By JOHN O’CONNOR, Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Treasured artifacts associated with President Abraham Lincoln were on the auction block Wednesday, separated from a collection that was intended to be available for public display forever but wound up in the middle of an interagency feud amid a lingering $8 million debt.

The blood-stained leather gloves that were in Lincoln’s pocket the night he was assassinated were among the 144 items up for bid, 136 of which sold. They were auctioned to pay off the remainder of a two-decade-old loan that the Lincoln Presidential Foundation used to buy a one-of-a-kind cluster of Lincoln artifacts from a California collector.

The auction at Freeman’s/Hindman in Chicago raised $7.9 million, but that includes buyers’ premiums of roughly 28% tacked onto each sale to cover the auction house’s administrative costs.

A portrait of Abraham Lincoln, which was signed by him and taken by Alexander Hesler, is on display at Freeman’s | Hindman in West Loop, Chicago, May 15, 2025. (Pat Nabong/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

The gloves were the top-selling items, bringing in $1.52 million including the premium. One of two handkerchiefs Lincoln had with him April 14, 1865, the night he was shot, went for $826,000.

A “Wanted” poster featuring photos of three suspects in the assassination conspiracy, led by John Wilkes Booth, sold for $762,500, far higher than the top estimated price of $120,000.

And the earliest known sample of the 16th president’s handwriting, from a notebook in 1824, fetched $521,200.

Phone and email messages seeking comment were left for the foundation. Its website said proceeds from the auction would be put toward retiring the debt and “any excess funds will go toward our continued care and display of our extensive collection.”

A piece of Abraham Lincoln’s coat, which he wore when he was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865, is framed at Freeman’s | Hindman in West Loop, Chicago, May 15, 2025. (Pat Nabong/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

The foundation purchased a 1,540-item assemblage in 2007 from Louise Taper for the fledgling Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, which opened in 2005 in the city where he established a law practice and lived while serving in the Illinois Legislature and briefly in Congress.

The artifacts were supposed to give the library and museum, which was rich in Lincoln-related manuscripts, a boost in what it lacked — the meaty kind of curios that draw tourists.

But fundraising was slow, forcing the sale of non-Lincoln portions of the collection and threats by the foundation to sell more before it finally extended the loan.

In 2012 a controversy arose over what had been the crown jewel of the group — a stovepipe hat, appraised at $6 million, that Lincoln was said to have given as a gift to a southern Illinois supporter. That story came under intense scrutiny, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, resulting in a 2019 study that found there was no evidence the hat belonged to Lincoln. It was not part of Wednesday’s auction.

A page that shows the earliest known example of Abraham Lincoln’s handwriting is on display at Freeman’s | Hindman in West Loop, Chicago, May 15, 2025. (Pat Nabong/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — All but a few of the nearly 400 books that the U.S. Naval Academy removed from its library because they dealt with anti-racism and gender issues are back on the shelves after the newest Pentagon-ordered review — the latest turn in a dizzying effort to rid the military of materials related to diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Based on the new review, about 20 books from the academy’s library are being pulled aside to be checked, but that number includes some that weren’t identified or removed in last month’s initial purge of 381 books, defense officials told The Associated Press.

A few dozen books at the Air Force libraries — including at the Air Force Academy — also have been pulled out for review, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the process is still ongoing.

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The back-and-forth on book removals reflects a persistent problem in the early months of the Trump administration, as initial orders and demands for an array of policy changes have been forced to be reworked, fine-tuned and reissued because they were vague, badly defined or problematic.

The reviews and changes at military libraries and to websites, social media accounts and more are part of the Trump administration’s far-reaching efforts to purge so-called DEI content from federal agencies.

The Pentagon earlier this month issued a detailed directive to all military leaders and commands to pull and review all library books addressing diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by Wednesday. The order contained more specific search words than earlier guidance and verbal orders from Defense Department leaders, and officials said it resulted in dramatically fewer banned books than initially thought.

The Navy said in a statement Wednesday that it reviewed the library collections at all of its educational institutions to ensure compliance with the directives, noting that materials have been “identified and sequestered.” The Army and Air Force also have reviewed their collections.

All of the services’ libraries had to provide their new lists of books to Pentagon leaders. Now additional guidance will be given on how to cull those lists, if needed, and determine what should be permanently removed. The review also will “determine an appropriate ultimate disposition” for those materials, according to a Defense Department memo.

The May 9 memo — signed by Timothy Dill, who is performing the duties of the deputy defense undersecretary for personnel — did not say what will happen to the books or whether they will be stored away or destroyed.

The libraries at the military academies and those at other schools and commands had to remove educational materials “promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology” because they are incompatible with the Defense Department’s core mission, the memo said.

A temporary Academic Libraries Committee set up by the department is overseeing the process, and it provided a list of search terms to use to determine which books to pull and review.

Those search terms included: affirmative action, anti-racism, critical race theory, discrimination, diversity, gender dysphoria, gender identity and transition, transgender and white privilege.

The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, removed 381 books from its library in early April after being told by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office to get rid of those that promote DEI.

The purge led to the removal of books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelou’s famous autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”

Others included “Memorializing the Holocaust,” which deals with Holocaust memorials; “Half American,” about African Americans in World War II; “A Respectable Woman,” about the public roles of African American women in 19th century New York; and “Pursuing Trayvon Martin,” about the 2012 shooting of a Black 17-year-old in Florida that raised questions about racial profiling.

The Navy on Wednesday could not confirm which books have been returned to the library or if Angelou’s book or the others will remain pulled from shelves.

