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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army’s history is closely tied to its cavalry units, those soldiers who rode into battle on horseback. But the service announced Tuesday that it’s moving toward a future without the ceremonial horses and will put most of them up for adoption.

The Army, however, will keep operating the Old Guard ceremonial caisson units at Joint Base San Antonio and Arlington National Cemetery for burial honors.

Ceremonial cavalry units will be closed down at bases, including Fort Cavazos in Texas, whose horses were showcased during the military parade in Washington on June 14, which was the Army’s 250th anniversary and also President Donald Trump’s birthday.

Army spokesperson Steve Warren said other ceremonial units will close at Fort Carson in Colorado, Fort Sill in Oklahoma, Fort Irwin in California, Fort Riley in Kansas and Fort Huachuca in Arizona.

The Army estimates that closing down the units will save about $2 million a year, and the changes are being made as part of its overall warfighting realignment, Warren said. The Army is giving the affected bases 12 months to shutter the units.

A total of 141 horses will be adopted outside the military, Warren said. Some horses may be donated to organizations, but none will be sold, he said.

The horses “are part of the Army family, we’re going to treat them with compassion,” Warren said.

The Army has just recently resumed caisson operations at Arlington National Cemetery after an investigation found the horses in those units were mistreated, left to graze in lots with little grass, leading them to consume sand and gravel. Two horses died in 2022, and caisson operations were suspended until earlier this year.

The Arlington National Cemetery horses are part of the caisson platoon of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, which is best known for guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the cemetery, located just across the river from Washington.

LOS ANGELES — Hollywood actor Michael Madsen, whose film career spanned decades and included roles in “Reservoir Dogs,” “Kill Bill” and “Donnie Brasco,” died from heart failure, his cardiologist told NBC Los Angeles.

Madsen was found unresponsive Thursday at his Malibu home. He was 67.

His doctor said heart failure will be listed as the cause of death, with heart disease and alcoholism named as contributing factors.

Deputies responded to the Los Angeles County home after a 911 call early Thursday. Madsen was pronounced dead at the residence.

No autopsy will be conducted because the cardiologist who was treating Madsen signed the death certificate. The case is considered closed by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, with no foul play indicated, and is listed as a death from natural causes.

Manager Ron Smith said last week that Madsen died from cardiac arrest.

The gravelly-voiced Madsen was known for portraying enigmatic tough guy characters, and amassed a long list of film credits during his career spanning four decades.

Madsen, the brother of Academy Award-nominated actor Virginia Madsen, brought complex characters to life in “Kill Bill: Vol. 1,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Thelma & Louise,” “Donnie Brasco” and more.

Madsen, who also published several volumes of poetry, was born in Chicago, where he was part of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. His Hollywood career was launched with an appearance in the 1983 sci-fi techno thriller “WarGames.”

Madsen, playing the role of cruel criminal “Mr. Blonde,” was part of Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut in 1992’s “Reservoir Dogs.” The two would collaborate frequently in Hollywood, including “Kill Bill: Vol. 1,” “The Hateful Eight” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”

Madsen’s “Reservoir Dogs” performance included a notoriously memorable scene in which Mr. Blonde, aka Victor “Vic” Vega, tortured a man he was tasked with guarding as he danced to the song “Stuck in the Middle With You.”

Hudson Madsen, one of his six children, died by suicide at age 26 in 2022. He was one of three sons Madsen shared with his wife, DeAnna Madsen. He also had children from a previous marriage.

LONDON — At least 13 people were thought to have taken their own lives as a result of Britain’s Post Office scandal, in which almost 1,000 postal employees were wrongly prosecuted or convicted of criminal wrongdoing because of a faulty computer system, a report said Tuesday.

Another 59 people contemplated suicide over the scandal, one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in U.K. history.

From around 1999 to 2015, hundreds of people who worked at Post Office branches were wrongly convicted of theft, fraud and false accounting based on evidence from a defective information technology system. Some went to prison or were forced into bankruptcy. Others lost their homes, suffered health problems or breakdowns in their relationships or became ostracized by their communities.

Retired judge Wyn Williams, who chairs a public inquiry into the scandal, said in a report published Tuesday that 13 people killed themselves as a consequence of a faulty Post Office accounting system “showing an illusory shortfall in branch accounts,” according to their families.

The problems at the Post Office, which is state-owned but operates as a private business, were known for years. But the full scale of the injustice didn’t become widely known until last year, when a TV docudrama propelled the scandal to national headlines and galvanized support for victims.

The culprit was a piece of software called Horizon, made by the Japanese firm Fujitsu, which the Post Office introduced 25 years ago across branches to automate sales accounting. When the software showed false account shortfalls, the Post Office accused branch managers of dishonesty and obliged them to repay the money.

