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The Department of Justice is scrubbing references of radical Islamic beliefs from the transcripts of calls Orlando terrorist Omar Mateen made to police during his massacre, Attoey General Loretta Lynch said Sunday.

A partial transcript of the conversations between authorities and Mateen, who killed 49 and wounded 53 in the June 12 attack at a Florida gay nightclub, is set to be released on Monday. But Lynch, who appeared on numerous Sunday talk shows, said the transcripts will not include Mateen's oath of loyalty to ISIS or any other religious justification for the attack.

“What we’re not going to do is further proclaim this man’s pledges of allegiance to terrorist groups, and further his propaganda,” Lynch told NBC. “We are not going to hear him make his assertions of allegiance [to the Islamic State].”

The calls could confirm Mateen's motives in the wake of Facebook postings from the killer that already reveal Islamist leanings.

“I pledge my alliance to (ISIS leader) abu bakr al Baghdadi..may Allah accept me,” Mateen wrote in one post during the attack. “The real muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the west” …“You kill innocent women and children by doing us airstrikes..now taste the Islamic state vengeance.”

Other posts include waings to the U.S. and Russia to stop bombing the Islamic State and a prediction that more ISIS attacks would follow Mateen's assault.

But that "radical Islam" angle is likely to be missing from Monday's release.

Critics blasted the move by the administration, which has rejected branding terrorist acts as motivated by radical Islam and has sought to paint the Orlando attack as a gun control issue.  

"This is not just a simple wording issue," Ric Grenell, a Fox News contributor and former aide to UN Ambassador John Bolton told Fox and Friends Monday moing. "The fact that Loretta Lynch is somehow redacting the specific enemy that is being called out here is a PR move."

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giluiani, also on Fox and Friends Monday, said it does not help law enforcement to try to bury the motivations or allegiences of criminals and terrorists.

"Why didn't they do this with the Mafia, to spare Italian-Americans?" Giuliani asked. "Why? Because if you did, you would never make the connection [which ultimately] brought them down."

Mateen died in a hail of gunfire after police blew a hole in the side of the venue following a three-hour hostage standoff. But before his final moments came, Mateen declared allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi -- right in the midst of the slaughter.

The move to edit the transcripts of Mateen's calls harkens back to April, when French President Francois Hollande's reference to "Islamist terrorism" was left out of an official White House video during an inteational summit in Washington D.C. The White House later told several news outlets the dropped phrase was a "technical issue."

President Obama famously has tried not to use the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism" in his remarks, a position many Republicans have lambasted him for. Obama has said he believes that phrase gives a measure of legitimacy to terror groups.

And as investigators look past Mateen's religious convictions, Lynch said a top goal is to build a complete profile of the gunman in order to help prevent another massacre like Orlando.

“We are trying to re-create the days, the weeks, the months of this killer’s life before this attack,” Lynch said. “And we are also asking those people who had contact with him to come forward and give us that information as well.”

Mateen was the focus of two FBI investigations into suspected terrorism. However, the probes were concluded without further action, and Mateen was allowed to legally buy firearms.

Lynch said the Justice Department is “going to go back and see what changes could have been made,” regarding how the investigations were handled.

Lynch said she’s traveling to Orlando Tuesday to meet with federal investigators.

While speaking to CBS’ “Face The Nation,” Lynch said that a key goal of the probe was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was "Latin Night" at Pulse.

Lynch, speaking to “Fox News Sunday,” declined to say whether federal authorities will charge anybody in connection with the mass murder. She also declined to comment on why the wife of the shooter has not been arrested, amid purported evidence that she either helped her husband plot the murders or suspected his intentions and did not alert authorities.

Lynch also expressed support for Texas GOP Sen. John Coyn's amendment, which is scheduled for a vote Monday in the Senate and would allow the federal govement to delay a gun sale to a suspected terrorist for as long as 72 hours. Afterward, prosecutors would have to persuade a judge to block the sale permanently.

Lynch said such an amendment would give the federal govement the ability to stop a sale to somebody on the terror watch list.

Meanwhile, thousands of people packed Lake Eola Park in Florida Sunday evening for a vigil to honor the victims of the shooting. The park was filled with people holding white flowers, American flags and candles.

At the end of the gathering, people held up their candles as the name of each victim was read, creating a ring of fire around Lake Eola. They chanted "One Orlando," ''Orlando United" and "Somos Orlando," Spanish for "We are Orlando."

"That event has gotten the attention of the world," said Evania Nichols, an Orlando resident. "And, for Orlando — a city that's always been incredibly inclusive no matter your skin color, no matter your background — it's brought about a movement that I think is starting here and I really hope continues."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Three men were reportedly arrested and charged in the beating of NASCAR veteran Mike Wallace and his daughter after a Rascal Flatts concert in Charlotte, N.C., Friday night.

Nathan Lucas and Randolph Mangum were charged with assault Saturday moing and a third man, Paul Lucas, was charged with assault on a female, according to Motorsport.com.

Wallace shared graphic photos of himself after the alleged incident on Facebook.

"I normally would not post personal affairs but this is to help and give advice to our friends, do not ever talk to a group of now what appeared to be drunk or drugged up young adult men or women when you’re trying to get in your car to leave the un guarded PNC amphitheater in Charlotte, NC parking lot after a good Rascal Flatts concert," he wrote. "This is what I looked like after I was knocked out and crap beat out of me. The ambulance driver took this picture we were just supposed to have a fun night. I want to thank my family and friends for helping to protect me from a worse beating as I [laid] unconscious on the ground."

He added, "What’s worse is three of guys that beat my family up were arrested and out of jail before we were out of the hospital."

Wallace's brother Kenny told USA Today, "“I talked to Mike a couple times this weekend, and he’s just in shock. He can’t believe it happened.”

A rep for Rascal Flatts, who have yet to speak out on the incident, did not immediately retu FOX411's request for comment.

In 2014, following a string of alcohol-related incidents at country concerts, Rascal Flatts' lead singer Gary LeVox told FOX411 Country "these sort of things happen periodically every year and normally in the summer time.

"I think when you're outside in the heat and people are out drinking and listening and having a good time, I think they don't know when to shut it down before it's too late."

Rascal Flatts said that in their shows they make sure to call over security if they see a fight break out or someone who needs medical assistance.

"I also think that if you're at one of these shows, and you see something that looks suspect, I know people don't like to get involved, but you know, sometimes it behooves us to walk up and say, 'Hey what's going on here? We need to take care of the situation.'"

Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski is leaving the campaign, just weeks before the Republican convention where Trump is set to claim the GOP presidential nomination.

A Trump senior campaign aide confirmed to Fox News Monday moing that Lewandowski is no longer with the campaign. 

It's unclear what specifically led to the shake-up. The high-profile departure of one of Trump's most senior and loyal advisers follows what was widely seen as a rough patch for the campaign. 

Trump's polling numbers against presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton have slipped in recent weeks, and Trump has found himself caught up in several controversies over his own Idea. 

The New York Times first reported on the Lewandowski development. 

“The Donald J. Trump Campaign for President, which has set a historic record in the Republican Primary having received almost 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign,” campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement, as reported by the Times. “The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future.” 

Lewandowski has been by Trump's side since the beginning of his unlikely rise to presumptive GOP nominee.

The move comes as Trump faces continued deep resistance from many quarters of his party conceed by his contentious statements.

Aside from the controversies that have hung over the Trump campaign in recent weeks – including his Idea claiming a judge is biased against him in the Trump University case because of his Mexican heritage; his renewed calls for a Muslim immigration ban; and his decision to revoke credentials for The Washington Post – the campaign is also entering a new and arguably tougher phase as Democratic groups start spending big against him.

Hillary Clinton and her Democratic allies have invested at least $41 million in commercials in crucial states such as Ohio, Florida and Nevada over the next six weeks. Those messages will be echoed by hundreds of Clinton workers in those same states and amplified by President Obama and other top Democrats.

Vice President Biden is also delivering an anti-Trump speech Monday.

FoxNews.com's Christopher Snyder and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

A week after the Orlando terror massacre, U.S. lawmakers will bring a set of dueling gun control measures to the Senate floor Monday — and all are expected to fail.

The scheduled votes on four separate bills address changes to the background check system as well as restrictions on gun sales for those on terror watch lists, among other areas.

The votes come after Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., filibustered for almost 15 hours last week seeking action in response to the killing of 49 people in the gay nightclub Pulse by Omar Mateen, a Florida man who pledged his loyalty to ISIS in the midst of the rampage.

But since lawmakers were unable to come together on a piece of compromise legislation, the individual bills face long odds. Democrats are expected to block two Republican amendments, arguing that they fall short in controlling the sales of firearms. In tu, Republicans are certain to block two Democratic amendments, contending they threaten the constitutional rights of gun owners.

Murphy said on ABC’s “The Week” that the passage of the measures was unlikely and focused on the response to the filibuster.

"It wasn't just that 40 senators came to the floor and supported my effort to get these votes but there were millions of people all across the country who rose up and who joined our effort," he said.

The Senate will vote on a measure by Murphy to expand gun background checks and one by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to keep people on a govement terrorism watch list or other suspected terrorists from buying guns. The Justice Department has endorsed her legislation.

Countering that proposal, Republican Sen. John Coyn of Texas is pushing a measure that would allow the govement to delay a gun sale to a suspected terrorist for 72 hours, but require prosecutors to go to court to show probable cause to block the sale permanently. The National Rifle Association thrust its support for the legislation, but gun control advocates and Democrats say the bar is too high.

Attoey General Loretta Lynch told “Fox News Sunday” that she also supported Coyn’s proposal. Lynch said that such an amendment would give the federal govement the ability to stop a sale to somebody on the terror watch list.

However, she argued the federal govement needs flexibility and the authority to protect the classified information used in denying a sale, if potential buyers exercise the constitutional rights to file an appeal.

“The American people deserve for us to take the greatest amount of time,” Lynch said.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley's measure would boost funds for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and ensure that the correct records are uploaded into the system in a timely manner. It would also clarify language surrounding mental health issues that would disqualify someone from buying a gun. Democrats say that language in the bill would actually roll back some current protections.

The Pulse Orlando nightclub shooter was added to a govement watch list of individuals known or suspected of being involved in terrorist activities in 2013, when he was investigated for inflammatory statements to co-workers. But he was pulled from that database when that investigation was closed 10 months later.

Both the Feinstein and Coyn amendments would try to ensure that individuals like Mateen who had been a subject of a terrorism investigation within the last five years are flagged. Grassley's would require that law enforcement be notified if a person had been investigated in the last five years and attempted to purchase a gun.

Last week, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump tweeted that he would meet with the NRA about "not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns." Exactly what he would support was unclear.

Separately, moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is working with other Republicans, as well as talking to Democrats, on a bill that would prevent people on the no-fly list — a smaller universe than targeted by Democrats — from getting guns. But her bill had not been blessed by GOP leaders and it was unclear if it would get a vote.

In the GOP-controlled House, Republicans had no plans to act on guns and Democrats were unable to force any action, given House rules less favorable to the minority party than in the Senate. 

On another front in the gun debate – conceing another mass shooting tragedy – a judge in Connecticut will hear arguments Monday on whether to dismiss a lawsuit against the maker of the semiautomatic rifle used to kill 20 children and six adults in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

The families of nine children and adults killed at the Newtown school and a teacher who survived are suing Remington Arms, the Madison, North Carolina-based parent company of Bushmaster Firearms, which made the XM15-E2S rifle used in the shooting. They say the company knew its AR-15-style rifle was meant for the military and was too dangerous to sell to civilians.

Lawyers for Remington continue to argue the lawsuit is barred by a 2005 federal law, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which shields gun manufacturers from most lawsuits over criminal use of their products.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

LeBron James cradled the shiny gold trophy and struggled to sum up what might be his sweetest championship yet, the one he is so proudly bringing home to his native northeast Ohio just as he promised to do when he retued to the Cavaliers two summers ago.

James and his relentless, never-count-them-out Cavs pulled off an improbable NBA Finals comeback, and Cleveland is title town again at long last.

Unfazed by the criticism and chatter all series, James delivered on a vow to his home state and brought the Cavs back as they became the first team to rally from a 3-1 finals deficit, beating the defending champion Golden State Warriors 93-89 on Sunday night to end a 52-year major sports championship drought in Cleveland.

"I'm happy to be a part of history," James said, then added, "I'm home. I'm home. ... I'm at a loss for words. This is unbelievable."

In a testy series of blowouts — and a few blowups — the winner-take-all Game 7 provided the thrilling finale with James as the finals MVP disarming two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry and his record-setting Warriors.

Playing his sixth straight finals, James almost single-handedly carried the Cavs back into this series and finished with 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds as the Cavs captured their first championship in franchise history and gave their city its first major sports winner since the Browns won the NFL title in 1964. He also had three blocked shots and two steals, overcoming five tuovers.

