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Saturday, March 21, 2026

Bella Thorne’s Fully Sheer Dress Is as Lacy as It Gets for Event

March 21, 2026
Bella Thorne’s Fully Sheer Dress Is as Lacy as It Gets for Event

Bella Thornehas never played it safe with fashion, and this time, she leans into softness without losing her edge in afully sheer lacy dress. Stepping out in a delicate, lingerie-inspired look, she swapped bold theatrics for something more romantic, but still unmistakably her. The result feels intimate and neatly styled.

Bella Thorne's dress has a completely sheer and lacy bodice

Take a look at Bella Thorne's latest Instagram photos in a dreamy lace numberright here.

Photo Credit: Michael Buckner | Variety via Getty Images

In her new photos, the Game of Love star's dress centers around a fully sheer lace bodice that feels almost weightless. Rendered in a soft ivory tone, the top features intricate floral lace with a plunging V neckline.

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Moreover, the bodice flows seamlessly into a smooth, satin-like skirt that skims the body. The delicate straps and low-cut armholes give it an almost slip-dress quality, while the fitted waist gently shapes the silhouette without tightening it.

Bella Thorne added a delicate gold necklace that falls into the neckline, giving a subtle shine without taking away from the lace. She also stacked gold bangles on one wrist, a delicate bracelet on the other, and finished the look with small earrings.

Moreover, the "Call It Whatever" singer's subtly smoky makeup, glossy lips, and hair falling into soft ringlets added to the look. Fans were definitely in awe of her style, with one commenting, "What a girl." Another added, "Your face card is INSANEEEEEE." A third fan wrote, "You look angelic."

The postBella Thorne's Fully Sheer Dress Is as Lacy as It Gets for Eventappeared first onReality Tea.

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Katie Couric on aging, being a grandmother and the importance of early cancer screenings

March 21, 2026
Katie Couric on aging, being a grandmother and the importance of early cancer screenings

Katie Couric is embracing the joys ofagingandbeing a grandmother. She just wishes her late husband, Jay Monahan, could be around to experience it, too.

USA TODAY

"He missed seeing his daughters grow up. He missed watching Ellie get married. He missed seeing Carrie, you know, be Phi Beta Kappa at Stanford. He'd be so proud of both of them," Couric told USA TODAY. "I think when you lose somebody like that, it makes you so grateful to be at every chapter of your life, that you actually have multiple chapters to appreciate and enjoy."

Couric was hosting the "Today" show in 1998 whenMonahan died at age 42. The whole country mourned her loss and grieved for her two young daughters, Ellie and Carrie, who were just 6 and 2 at the time.

All these years later, Couric continues to advocate for early colorectal cancer screenings − if not bytelevising her own colonoscopy, like she did on the "Today" show in 2000, then by attending events like theCologuard Classic PGA TOUR Championstournament for colon cancer awareness in Tucson, Arizona − so other young people don't go through the same grief her family endured.

Katie Couric stars in a new PSA from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and Maximum Effort.

"We're seeing people in their early 40s, in their 30s andeven their 20sbeing diagnosed with this disease," Couric said. "It's absolutely critical that at the first sign of any symptom, people go see their doctor and bring up or question whether it could be colorectal cancer."

Colorectal canceris the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths overall and thedeadliest cancer among those under 50, according to theAmerican Cancer Society. ActorJames Van Der Beekis the most recent celebrity to die of the disease, putting colon cancer in the spotlight yet again. It's preventable, but symptoms − like bloating, unexplained weight loss, fatigue and bloody stools − often go unnoticed. That's why it's so crucial to get screened early, Couric said. In recent years, the American Cancer Society lowered therecommended ageto start regular screening for colorectal cancer to 45, but individuals with a family history of the disease can get screened even earlier. Couric's daughters are getting screened in their early 30s, Couric said.

More:She thought it was a stomachache. It was Stage 3 rectal cancer at 26.

"It's devastating, the heartbreak of having someone you know and love get diagnosed with this disease when their whole life is in front of them," Couric said.

Katie Couric, journalist

Katie Couric's 'biggest regret' while caregiving for her sick husband

Looking back on her time as acaregiver, Couric said she was in such shock that she didn't properly prepare for life without her husband.

