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WASHINGTON -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging the Trump administration to carry out another wave of strikes on Iran, officials told The Associated Press.

Iran said Monday it had a two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks with the United States. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels accused Saudi Arabia of striking a shipping port.

Israel's military said it was wrapping up a sweeping operation after a shooting in Hebron killed two soldiers.

Here is the latest news from the Middle East on Monday.

Netanyahu pushes for strikes on Iran, officials tell AP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for another wave of strikes on Iran after Tuesday's midterm elections in the United States, according to two regional officials and a third person familiar with the matter.

U.S. President Donald Trump has alternated between threatening major strikes while pushing for a deal with Iran.

The two officials said diplomatic efforts have made progress. The two officials said the mediators are trying to advance a framework for Iran to cease its attacks in the Strait of Hormuz in return for the U.S. lifting its blockade on Iran's ports.

They said more talks are planned for this week. The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing classified briefings they had received from American officials and one Israeli official.

Netanyahu pressed for strikes during a call over the weekend with Trump, who would not commit to taking military action, according to a person who was briefed on the call.

Other U.S. allies in the Middle East are warning against more strikes, saying it would destabilize the region, a third regional official said.

The Israeli government did not immediately comment. The White House did not directly respond to questions about Netanyahu and Trump's discussion of potential new strikes during the weekend call.

— By Samy Magdy and Aamer Madhani

Iran's 2-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, resume nuclear talks

Iran said it had a two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks with the U.S. if Washington meets its demands.

Iran previously said the plan could be implemented within a week if the U.S. met seven conditions, including lifting its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran now says ships passing through the reopened strait would have to follow a route agreed upon by Iran and Oman. Separately, Iranian officials have said the U.S. must lift sanctions on Iranian oil sales and agree to a ceasefire that would include Lebanon.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the plan remained the basis for negotiations with Washington through mediators, despite the shorter implementation timeline. "This once again demonstrates Iran's good-faith approach," he added.

Vessel struck crossing the strait
A vessel transiting the strait was struck by an "unknown projectile" that left a hole in the vessel, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said Monday. All crew members were reported safe, the agency said.

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Iran has claimed attacks on vessels it says took unauthorized routes while it said other vessels have reportedly struck mines laid by the Islamic Republic in the early days of the war. The U.S. military denies the naval mines claims, saying that all internationally recognized routes have been cleared of mines by U.S. forces.

Blasts reported in Yemen as more flee fighting

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Monday accused Saudi Arabia of striking a port along Yemen's Red Sea coast, setting fire to ships. Earlier, the Houthi-run health ministry said explosives hit a market in southwestern Yemen, killing seven people, including five children. Eight others were wounded, including five children, the ministry' spokesman Anees al-Asbah said.

Saudi authorities did not immediately comment. The Associated Press could not independently verify the two claims.

The Houthis have claimed recent attacks on Saudi Arabia, saying they targeted an airport and military transport aircraft.

The Saudi-backed Yemeni military said a Houthi missile struck a medical center in the Madaribah district in Lahij province, which is close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The attack killed at least five people, including three medical personnel, and wounded 15 others, including seven medical workers, according to the Human Rights Ministry.

Another Houthi attack on a public market in the Aqroudh village in Lahij killed and wounded a total of 26 people, the ministry said, without providing a breakdown.

The latest attacks are part of the Houthis' ongoing battles with the Yemeni military forces and their allies, which have exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation and caused many to flee.

China to send special envoy to Iran and the Gulf

China said Monday it plans to send a special envoy to Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia in early to mid-November. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters the envoy would focus on easing tensions and promoting regional stability.

The move comes as China seeks to expand its influence in the rapidly changing region, which it depends on for a large share of its oil.

Some Israeli forces withdraw from Hebron after massive response to deadly shooting
The Israeli military said Monday it ended an operation in Hebron in the occupied West Bank that began last month after two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers. It said it demolished the gunmen's residences and confiscated weapons and illegal vehicles.

The operation, focused on the area where the shooting took place, displaced hundreds of Palestinians. They began returning home Monday as some Israeli forces withdrew from one of the most tense cities in the territory. In Deir Bahha, some residents found their homes were damaged in military raids.

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This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A federal immigration officer charged with aggravated assault after he ran over a Mexican man with his car in Houston has turned himself in.

