Delaware residents now have the opportunity to gain behind-the-scenes access to the state’s prison system through a new educational initiative launching this spring.
The Delaware Department of Correction is currently accepting applications for its Spring 2026 Citizens Academy, a comprehensive six-week educational program scheduled to commence Tuesday, April 14, in New Castle County.
This evening program will run for six consecutive weeks, providing participants with an in-depth understanding of how Delaware’s correctional facilities operate. The academy represents an effort by state corrections officials to increase transparency and community engagement with the prison system.
Delaware residents interested in learning more about the inner workings of the state’s correctional operations can apply for this unique educational opportunity that promises to provide insider access typically not available to the general public.
WILMINGTON — Delaware’s state flags will fly at half-staff at government buildings and facilities across the state following an order from Governor Matt Meyer to pay tribute to three prominent figures who recently passed away.
The governor’s directive honors two former Delaware state lawmakers, George Bunting and John Viola, who both died within the past week. The flag lowering also recognizes the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson.
State facilities throughout Delaware will participate in this gesture of remembrance for the former legislators, who served the people of Delaware during their time in the General Assembly.
WILMINGTON — Delaware Governor Matt Meyer has issued an order directing all state government buildings and facilities to lower their flags to half-staff this week in tribute to two former Delaware lawmakers who died recently.
The flag directive honors George Bunting and John Viola, both former members of the Delaware General Assembly who passed away within the past week. The governor’s order also calls for flags to be lowered in memory of Rev. Jesse Jackson, recognizing his lifetime of service and impact.
State facilities across Delaware will display flags at half-staff as a mark of respect for the three individuals and their contributions to public service and community leadership.
President Trump issued a statement commemorating civil rights pioneer Susan B. Anthony, describing the 19th-century activist as a champion of human rights and dignity. In his remarks, Trump praised the suffragette leader, stating she was “a true American giant and an unwavering advocate for the cause of human dignity. We recommit to the timeless truth she spent her life defending: that every human being is made in the holy image of God.”
Anthony, who entered the world as a member of the Quaker faith in 1820, dedicated her entire adult life to championing multiple social justice movements, most notably the fight to abolish slavery and secure voting rights for women. The historical figure became one of America’s most recognized voices in the struggle for civil liberties during the 1800s.
A yearly study released by National Right to Life shows that roughly two-thirds of abortion procedures across the United States now involve medication rather than surgical methods, with these pharmaceutical options available for delivery throughout the nation. The organization’s latest findings indicate that 25 states have taken steps to protect abortion access through legislation or constitutional amendments, while the remaining 25 states have implemented significant limitations on the procedure, with some states enacting near-total prohibitions.
The partial federal government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security shows no signs of ending soon, as neither Congress nor the White House indicated any willingness to compromise during the holiday weekend. The shutdown started Saturday when Democratic lawmakers and President Trump’s administration couldn’t agree on funding legislation to keep DHS operational through September.
The political standoff centers on Democratic calls for immigration enforcement reforms following last month’s deadly shootings of two American citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, by federal agents in Minneapolis.
This shutdown differs significantly from the lengthy 43-day closure that occurred last fall, as it only impacts DHS-related agencies. Affected departments include the Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection. However, ICE and CBP operations will largely continue thanks to billions in additional funding provided through Trump’s 2025 tax and spending legislation.
With Congress in recess until February 23, both political parties appear firmly entrenched in their respective positions. The funding dispute impacts multiple agencies including TSA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Coast Guard, Secret Service, ICE, and CBP.
Democratic leaders are pushing for comprehensive changes to immigration enforcement procedures following the fatal officer-involved shootings. Their demands include mandatory body cameras for immigration agents and requiring judicial warrants before making arrests on private property.
White House border czar Tom Homan stated the administration would not accept Democratic requirements for federal officers to clearly identify themselves, remove face coverings during operations, and wear unique identification numbers.