"My biggest regret, I think, was that I never really talked to my husband about the possibility that he might die, quite frankly. We never had thosehard conversations," she said, adding how jarring the diagnosis was for both of them. "I wish we had gone to talk to somebody who could have helped facilitate that kind of conversation, honestly, because the only way I knew to deal with Jay's illness was to not give up hope and keep saying, 'We'll figure this out.'"

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Hope is important, Couric said, and can keep people going "under the worst circumstances imaginable." At the same time, she said, living in denial of the likelihood that someone might not recover can keep families from planning for what's next.

Katie Couric emphasized the importance of caregivers taking care of themselves to avoid burnout while caring for everyone else in their lives.

"There are a lot of things I never talked to Jay about because I couldn't deal with bringing up the possibility that he wouldn't be around," she said. "As a caregiver, that's probably my biggest regret."

She also emphasized the importance of caregivers taking care of themselves to avoid burnout while caring for everyone else in their lives.

"You need to accept help, ask for help," Couric said. "You need to have arespitefor your own physical and mental health. I tried to do that during the course of Jay's illness. I felt guilty at times, but I knew that I was going to explode if I didn't do that."

There is 'a lot to not like about aging,' Katie Couric says. But she's grateful.

Couricremarried in 2014, to financier John Molner, just as her daughters left home and she entered herempty nesterera. Twelve years later, she said transitioning from the chaos of mothering young kids and teenagers to the quiet life of an empty nester was difficult.

"You no longer have the same rhythm of your life. When you have kids, it was very important for me to make sure we ate dinner together. You have these responsibilities and school, and all these things give your life a certain rhythm," Couric said. "And when those things, when they're not there anymore, you have to adjust to not only the quiet, but a different rhythm of life."

Now, Couric is getting ready to welcome her second grandchild. She used to cringe at the thought of aging − and there's still "a lot to not like about aging, to be honest," she said. But she's also grateful − wrinkles, stiff joints and all. "I'm so lucky to be here," she said.

"I hope I'm there for a long time for my grandchildren," she said. "And it's so fun to be able to experience a little kid and to see the world through his eyes and to watch my daughter become a mother."

Madeline Mitchell's role covering women and the caregiving economy at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership withPivotalandJournalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.

Reach Madeline atmemitchell@usatoday.comand@maddiemitch_on X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Katie Couric on aging, being a grandma and early cancer screenings

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14 Times Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte Were Fashion Twins

March 21, 2026
14 Times Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte Were Fashion Twins

Kate MiddletonandPrincess Charlotteare known to dress alike.

People Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales after attending Trooping The Colour on June 14, 2025 in London, England ; Princess Charlotte of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales during Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024 in London, England.Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty ; Chris Jackson/Getty

The Princess of Waleswelcomed her daughter, Charlotte, with her husbandPrince Williamon May 2, 2015. The young royal has attended public outings since she was a baby and often wears coordinated looks with Kate.

Charlotte tends to favor babydoll dresses and double-breasted coats, while Kate opts for dress coats and high-neck dresses. However, they always tie their looks together with at least one element, whether it's the color or incorporating similar embellishments.

At Trooping the Colour in June 2025, the pair wore ensembles indifferent shades of aquafor one of their more clearly coordinated looks. Other times, Kate and Charlotte favor a more subtle approach, such as when the Princess of Walesmatched her accessoriesto her daughter's coat for a Christmas church service in 2019.

Here's a look back at Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte's best fashion twin moments.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Christmas Day service in 2025

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2025 in Sandringham, Norfolk.Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage

Kate and Charlotte attended the Christmas morning service at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in matching brown outfits.

Kate opted for a double-breasted plaid coat by Blazé Milano, while Charlotte wore a beige coat with brown trimming.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Wimbledon in 2025

The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte during day fourteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 on July 13, 2025 in London, England.Credit: Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty

At Wimbledon in July 2025, the mother-daughter duo coordinated in style rather than color. Kate wore a blue cerulean dress by Roksanda, which featured a ruffled bow on the left shoulder.