In all, the report said that about 1,000 people were prosecuted and convicted based on evidence from the incorrect data. The government has since introduced legislation to reverse the convictions and compensate the victims.

Williams said that some senior Post Office employees knew — or should have known — that the Horizon system was faulty. But “the Post Office maintained the fiction that its data was always accurate,” he said.

Jo Hamilton, a former Post Office manager and a lead campaigner, said that the report “shows the full scale of the horror that they unleashed on us.”

In a statement, the Post Office’s chairman pledged to ensure that all victims are compensated.

The “Post Office did not listen to postmasters and, as an organization, we let them down. Postmasters and their families have suffered years of pain,” Nigel Railton said. “It has taken them too long to clear their names and, in many cases, to receive redress.”

Tuesday’s report was the first to be published from the inquiry, which was launched by the government and has the power to require evidence from all parties. It’s expected to issue a further report at a later date that will address who was at fault for overseeing the scandal and potentially attribute blame.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or go to 988lifeline.org, to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday that a Chinese state-sponsored contract hacker was arrested last week in Italy at the request of Washington, but the arrested man claimed he is a victim of mistaken identity.

Xu Zewei, 33, was arrested on July 3, the Justice Department said, adding a nine-count indictment was unsealed on Tuesday in the Southern District of Texas alleging the involvement of that individual and a co-defendant in computer intrusions between February 2020 and June 2021.

Xu was arrested in Milan, Italy, and will face extradition proceedings, the DOJ said in a statement.

It alleged China’s ministry of state security had directed theft of Covid-19 research and the exploitation of Microsoft MSFT.O email software vulnerabilities.

The Chinese government has previously denied allegations of being involved. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington, said on Tuesday that China opposes all forms of cyber crimes, adding that “China has neither the need nor the intention to acquire vaccines through so-called theft.”

Xu’s lawyer said on Tuesday that he is a victim of mistaken identity, that his surname is quite common in China and that his mobile phone had been stolen in 2020.

The 33-year-old IT manager at a Shanghai company appeared on Tuesday before an appeals court in Milan, which will decide whether to send him to the United States. The man was arrested last week after he arrived at Milan’s Malpensa airport for a holiday in Italy with his wife.

U.S. authorities allege that he was part of a team of hackers who tried to access a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by the University of Texas in 2020.

The DOJ also said that in 2021, he was part of a cyber-espionage group known as Hafnium, which has alleged ties to the Chinese government and which “exploited zero-day vulnerabilities in U.S. systems to steal additional research.”

Hafnium targeted over 60,000 U.S. entities, according to the DOJ.

The charges listed on the arrest warrant were wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and unauthorized access to protected computers.

A New Mexico mountain town hit by devastating wildfires last year experienced dangerous flooding Tuesday after heavy rain fell on areas burned in the blazes, officials said.

Speaking on a local radio station Tuesday night, Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford said there were reports of mudslides and gas leaks at homes that had been washed away or damaged.

Multiple bridges had been underwater, Crawford said, and there had been more than two dozen swift-water rescues.

Three people were missing, he said. “They’re in the process of looking,” Crawford said Tuesday night on radio station KRUI. He said the fires and the flooding have been “catastrophic” for the small community.

The storms that triggered the floods occurred during the monsoon season, which runs from late June to early September. The storms can cause flash floods that can come on quickly. Crawford said Tuesday’s monsoon flood was one of the worst he has seen.

“Last year we had a bad one or two, but this one was right there with it,” Crawford said.

No deaths had been reported Tuesday night. Some people have been taken to the hospital, Crawford said. People who were safe and dry should stay there, he said.

In a post on Facebook, the village asked people who could not reach their families to report the missing to the community’s emergency operations center.

Videos posted on social media and verified by NBC News showed roads submerged in fast-moving floodwaters and a home smashing into trees after it was swept down a river, Rio Ruidoso.

Crawford said that before the rains, the river that swept away the house was so small “you could have jumped across it.”

There have been around 30 swift-water rescues, Crawford said, noting that there have also been reports of dead horses.

The National Weather Service said the river appeared to have crested at a record 20 feet Tuesday.

The agency declared a flash flood emergency after an inch of rain had fallen by Tuesday afternoon on burn scars left by fires that tore through the area last year, killing two people and burning hundreds of homes.

“A DANGEROUS situation is unfolding in RUIDOSO!” the weather service warned on X. “A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY remains in effect! Seek HIGHER GROUND NOW! Do NOT attempt to drive through the floodwaters. The current will carry away your vehicle!”

Town officials said the rain would cause severe flash flooding in streams, creeks and ditches in the area burned by the South Fork Fire. The blaze ignited June 17, 2024, and burned through more than 17,000 acres.

