Category: U.S. News

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.

STARKE, Fla. — A Florida man who admitted to fatally harming his girlfriend’s 5-month-old daughter and disposing of her body in a pond 30 years ago faces execution Tuesday night.

Andrew Richard Lukehart, 53, is slated to receive a lethal three-drug injection beginning at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke. A jury convicted him of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in 1997 for killing baby Gabrielle Hanshaw in 1996, leading to his death sentence.

The execution would mark Florida’s eighth this year, coming after a record-breaking 19 executions in 2025. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis presided over more executions in 2025 than any Florida governor since capital punishment resumed in 1976. The prior record stood at eight executions in 2014.

Court documents reveal that in February 1996, Lukehart was babysitting his girlfriend’s infant while she tended to her sick older daughter at their Jacksonville residence. The girlfriend reported that Lukehart left the home in his vehicle, and baby Gabrielle was nowhere to be found. About half an hour later, Lukehart contacted his girlfriend and instructed her to contact authorities, claiming the infant had been abducted and he was pursuing the kidnapper.

That same evening, authorities located Lukehart in an adjacent county after his vehicle had crashed off the roadway. During interrogation the following day, Lukehart admitted to investigators that Gabrielle died when he dropped her on her head and subsequently shook her. He told officers he became frightened and disposed of the baby’s body in a pond. Authorities searched the water and recovered the child’s remains.

Last week, the Florida Supreme Court rejected Lukehart’s appeals. His legal team argued that kidney disease medication he was taking might interact dangerously with the execution drugs. They also contended that scheduling the execution just one month after the death warrant was signed violated his due process rights.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court turned down Lukehart’s final appeal.

Nationwide, 47 individuals were executed in 2025. Florida topped the list with numerous death warrants issued by DeSantis. Alabama, South Carolina and Texas each carried out five executions, tying for second place.

Florida has another execution scheduled later this month. Dusty Ray Spencer, 74, received a death sentence for the fatal stabbing of his wife in 1992.

The state Department of Corrections reports that all Florida executions use lethal injection involving a sedative, a paralytic agent and a drug that stops the heart.

Seven people are dead following a series of shootings that occurred across multiple locations in Muscatine, Iowa on June 1, according to local authorities.

The violence ended when the shooter took his own life after killing six others in the Mississippi River community, which sits along the border with Illinois.

According to a statement from the Muscatine Police Department, early findings from their investigation suggest the shootings “stemmed from a domestic-related dispute.”

A judge has approved a mental health evaluation for a man facing murder charges in connection with three brutal deaths on Hawaii’s Big Island that prosecutors are calling extraordinarily vicious and cruel.

Jacob Baker, 36, made a court appearance Monday where the judge approved his defense team’s request for a psychological fitness assessment. Baker stands accused of killing three elderly victims: two men aged 69 and another aged 79.

Court filings describe the murders as demonstrating “exceptional depravity,” with prosecutors characterizing them as “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.”

The victims were discovered over several days last week in the remote Puna area. Robert Shine, 69, was discovered submerged in a concrete pond. A day later, authorities found the body of 79-year-old Frederick Morse, known to friends as “Chitta,” located several hundred feet from where Shine was found. Police later that same day discovered 69-year-old John Carse deceased at a location 19 miles away from the other crime scenes.

Authorities conducted an extensive search across the expansive island before capturing Baker. The Puna region where the victims were located is characterized by dense vegetation and volcanic terrain, attracting residents who prefer alternative lifestyles and often exchange labor for housing.

The violent deaths have created anxiety among community members in this area surrounded by tropical forests and hardened lava flows.

Investigation records reveal disturbing evidence, including that Morse was discovered in his bed with multiple severed fingers. Shine suffered broken ribs and additional trauma, having been strangled before being placed in the concrete fish pond where investigators found him floating face-down. Carse was located face-down beneath metal roofing, with an autopsy revealing facial lacerations, damaged neck tissue, a fractured jaw, and other wounds.

A female witness informed police she had transported Baker to a retail location in Hilo, the largest city in eastern Hawaii, prior to the discoveries of the bodies. During their return trip, she reported that Baker displayed a recently bought knife and stated he would “shank all the rapists in Pahoa and anyone who messed with him.” Baker “reportedly spoke about the island being full of rapists and pedophiles and stated that he wanted to ‘chop them up with machetes.’”

The woman characterized Baker’s behavior as unstable, hostile, and excessively talkative, telling authorities he used the Spanish term for assassin when referring to himself. Investigators determined he also bought two sets of brass knuckles.

Following their shopping trip, she accompanied him to a tattoo parlor, where Baker received ink work beneath his left eye.

Baker remains in custody without bond. His psychological evaluation report is scheduled for completion by August 4, with a court hearing set for August 11.

If found guilty and if jurors determine Baker was aware his victims were elderly, or that the killings were particularly savage, he could receive a maximum penalty of life imprisonment without any chance of release. Without these aggravating factors, the possibility of parole would remain.

A motor coach operator is facing multiple manslaughter charges after a devastating multi-vehicle collision on a Virginia interstate that claimed five lives in a fiery chain-reaction accident.

Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, was initially hit with two felony involuntary manslaughter charges on Saturday following the Friday morning crash. A Stafford County Circuit Court grand jury has now expanded the charges, adding three more manslaughter counts and one misdemeanor reckless driving charge on Monday.

The tour bus operator is being held without bail while receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained in the accident, which took place in the early morning on Interstate 95 approximately 45 miles southwest of Washington, D.C.

