SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ' Google will lower the lucrative fees imposed on its Android app store and offer a way for rival options to gain its stamp of approval, ending a bruising legal battle that led to one of several rulings condemning its tactics as an illegal monopoly.

The proposed changes filed Wednesday with a federal court in San Francisco mark the latest twist in a case that began in August 2020 when video game maker Epic Games filed an antitrust case seeking make it easier for alternative payment options to compete against Googles Play Store system, which charges 15% to 30% commissions on a wide variety of in-app transactions.

Googles concessions come five months after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of the companys attempt to overturn a federal judges order requiring a far more extensive overhaul of the Play Store following a 2023 trial that culminated in a jury declaring the setup an illegal monopoly.

Backed into a legal corner, Google is now prepared to decrease its baseline commissions for subscriptions and e-commerce transactions into the 10% to 20% range while creating a new option that would charge 5% for payment processing.

App developers could still choose to rely on another payment processing system besides Googles and consumers will be able to download apps from alternative stores that go through a certification process. Although not required, alternative app stores that go through the Googles registration process are less likely to provoke warnings about security risks.

U.S. James Donato still must approve the proposed changes as an alternative to a more dramatic shakeup that he ordered in October 2024. Google is seeking an April 9 hearing before the judge to answer any questions about the revisions, which are being backed by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, whose North Carolina company is best known for making the Fortnite video game.

'Epic has been advocating for open platforms for a long time and this really brings Android up to the status of a truly open platform,' Sweeney told The Associated Press during an interview that also included Sameer Samat, the Google executive in charge of Android.

'We think its really great to focus more energy and time on building than on quarreling,' Samat said about Googles decision to finally strike a truce with Epic after years of acrimony.

Google is planning to extend this new Play Store template to the rest of the world, contingent on regulatory approval in other countries. The Mountain View, California, company intends to begin the rollout in the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, Samat said.

The lower fees are likely to dent the profits of Googles corporate parent, Alphabet Inc., which is in a better position to weather the blow now that its market value stands at $3.7 trillion ' four times more than when Epic filed its lawsuit.

Alphabet also faces other possible setbacks with Googles search engine being ordered to share more of its collected data after being being declared an illegal monopoly in a different case brought by the U.S. Justice Department. Parts of the technology powering Googles digital ad network also were deemed an abusive monopoly last year in yet another federal lawsuit. A federal judge in Virginia is weighing whether to order a breakup in order to restore competition in that case.

Epics 2020 attack against Googles Play Store coincided with a similar crusade against Apples iPhone app store that still remains entangled in some legal disputes about how alternative payment systems can be managed.

Sweeney isnt optimistic about reaching a deal with Apple that mirrors the Google concessions because the cases played out differently. In the Apple lawsuit, a federal judge concluded that the iPhone app store isnt a monopoly but still ordered changes designed to make it easier for consumers to navigate to alternative payment options ' a shift that Epic argues still hasnt occurred.

For now, Sweeney intends to savor the outcome of the Play Store case set to the soundtrack of a classic tune by the Rolling Stones.

'As the song says, ‘You cant always get what you want, but if you try, you can often get what you need, ' Sweeney said. 'And what we need is competition.'

An Arkansas man accused of killing his teenage daughters alleged abuser won the Republican nomination for local sheriff while waiting to stand trial for murder in his rural county, where he ran on a message of seeing the failures of law enforcement.

Aaron Spencer defeated Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley in Tuesdays primary elections, according to unofficial results posted by the Arkansas secretary of state. He would not be able to serve if he is convicted of killing Michael Fosler, 67, who at the time was out on bond after being charged with numerous sexual offenses against Spencers then-13-year-old daughter.

Spencers attorneys do not deny that he shot and killed Fosler but maintain he acted within the law to protect his child from a predator.

Spencer won more than 53% of the vote with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. Staley, whose department arrested Spencer in 2024, conceded the loss.

'Congratulations to Mr. Spencer. Tonight the voters made their decision in the Republican Primary, and I respect the decision,' Staley said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Spencer said in a statement that his message of accountability resonated with voters.