Ruidoso, which has a population of 7,600 people, is roughly 180 miles southeast of Albuquerque, in the Sierra Blanca mountain range.

On its website, the village says that the surrounding mountainous terrain makes it susceptible to flash flooding. Burn scars can make flash flooding worse.

“This one hit us harder than we were expecting,” Crawford said.

Former “Love Island USA” contestant Yulissa Escobar is addressing Cierra Ortega’s departure from the show, calling for compassion over cyberbullying .

In a TikTok video posted July 7, Escobar, 27, drew parallels between her experience and Ortega’s abrupt removal from the villa in Episode 30.

Both left “Love Island USA” after posts containing racial slurs resurfaced. A spokesperson for Peacock declined to comment to TODAY.com. (Peacock is owned by NBCUniversal, TODAY and NBC News’ parent company.)

“I know what she did was wrong but we need to stop fighting hate with hate,” Escobar said in the video. “The cyberbullying has gone to another level.”

Following her removal from the show in June after Episode 2, Escobar issued an apology.

In her recent video, the former Islander acknowledged that both she and Ortega made mistakes and didn’t minimize the harm caused by their words.

“I’m not justifying what I did, I know what I did and what I said was wrong, and I know what Cierra said was wrong and I know it hurt communities,” she said.

Escobar emphasized that while she doesn’t condone the language used, the online harassment both women have faced crosses a line.

“When I was in that hotel room in Fiji and I was looking at those messages I was getting, I was honestly scared to come home,” Escobar said. “I was like, is something going to happen to me? Is someone going to do something to me? Because it was just a lot to take in, and even my family was worried.”

Now, she’s worried about Ortega facing similar threats.

“Instead of sending such disgusting messages to her and her family … try to educate us,” Escobar said. “Her, me, I said something in the past that was wrong, she did too, like try to educate people so we can grow as a community.”

Escobar expressed particular concern for Ortega’s mental health, noting that she doesn’t know if the former Islander is “OK” and saying she wished she could check on her well-being.

“I’m speaking up for everybody in that island, I’m speaking up for Cierra, not because I don’t know what she did was wrong … but I just feel for her mental health and I’m scared, I’m worried for her,” she said.

Escobar concluded her video with a message of unity.

“We need to stick together, we can’t continue this division we need to unite and teach people. That’s how we’re going to grow as a community, and we have younger generations that are watching this show and we’re not teaching them to be better,” she said.

The “Love Island USA” finale is set to air on July 13, with the recent controversies casting a shadow on the season’s conclusion.

Ortega has not publicly addressed her departure. Her parents issued a statement posted to her Instagram story, both acknowledging Ortega’s actions and asking for an end to “threats” and “cruel messages.”

“As Cierra’s parents, this has been one of the most painful weeks of our lives,” the post began.

“We’re not here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced. We understand people are upset, and we know accountability matters. But what’s happening online right now has gone far beyond that.”

The post said Ortega will “face this with honesty, growth and grace” when she returns from Fiji, where the show is filmed.

“While she’ll always be our little girl, she’s also a woman, one who will take responsibility in her own time and her own voice,” the post read.

The sparkle is back at Windsor Castle.

During an official appearance in Windsor, England, Catherine, Princess of Wales, wore a tiara for the first time since 2023.

The 43-year-old was photographed on July 8 arriving at a state banquet at Windsor Castle with her husband, Prince William, by her side. For her appearance, the royal wore the classic Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, one of her more frequently worn tiaras, along with a dark red Givenchy by Sarah Burton gown (Burton was also the designer behind the princess’ iconic wedding dress).

The renowned piece of jewelry is identifiable by its multiple drop-shaped pearls.

The banquet was held in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron, first lady of France, who marked France’s first state visit to the U.K. since Brexit. During his visit, President Macron is also expected to address parliament and visit Imperial College London.

The banquet, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, is Kate’s first tiara moment since sharing her cancer diagnosis in March 2024.

Before her latest appearance, Kate wore a tiara at Buckingham Palace in December 2023, according to People.com. For the occasion, she wore the Lover’s Knot. That same month marked her last public appearance before being diagnosed with cancer.

Significance of the Lover’s Knot Tiara

Though closely associated with Kate, who has made the Lover’s Knot Tiara one of the most recognizable pieces of jewelry to be worn by the British royal family, the tiara goes further back in history. According to previous TODAY.com reporting, the diadem was commissioned by Queen Mary around 1914 and was frequently worn by Princess Diana. The tiara was gifted to Diana for her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Diana is said to have often complained about the weight of the tiara, attributing headaches to the weight of the piece.