"CLEVELAND! This is for you!" James bellowed in his postgame interview before being announced as finals MVP.

An emotional James fell to the floor when this one ended with a second win in six days on Golden State's imposing home floor, surrounded by his teammates. Only seconds earlier, he went down in pain with 10.6 seconds left after being fouled by Draymond Green while going for a dunk, then came back out to make the second of two free throws.

After four successful seasons in Miami and two titles with the Heat, James came back to the Cavs in hopes of winning the title this franchise and championship-starved city so coveted. It took a second try against Golden State after Cleveland lost to the Warriors in six games last year.

Cleveland did it after a coaching change, with Tyronn Lue taking over in January for the fired David Blatt.

"We made history tonight," Lue said. "Cleveland, Ohio, we're coming back, baby!"

Kyrie Irving scored 26 points to cap his brilliant finals, including a 3-pointer over Curry with 53 seconds left.

"It was a fairytale ending," Irving said.

Curry sat briefly on the bench to take in the scene after the Warriors made their last basket with 4:39 left.

"It hurts, man," Curry said. "I'm proud of every single guy that stepped foot on the floor for our team this year. ... Hopefully we'll have many more opportunities to fight for championships and be on this stage. This is what it's all about."

Green had 32 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, but the Warriors' record-setting season ended without the only prize this close-knit "Strength In Numbers" crew cared about from way back in the beginning — through the record 24-0 start as Coach of the Year Steve Kerr was out, Curry's second consecutive MVP campaign, and the 73 regular-season wins to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' mark.

As Cleveland celebrated in the trophy ceremony, Green retued to the floor to congratulate the Cavs. He stopped by the winning locker room, too, and Warriors general manager Bob Myers delivered the winning nets freshly cut down.

The Warriors might always be remembered as one of the best teams ever that couldn't close it out, and Green is taking at least a good share of the blame after he sat out Game 5 on Monday night suspended for flagrant fouls.

The Cavs staved off elimination twice to force Game 7 back at Oracle Arena, where the Warriors went up 2-0 with a pair of lopsided wins to start this series.

This marked the first NBA game decided by five points or fewer since May 11, Golden State's 125-121 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 5 of the second round.

With its 100th postseason victory, Cleveland became just the fourth team to win an NBA Finals Game 7 on the road.

Curry — who said beforehand he needed the best game of his career — scored 17 points on 6-for-19 shooting, while Splash Brother Klay Thompson added 14 points while making 6 of 17 shots.

''I didn't do enough to help my team win," Curry said. "It will haunt me for a while."

Authorities said Sunday two North Carolina parents were caught after kidnapping their own infant son from a social services department, then apparently driving him 2,000 miles to Montana in a stolen minivan.

The cross-country search for the boy began after the Randolph County Department of Social Services in North Carolina deputies on Tuesday that 8-month-old John Eastlack had been taken by his parents and was missing, the sheriff’s office said.

The boy had previously been placed in social services’ custody, but authorities didn’t reveal why.

An Amber Alert issued last week said the boy was abducted by his parents, Penny Dianne Worthy and Chad Douglas Eastlack. The sheriff's office said the 35-year-old father was also wanted on charges of stealing the minivan and a firearm.

A Missoula, Mont. police officer found the boy unharmed with his parents inside a hotel after spotting the stolen minivan in the parking lot, according to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities were coordinating his retu to social service workers in North Carolina.

Missoula Police Sgt. Jerry Odlin said Chad Eastlack was taken into custody without incident on the warrant related to the stolen vehicle and firearm after the Missoula officer called in the backup.

Missoula County jail records show that Chad Eastlack was being held without bond on a fugitive charge Sunday. He was scheduled to appear in court Monday.

The jail records didn't list Worthy, who is 20 years old. It’s unclear if she’ll be charged.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

House Speaker Rep. Paul Ryan is trying to keep fellow Republicans in control of Congress but said Sunday he wouldn’t ask them to endorse Donald Trump for the sake of party unity, to save their Capitol Hill majority or keep Democrat Hillary Clinton out of the White House.

“Imagine the speaker of the House not supporting the duly elected nominee of our party, therefore creating a chasm in our party,” the Wisconsin Republican said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I don't want to see Hillary Clinton as president. I want to see a strong majority in the House and the Senate.”

Ryan has endorsed Trump but waited about a month after he won enough primaries, caucuses and accompanying delegates in early May to become the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee. After some direct conversations with Trump and assurances that he would support a conservative agenda, Ryan officially backed Trump earlier this month.

However, Ryan has since criticized some of Trump’s subsequent Idea, including the suggestion that an American-bo judge presiding over a civil suit against Trump University real estate school could be bias because of his Mexican heritage.  

“I disavow these Idea,” Ryan told reporters earlier this month. “Claiming a person can't do their job because of race is sort of like a textbook definition of a racist comment.”

After the June 12 massacre at an Orlando, Fla., nightclub committed by Omar Mateen, a Muslim who was apparently self-radicalized, Trump renewed his call to temporarily keep Muslims out of the country.

Ryan later repeated his disapproval for such a ban, saying it was not “in our country's interests.”

Still, Ryan suggested Sunday that he wouldn’t tell a Capitol Hill Republican seeking reelection on any party member to back Trump for the benefit the party in 2016.

“The last thing I would do is tell anybody to do something that's contrary to their conscience,” Ryan said.

Ryan, chairman of the GOP nomination convention in July, also said he disagrees with a purported effort by convention delegates to switch their assigned allegiance from Trump to another candidate to deny him the nomination. However, Ryan said he has no authority over such rules and related decisions

“The voters picked (Trump.) He beat Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush and everybody else,” Ryan said. “He won the delegates. My place … is to call balls and strikes and just play it by the rules. So it is not my job to tell delegates what to do or what not to do or to weigh in on things like that.”

A week after the Orlando massacre, the Senate will vote Monday on four separate gun control measures — and all are expected to fail.

The long-sought vote comes after Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., filibustered for almost 15 hours last week seeking action in response to the mass murder of 49 people in the gay nightclub Pulse by Omar Mateen, a Florida man who pledged his loyalty to ISIS in the midst of the shooting.

Democrats are expected to block two Republican amendments, arguing that they fall short in controlling the sales of firearms. In tu, Republicans are certain to block two Democratic amendments, contending that they threaten the constitutional rights of gun owners.

Murphy said on ABC’s Sunday program “The Week” that the passage of the measures was unlikely and focused on the response to the filibuster.