'Tonight, the people of Lonoke County stood up and chose transparency and accountability,' Spencer said. 'This wasnt a campaign about me. It was about every family who called for help and got nothing. That betrayal ends tonight.'

He is now set to face Democrat Brian Mitchell Sr. in the heavily Republican county in November.

Spencer has pleaded not guilty and is out on bond while awaiting trial, which was originally scheduled to start in January. The trial was delayed after the presiding judge was removed from the case. A new date has not been set.

Court documents show that on the night of the October 2024 shooting, Spencer woke up to find his daughter missing from her bedroom and went searching for her in his truck. He found the girl in the passenger seat of a vehicle Fosler was driving. Spencer eventually forced Foslers truck off the highway and, after an altercation, called 911 to report he had shot the man, records show.

Prosecutors argue Spencer had planned to kill Fosler even before that night and that he could have called police while pursuing Fosler.

Spencers attorney, Erin Cassinelli, wrote in an email to The Associated Press that the election results have no bearing on the facts of the case.

'Aaron Spencer did exactly what the law allows and exactly what any father would do: he protected his daughter and himself from harm,' Cassinelli said. 'At some point, those responsible for this prosecution will have to reckon with that.'

Spencer pledged in a Facebook post last month that if elected he would establish a dedicated team to combat sex crimes against children.

Quiñones, who was born and raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico, will return to that nation to take on a leadership role supporting the modernization and transformation of the island’s electric grid, Mayor Karen Bass’ office said in a statement Wednesday morning.

The mayor is expected to announce “details shortly” regarding interim leadership for the DWP.

“Janisse brought steady leadership and engineering expertise to LADWP during a critical period for our city,” Bass said in a statement. “Her focus on resilience, reliability, and strengthening the workforce has helped position the Department for continued progress. We thank her for her service to Los Angeles.”

In 2024, Bass nominated Quiñones, a longtime Pacific Gas and Electric executive, to succeed the previous general manager Martin Adams, who retired after many years of service to the city.

The City Council subsequently confirmed Quiñones as the DWP’s general manger with an annual salary of $750,000, nearly twice as much as her predecessor.

City officials had defended her salary, adding it was necessary to remain competitive with other private and public agencies.

Quiñones led the nation’s largest publicly owned water and power utility through a period of “operational focus, infrastructure modernization, and organizational strengthening ' positioning LADWP to meet the evolving demands of climate change, wildfire risk, emergency management, system resilience and long-term reliability,” according to the mayor’s office.

“Serving the people of Los Angeles has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life,” Quiñones said in a statement.

“I am deeply grateful to Mayor Karen Bass and the city of Los Angeles for the trust placed in me to steward essential infrastructure that supports the health, safety and economic vitality of our communities. Los Angeles is a city defined by innovation, diversity, and resilience. It has been a privilege to serve a community that continually rises to meet its challenges,” Quiñones added.

She further expressed her appreciation for the DWP’s workforce of more than 12,000 employees.

Quiñones and the utility have been criticized for their response to the January 2025 Palisades fire, including leaving a key water source empty in the area. The Santa Ynez Reservoir had been left empty for maintenance for nearly a year, which hampered firefighting efforts. Water hydrants were left depleted during the emergency as well, which officials attribute to the high demand for water.

The DWP launched an investigation into the empty reservoir and began enhanced efforts to protect infrastructure in Pacific Palisades during emergencies.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ' A Texas judge is hearing evidence Wednesday on whether the youth camp where 25 girls and two counselors were killed in catastrophic floods last year should remain closed while a lawsuit filed by one of the girls families is pending.

The family of 8-year-old Cile Steward, who was swept away during the flooding and whose body still has not been recovered, has asked a Travis County judge to prevent Camp Mystics owners from reopening the camp and to halt any construction while the lawsuit is pending. Their request for a temporary injunction maintains that any changes at the camp could destroy evidence needed for their lawsuit.