Investigators determined that Dong did not reduce speed when encountering slower traffic near a construction work area, causing his bus to crash into the rear of a Chevrolet Suburban. The impact pushed the Suburban into an Acura SUV and additional vehicles in the area.

The Acura burst into flames, and four victims, including two minors, died in that vehicle, state police reported. The fifth fatality occurred in the Suburban that received the initial impact from the bus.

State police confirmed that all five deceased victims were Massachusetts residents. The collision left more than 40 additional people with injuries, according to officials.

LAS VEGAS — Authorities arrested a 17-year-old barrel racing participant over the weekend following accusations that she attacked three competing horses with a pocketknife at a Las Vegas venue, police and event officials reported.

Officers responded to reports of an injured animal early Saturday at South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, located approximately 8 miles from the Strip and featuring an extensive equestrian facility. Investigators discovered that three horses had sustained injuries, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated.

Animal cruelty investigators identified the teenage girl, who had barn access, as a potential suspect. Police did not release the 17-year-old’s name but confirmed she faces 12 charges connected to animal maiming and torture, plus three counts of malicious destruction of private property, according to law enforcement and the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa.

The injured animals underwent medical care from the event’s on-site veterinarian for wounds that were not life-threatening. While the horses are anticipated to make full recoveries, they will be unable to compete in upcoming events.

The incident occurred during a National Barrel Horse Association competition where top performers earned substantial cash prizes. Barrel racing involves riders guiding their horses around barrels positioned in a cloverleaf formation within a timed format. The National Barrel Horse Association verified the teenager was participating in the Las Vegas competition.

“The safety and well-being of all guests, participants and equine athletes on property is our highest priority, and we are thankful that all the horses involved are safe,” the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa said in a statement to The Associated Press. “In over 20 years of having over 35 equestrian events each year, no horses have ever been purposely injured by a contestant at the South Point Arena.”

Three competitors shared their experiences on social media, describing how they discovered their horses with multiple stab wounds.

Arielle Phillips reported on Facebook that she observed the suspect near the barn housing her horse, Detail, shortly after midnight. Phillips explained she departed and returned moments later to discover the girl washing blood from her horse’s wounds.

A veterinarian confirmed Detail had been stabbed repeatedly, she stated.

“She is traumatized,” Phillips wrote of her horse. “Everytime she runs away from the approach of my hand, I burst into tears.”

Hailey Krahenbuhl’s horse, Saaul Good, nicknamed “Sully,” also suffered multiple stab wounds, she shared on Facebook. The pair had dominated U.S. barrel racing and claimed first place in their category Friday, just hours before the attack, the National Barrel Horse Association confirmed. Krahenbuhl earned $1,805 for the victory, organization records showed.

A third horse, Rocket, was stabbed three times, the owner reported.

An Iraqi citizen facing charges for allegedly orchestrating at least 18 attacks across Europe entered a not guilty plea Monday in a Manhattan federal courtroom, where he declared himself a “prisoner of war” and made statements about civilian casualties.

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi eventually took his seat in the federal courthouse after two marshals approached him at the judge’s direction. One marshal placed a hand on his shoulder to guide him to his chair.

Al-Saadi appeared cooperative rather than disruptive as he made comments beyond his plea response. The charges allege he conspired to provide material support to Kata’ib Hizballah, an Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militant group, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“I’m not guilty in a war situation,” Al-Saadi stated, before adding through an Arabic translator: “I’m a prisoner of war. I’m not a threat. Children and women are being killed by your rockets.”

Judge Colleen McMahon responded by saying: “The defendant will be seated please,” which prompted the marshals behind Al-Saadi to move up to where he was seated.

The U.S. government has designated both Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as foreign terrorist organizations. Federal prosecutors allege Al-Saadi served as a Kata’ib Hizballah commander.

However, his attorney, Andrew Dalack, informed the judge that his client was employed by the Iraqi government, though he did not elaborate on the specific role.

The defense attorney revealed Al-Saadi spent two weeks in an underground Turkish prison before being transferred to FBI custody.

“I’m sure it was unpleasant, to say the least,” the judge said.

Dalack explained Al-Saadi has been held in solitary confinement at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn but hopes to contact Iraqi diplomatic counsel and his mother and siblings, though he anticipates the U.S. government will severely restrict his communications.

When charges against Al-Saadi were announced last month, Dalack told reporters that his client believed he was being persecuted for his relationship with Qasem Soleimani, the Revolutionary Guard leader who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020.

The 18 European attacks Al-Saadi is charged with include the firebombing of a bank in Amsterdam and with stabbing Jewish men in London.

Federal authorities also stated in court documents that he attempted to attack a New York City synagogue last month and provided an undercover law enforcement officer with photos and maps of Jewish centers in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona, that he planned to target.

Al-Saadi is also accused of involvement in two recent attacks in Canada: an attack on a synagogue and a shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto in March. U.S. prosecutors said he directed and urged other people to attack U.S. and Israeli interests, including by killing Americans and Jews.

Al-Saadi posted about the attacks on Snapchat and Telegram and spoke about them in phone calls recorded by an FBI informant whose help he solicited in planning attacks in the U.S., according to court papers.

NEW YORK (AP) — Despite reaching a settlement just one month ago, the courtroom drama between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continues.

The two performers recently announced they had resolved their dispute without going to trial, ending Lively’s allegations that Baldoni orchestrated a reputation-damaging campaign against her following her accusations of sexual harassment during production of their 2024 movie “It Ends With Us.”

However, on Monday, Lively’s attorneys appeared before a judge seeking to force Baldoni to cover her attorney costs and additional penalties. Her legal team argued she deserves compensation under California legislation because a judge dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit last year, which had accused her of defamation and extortion.

