The U.S. Department of Education says it opened an investigation Monday into Smith College, an all-women’s institution in Massachusetts, for admitting transgender women. In a press release, the department says Smith has been “admitting biological men.” The probe by the department’s Office of Civil Rights will look at whether the college violated Title IX, a 1972 law forbidding discrimination based on sex in education.

The move is the latest by the Trump administration — whose rhetoric has frequently included attacks on trans people — to limit transgender rights in the U.S. The administration has said that Title IX prevents trans women from participating in women’s sports, suing several states and launching investigations into schools for not complying.

Smith College, a private liberal arts school founded in 1871, has admitted trans women since 2015, along with many other elite women’s colleges. The school’s admission policies drew attention and sparked on-campus activism in 2013, when a trans high school senior was denied acceptance because her gender identity did not match the one on her financial aid forms. Its website now says that “any applicants who self-identify as women; cis, trans, and nonbinary women” are eligible to apply to the school. Advocates have supported the shift over the years, saying that women’s colleges were founded to educate those marginalized because of their gender.

The number of women’s colleges in the U.S. has declined from more than 200 to just 30 as of fall of 2023, according to the Women’s College Coalition. A college spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

According to the department’s news release, Title IX contains an exception that allows colleges to be all-male or all-female, but it only applies “on the basis of biological sex difference, not subjective gender identity.” The release quotes Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey as saying, “An all-women’s college loses all meaning if it is admitting biological males. Allowing biological males into spaces designed for women raises serious concerns about privacy, fairness, and compliance under federal law. The Trump Administration will continue to uphold the law and fight to restore common sense.”

The investigation into Smith College stems from a complaint filed with the Office of Civil Rights in June 2025 by the conservative legal group Defending Education. “DE and its members oppose, among other things, discrimination on the basis of sex in America’s K-12 schools and institutions of higher education,” the organization said in a news release. During the Biden administration, new Title IX regulations were issued to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. However, those were struck down by a federal judge in January 2025 who decided the rules had legal shortcomings.

America’s national debt has topped the country’s gross domestic product for the first time since World War II, a sharp increase in the government’s fiscal burden. Debt held by the public stood at $31.27 trillion at the end of April, edging above U.S. GDP of $31.22 trillion for the April 2025–March 2026 period, according to an analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB).

Outside of a brief stretch early in the COVID-19 pandemic and two years at the end of World War II, debt has not exceeded GDP, the nonpartisan CRFB found. The current surge has different drivers than WWII-era spending: recent increases reflect tax cuts, rising interest payments on existing debt, and higher costs for age-related programs such as Medicare and Social Security as the population ages, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation says.

Interest costs have climbed sharply. The U.S. is now spending more to service its debt than it spends on national defense or Medicare. Jonathan Williams, president and chief economist of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), said net interest payments on the national debt now exceed $1 trillion annually. Debt held by the public measures what the government owes to outside parties (businesses, individuals, state and local governments, foreign holders); the broader gross debt — which includes amounts the government owes to itself — is approaching $39 trillion, U.S. Treasury data show.

Whether that level of debt signals an imminent crisis or a manageable burden for a large, dynamic economy is debated. Fiscal hawks such as the CRFB warn of danger if trends continue. The nation’s debt has swollen since the 2008–09 financial crisis, when total debt hovered around $5 trillion. The core problem is a persistent gap between spending and revenue, requiring more borrowing to finance federal programs.

Looking ahead, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects continued growth in federal debt: debt held by the public could reach $53 trillion by 2036, and debt held by the public could rise from roughly 101% of GDP this year to about 120% in 2036 — above the postwar high of 106% in 1946. Those projections depend on policy choices; the CRFB has proposed cutting the deficit to 3% of GDP (about half its current level) to place the debt-to-GDP ratio on a downward path while preserving fiscal flexibility.

The risks of rising debt include higher interest costs that crowd out other federal spending, greater vulnerability to financial shocks, potential credit-rating downgrades, and upward pressure on prices, which could raise everyday costs for households, the Peterson Foundation and the Yale Budget Lab warn. ALEC’s Williams argued that without bipartisan fiscal reforms, Americans could face higher taxes, slower growth, and more inflation.

Still, some signs temper immediate alarm. The U.S. economy has outpaced the average interest rate on its debt in four of the past five years, creating a positive gap that helps check the debt-to-GDP trajectory, Jacob Manoukian, U.S. head of investment strategy at JPMorgan Chase, wrote in 2025. Manoukian also sees little evidence that interest payments will soon overwhelm monetary policy or ignite runaway inflation. Demand for U.S. debt remains high: households, mutual funds and foreign investors have continued to buy newly issued Treasury debt, signaling market confidence for now.

