The Latest: 03/07/2026 03:59pm ET

0:00This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Run a business and not thinking about podcasting? Think again, more Americans listen to podcasts than add supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora. And as the number one podcaster, iHeart's twice as large as the next two combined, learn how podcasting can help your business, call 844-844-iHeart. This is your 24-7 News Update, the latest views this hour in just four minutes. The bodies of six American soldiers killed during Operation Epic Fury arrived back in the U.S. today. President Trump and other senior officials took part in the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The six Army-reserved soldiers died in an attack and co-aid on Sunday the day after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The president spoke before departing Florida. Very sad situation. To greet the families of the heroes, coming home from Iran, coming home in a different manner

1:00than they thought they'd be coming home. But they're great heroes in our country. All six service members were based in Des Moines, Iowa. President Trump says Iran will be hit very hard today, speaking earlier from Deral, Florida, at a Latin American leader summit. Trump said the strikes on Iran had to be done. They would have had a nuclear weapon, you know, crazy, and they would have used it. So we did the world a favor. Trump said again, Iran was close to obtaining nuclear weapons and that his administration is trying to keep casualties to a minimum. The State Department says over 28,000 American citizens have returned to the U.S. from the Middle East. In an update today, officials said the numbers don't include Americans who safely relocated to other countries or were still in transit back to the U.S. They noted the agency's 24-7 task force has also helped over 16,000 Americans abroad offering security guidance and travel assistance. The State Department said it's actively assisting American citizens who want to leave the Middle East.

2:02Extreme weather remains a threat today for millions after an outbreak of tornadoes turned deadly in Michigan and Oklahoma on Friday. Another round of potentially severe thunderstorms is expected to continue across the central U.S. from today, in the next week. And that system brings with it chances of large hail, damaging winds, and even a few more twisters. I'm Lisa Carton. State investigators say human error was the cause of why contaminated gas was delivered to gas stations across the Denver metro area in January. A report reveals a manually operated valve was improperly left open while the Sinclair terminal was receiving a shipment of diesel. The Department of Labor and Employment's Zach Hope says they're working with Sinclair to make sure this doesn't happen again. We'll work with Sinclair moving forward to make sure that they resolve that fine, of course, but also institute these process steps that they've talked about. And we are going to work with them on train to make sure we have ongoing monitoring

3:03of fuel quality with them. More than 365,000 gallons of contaminated regular gas were sold to 49 gas stations. Sinclair was fined a dollar per gallon. An illegal immigrant living in Los Angeles is pleading guilty to running what prosecutors describe as one of the largest human smuggling operations in the nation here, Sharon Reardon. On Friday, 52 year old Eduardo Renault's mature admitted to charges, including conspiracy, transporting and harboring illegal immigrants and hostage taking. Federal authority say Renault's mature also known as Turco, El Hefe, Patrona, El Gaio charged migrants $15,000 to smuggle them from Guatemala through Mexico and finally into the US using a network of drivers and safe houses. Prosecutors say admitted to smuggling as many as 20,000 illegal immigrants throughout the country. KTLA says he faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison when he sentenced in October. The 2026 Los Angeles marathon is Sunday. Daniel Martindale has a preview.

4:03The 26.2 mile course runs from Dodger Stadium to West LA, concluding at the avenue of the stars in Century City. Runners will pass by iconic landmarks like the Capitol Records Tower, Alvera Street, the Chinatown Dragon Gate, rodeo drive, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The marathon starts at 7 a.m. with a time limit of six and a half hours. I'm Lisa Carton.