Both performers were absent from the proceedings in front of U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman in New York.

Baldoni’s attorney, Ellyn Garofalo, criticized Lively’s team for attempting “an end run” around the trial that was avoided through their settlement agreement. Though the monetary details of their resolution remain confidential, Garofalo informed the court it concluded without Baldoni or his production company “paying a cent of the $300 million in damages she was demanding.”

“Reopening this for basically what is an alternative trial would involve reopening discovery, new experts, new expert depositions,” she said.

Michael Gottlieb, representing Lively, contends that Baldoni’s legal action against Lively exemplified exactly the type of case the California statute aims to prevent. The legislation seeks to shield sexual harassment survivors from lengthy and harmful court battles.

Following more than an hour of legal arguments, Liman withheld an immediate decision.

The performers have been engaged in litigation since the end of 2024 concerning the troubled production of “It Ends With Us.”

Lively had alleged that Baldoni made unwelcome remarks about her physical appearance during filming, crossed physical boundaries while shooting intimate scenes, and insisted on nudity during a childbirth sequence despite her objections.

She further claimed Baldoni and his production company then coordinated a campaign to harm her public image and undermine her credibility, anticipating she might publicly reveal her grievances.

Baldoni, who both directed and appeared in the dark romantic drama alongside Lively, rejected claims of harassment or orchestrating any smear tactics. He maintained that her allegations were fabricated as part of her scheme to gain creative authority over the film. His countersuit targeted both Lively and her spouse, “Deadpool” star Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion.

The court eventually threw out Lively’s sexual harassment allegations, determining she couldn’t pursue them under federal statutes since she worked as an independent contractor rather than an employee on set. Her retaliation claims were proceeding toward trial before the settlement was reached.

Following their agreement, both parties issued a joint statement acknowledging that Lively’s concerns “deserved to be heard” and expressing their shared commitment to “workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.”

“It Ends With Us,” based on Colleen Hoover’s popular 2016 novel exploring a relationship that becomes abusive, hit theaters in August 2024 and performed better than anticipated at the box office.

Lively gained recognition through the 2005 movie “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and starred in “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012, later appearing in films such as “The Town” and “The Shallows.”

Baldoni gained fame through the television comedy “Jane the Virgin,” helmed the 2019 movie “Five Feet Apart,” and authored “Man Enough,” examining contemporary masculinity concepts.

A Newark resident is facing stalking and indecent exposure charges after police say he was caught peering into someone’s apartment windows on multiple occasions.

According to Newark Police, the man was taken into custody after being identified as the person responsible for several incidents involving a victim’s residence. Investigators say the suspect was observed looking through the windows of the victim’s apartment building on different occasions.

Police report that during at least one of these incidents, which occurred on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, around 9:45 a.m., the man allegedly exposed himself while engaging in this behavior.

The arrest came after police were able to identify the suspect in connection with the multiple window peeping incidents. Authorities have not released additional details about how the suspect was identified or whether there may be other victims.

The case remains under investigation by Newark Police.

A motorcoach operator who had faced previous speeding violations received additional criminal charges Monday following a deadly multi-vehicle collision in Virginia that claimed five lives and left dozens injured.

Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, originally faced two involuntary manslaughter charges after the early Friday morning collision on Interstate 95. Monday’s grand jury decision added three more involuntary manslaughter charges plus one reckless driving charge, the Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office announced.

Officials report that Dong was operating a motorcoach traveling from New York to North Carolina when he collided with multiple vehicles that had reduced speed in a construction area. The victims included a Massachusetts family of four from Greenfield who were traveling to attend a wedding, along with a 25-year-old woman from Worcester, Massachusetts.

While Dong remained in the hospital Monday, court records reveal he had previously faced speeding allegations in Colonial Heights, Virginia, during November 2024 and in Annapolis, Maryland, this past March. The Maryland incident involved accusations of operating a motorcoach at 72 mph in a 50 mph zone.

The Virginia speeding case resulted in a conviction for traveling 73 mph in a 55 mph zone, with Dong paying $219 in fines and court costs. He also faces a pending trespassing charge in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, from July.

E&P Travel Inc., headquartered in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, operated the bus involved in Friday’s collision. A board member confirmed the National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation into the crash.

Legal documents from the bus crash case do not identify an attorney representing Dong. Attorneys handling his trespassing case and Maryland speeding case did not respond to Monday requests for comment.

Prosecutor Eric Olsen stated that Dong will be transferred to jail following his hospital discharge.

Military operations targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters have resulted in over 200 fatalities since September, when the current administration launched what it describes as a necessary effort to combat drug smuggling.

The ongoing strikes have been accompanied by limited evidence supporting administration claims about eliminating “narco-terrorists,” with U.S. President Donald Trump characterizing the situation as an “armed conflict.”

Legal experts and critics have raised concerns about both the lawfulness and effectiveness of these operations, noting that fentanyl responsible for numerous fatal overdoses typically enters the U.S. through overland routes from Mexico. The targeted vessels operating in Caribbean and eastern Pacific waters are known to transport cocaine rather than fentanyl.

Trump has argued that traditional methods of intercepting vessels at sea over many decades have proven ineffective. However, the U.S. Coast Guard achieved record cocaine seizures in 2024, the last year of former U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, confiscating 225 metric tons of the substance.

The military operations commenced in September near Venezuela’s Caribbean coastline and extended to the Eastern Pacific by October. October proved to be the most lethal month of the campaign, with 45 fatalities recorded. Pacific waters have seen the majority of this year’s strikes.