ABC13 video showed Mario Alberto Morales, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, walking inside the courtroom with his legal counsel on Monday morning. Cameras were not allowed inside. According to court records, Morales posted a non-arrest bond after a judge set his bond at $30,000.

Morales is accused of hitting Miguel Parra Hernandez, a 48-year-old construction worker, with his unmarked SUV on Oct. 10, as he chased Parra Hernandez through a parking lot.

A grand jury indicted Morales on Friday on a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. On Monday, Morales appeared before a judge to answer that charge.

SEE ALSO: ICE agent indicted after running over man with vehicle, Harris County officials announce

Morales's attorney, David Lindenmuth, previously told The Associated Press that Morales planned to turn himself in on Monday.

Lindenmuth also told the AP that the incident was "clearly just an accident" and that local officials had "invented a crime out of thin air."

Prosecutors, on the other hand, said that the hit was intentional, arguing that Morales crossed a median and aggressively turned the wheel to strike Hernandez.

Michael Wynne, another Morales representative, questioned the case's timing and said the grand jurors were "presented with one side of the story."

"A side that Sean Teare decided to present, for whatever reason, on the last day of early voting... to make a certain news cycle," Wynne said.

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said, "As in every case that we prosecute in this courthouse, things need to come forward in a courtroom. Not at a podium. We don't litigate these cases in the media or in the public. We do it in front of, eventually, a jury of the defendant's peers."

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Wynne told ABC13 they will push to move the case to the federal level as soon as possible.

"We'll press this case and litigate it the way the framers designed it, and that is in a federal forum," Wynne said.

Teare said this is something they're prepared for.

"We are fully anticipating that. We've been in preparation to combat that. We believe this case will eventually be tried in a Harris County Courthouse," Teare said.

A lawyer not connected to the case, Kent Schaffer, told ABC13 that if the case moves to federal court, Morales could get immunity if his defense attorneys argue he acted within the scope of his employment as an ICE agent.

"If the judge finds that's the case, then the case could be dismissed, but if the judge finds that the agent or officers' actions were not necessary to enforce federal law, then the case is going to go to trial," Schaffer said.

Morales is due back in court on Dec. 2.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A family of four, including two young children, were among those killed when a Learjet slammed into a Florida roadway, according to a relative.

All nine people aboard the Bahamas-bound aircraft -- two crew members and seven passengers -- were killed in Sunday's catastrophic crash in Palm Beach County, authorities said.

Adam Robinson and Helen Sharp and their two young children -- Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2 -- were among those aboard the plane, according to Robinson's brother.

"Helen and Adam were the love affair that will last forever," Anthony Robinson said in an online statement while sharing a photo of the family. "Their warmth, generosity and gift for making people feel welcome touched so many lives. Their loss will be felt deeply by all those who loved them and who they loved in return."

The co-pilot's stepfather also identified her to ABC News on Monday as 20-year-old Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras.

An official from the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office said it is too early for victims' identities to be officially released. The medical examiner's office is engaged in the "lengthy process" of DNA collection and assessment, officials said.

Plane may have been breaking up before crash: NTSB

The 22-year-old twin-engine Learjet 60 crashed after plummeting to the ground at 350 feet per second, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said, creating a huge crater in a roadway.

The plane may have been breaking up before it hit the ground, the National Transportation Safety Board said Monday.

"We do have some indication that the aircraft was breaking up before impact, and so some of this is yet to be determined. We may find parts of the aircraft some distance away from the actual impact site," NTSB board member Tom Chapman said at an afternoon news conference in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Chapman said before beginning a rapid descent from 35,000 feet and making a Mayday emergency call to air traffic control, the aircraft's two-person crew reported they were experiencing icing on the aircraft and "moderate turbulence."

NTSB officials said they do not have precise numbers on the Learjet's airspeed, but said it was traveling at a high rate of speed before the crash.

Aircraft maintenance records showed there was a cockpit voice recorder installed on the jet, according to Chapman, but he said it's unclear if it was still onboard the aircraft during its final flight.

Photos and videos online showed a jet hitting the ground nose-first and bursting into a fireball. The impact of the crash left a crater near a shopping center.

Man injured on the ground

One man who was in a vehicle on the ground "immediately adjacent" to the crash site sustained a leg injury, according to NTSB investigator in charge Timothy Monville.