Charlotte echoed her mother's ensemble in a white dress with a ruffle trim and navy blue piping.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour in 2025

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales during Trooping The Colour 2025 on June 14, 2025 in London, England.Credit: Neil Mockford/Getty

Kate and Charlotte wore similar shades of aqua blue for Trooping the Colour in June 2025. The Princess of Wales donned a wool dress coat with ivory lapels by Catherine Walker, which she paired with a matching wide-brimmed hat by Juliette Botterill.

Charlotte's dress was in a paler aqua and featured an ivory waistband.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour in 2024

Catherine, Princess of Wales, with Princess Charlotte of Wales at the King's Birthday Parade

For Trooping the Colour in June 2024, Kate and Charlotte opted for black-and-white ensembles that coordinated right down to the bows on their necklines.

Kate's white Jenny Packham dress had black trimming, while Charlotte's black sailor-inspired dress had white trimming.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Christmas Day service in 2024

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk.Credit: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

Kate and Charlotte chose green-and-blue ensembles for Christmas Day church service in 2024.

Kate paired her forest green coat by Alexander McQueen with a tartan scarf, which matched Charlotte's tartan coat and green hair bow.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at a Christmas carol service in 2024

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales attend the

The pair kept it festive in matching red coats for a Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in 2024.

Kate's bright red coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen featured a black velvet bow at the collar. Charlotte had a black velvet bow pinned in her hair, which complemented her burgundy double-breasted coat.

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Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at King Charles' Coronation in 2023

Catherine, Princess of Wales following the Coronation of King Charles III & Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London, England ; Princess Charlotte at the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London, England.Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty ; Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty

ForKing Charles' coronation in May 2023, Kate and Charlotte wore coordinating crystal leaf crowns by Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen.

Their white ensembles, also by Alexander McQueen, featured matching rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock motifs, representing the four nations that make up the United Kingdom.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Easter service in 2023

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte attend the Easter Mattins Service on April 09, 2023 in Windsor, England.Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage

Kate and Charlotte coordinated in shades of royal blue for Easter service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in April 2023.

Kate wore a vibrant Catherine Walker dress coat with a matching pillbox hat by Lock & Co., while Charlotte donned a Rachel Riley floral dress and tights in a lighter royal blue.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Easter service in 2022

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Britain's Princess Charlotte of Cambridge after attending the Easter Mattins Service on April 17, 2022 at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.Credit: Andrew Matthews / POOL / AFP  via Getty

For Easter church service in April 2022, the mother-daughter duo also wore matching blue ensembles.

Kate opted for a pastel blue coat dress by Emilia Wickstead, which she paired with matching heels and a dark blue headband. Charlotte wore a pastel blue floral dress by Rachel Riley and a navy blue cardigan.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Prince Philip's memorial service in 2022

Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend the memorial service for the Duke Of Edinburgh on March 29, 2022 in London, England.Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty

Kate attendedPrince Philip's memorial service at Westminster Abbey in March 2022, wearing a black-and-white polka dot dress by Alessandra Rich and a black wide-brimmed hat.

Charlotte subtly matched her mother in a dark blue double-breasted coat, matching tights and black flats.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Christmas Day service in 2019

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend the Christmas Day Church service on December 25, 2019 in King's Lynn, United Kingdom.Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage

For Christmas Day church service in 2019, Charlotte wore a forest green double-breasted coat by Amaia.

Kate coordinated with her daughter by pairing her gray Catherine Walker coat with a forest green hat and suede pumps.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour in 2017

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge during the Trooping the Colour parade on June 17, 2017 in London, England.Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty

At her second Trooping the Color appearance in June 2017, Charlotte wore a pink floral dress and red Mary Jane flats.

To match her daughter, Kate donned a pink Alexander McQueen dress and a pink-and-red hat by Jane Taylor.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Christmas Day service in 2016

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend the service on Christmas Day on December 25, 2016 in Bucklebury, Berkshire.Credit: Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty

It was all about the details for Kate and Charlotte's Christmas Day ensembles in 2016.

Kate wore a chestnut brown coat by Celeste, which she paired with a red faux fur stole and a matching suede clutch. Charlotte coordinated with her mother's look in a black coat and red tights.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte on a royal tour to Canada in 2016

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte ahead of their Royal Tour of Canada and Yukon on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada.Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

One of Charlotte's first major public outings was a royal tour to Canada in September 2016, where she and Kate wore matching blue outfits.