Edited by Alain Sherter

“Well, I can’t tell you that,” Trump said when pressed on whether the ceasefire is over. When asked if Monday’s hostilities meant the beginning of a renewed conflict with Iran, Trump said that “one way or the other, we win.”

“We either make the right deal or we win very easily. From the military standpoint, we’ve already won that. You know, you’ve heard me say it a million times, and other people say it. They had 159 ships. Hugh, now they have none. They’re all at the bottom of the sea,” Trump said.

The president stopped short of confirming whether Iran violated the ceasefire, saying “we’ll see what happens” and instead touting the U.S. military capabilities.

Trump said the conflict could continue for “probably another two weeks” or “maybe three weeks,” and emphasized that he is not operating under any time constraints. “Time is not of the essence for us,” Trump said, while claiming significant public support for the war.

The president said the U.S. has “control” over the Strait of Hormuz amid the launch of the “Project Freedom” operation. “They said they were going to take over the Homruz Strait, and then we thought they might have. We took it over from them,” Trump said of Iran.

On concerns over spiking oil prices, Trump said he thought prices might rise higher than they have — perhaps as high as $250 — claiming that the “genius” thing happening was ships were now heading to the U.S. for oil.

Asked about the future of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile — Tehran’s surrendering of which has been a key sticking point for the U.S. — Trump downplayed its importance.

“From a standpoint of value, it’s not very valuable. Probably can’t be used. They may not be able to get it,” Trump said, before touting the June military operation — Operation Midnight Hammer — to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities. “I’d like to get it back so that they can’t be tempted,” Trump said of the enriched uranium.

Trump also said he is “convinced” that if the Iranian people had sufficient weapons, they would “fight back” against the regime.

-ABC News’ Nicholas Kerr, Emily Chang and Michelle Stoddart

Details and immediate effects
– Several vessels were struck or harassed; some sustained damage and at least one reported fire. Crews on affected ships were reported safe in initial accounts, and no confirmed large-scale casualties were announced.
– Shipping operators rerouted vessels where possible, and commercial traffic through the strait slowed as captains and companies assessed risks and awaited guidance from insurers and naval authorities.
– Energy markets reacted to the news with short-term volatility in oil and tanker freight rates, reflecting concerns about supply-chain disruptions tied to any prolonged instability in the waterway.

Responses and international reaction
– Western governments and maritime security forums condemned the attacks and warned of consequences for freedom of navigation if attacks on commercial shipping continued. Several countries with naval assets in the region increased patrols and monitoring of commercial traffic.
– Shipping industry groups urged caution and recommended enhanced vigilance, the use of naval convoy arrangements where available, and closer coordination with regional maritime authorities to ensure crew safety and protect vessels.
– Insurance and war-risk premiums for voyages through the Strait of Hormuz rose, prompting some charterers to consider longer, costlier routes as an alternative.

Context and implications
– The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy flows; a significant share of seaborne oil passes through it, so disruptions can quickly affect global markets and fuel prices.
– Attacks on commercial shipping have occurred periodically in the region amid broader geopolitical tensions involving Iran, neighboring states, and Western powers. Analysts warned that continued attacks risk unintended escalation, drawing in external navies and complicating diplomatic efforts.
– Beyond immediate market and safety concerns, the incidents could influence ongoing diplomatic and security calculations, including sanctions, naval deployments, and regional alliances.

Calls for de-escalation
– International actors, including regional governments and maritime agencies, called for restraint and dialogue to prevent further attacks and to restore secure, predictable shipping conditions.
– Shipping companies and organizers of international maritime security initiatives emphasized nonmilitary measures where possible—information sharing, best-practice guidance for crews, and coordinated monitoring—to reduce the risk to civilian mariners until diplomatic solutions can be pursued.

Outlook
– The situation remained fluid as officials continued to investigate the incidents and as shipowners and insurers reassessed transit policies. Longer-term impacts on global energy flows will depend on whether attacks persist and on the scale of any international naval or diplomatic response aimed at defending commercial navigation and deterring further strikes.

A suspected outbreak of the rare hantavirus on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean killed three people, including an elderly married couple, and sickened at least three others, the World Health Organization and South Africa’s Department of Health said Sunday.

