Category: U.S. News

Federal investigators have concluded that the shooter who opened fire at a downtown Austin bar in March, claiming three lives and injuring more than a dozen others, carried out the attack without assistance from terrorist organizations, according to an FBI report released Thursday.

The bureau issued a two-page summary of their investigation into the early morning March 1 assault at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden, which concluded when the attacker, Ndiaga Diagne, was fatally shot by responding officers.

The violence occurred following military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran. During the attack, Diagne wore clothing featuring Iranian flag imagery and text reading “Property of Allah.”

While investigators could not establish a definitive motive, they believe Diagne’s violent actions were sparked by the military conflict with Iran, “culminating in a violent, impulsive attack” at the establishment, according to the federal report.

The investigation revealed that Diagne held deep admiration for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had been killed. Authorities determined his support for Iran and its former leader likely influenced his decision to carry out the solo assault.

“The investigation to date indicates Diagne was a lone actor,” the federal report stated. Prior to the shooting, he had never been under FBI surveillance or investigation.

The 53-year-old perpetrator was a Senegal native who initially arrived in the United States in 2000 using a B-2 tourist visa, later obtaining permanent residency status in 2006 following his marriage to an American citizen, Department of Homeland Security records show.

“There is no evidence at this time that he was associated with a Foreign Terrorist Organization or that he received any direction, funding, or operational support for his attack,” investigators concluded.

The targeted venue sits within Austin’s bustling entertainment district filled with bars and nightlife establishments. According to police accounts, the gunman initially drove past the location before returning to open fire from his SUV on pedestrians and patrons. He subsequently exited his vehicle armed with a rifle and continued shooting at people on the street until law enforcement arrived and neutralized the threat.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis previously reported that officers reached the scene within 56 seconds of receiving the initial emergency call and eliminated the shooter after he opened fire on police personnel.

The victims claimed in the attack were identified as 21-year-old Savitha Shan, 19-year-old Ryder Harrington, and 30-year-old Jorge Pederson.

Federal authorities indicated their investigation into the deadly incident continues.

A man who threw homemade gasoline bombs at supporters of Israel during a peaceful demonstration in Boulder, Colorado has admitted his guilt to all criminal charges against him in state court.

Mohamed Soliman, a 46-year-old Egyptian citizen, accepted responsibility Thursday for dozens of serious criminal counts, including first-degree murder charges that each carry mandatory life sentences without parole eligibility.

Using an Arabic language translator, Soliman responded “guilty” to every charge read aloud by the Boulder County District Court judge. Court officials anticipated his formal sentencing would occur after a short break in proceedings.

The defendant faced a total of 184 criminal counts related to his June 1, 2025 assault, including various murder charges, attempted murder, assault, and illegal use of explosive and fire-starting devices.

Court documents from both prosecutors and defense attorneys indicate Soliman hurled two homemade firebombs at participants in a peaceful downtown Boulder demonstration organized to highlight the situation of Israeli captives taken by Hamas fighters from Gaza on October 7, 2023.

District attorneys stated that Soliman also wielded an improvised flamethrower created from a commercial weed-killing sprayer during his assault, shouting “Free Palestine” while the gasoline-filled bottles he threw exploded in flames among the crowd.

Officials documented 29 total victims from the incident, including individuals who suffered burns or injuries while escaping and others who were positioned close enough to be considered targets of murder attempts. Karen Diamond, an 82-year-old victim, succumbed to her injuries weeks later that same month.

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Against the backdrop of global conflicts including the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising tensions within NATO, the United States Military Academy conducted its annual Sandhurst Military Skills Competition for the 59th consecutive year.

Over the course of 36 hours, teams of military cadets from both American and international academies faced off in challenging exercises designed to mirror real-world military requirements. This year marked a significant evolution in the competition, as organizers introduced drone warfare simulations controlled through video game interfaces — a new addition reflecting the growing importance of unmanned aircraft in modern combat operations.

The competition concluded with West Point’s black team claiming victory for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year, demonstrating their continued dominance in the prestigious military skills challenge.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Law enforcement officials continued their search Thursday at a California residence linked to the man found guilty of murdering 19-year-old Kristin Smart nearly three decades ago.

Deputies with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant Wednesday as part of their ongoing efforts to locate Smart’s body. The Cal Poly student vanished in 1996, and her remains have never been recovered. She was officially declared dead in 2002. Paul Flores received a conviction in October 2022 and was given a sentence of 25 years to life behind bars.

