By MICHAEL CASEY, Associated Press

A federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration cannot put conditions on grants that fund efforts to combat domestic violence, including barring groups from promoting diversity, equity and inclusion or providing abortion resources.

U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose in Providence, Rhode Island, granted a motion by 17 statewide anti-domestic and sexual violence coalitions for a preliminary injunction, which blocks the Trump administration from enforcing its conditions while the lawsuit plays out.

“Without preliminary relief, the Plaintiffs will face irreparable harm that will disrupt vital services to victims of homelessness and domestic and sexual violence,” DuBose wrote in her ruling. “On the contrary, if preliminary relief is granted, the Defendants will merely need to revert back to considering grant applications and awarding funds as they normally would.”

DuBose, however, went further in the scope of her ruling. She ruled that the decision preventing these grant conditions went beyond plaintiffs and will apply to anyone applying for money doled out by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Organizations serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, LGBTQ+ youth, and people experiencing homelessness should not be forced to abandon their work, erase the identities of those they serve, or compromise their values just to keep their doors open,” Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which was one of the groups representing plaintiffs, said in a statement. “This unlawful and harmful policy puts extreme schemes ahead of people’s dignity and safety by restricting essential federal support.”

Emily Martin, chief program officer at the National Women’s Law Center, one of five organizations representing the coalitions, also welcomed the ruling.

“When this administration claims to be targeting ‘illegal DEI’ and ‘gender ideology,’ what it is really trying to do is strip life-saving services from survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence, LGBTQ+ youth, and people without homes,” Martin said. “Today’s order makes clear that these federal grants exist to serve people in need, not to advance a regressive political agenda.”

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Neither HUD nor HHS responded to a request for comment.

In their July lawsuit, the groups said the Trump administration was putting them in a difficult position.

If they don’t apply for federal money allocated under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, they might not be able to provide rape crisis centers, battered women’s shelters and other programs to support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. But if the groups do apply, they said they would be forced to “fundamentally change their programming, abandon outreach methods and programs designed to best serve their communities, and risk exposing themselves to ruinous liability.”

The groups suing, including organizations combating domestic violence from California to Rhode Island, argue the conditions violate the First Amendment. They also argue that the conditions violate the Administrative Procedure Act by exceeding defendants’ authority by “in some cases outright conflicting with governing law or failing to follow required procedure.”

The government argues that the matter has to do with payments to these groups and, as such, should be handled by the Court of Federal Claims.

Even if the jurisdiction argument fails, the government argues federal agencies may impose conditions on funding that “further certain policies and priorities consistent with the authority provided by grant program statutes.”

“Both agencies have long required compliance with federal antidiscrimination law as a condition of receiving a federal grant,” the government wrote in court documents.

Michael Guidotti will have his driver’s license on him when he runs the Chicago Marathon, just as he did during every training run since summer.

After the Trump administration escalated its immigration crackdown in the city, runners like Guidotti, 31, are worried they could become a target during Sunday’s race.

“Just knowing that I do come from a Hispanic background and also that I am somewhat darker, and that these individuals do seem to be targeting people of that demographic as well,” Guidotti said. “So it’s just an extra precaution that I’m taking that I have my driver’s license with me at all times.”

Questions have been swirling for weeks over whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents might target the marathon, which draws thousands of runners from around the world each year. Reflecting the unease, event organizers sent an email to participants Wednesday that referred to an immigration “Know Your Rights” page on the city’s website.

An ICE spokeswoman, Tanya Roman, said rumors that agents will be at the race are false.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous to ascertain that ICE would conduct immigration enforcement to intentionally disrupt the Chicago marathon,” she said in a statement. “These are the kind of rumors that fan the flames of dissent and result in unwarranted and dangerous riots like those in Portland, Chicago and Los Angeles.”

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Such assurances might not calm the fears of some participants, though.

Asked last week by a podcaster whether there would be “ICE enforcement” at the Super Bowl in February in California, Kristi Noem, who runs ICE’s parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, said immigration officers would be “all over” the event.