WHO said an investigation was underway and at least one case of hantavirus had been confirmed. One patient was in intensive care in a South African hospital, and the U.N. health agency said it was working with authorities to evacuate two others with symptoms from the ship.

The Dutch foreign ministry told AFP it was exploring options to medically evacuate people from the ship and would coordinate such moves if possible. The ship’s operator said the vessel was off the coast of Cape Verde and local authorities were assisting but had not allowed disembarkation. The operator said the two people aboard needing urgent care were crew members.

WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge said the risk to the wider public remains low and there is no need for panic or travel restrictions.

Hantaviruses are spread mainly by contact with urine or feces of infected rodents such as rats and mice. They can cause two serious syndromes: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which affects the lungs, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, which affects the kidneys. WHO said hantavirus infections can, while rare, be spread between people. There is no specific treatment, but early medical attention can improve chances of survival. WHO said it was conducting laboratory testing, sequencing and epidemiological investigations and providing medical support to passengers and crew.

South Africa’s Department of Health said the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius left Argentina about three weeks ago on a cruise that visited Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and other stops and was headed for Spain’s Canary Islands. The department said the first victim was a 70-year-old man who died on the ship; his body was removed at the British territory of Saint Helena. His wife collapsed at an airport in South Africa while trying to fly to the Netherlands and died at a nearby hospital. A Dutch foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed two Dutch passengers had died.

The patient in intensive care in Johannesburg was identified as a British national who fell ill near Ascension Island and was transferred from there to South Africa. Around 150 tourists were onboard at the time; the ship typically sails with about 70 crew members.

Oceanwide Expeditions, which runs the cruise, said a third victim’s body remained onboard in Cape Verde and that its priority was ensuring the two symptomatic crew members received medical care. Local health authorities visited the vessel to assess the two symptomatic individuals but had not decided on transferring them to medical care in Cape Verde.

WHO said it was working with national authorities and the ship’s operators on a full public health risk assessment and to support those still onboard. South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases was conducting contact tracing in the Johannesburg region to identify any exposures.

The cruise ship MV Hondius is seen off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 3, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

Edmond, Oklahoma — A shooting Sunday night at a party at a lake near Oklahoma City sent at least 12 people to hospitals, according to police and hospital officials.

Edmond police spokesperson Emily Ward said authorities received reports of shots being fired at about 9 p.m. at a gathering of young people near Arcadia Lake. She said late Sunday that no arrests had been made yet.

“This is obviously a very terrifying situation and we understand the concern from the public and those involved and we are working extremely hard to find the suspects,” she said. “We’re kind of all over the metro speaking with victims and witnesses.”

Ward said 10 people were taken to hospitals and others drove themselves. She said victims were in “various conditions.”

Nine people were at Integris Health Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City and three were at Integris Health Edmond Hospital, according to a hospital system spokesperson. The spokesperson said the patients were all still being assessed late Sunday night.

While police didn’t provide details about the party, a flyer seen on social media after the shooting suggested that an event called Sunday Funday had been scheduled near the lake Sunday evening.

CBS Oklahoma City affiliate KWTV reports that police set up a reunification center for families at a local Walmart.

Arcadia Lake, about 13 miles north of Oklahoma City, is an artificial reservoir used for flood control that is also a popular recreational spot that offers fishing, boating, picnicking and camping. It’s located in Edmond, an Oklahoma City suburb with about 100,000 residents.

Forty years ago, Edmond was the site of one of the deadliest workplace shootings in U.S. history. On Aug. 20, 1986, postal worker Patrick Sherrill shot 20 co-workers, killing 14 of them. He then killed himself.

Jordan Freiman

News Editor

Jordan Freiman is a news editor for CBSNews.com. He covers breaking news, trending stories, sports and crime. Jordan has previously worked at Spin and Death and Taxes.

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Updated on: May 4, 2026 / 3:52 AM EDT / CBS News

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been hospitalized and is in “critical but stable condition,” his spokesperson, Ted Goodman, said in a statement Sunday.

“Mayor Giuliani is a fighter who has faced every challenge in his life with unwavering strength, and he’s fighting with that same strength now,” Goodman said. “We do ask that you join us in prayer for America’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani.”

There was no immediate reason given for the 81-year-old’s hospitalization.

Giuliani last year suffered broken vertebrae along with “multiple lacerations and contusions, as well as injuries to his left arm and lower leg” after a car he was riding in was struck from behind while on a highway in Manchester, New Hampshire, spokesperson Michael Ragusa said at the time.