Officers conducted their search at a residence in Arroyo Grande, a central coast community, where Flores’ mother Susan Flores lives, based on property records and coverage from a podcast that has tracked the case extensively.

“The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to bringing Kristin home to her family,” officials stated. “No further information is available.”

The podcast “Your Own Backyard,” which assisted investigators by encouraging additional witnesses to come forward, broke news of the search and identified the property as belonging to Flores’ mother. Efforts to contact Susan Flores for a response Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Smart disappeared from California Polytechnic State University in May 1996 following her return from a party off campus. Legal officials claimed she died during an attempted sexual assault and that Flores, a fellow student, was the final person seen with her.

Both Flores and his father Ruben Flores faced arrest in 2021.

Prosecutors claimed Smart’s body was initially buried on Ruben Flores’ land before being relocated elsewhere. He was found not guilty of accessory charges. The property searched Wednesday differs from that location.

Paul Flores began serving his prison term in March 2023, where he has suffered physical assaults on at least two occasions.

A court decision in 2024 ordered Paul Flores to pay Smart’s family more than $350,000 to cover expenses they faced following her death.

Smart’s relatives have indicated they would waive the financial compensation if Flores revealed the location of Kristin’s body. Defense attorney Harold Mesick stated in 2024 that his legal team has no knowledge of where her remains might be. Flores continues to deny any wrongdoing.

The county prosecutor’s office confirmed Wednesday it was providing assistance to the sheriff’s department in the investigation.

“While those responsible for Kristin’s death — and those with knowledge of her whereabouts — could provide answers at any time, we remain firmly committed to using every lawful tool available to locate Kristin’s remains and to support her family until she is brought home,” District Attorney Dan Dow said in a statement.

BOULDER, Colo. — A defendant accused of launching a deadly firebomb assault during a pro-Israeli hostage demonstration in Boulder, Colorado last year is expected to enter a guilty plea Thursday on murder and additional charges.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman could receive a life sentence without parole for the June 1st attack in Boulder’s downtown area.

Court documents in a connected federal case show Soliman’s legal team disclosed his intention to admit guilt. He was scheduled to appear Thursday before state District Judge Nancy Salomone to enter his plea.

While facing hate crime allegations in federal court, Soliman has entered a not guilty plea there, and his attorneys report prosecutors are considering pursuing capital punishment in that case.

Originally, Soliman denied guilt in state court on murder charges along with numerous counts of attempted murder and assault for hurling two Molotov cocktails at protesters gathered at a pedestrian shopping area in Boulder, a community of 100,000 residents located northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado.

An elderly woman, age 82, who sustained injuries during the incident subsequently passed away. Twelve additional individuals were also hurt.

Federal authorities identify Soliman as an Egyptian citizen residing unlawfully in the United States. Law enforcement officials claim he spent a year preparing the assault, motivated by his goal “to kill all Zionist people.”

Boulder Mayor Pro Tem Tara Winer described the incident as horrific and noted that victims included close friends.

At the time of the assault, Soliman resided with his family in a two-bedroom residence in Colorado Springs, located approximately 97 miles away. He had relocated to America from Kuwait in 2022 alongside his wife and five children, supporting himself through various low-wage employment.

The couple’s marriage ended in divorce this past April.

Law enforcement alleges Soliman admitted his plan to kill approximately 20 people participating in the regular demonstration at Boulder’s Pearl Street pedestrian mall. He launched two of the more than 24 Molotov cocktails he carried while shouting “Free Palestine!”

Federal prosecutors claim the victims were chosen based on their perceived or real ties to Israel. Soliman’s federal defense team contends he shouldn’t face hate crime charges since his actions stemmed from opposition to Zionism, the political ideology supporting the establishment and maintenance of a Jewish homeland in Israel.

Under federal law, attacks driven by political motivations do not qualify as hate crimes.

NEW YORK — Broadway’s popular musical ‘The Book of Mormon’ has suspended all shows until May 17 following fire damage at its Manhattan theater.

All performances have been called off through Sunday, May 17. Those who purchased tickets for affected shows will receive contact from their ticket vendor regarding refunds or rescheduling options.

In a joint statement released Wednesday, ATG Entertainment and ‘The Book of Mormon’ production said they are collaborating with construction specialists to complete necessary building restoration work. The organizations expressed gratitude to firefighters and first responders for their courage and rapid response.

