AP Trending SummaryBrief at 10:21 p.m. EDT

Elon Musk says he’s removing the blue checkmark from Twitter accounts. Apple unveils Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. Hurricane Otis, one of the strongest to ever hit Mexico, leaves a trail of destruction. Florida GOP lawmaker accuses Democrats of trying to use government resources to organize abortion clinics.

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Musk Plans to Remove Twitter’s Blue Check Mark

SAN FRANCISCO — Elon Musk said Thursday he plans to remove the blue check mark from Twitter accounts as part of a move to “clean up” the social media platform. He gave no timeline for when he’ll do so. The move is part of an overhaul he has said will make Twitter a more “fun” place. Musk’s efforts to reinvigorate Twitter have met with mixed results.

Musk announced his intention to eliminate the verification badge after announcing that Twitter will start charging for verified accounts in April. Twitter had offered verification as a way to prove users were who they said they were, but Musk has repeatedly criticized the platform’s existing verification system and argued it created an unfair hierarchy. Removing the blue check marks means users won’t be able to verify their identity.

Twitter’s subscription service, called Twitter Blue, launched last year for $8 a month and provides a blue checkmark along with other perks. After a series of problems with bots using the system, Twitter changed the blue check mark program to require users to verify their identities using a government-issued ID and to meet a series of other criteria. But it continues to be the subject of debate.

In addition to the blue check mark change, Musk has also taken steps to overhaul Twitter’s approach to advertising and content moderation. Those changes have made the platform less hospitable to advertisers, including some big names who had been major clients of Twitter.

“I think we can clean this whole system up a lot,” Musk said in his tweet. He gave no explanation as to how he’ll do it, but experts on the social media landscape say Musk’s push for verification and its removal may ultimately make it more challenging for people to find credible information and identify reliable news sources.

Apple Unveils Vision Pro Mixed-Reality Headset

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple has unveiled its long-awaited Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. The new device combines virtual reality and augmented reality and puts users in an environment with the ability to interact with digital content. Apple CEO Tim Cook has called Vision Pro “a revolutionary device that’s about to change the way we work, connect and experience entertainment.”

The new device will be available to consumers early next year, and its pricing is not yet available. Apple touted its performance, stating that the Vision Pro is capable of showing digital images at a stunning 4,000 pixels per eye. It also claims it delivers seamless spatial audio.

Apple envisions Vision Pro being used for a range of tasks, from gaming and watching movies to browsing the web and participating in video calls. Some observers are calling the new headset an expensive and unproven bet. The cost and novelty of the device will likely decide its future.

While there’s excitement around Apple’s Vision Pro and its potential uses, the headset is a foray into uncharted territory for the tech giant and it faces stiff competition from other headset makers, including Meta.

Hurricane Otis Pummels Mexico; Damage, Casualties Mount

MEXICO CITY — Hurricane Otis, one of the strongest to ever hit Mexico, brought a trail of destruction and a wave of human and economic suffering. The Category 4 hurricane’s sustained winds reached speeds of up to 130 mph, ripping through southern and western Mexico, leaving millions in the path of the storm without electricity and leaving officials assessing the extent of the destruction.

Authorities were scrambling to respond to reports of flooding in villages across the south Pacific coastline of the country, rescuing thousands of people. And authorities in Acapulco were forced to suspend their work and send search teams into some areas. The state of Guerrero was especially hard-hit by Otis, causing significant damage to roads and critical infrastructure, along with the destruction of crops. Officials are struggling to reach victims of the hurricane to provide food, medicine, and clean water.

Thousands of people have sought refuge in shelters opened throughout the region, and emergency response teams were working through the night to locate and assist those in need. Authorities have been warning residents to stay alert, be aware of dangerous situations and take precautions to ensure safety.

Florida GOP Lawmaker Accuses Democrats of Using Government Resources for Abortion

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Florida Republican lawmaker accused Democrats of trying to use government resources to organize abortion clinics in response to the recent actions of a newly established task force tasked with protecting the reproductive health rights of Floridians. State Representative Mike Beltran claimed that the task force was “an obvious attack” on the anti-abortion legislation Florida Republicans have been advancing since 2019. He also made allegations of conspiracy in a memo and letters sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis and a top Florida agency chief, stating that the Democratic lawmakers and staff are “attempting to conceal the nature and scope of these efforts and conceal any involvement by the government of Florida.”

The task force was approved by a vote along partisan lines and has since focused on providing information and legal aid to women facing pregnancy complications in Florida. However, it is not a part of state government and doesn’t operate on taxpayer money. Beltran’s statement reflects a national narrative being peddled by many on the right as a way to combat access to reproductive healthcare services in the US, alleging it to be an invasion of state-level authorities.

Democratic lawmakers in Florida dismissed the claims as “politically motivated,” adding that their only focus is to provide safe, legal abortion care to Floridians, as a matter of constitutional rights. The task force has said it is non-partisan and does not work under any form of government regulation or control. In a statement to The Associated Press, the task force clarified its commitment to working for “the benefit of all Floridians, particularly women facing pregnancy complications, who need access to safe and legal reproductive care.”