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The jet crashed just before 1 p.m. ET near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue, in the Greenacres community of Palm Beach County, authorities said.

The crash prompted the evacuation of hundreds of people from 77 mobile homes in the area, county officials said following the NTSB briefing.

During Monday's news conference, Chapman gave a timeline of the air disaster, saying that weather conditions are a major focus of the investigation and that the turbulence the crew reported is "certainly a factor."

The Learjet, which belonged to Aurora Aviation, a private company doing business as Upper Jets, took off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas, around 10:37 a.m. ET on Sunday and was headed to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas, Chapman said, adding that the crew was in communication with air traffic control facilities along the flight route.

At 12:47 p.m. ET, the crew reported they were encountering "moderate turbulence" and "light clear ice" on the aircraft, which the crew said at the time was manageable, according to the NTSB.

While in contact with the Miami Air Route Traffic Center, the crew transmitted that they were at 35,000 feet and that the moderate turbulence was causing the aircraft to experience altitude deviations of about 700 feet, Chapman said. He said the crew also reported that the temperature outside the airplane was minus 47 degrees Celsius, or minus 53 degrees Fahrenheit.

Very soon after, the crew requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet, which was approved by FAA air traffic control, Chapman said. Less than 30 seconds later, a transmission from the airplane announced a descent, followed by a Mayday call.

"Less than 30 seconds later, the airplane transmitted, 'We are in an overspeed condition, descending...,' with the rest unintelligible," Chapman said. "Subsequent communications described that the airplane was descending rapidly and gave an altitude callout."

"Sadly, all aboard were lost," Chapman added.

Neither Monville nor Chapman could say whether the jet flew through an active thunderstorm prior to the aircraft's rapid descent and crash.

Search for debris ongoing

Monville estimated that a debris field from the crash measured about one-half mile by four-tenths of a mile in size and was scattered among ball fields, businesses and houses.  

"We're finding debris, but haven't identified parts yet," said Monville, adding that NTSB investigators will be at the scene of the crash for several days collecting evidence.

Monville said the "biggest obstacle" investigators are likely to have is recovering wreckage from the huge crater the crash created. He said current weather conditions also are posing difficulty for investigators and that rainwater had seeped into the crater.

LONG ISLAND (WABC) -- With all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives on the ballot, two closely watched congressional races on Long Island could help determine the balance of power in Washington.

In New York's 3rd Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Rep. Tom Suozzi is facing Republican Mike LiPetri. The district encompasses the North Shore of Nassau County on Long Island and northeastern Queens. Both candidates have pledged to work across party lines while addressing issues affecting residents.

Suozzi said, "If the Democrats win the majority the president will have to negotiate with the Congress, right now it's my way or the highway."

LiPetri emphasized bipartisan cooperation, saying, "I worked with Republicans, Democrats, independents, if it helps my district, I am for it, if it hurts my district, I'm against it, period."

Suozzi also pointed to affordability concerns facing voters.

"We have so many issues that need to be addressed, now it's all about fighting, let's actually address the problems people face like affordability," he said.

Affordability is also a major issue in New York's neighboring 4th Congressional District, which covers Nassau County's South Shore. There, Democratic incumbent Rep. Laura Gillen is running against Republican Jeanine Driscoll in another competitive race.

Gillen said, "The number one issue on everybody's mind is the cost of living; people thought things might get better under this administration, and everything has gotten so much worse. The cost of gas is crippling people. The cost of groceries, the cost of everything."

Driscoll criticized Gillen's record, saying, "She's voted against no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security. And those three things really affect the residents."

Looking ahead to Election Day on Tuesday, both candidates expressed confidence in their campaigns.

"I will not disappoint you; I will represent the interest of the NY-4 residents 100%," Driscoll said.

Gillen said, "We need to get this nation on the right track; we need to bring down costs and make the American dream possible for every single child."

Republicans currently hold a slight majority in the House, but Tuesday's election could shift the balance of power in Washington.

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Over the weekend, open enrollment began in most states for those who buy their health insurance though the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.

This year saw the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits and further changes are expected in 2027.

Here's what to know about open enrollment for the upcoming year:

How long does open enrollment last?

Open enrollment typically runs from Nov. 1, 2026 through Jan. 15, 2027. Three states -- Connecticut, Idaho and Massachusetts -- saw their open enrollment period begin last month.

