A Seattle couple has filed a lawsuit alleging that hospital staff in Oregon told them to drive their nearly 9-month-old son’s body home in their own car after he died unexpectedly in an emergency room.

Aleksandr and Nataliya Yeremeyev are seeking $10 million from Salem Health and Dr. Stefani Sorensen. According to the lawsuit, the parents asked for respectful care and transportation of their son Michael’s remains, but hospital staff allegedly insisted that they take his body home themselves.

Michael was born with Down syndrome and spent the first six months of his life receiving care at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

“His parents had made sure that he had received really excellent care. So, I think it was a really, really sad and just very tragic way for his life to end and for it to be so undignified right there at the end,” family attorney Anna Bruckenhoefer said in a statement, according to Fox 13.

The family was visiting Salem, Oregon, for a religious retreat on September 22, 2024, when Michael began breathing rapidly and shallowly late at night. His parents rushed him to the emergency room at Salem Health Hospital, where he died, the complaint says.

When the parents asked how to arrange respectful transportation for Michael’s body back to Seattle, hospital staff allegedly discouraged them from contacting a local funeral home, saying it would be “too expensive.” Instead, the lawsuit claims, they pressured the family to take Michael’s body with them in their personal vehicle. The parents ultimately did so because they felt they had no other option.

“They have repeatedly asked the hospital for assistance in helping them with what are the next steps,” Bruckenhoefer said. “This was all occurring overnight. They felt rushed that they had to make quick decisions and the hospital left them with no choice other than to take Michael’s body with them and head back to Seattle.”

Aleksandr drove roughly four hours from Salem to Seattle with his son’s body lying across the back seat, while Nataliya and their other children followed in a separate vehicle.

The lawsuit says Aleksandr experienced severe emotional distress during the journey, fearing police stops, a car crash and the visible deterioration of his child’s body. After reaching a Seattle funeral home, he also had to clean bodily fluids that had leaked onto the vehicle’s seat.

“It is legal in the state of Oregon and in the state of Washington to transport a deceased with the proper permits. But that is not what our clients wanted to do here. They were looking for help. They were looking for guidance. They were looking for the hospital to tell them, ‘These are the next steps,’” Bruckenhoefer said. “This is a hospital. It’s an emergency department. Unfortunately, death is something that they are accustomed to and that they deal with. They should have had procedures and protocols in place to assist the Yeremeyevs while they were dealing with literally the worst moment of their lives. Instead, what they did is they just compounded their grief by essentially telling them that they were on their own in this.”

“No parents, no loved ones should ever be placed in the position that the Yeremeyevs were placed in,” Bruckenhoefer added. “Just completely surprised that something like this would happen in 2026.”

The lawsuit names Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics, Salem Health, Salem Emergency Physicians Service and Sorensen as defendants. It alleges direct negligence, vicarious liability and a breach of the heightened duty of care owed to grieving parents in the respectful treatment and custody of a child’s body.

The family is seeking $10 million in noneconomic damages for severe emotional distress and psychological trauma. They also plan to amend the complaint to seek punitive damages.

Salem Health Hospital said it could not discuss details of the child’s care because of privacy concerns and the ongoing litigation.

“Salem Hospital responded in accordance with the family’s wishes and followed both hospital policy and Oregon state law in consultation with the appropriate local authorities, including the medical examiner,” Salem Health said in a statement to Fox 13.

“Care with respect is a guiding principle of clinical practice at Salem Hospital and remains central to how we support patients and families during some of life’s most difficult moments. We recognize the profound grief families experience following the loss of a loved one and treat every patient and family with empathy, dignity, and respect,” the statement continued.

WASHINGTON — A federal judge early Thursday temporarily halted President Donald Trump’s effort to bar three news organizations from the White House grounds, ordering that CNN, MS NOW and Politico regain their access.

The ruling adds another chapter to the intensifying dispute between Trump and media outlets whose reporting has drawn his criticism. The president announced the ban Sept. 18, condemning the organizations as sources of what he described as “fake news.” He has since argued that unfavorable coverage poses a threat to the country.

In challenging the decision, the outlets said they were targeted because of their editorial viewpoints and reporting. They described the White House action as a “blatant violation” of the First Amendment’s protections for press freedom.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly heard arguments in the case Wednesday but did not immediately issue a decision. Trump appointed Kelly to the federal bench in 2017; the judge also ordered CNN journalist access restored in a comparable dispute in 2018.