DHS always heads the security effort at the Super Bowl, which is a bigger event. But Chicago has become a top target of the Trump administration, which has escalated immigration enforcement in the city through aggressive raids and tactics. Protesters at immigration facilities have been arrested, and President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard there to protect federal property and federal law enforcement, including ICE agents.

The Chicago Marathon is one of the biggest in the U.S. each year and is a major tourism draw for the city. There were 52,150 finishers last year, of which 15,000 were international participants, according to race organizers, who didn’t respond to requests for comment. Among foreign countries, Mexico was best represented, with 3,790 participants. It was followed by the U.K. (2,814), Canada (2,442) and Brazil (1,811).

The course winds through 29 neighborhoods, and more than a million people line the streets to support the runners.

Pilsen, a predominantly Latino neighborhood, is known for the energy that locals bring, with loud cheering and mariachi music blasting. But Enrique Rivera, who leads the neighborhood’s Venados Running Club and will be watching this year’s race, isn’t expecting the same energy.

“I’m absolutely sure that people are going to stay home,” he said. “There’s street vendors that aren’t out on the street doing their sales that impact their life. I’m sure they’re also going to be able to cut off recreational activities like cheering on runners.”

Rivera said his club is encouraging runners to stay informed, keep a list of important contacts on hand, and run in groups. Some club members have discussed what documentation they should bring.

“There is something in the air that says, ‘No, it doesn’t feel right,’” he said.

Critics say the immigration crackdown, which has swept up people who are legally living in the country, including U.S. citizens, is a sweeping government overreach, and that ICE engages in racial profiling.

Participant Amar Shah, 31, said that even though he was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, he’s worried that his Indian heritage could make him vulnerable.

“I shouldn’t have any concerns from a legality standpoint, but I am a brown man. I have a beard,” he said. “I could be seen as someone who fits the stereotype of folks who are being targeted right now.”

Michael Rodriguez, the alderman for Chicago’s 22nd ward, which is home to a large Latino community, said businesses are “hurting” amid concerns about ICE, and this year’s race may bring less economic activity to the city than usual.

“I’m worried about those hundreds, maybe thousands of individuals from out of town, who come from internationally and throughout the nation to run,” Rodriguez said. “The hotel rooms they stay in, the restaurants they dine in, the money they spend in our city is going to be negatively impacted.”

“Some people might not come, others may choose not to spend their money,” he said.

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Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed confidence this week that the marathon would go off without a hitch, noting that roughly 3,000 runners from Mexico have signed up, “and I want them all to come.”

“I feel strongly about our ability to be able to hold large-scale events, and the strategic security measures that we’re putting in place are to ensure we continue to hold a reputation of hosting large-scale events,” the mayor said.

Associated Press reporters Jay Cohen in Chicago and Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.

By SUE OGROCKI

CLEVELAND — A critically endangered rhino made its public debut Friday at a Cleveland zoo, dashing about its enclosure and giving a boost to the endangered species.

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The 120-pound eastern black rhino was born earlier this month to 22-year-old mother Kibibbi and 25-year-old father Forrest at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The zoo has a long history of caring for the species, which has fewer than 583 adults in the wild, alongside global partners.

“He is very playful, runs around, gets the zoomies, so it’s very fun to take care of him, especially when they’re this age,” animal keeper Stefanie Titterington said as the calf explored the Daniel Maltz Rhino Reserve.

Alex Budinger, a zoo visitor, was thrilled to catch a glimpse of the rhino that has not yet been named. The zoo is holding a contest for guests to choose from one of three names — Makena, Kenza or Kamari.

“We’re zoo members. We come here all the time, so we’re very excited that there’s a new baby to come and check out and we thought it was a great day to come out and see the rhino,” Budinger said. “It’s adorable and we enjoy coming and seeing it do some enrichment and chew up some pumpkins.”

South Africa has more than 2,000 of the 6,700 black rhinos left in the wild or in reserves and 12,000 to 13,000 of the world’s 15,000 remaining southern white rhinos, which are now listed as near threatened after a turnaround. Those two species are only found in the wild in Africa. South Africa has a pivotal place in saving them but also is the epicenter of rhino poaching that is linked to organized crime.