Massachusetts residents will have until Jan. 23 to shop for coverage while residents of Virginia will have until Jan. 29. Those who live in California, the District of Columbia, New York and Rhode Island will have until Jan. 31.

Idaho is the only state to have its open enrollment period end in 2026, closing on Dec. 15.

Increase of premiums

A new analysis from KFF published Friday found that finalized benchmark silver premiums -- for mid-tier health coverage -- under the ACA will rise by an average of 13% next year, marking the second year in a row of double-digit percentage increases.

KFF said ACA marketplace benchmark silver premiums have risen by an average of 42% between 2025 and 2027.

The organization noted that most enrollees will get a subsidy to help cover the cost of premiums, but not those with incomes 400% above the federal poverty level.

Enrollees and insurers exit the marketplace

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Data published in June from the Department of Health and Human Services showed 19.2 million people were enrolled under the ACA in the first two months of 2026, down by about 3 million people compared to the same time last year.

KFF noted that several insurers expect declines in coverage in 2027 in the wake of enhanced premium tax credits expiring.

However, insurers are also exiting the marketplace. As of Oct. 28, about 11 carriers have said they will no longer be offering coverage in at least one state in 2027, according to KFF. Insurers may be reassessing the profitability of their participation in the marketplace as people unenroll, KFF suggested.

Among the carriers is Cigna, which will exit all 11 states where it offers ACA plans, affecting more than 350,000 people.

Some immigrants no longer qualify for tax credits

The Trump administration's reconciliation bill, which was signed into law in July 2025, is changing eligibility requirements for some immigrants.

Under the bill, certain groups will not be able to obtain ACA tax credits and cost-sharing help and may have to pay full price for coverage in 2027.

Only lawful permanent residents, certain Cuban and Haitian entrants and lawful residents living in the U.S. under the Compact of Free Association -- agreements that govern a relationship between the U.S. and three sovereign Pacific Island nations -- are still eligible.

Other lawfully present immigrants including, but not limited to, refugees, asylum applicants, survivors of domestic violence who petitioned for lawful immigration status and green card applicants, will lose eligibility, according to the non-profit National Immigration Law Center.

KFF said the Congressional Budget Office estimates that about 1 million more people will be uninsured due to this provision by 2035.

CROTONA PARK, Bronx (WABC) -- Students at The DreamYard Preparatory School in the Bronx staged a walkout Monday to honor 15-year-old Javits Frimpong and speak out against bullying and gun violence following his fatal shooting last week.

Friends and classmates described Frimpong as someone who brought joy to others and had a strong support system at school.

"I cried so much I can't cry anymore. I'm drained. I can't cry anymore if I tried to. I cried so much," one student said.

Friends said Frimpong was known for making others laugh.

"He didn't bother nobody. He comes to school trying to make people laugh. Trying to put smiles on people's faces. Literally the day before he died I was with him on the basketball team. We were playing basketball together. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened the next day," friend Ibrahim said.

During the demonstration, students repeatedly chanted Frimpong's name as they gathered outside the school, which is located a few blocks from where he was shot and killed.

Frimpong's father and friends said he had been involved in an altercation at school last week and had been bullied. They said two students were suspended.

"People say Javits didn't have friends. He has friends. This school, he came and talked to us and talked to us like every day. Ask anybody. He would be with us every day. We would go down to lunch together," one student said.

Some students said they related to Frimpong's experiences.

"We had to go through the same thing he went through. From elementary to now. We deal with racism, colorism," student Miriam Tourkire said.

Anna Agbotse, chair of public affairs for the National Council of Ghanaian Associations, said Frimpong's death has deeply affected the Ghanaian American community.

"We all just simply endured it because we all just thought it was normal. Understanding that it wasn't a great experience. We knew that it was bullying to some extent but we just felt like we had to go through it," Agbotse said.

She added, "This is happening because everything about us is different. Our accent is different... our vocabulary is different, the way we present ourselves is different, we're more humble."

Police have made no arrests and are looking for three teenage boys in connection with the case.

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"Right now, we're looking at the possibility that the child was being bullied at school. We're working with the Department of Education to verify that. But we're also looking at two other aspects. Could this child have been the victim of a robbery gone bad, or was this a case of mistaken identity where a rival gang member thought he was the opposition," NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.