A shocking death is not a new plot point for “And Just Like That…”

The “Sex and the City” spinoff show left many fans reeling with the surprising death of Mr. Big in the very first episode of Season 1.

Now in Season 3, the show has once again made waves with an unexpected passing. In the most recent episode, the characters mourn another loss, but sharp-eyed viewers have noticed that something doesn’t seem quite right with this storyline.

Here’s the plot point caused confusion — and the simple explanation behind it.

Who is killed off twice in ‘And Just Like That’?

The father of the character Lisa Todd Wexley (Nicole Ari Parker), also known as LTW, seems to die twice in three seasons of “And Just Like That…”

For those only familiar with the original show, LTW might not be a familiar name. The character was introduced to the “Sex and the City” universe in the first episode of the spinoff when she runs into Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) at brunch.

In the second episode of Season 1, LTW shares that her father died a year prior. LTW brings up his passing while comforting Charlotte as she grieves Big’s death.

“I was the exact same way when I lost my dad last year,” she tells Charlotte.

This small detail makes sense until Season 2, when LTW’s father pops up, alive, with no explanation of what happened. Played by Billy Dee Williams, LTW’s dad, Lawrence Thomas, makes an appearance at her anniversary party in an episode fittingly titled “ALIVE!”

In Season 3, Episode 6, which premiered July 3, the mystery continued when LTW reveals her dad died suddenly from a stroke at age 90.

Is there an explanation for the plot hole?

Turns out LTW was referencing her stepfather’s death in Season 1, TODAY.com can confirm. The dad who died in Season 3 was her biological father.

This explanation would account for the confusion, but it still has not stopped fans from coming up with their own humorous takes on what could have happened.

“can we talk about how and just like that feels like if someone asked chatgpt to write an entire series after only having seen the SATC movie,” one user commented on an IndieWire post on X about the show’s viral mix up.

“He also appeared in a dinner held for her husband in season two. So he died, resurrected, and now died again,” joked in reply to the same post.

Perhaps the apparent resurrection of LTW’s dad means other characters will also return, some fans teased.

“Carrie will be having dinner with Big next episode,” a fan commented on TikTok.

Other viewers took the moment as an opportunity to dream up their craziest reasons for why the plot point could have occurred.

“It’s the multiverse. Each season takes place in a different alternate universe,” another fan theorized in the TikTok’s comments section.

“She has two gay dads y’all. Did you ever think of that?!?” added another commenter on the same video.

However, some fans were defensive of the show, compelling fans to remember it isn’t that serious.

“God forbid a show have a campy, fun, and unserious moment,” one user commented on IndieWire’s post.

The catastrophe left Kerr County residents such as Marvin Willis, 67, wanting answers.

“I didn’t get one alert,” said Willis, a magazine publisher who lives a mile and a half from the Guadalupe and typically receives them on his phone. “I haven’t talked to anyone I know who’s gotten one.”

He said complete transparency from leaders is needed: “If you don’t know what happened, you don’t know how to fix it.”

Even Kerrville’s mayor, Joe Herring, said he received no emergency alerts early Friday and was only awakened by a call from City Manager Dalton Rice at 5:30 a.m.

“If they had come,” Herring said of the alerts, “and we had a chance to save all the people we’ve lost and are missing — absolutely, we should have had them more. We should have had a warning.”

Herring said Tuesday on MSNBC that government leaders take threats from natural disasters seriously but that the events unfolded so rapidly.

“The question is, ‘Do I wish we had warned those people?’ Absolutely. The question is, ‘Do I hope we warn people better in the future?’ Absolutely.”

Abbott, in a separate news conference later Tuesday, reiterated that the focus remained on the search and rescue effort and said officials would get into the whys and hows of the disaster after that phase was over.

Asked what local officials knew early Friday as the flood was bearing down, Abbott, a Republican, said: “You’d have to ask them.”

Ronnie Barker, who has lived in the unincorporated community of Hunt in Kerr County for 23 years, said he was among the residents who didn’t receive any alerts early Friday. But he’s looking at the positives, such as how first responders have mobilized.

“People from all over the country and the world, everybody wants to come in and do something,” Baker said. “We’ve just been flooded with people helping.”

Another resident, Rena Bailey, who has lived in Hunt since 1990, got alerts but said they could have been worded stronger.

“I’ve got notices all the time about whatever. There was no urgency in what I got,” Bailey said.

While she recalled one alert saying the weather was “life threatening,” she said people may have needed more guidance, particularly in a place where flooding is a way of life.

“If they had said there’s a wall of water coming or evacuate,” Bailey said, “but I didn’t take it that way. And they can blame me, but don’t blame me, because I live here, and I know what I get all the time.”

Minyvonne Burke and Suzanne Gamboa reported from Hart and Erik Ortiz from New York.