Trump and other high-ranking officials have maintained that these vessels are operated by narco-terrorists and cartel operatives.

The Associated Press conducted investigations in a Venezuelan region where some suspected boats originated and confirmed the identities of four men killed in the operations. Through multiple interviews, local residents and family members described the deceased as primarily laborers or fishermen earning $500 per voyage.

These strikes coincided with the most significant U.S. military presence in Latin America in decades, part of a pressure strategy that led to the January arrest of Venezuela’s then-President Nicolás Maduro.

More than 60 vessels have been targeted during the extended operation.

Trump has asserted that the strikes have destroyed fentanyl-carrying boats and that each eliminated vessel has prevented 25,000 American deaths. Experts and former U.S. counternarcotics officials characterize Trump’s claims as either greatly exaggerated or factually incorrect.

Over the last ten years, U.S. officials have consistently warned about increasing overdose fatalities, especially from opioids and synthetic opioids. Opioid overdose deaths peaked during 2021-2023 at approximately 80,000 annually but decreased to an estimated 55,000 in 2024. Experts credit this reduction partially to Biden administration efforts to increase access to life-saving overdose prevention medications. Federal statistics indicate further decline, with an estimated 44,000 deaths last year.

Conversely, cocaine overdose deaths, primarily from drugs produced in Colombia and Peru, occur less frequently than fentanyl fatalities. Approximately 22,000 Americans died from cocaine overdoses in 2024, declining from over 29,000 the previous year, according to federal data. Cocaine overdose deaths dropped further to an estimated 19,000 in 2025.

South American drug shipments to the U.S. consist primarily of cocaine. Fentanyl typically enters the U.S. through overland Mexican routes, where it’s manufactured using chemicals imported from China and India.

The operation has faced severe criticism, particularly after revelations that military forces killed survivors of the initial boat attack in a subsequent strike. Administration officials and numerous Republican lawmakers defended the actions as legal and necessary, while Democratic lawmakers and legal scholars characterized the killings as murder or potential war crimes.

Amanda Klasing, national director for government relations at rights watchdog Amnesty International USA, stated last week that the “extrajudicial killings are becoming normalized” as casualties continue mounting.

“Not only are these killings illegal, they are immoral,” she said. “People of good conscience cannot allow this to continue, yet Congress has so far failed to halt, or even slow down, this lethal and unlawful campaign.”

In January, relatives of two Trinidadian nationals killed in an October boat strike filed a federal lawsuit, describing the attack as a war crime and part of an “unprecedented and manifestly unlawful U.S. military campaign.” The legal complaint reflects widespread concerns about the boat strikes, highlighting that they lack congressional authorization and occur during peacetime when no military conflict exists between the U.S. and drug cartels that would justify lethal attacks under international law.

“These premeditated and intentional killings lack any plausible legal justification. Thus, they were simply murders, ordered by individuals at the highest levels of government and obeyed by military officers in the chain of command,” the lawsuit states.

NEW YORK (AP) — A heated confrontation at CBS News has exposed deep divisions within the legendary “60 Minutes” program, as veteran reporter Scott Pelley launched a scathing attack against network leadership during a staff meeting this week.

During Monday’s introduction of new executive producer Nick Bilton, Pelley directly challenged CBS News chief Bari Weiss, claiming she was “murdering the show” and questioning Bilton’s credentials for his new role, according to media reports from Status, a publication focused on industry coverage.

The tense 10 a.m. gathering saw Pelley interrogating Bilton about recent dismissals, including former producer Tanya Simon and reporters Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, Status reported after obtaining audio from the meeting. Weiss did not attend the session.

The veteran correspondent criticized Bilton’s background, telling him his credentials were “slender” for leading the prestigious newsmagazine. Bilton previously worked as a technology writer and documentary maker without traditional television news experience.

Pelley’s criticism extended beyond the new producer to Weiss herself, claiming she lacked proper qualifications and had caused “catastrophic” damage to “CBS Evening News,” which Pelley formerly hosted, according to Status.

When Bilton defended his boss, saying “Bari loves this institution” and “she loves ’60 Minutes,’” Pelley fired back with harsh words. “She’s murdering ’60 minutes.’ She does not love this place. She was brought in to kill it and she’s doing exactly that,” Status quoted him as saying.

CBS News representatives did not respond immediately to requests for comment about the confrontation.

However, a network insider speaking anonymously told The Associated Press that both Weiss and Bilton had attempted to contact Pelley privately following last week’s staff changes. They wanted to reassure him of his importance to the program and their desire for his continued involvement.

The source expressed disappointment that Pelley chose to voice his concerns publicly despite their private outreach efforts.

The New York Times, which also reviewed meeting recordings, described Pelley’s distinctive voice trembling during the exchange. An unnamed meeting participant told the newspaper that while Weiss had planned to attend, staff “asked her not to.”

The confrontation occurred four days after Weiss announced significant changes to the 57-year-old program in a staff memo, declaring it was time for fresh leadership at the top-rated news show. Weiss has generated controversy since assuming control of CBS News last October.

In their announcement, Weiss and CBS News president Tom Cibrowski outlined their vision for “building a show that thrives in the 21st century.”

“That requires a new approach,” they explained, describing plans for “expanding ’60 Minutes’ beyond a one-hour television broadcast, deepening its role across CBS News, and holding everything we produce to the ambition, fairness, and fearlessness that have defined ’60 Minutes’ at its best.”

The executives praised Bilton’s appointment, stating he “embodies the energy and ambition that animated the founders of the show. We cannot imagine a better fit.”

