pre‑dawn second‑alarm fire at a 1‑million‑square‑foot Kimberly‑Clark warehouse in Ontario, California.
 

California fire wipes out toilet paper warehouse that served 50M people

Kimberly-Clark, whose brands include Huggies, Kleenex, Depend and Cottonelle, said it was working to prevent any disruption to consumers.

Hoda Kotb, left, and Savannah Guthrie at 92NY on Feb. 22, 2024, in New York City.
 

Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb set for 'Today' reunion

Savannah Guthrie is set to reunite with Hoda Kotb on the "Today" show next week as Craig Melvin takes a vacation.

Zendaya as Rue in "Euphoria" Season 3.
 

'Euphoria' is back − and it's the best and worst it's ever been

After a four-year gap, HBO's shocking hit "Euphoria" is back, and its characters are all grown up. It's a great thing, and a bad thing, for the show.

Play Your Way to a Relaxing Break

Unwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. 

Crosswords, Puzzles, Comics & Horoscopes

Newsletters   |    eNewspaper   |    Crosswords

Follow Us

Problem viewing email? View in browser

LiveIntent Logo AdChoices Logo

No comments:

Post a Comment