Kate's royal blue Jenny Packham dress and matching hat coordinated with Charlotte's light blue floral dress and blue Mary Jane flats.

Read the original article onPeople

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6 years since lockdown, here's a look at COVID vaccine guidance today

March 21, 2026
6 years since lockdown, here's a look at COVID vaccine guidance today

It's an anniversary no one wants to celebrate, but an anniversary nonetheless.

USA TODAY

Thursday, March 19, marked six years since the first COVID-19 lockdown was implemented in the United States. And while it is undeniable that the impact of the global pandemic is still felt worldwide, one place Americans see its lingering effects the most is in vaccine policy.

Vaccine hesitancysurgedafter the FDA approved the first COVID vaccine in August 2021. Since then, it has only bolstered following the appointment of Health and Human Services SecretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, early in Trump's second administration.

The Trump administration's ensuing actions around vaccination have beenadmonished by major medical institutionsand public health experts,with some warningthat more Americans, especially children, may die from preventable diseases as a result. Kennedy hassaid the vaccines will remain availableto anyone who wants them, andsupporters have praisedwhat they say is a move toward a more individual rights-based approach to public health.

Even more confusingly, a complicated set of rules and changes around the COVID-19 shotwas overturned earlier this weekby a federal judge, rendering some hotly-contested decision moot - at least for now.

Here's a refresher on the back-and-forth regarding the COVID vaccine, so far.

What did the judge rule about COVID and other vaccine changes?

On March 16,a Massachusetts federal judge blocked parts of HHS's reshaping of federal vaccine policy, siding with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other medical groups that sued to stop what they called Kennedy's agenda of upending immunization policies.

The judge also blocked Kennedy's 13 appointees from serving on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), finding the panel unlawfully constituted.

Kennedy had firedall 17 original membersof the ACIP, which is a committee of health experts that guides vaccine use for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,replacing them with memberswhom critics have called unqualified. Some of the members, like Kennedy, have a history of anti-vaccine advocacy and involvement in anti-vaccine groups.

The judge said that because it was unlawfully constituted, the earlier panel's votes to downgrade recommendations for hepatitis B vaccines for newborns and COVID-19 shots broadly were also invalid

Federal ruling:Judge blocks parts of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine policy changes

The Food and Drug Administration approved updated COVID-19 vaccines by Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax in late August, but with new restrictions.

RFK Jr., Trump admin butt heads with medical societies over COVID vaccine

In May 2025, Kennedy announced that the COVID-19 vaccine wouldno longer be includedin the CDC's recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women, a move breaking with expert guidance.

This drew the ire of the AAP, which went as far as torelease its own schedulein August 2025, saying the federal process was no longer credible. Others, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), backed AAP's recommendations.

It is recommended that all children aged 6 months to 23 months receive the latest COVID-19 vaccine to reduce the chances of serious illness. Children and adolescents ages 2 to 18 without other high-risk factors, such as immunosuppression, can receive and should be offered the vaccine if they were not immunized before, according to the guidance.

In a response posted to social media,Kennedy hit back at the pediatrics academy's criticism, implying that corporate pharmaceutical funders influenced the organization's views.

HHS secretary RFK Jr. and the American Academy of Pediatrics are at a odds above COVID-19 vaccines.

What changed about who could get the COVID vaccine?

In August 2025, the FDA approved an updatedround of COVID vaccines, but only for individuals 65 years of age or older. Additionally, people aged 6 months or older with existing health conditions were eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine without a prescription or doctor's order.

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The ACIP voted in September 2025to recommend COVID-19 vaccinations for everyone 6 months or older, based on individual decision-making after they consult with a healthcare provider, known as "shared clinical decision-making." The CDC officially accepted these recommendations on Oct. 6.

In some cases, physicians, registered nurses and pharmacists are considered healthcare providers,according to the CDC, and therefore could administer vaccines after discussing them with the patient.

People could also self-declare that they are moderately or severely immunocompromised and qualify for the vaccine without third-party confirmation,according to CDC guidelines.In some cases, you could be asked to sign a paper confirming that you have an underlying condition or provide verbal confirmation.

What to know right now:RFK Jr., the CDC and confusing vaccine recommendations

A Moderna COVID-19 vaccine fills a syringe at Borinquen Health Care Center on May 29, 2025, in Miami, Florida. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that he will no longer recommend that healthy children and pregnant people get COVID-19 shots.