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Kelly issued a temporary restraining order Thursday that will remain in place for 14 days. The measure is intended to preserve existing conditions while the court takes a closer look at the broader legal challenge.

This is a developing news story. Check back for updates.

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily ordered President Donald Trump to restore White House access for journalists from three media organizations, delivering an initial victory to the outlets in their legal challenge.

US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration’s ban and directing the White House to reinstate the reporters’ access.

The order will remain effective for 14 days as the broader legal dispute over the media restrictions continues.

Trump barred journalists from CNN, MSNow and Politico from the White House on Friday, accusing the outlets of publishing “fake news” and describing their reporting as “fiction and lies.”

CNN, MS NOW and Politico responded by filing a joint lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order. The organizations argued that the ban violates the First Amendment, which protects freedom of the press.

Kelly signaled skepticism during the hearing about the decision to single out the journalists. He said the White House had failed to provide them with “constitutionally adequate due process” before taking away their access.

Reporters from the three outlets who arrived at the White House over the weekend found their press passes revoked and confiscated. They were consequently forced to report from the sidewalk outside the complex.

Ted Boutrous, the lawyer representing the news organizations, praised the decision in comments to CNN. “This is a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law. We greatly appreciate the court’s swift action,” he said.

Justice Department attorneys defended the restrictions, arguing that coverage by the three outlets involving the Iran war and the White House ballroom project could pose a national security risk and justify the president’s action.

Justice Department lawyer Michael Velchik asked Kelly to delay restoring the reporters’ passes until after Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit on Thursday, citing national security concerns.

The White House appeared to have anticipated an unfavorable ruling. Trump said Tuesday that he would “probably” allow the outlets to return if a court ordered him to do so.

Trump also acknowledged on social media that he expected Kelly to rule in favor of the media organizations.

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“They have drawn a great Judge, for them, a man who ruled in favor of Jim Acosta, who now seems to have disappeared from the Planet,” Trump wrote, while promising to appeal the decision.

Trump appointed Kelly to the US District Court for Washington in 2017.

In his ruling, Kelly concluded that revoking the journalists’ press credentials “likely violated their constitutional due process rights.”

“The ‘general rule’ is that ‘individuals must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before the Government deprives them’ of a constitutionally protected interest,” Kelly wrote.

The judge reached a similar conclusion in 2018, when he ordered the Trump administration to restore the White House credentials of then-CNN anchor Jim Acosta.

The White House suspended Acosta’s credential after he refused to give up a microphone to a White House aide during a press conference.

CNN and other news organizations sued the White House to restore Acosta’s access to the building.

‘It is imperative that independent journalists have access to the president and his activities and that journalists are not barred for arbitrary reasons,’ they said in a joint statement at the time.

At the time, Justice Department lawyers argued there was no general constitutional right for the press to enter the White House, leaving it up to the discretion of the White House.

The White House ultimately restored Acosta’s pass, prompting CNN to drop the lawsuit, calling it ‘no longer necessary.’

 The legal battle has unfolded just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections in which Trump’s fellow Republicans are fighting to retain control of Congress. Trump’s job approval ratings are at record lows in opinion polls amid concerns over issues such as the Iran war and inflation.

A New York City kitten rescue is facing backlash over a social media message stating that MAGA supporters, conservatives and even apolitical applicants should not apply to adopt. The organization is now defending its screening standards after PETA urged it to remove what the animal rights group described as an ideological restriction.

“Homeless animals don’t care which side of abortion you are on or whether you believe in global warming or support Palestine or Israel or if you don’t vote at all, ever. They care if you love them and will give them a good home,” PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk told Fox News Digital.

Newkirk added, “We hope this policy, which is humancentric, is reconsidered and abolished.”

The controversy involves Itty Bitty City Kitties, a Rockaway Beach rescue that identifies itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The group focuses on orphaned and neonatal kittens, feral-cat welfare and animal adoptions.

Itty Bitty City Kitties also appears on New York state’s list of registered pet rescue organizations.

In a social media post reviewed by Fox News Digital, the rescue listed several political identities it suggested could make someone ineligible to adopt.

“MAGA? Nope.”

“Conservative? Nope.”

“‘I’m not political’? Nice loophole. Still nope.”

The post featured a kitten alongside the emphatic message, “NO. F–KING. MAGA.”