Despite the shutdown, ICE and CBP deportation activities continue without interruption due to the additional funding secured through Trump’s 2025 tax and spending legislation.
Each federal agency determines which employees are classified as “essential” or “excepted” – both terms meaning these workers must continue their duties during shutdowns, though they typically work without pay until funding resumes.
Essential personnel include military members, airport security staff, and law enforcement officers. The designation can cover various roles, from those critical to public safety to positions legally authorized to operate without new appropriations.
More than 270,000 DHS employees are considered essential, meaning they remain on duty during the shutdown. During the fall 2025 shutdown, over 258,000 DHS workers stayed on the job while approximately 22,000 – about 5% of the workforce – were furloughed.
The Secret Service and FEMA are also experiencing disruptions from the shutdown.
Most Secret Service and Coast Guard personnel will continue working, though they may miss paychecks if the shutdown extends. At FEMA, the closure hampers the agency’s ability to reimburse states for disaster relief expenses. Some FEMA workers face furloughs, reducing coordination capabilities with state and local partners. Training programs for first responders at Maryland’s National Disaster and Emergency Management University have been suspended.
The current situation developed because Trump agreed to Democratic requests to separate Homeland Security funding from a larger spending bill, allowing additional time to negotiate immigration enforcement changes including agent conduct standards and identification requirements. DHS received only temporary funding through Friday.
The remainder of federal government operations are funded through September 30, meaning most federal programs remain unaffected by this shutdown. Food assistance programs continue, and most federal workers and military personnel will receive their regular pay.
WILMINGTON — Delaware Governor Matt Meyer has directed that flags at all state properties be lowered to half-staff this week following the recent deaths of two former state lawmakers.
The flag directive honors George Bunting and John Viola, both former Delaware General Assembly members who died last week. The governor’s order also recognizes the life and contributions of Rev. Jesse Jackson.
State facilities throughout Delaware will display flags at half-staff as a mark of respect for the public service these individuals provided to the state and nation.
CHICAGO (AP) — Rev. Jesse Jackson received coverage from The Associated Press during his preparation for a groundbreaking 1984 presidential bid when he was 41 years old and actively involved in civil rights work. The AP is sharing that original story again, written by the late AP journalist Sharon Cohen, exactly as it ran on Aug. 7, 1983.
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Jackson envisions himself walking the isolated, challenging path of religious prophets — someone called by divine purpose and sent forward like Jesus, Gandhi or Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to guide others from difficult times.
“I’m very much driven by my religion to rise,” he says. “There’s a push that comes from religious duty. Gandhi couldn’t stop. Martin couldn’t stop. Jesus couldn’t stop.”
And according to his own words, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson cannot stop either.
“I’m in the prophetic ministry,” he says. “It’s the kind of ministry ancient prophets engaged in when they challenged the conduct of kings and queens.”
Jesse Louis Jackson — the 41-year-old Southern native, product of the civil rights era and potential 1984 black presidential contender — represents someone consumed, nearly fixated with his chosen calling.
Jackson carries a message of hope wherever he travels. His approach involves rhythm and rhyme. He excels at creating memorable phrases.
“If you are behind in a race, you CAN’T run equally,” he tells church audiences. “The race does not go to the fast or to the strong but to those who hold out.”
“If you pickle your brains with liquor, you CAN’T hold out. If you shoot cocaine in your membrane, you CAN’T hold out. If you put dope in your veins, rather than hope in your brains, you CAN’T hold out.”
His presentations captivate listeners. Before long the crowd responds with chants of “Preach, brother. Preach it.” And he continues.
“We’re not the result of accidents, we’re the result of providence. We’re not here because we’re lucky. We’re here because we’re blessed.”
Following his presentations, people surround him, taking photographs, requesting autographs and asking him to kiss their children. He accommodates everyone.
“My gift is a gift of the spirit,” he says.