'It now falls to this Court to protect the public, plaintiffs search for answers, and the evidence at the Camp Mystic site,' the attorneys wrote.

The camps decision last year to partially open and to construct a memorial on the grounds drew outrage from many of the girls families who are mourning their loved ones and who said they werent consulted on the plans.

'We call on Camp Mystic to halt all discussions of reopening and memorials,' CiCi and Will Steward wrote to Camp Mystic officials after the camps decision was announced.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has asked Texas regulators not to renew the license for Camp Mystic while the deaths are being investigated and cited legislative probes that are expected to begin in the spring.

Families of several of the girls who died have sued the camps operators, arguing that camp officials failed to take necessary steps to protect the campers as life-threatening floodwaters approached.

Attorneys for Camp Mystic have expressed sympathy toward the girls families but maintained there was little they could have done during the catastrophic flooding that quickly overcame the camp.

'Nobody had every seen a prior flood anything like we saw in 2025,' said Mikal Watts, an attorney for Camp Mystic and its family of owners.

Murphy reported from Oklahoma City.

WASHINGTON (AP) ' The Trump administration has formally nominated Kevin Warsh, a former top Federal Reserve official, to be the next Fed chair when Jerome Powells term ends in two months.

Warshs nomination, which was initially announced Jan. 30, was forwarded to the Senate Wednesday, where it will be taken up by the Senate Banking Committee.

Yet the nomination could stall there. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican on the committee, has said he will oppose confirming Warsh until a criminal investigation into Powell is resolved. Powell revealed Jan. 11 that the Justice Department had subpoenaed the Fed over Powells Senate testimony last June about the central banks $2.5 billion building renovation project.

Tillis said last month that the committee could hold a hearing about Warshs nomination, but he would vote to block confirmation. If all Democrats on the committee voted against Warsh as well, the nomination wouldnt pass out of the committee to the full Senate.

Warsh has harshly criticized the Feds policies in recent years, including its low interest rate policies coming out of the pandemic, which he says contributed to the United States largest inflation spike in four decades in 2021-2022.

Yet Warsh now has echoed President Donald Trumps demands for lower rates. Warsh says that productivity gains from artificial intelligence will help the economy grow more quickly without spurring inflation, enabling the Fed to reduce borrowing costs. Many Fed officials, however, disagree that AIs development will support rate cuts.

JERUSALEM (AP) ' The unfolding Iran war has ricocheted across the region and beyond, with nearly every country in the Middle East sustaining damage from missile hits, drone strikes or shrapnel, many reporting casualties, and key embassies, economic engines and passageways closing down. Off the coast of Sri Lanka, a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship as the war intensified and its footprint grew.

Foreign governments have for days urged their citizens to leave Middle East countries on any available commercial flight as Gulf airspaces largely close, cruise ships cant pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and major airlines cancel flights. The U.S. State Department says it has evacuated nonemergency personnel and families in six nations. It has advised citizens from more than a dozen countries to leave. Governments from Russia to Germany and India also scrambled to run repatriation flights.

Heres a country-by-country breakdown of the impact of the war so far.

All airspace information is from the real-time flight-tracking service Flightradar 24, as of Wednesday, or national authorities.

Iran

Death toll: At least 1,045 people, according to Irans Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs. It is unknown how many are civilians.

Major casualty incidents: More than 160 were killed by a strike on an elementary school in Minab, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. Israel says it was not involved in the incident. When asked by reporters about it, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he did not have details but that the U.S. would not deliberately target a school.

Damage and impact: U.S.-Israeli strikes have targeted nuclear infrastructure, missile launchers, government buildings in Tehran and leadership compounds, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top military officials. Reports on state TV quote Iranians saying their homes have been damaged.

Airspace: Closed.

Israel and the Palestinian territories

Death toll: Eleven civilians have been killed, according to Israeli authorities. That includes three siblings, ages 16, 15, 13; a Filipina caretaker killed while escorting the woman in her charge to a shelter; and a mother of three who was a volunteer medic.

Major casualty incidents: A strike in Beit Shemesh left nine dead.