The fire started May 4 in an electrical control room and caused significant harm to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, New York Fire Department Assistant Chief David Simms reported. Investigators have not yet determined what sparked the blaze. According to the statement, fire crews were alerted immediately, arrived within minutes, and successfully put out the flames.

Simms explained that most damage occurred on the theater’s fourth level and in a back area housing lighting systems and hanging light fixtures. Water damage also occurred during firefighting efforts.

Since its 2011 debut at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, ‘The Book of Mormon’ has become one of Broadway’s most enduring productions, staging over 5,000 performances.

The historic theater, which first opened in 1925, has been home to notable productions including ‘Sweeney Todd,’ a revival of Tennessee Williams’ ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,’ and the rock musical ‘Spring Awakening.’

NEW YORK — A handwritten note that Jeffrey Epstein’s former cellmate says he discovered after the wealthy financier’s initial suicide attempt has been publicly released following nearly five years in a sealed court vault.

Federal Judge Kenneth Karas in White Plains, New York, authorized the document’s release this Wednesday after The New York Times filed a petition last week seeking to unseal it along with other materials from a legal case involving the cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione.

The existence of this note remained largely unknown until Tartaglione, a former law enforcement officer now serving life imprisonment for the murders of four individuals, discussed it during a podcast appearance last year. According to Tartaglione, he found the note inside a book within his cell following the July 23, 2019 incident when Epstein was discovered with bedsheet material wrapped around his neck.

The brief, somewhat illegible note reads: “They investigated me for month — found nothing!!!” It continues, “It is a treat to be able to choose” the “time to say goodbye,” and asks “Watcha want me to do — Bust out cryin!!”

The message concludes with “NO FUN” — those words are underlined — followed by “NOT WORTH IT!!”

Epstein died in his cell at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center on August 10, 2019, while facing sex trafficking charges and awaiting trial.

Officials determined his death was suicide, and investigations revealed multiple failures by correctional staff — including internet browsing and sleeping during times when they were supposed to be monitoring Epstein — that enabled him to end his life.

The authorship of the note that Tartaglione claims to have found remains unknown. Government reports that extensively examined the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death made no reference to this document.

Federal agents conducted a massive drug enforcement operation Wednesday, taking 18 suspects into custody on charges connected to distributing dangerous narcotics like fentanyl and methamphetamine near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles.

MacArthur Park sits in a heavily populated immigrant community located west of downtown Los Angeles, an area that previously saw federal immigration enforcement and National Guard presence during the summer months.

During this week’s enforcement actions, investigators confiscated 40 pounds of fentanyl from one residence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Law enforcement officials believe a married couple from South Los Angeles served as primary suppliers for the narcotics being sold throughout the park area, hiding drugs in commercial buildings and supplying them to dealers on the street.

“We’re here today because California policy has failed,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated at a press conference announcing the arrests. “MacArthur Park should be for families, should be for residents of Los Angeles, not for drug dealers and gangsters.”

Essayli made the announcement with representatives from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Los Angeles Police Department at the park location. The area has become home to multiple homeless camps and has witnessed widespread public drug use in recent years.

Television news helicopters captured footage of agents working outside a row of businesses facing the park, with one agent apparently using a chainsaw to breach a business wall. Essayli shared video on X showing LAPD officers participating in the operation and footage of a residential neighborhood raid.

Essayli, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, attributed the area’s problems to unsuccessful California policies, including lenient penalties for drug users and programs providing clean syringes and Narcan, an emergency overdose reversal medication for fentanyl.

The Wednesday operation deployed more than 200 personnel from the DEA, according to Anthony Chrysanthis, the department’s special agent in charge for Los Angeles.

Essayli explained the operation started Tuesday evening, with three search warrants carried out Wednesday morning at homes in other Southern California locations. Law enforcement served six additional warrants at businesses found to be distributing drugs in the MacArthur Park area.

Investigators have identified the Sinaloa Cartel as the source supplying fentanyl and methamphetamine to the region, Chrysanthis reported.

The arrested individuals are scheduled for court appearances Thursday.

Seven additional suspects remain at large, according to Essayli’s office.

NEW YORK (AP) — In 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster unfolded, Beth Knobel was attending graduate school and discovered something remarkable after leaving class. Television screens had been positioned throughout the building’s entrance area, all broadcasting CNN — the round-the-clock news network Ted Turner had established approximately five years prior, which was providing live coverage of the launch.

