Belizean-American actress Kara Young made Broadway history Sunday night, becoming the first Black performer to win Tony Awards in back-to-back years after earning Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in “Purpose.” Born to Belizean parents in Harlem, the first-generation American actress has shattered multiple records on Broadway’s biggest stage.
Young has already made history as the first Black actress to be nominated for a Tony in four consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025), breaking her own record for most consecutive nominations for a Black actress. Her previous nominations were for “Clyde’s” in 2022 and “Cost of Living” in 2023.
Last season, Young won her first Tony Award for “Purlie Victorious,” making this her second consecutive win in the same category. She became the first Black performer to win back-to-back Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
“In this world, we are so divided,” she said while accepting her award. “Theater is a sacred space. It’s a sacred space that we have to honor and treasure.”
Minister of Public Service Henry Charles Usher says the government is still waiting on a formal response from public sector unions, despite Friday’s preliminary strong rejection of the proposed 4% salary increase.
“I would prefer to see what their formal response is to us,” Usher stated. The Joint Union Negotiating Team (JUNT), representing the BNTU, PSU, and APSSM, called the offer “insulting” and “a step backwards.”
Usher explained that the government’s proposal included an adjustment that would begin with a 4% increase on 1 October 2025, with an additional 4.5% to be considered over the following two fiscal years. “Government has never said that it was a situation that they would not get the 8.5%. It’s just that we want to know how it can be properly implemented,” Usher said.
He supports the unions’ right to express dissatisfaction but urged continued dialogue. “What is critical is that we find that mutual ground; we have that discussion… to find that ability to agree,” he said.
The goal, Usher says, is to find a formula that allows the government to fairly pay public servants and teachers while balancing the administration’s goals.
“If we can find that formula, looking at cost of living adjustment, looking at the CPI, at the inflation, but also on the opposite side, looking at the productivity, looking at performance targets and goals that we want to achieve in the public service, educational goals and targets that we want to achieve in our education system, that to me is more important, to find that ability to agree on that,” he said.
La policía está investigando un accidente de tráfico fatal que cobró las vidas de dos hermanos y dejó a un hombre hospitalizado el domingo por la noche cerca de Bladden Village, Distrito de Toledo.
El incidente ocurrió alrededor de las 5:30 p.m. entre las Millas 62 y 63 en la Carretera Thomas Vincent Ramos. La policía reportó haber llegado a la escena para encontrar una camioneta pickup Wingle marrón volcada en una zanja al costado del camino. Los reportes iniciales indican que el vehículo se dirigía de Medina Bank a Bella Vista cuando el conductor perdió el control, causando que el vehículo se volcara.
Sidney Montenegro Ruiz, de 21 años, y su hermano David Luis Montenegro, de 20 años, fueron encontrados sin respuesta en la escena y posteriormente fueron declarados muertos en el Hospital Regional del Sur. Los reportes indican que Sidney fue encontrada inmóvil cerca del accidente, indicando que había sido expulsada del vehículo durante el incidente.
Viajando con ellos estaba Asucion Tush, maestro de 42 años de Independence Village. Él sufrió heridas graves y actualmente está recibiendo tratamiento médico.
Los hermanos Montenegro habían pasado el día nadando en el Río Bladen y regresaban a casa a Bella Vista Village. Eran originarios de Costa Rica y se habían establecido en Belize. Sidney Montenegro era conocida por ser una futbolista destacada después de unirse a Rumberas y luego a Sagitun Girlz en 2023. El equipo ganó el campeonato de la Liga Premier Femenil de Belize el 31 de mayo. La victoria los calificó para representar a Belize en el próximo torneo UNCAF en julio.
Las imágenes del sitio del accidente muestran el vehículo con el techo aplastado y daños extensos en la carrocería.
Protests over immigration enforcement escalated across Los Angeles, USA, over the weekend, erupting into fiery demonstrations and mass arrests that worsened after President Trump’s controversial deployment of National Guard troops without state approval.