Which COVID shots were approved by the FDA?

On Aug. 27,Kennedyannounced that emergency-use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccineshad been terminated. The FDA approved the following vaccines:

  • ModernaPfizer and Novavax immunizations were approved only for "those at high risk" and people over 65.

  • Moderna vaccine was approved for children 6 months and older with an underlying condition and people over 65.

  • Pfizer was approved for those 5 and older with an underlying condition and people over 65.

  • Novavax was approved for those 12 and older with an underlying condition and people over 65.

When announcing the restrictions, Kennedy did not specify which conditions are considered as putting people at "high risk." However, theCDC lists a bevy of health conditionsthat make someone "higher risk," including common health issues like asthma, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, mood disorders and a history of smoking.

In response,several states passed their own regulationsto protect access to COVID-19 vaccines. A handful of states formed groups to address vaccine availability, including theWest Coast Health Allianceand theNortheast Public Health Collaborative.

The RSV vaccine is offered, along with flu and COVID-19 shots, at major pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.

What other changes did RFK's HHS make to vaccines?

Kennedy has spearheaded several other changes to U.S. vaccine schedules and recommendations, includingremoving four from the childhood listand splitting the MMR vaccine ‒ a combination shot protecting against measles, mumps, and rubella ‒ into two separate vaccines. Kennedy, withPresident Donald Trump'sbacking, said cutting the number of vaccinationsaligns the United Stateswith other developed nations.

The updated recommendations maintain immunizations for 11 diseases, including measles, mumps, and varicella, while categorizing others as either targeted for high-risk groups or subject to parents' discretion with their doctors, according to HHS.

The ACIPalso changed recommendationsregarding the first of three hepatitis B shots normally given at birth, a practice long used to protect babies highly susceptible to infection and transmission. In December, it declared that only babies born to moms who test positive for hepatitis B should receive the shot at birth, advice that experts said would lead to many babies not receiving a full course of immunization.

What happens now?

Because Kennedy's ACIP appointees were blocked via the recent court ruling, the meeting scheduled for March 18 to March 19 was postponed. Future meetings are yet to be determined.

Changes to the hepatitis B vaccines for newborns and COVID-19 shots made via earlier ACIP votes were deemed invalid. This theoretically means that the recommendations would revert to what they were before the current committee was formed.

These recommendations match theschedules currently followed by the AAP.For the Hep B shot, this means the previous recommendation applies: One dose is given within 24 hours of birth, the second is given one to two months after and the third dose is given between 6 and 18 months of age.

Other changes, such as splitting the MMR vaccine, remain in place.

The Trump administration has promised to appeal the case and take it up to SCOTUS, if necessary.

Contributing: James Powel, Adrianna Rodriguez, Sudiksha Kochi,USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:COVID vaccine guidance today: What to know 6 years since lockdown.

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Worries grow about a 'violent and destructive' invasive fish

March 21, 2026
Worries grow about a 'violent and destructive' invasive fish

Thebehemoth exotic fish known as Asian carphave marched toward the Great Lakes for more than 25 years, but so far preventive efforts have kept the long-feared invasion of the prolific species at bay.

USA TODAY

Officials in Michigan and Illinois would really love to keep it that way. But a standoff with the federal government is slowing plans down, while some urge immediate action to stay ahead of the fish.

The states are part of a multi-state and international coalition bent on keeping the voracious fish out of the region's waterways. The fear is that the fish –weighing up to 100 poundsand eating 10% of their weight in algae every day – could alter ecosystems and collapse recreational and commercial fishing throughout the Great Lakes.

However, progress on a long-planned project to build an elaborate multi-layered system to prevent the advance of the invaders has slowed to a halt with no definite end in sight.

"If this fish ever becomes commonplace in the Great Lakes, it will destroy it as a fishery and change it forever," Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois,said on the Senate Flooron March 11.

The carp are just four ofthousands of species of invasive plants and animalsfound in the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska. The "pervasive and insidious threat" costs the nation an estimated $120 billion a year, according to the United StatesRegister of Introduced and Invasive Species. They've come through intentional and accidental imports and releases as well as from the exotic wildlife trade.