Damage and impact: Several locations ' among them a synagogue and public shelter in Beit Shemesh, an apartment building in Tel Aviv, a road in Jerusalem ' have been hit by Iranian missiles. Israeli police also say an Iranian warhead landed close to Jerusalems Old City, close to many holy sites. The extent of damage to Israeli military bases and other sensitive locations is unknown; the military does not reveal that information.

Airspace: Closed.

Lebanon

Death toll: Seventy-two people, including seven children, have been killed and 437 wounded, Lebanons Health Ministry said Tuesday evening. Officials with the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group were also killed. Hezbollah has not confirmed anyone killed in their ranks yet in this conflict, though Israel says it has struck only Hezbollah-linked targets.

Major casualty incidents: Israeli airstrikes killed six people in a residential complex in Baalbeck, state-run media reported. Others hit the towns of Aramoun and Saadiyat, killing six and wounding eight.

Damage and impact: At least 84,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese social affairs minister Tuesday. Anxieties have been running high over a buildup of Syrian forces on the border. Israel says it is targeting 'Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities,' and it sent ground troops into southern Lebanon border areas. Hezbollah also said it launched drones targeting an Israeli air base. The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon said Tuesday it was closing to the public until further notice.

Airspace: Lebanons airspace is not fully closed. Flights are coming and going, but many airlines have canceled flights.

Kuwait

Casualties: At least eight people have died in Kuwait. Health authorities have so far announced the deaths of two civilians ' one migrant worker killed in a strike that injured 32 others and an 11-year-old girl killed after shrapnel fell in a residential area in Kuwait City.

Major casualty incidents: Six American soldiers were killed at an operations center located at a civilian port in Kuwait, more than 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the main Army base, according to satellite images and a U.S. official.

Damage and impact: On Monday, the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait was struck. On Tuesday, it announced it was closing to the public until further notice. A satellite image taken Monday and reviewed by AP shows the main building in the complex destroyed, with a trail of black smoke rising from it. Its in Port Shuaiba, a working seaport south of Kuwait City.

Airspace: Closed

United Arab Emirates

Casualties: Three civilians have been killed in the UAE, foreign workers from Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan, the country reported. At least 68 people have been injured.

Damage and impact: An Iranian drone slammed into a parking lot outside the U.S. consulate in Dubai on Tuesday, sparking a small fire, according to U.S. Secretary of State Rubio. The UAE Defense Ministry also released a breakdown of its missile and drone interceptions. It said it had detected more than 800 Iranian drones in its airspace and 57 of them had struck land. Of 186 ballistic missiles it said it detected, only one hit its territory. Air defenses intercepted all eight cruise missiles it said Iran fired.

The city of Dubai, with a global reputation as the safest place in the Middle East and a hub for global investment, has sustained damage to its international airport and, according to CENTCOM, hotels along its coastline. Iran also targeted two Amazon data centers in the UAE, the company said Tuesday.

Airspace: Partially closed.

Bahrain

Casualties: One civilian, an Asian worker, was killed by a fire set by a strike on Monday, said Bahrains Interior Ministry. Two others were wounded.

Damage and impact: Amazon said Tuesday there was a drone impact near one of its data centers in the country.

Airspace: Closed.

Syria

Damage and casualties: Several people, including children, suffered minor injuries in the countryside outside Damascus from Iranian missile debris, Syrias state news agency SANA said. Some areas in Syrias southern provinces also saw missile debris fall from Iranian projectiles fired toward Israel, with no additional injuries or material damage reported, SANA said.

Airspace: Closed.

Iraq

Casualties: Strikes on Iranian proxy sites by the U.S. or Israel have killed militia members, though its not clear how many.

Damage and impact: There was a fresh wave of drone and missile attacks intercepted over Irbil on Tuesday, the capital of northern Iraqs semiautonomous Kurdish region. Multiple drones targeted areas around the U.S. consulate building but did not hit it directly. Debris from the intercepted drones caused fires and property damage. Iran-linked Iraqi militias have claimed multiple attacks on the Kurdish region, which hosts bases with U.S. troops, since the U.S.-Israeli joint attack on Iran.