According to Status, other staff members applauded Pelley multiple times during his remarks, particularly when he criticized the recent dismissals as harsh treatment.

Bilton reportedly stood his ground against the veteran correspondent’s challenges. “I have been a journalist for 25 years, Scott,” Status quoted him as responding. “I have sat and talked with incredibly powerful people like you have. None of it intimidates me, OK? So you are not going to intimidate me in front of this group of people.”

An Iraqi citizen suspected of belonging to an Iran-supported militia group created a disruption in a Manhattan federal courtroom Monday while entering a not guilty plea to terrorism-related charges.

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi declared his innocence in an unexpected courtroom statement, telling the court “I am not a criminal.”

The defendant appeared in Manhattan federal court where his attorney, Andrew Dalack, submitted a not guilty plea for eight criminal counts, including conspiracy to provide material support to Kata’ib Hezbollah, which U.S. authorities classify as a terrorist organization backed by Iran.

Speaking through an Arabic interpreter, Al-Saadi stated: “I am not guilty and we are in a war situation.”

The defendant continued his remarks, telling the court “Children are being killed by your rockets,” while making gestures toward the area where U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon and Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office prosecutors were positioned.

Al-Saadi did not specify which particular incident he was referencing in his statement.

Iranian authorities report that a February 28 attack on a girls’ school in Iran resulted in the deaths of more than 175 children and teachers.

According to Reuters reporting, a preliminary internal U.S. military review indicated American forces were probably responsible for the incident, based on information from two U.S. officials.

Pentagon officials have not confirmed any initial conclusions from their investigation. A Pentagon representative stated Monday that the inquiry remains active.

During Monday’s proceedings, Al-Saadi appeared in a beige prison uniform with shackles around his ankles.

When the defendant began speaking, McMahon spoke loudly and commanded him to sit down. Two U.S. marshals who had been positioned behind Al-Saadi moved toward the defense table, and he complied with the order to be seated as they approached.

U.S. authorities took Al-Saadi into custody in Turkey last month during a period of increased American focus on Iran-supported militia groups accused of attacking American personnel and allies in various regions since the U.S. and Israel entered into conflict with Iran.

Federal prosecutors state that Kata’ib Hezbollah operates under the direction of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to prosecutors, Al-Saadi assisted in planning roughly 18 attacks across Europe in recent months, though not all of these attacks were carried out, and during March and April he conspired to conduct attacks within the United States, including targeting a New York synagogue.

Drivers traveling on Pennsylvania Avenue should plan for potential delays as construction activity has resulted in the closure of the southbound right lane at Kennett Place.

The lane restriction is scheduled to remain in place until 5 PM today, according to traffic officials.

Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone and to consider alternate routes if possible to avoid congestion in the area.

Officials in Newark, New Jersey are responding to escalating demonstrations outside an immigration detention facility with the implementation of a curfew. The mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, spoke with NPR’s Juana Summers regarding the deteriorating situation surrounding protests at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility.

According to reports, the demonstrations taking place outside the detention center have become increasingly violent over recent days, prompting city leadership to take action. The curfew represents the mayor’s response to address public safety concerns as tensions continue to rise in the area surrounding the facility.

LGBTQ+ celebrations have kicked off nationwide this month, with colorful parades and community gatherings taking place from major metropolitan areas to smaller communities.

This year’s rainbow-themed events unfold while President Donald Trump’s administration implements measures aimed at reducing transgender rights and limiting diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

According to Jordan Braxton, co-president of USA Prides, an organization representing Pride groups nationwide, these celebrations have always maintained their activist origins.

“A festival is a time to celebrate,” she said. “Those are acts of resistance, too.”

These commemorations trace back to a brutal police assault on the Stonewall Inn, a New York gay establishment, which occurred on June 28, 1969.

That incident triggered widespread public demonstrations and launched the modern gay rights movement during an era when most LGBTQ+ individuals concealed their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Commemorative marches took place one year later in June 1970 across Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco to honor that milestone.

Today, similar events occur in major metropolitan areas, suburban communities and rural towns globally.

In 1999, President Bill Clinton designated June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month through an executive proclamation. Democratic presidents have continued this tradition annually during their terms, while Republican presidents, including Trump, have declined to issue such declarations.

While parades and street festivals serve as the main attractions for Pride observances, many communities offer additional programming.

San Francisco Pride incorporates a golf tournament and human rights conference. Twin Cities Pride in Minneapolis organizes a bar crawl, while Central Alabama Pride in Birmingham hosts a vocal competition.

Major celebrations this year include Los Angeles on June 14, Chicago on June 20 and 21, San Francisco on June 27 and New York on June 28. International observances are planned this month in Paris, Rome, Sao Paulo and Tokyo.

While these established events span more than five decades, Haddon Township, New Jersey, a Philadelphia suburb, will host only its sixth official Pride celebration. A parade is planned for Thursday, followed by a community gathering on Friday.

Isis Petrie Williams, president of Haddon Township Pride, expects 2,000 to 3,000 parade participants, including area high school marching bands, youth athletic teams and many volunteers distributing candy.

“We decided to have a radical expression of joy, acceptance and love, centered on exposure and community connection,” she said.

For many years, government policies nationwide generally became more inclusive toward LGBTQ+ individuals, culminating in the June 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision that established marriage equality nationwide.

Recently, however, multiple policies have shifted in the opposite direction.

In March, the Supreme Court struck down Colorado’s prohibition on “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ+ minors, determining it infringed upon free speech rights.

Last year during Pride Month, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s prohibition on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth.