Giuliani rose to fame in the 1980s and ’90s in New York City as a prosecutor before being elected mayor. He was serving in that role when the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred, thrusting him into the national spotlight. After two terms as mayor, he dabbled in national politics, including a run for president in 2008.

Giuliani later became a close ally of President Trump in his first run for office in 2016, and was a key figure in Mr. Trump’s efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election. He was one of the most prominent figures spreading conspiracy theories targeting the ballot counters and voting machines in that election.

Giuliani was disbarred in New York and Washington, D.C. and he declared bankruptcy after being found liable for $148 million for spreading falsehoods about Georgia election workers.

Giuliani and others tied to the false elector scheme were pardoned by Mr. Trump in November 2025, though the pardon does not protect against state charges, which Giuliani faced in Georgia and Arizona.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump described Giuliani as “fabulous … a True Warrior, and the Best Mayor in the History of New York City, BY FAR.”

In:

– Rudy Giuliani

An investigation is underway after a United Airlines Boeing 767 struck a light pole and a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike as it approached Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday afternoon.

Dash cam footage from the truck shows the moment Flight UA169, which originated in Venice, Italy, came into contact with the pole and truck. The flight had 221 passengers and 10 crew aboard. A frame-by-frame review of the video appears to show a landing gear tire outside the truck driver’s window.

New Jersey State Police said a preliminary investigation indicates a tire from the plane’s landing gear and the underside of the aircraft struck both the light pole and the tractor-trailer. The pole also hit a Jeep traveling on the turnpike.

The truck was headed to Smith’s Bakery depot in Newark and was about to exit the turnpike when it was struck, Chuck Paterakis, senior vice president of transportation and logistics and co-principal at H&S Bakery, told CBS Baltimore. The driver, identified by Paterakis as Warren Boardley, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and later released. Paterakis said Boardley was treated for glass-related injuries to his arm and hand.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating, and the National Transportation Safety Board has opened a probe into the incident. United said the aircraft “came into contact with a light pole,” landed safely, taxied to the gate normally and that no passengers or crew were injured. The airline added its maintenance team is assessing damage and it will investigate how the contact occurred.

Cellphone video appears to show UA169 flying low over the turnpike before landing just after 2 p.m. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the plane was on approach to Runway 29 when it struck the pole, damaging the pole and the southbound tractor-trailer. Airport staff inspected the runway for debris and normal operations resumed.

The flight normally lands on Newark’s longer runways but, because of windy conditions, was vectored to Runway 29 — the airport’s shortest runway at 6,725 feet. By comparison, the other runways typically used by the Venice flight are 11,000 feet and 9,999 feet. The recommended minimum runway distance for a 767-400 is just over 6,000 feet, so the landing was within limits but offered a smaller margin of error and less buffer from the surrounding highways.

Former NTSB Chair and retired 737 captain Robert Sumwalt called the approach to Runway 29 “relatively short” and a “difficult approach,” noting it is not a straight-in landing and lacks some of the landing-assist technologies of the longer runways. CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave said investigators will want to determine why the airplane was too low, including whether wind, loss of situational awareness or other factors contributed.

Passengers and onlookers were shaken by the dash cam footage. “I’m so very happy that he’s OK, because that looks absolutely awful,” said Miranda Lee of Tenafly, New Jersey. “It is scary. It’s concerning, definitely,” said Sam Immanuel, a New Jersey resident. Gov. Mikie Sherrill wrote on social media that she was grateful the aircraft landed safely and all aboard were unharmed.

After a destructive hurricane struck a coastal community, volunteers arrived in trucks and vans, offering aid, hauling debris and distributing meals. At first, they looked like any other group of strangers driven by a mission: to help neighbors get back on their feet. But months of reporting and interviews with residents, local relief organizers and law enforcement revealed a different picture in some towns: among the bona fide aid workers were people tied to extremist groups who used disaster zones to recruit, build networks and stage propaganda.

The pattern is subtle. Individuals present themselves as independent volunteers or as part of loosely organized relief crews. They provide visible, helpful services — clearing yards, repairing roofs, handing out supplies — which grants them access to neighborhoods and local leaders. That access, local officials say, can then be exploited: recruiting young people who see the volunteers as role models, filming staged acts of charity for online audiences, and establishing logistical footholds that make follow-up visits easier.