Protesters also attempted to storm the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Sunday.

Iraqs Ministry of Oil said Tuesday that it would stop production in a key oil field because of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, causing crude oil prices to surge worldwide.

Airspace: Closed.

Jordan

Damage and impact: Jordanian police announced Sunday that five people were injured by falling shrapnel after Iranian projectiles were intercepted in the kingdoms airspace.

Airspace: Open, but many airlines have canceled flights.

Saudi Arabia

Damage and impact: Saudi Arabias Defense Ministry said early Wednesday that forces have intercepted and destroyed nine drones over the country since the war began. It came a day after Iran struck the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabias capital of Riyadh with two drones, causing 'limited fire' and minor damage, according to Saudi Arabias Defense Ministry. The embassy has urged Americans to avoid the compound.

Saudi Arabias Ras Tanura oil refinery also came under attack from drones, but its defenses downed the aircraft, a military spokesman told the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The refinery has a capacity of over half a million barrels of crude oil a day.

Airspace: Partially closed in the area bordering Iraq and the Persian Gulf.

Egypt

Damage and impact: The ripple effects of the war have hit Egypts struggling economy, as global shipping firms decided to reroute vessel fleets away from the Suez Canal. The canal, which connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas, is a major source of foreign currency for the cash-strapped country.

Airspace: Commercial flights are leaving the country, though there have been cancellations, and most countries are recommending residents travel through Taba and Sharm al-Sheikh instead of Cairo.

Qatar

Damage and impact: Iran has hit energy facilities in Qatar. Qatars Ministry of Defense said early Wednesday that Iran launched two ballistic missiles against it, with one hitting Al-Udeid Qatari Base, though it didnt cause casualties.

Airspace: Closed.

Oman

Casualties: An Indian mariner was killed off the coast of Muscat, the sultanates capital, Monday, when a bomb-carrying drone boat exploded against a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker. Four more mariners were injured Sunday when their oil tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz came under attack, the state-run Oman News Agency said. Its not clear who launched either attack, but Iran has been threatening vessels approaching the Strait.

Damage and impact: Oman, long an intermediary between the West and Iran, has repeatedly come under attack by Iran. A vessel was hit by a projectile early Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman off the United Arab Emirates, according to an agency of the U.K. military. There were no reported casualties. Drone attacks have also targeted the countrys largest port of Salalah, as well as Duqm port.

Airspace: Open, but many commercial flights are canceled. Muscat airport has become a base for evacuation flights.

Cyprus

Damage and impact: A British air base on the Mediterranean island has come under attack in the war.

Turkey

Damage and impact: NATO defense systems have intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran as it headed toward Turkeys airspace, the countrys defense ministry said. A ministry statement said the missile was detected after crossing the Iraqi and Syrian airspace and was intercepted by NATO units stationed in the eastern Mediterranean.

Debris from the missile fell into a district of Hatay province, near the border with Syria. There were no casualties.

Sri Lanka

Damage and impact: A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean outside Sri Lankas territorial waters, officials said Wednesday. Sri Lankas navy rescued 32 people and recovered 87 bodies. It had 180 on board.

Sri Lankas navy received a distress signal from the ship, the IRIS Dena, officials said. A video released by the U.S. showed the moment of the torpedo attack, with the Iranian ship appearing to be hit by an underwater explosion that caused it to break apart, a large plume of water rising.

AP writers Kareem Chehayeb, Abby Sewell and Bassem Mroue in Beirut; Samy Magdy in Cairo; Jon Gambrell in Dubai; Haratha Mallawarachi in Colombo, Sri Lanka; Sam Metz in Ramallah; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus; Omar Akour in Amman, Jordan; and Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed to this report.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ' U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on Wednesday met in Venezuela with acting President Delcy Rodríguez in the latest sign of the Trump administrations intent to exercise control over the South American countrys natural resources.