“Space shuttle missions had become routine by then, and the major broadcast networks had stopped providing coverage,” explains Knobel, who later worked as a CBS News correspondent during the 1990s and currently serves as a journalism instructor at Fordham University. “CNN continued broadcasting them. When the tragedy occurred, they were positioned to cover the story better than anyone else.”

According to Knobel, who now conducts courses on television’s most significant innovators, this incident exemplifies why Turner stands above all others — demonstrating an extraordinary understanding of news delivery that surpassed his contemporaries.

Turner’s passing occurs during challenging times for cable news, which faces declining audiences amid numerous media alternatives and widespread streaming options. CNN has experienced similar difficulties; shifts in the media landscape, financial pressures, and repeated editorial restructuring have transformed it significantly from Turner’s original creation.

However, this overlooks a crucial fact: Turner established the foundation.

“The term giant gets applied to individuals who don’t truly deserve it,” Knobel observes. “Ted Turner genuinely qualifies as a giant. He created continuous news broadcasting.”

Industry professionals struggled Wednesday to find adequate language describing Turner’s influence on news consumption habits. Veteran television analyst Robert Thompson characterized the situation as beyond exaggeration.

“Obituaries and overstatement frequently coincide,” stated Thompson, who directs Syracuse University’s Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture. “However, no exaggeration applies here. Few developments in the 20th century transformed American politics, journalism, and civic participation as dramatically as establishing 24-hour cable news.”

Thompson includes one qualification: The genuine impact wouldn’t emerge until competitors adopted similar approaches. They eventually did. For an extended period, particularly throughout the 1990s, “CNN became synonymous with breaking news,” Thompson explains, “similar to how Kleenex represents facial tissues and Xerox means photocopying.”

Turner’s news legacy extends beyond the 24-hour format. Multiple experts emphasized his conceptualization of news as an international product.

Knobel remembers serving as CBS’s Moscow bureau chief in the early 1990s and observing CNN broadcasts on Kremlin television screens.

“This became their method for understanding global perspectives on Russia,” Knobel explains. Similar situations existed in other power centers worldwide. “International programming didn’t exist until Ted Turner declared, ‘I’m not only creating a new American channel, but many people globally will likely want to watch this news service.’”

These concepts have become so embedded that explaining their previous absence to younger generations proves difficult. During the 1970s, when Turner — an insomniac — first envisioned 24/7 news, late-night television viewing in many areas meant encountering static, test patterns, or American flag displays until approximately 6 a.m.

Frank Sesno, CNN’s former White House bureau chief and current George Washington University media professor, describes the “Walter Cronkite era” to students — when news arrived at scheduled times, delivered authoritatively during 30-minute programs (which had actually expanded from earlier 15-minute formats).

“My students have no knowledge of Ted Turner,” Sesno noted. “I explain this represented Walter Cronkite’s world. Ted Turner entered as an outsider, with CNN viewed as an upstart destined for failure.” This attitude produced the mocking nickname “Chicken Noodle News,” which circulated throughout the industry when Sesno joined the network in 1984.

“I possessed zero television experience when they hired me,” he recalls.

CNN wasn’t seeking celebrity anchors initially. The news itself was intended as the main attraction. Star personalities developed later.

CNN achieved notable success in October 1987, following the Challenger incident, during 18-month-old Jessica McClure’s rescue from a Texas well after a two-day ordeal. CNN provided coverage not only of the resolution but of gradual developments — commonplace today but unprecedented for television then.

Cornell University communication professor Brooke Erin Duffy identifies public interest in that story as pivotal for CNN, which broadcast the “extended waiting periods” and enabled viewers to check for regular updates.

The first Gulf War with Iraq marked when news fundamentals completely shifted. While other journalists departed Baghdad, CNN remained. With correspondents Bernard Shaw, John Holliman, and Peter Arnett reporting under siege from Baghdad’s al-Rashid Hotel, the network permanently altered war journalism.

Technology played a crucial role. CNN’s news leadership “approached Turner about an approaching war, requesting funding for coverage, and Ted Turner asked what they needed,” Knobel explained. “They used that funding to acquire satellite phone technology unavailable to competitors.” This enabled CNN to maintain broadcasts when communications infrastructure failed.