The statement gained broader exposure after Libs of TikTok shared it on X, leading users to question whether the language reflected the rescue’s formal adoption policy.

Fox News Digital asked Itty Bitty City Kitties whether applicants could be denied solely for identifying as MAGA, conservative or politically unaffiliated.

Samantha Knox, who has described herself publicly as the organization’s director, defended the rescue’s approach. She said its central obligation is protecting the welfare of the kittens and cats under its care.

“As an animal welfare rescue, our primary responsibility is ensuring the animals in our care go to safe, compassionate homes,” Knox told Fox News Digital.

Knox said the group reviews an applicant’s “public conduct and demonstrated values.” She argued that a person’s history of “celebrat[ing] cruelty” may raise questions about whether that individual can provide a safe and caring home.

“A history of celebrating harm or abuse, be it toward people or animals, is one of the biggest red flags in animal rescue,” Knox said. “We stand by our mission and will never place a vulnerable animal with anyone, ever, who we feel is a danger to the welfare of the animal.”

Fox News Digital then posed a more specific scenario: Would a MAGA or conservative applicant with no documented history of animal cruelty, threats, neglect or violence still be considered for adoption?

“Itty Bitty City Kitties does not screen or reject applicants based on registered political party affiliation,” Knox replied. “MAGA is a political movement and ideology, not a recognized political party.”

According to Knox, the rescue’s adoption decisions are instead based on “conduct, ethical alignment and animal safety.”

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She said the organization retains the authority to deny an application when an individual’s stated beliefs, public comments or behavior indicate that the group’s safety and animal-welfare requirements have not been met.

Asked again whether a MAGA or conservative applicant without a history of cruelty, threats, neglect or violence could adopt from the organization, Knox did not provide a yes-or-no answer.

“Media-driven requests to force complex animal welfare evaluations into a binary ‘yes or no’ premise fundamentally misrepresent how responsible adoption screenings operate,” she said.

Knox added that “active support for or alignment with social movements” the rescue believes normalizes or promotes cruelty can be treated as “actionable conduct” and said adoption decisions are made “holistically under these welfare and safety standards.”

Knox also provided Fox News Digital with screenshots she said showed explicit, hostile messages directed at the rescue after its political posts.

Knox said messages of that nature illustrated the kind of conduct the rescue considers relevant when evaluating prospective homes. PETA, however, drew a different line.

“Political affiliation is not a reliable measure of whether someone will be a good guardian,” the organization told Fox News Digital, adding that a person’s actions and statements, along with demonstrated treatment of people and animals, can be relevant to an adoption decision.

PETA said rescues should focus on “objective animal welfare factors,” including an applicant’s history of animal care, ability to meet an animal’s needs and evidence of cruelty, neglect or violence. 

“Shelters and rescues exist to protect animals, not to serve as political gatekeepers,” PETA said.

Itty Bitty City Kitties’ public adoption page describes what the organization calls a “Fully Supported Adoption Model,” under which prospective owners submit an application, references, employment and living information, participate in a phone interview and complete a FaceTime or Zoom interview in lieu of a home visit.

The rescue’s published “MUST LIST” says adopters must keep animals up to date on veterinary care; keep them indoors or leashed outside; never declaw them; maintain a plan for travel, illness or death; not simply give away an animal they can no longer care for; and be financially able to provide for its welfare.

The public-facing requirements reviewed by Fox News Digital do not mention MAGA, conservatism, political affiliation or political ideology.

The organization has also used its social media account for other political messaging.

On Sept. 10, Itty Bitty City Kitties posted an image of a kitten carrying the words, “Kittens. Don’t. Mourn. Nazis.”

“For absolutely no reason at all on this day one year later…” text on the image stated. 

“Just a little kitten making sure we all know where we stand,” the accompanying caption read, followed by hashtags including “#kitten,” “#cat,” “#politics” and “#iykyk.”

While the post did not name late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, it was published exactly one year after his assassination at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.

Knox also invoked the rescue’s nonprofit status in defending its ability to take positions on political and social issues, saying 501(c)(3) organizations are permitted to maintain issue-based standards aligned with their missions as long as they do not engage in partisan political campaigning.

PETA, while objecting to the use of political affiliation as a measure of adoption suitability, said an applicant’s actual behavior toward animals can, and should, matter regardless of ideology.

“More broadly, anyone who condones, celebrates or participates in harming animals demonstrates a troubling lack of empathy,” PETA said.