Burgum, who leads President Donald Trumps National Energy Dominance Council, was expected to meet with U.S. and Venezuelan companies and 'work for a legitimate mining sector and safe critical mineral supply chains,' according to a post on X by the U.S. diplomatic mission in Venezuela.

It characterized the two-day visit as 'another vital and historic step' that backs the administrations phased plan to turn Venezuela around.

Burgum is the latest U.S. official to travel to Caracas to meet with Rodríguez, who was sworn in following the capture by U.S. forces of then-President Nicolás Maduro two months ago. His trip follows a February visit by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, which was focused on the countrys oil potential.

Laura Dogu, the U.S. top diplomat in Venezuela, joined Burgum for the meeting with Rodríguez at the presidential palace.

The Trump administration last month announced that it wants to create a critical minerals trading bloc with its allies and partners to defend against Chinas hold on the key elements needed for everything from fighter jets to smartphones.

In addition to oil, Venezuela is rich in gold, copper, diamonds and other precious mined resources, while unsafe working conditions are common in the poorly regulated industry.

Before his capture, Maduro and his allies claimed U.S. hostility was motivated by lust for Venezuelas rich oil and mineral resources.

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

WASHINGTON (AP) ' The head of the IRS largely declined to answer questions about recent unlawful disclosures of taxpayer data when he was questioned by lawmakers at a congressional hearing on Wednesday, saying they happened before his tenure began.

IRS CEO Frank Bisignano faced the House Ways and Means Committee to speak about the agency’s progress in serving taxpayers as the 2026 tax season is in full swing. It was his first time facing lawmakers in his role as leader of the IRS after being named to the newly created CEO position last October. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remains acting commissioner of the IRS.

In prepared remarks, Bisignano focused on the Internal Revenue Services implementation of Republicans sweeping tax and spending law, which includes eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, exempting certain car loan interest, creating a deduction for older adults and launching Trump Accounts for childrens savings.

However, several Democratic lawmakers zeroed in on a federal judge’s finding that the IRS broke the law by disclosing confidential taxpayer information 'approximately 42,695 times' to Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of an agreement between ICE and the Department of Homeland Security to share information on immigrants for the purpose of identifying and deporting people illegally in the U.S. Immigration and border security are a major part of the agenda of President Donald Trump, a Republican.

'Was anyone fired? Was anyone disciplined? Was anyone held accountable? Was anyone held to account?' Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., asked Bisignano.

Bisignano cited ongoing litigation and declined to answer questions about the disclosures, adding, 'I dont want to debate the numbers.' He said no employee was fired or disciplined for the disclosures.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly found last month that the IRS unlawfully shared the taxpayer information of thousands of people with immigration enforcement.

There are several ongoing cases that challenge the IRS-DHS agreement. Two court orders have blocked the agencies from massive transfers of taxpayer information and blocked ICE from acting on any IRS data in its possession. Those preliminary injunctions are still in place.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., said, 'This is a catastrophic leadership failure and a huge hit on the publics confidence in your integrity.'

Bisignano, who also serves as the Social Security Administrations commissioner, responded, 'Obviously all these events occurred before my tenure.' But he added it was 'my responsibility to get it right.'

A data-sharing agreement signed last April by Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem allows ICE to submit names and addresses of immigrants inside the U.S. illegally to the IRS for cross-verification against tax records. The deal led the then-acting commissioner of the IRS to resign.

During the hearing, Republican lawmakers gave compliments to the Trump administration for signing the Republican tax measure into law.

Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., said under the new law, 'Americans are getting bigger refunds that put more money back into their pockets.'

According to the latest IRS data, the average refund amount is up by roughly 10%. The average refund was $3,453 in 2025 and is $3,804 in 2026 ' a difference of $351. The White House has projected that refunds would be up by $1,000 on average.

'Under President Trump, the IRS is putting the American taxpayer first and supporting working families,' Smith said.

During the hearing, Democrats also questioned Bisignano on the IRS’ decision last month to cut union contracts with its workers. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., contended that 'by terminating the union contract it makes it easier to take apart the IRS.'