Frimpong's friends said the school's principal did everything possible to address the incident at school and that they feel safe inside the building. They said their fears begin once they leave campus.

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NEW YORK (WABC) -- Republican incumbent Mike Lawler and Democratic challenger Cait Conley spent Monday making their final campaign stops ahead of Election Day in the closely contested race for New York's 17th Congressional District.

With campaigning set to end Tuesday, both candidates maintained busy schedules across the district as they sought to persuade undecided voters.

Conley, a West Point graduate and political newcomer, had five events scheduled Monday in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. During a stop in Nanuet, she appeared with former White House chief of staff and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

"People are struggling or suffering, and they want change and they don't believe that the politicians who got them into this mess are going to get them out of it. So, they want somebody they can believe in again," Conley said.

Lawler, a two-term Republican incumbent, is seeking to retain the suburban congressional seat that he flipped in 2022. On Monday, he campaigned outside his New City campaign office before heading to an evening rally in Mahopac.

"I have consistently fought for and delivered for my district. I have consistently been rated one of the most bipartisan and effective members of Congress. We delivered the largest tax cut in American history," Lawler said.

Conley argued that the war with Iran and its effect on gas prices, home heating oil and food costs could motivate voters to support her campaign.

"They deserve better. They deserved a patriot and public servant not a puppet. And over the last four years when Mike Lawler has had a chance to fight for them, on his watch their lives have gotten harder," Conley said.

Lawler highlighted his record on taxes, federal funding for the district and his opposition to New York's sanctuary-state status.

"I think at the end of the day what voters want is not somebody who is going to be a rubber stamp, or somebody who is going to agree with them on everything. They want somebody who is going to fight for them. It's why so much attention has been paid to this district," Lawler said.

The candidates are set to conclude their campaigns Tuesday as voters in the district head to the polls.

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As Republicans and Democrats were making their final pitch to voters on the eve of Election Day, President Donald Trump opted to forgo the campaign trail and instead focused on his renovations at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, drawing attention to an expensive, problem-plagued repair job in a place far away from most of the people his party wants to persuade.

It was an unusual closing argument for Republicans to keep control of Congress. But it conforms with the way the president has devoted considerable time, attention and money in his second term on beautifying his Washington surroundings.

Trump, wearing a white “USA” hat, even seemed to admit that he had spent much of his time focused on improving the capital city.

“We have a lot of great things planned for Washington, and I could get into the nation, but for that, you don’t have enough time," Trump said.

Instead of focusing on issues voters have said they're worried about, Trump dedicated a large portion of his remarks to his D.C. makeover and the pool, announcing its official re-opening, joking that he wanted to name it after himself, and repeating his false claims that the repair work he ordered was vandalized.

After he finished his remarks on Monday, Trump’s stood silently while triumphant music played and he held up a poster with an image of the previously algae-clogged pool. It was his last public appearance before Election Day.

Democrats, for their part, were spending the last 24 hours before Election Day making their case in areas where Republicans have long dominated, while trying to contain the fallout from a messy intraparty split in Michigan. Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed was brushing aside concerns that his prospects could be hurt after his former primary opponent threw her support behind his Republican opponent Mike Rogers.

In addition to giving the speech on Monday afternoon, Trump also was scheduled to participate in nine telerallies for Republicans, where he uses brief remarks on a mass phone call to plead for voters' support.

Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, hit the campaign trail with more traditional stops in New York and Ohio, where Republicans were fighting for House and Senate seats.

Trump touts renovations as voters worry about the economy

The Reflecting Pool, a long, narrow basin at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, is one of Washington’s most iconic sites. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously gave his “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the memorial in 1963, looking out over the pool.

But this summer it became a focus of Trump's attention, with the president frequently speaking about his plans for the shallow pool on social media, at the White House and beyond. He displayed posters about the project in the Oval Office and even had his motorcade drive him over the resurfaced pool before it was refilled.

The pool was soon clogged with algae blooms, and its “American-flag blue” liner began peeling and floating up in chunks. The Justice Department charged former Olympian David Hearn with intentionally damaging the Reflecting Pool but then dropped the case this summer after determining he was not responsible.

But the president continues to repeat false claims that vandalism — rather than shoddy workmanship — was to blame for a new blue surface peeling away.