Coleen Rooney has admitted she once considered separating from her “careless” husband Wayne after a string of heated arguments featured in the couple’s new Disney+ documentary.

The couple, both 40, offer viewers an intimate glimpse into family life with their four sons — Kai, 16, Klay, 13, Kit, 10, and eight-year-old Cass — in the £10million fly-on-the-wall series The Real Rooneys, filmed last year.

But the programme also shows the tensions behind closed doors, with the former England footballer and I’m A Celebrity star revealing that they sometimes go several days without speaking.

“There are times when I think the answer to everything is to see what it’s like if we are separated,” Coleen said candidly during a solo interview following an argument with Wayne while the pair were on holiday.

The admission followed footage of the couple discussing their marital rows. Sitting together on their sofa, Wayne told the cameras: “We haven’t spoke for four days, this is the first time we’ve talked.”

Coleen responded: “I’m hoping a break will help us to reconnect. A really nice weekend away for us to have some time together. That’s if I don’t kill him first.”

Coleen had arranged a lavish getaway for the couple at Cameron House on Scotland’s Loch Lomond, leaving her parents, Tony and Colette, to care for their sons.

“Relationship-wise I’m having a hard time with Wayne, things have been up and down so we’re going to Scotland,” she explained.

The romantic break, however, got off to a rocky start when Wayne kept Coleen waiting in the car for two hours after playing golf and staying for drinks with friends.

Coleen said: “He decided to play golf the day we are going so now I have to pick him up on the way.”

When Wayne eventually got into the car, she confronted him: “You kept me waiting for two hours after you stayed to hang out with your mates in the clubhouse, that p***ed me off. I would have done the spa day with the girls if I’d known.”

“I’m sorry I’m late. I told you how long I was going to be, it ran over like 20 minutes. Everyone knows when you finish a round of golf you go into the clubhouse for a beer,” Wayne replied.

Coleen was unconvinced. “Yeah but if you don’t have time to do it, you just don’t do it that’s what I’m saying. The day’s ruined,” she said.

The pair then set off for Scotland in an uncomfortable silence. The mood only began to ease when they stopped at McDonald’s and the former Manchester United player tried to make Coleen laugh.

“You tried the spicy nuggets?” he asked. “They used to be the cage-fighting chickens those ones, that’s why they’re tough.”

Speaking to the camera, Coleen said: “He knows he’s in the wrong and he chats s*** because he knows I find that funny but he’s talking a load of rubbish.”

Wayne acknowledged the tactic, saying: “I know what I was doing starting stupid conversations. It’s a good skill to have, I’ve had a lot of practice. It’s the dog house manual and I’m on the third book.”

Yet things remained tense as Wayne adjusted to life as a stay-at-home dad after being sacked from Plymouth Argyle, while Coleen took on more work with designing her own Primark collection and filming adverts for Paddy Power. 

‘I really need Wayne to help a lot more around the house, which could cause a lot of arguments,’ she admitted. ‘Wayne is a good dad but he is a bit carefree and a bit careless. It does cause a few arguments.

In the series, Coleen is seen organising school uniforms and doing the washing before helping the boys get ready for school as their eldest son Kai asks: ‘Where’s dad? Is he still in bed?’

She replied: ‘Yeah. I’m back doing the school run because Wayne is in bed. You can’t rely on Wayne so I organise everything and it is really annoying.’

Later in the series, the family jets off on holiday together.

But Coleen was left furious with Wayne as they chatted on the beach away from their children, saying: ‘You’re staying up with your mates and it’s meant to be a family holiday, you can’t keep doing what you do.’ 

The mother-of-four stormed off and later admitted to the camera: ‘There are times when I think the answer to everything is to see what it’s like if we are separated.’

In another clip, Coleen breaks down in tears as she tells a friend on a walk: ‘I’m juggling a lot and the house is not happy, I keep trying to do it and it’s just not.’

While the series gives an intimate look into the couple’s turbulent marriage there is also plenty of comic relief in the form of their four sons. 

Kai, who is eligible for a professional contract at Manchester United next season after earning his first scholarship, proudly declared he’s the ‘best footballer’ in the house. 

He added: ‘People are always comparing me to my dad. And you know the main thing is just having people remember the name KAI Rooney.’ 

Wayne – who is widely regarded as one of the best English football players in history – then conceded: ‘He’s very similar to me, it’s like watching myself with a left foot. Mad. 