Throughout this decade, most Republican-led state legislatures have enacted comparable limitations on gender-affirming treatment, prohibited transgender women and girls from participating in female athletic competitions, and regulated restroom access for transgender individuals in educational settings and sometimes other public facilities.

Trump has issued executive directives pursuing similar policies at the federal level.

On Monday, one such policy faced a setback when a court determined that the military’s transgender service member prohibition was unlawful.

Corporate support for Pride events declined last year among some major companies.

Braxton observed that investment companies are reducing their involvement this year, following the lead of corporations like Anheuser-Busch and Walmart in the previous year.

“It’s all because of Trump’s DEI policies. Corporations are afraid that if they sponsor a Pride event, they are going to get scrutinized from this administration, which is completely sad,” she said.

However, she noted that smaller celebrations have experienced increased support from local business sponsors.

This trend holds true for Haddon Township Pride in New Jersey. Williams reported that the Coast Guard represents the only major national sponsor to withdraw support in recent years.

In contrast, area hospitals, dining establishments, legal practices, coffee houses and other local enterprises are providing financial backing.

Officials have confirmed that Ayona Bradley has been found safe, leading to the cancellation of the Gold Alert that had been issued for her disappearance.

The alert, which mobilizes law enforcement and the public to assist in locating missing individuals, is no longer active following Bradley’s recovery.

North Carolina authorities deployed wildlife camera technology and aerial drones to track down and capture a man accused of killing a Virginia sheriff’s deputy during what was supposed to be a routine welfare check, officials announced.

Michael Puckett, 55, was taken into custody Sunday evening in Surry County, North Carolina, just a few miles south of the Virginia border. Law enforcement found him carrying a firearm as he approached the front door of a residence. He remains held without bail, according to the state bureau of investigation. The manhunt involved multiple police agencies working together.

During Monday’s extradition proceedings, Puckett declined legal representation and agreed to be transferred back to Virginia, WXII-TV reported.

The deadly incident began Friday when Carroll County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a family member’s request for a wellness check in Virginia. Upon arrival at the residence, a man inside opened fire on the responding officers, who shot back in defense. Both deputies sustained gunshot wounds before the shooter fled the scene. Additional people inside the home were unharmed during the exchange, Carroll County Sheriff Kevin Kemp confirmed.

Deputy Logan Utt lost his life in the shooting. His partner, who was protected by body armor when struck, has been released from medical care and is recovering at his residence in stable condition, Kemp reported Sunday.

Law enforcement launched an extensive search operation for the gunman, who was captured on a trail camera in Surry County, North Carolina, near Mount Airy on Sunday morning. Investigators then deployed unmanned aircraft to monitor his location and movement patterns.

The fallen deputy, age 31, served his country in the military before joining the sheriff’s department in 2023. A memorial convoy was planned for Monday afternoon, traveling from Roanoke, Virginia, to Mount Airy, where Utt previously worked as a firefighter.

“He had a servant’s heart. He cared for others, he cared for his country, he cared for his family,” Kemp said.

A federal judge on Monday agreed to delay civil court proceedings regarding the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore following a series of recent settlements that resolved the majority of outstanding claims.

U.S. District Judge James Bredar voiced his displeasure with the timing of last week’s settlement agreements, which included resolutions for all outstanding wrongful death claims involving six construction workers. The workers had been repairing potholes when the container vessel Dali experienced power failure and struck the bridge during early morning hours on March 26, 2024.

Nearly all remaining claims involve businesses and local governments seeking compensation for economic damages. None of the parties still involved requested to proceed with the trial as originally planned for this week.

Bredar, appointed to his position by Democratic President Barack Obama, had been set to hear opening arguments Monday for proceedings anticipated to run about five weeks. He delayed the case indefinitely while considering legal arguments that might result in additional settlements and potentially conclude the litigation without trial.

The judge stated he was “highly frustrated,” while recognizing that civil lawsuits frequently reach settlements just before trial begins.

“It’s not directed at just one side or another. It takes two to tango,” Bredar said. “I’m frustrated on behalf of the public (and) the court.”

Settlement terms with the construction workers’ families were not made public.

Under two weeks earlier, Bredar had denied a previous motion to postpone the trial following criminal charges filed against companies responsible for managing the Dali.

On May 12, Justice Department prosecutors revealed indictments against Singapore-based Synergy Marine Pte Ltd. and Chennai, India-based Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd.

The vessel’s operator and its technical superintendent face charges including conspiracy, misconduct causing death, failure to promptly notify the U.S. Coast Guard of dangerous conditions, obstructing the National Transportation Safety Board and providing false statements.

The criminal charges allege the ship operator deliberately used an inappropriate fuel pump and subsequently misled investigators about it.

Synergy Marine criticized prosecutors for inappropriately treating an accident as criminal conduct and stated it would “vigorously” fight the indictment’s “inaccurate” claims.

“This was a maritime casualty that should be assessed through the full factual, technical and regulatory record, rather than through selective mischaracterizations in a criminal indictment,” the company said in a statement last month.

In April, Maryland state officials, Synergy Marine and Grace Ocean Private Limited, the Singapore-based vessel owner, announced a $2.25 billion settlement agreement. Grace Ocean has not faced criminal charges related to the collapse.

Among those with unresolved claims is the city of Baltimore, which seeks economic damages attributed to the bridge’s destruction. The city joined the companies in requesting trial postponement.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Final arguments concluded Monday in the murder trial of a convenience store owner who fatally shot a 14-year-old Black teenager in 2023, with attorneys presenting vastly different versions of what led to the deadly encounter.

