JERUSALEM (AP) — Tens of thousands of people gathered at the holiest Jewish prayer site in Jerusalem on Tuesday for the traditional priestly blessing prayer.

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The “Birkat Cohanim,” or Cohen’s blessing, is a ritual dating back over 2,500 years to when King Solomon’s Temple stood on the same site. The blessing is performed by male Jews who can trace their lineage back to the priestly caste, and takes place three times a year during Judaism’s major holidays. Jews are currently observing the week-long holiday of Passover.

The prayer was led by many of the country’s top rabbis as well as Eliya Cohen, a former hostage who was released from Gaza in February, and relatives of other hostages still being held in Gaza. After the traditional blessing, the rabbis recited a prayer for the 59 hostages still held in captivity in Gaza.

Many worshippers said the prayer had special meaning this year, given the ongoing war, which has stretched on for more than 18 months. “It’s hard for us to believe that we still have hostages that are not able to come home and come and be here and join us with this,” said Shandey Fuchs, who said she tries to attend the ceremony every year. She added that she hopes the prayer brings unity and lasting peace across Israel.

The blessing is recited in Hebrew while religious men cover their heads with prayer shawls, creating a sea of white at the Western Wall Plaza. The paved prayer area in front of the wall is the last remnant of the second Jewish Temple destroyed in the 1st century. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which runs the site, said more than 200,000 people have visited the site during the Passover holiday, one of three Jewish holidays where ancient Jews traditionally made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

By LOLITA C. BALDOR

WASHINGTON (AP) — A female Army Ranger for the first time competed in the annual Best Ranger Competition, and her two-soldier team finished the grueling three-day event over the weekend and came in 14th overall.

First Lt. Gabrielle White, and her teammate, Capt. Seth Deltenre, were among the 16 teams that made it through the final events, where Ranger teams compete for accolades as the best of the elite military force. All together, 52 teams competed and all of the others were made up of only male soldiers.

This image provided by the U.S. Army shows Capt. Seth Deltenre, left, and 1st Lt. Gabrielle White, from the Maneuver Center of Excellence in Fort Benning, Ga., as they compete during the Malvesti obstacle course in the 2025 Best Ranger Competition, April 11, 2025, at Camp Rogers in Fort Benning. (Patrick A. Albright/U.S. Army via AP)

The two Rangers on the winning team were 1st Lt. Griff Hokanson and 1st Lt. Kevin Moore — both are members of the 75th Ranger Regiment. White and Deltenre are based at the Army Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Female soldiers were not allowed to be Army Rangers until 2015, when the Army opened Ranger school to women. In August 2015, two female soldiers completed the Ranger course for the first time. Later that year, the Defense Department opened all combat jobs to women.

Until this year, no female soldiers had entered the Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning. Soldiers participating must all be Army Rangers, and they compete in more than 30 events.

This photo illustration provided by the U.S. Army shows Capt. Seth Deltenre, left, and 1st Lt. Gabrielle White, from the Maneuver Center of Excellence in Fort Benning, Ga., winners of the 2025 Best Ranger Competition. (Patrick A. Albright/U.S. Army via AP)

According to the competition, soldiers must move more than 60 miles during the three days, with little rest. It includes helicopter missions, physical fitness tests, land navigation, weapons qualification, obstacle course and other tests.

While in previous years the Army would likely have noted the historic first in a story or press release, that won’t happen this time.

Under President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the department has banned anything that touts diversity, equity and inclusion. And in the recent purge of the military’s online websites and social media postings, mentions of historic firsts by women and minorities were largely eliminated.

White, 25, is a Black infantry officer assigned to the maneuver captains career course. She graduated from the Military Academy at West Point in May 2021 and completed the Ranger School in April 2022, according to Christopher Surridge, an Army spokesman.

According to the Army, 154 females had graduated from the Ranger School as of January 2025.

WRENTHAM, Mass. (AP) — Charges have been dropped against two Rhode Island men in connection with the death of a fan following an altercation at a New England Patriots game in 2023.

Justin Mitchell and John Vieira had pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of assault and battery and disorderly conduct. They were accused of punching Dale Mooney, 53, of Newmarket, New Hampshire.

The charges were dropped Friday “in the interest of justice,” Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said in a court filing. No further explanation was given.

Investigators said Mooney was struck during an altercation at the Gillette Stadium game, which ended in a 24-17 win by the visiting Miami Dolphins. Mooney was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“The stadium video clearly showed that Mr. Vieira was only trying to help another individual defend themselves from an unprovoked assault,” Peter Aspesi, Vieira’s lawyer, said in a statement.

A message seeking comment was emailed Tuesday to Mitchell’s lawyer, Daniel Gelb.

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner provided preliminary indications that did not suggest traumatic injury, but identified a medical issue with Mooney. A final determination ruled the manner of death a homicide, with the cause of death as “probable cardiac dysrhythmia in a person with severe hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease during a physical altercation.”

The review of the available evidence, including the autopsy results and multiple angles of video, failed to establish a basis for criminal prosecution of charges related to homicide, Morrissey had concluded.

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday granted the Justice Department’s request to dismiss the criminal case against the alleged MS-13 gang East Coast leader whom prosecutors say they now intend to deport just weeks after top government officials celebrated his arrest outside of Washington.

Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos ‘ lawyer in an usual request urged the judge not to immediately dismiss the case, saying he feared his client would be deported to an El Salvador prison without a chance to challenge his removal.

“This was clearly a political decision,” defense attorney Muhammad Elsayed told the judge of the choice to deport Villatoro Santos. The motion to dismiss was filed shortly after the Justice Department made a “ high profile spectacle out of him,” Elsayed added.

But Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick said during a hearing in Virginia that judge cannot second-guess prosecutors’ decision not to pursue a case, and that the criminal court isn’t the proper place to seek relief from deportation.

Villatoro Santos will not be handed over to immigration authorities until Friday morning, however, as the judge decided his ruling won’t go into effect until later this week to give the defense a chance to potentially explore other challenges.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin held a press conference last month to announce the arrest of Villatoro Santos, whom they described as one of the top three MS-13 leaders in the country. President Donald Trump also posted on social media touting his arrest, calling him a “major leader.”

But he was only charged in federal court with a gun offense stemming from several firearms during the search of his home, according to court papers. Investigators said they found “indicia of MS-13 association” in his bedroom but prosecutors have provided no other details in court documents about his alleged gang involvement.

Villatoro Santos’ lawyer declined to comment to reporters after Tuesday’s hearing.

Elsayed argued there’s a serious risk his client will be sent to El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT prison, like hundreds of other alleged gang members deported last month without an opportunity to challenge their removals.

Elsayed said he has been unable to get assurances from the federal government that he will be placed into the ordinary removal process and not just “whisked off” on a plane to El Salvador.

The Supreme Court has since said that alleged Tren de Aragua gang members must have an opportunity to challenge their removal before being removed under the Alien Enemies Act.