"It wasn't just that 40 senators came to the floor and supported my effort to get these votes but there were millions of people all across the country who rose up and who joined our effort," he said.

The Senate will vote on a measure by Murphy to expand gun background checks and one by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to keep people on a govement terrorism watch list or other suspected terrorists from buying guns. The Justice Department has endorsed her legislation.

Countering that proposal, Republican Sen. John Coyn of Texas is pushing a measure that would allow the govement to delay a gun sale to a suspected terrorist for 72 hours, but require prosecutors to go to court to show probable cause to block the sale permanently. The National Rifle Association thrust its support for the legislation, but gun control advocates and Democrats say the bar is too high.

Attoey General Loretta Lynch told “Fox News Sunday” that she supported Coyn’s proposal. Lynch said that such an amendment would give the federal govement the ability to stop a sale to somebody on the terror watch list.

However, she argued the federal govement needs flexibility and the authority to protect the classified information used in denying a sale, if potential buyers exercise the constitutional rights to file an appeal.

“The American people deserve for us to take the greatest amount of time,” Lynch said.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley's measure would boost funds for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and ensure that the correct records are uploaded into the system in a timely manner. It would also clarify language surrounding mental health issues that would disqualify someone from buying a gun. Democrats say that language in the bill would actually roll back some current protections.

The Pulse Orlando nightclub shooter was added to a govement watch list of individuals known or suspected of being involved in terrorist activities in 2013, when he was investigated for inflammatory statements to co-workers. But he was pulled from that database when that investigation was closed 10 months later.

Both the Feinstein and Coyn amendments would try to ensure that individuals like Mateen who had been a subject of a terrorism investigation within the last five years are flagged. Grassley's would require that law enforcement be notified if a person had been investigated in the last five years and attempted to purchase a gun.

Last week, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump tweeted that he would meet with the NRA about "not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns." Exactly what he would support was unclear.

Separately, moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is working with other Republicans, as well as talking to Democrats, on a bill that would prevent people on the no-fly list — a smaller universe than targeted by Democrats — from getting guns. But her bill had not been blessed by GOP leaders and it was unclear if it would get a vote.

In the GOP-controlled House, Republicans had no plans to act on guns and Democrats were unable to force any action, given House rules less favorable to the minority party than in the Senate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The FBI plans to release Monday a partial transcript of the conversations between the Orlando nightclub gunman and police negotiators that took place during the horrific attack that left dozens dead.

Attoey General Loretta Lynch told “Fox News Sunday” that much of Omar Mateen’s talk about his allegiance to radical Islamic groups has been removed.

Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the Pulse Orlando club June 12 that left 49 dead and 53 others seriously hurt.

Mateen died in a hail of gunfire after police stormed the venue, but not before pledging his allegiance to the Islamic State terror group, even during his shooting rampage inside the gay nightclub. 

Lynch said a top goal, while intensifying pressure on ISIS, is to build a complete profile of him in order to help prevent another massacre like Orlando.

“We are trying to re-create the days, the weeks, the months of this killer’s life before this attack,” said Lynch, who spoke on all of the major Sunday talk shows. “And we are also asking those people who had contact with him to come forward and give us that information as well.”

Mateen was the focus of two FBI investigations into suspected terrorism. However, the probes were concluded without further action, and Mateen was allowed to legally buy firearms.

Lynch said the Justice Department is “going to go back and see what changes could have been made,” regarding how the investigations were handled.

Lynch said she’s traveling to Orlando Tuesday to meet with federal investigators.

While speaking to CBS’ “Face The Nation,” Lynch said that a key goal of the probe was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was "Latin night" at Pulse.

Lynch, speaking to “Fox News Sunday,” declined to say whether federal authorities will charge anybody in connection with the mass murder. She also declined to comment on why the wife of the shooter has not been arrested, amid purported evidence that she helped her husband plot the murders.

She also expressed support from an amendment scheduled for a vote Monday in the Senate by Texas GOP Sen. John Coyn that would allow the federal govement to delay a gun sale to a suspected terrorist for as long as 72 hours. Afterward, prosecutors would have to persuade a judge to block the sale permanently.

Lynch said such an amendment would give the federal govement the ability to stop a sale to somebody on the terror watch list.

Meanwhile, thousands of people packed Lake Eola Park in Florida Sunday evening for a vigil to honor the victims of the shooting. The park was filled with people holding white flowers, American flags and candles.

At the end of the vigil, people held up their candles as the names of each victim were read, creating a ring of fire around Lake Eola. They chanted "One Orlando," ''Orlando United" and "Somos Orlando," Spanish for "We are Orlando."

"That event has gotten the attention of the world," said Evania Nichols, an Orlando resident. "And, for Orlando — a city that's always been incredibly inclusive no matter your skin color, no matter your background — it's brought about a movement that I think is starting here and I really hope continues."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

LeBron James cradled the shiny gold trophy and struggled to sum up what might be his sweetest championship yet, the one he is so proudly bringing home to his native northeast Ohio just as he promised to do when he retued to the Cavaliers two summers ago.

James and his relentless, never-count-them-out Cavs pulled off an improbable NBA Finals comeback, and Cleveland is title town again at long last.

Unfazed by the criticism and chatter all series, James delivered on a vow to his home state and brought the Cavs back as they became the first team to rally from a 3-1 finals deficit, beating the defending champion Golden State Warriors 93-89 on Sunday night to end a 52-year major sports championship drought in Cleveland.

"I'm happy to be a part of history," James said, then added, "I'm home. I'm home. ... I'm at a loss for words. This is unbelievable."

In a testy series of blowouts — and a few blowups — the winner-take-all Game 7 provided the thrilling finale with James as the finals MVP disarming two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry and his record-setting Warriors.

Playing his sixth straight finals, James almost single-handedly carried the Cavs back into this series and finished with 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds as the Cavs captured their first championship in franchise history and gave their city its first major sports winner since the Browns won the NFL title in 1964. He also had three blocked shots and two steals, overcoming five tuovers.

"CLEVELAND! This is for you!" James bellowed in his postgame interview before being announced as finals MVP.

An emotional James fell to the floor when this one ended with a second win in six days on Golden State's imposing home floor, surrounded by his teammates. Only seconds earlier, he went down in pain with 10.6 seconds left after being fouled by Draymond Green while going for a dunk, then came back out to make the second of two free throws.

After four successful seasons in Miami and two titles with the Heat, James came back to the Cavs in hopes of winning the title this franchise and championship-starved city so coveted. It took a second try against Golden State after Cleveland lost to the Warriors in six games last year.