What are Asian carp and why are they feared?

Asian carp is the umbrella term for four fish species from Asia. They're a cause for concern because of their established potential to disrupt food chains and compete for resources with native species. The fish also pose concerns for navigation and boater safety. When startled, silver carp can leap several feet out of the water and injure boaters.

All four – bighead, silver, black and grass – were introduced to the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s. But a series of floods in the Midwest washed the carp from fish farms into major rivers, where their populations have boomed.

With concern growing for what could happen if the carp reach the Great Lakes, the Army Corps of Engineers began operating an electric dispersal barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in 2002, to prevent the fish from spreading into the channel and into the Great Lakes. Two additional barriers became operational in 2009 and 2012.

A carp has been collected on isolated occasions nearing the Great Lakes. Grass carp, the least troublesome of the group, have been found in Lake Erie, but so far the fish have not become established, according to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the binational treaty organization dedicated to promoting freshwater science and collaboration within the basin and controlling the exotic invasive sea lamprey.

No bighead or silver carp have ever been reported in Lake Michigan, said Greg McClinchey, the commission's director of policy and legislative affairs. On isolated occasions a carp has been spotted on the wrong side of the electrical barrier. A detection involves varying levels of response. On at least one occasion, a flotilla of boats responded from the research group that monitors the Illinois River and the Chicago canal system, to make sure it was one lone fish.

Participants attempt to catch invasive Asian carp in nets as they compete in Betty DeFord's Original Redneck Fishin' Tournament in the Illinois River on August 03, 2024 in Bath, Illinois.

What is the Brandon Road Interbasin project?

The standoff centers on a joint project with a multi-layered set of deterrents and technological solutions being developed at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam – on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois – to keep the carp species from entering the Great Lakes.

The lock and dam complex is part of a waterway system that allows boats to move from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan. It's often referred to as a critical "pinchpoint" for keeping invasives out of the lake. The river and canal are part of a larger waterway dubbed "The Great Loop" by recreational boaters that includes The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Mississippi River.

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The Army Corps worked with state governments and Congress to develop the project. It includes acoustic and electric deterrents, an air bubble curtain and a reengineered channel and flushing lock. It was authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 and supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with $272 million in support over two years.Illinois and Michigan agreed to chip inanother $114 million.

Then shortly after the PresidentDonald Trump's second inauguration, the administration paused distribution of the infrastructure funds. That pause in funding prompted Illinois to delay buying a piece of property needed for the project.

In a May 2025 memorandum,President Donald Trump directed his administration toimplement barriers/measures to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes, but singled out Illinois. The memo stated the federal government had started site preparation but blamed Pritzker for delaying the land purchase and a needed state permit.

Silver carp and grass carp caught by Dave Buchanan and Clint Carter on the Illinois River in Chillicothe, Ill., Feb. 3, 2021.

Carp control project delayed

In December 2025, the federal government paused the Brandon Road project for further review and has not released critical funds to get the project going, according to the offices of Pritzker and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Both governors and Durbin have pushed for the federal funding to be released so the project can move forward.

Whitmermet with the president on March 10.Afterward, her office released a statement saying she had reiterated Michigan's commitment to the Brandon Road project to prevent invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes and damaging the region's economy

"We need funding released so the Army Corps can begin construction as soon as possible," said Stacey LaRouche, her press secretary.

On March 11,President Trump posted on Truth Socialthat he is working with the governor "on trying to save the Great Lakes from the rather violent and destructive Asian carp, which is rapidly taking over Lake Michigan."

It wasn't immediately clear what his post signaled, and Whitmer and Pritzker have asked for clarification. The White House referred USA TODAY to the Army Corps. The Corps has not yet responded to an email request.

The Fishery Commission was "very pleased to see the president's post," to show this is an important project, McClinchey said.

The delays need to stop, he said. "Hopefully the president's post and the stated comments from the governors will allow this to go ahead."

"The fish don't care if you're Republican or Democrat, state or federal. They are just continuing their march and we have to get ahead of them," he said. The lock and dam have to stop the carp, "or it's a catastrophe in the making."

Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, covers climate change, weather, the environment and other news. Reach her at dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Giant, invasive Asian carp pose existential threat to Great Lakes

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