Local volunteers who have worked alongside newcomers say most people come with genuine intent, but a worrying minority arrive with backgrounds or connections that go undisclosed. Some carry flags or literature at their camps; others use the shelter of humanitarian work to avoid scrutiny while building social media followings. Survivors and small relief groups report increased friction when organizers discover hardline ideologies among new volunteers — choices about whose help is accepted, who gets leadership roles in informal groups, and how donations and labor are allocated.

Experts on domestic extremism emphasize three risk factors that make disasters useful to recruiters: the chaotic environment, reduced vetting of newcomers, and the emotional vulnerability of people who have lost homes and livelihoods. In those conditions, promises of camaraderie, purpose and belonging can have outsized influence. Law enforcement and nonprofit coordinators caution that increased background checks, clearer organizational identification for volunteer groups, and better communication with residents can reduce the chances that extremist actors exploit relief efforts.

Organizers and community leaders are trying to strike a balance: welcoming hands while protecting the community. That includes credentialing systems, mandatory training for volunteer groups, and hotlines that let residents and local organizations flag suspicious behavior. The wider lesson is that disasters test a community’s instincts for trust; resilience depends on channels that help well-meaning helpers connect safely — and that keep predatory actors from using suffering as a stage.

Then, birders flock here since guerrillas disarmed

In rural corridors where armed groups once constrained movement, a different kind of arrival has been underway: birdwatchers. When guerrilla forces disarmed or withdrew, yards and dirt roads that had been no-go zones reopened. Routes that once required clearance and risk now lead to montane forests, wetlands and coffee plantations where species that were previously inaccessible flourish.

Conservationists and local entrepreneurs say that the lifting of conflict has created an ecotourism boom. International birders — often traveling in small, organized groups — are drawn by rare endemics, long migratory stopovers, and habitats that remained relatively intact precisely because they were off-limits for development. For communities, hosting birdwatchers has immediate economic appeal: guiding, lodging, transport and local crafts become income streams that are less extractive than other forms of post-conflict exploitation.

The new economy, though, is not without challenges. A surge of visitors can strain simple infrastructure and upset fragile ecosystems unless it is managed. Experts recommend small-group models, trained local guides, and revenue-sharing that funds both community needs and habitat protection. Some former combatants have retrained as guides, using their knowledge of the landscape for legitimate livelihoods and becoming stewards of the birds they once had to avoid.

Success stories emphasize partnerships: national parks working with local cooperatives, international researchers training locals in species monitoring, and governments fast-tracking rural road improvements that benefit both residents and visitors. For bird conservationists, a key advantage is the rise of citizen science: visiting birders contribute sightings to global databases, helping map ranges and monitor population trends that could trigger conservation action.

There is also complexity: conservation must avoid becoming a substitute for deeper social recovery. Ecotourism revenue can be uneven; benefits should be coupled with education, land rights recognition and support for sustainable agriculture. When done with attention to equity, the migration of birders into former conflict zones can be an engine for habitat protection and community rebuilding.

And, Grasse: The perfume capital of the world

Perched in the hills of southern France, Grasse has been synonymous with perfume for centuries. Its microclimate and limestone soils foster fields of jasmine, rose, lavender and other fragrant flowers. The town’s centuries-old expertise in extracting, compounding and aging scents made it the natural partner of haute couture houses and boutique perfumers alike. Today, Grasse markets both tradition and innovation: artisanal distillation and modern chemistry sit side by side.

The region’s signature botanical — jasmine — is the world’s most prized raw material. Picked by hand before dawn, flowers are processed immediately to capture their fleeting scent. Rose and mimosa follow seasonal cycles, and other aromatics are cultivated for essential oils, absolutes and solvents that perfumers use as building blocks.

Grasse’s industry has two economic pillars: large luxury houses that commission exclusive blends, and independent perfume houses catering to niche markets. A tour of local ateliers reveals a blend of craft and science: copper stills and maceration vats, alongside gas chromatographs and lab-grade distillation rigs. Universities and apprenticeship programs in Grasse teach both chemistry and the art of scent, preserving skills that might otherwise be lost.

Global demand and the prestige of a Grasse-making have had ripple effects. For growers, producing high-quality raw materials can fetch premium prices, especially when marketed as traceable and sustainably farmed. But the industry also faces pressures: climate change alters flowering times and yield, while global competition increases demand for synthetic substitutes that can be cheaper and more stable.