On the platform where he spoke Monday, signs were hanging that said “Restoring Our Capitol” and “The Reflecting Pool." A poster perched on a display board showed the reflecting pool under the words, “Back, and more beautiful than ever!”

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He waxed on about the particular color blue he selected to have the bottom of the pool painted, the kinds of grass and types of columns he had selected for repairs around Washington, and held up a series of blown-up images of rusted pipes taken during the renovation process.

He then started repeating some of his midterm elections pitch, defending his record and attacking Democratic nominees, before eventually turning back to the pool.

The president's message in the closing days of the midterm campaign was similarly detached from voters' concerns about the high cost of living. He's called affordability a “hoax” while boasting to audiences far from the nation's capital about his renovations of the reflecting pool and the White House, along with repeatedly praising the physiques of the GOP's nominees.

Vance stuck closer to the party message as he campaigned Monday in Rome, New York. As he campaigned for Republican House candidates Kailee Buller and Anthony Constantino, he touted Trump's moves to end taxes on tips and overtime and secure the border while branding Democrats as “lunatics" who have contempt for American voters.

Democrats try to flip Republican-favored seats while grappling with fractures

Democratic candidates were working to capitalize on widespread disaffection over high prices, the fallout from Trump's war with Iran and historical trends that typically favor the party out of power in midterm elections.

In places like Iowa, where voters have not elected a Democratic governor in two decades, Democrat Rob Sand was asking canvassers knocking on doors to help break that streak.

“This is it," said Sand, who faces Republican Zach Lahn. "We have 30-whatever hours to change the direction of the state of Iowa.”

He was appearing with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, who cited his own races as proof that a Democrat can win over Trump-backed candidates in states like his own and Iowa.

In Michigan, Democrats deal with fallout from a dramatic split

Democrats in Michigan — a key state in their efforts to try to retake the Senate — were trying to keep their coalition together after a shock on Sunday when Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens announced she would back the GOP candidate instead of her party's nominee, appearing at a church service with Mike Rogers.

Stevens — who lost in the primary to Abdul El-Sayed — is a staunch supporter of Israel, while El-Sayed is a fierce critic of the U.S. ally. He has also been criticized for past remarks regarding a Michigan synagogue attack and for appearances with controversial streamer Hasan Piker.

El-Sayed, who campaigned on Monday with fellow Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell and Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, told supporters worried that Stevens' endorsement could hurt him that “If we’re nervous about where we’re going to go from here, go vote."

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Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut in Ankeny, Iowa, Mike Householder in Ypsilanti, Michigan and Mike Catalini and Moriah Balingit in Washington contributed to this report.

For fans of Rocky Balboa, the upcoming film "I Play Rocky" revisits the story of how the iconic character nearly never made it to the big screen.

The movie looks back about 50 years at the creation of the original "Rocky," focusing on Sylvester Stallone's early struggles as an unknown actor with a screenplay Hollywood wanted but on terms industry decision-makers did not.

Academy Award-winning director Peter Farrelly leads the project, with Anthony Ippolito portraying Stallone during that pivotal period of his life.

During an interview with entertainment reporter Joelle Garguilo, Ippolito discussed receiving Stallone's approval for the role.

"Being able to speak to Stallone and to have him being willing to time and share this with me. And it's a vulnerable thing to go into that period of time in his life that was very dark and isolated. And he suffered through so much that to be able to hear his, telling of it about, you know, 50 years later, I just felt very, very, very honored," Ippolito said.

Garguilo noted that Stallone and Rocky are inseparable in the public imagination and described Stallone's support of Ippolito as "rare" and "very special."

Farrelly said casting the right actor was essential to the film's success.

"The biggest thing was we had to have somebody be the perfect Stallone. This script is the best script I ever got sent to me. But if you don't have the perfect Rocky, you're gonna be like, 'yeah, it's kind of a good story, but the guy was like, you know, I didn't buy it.' You had to have a guy who found the inner Stallone and didn't do a caricature of him. And Anthony Ippolito did that, and he did it on his own," Farrelly said.

Ippolito said he was not initially invited to audition for the role and instead took the initiative himself.

"I read an article that they were making this movie, and I knew bits and pieces of Stallone's story. So, I knew there was something really, really interesting there. Nobody was asking me to audition, so I kind of made my own audition, own thing, and kinda sent it sent it their way," he said.

Farrelly said Ippolito's self-made audition immediately stood out.

