by: Sylvan Lane, The Hill

Posted: May 12, 2026 / 08:51 AM CDT

Updated: May 12, 2026 / 08:51 AM CDT

(The Hill) — In April, the annual rate of inflation surged, spurred by escalating energy and food costs amid the conflict in Iran, as revealed by the Labor Department’s latest report on Tuesday.

The consumer price index (CPI), a widely used measure of inflation, increased by 3.8 percent over the year, with a notable 0.6 percent rise occurring just in April, as detailed in the freshly released figures from the Labor Department.

Economists expected the annual inflation rate to rise to 3.7 percent, according to consensus estimates, after hitting 3.3 percent in March.

Energy prices rose 3.8 percent last month alone as the war in Iran chokes off the global supply of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, drastically raising the cost of accessible crude and other products derived from it. Food prices were up 0.5 percent in April.

The latest inflation data is also a major political blow to President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers, who face a potential midterm election revolt over the economy as price growth accelerates because of the Iran conflict.

Developing…

Police body camera footage has revealed the incredible moment when an alert K-9 located a missing 96-year-old man, showcasing the dog’s vital role in search and rescue operations.

Ray Cornett, a resident of Florida, was reported missing over the weekend, prompting the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to take swift action. Authorities classified Cornett as an “endangered person,” highlighting the urgency of the situation.

A comprehensive search effort was launched in the Lutz area, situated just north of Tampa, involving several specialized units dedicated to finding Cornett.

Among these units was a team led by an officer and his reliable K-9 partner, Boomer. Boomer, a bloodhound known for its exceptional tracking abilities, played a crucial role in the search.

The body camera footage captures a heartwarming scene where the officer retrieves Boomer from the back of his patrol car, attaches the leash, and affectionately greets the eager dog with, “Hey Booms.”

The officer could then be seen placing an item belonging to the missing elderly man that held his scent in front of the police dog’s nose. 

‘Find him!’ the officer said before Boomer took off. 

The video then cuts to the officer and police dog searching a lakeside before entering an area dense with trees and foliage. 

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office body camera footage captured this K-9, Boomer, tracking and finding a missing 96-year-old man named Ray Cornett

In the video, Boomer’s handler could be seen placing an item belonging to Cornett that had his scent in front of the K-9’s nose 

Boomer quickly zeroed in on Cornett, who appears to have been lying on the ground. The officer radioed, ‘Hey, I found him in the woods.’

Another officer could then be seen going over and checking on the elderly man and asking if he was okay. 

‘Good boy!’ the officer handling Boomer could be heard saying before repeating, ‘Good boy, Boomer!’

Shortly before the video ends, an officer and another man can be seen slowly escorting Cornett out of the wooded area. 

A firetruck could be seen parked on the road, and three members of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue who had responded to the call could be seen.

Police said that the elderly man was located just a couple hundred yards away from his home, to which he was safely returned. 

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office posted the body camera footage to its Facebook page, congratulated the ‘great work’ of its officers and praised Boomer in particular. 

The sheriff’s office did not provide details about how or why Cornett went missing. 

Boomer quickly sniffed out Cornett, who appears to have been lying on the ground among dense trees and foliage near his home in Lutz, Florida

Police said that Cornett was safely brought home. The elderly man is pictured being escorted out of the wooded area

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for comment and additional details. 

In the comments of the Facebook post, dozens of people shared their enthusiasm and praise for Boomer. 

‘Love it! Get that dog a steak,’ one user wrote. 

‘Nothing better than those floppy eared dogs…. Great Work,’ another said. 

‘That is amazing! I don’t think anyone would of thought the gentleman could make it that far into the brush. Glad they got the dog out fast for the search,’ a third chimed in.

Yvonne Cornett, the daughter of the missing elderly man, also commented and wrote: ‘Wonderful job by boomer!!! Thank you from [the] bottom of my heart for finding my dad!!!’