Bisignano, who is the son of a former Treasury Department worker, said, 'Federal employees under statute have greater benefits than any union in the world can provide for their people.'

'They’re losing nothing,' he said.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the Internal Revenue Service at https://apnews.com/hub/internal-revenue-service.

The Tournament of Roses on Wednesday, March 4, announced the 21 marching bands that will participate in the 2027 Rose Parade.

A committee of Tournament volunteers select bands from all over the world based on criteria that takes into account musicianship, marching ability and entertainment or special interest value. In addition to the 21 bands revealed this week, the university bands for the schools participating in the 2027 Rose Bowl game will also march in the parade.

• Also see: How the Rose Parades largest marching band is gearing up for a key moment: ‘the turn

In January, Tournament of Roses President Terry Madigan announced that “Welcome” would be the theme for the 2027 Rose Parade taking place Friday, Jan. 1, 2027.

As president Madigan will visit every marching band participating in the parade and welcome them to the Tournament of Roses.

Here’s the full list of marching bands:

-Aguiluchos Marching Band, Puebla, Mexico-Asahi University and Gifushogyo High School, Kyoto, Japan-Banda CEDES Don Bosco, Alajuelita, San Jose, Costa Rica-Blue Springs High School Marching Band, Blue Springs, Missouri-Carmel High School Marching Band, Carmel, Indiana-Falcon Marching Band, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio-LAUSD All District High School Honor Band, Los Angeles, California-Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets, Pasadena, California-Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band, Pasadena, California-Pasadena Unified School District All Star Band, Pasadena, California-Pride Bands Alliance, Washington, D.C.-Rosemount High School Marching Band, Rosemount, Minnesota-Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps, Santa Clara, California-The Clovis High School Golden Cougar Marching Band and Color Guard, Clovis, California-The Majestic Marching Cardinals of Jonesboro High School, Jonesboro, Georgia-The Marching Southerners, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama-The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band, Carson, California-Timber Creek High School Falcon Band, Fort Worth, Texas-United States Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band, San Diego, California

Bands that wish to participate in the 2028 Rose Parade can apply online at tournamentofroses.com.

Part of an apartment in a modular apartment complex is hoisted into place in Santa Monica, CA on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. The nonprofit Community Corporation of Santa Monica with Plant Prefab and Howard CDM, for Berkeley Station, is building Santa Monica’s first modular affordable housing building. The building’s prefabricated units will be installed with a crane over three days, creating 13 units of affordable housing for low-income families and transition-age youth. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A rendering of the finished modular apartment complex being built in Santa Monica, CA on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. The nonprofit Community Corporation of Santa Monica with Plant Prefab and Howard CDM, for Berkeley Station, is building Santa Monica’s first modular affordable housing building. The building’s prefabricated units will be installed with a crane over three days, creating 13 units of affordable housing for low-income families and transition-age youth. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A crane in position to add a section of an apartment in a modular apartment complex is hoisted into place in Santa Monica, CA on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. The nonprofit Community Corporation of Santa Monica with Plant Prefab and Howard CDM, for Berkeley Station, is building Santa Monica’s first modular affordable housing building. The building’s prefabricated units will be installed with a crane over three days, creating 13 units of affordable housing for low-income families and transition-age youth. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Part of an apartment in a modular apartment complex is hoisted into place in Santa Monica, CA on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. The nonprofit Community Corporation of Santa Monica with Plant Prefab and Howard CDM, for Berkeley Station, is building Santa Monica’s first modular affordable housing building. The building’s prefabricated units will be installed with a crane over three days, creating 13 units of affordable housing for low-income families and transition-age youth. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A worker connects a section of a modular apartment complex in Santa Monica, CA on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. The nonprofit Community Corporation of Santa Monica with Plant Prefab and Howard CDM, for Berkeley Station, is building Santa Monica’s first modular affordable housing building. The building’s prefabricated units will be installed with a crane over three days, creating 13 units of affordable housing for low-income families and transition-age youth. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)