‘Kai plays for Manchester United Academy and he is very driven, he scores goals and he wants it.’

Discussing their children, Coleen mused: ‘Kai was our first born, he was a really sweet little boy. And then we had Klay. Klay’s just… just a happy go-lucky and doesn’t like any pressure.’

Wayne chimed in: ‘It’s got to the point now where we just want him to get through to the end of school!’ 

Coleen continued: ‘Kit’s got a sensitive side but at times he’s like chill and he’s not. He can just erupt and just drop a bomb in any situation. He is a live wire, strong-willed.’ 

As Wayne described Kit as ‘a challenge’, Coleen went on: ‘Cass is the baby of the family. 

‘He is funny and you can’t help but laugh, he’s a really happy little boy, skips into school in the morning. But, I don’t know how long that’s going to last.’

As the parents were asked if they always wanted a big family, Wayne quipped: ‘I did – then the more we had, the less I wanted!’ 

Yet Wayne was grateful for his family’s support as he was filmed struggling to cope with uncertainty over the future after losing his job as a football manager. 

In 2024, Wayne was sacked by Plymouth Argyle after just 25 matches in charge with the club in freefall and rock bottom of the Championship. 

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Earlier that year he was also let go from Birmingham, after the team recorded the worst record in the Championship since he took over. They took 10 points from a possible 45, losing nine and winning just two.

With management seeming to no longer be a plan for Wayne, he was asked: ‘Was it always part of the plan?’ to which Wayne replied: ‘We spoke about her doing more work, not about me getting sacked. 

‘This is the first time I’m probably not going to be involved in football – to experience things I’ve missed out on. It’ll be nice to have more time with the kids – but it can be chaos.’ 

As Coleen asked him if he missed Plymouth, Wayne mused: ‘I’m a realist and I think – that’s two jobs you’ve been sacked – and management in football is hard.

‘I think you know as a player when your career is going to end and you prepare for that. 

‘In management you don’t know whether you’ll be there a year, two years, 10 years or three months. You never know so you’re not prepared when you lose the job.’

Coleen then told the cameras: ‘Losing the job at Plymouth is probably the hardest situation he’s ever had to be in because all he’s ever known is football. It’s been difficult.’ 

Yet Wayne insisted in their chat: ‘I get it I might not manage again and I get it and it’s not an issue for me.’

Throughout the series, it’s clear that Wayne’s love of football has not subsided since he retired in 2021 while playing for and managing Derby County as a player-coach.

Asked how it felt scoring a goal, Wayne recalled: ‘It’s almost like you’re playing underwater. You can hear the crowds, the noise, but you’re not focusing. 

‘You can’t hear the details of everything going on when you’re playing. And then when you score a goal it’s like you’ve come up for a breath. 

‘And then everything erupts, like you’re coming out of the water. You see the emotion of the crowd and you join in with them – that’s the only way I think I can explain it. 

‘I get asked why don’t I just retire but I need something to look forward to. 

‘I’m not doing it for money, I’m doing it for a purpose, rather than being around the house all day.’ 

Also in the episode, Wayne and Coleen gave fans a detailed tour of their £20million palatial Cheshire home, dubbed The Morrisons Mansion, which they built from the ground up in 2022 upon 50 acres of farmland. 

Coleen shared: ‘This house is everything that I have dreamed of since I was a little girl.’

As a montage of the house’s many rooms flashed up, she continued: ‘You know when you’re a child and you draw a house, everything’s symmetrical. The door in the middle and the same both sides…’

Among the home’s many amenities is a home cinema, indoor swimming pool, an underground spa, wine cellar and a football pitch for their four sons. 

Yet, Wayne confessed he had no hand in planning the house because he only wanted ‘two things’. 

He went on: ‘A small little room with no windows – not ’cause I’m a psycho – but if I was playing PlayStation or watching a movie, and my snooker table, I don’t really care what else.’ 

Wayne’s game room flashed up, showing his keyboard, cinema screen and pinball machine, while he was also seen strutting into their indoor pool room which also houses an ice bath. 

As for Coleen, her priority was her wardrobe, as she explained: ‘When we built the house I said I want a really big dressing room. 

‘But as you build, things change so it’s still a big dressing room but probably not as big as I wanted it to be. 

‘I’ve got this and Wayne has a few wardrobes. They did say can you share and I said no!’ 