The prosecution contends the shooting was without justification, while the defense maintains that Chikei Rick Chow, 61, fired his weapon only to protect his son from harm.

The Asian store owner shot Cyrus Carmack-Belton in the back while pursuing him on foot through Columbia. Chow mistakenly thought the teenager had taken four water bottles from his gas station convenience store, according to prosecutors. The death sparked significant pain and mourning within Richland County’s African American community, which makes up nearly half the area’s residents.

While Chow acknowledges firing the fatal shot, his legal team contends that Carmack-Belton aimed a weapon at Chow’s son Andy, prompting the father to discharge one round in defense of his child.

The prosecution concedes the teenager possessed a semiautomatic handgun but maintains it dropped to the pavement during the pursuit and was never used to threaten anyone. According to prosecutors, Chow pursued the teen for more than 130 yards beyond his store.

Community members organized memorial gatherings outside the business following the incident, arranging empty water containers to form the name “Cyrus.”

Witness Lori Carson told the court she observed Carmack-Belton fleeing from the store while Chow and his son gave chase. She testified she never observed a weapon or any other object in the teenager’s possession and described him as appearing frightened.

The defense argues Chow acted in an instant to safeguard his son’s life. They point to Chow’s attempts to perform CPR on Carmack-Belton as evidence he harbored no ill will — a necessary component for murder conviction under South Carolina law.

NEW YORK (AP) — Physical bookstores faced extinction when Ann Patchett launched Parnassus Books in 2011, as Nashville witnessed the closure of two major book retailers while Amazon’s market dominance continued expanding. Though Amazon maintains its leading position, traditional bookshops have made a comeback — with author-operated stores like Patchett’s forming their own specialized category, spanning locations from Brooklyn to New Mexico.

Below is a cross-country look at bookstores run by published writers.

In Key West, Florida, Judy Blume and her spouse George Cooper have established themselves as community mainstays. Cooper assisted in transforming a former movie theater into a multi-purpose complex, while both helped establish the nonprofit Books & Books — a satellite of the Miami-based chain that launched in 2016 — situated near the town’s primary thoroughfare. Though Blume gained international recognition for works like “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” visitors often encounter her working the cash register, assisting customers with book selections, or welcoming devoted readers who’ve journeyed considerable distances to meet the writer they credit with transforming their lives.

Louise Erdrich established Birchbark in Minneapolis in 2001 with a purpose deeply connected to her Ojibwe heritage (she holds citizenship in the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians). The shop focuses on Indigenous writings and describes itself as a gathering place for “literate Indigenous people who have survived over half a millennium on this continent.” Birchbark even inspired Erdrich’s 2021 work “The Sentence,” told through the perspective of a bookstore worker whose supervisor happens to be named Louise. “I guess I have some things in common with her,” the writer revealed to GMToday.com.

Lauren Groff’s Gainesville, Florida establishment represents both the author-owned movement and a recent trend of bookstores with broader social purposes. Operating in a state ranking among the nation’s top book banners, The Lynx is a general bookstore that Groff and spouse/co-owner Clay Kallman launched in 2024, highlighting titles banned from schools and libraries. “One of the purposes is to create a lighthouse, sort of showing that the rest of the country and world that Florida is not an intolerant backwater,” Groff, writer of National Book Award finalist “Fates and Furies,” shared with the Southern Literary Review in 2025. “It is full of good people who work very hard to allow for the freedom of expression, tolerance, and love of all people.”

Independent bookstores typically operate on a smaller scale, but the massive success of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” franchise allowed author-owner Jeff Kinney to pursue superstore ambitions. Rather than renovating an existing structure, he commissioned an entirely new building with premium features. An Unlikely Story operates from a colonial-style, three-story structure in downtown Plainville, Massachusetts, incorporating a cafe, event venue and creative workspace for the author. Kinney, who launched his shop in 2015, recently announced plans to develop a restaurant, beer garden and park in the downtown district.

Similar to establishments operated by Groff and Erdrich, Santa Fe, New Mexico’s Beastly Books directly reflects its owner’s perspective — “A Game of Thrones” writer George R.R. Martin. The store functions as a “cozy den” for speculative fiction, per its website description, and serves as a sanctuary for banned titles, local authors and rare first editions. Opened in 2019, Beastly Books sits near another Martin property, the Jean Cocteau Cinema, taking its name partly from Cocteau’s renowned film version of “Beauty and the Beast.”

Few bookstore launches result in appearances on Stephen Colbert’s show, but one year following Parnassus’s debut, Ann Patchett appeared on “The Colbert Report,” where the host compared her project to the Nora Ephron romantic comedy “You’ve Got Mail,” featuring Meg Ryan as an independent retailer forced out by a nearby chain. The Nashville-based Parnassus has evolved into one of America’s premier independent booksellers, welcoming visitors including “You’ve Got Mail” co-star Tom Hanks, while providing Patchett a venue to promote fellow writers.

Emma Straub, like Patchett, entered bookselling following a local void: BookCourt, where the writer previously worked, had shuttered. She and spouse Michael Fusco-Straub established Books Are Magic in Brooklyn in 2017. The shop featuring pink exterior murals became a neighborhood favorite and earned national attention, receiving endorsement as a personal preference by “Today” show’s Jenna Bush Hager. Straub and her husband have subsequently opened a second Books Are Magic site within the borough.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Between writing novels, Ann Patchett dedicates considerable time to supporting fellow authors: crafting endorsements for Douglas Stuart, creating video birthday greetings for author-bookseller Emma Straub, or opening interviews by promoting colleagues’ work.