For the second consecutive year, the spotlight of the Preakness Stakes is on a notable absence rather than the contenders in the race.

Golden Tempo, the recent victor of the Kentucky Derby, will bypass the Preakness, opting instead to prepare for the Belmont Stakes, which is scheduled for June 6 at Saratoga.

While the absence of Golden Tempo might dampen casual interest, the Preakness still promises to deliver a thrilling competition featuring elite horses, with a formidable favorite leading the pack.

Iron Honor, wearing No. 9 and under the guidance of renowned trainer Chad C. Brown, is the frontrunner with 9-2 odds. Brown, who previously secured Preakness victories in 2017 with Cloud Computing and in 2022 with Early Voting, is no stranger to success at this event.

Chasing Iron Honor closely are Taj Mahal, Chip Honcho, and Incredibolt, each with morning line odds set at 5-1, promising an exciting race for enthusiasts and bettors alike.

Taj Mahal is a local horse that has won all three starts he’s made at Laurel Park, which is hosting the Preakness for the first time, with Pimlico under renovations.

Taj Mahal broke his maiden over this track in February and continued to improve with wins in the Miracle Wood and then in a dominant victory at the Federico Tesio.

2026 Preakness Stakes odds

Ocelli, who finished third at the Kentucky Derby as a 70-1 long shot, is 6-1 to win the Preakness.

He is the only horse that competed in the Derby to make the trip to Laurel.

The 2026 Preakness Stakes will take place on Saturday, May 16, at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md. Post-time is scheduled for 6:57 p.m. ET.

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to kick off their new NFL season with a “Monday Night Football” clash against the Denver Broncos on September 14.

This matchup marks the debut of Travis Kelce as Taylor Swift’s husband on the field, while the spotlight is also on quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is battling to regain full health following a significant knee injury last season.

Joe Buck, ESPN’s lead play-by-play commentator, revealed the game details during his appearance on “Good Morning America” alongside Troy Aikman.

This contest is poised to be a critical evaluation of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl aspirations, especially after they relinquished their grip on the AFC West to Sean Payton’s Broncos last year and failed to secure a playoff spot.

Whether the showdown will take place at Arrowhead Stadium or Empower Field at Mile High is still up in the air, but an announcement is anticipated when the complete schedule is unveiled later this week.

Swift and Kelce are expected to tie the knot in New York City on July 3. The exact location of the wedding is not known, but it is said to be an arena or museum-like space.

Travis Kelce will play his first Chiefs game Taylor Swift’s husband against the Broncos on MNF

It promises to be a huge game after the Broncos dethroned the Chiefs in the AFC West

Last August, Kelce popped the question and Swift shared photos from the intimate engagement in his Kansas City garden on Instagram with the caption: ‘Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.’ 

It was previously speculated that the couple, who have been at the front and center of the NFL since they started dating in late 2023, would say ‘I do’ at her lavish Rhode Island estate.

Guests who received an invitation have also been required to RSVP with a signed NDA to help keep details of the nuptials private, per a source.

It remains to be seen if Week 1 will come too soon for Mahomes, who tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee on December 14 in the final minutes of a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, which effectively eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention.

Mahomes quickly underwent surgery in Dallas with noted orthopedist Dr. Dan Cooper, and the rehabilitation began almost immediately back in Kansas City, where he has been working all offseason.

The three-time Super Bowl winner has made it clear he plans to be back on the field for Week 1. He’s attending the voluntary offseason program in Kansas City, where he’s been doing rehab work with the Chiefs’ training staff.

If he can’t play against the Broncos, then Justin Fields will likely be the starter for Andy Reid after the Chiefs traded for him from the New York Jets earlier this offseason. 

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is also dealing with health issues after breaking his ankle in the playoffs. He appears to be on track to return in time for the new season though, Payton recently revealed.

Patrick Mahomes is facing a race against time to be healthy for Week 1 after a bad knee injury

Broncos QB Bo Nix is also dealing with health issues after breaking his ankle in the playoffs

It comes after three NFL games for the new season were announced on Monday, including two involving the Dallas Cowboys. 