About two weeks after the Naval Academy purge was ordered, the Army and Air Force libraries were told to go through their stacks to find and remove books related to DEI.

Throughout the process, leaders of the military services sought more detailed guidance on which books had to go because the initial order to the Naval Academy was verbal and vague. Dill’s memo provided that additional guidance.

Similarly, directives to reenlist troops forced out for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and to remove transgender service members from the military have had to be clarified over time.

Defense leaders have had to provide additional guidance and wording to address questions from the services on how to legally and accurately implement the orders. And in several cases, orders had to be refined and reissued.

Consumers in Minnesota stand to benefit from a deal announced Wednesday between AT&T and Lumen, a provider of fiber-optic services that operates as CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber in 11 states. AT&T has agreed to acquire the majority of Lumen’s fiber internet business for $5.75 billion.

Monroe, La.-based Lumen is a strategic purchase for AT&T as it competes with the likes of Philadelphia-based Comcast, which operates as Xfinity.

The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2026.

AT&T already offers AT&T Fiber service but the Lumen acquisition would significantly expand its footprint. It expects to reach about 60 million total fiber internet locations across the country by the end of 2030.

In Minnesota, the Lumen deal puts AT&T Fiber on the map, said spokesman Mark Giga. ” As far as our footprint goes, we’ll go from essentially not having one (in Minnesota) to having Lumen’s.”

AT&T’s fiber service is expected to be largely consumer-focused with multi-gigabit residential speeds that are symmetrical (with uploads and downloads that are roughly equal), a feat Xfinity has yet match in most of its territory.

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Sunday, May 25, marks five years since the killing of George Floyd.

In remembrance of his life and the response to his murder, Minnesota communities are coming together in celebration of the movement and mourning lives lost.

Here are some events:

Justice For George

The artist collective Memorialize the Movement is hosting its fifth annual Justice for George event that features art-making, large-scale mural exhibitions, music and dance performances over the course of five days. The theme of this year’s event is “Radical Joy,” which “encourages community care, connections, and healing, while continuing to grieve, mourn, and fight for a better future for Black communities.”

Thursday, May 22, and Saturday, May 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pillsbury House + Theater, 3501 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, the organization hosts a free reading of the one-act play, “Kill Move Paradise.” The play, written by Pulitzer Prize winner James Ijames (Fat Ham), explores the brotherhood of murdered black men who “offer each other solace and reconciliation, as they prepare for ascension to paradise and their new roles as spiritual guardians and saints.” An open discussion will follow the performance. Registration for the event is required.

Friday, May 23, from 6 to 10 p.m. at 3140 Snelling Ave., Minneapolis, the organization hosts Paint to Express Summer Kickback. The free event features grilled food and painters workshops, which are hosted monthly by the organization to “provide the community with a safe space to express themselves creatively.” Registration is required.

Sunday, May 25, from 12 to 8 p.m. at Phelps Field Park, 701 E. 39th St., Minneapolis, the organization hosts the Justice for George main event, which features live performances, muralists, a vendor fair and other opportunities for community connection.

Registration and/or free tickets are required for these events. For information, visit memorializethemovement.com.

Rise & Remember Festival

The fifth annual Rise & Remember Festival serves to remember George Floyd and “those we have lost unjustly to the pervasive impacts of systemic racism,” according to their website. The three-day festival will include a candlelight vigil, a Night of Honor and street festival.

Friday, May 23, from 4:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. at Quincy Hall, 1325 Quincy St., Minneapolis, the Night to Remember gala, dinner and award ceremony will “celebrate the contributions of the people’s work toward racial justice” and feature live performances from comedian Hope Flood,  DJ Sophia Eris, Maria Isa, Mr. Cheeks, The East Side Boyz and others. The dress code for the event is formal wear and sneakers. Tickets for the dinner and award ceremony, which begins at 4:30 p.m. cost $44.52. Tickets for the concert cost $81.88.

Saturday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at George Floyd Square, 38th Street East and Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, the street festival will kick off for day one of the two-day weekend event. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., a “self-care fair,” aimed at “providing opportunities for community members to experience integrative health practices,” will feature wellness vendors and practitioners, along with free wellness services. From 6 to 7 p.m., rapper DEE-1 will host a performance at the square.

Sunday, May 25, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at George Floyd Square, the street festival will continue. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Worldwide Outreach for Christ will lead a worship service. Then from 2 to 6 p.m., the self-care fair will continue. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sounds of Blackness will perform a gospel concert and a candlelight vigil will follow from 8 to 9 p.m.

For tickets and additional information, visit riseandremember.org.

We Miss You, George Floyd

Saturday, May 24, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Ave., St. Paul, author Shannon Gibney and Ananya Dance Theatre host a reading of Gibney’s picture book, “We Miss You, George Floyd.” The event will occur outdoors if weather permits and will include interactive crafts and a movement activity led by Ananya Dance Theatre. The event is free and attendees can RSVP at redballoonbookshop.com.

Ride to Remember

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Sunday, May 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Venture Bikes Midtown,1000 Midtown Greenway, Minneapolis, Melanin in Motion hosts Slow Roll, Ride to Remember, a narrated biking event that will visit sites “that were central to the community response” to the murder of George Floyd. These sites include George Floyd Square, the Midtown Exchange building, Powderhorn Park, the former site of the 3rd Precinct police station and 3030 Nicollet Ave., where a Wells Fargo branch burned. A community meal and conversation will follow the bike ride from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. This event is free and bikes can be provided if needed, though they are limited. For tickets, search for Melanin in Motion at eventbrite.com.