"He heard about the movie, put himself on tape in his grandmother's basement on Long Island, and then sent it to us, and it's the only guy we looked at. He was it," Farrelly said. "And people ask me, they go, 'how, how... you were so brave to take a chance.' I said, 'I didn't take a chance. It wasn't a doubt. It was a 100%.' It wasn't like it wasn't like 95% chance I thought, okay. Let's go. This was guaranteed when I saw him how good he was gonna be."

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Judge William Sullivan said at a hearing on Monday he would like a potential retrial of Lindsay Clancy to begin in March 2027.

Sullivan came short of firmly setting a trial date, indicating he would like to rule on pending motions before moving forward with a definitive date.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague declined to say how prosecutors plan to potentially approach the case, but signaled the case is headed for a new trial. 

Clancy appeared in the Massachusetts courtroom for the hearing that could determine the future of her triple murder case in the deaths of her children.

At the hearing, parties argued issues including Clancy's motion to dismiss the case, the prosecution's request for a gag order, a request to access court and phone records related to the holdout juror in her previous trial and a potential future trial date.

Sullivan said he hopes to rule on pending motions by a Nov. 16 conference.

Below were some of the key moments at Monday's hearing.

Motion to dismiss 

Clancy's attorneys asked Sullivan to dismiss the case, arguing that he failed to fully investigate whether the holdout juror who forced the mistrial properly followed the court's instructions on the law.

Attorney Martin Weinberg argued that retrying the case would violate Clancy's right against double jeopardy, saying another trial would subject Clancy "to live with a continuing state of anxiety and insecurity ... knowing about the stakes in living through the first trial ."

Weinberg argued that the concerns about the holdout juror, and notes sent to the court concerning the juror's behavior, "goes to the heart of what American criminal justice gives to defendants."

Weinberg said, "We contend based on these juror notes, and again respectfully, that they do not unambiguously support the proposition that all 12 jurors were deliberating and following your Honor's instructions."

While the argument is effectively asking the judge to throw out the case based on mistakes he allegedly made, Sullivan told the defense that he "understands" the argument and doesn't take it personally.

Sprague argued that Sullivan properly asked each juror to confirm they were following the court's instructions, rather than delving into the substance of deliberations.

"It is clear from the record that this juror did not refuse to deliberate. He refused to agree," Sprague countered.

"It's not for the trial judge to choose sides in a deadlock jury and decide," she added.

Sullivan took the motion to dismiss under advisement rather than decide it from the bench. 

Sullivan also heard arguments about prosecutors' request to impose a gag order on the case.

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Argument about holdout juror gets heated

The hearing got heated after Reddington named the holdout juror, who has since spoken publicly about his experience.

"You don't bring your background into a jury room and suppress it, as was done in this case. This gentleman, Mr. Desronvil--," Reddington said before he got cut off by Judge William Sullivan.

"I'm going to stop you right there," the judge said.

"No, you're not going to stop me," Reddington shot back.

"Well, I am," the judge said.

"No, you're not," Reddington said. 

Reddington argued he should be able to use the juror's name because "it's all over the internet."

"That's through the internet; that's through other people. There is no need, here in this courtroom, to use that," the judge said.

The exchange took place during an argument about a request to access court and phone records related to the holdout juror. Prosecutors argued that the motion should be denied in its entirety.

The holdout juror -- who identified himself as Michael Péguy Desronvil -- said in statements and an interview following the trial that he had no doubts about her guilt.

Future trial date 

The judge said he would like a new trial to begin in March, though he did not firmly set a trial date during today's hearing. 

Sullivan said he hopes to rule on the three pending motions by the Nov. 16 conference.

"I'm thinking sometime in March if we can do that, or earlier if possible. But I think March is probably realistic," Sullivan said about his preference for a trial date. 

"Has the Commonwealth made a decision how they're going to proceed with this case?" Sullivan asked the prosecution. 

"This would be a retrial," she said. "As to what that looks like will depend. We're not at that point yet. I think once we get the decision on the motions and see what happens from there, then we would decide what that looks like. But it would be a retrial."

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington said he is in favor of a Spring trial and wants it to proceed in front of Sullivan, who is facing a mandatory retirement. 

"I am not going to have this woman sit incarcerated for the next year or two or three. I want a trial, and I want it with you, and I want it this spring," said Kevin Reddington. 

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