The Buffalo Bills’ first regular-season game in their new stadium will be against the Detroit Lions on September 17 and will kick off Amazon Prime’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ schedule.

The Bills are one of 10 teams to have new coaches this season with Joe Brady taking over after Sean McDermott was fired after nine seasons.

The game will feature two of the top quarterbacks in the league with Josh Allen and the Bills hosting Jared Goff and the Lions. Detroit is looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs last season.

The NFL has traditionally used Week 2 to showcase new stadiums in a primetime game.

The Dallas Cowboys were part of the other two unveilings. They will visit the New York Giants in the first NBC ‘Sunday Night Football’ of the season on September 13 and they will host the Philadelphia Eagles on Fox on Thanksgiving Day November 26.

This is the eighth time in the past 15 years the Cowboys and Giants are opening the season against each other.

It also marks the 15th time the NFC East rivals are meeting on ‘Sunday Night Football’, the second-most played matchup since NBC started the package in 2016.

The Cowboys will travel to New York to take on the Giants in the first ‘Sunday Night Football’

Josh Allen and the Bills will play their first game in their new stadium Week 2 against the Lions

Dallas is always a national television draw as ‘America’s Team’ and New York could get more primetime exposure with Super Bowl winner John Harbaugh in his first year coaching the Giants and Jaxson Dart established as the franchise quarterback coming off his eventful rookie year. 

This also could be the NFL debuts for a pair of former Ohio State teammates: Giants linebacker Arvell Reese, taken with the fifth pick, and Cowboys safety Caleb Downs, drafted not long after at No. 11.

This will only be the third time, and first since 2014, that the Eagles will be the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving opponent. Dallas has won its past four Thanksgiving games, including a 31-28 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last year.

The late afternoon Thanksgiving game is traditionally the most viewed of the regular season. Last year’s game averaged 57.23 million viewers on CBS, making it the most-watched regular-season game in league history.

This will be the second straight season Philadelphia will have the spotlight on Thanksgiving week. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles hosted last year’s Black Friday game and lost to the Chicago Bears 24-15.

Monday’s announcements mean the Cowboys know the dates for three of their 17 games.

It was announced a couple of weeks ago their game in Rio de Janeiro against the Baltimore Ravens will take place in Week 3 on September 27 and air on CBS.

Dallas at New York in Week 1 also means neither of those teams will be the visitor at Seattle on September 9, when the defending champion Seahawks unveil their Super Bowl banner and kick off the season.

Chicago, Arizona and the Chargers or a title-game rematch against New England are the remaining possibilities.

In a developing investigation, a forensic expert has outlined potential avenues of inquiry for Coast Guard investigators following the seizure of Brian Hooker’s sailboat. This development is part of the ongoing investigation into the mysterious disappearance of his wife in the Bahamas.

Brian Hooker reported to Bahamian authorities that his wife, Lynette, fell from a dinghy around 7:30 p.m. on April 4, while they were leaving Hope Town. He claimed that she fell overboard with the ignition key. However, he did not reach the marina at Marsh Harbour until approximately 4 a.m. the following day, after paddling to shore over a span of about eight hours. Despite extensive search efforts, Lynette Hooker remains missing.

A source with knowledge of the investigation informed Fox News Digital that the U.S. Coast Guard has seized the couple’s sailboat, named “Soulmate.” CBS News reports that the sailboat was intercepted on its way to the U.S. and is now stationed at a Coast Guard facility in Fort Pierce, Florida.

As the Coast Guard Investigative Service intensifies its probe into Lynette Hooker’s disappearance, it is important to note that no charges have been filed against Brian Hooker at this time.

The vessel, Soulmate, is currently docked at the U.S. Coast Guard station in Fort Pierce as of Monday, May 11, 2026. The boat, owned by Brian Hooker and his missing wife Lynette, was transported back to the U.S. from the Bahamas by the Coast Guard, according to an inside source.

Forensic scientist Joseph Scott Morgan told Fox News Digital it’s likely Coast Guard investigators are looking for signs of “large focal areas of blood.”

“That would be a copious amount of blood, dried blood, has there been any effort to sanitize the area, clean the area?” Morgan said. “I’d want to see if there was any evidence of struggle in the form of like breakage of any kind.”

“What they could do is they can go in there and look for any kind of trace evidence on there that might give them some kind of indication of any kind of violent act took place,” he said.

The yacht Soulmate is moored at the U.S. Coast Guard station in Fort Pierce, Fla., on May 11, 2026. The vessel belongs to Brian Hooker and his missing wife Lynette Hooker and was reportedly brought back to the U.S. from The Bahamas by the Coast Guard. (Fox News Digital)

Morgan said that Coast Guard investigators aren’t in an “ideal situation,” seizing the boat more than a month after Lynette Hooker went missing.

“You don’t know what individuals may have been on there,” Morgan said. “The more time trickles through, you know, the hourglass, all that stuff becomes degraded. It becomes compromised. So that’s, it can be problematic.”

Brian Hooker visits the Central Police Station in Freeport, The Bahamas, on April 14, 2026, to retrieve his wedding ring and watch with his lawyer, Terrel A. Butler. Hooker was released from jail the previous night after police questioned him about the disappearance of his wife, Lynette Hooker. (Matthew Symons for Fox News Digital)

The forensic scientist said the Coast Guard has “the entire federal government at their disposal,” meaning they can request help from other agencies, such as the FBI.

Kenneth Engerrand, an adjunct professor of maritime law at the University of Houston Law Center and shareholder in the Brown Sims law firm, told Fox News Digital that U.S. authorities, like the Coast Guard, would have jurisdiction to make an arrest if that’s where the evidence led them, despite the incident taking place in Bahamian waters, since the vessel has an American flag.

WATCH: Coast Guard seizes Brian Hooker’s yacht after wife’s Bahamas disappearance

“The United States is well within its rights to assert a violation of the murder statute. It also has jurisdiction over statutes involving violent acts committed on a United States vessel. That’s a separate crime, but those are both crimes that can be prosecuted, involving American citizens on American vessels, even in a foreign port,” Engerrand said.

Exterior view of the U.S. Coast Guard station in Fort Pierce, Fl., Monday, May 11, 2026. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

Engerrand said that Coast Guard officials likely didn’t need a warrant to seize the sailboat.

“[The Coast Guard has] the authority to seize any vessel that they believe is involved in a criminal activity. So they have the absolute authority,” Engerrand said.

The development comes about a week after the Coast Guard sought the public’s help in finding the owner of a sailboat that was moored near Brian and Lynette Hooker’s “Soulmate” in the Bahamas.

The yacht, Soulmate is moored at the U.S. Coast Guard station in Fort Pierce, Fl., Monday, May 11, 2026. The vessel, which belongs to Brian Hooker and his missing wife Lynette Hooker, was brought back to the U.S. from The Bahamas by the USCG, according to a source. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

The Coast Guard declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday, citing the active investigation.

Brian Hooker was detained by Bahamian police for about five days after his wife’s disappearance, but wasn’t charged. His Michigan-based attorney previously asked Americans to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“I would ask those watching to treat him the way you would want to be treated, to give him the benefit of the doubt, and to consider that not all of us, nor you, considering your own relationships, the way you speak to one another, we all handle things in different ways,” Crystal Marie Hauser said.

Lynette Hooker, a 56-year-old American woman, disappeared after going overboard during a boat trip in the Bahamas, according to local officials. ((Brian Hooker/Facebook))

Brian Hooker left the Bahamas shortly after he was released from jail, with his Caribbean-based attorney telling Fox News Digital he went to be with his “very ill” mother.

Fox News Digital reached out to Brian Hooker’s attorney for comment.