This spiritual gift appears in various ways throughout the development of this multifaceted individual from an eager, impulsive aide to King into a charismatic — though sometimes disputed — political presence in his own capacity.
During the 1960s, he fought for civil rights, organizing restaurant protests and participating in open housing demonstrations.
The 1970s brought emphasis on dignity and economic fairness. Push-Excel emerged as a self-improvement initiative encouraging academic commitment. Corporate partnerships began ensuring equitable black participation.
Currently, his focus centers on leadership. He promotes voter registration throughout the South. He advocates for increased black representation in government. His ultimate goal involves electing a black president, potentially Jesse Jackson himself.
“It’s not enough to get in the mainstream and swim,” Jackson says. “You must get in the mainstream and redirect its course.”
Jackson has attempted to make his contribution for years through highly public methods, sometimes causing frustration and annoyance among others.
He has criticized inappropriate content in disco songs, intervened in local employment conflicts and organized boycotts against major corporations.
He has supported the rights of Haitians, Palestinians and Polish people.
He traveled to Panama to evaluate the canal agreement and addressed 20,000 South African blacks about apartheid.
Jewish Americans were disturbed when he embraced Yasser Arafat, the Palestine Liberation Organization leader. Alabama legislators welcomed his historic address as the first black speaker before their body this century.
Recently, Jackson has been considering a Democratic primary presidential campaign and increasingly sounds like someone seeking office, generating mixed responses from fellow black leaders who question the political wisdom of a black candidacy currently.
Polling data shows him performing better than some declared candidates. “God did not limit genius to white males,” says Jackson. “He distributed it all over town.”
Jackson has never sought elected office. His formal base remains Chicago’s Operation PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity), though he essentially embodies the organization. Jackson established the group in 1971, initially calling it the more ambitious People United to Save Humanity, after leaving the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He has served as president continuously, currently earning $40,000 annually.
When supporters and critics discuss Jackson, they consistently mention identical characteristics — his self-regard, his ambition, his grand concepts, his organizational limitations, and his skillful media cultivation.
“He seems himself on a messianic mission,” says half-brother Noah Robinson. “What is it that motivates a person to grow? For Jesse, it’s his ego. God bless him for having that ego.”
“I always describe a visionary as someone who looks at cloudy skies and does not see the clouds, but sees the sun,” says Gary, Ind., Mayor Richard Hatcher, a friend and PUSH chairman of the board. “He’s able to do that.”
Mary Frances Berry, a member of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, added though that “Jesse’s not really an organization man. His strong suit is not really running an organization.”
“The most pungent criticism is that he is constantly announcing campaigns and crusades that evaporate after the TV set is turned off,” says Don Rose, a political strategist who worked with Jackson in the 1960s civil rights movement.
Jackson, says Hatcher, “seems to have the ability to elicit from people either a very strong feeling of support … or a very strong feeling of dislike, and sometimes a feeling that borders almost on hatred.”
Several prominent black leaders indeed accuse Jackson of opportunism, claiming he exploits situations and takes credit for others’ achievements. However, virtually none have publicly opposed him.
Nobody questions Jackson’s commanding presence. Standing 6-foot-2 with an athletic build, he wears carefully fitted conservative suits that long ago replaced the flashy dashikis he favored in the 1960s, along with his prominent Afro hairstyle.
He maintains his Baptist minister’s speaking ability, avoids smoking and drinking, yet displays humor that leads friends to believe Jackson could have succeeded as an entertainer.
Constantly traveling, he still makes time to check with teachers about his son’s academic progress. Jesse Jr., 18, his oldest of five children, attends a private Episcopal school in Washington, D.C. “He wants us to be an example of what he preaches,” says Jesse Jr.
Though Jackson addresses many topics, one message remains constant throughout his words and life: an unwavering determination to achieve success.
“When you do less than your best, it’s a SIN,” he tells audiences. “To be black in America, you have to be superior to be equal.”
Jackson was born Oct. 8, 1941, in Greenville, S.C., and completed his education at North Carolina A&T, earning degrees in sociology and economics, and meeting Jacqueline Davis, his 1962 bride.
Following college, Jackson attended Chicago Theological Seminary and participated in King’s civil rights demonstrations.
King named him Operation Breadbasket director, the SCLC’s economic division, in 1967. Following King’s 1968 assassination, he created Operation PUSH four years later.
Jackson accompanied King on that fatal day in 1968 when he was killed in Memphis, Tenn. He appeared at a Chicago City Council session the next day wearing a shirt reportedly stained with the murdered civil rights leader’s blood.
Leading PUSH, Jackson has functioned as an urban motivational figure, encouraging and praising, persuading and challenging blacks to work diligently, succeed academically, and claim their rightful share of influence.
Jackson’s Operation PUSH reports securing over $1 billion in business agreements with Burger King, Coca-Cola, Heublein, and Seven-Up that establish additional distributorships and increased advertising in black-oriented publications.
Not every initiative has generated support.
When PUSH declared an Anheuser-Busch beer boycott last year, some St. Louis blacks, where the company operates, criticized him for targeting the wrong business.
Others claim Jackson’s programs benefit too few people.
Another Jackson creation, PUSH-EXCEL — Push for Excellence, a 1976 program promoting daily study time, teacher commitment and student discipline — has encountered additional challenges.
Seven Department of Education audit reports completed this year seek to disallow PUSH-EXCEL’s use of $736,000. They indicated the funds apparently supported items not covered under the organization’s federal grants and contracts.
Additionally, officials noted that approximately $1 million in expenditures has been questioned due to insufficient documentation. This money represents part of roughly $6 million granted to PUSH-EXCEL over three or four years.
The audits do not suggest criminal wrongdoing. Jackson states PUSH representatives are collaborating with auditors to address the issues.
As Jackson began discussing presidential matters like American re-industrialization, employment, or military spending, some critics challenged his credentials for addressing such national topics.
Jackson rejects this criticism.
“I wasn’t trained in auto mechanics and brick masonry,” he says. “I had a liberal arts education … So if on a given day Mr. Reagan can speak about agricultural policy and trade policy and international affairs and art and culture and science, who’s to suggest I should be less able to speak to a broad range of issues?”
Jackson indicates his Southern registration drive’s success, funding and organization will influence his decision about seeking the Democratic nomination. If he declines, he believes another black candidate should run.
The Democrats, he argues, “have in many ways made us like the Harlem Globetrotters. We can provide the thrills and excitement, but not participate in the other room where policy decisions are made.”
While supporters and black leaders remain split on a Jackson candidacy, some recognize advantages from considering the possibility.
“He’s made the party more cognizant of black voters,” says Georgia state Sen. Julian Bond. “It has made race — in a positive way — an agenda item in the campaign for the Democratic nomination.”
Federal immigration enforcement efforts in Maine are creating unexpected political hurdles for Republicans working to preserve their grip on Congress, with particular attention falling on GOP Senator Susan Collins.
The enforcement actions have thrust immigration policy into the spotlight as a defining issue in what could be a pivotal Senate race. Collins finds herself navigating the political fallout from President Trump’s immigration initiatives in her home state.
On January 21, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials began a targeted operation dubbed “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine, focusing on locating and detaining individuals without legal immigration status. The operation sparked immediate controversy and protests, including an anti-ICE demonstration in Lewiston on January 24.
The enforcement activities represent part of the broader Trump administration’s approach to immigration policy, but they’re creating complications for Republican lawmakers who must balance party loyalty with constituent concerns in their home districts.
Political observers note that immigration enforcement actions like those seen in Maine could influence voter sentiment in key Senate contests, potentially affecting the Republican Party’s ability to maintain control of the upper chamber of Congress.
Collaborative efforts between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local police departments have seen dramatic growth during President Trump’s second administration, according to data examined by NPR.
The expansion of these federal-local partnerships marks a significant shift in how immigration enforcement is being carried out across the country. Under these arrangements, local law enforcement officers can work directly with federal immigration agents during operations.
While Washington D.C. does not participate in the formal 287(g) partnership program, the city’s Metropolitan Police Department can still coordinate with federal immigration enforcement agencies during joint operations, as demonstrated in recent traffic stops involving multiple agencies including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and ICE officers.
The increased cooperation represents a notable change from previous years when such partnerships were less frequently utilized, highlighting the current administration’s emphasis on expanding immigration enforcement capabilities through local partnerships.
Republican officials in Minnesota are standing behind their decision to invite social media influencers to investigate alleged fraud within the state’s social services system, even as Democrats argue this move contributed to a subsequent increase in immigration enforcement actions.
The controversy centers around the GOP’s strategy of using online personalities to examine potential misconduct in social welfare programs. While Republicans maintain they were justified in pursuing these fraud allegations, Democratic leaders are placing responsibility on the Republican party for what they describe as creating conditions that led to heightened ICE operations in the area.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the two parties over immigration policy and enforcement priorities, with each side attributing different causes and consequences to recent developments in Minnesota’s immigration landscape.
A war of words has erupted between President Donald Trump and Maryland Governor Wes Moore regarding the handling of a catastrophic sewage leak that has contaminated the Potomac River since January.
From his Florida residence during the holiday weekend, Trump criticized what he characterized as inadequate local leadership in addressing the environmental crisis. The president announced on social media that he was directing federal agencies to take charge of coordinating the cleanup effort.
“There is a massive Ecological Disaster unfolding in the Potomac River as a result of the Gross Mismanagement of Local Democrat Leaders, particularly, Governor Wes Moore, of Maryland,” Trump wrote in his post. He further stated he “cannot allow incompetent Local ‘Leadership’” to transform the Potomac “into a Disaster Zone.”
However, the damaged infrastructure falls under the authority of DC Water, a Washington-based utility that operates under federal oversight from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The failed pipeline, known as the Potomac Interceptor, dates back to the 1960s.
Governor Moore’s spokesperson, Ammar Moussa, fired back at the president’s accusations, stating the administration has been avoiding its responsibilities regarding the cleanup of what University of Maryland scientists describe as among the most significant sewage disasters in American history.
“The President has his facts wrong — again,” Moussa declared. “Apparently the Trump administration hadn’t gotten the memo that they’re actually supposed to be in charge here.”
Moussa also noted that EPA representatives failed to attend a recent legislative session focused on the cleanup efforts, suggesting federal agencies were not fully engaged in the response.
DC Water’s top executive, David L. Gadis, confirmed Monday that his organization has maintained communication with the EPA since the pipeline failure occurred.
A White House representative, speaking without authorization to be named publicly, defended Trump’s criticism by claiming Maryland had been slow to work with federal authorities and had neglected necessary infrastructure improvements to the state’s water systems.
The president indicated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency would lead coordination efforts, while acknowledging that a funding freeze affecting the Department of Homeland Security could impact operations.
Congressional Democrats and the Trump administration failed to reach agreement on DHS funding legislation, resulting in a partial government shutdown that began Saturday. The funding gap affects multiple agencies including FEMA, the Coast Guard, TSA, Secret Service, ICE, and Customs and Border Protection.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt used the sewage crisis to pressure Democrats, posting on social media: “Add this to the long list of reasons Democrats need to get serious and fund the Department of Homeland Security.”
The environmental disaster began January 19 when a massive 72-inch diameter sewage pipe collapsed, releasing millions of gallons of untreated wastewater into the river system northwest of the nation’s capital.
DC Water officials report that repair work has proven more challenging than initially anticipated. Recent pipeline inspections revealed a substantial blockage approximately 30 feet from the rupture site, described as “far more significant” than originally estimated. Engineers discovered a large rock formation blocking the line that must be cleared before permanent repairs can begin.
The utility estimates emergency repairs will require an additional four to six weeks to complete. The restoration work will address the immediate pipe damage as well as broader environmental remediation needs.
District of Columbia environmental officials have assured residents that drinking water supplies remain uncontaminated but have advised against direct contact with Potomac River water. Authorities recommend avoiding fishing in affected areas and keeping pets away from the waterway.
This latest dispute adds to ongoing tensions between Trump and Moore, a Democrat considered a potential presidential candidate in 2028. The two have clashed repeatedly since Trump returned to office.
Trump has announced he will exclude Moore and Colorado Governor Jared Polis from a White House governors’ dinner scheduled for Saturday during the National Governors Association gathering in Washington.
The administration has also criticized Moore regarding crime rates in Baltimore, with Trump threatening to deploy National Guard forces to the city. Moore and other Maryland Democratic leaders have countered that Baltimore homicides have dropped to historic lows, with sustained decreases beginning in 2023, and rejected the need for Guard deployment.
Additionally, the Trump administration has questioned Moore about diversity contracting policies and rising expenses related to rebuilding Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed in March 2024 after a container vessel collision.
Speaking to reporters during his return flight from Florida Monday evening, Trump cited both the bridge reconstruction and sewage spill response as reasons for excluding Moore from the governors’ dinner.
“He can’t fix anything,” Trump told the press corps.
Moore’s spokesman emphasized the state’s willingness to collaborate with federal officials on addressing the crisis.
“The Potomac isn’t a talking point, and the people of the region deserve serious leadership that meets the moment,” Moussa concluded.
New Mexico state legislators have unanimously authorized what officials describe as the first comprehensive investigation into activities at Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch, where the deceased financier allegedly engaged in sex trafficking and sexual assault of girls and women.
The bipartisan commission will collect testimony from alleged abuse survivors at the property, situated approximately 30 miles south of Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital. State lawmakers are also encouraging area residents to come forward with information.
Epstein passed away in 2019 in what authorities determined was suicide while in a New York detention facility awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking allegations.
The four-member truth commission will work to identify visitors to the ranch and state officials who potentially had knowledge of activities at the 7,600-acre estate, or participated in alleged sexual abuse occurring in its hacienda-style main residence and additional buildings.
This Democratic-sponsored investigation intensifies political pressure to expose Epstein’s criminal activities, creating challenges for President Donald Trump following the Justice Department’s recent release of millions of Epstein documents that revealed new details about ranch operations.
The released documents show connections between Epstein and two former Democratic New Mexico governors, as well as a former state attorney general.
The House of Representatives legislation, which received unanimous approval, could create exposure for additional politicians connected to Epstein in the Democratic-controlled state, along with scientists, investors and other prominent individuals who visited the property.
The investigation carries a $2.5 million budget and includes subpoena authority, seeking to address weaknesses in New Mexico law that potentially enabled Epstein’s operations within the state. Committee work begins Tuesday, with interim results expected in July and a complete report due by December.
“He was basically doing anything he wanted in this state without any accountability whatsoever,” stated New Mexico state Representative Andrea Romero, a Democrat who helped sponsor the legislation.
Romero indicated that committee testimony could support future criminal prosecutions.
Victim advocacy groups praised the decision, noting that Zorro Ranch had received less attention from federal investigations that concentrated on Epstein’s Caribbean island and New York residence.
“Many of the survivors had experiences in New Mexico, and as we’ve learned, you know, there were local politicians and other people that were aware of what was happening in New Mexico,” explained attorney Sigrid McCawley, whose firm has represented hundreds of Epstein survivors.
Among those survivors was the late Virginia Giuffre, who experienced abuse multiple times at the ranch, McCawley noted.
The U.S. Department of Justice referred comment requests to the FBI, which declined to provide a statement.
Multiple civil lawsuits allege Epstein sexually assaulted minors at Zorro Ranch, though he never faced criminal charges for these alleged incidents.
Romero stated there are no records of federal law enforcement conducting searches at what locals called “the playboy ranch,” where Epstein allegedly sexually abused a 16-year-old girl as early as 1996.
Former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas initiated an investigation in 2019 but suspended it at federal prosecutors’ request to prevent “parallel investigation,” according to his statement.
Current New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez has designated a special agent to examine allegations that may emerge from the truth commission, according to spokesperson Lauren Rodriguez.
Democratic State Representative Marianna Anaya, a sexual assault survivor advocate who co-sponsored the legislation, is developing companion legislation to extend New Mexico’s statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault, which would enable civil lawsuits by Epstein’s alleged abuse survivors.
Epstein purchased the ranch in 1993 from Bruce King, a three-term New Mexico Democratic governor who died in 2009.
The financier transported guests and “masseuses” to the property and employed local massage therapists, ranch manager Brice Gordon informed the FBI in 2007, according to documents in the Epstein files.
In unsealed 2016 court testimony, Giuffre stated that Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell instructed her to provide a “massage” to the late former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson at the ranch. According to Giuffre’s memoir, Maxwell’s “massage” instructions meant victims should engage in sexual encounters with abusers.
Richardson’s representative Madeleine Mahoney stated in 2019 that Giuffre’s claims were “completely false.”
Gordon informed the FBI that most masseuses Epstein employed at the ranch were recruited locally through Ten Thousand Waves spa, a Santa Fe establishment, or through referrals.
Spa spokesperson Sara Bean stated in a recent phone interview that Ten Thousand Waves neither supplied nor referred masseuses to Zorro Ranch.
In the documentary “Surviving Jeffrey Epstein,” former Santa Fe massage therapist Rachel Benavidez alleged that Epstein sexually abused her when she was hired to work at the ranch.
Investment consultant Joshua Ramo disclosed Sunday that he visited the ranch once for a 2014 lunch representing professors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, who attended the meeting. Ramo, who was then CEO of consulting firm Kissinger Associates, said he and Epstein met with business leaders and scientists approximately 14 times in New York between 2013 and 2016.
“I deferred to the due diligence of the institutions involved, assuming that his presence signaled he had been appropriately vetted,” Ramo said regarding the ranch visit. “I feel a deep sense of grief for the survivors of his crimes.”
Email correspondence shows Epstein contacted Ramo in 2015 about visiting Ten Thousand Waves, suggesting they meet for lunch in Santa Fe. Ramo replied, “I assumed we were meeting at the pink bottom ranch.” Ramo, currently CEO of consulting firm Sornay LLC, said he cannot recall that comment or whether they met that day.
Throughout the years, Epstein donated to New Mexico Democratic political campaigns, including those of Richardson and Gary King, Bruce King’s son and former New Mexico attorney general. When these contributions became public, both men promised to return the funds or donate them to charity.
Gary King traveled on an Epstein-chartered aircraft during his 2014 New Mexico gubernatorial campaign, according to emails in the Epstein files. Epstein agreed to cover approximately half of the $22,000 charter cost, with King paying the remainder. King did not respond to requests for comment.
A federal judge has mandated that the Trump administration must reinstall a display documenting nine individuals who were enslaved by George Washington at his former Philadelphia residence, after officials removed it last month on Presidents Day, the holiday celebrating Washington’s contributions to America.
Philadelphia city officials filed a lawsuit in January following the National Park Service’s decision to take down informational displays from Independence National Historical Park, the location where George and Martha Washington resided with nine enslaved individuals during the 1790s when Philadelphia served as the temporary national capital.
The exhibit’s removal followed a Trump executive order focused on “restoring truth and sanity to American history” at federal museums, parks and historical sites. The directive instructed the Interior Department to prevent these locations from showcasing content that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.”
U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe issued her decision Monday, requiring complete restoration of all original materials while legal proceedings continue regarding the removal’s constitutionality. Her order prevents Trump administration officials from substituting alternative displays that present the history from a different perspective.
Judge Rufe, nominated by Republican President George W. Bush, opened her written decision by referencing George Orwell’s authoritarian novel “1984” and drew parallels between the Trump administration and the book’s totalitarian Ministry of Truth, which altered historical documentation to match its preferred version of events.
“As if the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s 1984 now existed, with its motto ‘Ignorance is Strength,’ this Court is now asked to determine whether the federal government has the power it claims — to dissemble and disassemble historical truths when it has some domain over historical facts,” Rufe wrote. “It does not.”
During January court proceedings, she cautioned Justice Department attorneys that their arguments were “dangerous” and “horrifying” when they claimed Trump officials could select which aspects of American history to present at National Park Service locations.
The Interior Department has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the decision, which was issued while government offices remained closed for the federal holiday.
Judge Rufe did not specify a deadline for the exhibit’s restoration. Federal authorities retain the option to appeal her ruling.
This historical location represents one of multiple sites where the administration has quietly eliminated content addressing the experiences of enslaved people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Native Americans.
At Grand Canyon National Park, removed signage previously described how settlers forced Native American communities “off their land” to establish the park and “exploited” the natural environment through mining and livestock operations.
Last week, officials removed a rainbow flag from the Stonewall National Monument, where bar customers resisted a police raid and sparked the contemporary LGBTQ+ rights movement. The administration has also deleted references to transgender individuals from the monument’s website, despite transgender women of color playing pivotal roles in the historic uprising.
The Philadelphia display, developed twenty years ago through collaboration between city and federal representatives, featured biographical information about each of the nine people enslaved by the Washington family at the residence, including two who successfully escaped.
One escapee was Oney Judge, who was born into bondage at the family’s Mount Vernon, Virginia plantation and fled from their Philadelphia home in 1796. Judge traveled north to New Hampshire, a free state, while Washington declared her a fugitive and published notices seeking her capture and return.
Following Judge’s escape from the Philadelphia residence, the park service in 2022 endorsed the site’s participation in a national Underground Railroad network where visitors could learn about abolitionists and escaped enslaved people. Judge Rufe observed that materials concerning Judge were among those removed, which she stated “conceals crucial information linking the site to the Network to Freedom.”
After park service workers used crowbars to remove the informational plaques on January 22, only the names of Judge and eight other enslaved individuals remained carved into a concrete wall — Austin, Paris, Hercules, Richmond, Giles, Moll and Joe, who were known by single names, and Christopher Sheels.
Hercules also gained his freedom in 1797 after being transported to Mount Vernon, where the Washingtons held numerous other enslaved people. Despite being labeled a fugitive slave, he successfully reached New York City and adopted the name Hercules Posey.
Multiple local political figures and Black community leaders praised the court decision, which coincided with ongoing demonstrations at the site advocating for the exhibit’s return.
State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, a Philadelphia Democrat, stated the community successfully resisted the Trump administration’s effort to “whitewash our history.”
“Philadelphians fought back, and I could not be more proud of how we stood together,” he said.
Five Delaware residents were honored last week with the state’s most prestigious civilian recognition during a ceremony in Dover.
Governor Matt Meyer bestowed the Order of the First State award upon Brooks Banta, Ellen Bartholomaus, Anand Panwalker, Mike Vincent, and Robert “Bob” for their exceptional contributions that have benefited communities throughout Delaware.
The recipients were acknowledged for their outstanding achievements and leadership across multiple fields including public service, healthcare, the arts, and sports.
Delaware’s Order of the First State represents the highest honor the state can give to civilians who have demonstrated extraordinary service and created a lasting positive impact on their communities.
The ceremony recognized these five individuals for their dedication to strengthening Delaware through their various professional and volunteer efforts over the years.