Cleveland did it after a coaching change, with Tyronn Lue taking over in January for the fired David Blatt.

"We made history tonight," Lue said. "Cleveland, Ohio, we're coming back, baby!"

Kyrie Irving scored 26 points to cap his brilliant finals, including a 3-pointer over Curry with 53 seconds left.

"It was a fairytale ending," Irving said.

Curry sat briefly on the bench to take in the scene after the Warriors made their last basket with 4:39 left.

"It hurts, man," Curry said. "I'm proud of every single guy that stepped foot on the floor for our team this year. ... Hopefully we'll have many more opportunities to fight for championships and be on this stage. This is what it's all about."

Green had 32 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, but the Warriors' record-setting season ended without the only prize this close-knit "Strength In Numbers" crew cared about from way back in the beginning — through the record 24-0 start as Coach of the Year Steve Kerr was out, Curry's second consecutive MVP campaign, and the 73 regular-season wins to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' mark.

As Cleveland celebrated in the trophy ceremony, Green retued to the floor to congratulate the Cavs. He stopped by the winning locker room, too, and Warriors general manager Bob Myers delivered the winning nets freshly cut down.

The Warriors might always be remembered as one of the best teams ever that couldn't close it out, and Green is taking at least a good share of the blame after he sat out Game 5 on Monday night suspended for flagrant fouls.

The Cavs staved off elimination twice to force Game 7 back at Oracle Arena, where the Warriors went up 2-0 with a pair of lopsided wins to start this series.

This marked the first NBA game decided by five points or fewer since May 11, Golden State's 125-121 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 5 of the second round.

With its 100th postseason victory, Cleveland became just the fourth team to win an NBA Finals Game 7 on the road.

Curry — who said beforehand he needed the best game of his career — scored 17 points on 6-for-19 shooting, while Splash Brother Klay Thompson added 14 points while making 6 of 17 shots.

''I didn't do enough to help my team win," Curry said. "It will haunt me for a while."

BATH, Maine –  The Navy spent hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to fulfill its need for speed with a new class of fast and agile warships capable of zipping along at highway speeds.

It tus out speed is overrated.

The Navy has leaed lessons from the light-and-speedy littoral combat ships: Upcoming ships will trade some speed in favor of more weapons and heavier armor.

Rear Adm. Peter Fanta, director of surface warfare, said the goal is to increase the offensive punch of all warships from the biggest to the smallest. For the littoral combat ship, that'll begin with the installation of over-the-horizon missiles this summer.

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In this March 24, 2010, file photo, the littoral combat ship USS Independence, foreground, passes another vessel as it makes its way south through the waters of Mobile Bay, Ala. (G.M. Andrews/AL.com via AP)

"Each ship that I now have — I have to make more lethal because I cannot build ships fast enough, or enough of them," Fanta told The Associated Press.

Two versions of the warships were sped into production to meet the Navy's goal of an affordable, fast ship to operate in shallow coastal — or littoral — waters.

The ships, which are capable of topping 50 mph, utilize steerable waterjets instead of propellers and rudders to operate in shallow water.

They also are built to be equipped with swappable mission modules for surface warfare, anti-submarine duty or mine removal. That's in contrast to larger, multi-mission ships like the 610-foot Michael Monsoor, a Zumwalt-class destroyer christened Saturday at Bath Iron Works.

But the gee-whiz factor was overshadowed by conces over growing costs — the latest versions cost $482 million to $563 million apiece — along with criticism by the General Accounting Office that the warships were too lightly armed and too lightly armored.

Two high-profile breakdowns, in December and January, raised additional questions about reliability: The USS Milwaukee had to be towed 40 miles to a naval base in Virginia, while the USS Fort Worth was sidelined in Singapore.

Fanta said the Navy is leaing from the initial deployments and incorporating changes into a new version which will be called a frigate. The Navy also intends to zero in on one design either next year or the following year, leading to cost savings.

The Freedom class with a steel monohull is built in Marinette, Wisconsin, while the tri-hulled, aluminum Independence class is built in Mobile, Alabama.

Both were rushed into production to deal with unconventional post-Cold War threats including swarm boats and pirates. But the threats have changed again with China flexing its muscle in the South China Sea and Russia reasserting its naval presence.

Despite growing pains, Fanta sees the warships as being made more capable through heavier armor plating and shock mounting to make them sturdier, along with additional weapons.

The first over-the-horizon missile capable of hitting targets more than 50 miles away is to be installed this summer and it will be followed by tests of a second missile variant this fall, he said. Some of the capabilities will be fitted onto existing ships, about two dozen of which are either in the fleet, under construction or under contract. Eventually, the Navy plans to build 40 of them.

The resulting ship will be slightly slower and heavier, but the weapons will make enemies keep their distance, he said.

It's unclear how much speed will be lost because of the added weight.

"We acknowledge that there will be trade-offs in speed based on additional weight to support increased capabilities. That number will be defined further as the ship's design continues to mature," said Ensign Marc Rockwellpate, a Navy spokesman.

Loren Thompson from the Lexington Institute said it makes sense to place less emphasis on speed. "You can't outrun a missile," he said.

Authorities said Sunday two North Carolina parents were caught Sunday after kidnapping their own infant son from a social services department, then apparently driving him 2,000 miles to Montana in a stolen minivan.

The cross-country search for the boy began after the Randolph County Department of Social Services in North Carolina deputies on Tuesday that 8-month-old John Eastlack had been taken by his parents and was missing, the sheriff’s office said.

The boy had previously been placed in social services’ custody, but authorities didn’t reveal why.

An Amber Alert issued last week said the boy was abducted by his parents, Penny Dianne Worthy and Chad Douglas Eastlack. The sheriff's office said the 35-year-old father was also wanted on charges of stealing the minivan and a firearm.

A Missoula, Mont. police officer found the boy unharmed with his parents inside a hotel after spotting the stolen minivan in the parking lot, according to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities were coordinating his retu to social service workers in North Carolina.

Missoula Police Sgt. Jerry Odlin said Chad Eastlack was taken into custody without incident on the warrant related to the stolen vehicle and firearm after the Missoula officer called in the backup.

Missoula County jail records show that Chad Eastlack was being held without bond on a fugitive charge Sunday. He was scheduled to appear in court Monday.

The jail records didn't list Worthy, who is 20 years old. It’s unclear if she’ll be charged.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

LeBron James cradled the shiny gold trophy and struggled to sum up what might be his sweetest championship yet, the one he is so proudly bringing home to his native northeast Ohio just as he promised to do when he retued to the Cavaliers two summers ago.

James and his relentless, never-count-them-out Cavs pulled off an improbable NBA Finals comeback, and Cleveland is title town again at long last.

Unfazed by the criticism and chatter all series, James delivered on a vow to his home state and brought the Cavs back as they became the first team to rally from a 3-1 finals deficit, beating the defending champion Golden State Warriors 93-89 on Sunday night to end a 52-year major sports championship drought in Cleveland.

"I'm happy to be a part of history," James said, then added, "I'm home. I'm home. ... I'm at a loss for words. This is unbelievable."

In a testy series of blowouts — and a few blowups — the winner-take-all Game 7 provided the thrilling finale with James as the finals MVP disarming two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry and his record-setting Warriors.

Playing his sixth straight finals, James almost single-handedly carried the Cavs back into this series and finished with 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds as the Cavs captured their first championship in franchise history and gave their city its first major sports winner since the Browns won the NFL title in 1964. He also had three blocked shots and two steals, overcoming five tuovers.

"CLEVELAND! This is for you!" James bellowed in his postgame interview before being announced as finals MVP.

An emotional James fell to the floor when this one ended with a second win in six days on Golden State's imposing home floor, surrounded by his teammates. Only seconds earlier, he went down in pain with 10.6 seconds left after being fouled by Draymond Green while going for a dunk, then came back out to make the second of two free throws.

After four successful seasons in Miami and two titles with the Heat, James came back to the Cavs in hopes of winning the title this franchise and championship-starved city so coveted. It took a second try against Golden State after Cleveland lost to the Warriors in six games last year.

Cleveland did it after a coaching change, with Tyronn Lue taking over in January for the fired David Blatt.

"We made history tonight," Lue said. "Cleveland, Ohio, we're coming back, baby!"

Kyrie Irving scored 26 points to cap his brilliant finals, including a 3-pointer over Curry with 53 seconds left.

"It was a fairytale ending," Irving said.

Curry sat briefly on the bench to take in the scene after the Warriors made their last basket with 4:39 left.

"It hurts, man," Curry said. "I'm proud of every single guy that stepped foot on the floor for our team this year. ... Hopefully we'll have many more opportunities to fight for championships and be on this stage. This is what it's all about."

Green had 32 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, but the Warriors' record-setting season ended without the only prize this close-knit "Strength In Numbers" crew cared about from way back in the beginning — through the record 24-0 start as Coach of the Year Steve Kerr was out, Curry's second consecutive MVP campaign, and the 73 regular-season wins to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' mark.

As Cleveland celebrated in the trophy ceremony, Green retued to the floor to congratulate the Cavs. He stopped by the winning locker room, too, and Warriors general manager Bob Myers delivered the winning nets freshly cut down.

The Warriors might always be remembered as one of the best teams ever that couldn't close it out, and Green is taking at least a good share of the blame after he sat out Game 5 on Monday night suspended for flagrant fouls.

The Cavs staved off elimination twice to force Game 7 back at Oracle Arena, where the Warriors went up 2-0 with a pair of lopsided wins to start this series.

This marked the first NBA game decided by five points or fewer since May 11, Golden State's 125-121 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 5 of the second round.

With its 100th postseason victory, Cleveland became just the fourth team to win an NBA Finals Game 7 on the road.

Curry — who said beforehand he needed the best game of his career — scored 17 points on 6-for-19 shooting, while Splash Brother Klay Thompson added 14 points while making 6 of 17 shots.

''I didn't do enough to help my team win," Curry said. "It will haunt me for a while."

Authorities said Sunday two North Carolina parents were caught Sunday after kidnapping their own infant son from a social services department, then apparently driving him 2,000 miles to Montana in a stolen minivan.

The cross-country search for the boy began after the Randolph County Department of Social Services in North Carolina deputies on Tuesday that 8-month-old John Eastlack had been taken by his parents and was missing, the sheriff’s office said.

The boy had previously been placed in social services’ custody, but authorities didn’t reveal why.

An Amber Alert issued last week said the boy was abducted by his parents, Penny Dianne Worthy and Chad Douglas Eastlack. The sheriff's office said the 35-year-old father was also wanted on charges of stealing the minivan and a firearm.

A Missoula, Mont. police officer found the boy unharmed with his parents inside a hotel after spotting the stolen minivan in the parking lot, according to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities were coordinating his retu to social service workers in North Carolina.

Missoula Police Sgt. Jerry Odlin said Chad Eastlack was taken into custody without incident on the warrant related to the stolen vehicle and firearm after the Missoula officer called in the backup.

Missoula County jail records show that Chad Eastlack was being held without bond on a fugitive charge Sunday. He was scheduled to appear in court Monday.

The jail records didn't list Worthy, who is 20 years old. It’s unclear if she’ll be charged.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

At least four deaths have been attributed to the sweltering heat that has plagued Arizona this weekend.

The Arizona Republic reported that four hikers collapsed and died on trails across the state. One hiker died in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, another died on the Peralta Trail in the Superstition Mountains, a third near Finger Canyon Rock and a fourth in Ventana Canyon.

"It really shows how critical this heat can be and how it can really sneak up on you," Phoenix Fire spokesman Capt. Larry Subervi told the paper. "When we deal with temperatures like this, it can just really be unpredictable how your body is going to respond."

The blistering heat broke records across the state Sunday. Temperatures in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson and Yuma broke daily records, according to the National Weather Service. Phoenix topped off at 118 degrees, Tucson at 115 degrees, Flagstaff reached 93 degrees and Yuma was scorching at 120 degrees.

According to the Arizona Republic, temperatures sharply rose Sunday moing and the records started to shatter by noon. Yuma topped the mercury off at 117 by 12:20 p.m. The daily high of 120 degrees ties the city’s fourth-highest temperature.

Phoenix peaked at 118 degrees over the course of the day, the fifth-hottest day on record. The highest point on Tucson’s mercury read 115 by 3:13 p.m. Flagstaff broke a daily record with 93 degrees and Prescott reached 102 degrees over the course of the day.

Even with the blistering heat, some still ventured outside to run errands. Kim Leeds, 28, had to take her dog Bo outside in the early afteoon for a bathroom break. The Australian shepherd wears special booties with rubber bottoms.

"He does really well with them. He doesn't mind walking around," Leeds said.

Preparing to enter her fourth summer in Phoenix, Leeds also decided to experiment with her car.

"I'm totally reveling in this experience because I'm actually baking cookies in my car," Leeds said. "I've been here long enough that I've got to do these things."

Others took advantage of discounts at Phoenix-area resorts, where summer can be the slow season.

Hotel guests got an early start at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort and Spa as temperatures climbed. Several guests swam in the pool and sat under umbrellas sipping water and other iced drinks to cool off.

Phoenix isn’t expected to get cooler by Monday. Andrew Deemer of the National Weather Service in Phoenix told the Arizona Republic that the center of the high pressure system in the west is supposed to will be located just outside the city.

He added that Phoenix could be looking at temperatures in the low 120s. The state’s all-time heat record is 122 degrees set in June 1990.

With the heat not expected to die down, officials urge residents to lea the signs of a heat-related illness. Symptoms could include thirst, cramps, heavy sweating, nausea, headache and dizziness.

Southe Califoians also posted competing photos on Facebook and Instagram of their soaring thermometers as the last day of spring brought summerlike temperatures to the region.

Burbank and Glendale, just north of downtown Los Angeles, soared past 100 degrees by midday, the National Weather Service said. Burbank saw a record 105 degrees.

That heat was no help to firefighters who had to work to put out a wildfire in a Los Angeles neighborhood, where densely packed homes were briefly in danger.

Further northwest in the San Feando Valley, some thermometers were reading close to 110 degrees, and Palm Springs in the inland desert hit 115.

The heat spurred state regulators to urge residents to voluntarily cut their consumption of electricity Monday. It did not yet bring the rolling blackouts that might Southe Califoians have been told to expect this summer after a massive natural gas leak.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from the Arizona Republic.

At least four deaths have been attributed to the sweltering heat that has plagued Arizona this weekend.

The Arizona Republic reported that four hikers collapsed and died on trails across the state. One hiker died in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, another died on the Peralta Trail in the Superstition Mountains, a third near Finger Canyon Rock and a fourth in Ventana Canyon.

"It really shows how critical this heat can be and how it can really sneak up on you," Phoenix Fire spokesman Capt. Larry Subervi told the paper. "When we deal with temperatures like this, it can just really be unpredictable how your body is going to respond."

The blistering heat broke records across the state Sunday. Temperatures in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson and Yuma broke daily records, according to the National Weather Service. Phoenix topped off at 118 degrees, Tucson at 115 degrees, Flagstaff reached 93 degrees and Yuma was scorching at 120 degrees.

According to the Arizona Republic, temperatures sharply rose Sunday moing and the records started to shatter by noon. Yuma topped the mercury off at 117 by 12:20 p.m. The daily high of 120 degrees ties the city’s fourth-highest temperature.

Phoenix peaked at 118 degrees over the course of the day, the fifth-hottest day on record. The highest point on Tucson’s mercury read 115 by 3:13 p.m. Flagstaff broke a daily record with 93 degrees and Prescott reached 102 degrees over the course of the day.

Even with the blistering heat, some still ventured outside to run errands. Kim Leeds, 28, had to take her dog Bo outside in the early afteoon for a bathroom break. The Australian shepherd wears special booties with rubber bottoms.

"He does really well with them. He doesn't mind walking around," Leeds said.

Preparing to enter her fourth summer in Phoenix, Leeds also decided to experiment with her car.

"I'm totally reveling in this experience because I'm actually baking cookies in my car," Leeds said. "I've been here long enough that I've got to do these things."

Others took advantage of discounts at Phoenix-area resorts, where summer can be the slow season.

Hotel guests got an early start at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort and Spa as temperatures climbed. Several guests swam in the pool and sat under umbrellas sipping water and other iced drinks to cool off.

Phoenix isn’t expected to get cooler by Monday. Andrew Deemer of the National Weather Service in Phoenix told the Arizona Republic that the center of the high pressure system in the west is supposed to will be located just outside the city.

He added that Phoenix could be looking at temperatures in the low 120s. The state’s all-time heat record is 122 degrees set in June 1990.

With the heat not expected to die down, officials urge residents to lea the signs of a heat-related illness. Symptoms could include thirst, cramps, heavy sweating, nausea, headache and dizziness.

Southe Califoians also posted competing photos on Facebook and Instagram of their soaring thermometers as the last day of spring brought summerlike temperatures to the region.

Burbank and Glendale, just north of downtown Los Angeles, soared past 100 degrees by midday, the National Weather Service said. Burbank saw a record 105 degrees.

That heat was no help to firefighters who had to work to put out a wildfire in a Los Angeles neighborhood, where densely packed homes were briefly in danger.

Further northwest in the San Feando Valley, some thermometers were reading close to 110 degrees, and Palm Springs in the inland desert hit 115.

The heat spurred state regulators to urge residents to voluntarily cut their consumption of electricity Monday. It did not yet bring the rolling blackouts that might Southe Califoians have been told to expect this summer after a massive natural gas leak.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from the Arizona Republic.

House Speaker Rep. Paul Ryan is trying to keep fellow Republicans in control of Congress but said Sunday he wouldn’t ask them to endorse Donald Trump for the sake of party unity, to save their Capitol Hill majority or keep Democrat Hillary Clinton out of the White House.

“Imagine the speaker of the House not supporting the duly elected nominee of our party, therefore creating a chasm in our party,” the Wisconsin Republican said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I don't want to see Hillary Clinton as president. I want to see a strong majority in the House and the Senate.”

Ryan has endorsed Trump but waited about a month after he won enough primaries, caucuses and accompanying delegates in early May to become the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee. After some direct conversations with Trump and assurances that he would support a conservative agenda, Ryan officially backed Trump earlier this month.

However, Ryan has since criticized some of Trump’s subsequent Idea, including the suggestion that an American-bo judge presiding over a civil suit against Trump University real estate school could be bias because of his Mexican heritage.  

“I disavow these Idea,” Ryan told reporters earlier this month. “Claiming a person can't do their job because of race is sort of like a textbook definition of a racist comment.”

After the June 12 massacre at an Orlando, Fla., nightclub committed by Omar Mateen, a Muslim who was apparently self-radicalized, Trump renewed his call to temporarily keep Muslims out of the country.

Ryan later repeated his disapproval for such a ban, saying it was not “in our country's interests.”

Still, Ryan suggested Sunday that he wouldn’t tell a Capitol Hill Republican seeking reelection on any party member to back Trump for the benefit the party in 2016.

“The last thing I would do is tell anybody to do something that's contrary to their conscience,” Ryan said.