Eastern black rhinos are one of several subspecies of black rhinos.

By SAM METZ and AKRAM OUBACHIR

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — King Mohammed VI on Friday urged elected officials to stop wasting time and fix social injustices, framing similar issues to those raised by Morocco’s youth-led protesters as questions of governance, rather than of the country’s broader vision.

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The king’s short but charged address mirrored some of the grievances raised by Gen Z 212 protesters about regional inequalities and uneven development but did not address the movement directly.

Morocco has been swept by demonstrations for almost two weeks, as young people have taken to the streets to demand better public services and increased spending on health and education.

The 62-year-old monarch — walking into parliament without the help of a cane he used for part of last year — implored its members to defend the country and tackle some of the grievances raised at the protests with a spirit of seriousness and responsibility.

“Social justice is not a temporary priority,” the King, Morocco’s highest authority, said in his speech before lawmakers dressed in traditional white djellaba robes.

“It’s a strategic direction to which every one must adhere, and a crucial challenge that should govern our various development policies,” he added.

He did not touch on the contrast near the heart of anger seen in the streets: stadiums related to the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Protesters have chanted slogans to decry them taking priority over investments that raise Morocco’s living standards.

The King said projects big and small were both designed to move Morocco forward.

“There should be no contradiction or competition between major national projects and social programs, as both share the same goal: developing the country and improving the living conditions of citizens wherever they may be,” Mohammed VI said.

His address was highly anticipated after Gen Z 212 — the leaderless collective that organized many of the protests online — wrote a letter to him directly, urging him to intervene against corrupt officials and push reforms.

People take part in a youth-led protest against corruption and calling for education and healthcare reforms, in Rabat, Morocco, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

The speech offered no indication that protesters’ demands for Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch’s resignation and new corruption investigations would be met. After Gen Z 212 livestreamed the speech to thousands of its channel’s followers on the app Discord, many there said they were underwhelmed.

Yet others identified with the regional inequities and rural poverty given voice.

The issues have been central to some of the most heated protests in Morocco’s east and south. Demonstrators in cities like Oujda and the suburbs of Agadir have clashed violently with security forces, leading to numerous injuries and three deaths.

The King has addressed similar themes in prior speeches, both to open parliamentary proceedings and to commemorate his ascendance to Morocco’s throne. When protests convulsed northern Morocco in 2017, he similarly blasted politicians for not doing their jobs and communicating policies effectively. In July, he warned that Morocco could not become a “two speed country.”

Yet to many protesters, that’s what it has become.

People take part in a youth-led protest against corruption and calling for education and healthcare reforms, in Rabat, Morocco, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

Across Morocco, joblessness for those ages 15 to 24 is stubbornly high. Classrooms are packed. And hospitals are stretched thin, including one in Agadir where a woman passed away this week, months after eight others died giving birth. The conditions at the public hospitals where they died were among the sparks to ignite protests in September.

Gen Z 212 has gradually sharpened their demands and on Thursday published their most specific to date, urging officials to move fast to hire more health workers and boost spending, citing the government’s own reports warning of severe staffing and funding shortages.

Their letter pressed for an end to the growing privatization of Morocco’s education system and for the release of who they called “opinion detainees,” arrested for taking part in the Gen Z protests.

People take part in a youth-led protest against corruption and calling for education and healthcare reforms, in Rabat, Morocco, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

Local news outlets reported that more than 400 people have been arrested for vandalism linked to the protests. Some of them were held in custody. Activists have for decades criticized Morocco’s goal to have 20% of students educated in private schools for deepening inequality as wealthier families often send their children to private institutions, while public ones remain overcrowded and underfunded.

For both Mohammed VI and the protesters who convened in the parliament one night earlier, the message is clear: elected officials have no time to waste.

“We call on everyone to combat all practices that waste time, effort and resources,” the King said.

 Metz reported from Jerusalem.