Coleen also showed off the home’s personal touches, including black and white portraits of the children, souvenirs from Coleen’s time in the I’m A Celeb jungle and a statue of Wayne celebrating a goal. 

She then chimed in: ‘It’s a massive house but there’s a lot of rooms within the house so I do lose my kids!

‘Even though it’s mine and Wayne’s dream home everything was planned around the four kids.’ 

Wayne added: ‘Since we built this house I’ve been away working so it’s great now I’ve got time at home with the kids. 

‘It’s still mad to me to this day where we’re living now to where we grew up. Me and Coleen, two kids from Croxteth. How are we living here?’

The new 10-part docu-series dropped on September 24 with cameras following the Rooneys around their £20million super-mansion in Cheshire.

Speaking to the Daily Mail about their filming process, Coleen explained: ‘We committed to something and we wanted to do it to the best of our ability. 

‘Obviously it’s [a] reality show, so we want to show the good moments and the bad moments. It wasn’t planned, especially with kids, things can happen! 

‘We didn’t want to sign up for it and, and say right, ‘we’ll film this but not film that,’ you can’t pick the moments that you like the best. 

‘Because people are watching and will go like, ‘they live this life which is all good,’ but it’s not life, you have ups and downs.’ 

Indeed, the couple didn’t shy away from showing any of their explosive rows on camera but Wayne cheekily told the Daily Mail that the best way ‘to get out of the doghouse’ is to simply ‘learn how to listen at stay quiet at times’. 

Coleen revealed that the only filming exceptions were for their children, who could decide when they didn’t want to be on camera, and during one outing in Poland when they were being mobbed by fans and figured the cameras were attracting more attention.

Disney+ and Amazon were in a bidding war for months over the rights for the show, with Disney+ winning the race with the massive £10million fee.

A synopsis for the show reads: ‘With unprecedented access, we follow the family through the highs and lows of married life, raising four lively boys, and supporting eldest son Kai as he pursues his own footballing dream.

‘Along the way come surprising personal revelations, career-defining moments, lavish celebrations and unforgettable family holidays…

‘From their Cheshire home to the beaches of Barbados and the snowy Alps, this is Britain’s most famous and private family as never seen before: warm, funny and authentic.’

Sources close to the project said Coleen will be paid £5million, with the remainder going to production company Lorton Entertainment, which made her previous show, Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story. 

Stream The Real Rooneys exclusively on Disney+ from September 24

Lawrence Tanter, the longtime public address announcer whose voice became synonymous with Lakers basketball, has died, the franchise announced Wednesday night.

He was 76.

“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter,” the team said in a statement. “For 43 years, LT’s voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena. He will be remembered as a cherished member of the Lakers family.”

Tanter took over as the Lakers’ P.A. announcer during the 1982-83 season. His polished delivery and unmistakable baritone soon became a defining part of the game-night atmosphere at the team’s home arena, where he worked for more than four decades.

During Tanter’s tenure, the Lakers captured 10 NBA championships.

“A true original that added his unique style to Showtime,” Lakers governor and co-owner Jeanie Buss said in a statement. “Rest in peace, LT.”

Tanter retired from his role in June after a 43-season run. At the time, the Lakers said he would remain involved with the organization as a special adviser on game presentation.

He remains the longest-tenured public address announcer in Lakers history.

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“Lawrence Tanter has been an integral part of the Lakers gameday experience for more than four decades, setting the tone for countless memorable moments with his professionalism, energy and signature booming voice,” Buss said in June. “Since the 1980s, LT has narrated every chapter of Lakers basketball, connecting generations of fans, players, coaches and staff while becoming a trusted and unforgettable part of the Lakers experience. I am incredibly grateful for everything he has given to this franchise.”

Tanter was absent for the Lakers’ final six regular-season home games and their playoff run after suffering a health setback.

ESPN reported that Tanter had suffered a stroke in March.

The Lakers had not announced a permanent replacement when Tanter retired.

Jason Barquero, the public address announcer for the Lakers’ G League affiliate, stepped in to handle the role during the closing stretch of the 2025-26 season.

“He’s an iconic voice,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said in March after Tanter missed his first game. “It’s almost a comfort level with him being in this arena.”

Tanter was born in Chicago in 1949.

At 6-foot-7, he played forward in high school and later received a basketball scholarship to the University of Dubuque.

He relocated to Southern California in the early 1970s, worked at radio station KJLH and eventually began his historic run with the Lakers.