“The new Liz Strout book is the best,” she remarks about Elizabeth Strout’s “The Things We Never Say.” “You know, every single book she publishes, you just think, ‘Oh, well, she can’t possibly do that again.’ And then she comes out with another book and it’s even better.”

Now 62, Patchett has achieved the uncommon position of being a writer whose recommendations carry weight with both colleagues and the general public. She operates Parnassus Books, one of America’s premier independent bookstores, serving everyone from local literature enthusiasts to celebrity customers like Tom Hanks. As a celebrated novelist, her upcoming releases consistently rank among the year’s most eagerly awaited titles, while her earlier works, including the renowned “Bel Canto,” maintain strong sales. The National Humanities Medal recognized her contributions in 2021 for “putting into words the beauty, pain, and complexity of human nature.”

Though her works have appeared in over 20 languages worldwide, Patchett remains rooted in Nashville, where she spent childhood years and currently resides with her husband, physician Karl VanDevender. During a recent interview with The Associated Press at Parnassus, conducted on a bright weekday morning before store hours, she also gathered with staff members in the center of the 4,800-square-foot space to plan upcoming events, occasionally interrupted by employee-owned “shop dogs” that roam the premises like eager shoppers.

Patchett arrived early to discuss “Whistler,” launching Tuesday. Similar to “Bel Canto,” “State of Wonder” and her other novels, it chronicles unexpected encounters that develop into meaningful relationships. The story follows 53-year-old Daphne Fuller and her spouse, who meet elderly Eddie Triplett at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and discover he was once her stepfather during her childhood. Daphne and Eddie develop a strong friendship while revisiting shared memories, including a severe automobile accident that preceded Eddie’s divorce from her mother.

While Patchett avoids writing with predetermined themes, “Whistler” reads like a celebration of kindness and goodwill. The book’s title comes from a tale about a horse that escapes but returns during a moment of need. Following the crash, when Daphne questions whether it’s safe to leave for assistance, Eddie reassures her, “I swear to you, it’s mostly good people out there, with a few bad people around the edges.”

“The people that I interact with every single day are good people,” Patchett explains. “It is vanishingly rare when I meet someone who’s not nice. Now, if you watch the news and read the news, it seems like everyone’s terrible and murderous. But it’s the difference between primary and secondary sources. So if I’m just operating off primary sources, what I see is goodness. I completely understand that there is incredible horror and cruelty in the world, but I also feel like incredible horror and cruelty is very well represented (in art). And what I actually experience in my daily life is not as well represented in art.”

“I don’t set out to write books about nice people,” she continues, “but I like people.”

PEN America recently honored Patchett’s civic contributions by presenting her with its Literary Service Award at the organization’s May gala in Manhattan. Author Patrick Ryan introduced her to hundreds of attendees at the American Museum of Natural History, highlighting her diverse efforts, from working “to get books into the hands of children in underserved communities” to supporting emerging writers and inspiring readers “who recognize themselves in her novels.”

Patchett possesses a deeply personal understanding of human connections and how they can fracture through conflict or end with death.

Born in Los Angeles, she experienced her parents’ divorce during early childhood and relocated eastward with her mother — experiences that informed her novel “Commonwealth.” She has also penned tributes to deceased loved ones. The memoir “Truth & Beauty” commemorated her close friend Lucy Grealy, a poet and memoir writer who battled a rare cancer and underwent numerous surgeries before dying at 39. The title essay from her 2004 collection “These Precious Days” pays tribute to the late Sooki Raphael, an assistant to Hanks who became close to Patchett while fighting terminal cancer.

“Whistler” bears a dedication to her friend Jim Fox, former chief legal counsel at HarperCollins who passed away in 2024 and served as inspiration for Eddie (and provided the name for a character in “State of Wonder”).

“He was brilliant, and a great reader,” she reflects. “Jim isn’t Eddie and I’m not Daphne, and certainly the circumstances aren’t the same, but the huge love that Eddie and Daphne shared is the huge love Jim and I shared.”

A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa, Patchett recalls creating stories before she could read — an experience that she says deepened her love for written words. Growing up before “young adult” literature emerged, she began with childhood classics like “Charlotte’s Web” and “The Little House on the Prairie” series, then moved directly to literary masters who shaped her development: Saul Bellow, Philip Roth and John Updike.

By her early twenties, Patchett had achieved enough recognition to publish a story in The Paris Review. Her first novel, “The Patron Saint of Liars,” appeared before she reached 30. She has subsequently released nine additional fiction works, including “Whistler,” alongside four nonfiction titles and three picture books illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser.

“I was at my cousins’ house a few months ago and they had boxes of old papers of mine,” Patchett recalls. “And they were from grade school, middle school, high school — notebook after notebook, poetry and stories. I was shocked by the extent I was practicing my craft at age 10.”

Patchett’s bookselling career started around 2010, when two Nashville store closures reflected the nationwide challenges facing independent retailers, partly due to Amazon’s expansion. Patchett and business partner Karen Hayes developed what seemed like an ambitious plan: launching a new bookstore — a decision that drew skepticism initially but now represents the changing landscape for independent booksellers.

American Booksellers Association membership has more than doubled during the past decade — including author-operated establishments like Straub’s Books Are Magic in New York City and Jeff Kinney’s An Unlikely Story in Plainville, Massachusetts. Straub recalls consulting various small business-owning friends when considering opening her store.

“They all told me not to do it, but when I talked to Ann, she said ‘Do it,’” Straub explains. “She’s my hero. I think the friends who were telling me not to do it were speaking practically. But I didn’t want to hear practical advice. I wanted to hear inspiration.”