Ryan, chairman of the GOP nomination convention in July, also said he disagrees with a purported effort by convention delegates to switch their assigned allegiance from Trump to another candidate to deny him the nomination. However, Ryan said he has no authority over such rules and related decisions

“The voters picked (Trump.) He beat Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush and everybody else,” Ryan said. “He won the delegates. My place … is to call balls and strikes and just play it by the rules. So it is not my job to tell delegates what to do or what not to do or to weigh in on things like that.”

Attoey General Loretta Lynch declined Sunday to say whether the FBI will charge anybody in connection with the Florida nightclub massacre and expressed support for a proposal from a Republican senator to tighten gun control.

Lynch, the country’s top law enforcement official, told “Fox News Sunday” that federal investigators are “in the middle of a very aggressive investigation” that includes “talking to family members.”

However, she declined to comment why the wife of shooter Omar Mateen has not been arrested, amid purported evidence that she helped her husband plot the June 12 murders.

Lynch said the FBI on Monday willl release a partial transcript of Orlando police department hostage negotiators talking to Mateen inside the nightclub. However, much of his talk about allegience to radical Islamic groups has been removed, she said.

Mateen, a Muslim, killed 49 people and wounded dozens of others inside the Orlando, Fla., nightclub before dying in a shootout with police.

The 29-year-old Mateen pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State terror group, even during his shooting rampage inside the gay nightclub.  

“We are trying to re-create the days, the weeks, the months of this killer’s life before this attack,” said Lynch, who spoke on all of the major Sunday talk shows. “And we are also asking those people who had contact with him to come forward and give us that information as well.”

Mateen was the focus of two FBI investigations into suspected terrorism. However, the probes were concluded without further action, and Mateen was allowed to legally buy firearms.

Lynch said the Justice Department is “going to go back and see what changes could have been made,” regarding how the investigations were handled.

She also expressed support from an amendment scheduled for a vote Monday in the Senate by Texas GOP Sen. John Coyn that would allow the federal govement to delay a gun sale to a suspected terrorist for as long as 72 hours. Afterward, prosecutors would have to persuade a judge to block the sale permanently.

Lynch said such an amendment would give the federal govement the ability to stop a sale to somebody on the terror watch list.

However, she argued the federal govement needs flexibility and the authority to protect the classified information used in denying a sale, if potential buyers exercise the constitutional rights to file an appeal.

“The American people deserve for us to take the greatest amount of time,” Lynch said.

The amendment is one of four gun-control measures scheduled for a vote Monday, each with long odds of passing the GOP-controlled Senate.

Lynch also said neither she nor anybody in the department face a conflict of interest in investigating Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of state, despite President Obama endorsing her for president.

“The investigation into the State Department email matter is going to be handled like any other matter,” said Lynch, essentially repeating earlier responses to such questions. “We've got career agents and lawyers looking at that. They will follow the facts and follow the evidence wherever it leads and come to a conclusion. This is not a conflict for me or for the department or for anyone.”

A man identified as an American ISIS fighter praised the Orlando nightclub gunman and urged more attacks on the U.S. in a video released by the terror group on Sunday – exactly one week after Omar Mateen slaughtered 49 people inside a Florida nightclub.

During Mateen’s massacre, which also wounded 53 people, he called a 911 operator to pledge allegiance to ISIS. The terror group quickly claimed credit for the attack; however, officials have said there was no direct guidance from the jihadist organization. Rather, it is believed Mateen was only inspired by ISIS to carry out his assault on Pulse, a gay nightclub.

But in the new video, identified by the non-govemental counterterrorism organization SITE, the American fighter urges other Muslims to be inspired by Mateen’s actions.

“Omar Mateen, one of the soldiers of the [caliphate], was one of the few that was truthful to his lord,” Abu Isma'il Al-Amriki says. “While having prepared his weapons and taken steps, while having trust and reliance upon Allah, it is through his hand that Allah punished his enemies.”

Al-Amriki, which translates to “The American,” speaks in English and appears in a desert setting dressed in military-style fatigues and holding a rifle. Arabic music plays quietly as he speaks and Arabic subtitles are featured on the bottom of the screen. The video was released by ISIS’ branch in weste Iraq, according to SITE.

ISIS terrorists of French, Indonesian, Russian and Uzbek backgrounds also appear in the video.

One of the Islamists reference a “surprise” operation during the Euro 2016 touament in France, NBC reported.

The slogan “You are not held responsible except for yourself” is also featured in the video, with an image of President Obama on one side, Mateen on the other and images of the Orlando slaughter in-between.

“Do you think you’re at war with a small group of Mujahedeen in Iraq, Syria, Libya and other places? You are sadly mistaken. And do you think you can defeat us by bombarding our homes with the help of your drones and F-16s [and govement groups]? Then again, you have sadly made a great mistake,” Al-Amriki says. “Oh America, indeed you are at war with all the true and sincere Muslims around the world.”

LeBron James and his relentless, never-count-them-out Cavaliers pulled off an improbable NBA Finals comeback, and Cleveland is title town again at long last.

James delivered on a promise from two years ago to bring a championship to his native northeast Ohio, and he and the Cavs became the first team to rally from a 3-1 finals deficit by beating the defending champion Golden State Warriors 93-89 on Sunday night to end a 52-year major sports championship drought in Cleveland.

James almost single-handedly carried the Cavs back into this series and finished with 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds as the Cavs captured their first championship in franchise history and gave their city its first major sports winner since the Browns won the NFL title in 1964.

"CLEVELAND! This is for you!" James bellowed in his postgame interview before being announced as the NBA Finals MVP.

An emotional James fell to the floor when this one ended with a second win in six days on Golden State's imposing home floor, surrounded by his teammates. Only seconds earlier, he went down in pain with 10.6 seconds left after being fouled by Draymond Green while going for a dunk, then came back out to make the second of two free throws.

"We made history tonight," Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. "Cleveland, Ohio, we're coming back, baby!"

Kyrie Irving scored 26 points to cap his brilliant finals, including a 3-pointer over MVP Stephen Curry with 53 seconds left.

Curry sat briefly on the bench to take in the scene after the Warriors made their last basket with 4:39 left.

Green had 32 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, but the Warriors' record-setting season ended without the only prize this close-knit "Strength In Numbers" crew cared about from way back in the beginning — through the record 24-0 start as Coach of the Year Steve Kerr was out, Curry's second consecutive MVP campaign, and the 73 regular-season wins to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' mark.

They might always be remembered as one of the best teams ever that couldn't close it out.