Local producers are responding. Some are experimenting with organic cultivation, water-conserving irrigation and varietal trials aimed at resilience. Others emphasize provenance: traceable supply chains and terroir-driven marketing that highlight the link between a perfume and Grasse’s specific microclimate. Regulatory frameworks — geographical indications and quality certifications — help reinforce the value of authenticity.

Grasse remains, at its core, a creative hub. Perfumers here still balance memory and innovation, blending centuries-old accords with contemporary notes. For a new generation, the town offers both a living tradition and a proving ground for sustainable practices that could help keep its fragrant legacy alive.

Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down this weekend, the first U.S. carrier to collapse in 25 years, leaving passengers nationwide stranded and frustrated. At Newark Liberty, travelers described canceled flights and chaos at gates. Spirit’s demise — the low-cost carrier weighed down by debt and rising jet fuel costs — prompted airlines and industry analysts to reassess the low-fare model. Rival carriers, including JetBlue, are seeking to acquire gates and market share, and analysts say passengers can expect higher fares as carriers forecast tens of billions in added fuel expenses this year. The shutdown has sparked political debate: Republicans criticized the Biden administration over a blocked merger with JetBlue, while Democrats pointed to soaring fuel costs as a major factor. Travelers reported rethinking summer plans as pump prices climb — national averages rose above $4.40 per gallon amid continued energy tensions.

The continuing U.S.-Iran confrontation has driven a surge in gasoline and grocery prices and strained President Trump’s political standing. With the conflict entering its third month, the national pump average stood at about $4.44 per gallon — more than $2 higher than before the war began. The Pentagon’s publicly stated war costs are under scrutiny; sources suggest actual spending may be substantially higher than the $25 billion estimate. The administration has not ruled out further strikes, and officials said the U.S. will begin escorting neutral ships through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any interference could be met with force. The conflict has also frayed relations with some European partners.

In southern Morocco, a training exercise turned into a search-and-rescue operation when two U.S. service members went missing after reportedly falling off a cliff into the ocean while off duty. U.S. forces, along with partner nations participating in the multinational exercise, joined extensive searches by air and sea. Defense officials confirmed the missing were U.S. Army soldiers; their names have not been released.

In Arizona, crews battled a fast-moving wildfire west of Phoenix that, driven by drought, had burned hundreds of acres and remained uncontained. Firefighting leaders warned that surging jet fuel prices are increasing the cost of aerial firefighting: some large tankers now cost tens of thousands of dollars an hour to operate. Agencies are adjusting strategies, using simulators for training and staging aircraft at strategic locations to minimize flight time, but officials note that higher aviation fuel costs will likely affect budgets and could strain responses if conditions worsen.

Meteorologists say the busy tornado season has been historic, with nearly 600 tornado reports this year and many states impacted. April’s tornado activity was well above average, and while May began quieter, severe weather fronts are expected across the Plains and Midwest in the coming days, with threats of damaging wind, hail and tornadoes as systems shift eastward. Forecasters also warn that a strengthening El Niño could lead to an unusually hot summer.

Pope Leo marked the anniversary of his election and used his Sunday Mass to honor World Press Freedom Day and journalists who have died reporting from war zones.

On national security, the U.S. is modernizing its Cold War-era land-based deterrent: the Sentinel missile program will replace the 60-year-old Minuteman III with new missiles and infrastructure. The upgrade, officials say, is intended to provide safer, more reliable deterrence against advancing nuclear programs abroad. But Sentinel is costly and behind schedule, with current estimates showing significant budget overruns and a projected full roll-out stretching into future decades. Defense leaders argue that modernization keeps the deterrent credible and reduces safety risks associated with aging systems.

In cultural and lighter news, the box office saw a major summer kickoff as the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada opened at number one, earning a strong $77 million in North America. Other top releases included a Michael Jackson biopic and a animated Super Mario film.

Pop star Britney Spears is due in court Monday in an arraignment after a March arrest; she was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and recently completed a stint in voluntary rehab.

On the international music scene, a massive crowd turned out in Rio de Janeiro for a free Shakira concert on Copacabana Beach; organizers estimated about 2 million attendees. The Colombian superstar followed in the footsteps of recent global pop events in the city.

In sports, the Kentucky Derby made history as a longshot surged from last place to win the classic run. The victory was particularly notable because it was the first Derby win for the horse’s trainer, a woman who has risen in a sport long dominated by men. Celebrations at Churchill Downs highlighted both the race’s dramatic finish and the milestone for women in horseracing.

That’s the CBS Weekend News for this Sunday. Have a great week.