By MATTHEW PERRONE

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday announced the first round of experimental drugs that will receive drastically expedited reviews at the agency, part of an effort to prioritize medicines the Trump administration deems as “supporting U.S. national interests.”

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The nine medicines announced by the FDA include potential treatments for vaping addiction, deafness, pancreatic cancer and other conditions.

Several of the drugs would compete with higher-priced drugs already on the U.S. market.

At the White House, President Donald Trump highlighted the injectable infertility drug, Pergoveris, which is currently sold in Europe for patients going through IVF treatments. Trump said FDA approval of the drug in the U.S. would help lower IVF costs for American families, one of his campaign pledges.

Another drugmaker received the specialty review to expand U.S. manufacturing of ketamine, the powerful anesthetic that has grown into a trendy psychedelic treatment.

Under the program announced earlier this year, the FDA will aim to decide whether to approve the drugs in one to two months, an unprecedented pace for the in-depth safety and effectiveness reviews performed by agency scientists.

FDA’s accelerated approval program generally issues decisions in six months for drugs that treat life-threatening diseases. Regular drug reviews take about 10 months.

Since arriving at the agency, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary has suggested the agency could dramatically speed up approvals for certain high-priority drugs, pointing to the truncated process used to authorize the first COVID-19 vaccines under Operation Warp Speed.

Many aspects of the so-called Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program overlap with older FDA programs. But the broad criteria for awarding the vouchers gives Makary and other FDA officials unprecedented discretion in deciding which companies will benefit from the sped-up reviews.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and BEN FINLEY

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy admiral who oversees military operations in the region where U.S. forces have been attacking alleged drug boats off Venezuela will retire in December, he and the Defense Secretary announced Thursday.

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Adm. Alvin Holsey became the leader of U.S. Southern Command only in November, overseeing an area that encompasses the Caribbean Sea and waters off South America. These types of postings typically last between three and four years.

The news of Holsey’s upcoming retirement comes two days after the U.S. military’s fifth deadly strike in the Caribbean against a small boat accused of carrying drugs. The Trump administration has asserted it’s treating alleged drug traffickers as unlawful combatants who must be met with military force.

Frustration with the attacks has been growing on Capitol Hill. Some Republicans have been seeking more information from the White House on the legal justification and details of the strikes, while Democrats contend the strikes violate U.S. and international law.

Holsey said in a statement posted on the command’s Facebook page that it’s “been an honor to serve our nation, the American people and support and defend our Constitution for over 37 years.”

“The SOUTHCOM team has made lasting contributions to the defense of our nation and will continue to do so,” he said. “I am confident that you will forge ahead, focused on your mission that strengthens our nation and ensures its longevity as a beacon of freedom around the globe.”

U.S. Southern Command did not provide any more information beyond the admiral’s statement.

In a post on X Thursday afternoon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Holsey for his “decades of service to our country, and we wish him and his family continued success and fulfillment in the years ahead.”

“Admiral Holsey has demonstrated unwavering commitment to mission, people, and nation,” Hegseth wrote.

Officials at the Pentagon did not provide any more information and referred The Associated Press to Hegseth’s statement on social media.

The New York Times first reported on Holsey’s plans to leave his position.

The ice palaces … the snow sculptures … the parades … what are your favorite memories of the St. Paul Winter Carnival?

With fewer than 100 days to go before the start of the 2026 Carnival, organizers are seeking submissions for their “Remember When” campaign.

Submissions could consist of a favorite childhood moment, a family tradition or a special experience that captures the spirit of the festival.

The public can email entries to RememberWhen@spfhf.org or upload them to the St. Paul Winter Carnival website at wintercarnival.com/p/getinvolved/remember-when.

Memories can also be mailed to the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation at 75 W. Fifth Street, Suite 429, St. Paul, MN 55102.

Submissions will be shared on the Winter Carnival’s various communications, including its website and social media.

The 10-day winter festival will be held from Jan. 22 to Feb. 1.

Prime Minister

Tom Barrett flashes the Vulcan “V” as he shows off a portion of his collection of Winter Carnival memorabilia in the basement of his home on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Since the 1990s, Barrett has been one of the key players who make the St. Paul Winter Carnival happen. In 2004, Barrett led his own Vulcan Krewe as the Fire King, Vulcanus Rex LXVII. (Scott Takushi / Pioneer Press)

On Tuesday, marking the 100-day countdown to the start of the Carnival, Tom Barrett was announced as the 2026 Prime Minister of the Royal Family. The prime minister serves as a sort of logistics manager for the royal family as they attend events throughout the year. Other members of the royal family will be announced/revealed later.

Barrett’s memories of the Winter Carnival, sent out in a news release on Tuesday, mark the first submissions to the “Remember When” campaign:

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“I’ve been involved with the Saint Paul Winter Carnival since the early 1970s when I ran for (and lost) the Junior Royalty,” he said in the statement. “But my best experience was in 2004 when I was Vulcanus Rex and along with my Vulcan Krewe, we greeted people from all over the world to our Ice Palace in St. Paul!!!

“Another great memory was in 1993 along the parade route. It was my first year as a Vulcan. I loved seeing all the smiling faces. So many kids that wanted to have a Vulcan mustache or the ‘Mark of a V’ on their cheek!

“Now, in 2026, and as the Prime Minister of the Royal Family, I still embrace what the legend of the Winter Carnival represents, and I look forward to seeing those smiling faces again albeit from the ‘other side!’”

Commemorative coin

The St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation, the nonprofit that produces the Winter Carnival, has created a commemorative coin for the event’s 140th anniversary.

The St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation, the nonprofit which produces the Winter Carnival, has created a commemorative coin for the event’s 140th anniversary in 2026. (Courtesy of the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation)

One side of the coin features a bejeweled 140th logo while the flip side displays a photo of the first Winter Carnival ice palace.

There are a limited number of coins available to purchase: exactly 1,886 to represent the inaugural year of the Winter Carnival.

The coin goes on sale to the public on Friday, Oct. 17, for $140, representing the 140th anniversary. Foundation members can purchase the coins now, while supplies last, for $100.

Info/purchase by visiting wintercarnival.com and clicking “Marketplace.”

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By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM, Associated Press

Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of the glam rock band Kiss who captivated audiences with his elaborate makeup and smoke-filled guitar, died Thursday. He was 74.

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Frehley died peacefully surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, following a recent fall, according to his agent.

Family members said in a statement that they are “completely devastated and heartbroken” but will cherish his laughter and celebrate the kindness he bestowed upon others.

Kiss, whose hits included “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Detroit Rock City,” was known for its theatrical stage shows, with fireworks, smoking instruments and fake blood spewing from the mouths of band members in body armor, platform boots, wigs and signature black-and-white face paint.

Band members took on the personas of comic book-style characters — Frehley was known as “Space Ace” and the “Spaceman.”

The band was extremely popular, especially in the mid-1970s, selling tens of millions of albums and licensing its iconic look to sell numerous products.

Frehley and his band mates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

Frehley’s is the first death among the four founding members, a group that also includes singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss.