Category: U.S. News

A federal court case filed this week in Honolulu targets a program that has provided one of Hawaii’s most significant benefits for Native Hawaiians for over a century: access to land at virtually no expense.

The legal challenge argues that the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act violates the Constitution by restricting land access to individuals with at least 50% Native Hawaiian ancestry. The Pacific Legal Foundation submitted the case on Monday representing a non-Hawaiian plaintiff described as a longtime Hawaii resident. The action represents another attack on Native Hawaiian programs during the current administration’s opposition to diversity and inclusion initiatives.

These homestead areas throughout Hawaii have served as foundations for economic independence and preservation of Native Hawaiian customs and heritage. Qualifying individuals can obtain 99-year land leases for just $1 annually. Currently, approximately 29,000 people remain on waiting lists for residential or farming lease opportunities.

During his service as Hawaii Territory’s congressional delegate, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana’ole advocated in 1920 for providing Indigenous Hawaiians with land access to assist those who were “landless and dying” due to illness, mixed marriages, and property losses following the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom by American business interests.

Agricultural business owners resisted the proposal and preferred limiting eligibility to full-blooded Hawaiians, anticipating eventual elimination of that population, explained Robin Puanani Danner, senior adviser to the Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations. Her organization works to safeguard the legislation Congress approved in 1921. Congressional lawmakers ultimately established the 50% Hawaiian ancestry requirement, she noted.

This represents typically the sole situation where Hawaiians consider blood-quantum measurements, which determine ancestral percentage calculations.

“That was not our measurement,” stated Danner, who holds a homestead on the island of Kauai while also waiting for agricultural land. “That was the white man’s measurement.”

Native Hawaiians maintain distinct federal government relationships compared to Native American and Alaska Native communities. Hawaii contains no tribal nations. Beyond Hawaii’s borders, the nation’s 575 tribal governments employ various combinations of blood quantum, family lineage, and additional standards for determining tribal membership eligibility.

A separate legal action by Students for Fair Admissions — headed by Edward Blum, a prominent affirmative action opponent — targets Kamehameha Schools, a selective private educational system that prioritizes Native Hawaiian student admissions.

Hawaii’s governor and attorney general pledged to contest the lawsuit challenging Hawaiian homelands qualification requirements.

The U.S. Department of Interior, named as a defendant, refused to discuss ongoing litigation, as did the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the state agency overseeing the trust managing roughly 200,000 acres (81,000 hectares) of property.

“We do not seek to take anything from anyone,” stated Caleb Trotter, an attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation. “All we seek to do is to make sure that this program is available to everyone on equal footing, regardless of their blood quantum. So whether you are 100% Native Hawaiian or zero percent, a successful lawsuit would result in everyone having the same chance of qualifying.”

The legal team anticipates an unfavorable decision from the U.S. district judge in Hawaii, though better prospects may exist with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Trotter expressed confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court will determine that government classifications based on ancestry or race violate constitutional principles.

The complainant Eric Ryan tried applying for a lease online but faced rejection during pre-qualification after responding “no” when asked whether he possessed at least 50% Hawaiian heritage, according to court documents.

“This explicitly ancestry-based requirement establishes a permanent government mandate for state officials to engage in outright racial discrimination, perpetuates stereotypes, and limits housing opportunities for most Hawai’i residents,” the legal filing argued.

The substantial waiting list demonstrates Native Hawaiian persistence, said Sanoe Marfil, who was raised on a homestead in Nanakuli in west Oahu: “Our people are still here.”

The program also offers hope for Hawaiians who departed Hawaii due to extremely expensive living costs that they might return when receiving lease awards, she explained.

Marfil, who satisfies the blood-quantum criteria, now holds her own nearby lease. Hawaiians must oppose this lawsuit, she emphasized, ensuring their future generations can flourish on Hawaiian territories.

“We don’t have any plans to go anywhere,” she declared.

WASHINGTON — Two individuals died Wednesday when American military forces struck a vessel suspected of transporting narcotics in the eastern Pacific Ocean, marking the latest action in an ongoing campaign against alleged drug smugglers throughout Latin America.

Since September, when the current administration launched its offensive against what it terms “narcoterrorists,” military boat strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 207 people, according to official counts.

U.S. Southern Command reported that Wednesday’s operation targeted suspected narcotics traffickers operating along established smuggling corridors, following the pattern of most military announcements regarding strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea regions. Military officials did not present proof that the targeted vessel contained illegal drugs. Social media footage displayed a speeding boat that suddenly erupted in flames.

President Donald Trump has declared the United States to be engaged in “armed conflict” with Latin American cartels, defending these military actions as essential measures to reduce drug trafficking into America and prevent overdose deaths among U.S. citizens. However, the administration has provided minimal evidence to validate its assertions about eliminating “narcoterrorists.”

Opponents have challenged both the legal foundation for these boat attacks and their practical value, noting that fentanyl responsible for numerous fatal overdoses typically enters the U.S. through overland routes from Mexico, where it’s manufactured using chemicals obtained from China and India.

Democratic legislators and military law experts have subjected these operations to intense examination. The military’s initial September strike has generated particular concern among lawmakers and legal scholars.

During that early incident, two individuals initially survived an attack that claimed nine other lives and were holding onto debris when their vessel was hit a second time, killing them both. The White House defended the subsequent strike, claiming it was conducted “in self-defense” to ensure complete vessel destruction and complied with armed conflict regulations. However, legal experts argued that a second attack targeting survivors would violate international law under any circumstances.

The Pentagon’s inspector general announced in May plans to examine whether military forces adhered to proper targeting procedures during these strikes. The review will focus specifically on the six-phase Joint Targeting Cycle framework rather than the operations’ legal justification, according to the inspector general’s office.

Military officials announced Wednesday that American forces conducted an operation against a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean that resulted in two deaths.

The U.S. Southern Command confirmed through a social media post that intelligence had verified the targeted vessel “was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”

These types of military operations have been frequently conducted during the Trump administration.

Ohio State University’s board of trustees approved a massive $100 million settlement Wednesday with 279 former students who alleged they were sexually abused by a campus physician decades ago, according to the university and attorneys representing the survivors.

The financial agreement addresses claims against Richard Strauss, who served on the university’s medical and athletic department staff for nearly twenty years. The alleged misconduct spanned from 1978 through 1998, when Strauss left his faculty position.

Strauss took his own life in 2005, seven years after leaving the university.

“The mediation and its confidentiality are continuing as the parties work to finalize the details of the settlements, and additional information will be shared as appropriate,” representatives from both the university and survivor advocates stated jointly.

This latest settlement brings the total number of resolved cases to 304 survivors, with combined payouts exceeding $60 million when including eight additional agreements reached in February.

An investigative report released in 2019 documented that Strauss had sexually violated at least 177 men, primarily students, through inappropriate touching and fondling during what appeared to be routine medical examinations. The investigation also revealed that university personnel who were aware of the misconduct failed to take action.

Following the publication of these findings, more than 500 individuals filed lawsuits against Ohio State, claiming they suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Strauss and that the institution demonstrated willful negligence in addressing the situation.

A suspect linked to multiple homicides of women whose remains were discovered in the Portland, Oregon region faced his fifth murder charge during a Wednesday court appearance.

Jesse Calhoun’s legal representative entered a plea of not guilty during the Portland hearing, which was attended by relatives of the victims. Calhoun did not speak during the proceedings, which followed his indictment the previous week on the latest second-degree murder charge related to the 2023 death of Ashley Real, 22.

The defendant now faces five second-degree murder charges for five victims, plus four charges for abuse of a corpse. The discovery of the victims’ remains over several months in early 2023 raised fears that a serial killer was targeting young women in the area.

Previous indictments connected Calhoun to the deaths of Kristin Smith, 22; Charity Perry, 24; Bridget Webster, 31; and Joanna Speaks, 32.

Calhoun continues to be held at the Multnomah County Detention Center. His legal team did not immediately return requests for comment.

The bodies of Real, Perry, Webster and Smith were discovered in northwestern Oregon, while Speaks was located near an abandoned barn in southwestern Washington. All remains were found within approximately 100 miles of each other, including in forested locations and in a culvert.

Ashley Real’s father, Jose Real, became emotional while addressing reporters following the court session. He shared memories of watching his daughter mature and spending time with her sibling.

“I never thought or imagined that my family would experience something like this,” he stated through a Spanish interpreter. “She had a heart of gold.”

Ashley’s sister, Masciell Real, also spoke through tears.

“I think being in that courtroom today and being able to see him, and know that he is behind bars now, it takes the weight off my shoulders knowing that he isn’t around and free to cause any harm to any other women out there,” she said. “But it also doesn’t take away the fact that my sister isn’t here anymore.”

Family members of other victims also attended the hearing.

“We’ve all experienced the worst thing that could ever happen to you, and it’s incredibly hard to see one of the other families hurt the way we do,” said Melissa Smith, mother of Kristin Smith.

Jose Real had previously informed The Associated Press that he contacted authorities in November 2022 after his daughter arrived at his Portland residence in distress, claiming Calhoun had strangled her. She bore throat injuries, he reported, and he transported her to a medical facility.

Real explained that while an initial police report was filed, the case was subsequently transferred to another jurisdiction, making it challenging to communicate with those handling the investigation. The Oregonian/OregonLive first reported details of the assault.

His daughter’s remains were discovered in May 2023 by someone fishing in a pond southeast of Portland.

Calhoun’s arrest occurred in June 2023 on separate parole violations, followed by indictments in 2024 and 2025 for the other four women’s deaths. The first indictment came shortly before Calhoun’s scheduled release from state prison, where he had been returned in 2023 to complete a four-year sentence for assaulting a police officer, attempting to strangle a police dog, burglary and other offenses.

He had been released early in 2021, one year ahead of schedule, due to his participation in wildfire suppression efforts in 2020 through a prison firefighting program. Gov. Tina Kotek revoked the commutation in 2023 when police began investigating him in connection with the deaths.

A trial date has not been scheduled.

VICTOR, Iowa — A freight train collided with a semi-truck in eastern Iowa Wednesday afternoon, resulting in one death and leaving another person seriously hurt, law enforcement officials reported.

The collision happened where a state highway crosses the Iowa Interstate Railroad tracks in a rural location approximately 70 miles east of Des Moines, Poweshiek County Sheriff Matt Maschmann confirmed.

“One person in the semi-truck died and another was transported with serious injuries,” Maschmann stated in an official release.

The impact caused seventeen rail cars and two locomotive engines to leave the tracks, resulting in “significant damage” to the railroad infrastructure, the sheriff reported. Photos from the crash site revealed a large pile of overturned train cars with smoke rising from the wreckage.

Iowa State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Alex Dinkla confirmed that no dangerous materials were released during the incident.

NEW YORK (AP) — When Harry Reasoner launched CBS News’ “60 Minutes” on September 24, 1968, alongside correspondent Mike Wallace, he described the program as “kind of a magazine for television.”

“We do think this is sort of a new approach,” he declared.

Over five decades and 58 seasons later, CBS News leader Bari Weiss is using that identical phrase — “new approach” — to justify dramatic overhauls at television’s most celebrated news program. Her changes include dismissing the executive producer and two correspondents, while bringing in a new leader without television broadcast background. Most recently, one of the program’s most recognizable personalities, Scott Pelley, was terminated following a heated clash with executives.

“We realize, of course, that new approaches are not always instantly accepted,” Reasoner observed during that 1968 debut. Weiss’ transformation has sparked sharp criticism from various quarters. The internal chaos has itself become a major news story, with conflicting accounts emerging — all unfavorable to CBS News.

The crucial question emerging Wednesday: What direction will “60 Minutes” take moving forward? Can the program cease being the subject of headlines, return to its core mission, and preserve its reputation for investigative journalism and legendary dominance in television news? Or is its iconic ticking clock, as some worry, actually counting down to its end?

According to one respected television news expert, something fundamental appeared to have already disappeared Wednesday — perhaps the long-standing belief that “60 Minutes,” which combines traditional values with aggressive reporting, was essentially immune to such upheaval.

“My first response is, it started in 1968 — not a bad run,” said Robert Thompson, director of Syracuse University’s Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture. “Because it really does look like this is systematically deconstructing what (the show) was.”

However, he immediately clarified: “I don’t think we’re writing the obituary of ’60 Minutes.’ I think there’s just too much value and voltage built into that brand.”

Nevertheless, he identified troubling indicators. The program has suddenly lost four correspondents. Three received terminations, including Pelley, while Anderson Cooper departed voluntarily. Additionally, disturbing allegations have emerged from Pelley. “New management has instructed me to inject falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story,” the correspondent and former evening news anchor claimed in a Tuesday statement. “I’ve been told to include assertions that are unverified.”

According to Jeff Fager, former executive producer of “60 Minutes” and author of a book about the show, losing Pelley represents a significant blow.

“I can’t imagine running ’60 Minutes’ without Scott,” said Fager, author of “Fifty Years of 60 Minutes: The Inside Story of Television’s Most Influential News Broadcast.”

“His is the most remarkable body of work in the history of the broadcast,” Fager stated. “It’s hobbled without him.”

A chaotic week of public exposure of internal conflicts continued Wednesday with Weiss addressing staff about Pelley’s termination — followed by Pelley’s response to her comments. In a transcript obtained by The Associated Press, Weiss opened a morning editorial call by stating she was “only interested in working in a newsroom that is built on trust and mutual respect.”

“That foundation was broken on Monday, and despite our attempts to engage with Scott Pelley and to find a way back, unfortunately we weren’t able to do so, and so we had to part ways,” Weiss explained during the call. “We did not want that to happen, but that’s the path that he chose.”

Pelley quickly responded with his own detailed account of their meeting. “Bari Weiss knows what she said is not true,” he stated in a response published by New York Times media reporter Ben Mullin. “In the meeting on Tuesday, in which I was effectively fired, there was no effort to ‘find a way back.’”

Unrest at “60 Minutes” had been apparent for over a year, following President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the show regarding its editing of a 2024 interview with then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. This became part of broader changes at CBS News after Weiss received the new position of editor-in-chief from parent company Paramount late last year, following David Ellison’s appointment as the network’s corporate leader.

Ellison’s company, Skydance, merged with CBS parent company Paramount, which subsequently settled the Trump lawsuit for $16 million, frustrating some at “60 Minutes” — and indirectly causing the departure last month of popular CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert, who had characterized the settlement as “a big fat bribe.”

Internal disagreements at the show became public last Thursday, when Weiss and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski announced their modifications intended for “building a show that thrives in the 21st century.”

They appointed Nick Bilton, a former technology columnist and documentarian, as executive producer, replacing Tanya Simon, a 30-year veteran of the show who had held the top position for approximately one year. Also dismissed were correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi, whose segment about Trump administration deportees in a Salvadoran prison had been suddenly withdrawn by Weiss before airing a month later, and Cecilia Vega.

Four days afterward, a Monday morning staff meeting erupted into hostility when Pelley challenged Bilton, arguing he lacked relevant experience for the role. When Bilton told the meeting that “Bari loves this institution,” Pelley responded, according to accounts of recordings: “She’s murdering ’60 Minutes.’ She does not love this place. She was brought in to kill it and she’s doing exactly that.”

This prompted Weiss, Bilton and others to summon Pelley for the Tuesday meeting, which resulted in his termination. Weiss and Bilton did not respond to interview requests Wednesday.

However, reactions spread throughout the media industry. “This is David Ellison’s ’60 Minutes’ now,” CNN media critic Brian Stelter wrote in his newsletter Wednesday.

What does the program’s future hold? During her staff call Wednesday, Weiss commended some of Pelley’s work on recent “unforgettable stories” and promised Bilton would deliver similar work “in season 59 with the amazing team that’s still there and hopefully from some new people that are going to be joining us.”

No information was provided about those additions. A much broader question concerned whether the confusion at “60 Minutes” would ultimately prove more political in nature — Pelley and others have accused the new leadership of attempting to curry favor with the Trump administration — or represent more of a generational disagreement. Weiss and Bilton have characterized the changes as essential for evolving with contemporary times.

Fager, among others, expresses concern about that explanation. The show, he argued, has successfully adapted over time.

“It hasn’t been running in place — that’s such a misunderstanding of the broadcast,” he explained. “We adapted on a regular basis. Every time there’s been a new leader, there has been significant evolution.”

He recognized that some modification and growth remains always necessary. But observing the past week’s “new approach” develop, he continues worrying about the show’s overall prospects.

“I worry about it,” he said. “I’ve always thought it’s fragile, and I don’t take it for granted.”

A devastating bus accident in Virginia that claimed five lives and left dozens injured has brought renewed attention to safety issues plaguing the commercial transportation industry.

Although the National Transportation Safety Board investigation into last week’s tragedy is in its early stages, the incident underscores the severe consequences when large commercial vehicles collide with other traffic — despite buses being statistically safer than personal vehicles.

Many passenger cars now come equipped with collision-prevention technology and automatic emergency braking as standard features, yet commercial buses continue to operate without these systems — despite long-standing NTSB recommendations and proposed federal regulations calling for their installation.

The timing of the accident, which occurred early Friday morning, has prompted questions about whether driver exhaustion played a role. Additionally, court documents reveal that the E&P Travel Inc. operator, who now faces manslaughter charges, had been cited previously for excessive speed violations, as had other drivers employed by the same company.

Although these infractions may not have been sufficient to automatically suspend the individual’s commercial driving privileges, transportation industry professionals indicate that even a single comparable offense would typically result in termination under normal circumstances.

“The fact that there was one conviction and another citation and this driver is still on the road goes against industry norms and best practices in a pretty significant way,” said Fred Ferguson, who leads the American Bus Association trade group.

The lack of enforcement authority for NTSB crash investigators contributes to why numerous safety recommendations remain unimplemented for years, as the industry and regulatory agencies frequently prioritize potential financial impacts.

“Everybody walks a walk in talking safety at the industry level, at the congressional level. And then at the end of the day, it’s the same old excuses,” said Jim Hall, who was chairman of the NTSB during the 1990s. “And if it costs money, there’s going to be a strong resistance.”

Federal regulations stipulate that drivers convicted twice within a three-year period for exceeding speed limits by more than 15 mph should face a 60-day disqualification.

The operator involved in last week’s accident, Jing Sheng Dong of Staten Island, New York, had previously been convicted of traveling 73 mph in a 55 mph zone in Virginia in 2024, and received another citation in March in Annapolis, Maryland, for allegedly driving a motorcoach 72 mph in a 50 mph zone. The 48-year-old now faces five involuntary manslaughter charges and one reckless driving count.

However, Ned Einstein, an expert witness in approximately 700 transportation lawsuits, expressed doubt that the criminal charges filed following the crash will effectively improve road safety because Dong didn’t establish the conditions that likely contributed to the incident.

“They never hit the heart of the problem and never go after the person who’s responsible, and the person that’s responsible for these things is the person that runs the company,” Einstein said, explaining that drivers have to take the shifts they are given while company owners set the schedules and run the businesses.

Friday’s collision occurred around 2:30 a.m. ET — approximately five hours into a journey from New York to North Carolina. This timing has led former state trooper Jeremy Disbrow, who helps train law enforcement with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, to question whether fatigue may have been a contributing factor.

Federal regulations prohibit bus operators from driving more than 10 hours or working more than 15 hours without taking at least eight hours of rest. Electronic logging systems have improved enforcement of these rules compared to paper logbooks, though instances of tampering with electronic records have occurred.

Documentation shows that another E&P Travel driver was involved in a comparable accident in North Carolina in 2024 that injured nine people after the bus failed to reduce speed for a traffic control vehicle performing a moving lane closure. The bus struck that vehicle, and a third vehicle then rear-ended the bus. The bus operator, Pei Jie Lu, subsequently pleaded guilty to failure to reduce speed. That crash happened three months after Lu was ticketed in Maryland for negligent driving and unsafe lane changes, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in that case in September 2024.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has stated federal investigators are examining Dong’s background along with the company that employed him and the school that provided his training. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is also working to verify that New York properly followed regulations when issuing Dong a commercial driver’s license. Duffy has worked to strengthen and enforce standards for CDL holders, but that effort has focused on truck drivers.

Even when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration endorses safety improvements like automatic braking, finalizing requirements often takes years. Commercial buses, for instance, have only been mandated to have seat belts since 2016.

Many NTSB recommendations for buses and other commercial vehicles remain unimplemented, including stricter standards to reduce driver fatigue and ensure adequate rest periods between trips. A regulation requiring collision-avoidance technology in commercial buses and trucks was proposed in 2023, but it remains under review.

Implementation ultimately depends on regulators, Congress and the industry to adopt these measures. Unlike regulatory agencies that must perform cost-benefit analyses, the NTSB isn’t required to consider the practicality of its recommendations. It simply advocates for safety improvements to prevent future tragedies.

The Transportation Department didn’t immediately respond this week to questions about why so many recommendations go unfulfilled.

The American Bus Association trade group works to promote safety measures and Ferguson said driver-monitoring technology, such as inward-facing video cameras and advanced telematics systems similar to those used by major auto insurers, has become common. Some of those systems can even send alerts about driver behavior to a bus company.

Ferguson also said some companies have installed collision-avoidance technology on their buses because “the difference between catastrophic accidents and not having catastrophic accidents is you keeping your company.”

However, cost remains a consideration — a new motorcoach previously cost roughly $650,000, and the industry is now dealing with the impact of 10% tariffs. Ferguson said newer buses have the most safety features, but increasing costs will slow upgrades.

“Operating safely not only is morally and ethically what they believe in, but it’s good business,” said Ferguson, whose group represents about 40% of the 1,800 companies that operate about 50,000 motorcoaches across the United States and Canada.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Staff at a museum in Georgia’s historic port city received an extraordinary delivery Wednesday — seventeen artillery pieces that researchers believe plunged into the Savannah River during America’s fight for independence and lay hidden beneath the water for almost two and a half centuries.

Museum employees methodically lifted each massive weapon from a delivery truck and transported them into the Savannah History Museum, where visitors will be able to view them during America’s 250th independence anniversary celebration this Fourth of July.

“They look brand new,” said Andrea Farmer, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers archaeologist who was part of the team that researched and preserved the cannons. “They could pretty much be fired if someone wanted to.”

The historic weapons came to light in 2021 during an Army Corps initiative to make Savannah’s shipping channel deeper, when dredging equipment brought up a cannon from the river bottom. Workers quickly found two additional pieces.

Over the following year, crews recovered a total of 19 artillery pieces from the site located downstream from Savannah, the spot where Georgia began in 1733 as Britain’s final American colonial settlement.

Following their recovery from the waterway, most of the weapons traveled to a specialized facility in Texas for extensive cleaning and conservation treatment.

Researchers first thought the cannons dated back to the Civil War era. However, additional investigation suggested they were actually nearly 100 years older and went down during events leading up to the Revolutionary War’s devastating battle for Savannah.

British forces controlled Savannah during autumn 1779, when American colonists organized an assault to reclaim the city alongside their French partners.

Upon seeing French naval vessels approaching the Georgia coastline with soldiers aboard, British commanders deliberately sank at least six ships in the Savannah River below the city to prevent French access.

The ground combat that ensued became among the war’s most devastating encounters. British troops killed close to 300 colonial soldiers and their supporters, while injuring hundreds of additional fighters.

The museum displaying the cannons sits directly adjacent to that historic battleground. Staff members Wednesday positioned the weapons, each weighing as much as 1500 pounds, onto specially designed display structures that workers compared to oversized wine storage systems.

The artillery will anchor a new exhibition focusing on Savannah’s involvement in the Revolutionary War, planned to debut during Fourth of July weekend, according to museum curator Samantha Moss.

“Our great team has been prepping for months — building mounts and planning how we can safely display these very large, very special artifacts,” she said.

Every iron cannon emerged from the river encased in thick layers of sediment and mineral deposits.

Two pieces were kept in their original condition for museum display. The remaining 17 traveled to Texas A&M University, home to a laboratory specializing in underwater artifact preservation. Technicians spent years methodically cleaning each weapon and applying protective paint and wax coatings to prevent rust and deterioration.

“A lot of them have scour marks on the side from anchors or dredging, so there’s some scarring on the cannons,” said Chris Dostal, a professor of nautical archaeology who leads Texas A&M’s Conservation Research Lab. “But most of them look pretty exceptional.”

Many of the cannons still contained their original wooden seals in the firing chambers, which held cannonballs and explosive charges.

Dostal explained that radiocarbon analysis of the wooden stoppers dated them to approximately the late 1700s. His research team provided the cannons’ dimensions and other characteristics to specialists in London, who determined three were very likely manufactured by British military forces.

The remaining pieces appeared to follow French specifications but lacked identifying marks. Dostal believes those weapons may have been produced in America during the war period.

Additional items recovered alongside the cannons included anchor fragments and part of a ship’s bronze bell. Similar to the cannons, none carried engravings identifying their vessel of origin.

This means significant aspects of the cannons’ history remain unknown.

“You don’t have all of the information,” Farmer said. “You’re trying to piece it together as best as you can.”

Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf entered a guilty plea on Wednesday to three simple battery charges following a violent confrontation outside a New Orleans establishment during February’s Mardi Gras celebration.

Court records did not immediately show sentencing information, and representatives for LaBeouf have not responded to requests for comment.

Footage from the February 17 incident captured LaBeouf without a shirt pushing one individual to the ground and striking another person in the face, “causing his nose to possibly dislocate,” according to New Orleans police documentation.

Local performer Jeffrey Damnit, identified by police as Jeffrey Klein in their report, confirmed he was among those assaulted by LaBeouf.

“He hit me, he connected a few times with punches, he pushed me a few times,” Damnit told The Associated Press earlier this year.

According to Damnit, LaBeouf “just got nuts” attempting to provoke fights and threatening to assault the entertainer and others present. Damnit also described how LaBeouf had shoved him from behind inside the establishment earlier that evening while yelling homophobic slurs and making death threats.

Damnit and other patrons restrained LaBeouf and attempted to convince him to leave, but he refused to depart and became increasingly hostile, both Damnit and police records indicate.

Following LaBeouf’s February charges, a judge mandated his return to substance abuse treatment.

The actor has faced multiple legal troubles throughout his career, including a 2017 arrest in New York City on assault allegations during a live internet broadcast.

While filming “The Peanut Butter Falcon” in Georgia that same year, he faced arrest for public intoxication and was accused of disorderly conduct and obstruction, resulting in probationary sentencing.

Los Angeles authorities charged him with misdemeanor battery and petty theft in 2020.

That same year, English performer FKA Twigs, legally named Tahliah Barnett, filed litigation claiming LaBeouf subjected her to physical and emotional abuse during their romantic relationship, which they resolved through settlement this past July.

LaBeouf initially rose to fame as a young performer on Disney Channel’s “Even Stevens” and continued working consistently as an adult. His most recognized performances include roles in 2007’s “Transformers” and 2008’s “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull.”

A journalist’s exploration of her family’s past has uncovered how one relative’s choice a hundred years ago created a racial divide that split their family for generations.

Susan Saulny, a journalist, began investigating her family history after learning about Pope Leo’s Black ancestry. Her research focused on a Creole great-uncle who relocated to Chicago and made the decision to live as a white person, never returning to his original home.

The great-uncle’s choice to pass as white in his new city created a permanent separation within the family structure. Saulny has documented her efforts to bridge this century-old gap and bring the divided family branches back together.

Her investigation reveals how a single decision made decades ago continues to impact family relationships and identity across multiple generations.

Federal agents shot and killed a suspect who had been holding multiple people captive inside a California office building, bringing an end to a tense 12-hour standoff, authorities announced Wednesday.

The Bakersfield Police Department confirmed that all captives have been safely released without injury following the incident.

According to the department’s statement, the suspect died in “an officer-involved shooting involving Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel.” The crisis situation in downtown Bakersfield concluded approximately 12 hours after law enforcement first received the emergency call, officials reported.

The incident started Tuesday afternoon when police responded to reports of a bomb threat at the Chase Bank building, a four-story structure featuring dark-tinted windows throughout. According to Bakersfield Police, the individual had fortified himself inside the building with multiple people. Authorities successfully secured the release of two captives on Tuesday through negotiation efforts.

A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase confirmed that the bank branch operates from the building’s ground level.

Surrounding structures, including City Hall and police headquarters located just one block away, were cleared of occupants, and several streets were temporarily shut down during the crisis. Bakersfield, home to approximately 380,000 people, serves as the government center for the predominantly rural Kern County and sits roughly 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

Law enforcement created a security perimeter around the location and advised civilians to avoid the area. The police department’s crisis negotiation specialists maintained telephone communication with the individual throughout the incident.

“We have every single resource at our disposal out here to bring this to the safest resolution possible,” Bakersfield police Sgt. Eric Celedon stated Tuesday.

Jacob Davidson, a livestreamer who goes by Dad’s Gone Live, was operating from his family’s tattoo parlor one block from the bank when he began receiving calls about the bomb threat.

“I went into the bank’s parking garage and watched the cops enter the back of the bank. This is the biggest police presence I’ve ever seen in this town,” Davidson reported.

His live broadcast captured footage through a building window showing a woman moving back and forth Tuesday evening before ducking beneath the window frame. Subsequently, two hands were visible making waving motions.

LONDON (AP) — King George III, long portrayed as the primary antagonist in America’s fight for independence, is getting a historical makeover as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

For generations, Americans have viewed him as the British monarch who lost the colonies. Many know him from his theatrical portrayals in popular culture, including the Broadway hit musical or the acclaimed 1990s stage production and movie “The Madness of King George.” Others recall him as the oppressive ruler featured in educational programming who imposed taxes without colonial consent.

However, the actual events leading to the Revolutionary War unfolded differently than commonly believed — a distinction that matters in today’s era of false information and disputed narratives. During George’s reign, Parliament held the authority to enact legislation and taxation, just as it does today. The 27 grievances listed against the monarch in the Declaration of Independence? British historian Andrew Roberts describes most as “wartime propaganda,” claiming all except two fall apart when examined closely.

Modern historians have reached a consensus: George showed no signs of mental illness during the Revolutionary period.

“Truth became the first casualty of the American War of Independence, as it is in most wars,” Roberts stated in his 2021 book “The Last King of America.” “The American Revolution is a testament not to George III’s tyranny, which was fictitious, but to Americans’ yearning for autonomy.”

America’s founding narrative centers on George III as the defeated antagonist, an unstable despot who mistreated colonial subjects. Academic experts started questioning this interpretation before the nation’s bicentennial, with the Prince of Wales penning a sharp counterargument in 1972.

“If the average schoolchild remembers anything about history after leaving school, he will remember that George III was mad,” wrote that prince, currently King Charles III, in an introduction to a book about his ancestor five generations removed. “If he is American as well then madness is often given as a reason for the ‘irrational’ behavior of the King toward the Colonists, making it necessary for them to declare independence.”

He concluded by expressing hope that “Americans will soon come to see the true George III without bias and traditionally held opinions.”

George ascended to the throne in 1760 following his grandfather’s death, becoming ruler at 22 of an empire spanning from England through North America to Asia. He viewed his role as more than England’s sovereign but as a paternal figure to his people — obligated to serve as their moral example. In both personal and national matters, he promoted discipline, honesty, and an Enlightenment-inspired interest in culture, literature, and science.

Like all subsequent British monarchs, George operated under constitutional constraints — wielding influence and choosing the prime minister while Cabinet officials and the House of Commons created laws and budgets. George’s responsibility was to approve Parliament’s decisions. Therefore, one could argue he simply supported what colonists perceived as Britain’s harsh and controlling measures, including the Stamp Act of 1765, the first direct colonial tax.

The future revolutionary leaders denounced this action and spread the rallying cry “No taxation without representation.” Britain maintained that Parliament members spoke for the colonies. Colonists countered that their elected colonial assemblies, which already taxed them, provided their representation. Following damaging colonial boycotts of British products, Parliament withdrew the Stamp Act in 1766 — but immediately passed another act asserting British Parliament’s authority to create colonial laws.

Over the following decade, relationships deteriorated. Parliament’s Tea Act passage in 1773 made matters worse, prompting revolutionaries to dump tea into Boston Harbor. This action dismayed George, who the following year supported Parliament’s measures to limit Massachusetts’ self-governance.

The Continental Congress convened and appealed to the king as “your majesty’s faithful subjects” for assistance. George sided with Parliament.

In April 1775, the famous “shot heard ’round the world” erupted from fighting between colonial militia and British forces at Lexington and Concord, beginning what the British commonly term the American War of Independence — known as the Revolutionary War.

Queen Elizabeth II made available the previously uncatalogued Georgian Papers, consisting of 280,000 documents from that era housed at Windsor Castle, later digitizing them online through a five-year initiative. This revealed a comprehensive reassessment of a monarch who maintained detailed records, correspondence, speeches, and notes — including timestamps — covering extensive administrative matters: agricultural production, plant studies, property management, household inventory and costs, plus careful monitoring of Parliamentary affairs.

The 2015 archive release also provided additional medical documentation, including physician instructions, treatment records, and behavioral observations during George’s illnesses. These materials raised new questions about the origins of what historians had termed “the king’s malady.”

Roberts concluded in 2021 that the long-held belief that George had porphyria, a physical metabolic condition, was incorrect. His examination of 100,000 Georgian documents combined with contemporary medical research indicated bipolar affective disorder Type 1 — characterized partly by at least one serious manic episode. George was documented to have experienced prolonged periods of mania beginning in 1788.

Examining the American Revolution in 2026 reveals little, if any, indication that George was “mad” during the war period. The upcoming semiquincentennial story presents George as a more complete individual than the despot described in the personal attacks scattered throughout the Declaration of Independence.

The Library of Congress exhibition bears the title “The Two Georges,” featuring the king and George Washington as “Parallel lives in an age of Revolution.”

The opening gallery at Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution starts 15 years before the conflict, when Americans held deep respect for George III, displaying royal emblems on everything from drinking cups to fireplace backs and a royal coat of arms likely displayed in the city’s courthouse.

“We make the point that he was literally called ‘the king of liberty’ in popular culture,” explained R. Scott Stephenson, the museum’s president and CEO. “This was not a despot in anyone’s minds.”

On April 29, Elizabeth’s son, King Charles III, mentioned George III twice while speaking from the platform at America’s democratic center. He first supported the “Tale of Two Georges” concept, acknowledging that George III was his five-times great grandfather.

“King George never set foot in America,” he remarked playfully, “and, please rest assured, I am not here as part of some cunning rear-guard action.”

None of the contemporary patriots in attendance — elected Congressional members whose predecessors rejected George III’s authority — showed any disapproval or protest.

That evening, Charles referenced his lineage again at a White House state dinner celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. “As the direct descendant of King George III,” Charles declared, “I know this is a nation that never gives up.”

This applies to certain Americans and their preferred stories, Roberts suggests. When asked if his research influenced American thinking, he replied via email: “Nothing will dislodge the Americans from their desire to see GIII as an evil dictator.”

NEW YORK — As the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum has unveiled a major $75 million fundraising initiative aimed at educating young Americans who have no personal memory of that tragic day.

The campaign, which organizers revealed Wednesday, has received significant backing from Mike Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor who chairs the memorial organization. Through his Bloomberg Philanthropies, he has committed to matching donations up to $25 million. The initiative, called The Never Forget Fund, has already secured its initial $25 million through unnamed early contributions.

Since opening in 2014 at the location where terrorists flew hijacked planes into the World Trade Center towers in lower Manhattan, the memorial has welcomed approximately 97 million visitors, while the museum has hosted nearly 28 million guests. However, the organization has faced financial challenges in recent years due to pandemic-related shutdowns and previous administration attempts to gain control of the facility.

Beth Hillman, who serves as the organization’s president and CEO, explained that establishing stable funding is essential to reach the estimated 100 million Americans born after the attacks occurred. The initiative aims to present the response to 9/11 as inspiring acts of community service while providing fundamental information through new exhibits and educational resources.

“The ongoing importance of remembering 9/11 is to remind people that they can come together even in the face of incredible loss,” Hillman told the Associated Press.

The September 11, 2001 attacks, which claimed nearly 3,000 lives, continue to generate debate about their legacy. Younger Americans have grown up knowing only a world with airport security screenings, immigration enforcement, and other protective measures implemented afterward. Many encounter the events through internet memes featuring the famous image of then-President George W. Bush receiving news of the attacks, while various conspiracy theories circulate about government foreknowledge.

The memorial’s message of unity also faces scrutiny. The attacks led to two decades of overseas military conflicts that became increasingly controversial as casualties mounted. Young American Muslims who came of age during this period have encountered prejudice and suspicion.

Looking toward September’s milestone anniversary, Hillman envisions sharing a “compelling story of service, of hope, of resilience, of coming together” with those who didn’t experience that era firsthand. These narratives will be featured in a new display titled “In Their Honor.” She highlighted how celebrity chef Bobby Flay joined numerous other chefs in cooking for first responders during the months following the attacks. Theater professionals brought lighting equipment to illuminate the darkened ground zero area. Families who lost loved ones established charitable organizations like 9/11 Day to encourage volunteer work honoring their deceased relatives. The organization also wants to raise awareness about first responders who developed long-term health problems and continue facing healthcare access challenges.

According to Hillman, the fundraising proceeds will maintain free museum entry for students, first responders and veterans. “We don’t want the price to be a barrier to them,” she stated. Regular adult tickets currently cost $36, and the nonprofit’s website indicates it “relies primarily on ticket sales to help fund its operational costs.”

The organization intends to expand its educator outreach with these funds. As teachers begin careers without having lived through September 11, Hillman said they want to assist with curriculum development. The nonprofit conducts summer teaching institutes, provides professional training programs, and produces an annual 30-minute documentary featuring personal accounts.

Hillman recognized there’s now a greater “degree of distraction and confusion” compared to earlier efforts to commemorate recent historical events. She believes there’s a need for “simple representations of what happened.” The March/April edition of The National Council for the Social Studies’ publication, guest-edited by memorial staff, includes a timeline of September 11, 2001’s morning events.

“9/11 is heavy and compelling and full of inspiring stories,” Hillman said. “But also, just a trusted set of what happened on that day, of materials that can convey the basics of it — that’s the beginning of people learning and starting to understand, too.”

Alex Edgar, a Gen Z civic leader collaborating with a group called Made By Us to strengthen youth participation before the United States’ 250th birthday, recognizes merit in highlighting service’s impact. His generation, he noted, has “never really seen a country that has worked” or one that “really lived up to the promise of America.” He believes stories about overcoming divisions to achieve common objectives can counter the political polarization young people frequently witness.

However, he stressed that such messages must extend beyond “classroom walls and museum doors.”

“They invite young people to consider what’s preventing us from using any of the issues of our time as a rallying cry for folks to come together across backgrounds to build the type of country, the communities, that we want to live in,” he said.

NEW YORK — Strange nighttime activities in New York City have left residents and authorities scratching their heads as surveillance footage captures multiple groups of people climbing in and out of the city’s underground sewer network through street manholes.

At least three separate incidents have been recorded by security cameras showing people accessing sewer tunnels via maintenance openings on streets throughout Brooklyn and Queens during overnight hours.

One particularly striking video from early Friday captured approximately seven individuals emerging from a manhole cover directly in a Williamsburg, Brooklyn intersection while vehicles drove past. Several wore headlamps and appeared to be carrying shovels along with other equipment. One person nearly got struck by a car while climbing out of the opening.

Another recording showed about seven people surfacing from a manhole around 2 a.m. on a quiet Gravesend, Brooklyn street. The group walked to nearby parked vehicles where they retrieved clean clothing to change into. According to police, this group had descended into the sewers around 11 p.m., suggesting they spent roughly three hours below ground.

A third incident on May 5 showed three individuals wearing waterproof hip waders and protective equipment forcing open a manhole cover before climbing down into the sewer system on a Queens street. The final person replaced the cover as approaching vehicles came to a halt.

Aki Jakupovic, who owns an auto detailing business, reported that his shop’s security system captured the sewer explorers. While he couldn’t speculate about their underground activities, he expressed concern they were “up to no good.”

The city Department of Environmental Protection conducted inspections of the sewer systems at both Brooklyn sites and confirmed no damage occurred to the infrastructure. Officials said the Queens incident remains under review.

Rob Wolejsza, a department spokesperson, emphasized that sewer entry violates the law and poses serious safety risks.

“Sewers can contain numerous hazards, including noxious and potentially deadly gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks, and confined spaces,” Wolejsza said in a statement. “For these reasons, members of the public should never enter a pipe, drain, catch basin, manhole, or outfall.”

The warning comes after a woman died last month when she fell through an open manhole on a busy midtown Manhattan street. Utility workers determined a truck had displaced the cover.

Police officials stated they don’t consider the incidents a public safety threat after thoroughly examining the affected areas. No injuries have been reported and no arrests made, though the investigation continues.

At the busy Williamsburg intersection where one group was spotted, resident Anthony Purdie expressed skepticism that simple curiosity motivated the nighttime sewer exploration.

“They look like they were looking for something important, like money, or for doing some type of hurting,” he said. “Ain’t no fun and games. I mean, seven grown adults going down there? Got to be something, man.”

CBS News terminated veteran ’60 Minutes’ correspondent Scott Pelley on Tuesday following allegations that he criticized the show’s leadership and questioned the credentials of its new executive producer during a staff meeting. The dismissal has intensified ongoing disruption at the prestigious television news program and its parent news division.

During a staff introduction meeting on Monday with newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton, Pelley reportedly challenged the program’s current direction, according to coverage by the Status website. Pelley allegedly described Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss as “murdering the show” and questioned Bilton’s “slender qualifications” for his position. Bilton, who comes from a background in technology journalism and filmmaking rather than traditional broadcast news, was selected by Weiss the previous week.

In termination documentation secured Tuesday evening by The Associated Press, Bilton characterized Pelley’s behavior as an “ambush” during their first meeting together.

“Yesterday, you hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt,” the dismissal letter stated.

According to Status, which reported having access to audio from Monday’s meeting, Pelley questioned Bilton extensively about the recent terminations of former executive producer Tanya Simon and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. Weiss was absent from that particular meeting.

The termination letter described Pelley’s conduct as a “performative display of hostility” and stated that his actions showed he has “no interest in contributing to the future success of the show.”

Pelley’s representative had not provided a response to requests for comment as of Tuesday evening.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Authorities in Bakersfield, California responded Tuesday afternoon to a dangerous situation where a suspect trapped himself inside a financial institution along with multiple civilians following a bomb threat.

Law enforcement arrived at the Chase Bank facility in the city’s downtown core around 1 p.m. after receiving reports of the explosive threat, according to the Bakersfield Police Department. Officials discovered that a man had locked himself inside the building “with several community members,” the department announced in an official statement.

Authorities reported that some civilians managed to flee the building safely. No one sustained injuries during the incident, and surrounding structures including city hall and police headquarters were secured as a precaution.

Crisis negotiation specialists established telephone communication with the individual, while officers created a security perimeter around the facility and neighboring businesses, officials confirmed.

“We are on scene at the Chase Bank Building on Chester Avenue and 17th Street for a confirmed bomb threat,” the police department wrote on X. “Please stay out of the downtown area. Road closures are in effect and will remain in effect until further notice.”

Media outlets reported approximately twelve patrol vehicles, one tactical unit, and numerous emergency personnel responded to the scene.

Jacob Davidson, a livestreamer known as Dad’s Gone Live, was one block away at his family’s tattoo business when subscribers began calling to inform him about the bomb threat.

“I went into the bank’s parking garage and watched the cops enter the back of the bank. This is the biggest police presence I’ve ever seen in this town,” Davidson said. “Now I’m watching them set up the trauma tents with the green, red and yellow tags, and black tags too, along with a command center about a block away.”

Emergency response teams routinely establish medical triage stations with color-coded systems to categorize potential casualties by injury severity as a precautionary measure during crisis situations.

MUSCATINE, Iowa — A school district leader in Iowa has confirmed that two students and two staff members were among the six people killed in a deadly family shooting that occurred Monday, with authorities saying a family member carried out the attack.

The gunman, identified as 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland from Muscatine, ended his own life when law enforcement officers confronted him later that same day, officials reported.

Muscatine Community School District Superintendent Clint Christopher chose not to reveal the identities, ages, or grade levels of the two students who were killed.

Christopher informed the school community that along with the two students, two district staff members also lost their lives in the tragedy.

“Our hearts are broken for the family members, friends, colleagues, classmates, and all those affected by this unimaginable loss,” Christopher said.

The school district made counseling services available to students on Tuesday.

During a short press briefing, Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Kies announced he would provide additional victim information, including their ages, at a Tuesday evening vigil. He did not reveal what motivated the shootings or describe how the events occurred.

“We just need the community to understand that the most powerful piece for us to move forward is to continue to love each other through this,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion.

Law enforcement discovered four victims at a residence in Muscatine. The community has approximately 24,000 residents and sits roughly 50 miles southeast of Cedar Rapids.

Police later located McFarland on a city trail, where he took his own life while officers were speaking with him, according to Kies.

Two additional men, also believed to be McFarland’s relatives, were subsequently found shot to death at separate locations within the city. One victim was discovered at his residence, while the other was found deceased inside a local business.

Authorities have verified that McFarland had previous criminal charges, though they have not provided specific information about his record.

According to James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University who oversees a mass killing database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today with Northeastern, the Iowa incident marks the sixth family mass killing this year. A seventh occurred near Buffalo, NY, also on Monday. Mass killings are classified as events where four or more people die within 24 hours, excluding the perpetrator. Thirteen mass killings have occurred nationwide so far this year.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.

A retired New York state trooper began serving a prison sentence Tuesday after being handed 2½ to 7½ years behind bars for his involvement in a fatal high-speed pursuit that resulted in the death of an 11-year-old girl.

Christopher Baldner, age 47 and a resident of Catskill, was immediately taken into custody following his sentencing in Ulster County, located approximately 84 miles north of New York City.

In March, Baldner was found guilty of manslaughter in connection with the December 2020 death of Monica Goods, 11, who was a passenger in the SUV involved in the crash. A jury had previously cleared him of murder and reckless endangerment charges.

Prosecutors alleged that Baldner struck the family’s SUV twice while on the New York State Thruway, which caused the vehicle to spin out of control and overturn. Defense attorneys for Baldner claimed the collision happened when the SUV moved in front of the trooper’s vehicle as he drove alongside it during the chase.

The incident began when Baldner stopped Monica Good’s father, Tristin Goods, for driving over the speed limit on the highway near Kingston shortly before midnight on December 22, 2020. Goods was traveling north from New York City with his wife and two daughters to see relatives.

An altercation broke out between Baldner and Goods, during which the trooper used pepper spray inside the family’s vehicle. Goods then fled the scene, prompting Baldner to give chase.

Defense lawyers for Baldner maintained that Goods struck the trooper’s vehicle twice during the pursuit. A crash reconstruction specialist testifying for the defense stated that Goods lost control of his SUV when he oversteered following “a very minor impact.”

Baldner ended his career with the state police in 2022 after serving nearly two decades with the force.

A violent kidnapping attempt on a tree-lined Connecticut street during summer 2024 has unraveled into a complex case involving a massive cryptocurrency theft and a California man who dubbed himself a crypto ‘Godfather.’

The shocking incident occurred when attackers forced a couple out of their Lamborghini SUV in broad daylight, assaulted them, and dragged them into a van. Multiple bystanders witnessed the attack, including an off-duty FBI agent who was driving by, prompting immediate police calls.

What investigators discovered next was extraordinary.

The violent kidnapping was connected to a $245 million Bitcoin theft that had occurred the previous month, targeting the victims’ son. This week, a 25-year-old California cryptocurrency executive who law enforcement says went by ‘The Godfather’ confessed to planning the kidnapping in an attempt to obtain part of the son’s stolen digital fortune.

Adam Iza entered a guilty plea Monday to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. Federal prosecutors are requesting a minimum 14-year prison sentence when he appears for sentencing.

Iza’s attorney, William Paetzold, did not return Tuesday phone calls and emails requesting comment.

This case represents part of a growing global pattern where cryptocurrency crimes escalate into physical violence.

According to an FBI affidavit, one month prior to the kidnapping attempt, one of Iza’s alleged partners had a confrontation with the couple’s son, Veer Chetal, at a Miami nightclub. The man, James Schwab, subsequently instructed an associate to rob Chetal and his companions at their Miami rental property, authorities stated. Whether this robbery occurred remains unclear.

Schwab’s legal representatives did not respond to phone messages requesting comment.

The Bitcoin theft followed shortly after. Several weeks following the nightclub altercation, Chetal and two additional men developed a sophisticated online fraud scheme where they posed as technical support representatives for Google and a cryptocurrency platform. They successfully stole 4,100 Bitcoins — valued at approximately $245 million during that period — from a Washington, D.C., resident, according to legal filings.

Following the theft, the three men spent extravagantly, purchasing millions of dollars worth of vehicles, designer clothes, expensive jewelry, luxury rental properties, and financing nightclub celebrations before their arrests, prosecutors stated. Chetal entered a guilty plea last November and is awaiting sentencing, while his two co-defendants have entered not guilty pleas.

Meanwhile, Iza and Schwab developed a plan to kidnap Chetal’s parents as leverage to obtain portions of his stolen wealth, the FBI reported, based on information from informants. Schwab and Iza’s brother, Saif Faiq, also face charges related to the kidnapping plot and have entered not guilty pleas.

They enlisted six additional men for the Connecticut operation, covering their transportation and accommodation costs, authorities reported. One week following the Bitcoin theft, the group conducted surveillance on Chetal’s parents hours before executing the kidnapping, court records indicate.

Sushil and Radhika Chetal were traveling in the Lamborghini on Aug. 25, 2024, near Danbury High School when another vehicle struck them from behind. A white van then blocked the SUV’s path while several men encircled them, police reported.

The attackers dragged the Chetals from the SUV and forced them into their van, striking Sushil Chetal with a baseball bat and pulling Radhika Chetal by her hair. The couple were restrained with duct tape as the van departed, according to legal documents.

Following witness reports to police, officers quickly located the van and initiated a pursuit. The van ultimately crashed and four men exited and attempted to escape on foot but were captured shortly afterward. The remaining two men were later discovered at a residence the group had rented in a neighboring town. The Chetals received hospital treatment and were released.

The six men, all Florida residents, have entered guilty pleas in connection with the kidnapping. Two have received 11-year prison sentences while the others await sentencing.

Prior to Iza’s arrest in the Connecticut case, he was being investigated by federal authorities in California for extorting money and assets from victims in Los Angeles and other locations, court records indicate. He was charged in that case one month after the kidnapping and subsequently pleaded guilty.

Iza, who also used the name Ahmed Faiq, resided in a mansion in Los Angeles’ Bel Air neighborhood, adopting ‘The Godfather’ persona while operating a crypto trading business called Zort. While stealing millions of dollars and moving it through shell companies, Iza spent lavishly on luxury vehicles and other extravagances, including cosmetic surgery to lengthen his legs, prosecutors stated.

Starting in August 2021, Iza paid approximately $100,000 monthly for personal security services to a private firm established by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy that also employed other deputies, prosecutors reported.

Iza, authorities stated, employed off-duty deputies as enforcers against individuals involved in personal and business conflicts. He utilized the deputies for extortion, intimidation, arranging false arrests, and manipulating legal processes, prosecutors reported.

The deputies accessed law enforcement databases to gather information about Iza’s adversaries and secured search warrants using false information, authorities stated. During one incident, two deputies held a victim at gunpoint inside Iza’s residence, coercing the victim to transfer $25,000 to Iza’s bank account, prosecutors reported.

When he entered his guilty plea in that case in January, Iza also confessed to stealing more than $37 million through fraudulent access to business manager accounts of Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, and their credit lines from 2020 to 2022. He awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy against rights and tax evasion.

His California attorney, Josef Sadat, declined to comment Tuesday.

Several deputies also face charges in the investigation.

A muralist who created a massive whale artwork covering a downtown Dallas building has filed a $25 million federal lawsuit against soccer’s global governing body and other parties, claiming they unlawfully covered his creation to make room for World Cup promotional materials.

The artist Wyland states he created the expansive mural by hand, spanning approximately 17,000 square feet across two walls of the structure.

The artwork remained in place for almost 30 years until crews started covering it with paint last month, sparking outrage from local residents who appreciated both its impressive size and ocean conservation message.

The regional World Cup organizing committee released a statement explaining that new artwork will replace Wyland’s mural “that captures this current historical moment and reflects the energy, unity, and global spirit surrounding the World Cup 2026.” The committee indicated that part of Wyland’s original work would remain intact.

Wyland submitted his lawsuit Monday in U.S District Court in Dallas, alleging that World Cup organizers, the building owner, and its management company covered his artwork without obtaining his permission or even informing him. He claims their conduct violated a 1990 federal statute designed to shield visual artists from having their publicly displayed creations destroyed.

Wyland demands at least $25 million in compensation. His legal filing states that world soccer’s governing body, FIFA, and other defendants “hastily and irrevocably destroyed a civic landmark” for World Cup promotion.

“Though FIFA claims they were working to develop art for the host city, in truth, they defaced an historic fixture of the host city,” the artist’s lawsuit says.

A FIFA spokesperson stated Tuesday that the federation “has no involvement in this whatsoever” and directed inquiries to the tournament’s local organizing committee.

A spokesperson for the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee refused to provide comment. The committee is not listed as a defendant in the legal action.

A spokesperson for Slate Asset Management, which oversees the building where the mural was covered, explained in a statement that local World Cup organizers approached Slate in March requesting donation of the mural space for “a new public art installation.”

“Slate is not being compensated in any way for the use of the wall space and was told by the local groups that Mr. Wyland had been notified,” the management company’s spokesperson said in an email.

Dallas will host more World Cup games than any other venue in the tournament shared between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with nine matches scheduled at AT&T Stadium in suburban Arlington, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Wyland’s Dallas mural, called “Whaling Wall 82,” was completed in 1999 and represents one of more than 100 comparable murals known as Whaling Walls the artist created worldwide to advocate for ocean life conservation.

An online petition opposing the mural’s removal and demanding protection for public artwork in Dallas has gathered more than 2,600 signatures.

Wyland’s lawsuit claims violations of the Visual Artists Rights Act, a 1990 federal statute that safeguards artwork of “recognized stature” regardless of who owns the physical piece.

A judge referenced that statute in 2018 when ordering a property owner to compensate a group of New York graffiti artists $6.7 million for whitewashing dozens of their spray-painted murals on buildings that previously housed a factory in Queens. The decision was confirmed on appeal.

The USS Ford has completed its extended deployment and returned to its home port after spending close to twelve months at sea. The homecoming allows sailors aboard the $13 billion aircraft carrier to begin their earned rest and recreation time following the lengthy mission.

However, the vessel’s return also presents an opportunity for maintenance crews to tackle significant plumbing issues that have developed on the massive warship. These repairs can now be properly addressed while the carrier is docked at its home base.

Drivers using Jupiter Road should plan for delays as construction crews continue work that requires periodic lane restrictions in the area.

The roadwork is taking place on the stretch of Jupiter Road that runs between Venus Drive and Sun Court, with lane closures happening intermittently throughout the day.

According to traffic officials, the construction-related lane restrictions are expected to remain in effect until 5PM today.

Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time when using this route and to consider alternate paths if possible to avoid potential delays.

The latest “Masters of the Universe” film appears confused about its target demographic. While contemporary blockbusters typically aim for broad appeal to justify massive production budgets for movies based on vintage toys, He-Man will never achieve the cultural impact that Barbie has accomplished.

The character and visual style — featuring muscular physiques and distinctive hairstyles — remains firmly anchored in 1980s culture. The toy line debuted in 1982 as competition for Star Wars merchandise. An animated television show followed in 1983, leading to a 1987 film starring Dolph Lundgren that failed both critically and commercially during the franchise’s peak years.

While some fans have embraced that original “Masters of the Universe” movie as an entertaining cult favorite, and several animated shows have appeared over recent decades, He-Man appears culturally frozen in that era. The property became a nostalgic artifact alongside Saturday morning cartoons — except for an internet meme featuring “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes, which gets a nod in this new film. However, even that viral video dates back to 2005.

Travis Knight directed this version after successfully creating something appealing from “Transformers” with “Bumblebee.” However, this production seems uncertain about its identity. It functions as an expensive B-movie that’s simultaneously cartoonish and campy while constantly making excuses for those qualities. The violence level likely excludes children under ten years old. The filmmakers attempt something similar to Taika Waititi’s “Thor” films or “Guardians of the Galaxy,” but fail to fully embrace what that HEYYEYAAEYAAAEYAEYAA internet video understood perfectly: He-Man is fundamentally absurd. Not just the character, but everything — the appearance, the character names, even the catchphrase “by the power of Greyskull, I have the power.”

The screenplay, credited to numerous writers, tries to make much of this material into repetitive humor. The story explains awkward character names like Fisto and Ram Man as products of a child’s creativity. The plot establishes a scenario where Prince Adam (portrayed as a child by Artie Wilkinson-Hunt) gets evacuated from Eternia for safety when Skeletor (Jared Leto) conquers the realm. After fifteen years stranded on Earth, he works a mundane human resources position, shares an apartment with a roommate, and desperately searches for the Power Sword that represents his only chance to return home. Though he’s developed into an attractive adult (Nicholas Galitzine), he remains extremely socially awkward and openly discusses his background. Predictably, everyone considers him mentally unstable.

Fortunately, his Earth-based scenes are brief (though perhaps not brief enough in a film that stretches to an excessive 142 minutes, including a Lundgren appearance) before he returns to Eternia attempting to restore the kingdom. Initially, everyone dismisses him, including his childhood friend Teela, who has become a warrior with model-like features (played with detached coolness by Camila Mendes), until he learns to wield the sword that immediately grants him superhuman abilities. It’s challenging to convey how unexciting and undramatic this simple solution feels.

The extensive cast performs admirably given the material. Galitzine displays charm and sweetness in his awkwardness, but his character lacks development. Idris Elba contributes amusing seriousness to a defeated warrior struggling with lost confidence. As Skeletor, Leto embraces theatrical excess with a dramatic British accent that evokes Paul F. Tompkins’ Andrew Lloyd Webber impression more than Bane. This isn’t necessarily negative — Leto and Alison Brie, playing his mistreated assistant, appear to enjoy themselves most, resembling refugees from “Power Rangers” — but it raises questions about why they didn’t simply hire an English character actor initially. Other performers fare worse: Morena Baccarin serves mainly atmospheric purposes as The Sorceress, while Kristen Wiig delivers a forgettable performance as a robotic warrior.

The film attempts to explore themes about masculine expectations and authority, but these elements remain disorganized and unclear while failing to meaningfully include female characters in the conversation.

The movie might have succeeded better by fully embracing Saturday morning cartoon sensibilities with fewer self-mocking jokes. However, that approach would have demanded greater certainty about the project’s fundamental purpose.

“Masters of the Universe,” distributed by Amazon MGM Studios and opening in theaters Friday, receives a PG-13 rating from the Motion Picture Association for “sequences of violence and action, some suggestive material and language.” The runtime is 142 minutes. Rating: Two stars out of four.

A dismissed police officer from North Carolina now faces criminal charges after doorbell camera footage captured him striking a woman multiple times in the face during an arrest.

Karson Hyder, 22, surrendered himself at the Cleveland County Detention Center on Monday morning following assault charges stemming from Friday’s incident. He posted a $10,000 secured bond and was released. The footage showing the former Shelby officer hitting Cherrie Moore has gained widespread attention across social media platforms.

The incident occurred while Hyder was responding to a breaking-and-entering report. Department officials suspended him on Friday and terminated his employment the following day.

Court documents indicate that Moore, 34, ran from the scene and fought against being arrested, with charges stating she assaulted Hyder by “grabbing and ripping (his) uniform.”

However, a separate arrest warrant filed Monday accuses Hyder of unlawfully assaulting Moore by “grabbing Moore by the arm, pushing her to the ground and striking her in the face with a closed fist, thereby inflicting serious injury possible broken nose and busted lip.”

State investigators announced Saturday they had launched their own probe into Hyder’s actions. Court documents do not show legal representation for the former officer, and attempts to reach him by phone were unsuccessful.

Moore initially faced charges including breaking and entering, resisting arrest, and assaulting a public officer, though authorities have dropped the latter two charges. She was released without having to post bond. Phone numbers linked to Moore were not working.

Moore’s legal representative, Ronald Haynes, shared with The Associated Press via email that his client “is recovering and receiving treatment for her mental health.”

“The heinous actions of former Officer Karson Hyder will forever negatively impact Ms. Cherrie Moore and her family,” Haynes stated. “It’s a small relief that city officials responded so promptly to terminate and charge Mr. Hyder.”

Law enforcement officials in Iowa are examining a deadly shooting spree that left six family members dead, allegedly carried out by a relative who ended his own life during an encounter with officers on Monday.

Police discovered four victims who had been shot to death after responding to a residence in Muscatine, located approximately 50 miles southeast of Cedar Rapids, according to Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Kies during a press briefing.

Law enforcement personnel subsequently located the suspected gunman, 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland from Muscatine, on a walking path within the city limits, Kies reported.

“While talking to Ryan Willis McFarland, he took his own life,” the police chief said.

Investigators later discovered two additional male victims, also believed to be McFarland’s relatives, who had been fatally shot at separate locations throughout the community, Kies explained. One victim was located inside a residence while the other was found deceased at a commercial establishment, he noted.

Officials have not yet disclosed the identities of those killed or provided additional information about the victims.

“Today I simply do not have the words, this act of evil and what it has done to our community,” Kies said.

The municipal police force continues examining the shootings, working to analyze multiple crime scenes and conduct witness interviews. Investigators are requesting anyone with relevant information to reach out to the department’s major crimes division.

Kies acknowledged that McFarland had previous criminal charges on his record, though he declined to provide specific information about his past offenses.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.

Northampton County has unveiled a new self-guided driving tour designed to showcase the area’s historical significance and attractions. The initiative is part of the county’s US250 program, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to explore the region independently.

The driving tour provides participants with a structured route that highlights key points of interest throughout Northampton County. Visitors can follow the designated path at their own convenience, making stops at various locations along the way.

This new tourism offering represents the county’s efforts to promote local heritage and encourage exploration of the area’s historical landmarks and scenic destinations.

A comprehensive investigation by KFF Health News and The Associated Press has uncovered widespread claims of insufficient medical treatment at immigration detention centers spanning at least 33 states.

Those held in detention report missing essential medications or receiving them late for serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and HIV. Pleas for medical assistance went ignored for weeks at a time. Blood sugar levels climbed dangerously high. Infections worsened without treatment. Cancer cases went unaddressed. Some detainees experienced collapses and seizures.

Immigration detention centers and U.S. jails have historically faced challenges in addressing the healthcare requirements of those in their custody. However, the system is now overwhelmed by a surge in detentions following President Donald Trump’s return to the presidency: Immigration and Customs Enforcement was holding more than 75,000 immigrants by mid-January, a significant increase from approximately 40,000 one year prior.

The Department of Homeland Security was contacted by KFF Health News and AP six days prior to publication for a response to these findings but provided no statement. The DHS acting chief medical officer, Sean Conley, has previously stated “it is both policy and longstanding practice for aliens to receive timely and appropriate medical care from the moment they enter ICE custody” and noted the department hires healthcare professionals to uphold high standards. “This is better, more responsive healthcare than many aliens have ever received in their entire lives,” he has stated.

Detention facilities and private prison companies under contract with DHS that responded to inquiries about this investigation claimed they adhere to ICE standards and provide proper medical treatment when needed. Some indicated they were not aware of the allegations detailed in legal documents; others placed responsibility on the detainees for gaps in their healthcare.

The news organizations examined thousands of legal cases filed since Trump’s second inauguration using habeas corpus petitions to challenge what they argue are illegal detentions by ICE. These records provide an unusual glimpse into how detainees claim — often under oath — ICE is managing their healthcare needs. Reporters conducted interviews with more than 50 detainees, relatives, and attorneys.

The investigation found that claims of medical neglect span the extensive detention network, including facilities not intended for housing people, county jails, and hastily established locations with informal names like “Alligator Alcatraz.”

Vermont attorney Andrew Pelcher explained that previously, detainees with severe medical conditions would typically have been released on humanitarian parole, partly to avoid the expense of their treatment.

Currently, under “mandatory detention” policies, individuals remain incarcerated with serious and costly medical conditions.

A citizen of Romania who had undergone multiple heart procedures, including an emergency triple bypass in April 2025, was arrested in July. The 52-year-old required 16 daily medications as part of his recovery. Court documents allege that while held by ICE in Baltimore, he went without any medication for two days before being transferred to a New Jersey facility.

AP and KFF Health News are not identifying individuals mentioned in court records without their permission.

He was admitted to hospitals three times for chest pain, partly because the detention facility failed to supply all his medications despite “countless requests,” according to medical records and court filings. Hospital discharge documents referenced by his attorney show he received only eight of his 16 medications following his second hospital release.

Several weeks later in August, he suffered a stroke during a video call with his daughter, court filings state. “He was struggling to breathe, and was pointing at his chest where he was again experiencing pain, and suddenly stopped speaking.” His daughter called for help through the video screen, the petition states. “Eventually an officer came in to assist him and cut the feed.”

The man was unable to speak for four days, according to the document. He was sent back to detention, where he stayed until a federal judge ordered his release in November.

Detainees who receive poor healthcare have limited options for recourse. The Department of Homeland Security eliminated most functions of the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman last year. In early May, they closed the office completely, claiming Congress failed to provide funding.

Immigration attorney Matt Boles from Georgia noted that ombudsman staff previously helped coordinate medical care or looked into neglect complaints. Now, he explained, there is no one to contact for assistance.

Meanwhile, families of detainees report feeling powerless, making frantic calls to facilities, government offices, and elected officials while witnessing their relatives’ health decline.

Riya Khan watched her mother’s condition worsen at the California City Detention Facility, operated by CoreCivic, a private prison corporation. During a visit one week after her mother’s arrival at the Mojave Desert facility, Riya observed that the 64-year-old woman was trembling as she walked unsteadily to her chair. Her breathing was difficult.

Masuma Khan arrived in the U.S. from Bangladesh in 1997. Like 70% of detention population, Khan has no criminal record. She was detained in October during her routine ICE check-in appointment.

Throughout the month she was held, her daughter reports, she only sporadically received medications for various conditions including high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, and prediabetes.

CoreCivic spokesperson Brian Todd stated that the company manages chronic conditions according to relevant medical standards.

“Nothing matters more to CoreCivic than the health, safety and well-being of the people in our care,” Todd stated.

Khan reported receiving her asthma medication for the first time just two days before her release, and her glaucoma eye drops never arrived. Staff members informed Khan she needed to purchase some medications from the commissary, but those items were not available there, her daughter explained.

Dora Schriro, a former ICE employee who now works as a special adviser to the American Bar Association, explained that legal precedent requires the government to provide people in immigration detention with the same level of care given to those in regular jails awaiting trial. However, administrators have discretionary authority and medical care standards differ.

Detainees are often relocated across the nation without advance notice, disrupting their treatment. A woman from El Salvador reported missing a week of HIV medication when transferred from Colorado to a Wyoming county jail.

A man from Russia documented that while held in Texas, he consulted with a gastroenterologist regarding painful gallstones and arranged a surgical consultation. “Unfortunately, I never got to see him, due to my being moved around various detention centers.”

Advocacy groups report that even clear disabilities, such as legal blindness, are overlooked.

One detainee who had lost one eye and suffered from severe glaucoma in the remaining eye needed eye drops twice daily to preserve his remaining sight. However, he reported that some days the medication was not provided.

He documented that his vision was rapidly declining, and he feared complete blindness would prevent him from ever seeing his infant son again.

Drivers traveling on Bryants Corner Road should prepare for traffic delays as construction crews continue work that requires intermittent lane closures.

The affected stretch runs from Hazlettville Road to Westville Road, where workers are causing periodic lane restrictions throughout the day.

The construction-related closures are scheduled to remain in effect until 6PM today. Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time when using this route.

The USS Ford has returned to its home port following almost a year of overseas deployment. The homecoming allows sailors aboard the massive vessel to enjoy some much-deserved time off after their extended mission at sea.

However, the return also presents an opportunity to tackle significant plumbing issues that have plagued the $13 billion aircraft carrier. These repairs can now be properly addressed with the ship back in port.