United States

Happening Today: Jeter, O'Reilly, Zika, CDC, Richard Simmons, Serena Williams

What to Know

  • Former Yankee Derek Jeter and former presidential candidate Jeb Bush have teamed up to bid for the Miami Marlins, according to a report
  • Thousands of bacteria-infected mosquitoes were released near Key West, testing a new way to kill mosquitoes that carry Zika
  • Tennis superstar Serena Williams dropped a major hint that she could be pregnant, posting a photo of herself with the caption "20 weeks"

Get the top headlines of the day in your morning briefing from NBC 4 New York, Monday through Friday. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Derek Jeter, Jeb Bush Team Up to Bid for Miami Marlins, Report Says

He's a New York icon, but Derek Jeter has apparently set his sights on a baseball future in Florida. The Yankees great and former presidential candidate Jeb Bush have teamed up to bid for the Miami Marlins, the Miami Herald reported. Citing people familiar with the sale, the paper reported the future Hall of Famer and the former Florida governor had combined their once-competing bids for the club. There are a number of other potential bidders and no guarantee the team will be sold. Jeter has made no secret of his desire to own a baseball team, telling CNBC in 2016 that it is his "ultimate goal." And Bush comes from a baseball-loving family; his brother George owned the Texas Rangers before becoming president. A deal could also potentially reunite Jeter with another Yankee icon, Marlins manager Don Mattingly.

O'Reilly's Departure Creates New Challenges for Fox, Analysis Shows

With its biggest star departing in another blowup over sexual harassment, Fox News faces some big challenges. It now has to show that it can hang on to its loyal army of conservative viewers, improve its working culture, and still continue to make big bucks for its corporate parent. The company said it had parted ways with longtime host Bill O'Reilly after a "thorough and careful review of allegations against him." Dozens of advertisers ditched "The O'Reilly Factor" after a New York Times report detailed $13 million in payouts to five women over his alleged abusive behavior; more allegations subsequently emerged. (O'Reilly denied the accusations.) O'Reilly's departure is the second big blow for conservatives' favorite news network in nine months. Fox's longtime CEO Roger Ailes resigned abruptly amid similar sexual harassment charges last July. Its leading female star, Megyn Kelly, also decamped for NBC in January.

Protected 'Dreamer' Sues U.S. Following Deportation

A 23-year-old man deported to Mexico, despite the fact he was enrolled in a program designed to protect children brought into the U.S. by undocumented immigrants, has filed a lawsuit in San Diego demanding to see government documents related to his case. NBC 7 San Diego obtained the complaint filed by attorneys representing Juan Manuel Montes, who had been living in the U.S. since he was 9 years old before he was deported on Feb. 18. Montes had applied for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program four years ago. In 2016, he was granted deferred action by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service under DACA until 2018, according to the complaint. U.S. Customs and Border Protection told The Associated Press it disputed the account of Montes' immigration status, saying that his DACA permit expired in August 2015 and, according to its records, was not renewed.

Zika-Fighting Sterile Mosquitoes Released

Thousands of bacteria-infected mosquitoes were released in the wild near Key West, testing a new way to kill mosquitoes that carry Zika and other viruses. The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District released 20,000 male mosquitoes infected by the Kentucky-based company MosquitoMate with naturally occurring Wolbachia bacteria. The offspring produced when the lab-bred mosquitoes mate with wild female mosquitoes won't survive to adulthood. Male mosquitoes don't bite, and Wolbachia is not harmful to humans. The infected mosquitoes were flown in cardboard tubes — similar to ones used in paper towel rolls — from Lexington, Kentucky, to Key West on Tuesday morning. At the Stock Island test site, about 25 acres with residential and commercial properties just north of Key West, district staff released them by shaking or blowing into the tubes, said Andrea Leal, the district's executive director. The trial is expected to last about three months, with twice-weekly releases.

CDC to Launch Awareness Campaign Warning of Opioid Dangers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to launch a new ad campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid addiction. CDC acting director Anne Schuchat discussed the problem at the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit in Atlanta. Schuchat said the rising rate of deaths and addiction due to opioids is a crisis for the nation. She said the aim of the new campaign is to get doctors and patients thinking about the problem and know the risks involved with opioids before there's a tragedy. Schuchat said the hope is that patients will become aware of these risks early on, so they can discuss the issue when they talk with their doctor instead of facing problems later.

Richard Simmons Addresses Fans in Facebook Statement

After an absence from the spotlight, Richard Simmons is speaking out directly to his fans, saying, "Hope to see you again soon!" Simmons posted a statement on his Facebook page, and his spokesman, Tom Estey, confirmed its authenticity. The statement marks Simmons' first public comments since calling into TV's "Entertainment Tonight" last year. The 68-year-old fitness guru has been out of the public eye since 2014, an absence that inspired the popular podcast "Missing Richard Simmons" earlier this year. After reportedly being hospitalized for severe indigestion, Simmons sent greetings to "everyone who has shown concern for me and sent their good wishes."

'20 Weeks': Serena Williams is Pregnant, Spokeswoman Says

Tennis superstar Serena Williams dropped a major hint that she could be pregnant, posting a photo of herself on her Snapchat story with the caption "20 weeks." The photo shows Williams in a swimsuit with what appears to be a baby bump. A spokeswoman for Williams confirmed late Wednesday that the tennis star is indeed a future mother. Williams recently got engaged to boyfriend and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. She shared that news on social media too, flashing her massive engagement ring in a picture on Reddit. The apparent pregnancy announcement comes less than a week before Williams reclaims the top spot in the women's tennis rankings, which she's set to do, according to the Women's Tennis Association. It will mark her 317th week as the top female tennis player in the world.

Contact Us