At least 56 protesters were arrested, according to NBC News, as demonstrators torched self-driving Waymo vehicles, looted businesses, and shut down sections of the 101 Freeway. LA police responded with rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash-bangs, declaring multiple unlawful assemblies.
CBS News Los Angeles reported several fires were set in dumpsters and trash bins, and at least one store sustained damage from alleged looters. Graffiti covered dozens of buildings, including the LAPD Headquarters, the U.S. Courthouse, and the old Los Angeles Times building. Helicopter footage showed multiple shattered windows at police headquarters.
Protests began Friday after ICE raids in L.A.’s Fashion District and other locations and intensified when troops began guarding federal buildings.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the federal response, stating, “What we’re seeing in Los Angeles is chaos that is provoked by the [Trump] administration.”
President Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, with 300 already deployed by Sunday. The move also drew criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
“Trump is trying to manufacture a crisis… hoping for chaos so he can justify more crackdowns, more fear, more control,” Newsom said.
The deployment was made without the governor’s approval, which prompted Newsom to threaten legal action. “We’re suing him,” he posted, calling the deployment “illegal and immoral.”
According to CBS News, Trump responded in brief remarks to reporters Monday, saying that California Gov. Gavin Newsom should be arrested and added, “I like Gavin Newsom … he’s a nice guy, but he’s grossly incompetent.”
An estimated 300,000 Belizeans live abroad, with most residing in the United States, where Los Angeles hosts the largest Belizean community.
With more than 55,000 Belizeans living in the Greater Los Angeles area, scattered primarily within the South Central, Inglewood, and Compton areas, it remains unconfirmed whether any Belizean nationals were among those arrested.
A second flight of deportees landed in Belize last week. Belizeans residing illegally in the U.S. are urged to take advantage of voluntary departure programmes, which offer a US$1,000 exit bonus for those who choose to self-deport.
According to California news, protests are expected to continue throughout the week.
“Tonight the Football family mourns,” said the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) in a statement. “We at the FFB honor their memory and extend our deepest condolences to their family, teammates, friends, and all who were touched by their lives.”
The FFB paid tribute to Sidney’s achievements and passion for the sport, noting, “Her dedication and talent helped lead the team to victory, and on May 31st, she proudly celebrated winning the Premier Women’s League of Belize (PWLB) championship, an achievement that earned her team the honour of representing Belize in the upcoming UNCAF tournament this July.”
The federation described her as someone whose presence was “marked by love, joy, and a radiant smile” and praised David as her “greatest supporter and constant companion.” According to the federation, David had graduated from Independence High School just the day before the accident.
The crash occurred around 5:30 p.m. between Miles 62 and 63 on the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway. Police reported finding a brown Wingle pickup overturned in a roadside drain. Reports are that the siblings were returning to Bella Vista Village from a day at the Bladen River when the driver, David, reportedly lost control of the vehicle.
The siblings were found unresponsive at the scene and were later pronounced dead at Southern Regional Hospital. Meanwhile, 42-year-old teacher Asucion Tush was transported to the Southern Regional Hospital where he is receiving medical treatment for his injuries.
“Sidney and David made Belize their home and touched countless lives with their warmth, passion, and unwavering spirit,” the FFB added.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to return on June 15, following the conclusion of the international conference focused on ocean-related issues and maritime policy.
During Briceño’s absence, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde will serve as acting Prime Minister.
The UN Ocean Conference brings together world leaders, scientists, and policymakers to address critical issues affecting the world’s oceans, including climate change, marine conservation, and sustainable development.
This year’s parade theme is “Ocean Wonders,” which aims to draw attention to the importance of ocean conservation and inspire stronger commitments from governments.
The dramatic flooding inside the Raccoon Street Police Station seen in a viral video last week was not entirely the result of structural decay, according to Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa. Speaking to News 5, Musa revealed that the flooding was worsened by what appears to be deliberate sabotage.
