The families of hostages held in Gaza and their supporters are launching a four-day march from southern Israel to Jerusalem to demand their loved ones be set free.

The march comes as negotiations are underway in Qatar to strike a deal between Hamas and Israel that would lead to a cease-fire in exchange for the release of hostages. U.S. President Joe Biden has said such a deal was at hand…  but Hamas and Israeli officials were skeptical of his optimism.

A fast-moving wildfire burning through the Texas panhandle grew into the second-largest blaze in state history.

The sprawling blaze was part of a cluster of fires that burned out of control and threatened rural towns, where local officials spent the night shutting down roads and urging residents to leave their homes.

Thousands of emergency responders are expected to pack a Minnesota church for a memorial service for three first responders who were killed while responding to a report of a domestic incident.

A procession of public safety vehicles will head from the Eden Prairie church after the service to Burnsville, where it will pass a fire station, police headquarters, and a Burnsville church. officials encouraged people to line the route to pay their respects.

Miles Schiffer can be reached at schi9629@stthomas.edu.