“We have information over the last few days, I think after we issued the press release…it was discovered that there is a hatch that goes onto the roof that was deliberately left open, and that is what caused a huge flow that was coming in,” he said.
Musa stressed that while the building does have a history of leaks, the scale of flooding seen in the video was not normal. “Yes, the building does suffer leaks, but not to that extent that you saw. And so obviously it was an act of sabotage, it appears,” he stated. “A lot of the water was coming from that particular area.”
Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa told News Five that the Raccoon Street Police Station in Belize City continues to be plagued by longstanding structural problems.
He said that these issues can no longer be solved by temporary fixes. Speaking in the aftermath of a viral video showing rain pouring inside the station, Musa said the time has come for a complete overhaul.
“As you know, the Raccoon Street Police Station has been suffering these leaks for decades,” he said. “We keep doing patchwork to it, but it’s obvious that we need a completely new building.”
Musa said that replacing the station will not be a minor undertaking. “That’s going to be a significant investment that’s going to be required to replace such a huge police station as Raccoon Street,” he explained. “And so that is obviously going to be the long-term plan to replace the building altogether.”
In the interim, the ministry is considering short-term strategies to address the current conditions. “It does require that we take some short-term strategies, maybe even find a new location for a lot of the offices on Raccoon Street and do some of the remedial work on the building itself in terms of the roof,” Musa added.
Police are investigating a fatal road traffic accident that claimed the lives of two siblings and left one man hospitalised on Sunday evening near Bladden Village, Toledo District.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. between Miles 62 and 63 on the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway. Police reported arriving at the scene to find a brown Wingle pickup truck overturned in a roadside drain. Initial reports indicate the vehicle was heading from Medina Bank to Bella Vista when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to flip.
21-year-old Sidney Montenegro Ruiz and her brother, 20-year-old David Luis Montenegro, were found unresponsive at the scene and were later pronounced dead at Southern Regional Hospital. Reports are that Sidney was found motionless near the crash, indicating she had been flung out of the vehicle during the incident.
Travelling with them was 42-year-old teacher Asucion Tush of Independence Village. He sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.
The Montenegro siblings had spent the day swimming at the Bladen River and were returning home to Bella Vista Village. They were originally from Costa Rica and had settled in Belize. Sidney Montenegro was known to be a standout footballer after joining Rumberas and then Sagitun Girlz in 2023. The team won the Premier Women’s League of Belize championship on 31 May. The win qualified them to represent Belize at the upcoming UNCAF tournament in July.
Images from the crash site show the vehicle with its roof crushed in and extensive damage to the body.
Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa confirmed that the state of emergency (SOE), which was declared to address a spike in gang-related violence in specific parts of the country, has officially expired. As a result, 48 young men who were detained under the SOE were released from the Kolbe Foundation prison.
Speaking to News 5, Minister Musa said, “We did have a meeting last week with the Eastern Division, as well as the specialised unit, in terms of a plan moving forward, a strategy moving forward.”
He added, “I’m pretty confident, pretty comfortable with the plan that was devised by the commissioner and all the officers. And so you’ll see some of the strategies playing out over the next coming weeks and months.”
Minister Musa explained that the SOE was put in place because of the spike in crime. “Based on the information that was coming out at that time, there was bound to be a lot of retaliation,” he said. “Since the young men have been under the state of emergency, we have had mediation sessions, interventions. We have arrested in two of the cases, two of the murders, we have arrested the suspects.”
“We have taken a lot of guns off of the streets, and so you could see where for that period we were able to quell the crime and to reduce the tensions in the streets,” Musa stated.
With the release of the detainees, authorities are hoping for a lasting effect from the interventions. “We are hoping that the mediation sessions that were carried all behind prison, that they’re going to have great effect and upon their return out to society, that there would not be that continuation of crime and violence,” he said.