“As someone who competed against CNN for years at CBS, I can confirm CNN consistently maintained technological superiority over everyone else,” she stated, crediting Turner for providing his network that advantage.

The continuous broadcasting schedule also dramatically changed television news industry working conditions. Journalists increasingly faced expectations to “remain available constantly to satisfy public news appetite,” Duffy explained.

Following CNN’s success, numerous outlets adopted similar approaches. Increased competition for continuous content made timing even more valuable for breaking news.

“One consequence involves the competition for attention within the oversaturated media environment,” Duffy observed. “Time represents the primary currency in news media.”

Authorities in Oklahoma have taken an 18-year-old man into custody following a devastating mass shooting at a lakeside party that resulted in one death and left 22 others wounded.

Edmond law enforcement officials announced Wednesday that Jaylan A. Davis faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon stemming from the violence that broke out Sunday evening at Arcadia Lake in the Oklahoma City suburb.

During a press briefing, Edmond Police Chief J.D. Younger revealed that prosecutors plan to elevate the charges against Davis to felony murder after 18-year-old Avianna Smith-Gray succumbed to her gunshot wounds.

Davis, an Oklahoma City resident, remains detained at the Edmond jail with bail set at $1 million. Court records show no attorney has been assigned to represent him yet, as the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office stated they will wait until formal upgraded charges are submitted.

According to Chief Younger, investigators determined the violence began when two women at the event got into a dispute, which then spiraled into a confrontation involving opposing gang factions. The police chief indicated authorities believe additional suspects remain at large.

Beyond the fatal victim, the chaos left others suffering from bullet and shrapnel injuries as numerous gunshots rang out at the recreational area located roughly 20 miles north of central Oklahoma City. Six minors were among the wounded, with some victims as young as 15 years old, Younger noted.

The suspect voluntarily surrendered Wednesday morning after investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest, the chief explained.

“We’re trying to find justice for 23 people that were shot, one that’s deceased and even the people that were involved. I think it’s important not to demonize or separate the parties here,” Younger said.

The chief also disclosed that several individuals fired weapons during the incident, with investigators recovering evidence of more than 80 rounds discharged.

Smith-Gray’s relatives described her as a high school senior eagerly anticipating graduation on a memorial fundraising page. Her family remembered her passion for dancing, singing, and styling hair, while her sisters praised her as an intelligent, caring person who was wonderful with children and “so full of life.”

The gathering had been widely advertised on social media platforms, drawing a substantial crowd of primarily young adults from throughout the Oklahoma City region to a pavilion area near the water. The gunfire broke out while officers were already en route to address noise complaints about the event.

Officials emphasized that event organizers had failed to obtain proper permits required for such a large gathering.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — An 18-year-old gunman killed a teenage boy and a woman Tuesday evening after being rejected from joining a pickup soccer game, with multiple children witnessing the tragic violence unfold near a local elementary school.

The deadly incident occurred when the suspect approached a group of young people playing soccer and requested to join their game. When the players declined his participation, the situation escalated into a fatal confrontation.

“For whatever reason, he was turned away,” said Joe Trigg, Grand Rapids interim police chief. “Did not like the fact that he was turned away so a verbal altercation started, which led to the suspect pulling out a firearm and shooting that juvenile. The adult female had came to the aid, verbally, of the juvenile victim so then she was targeted.”

The violence claimed the life of a 15-year-old boy, while a woman who attempted to intervene verbally on behalf of the teen was also fatally shot. Between seven and eight young people watched the horrific events unfold.

“There was at least seven or eight kids that are out here, juveniles, older juveniles that witnessed this, which is just horrific for anybody to witness, let alone juveniles,” Trigg explained.

The shooting took place Tuesday evening in the vicinity of Southwest Elementary School. Authorities apprehended the gunman after he initially escaped the scene.

In response to the tragedy, the Grand Rapids school district shuttered Southwest Elementary and another nearby school Wednesday, allowing the community time to “process what has happened in our neighborhood.”

Local resident Donny Irving expressed the community’s grief while visiting the shooting location. “It’s just hard,” Irving told WOOD-TV. “Everyone knows a youth and people who go to playgrounds who play, school students, and I think the whole community feels the loss that’s there.”

A six-story glass building nestled among hotels, spas and cafes in Manhattan’s Chinatown has become the center of a federal espionage case that began in Brooklyn court this week.

Federal prosecutors allege the unremarkable structure housed a covert Chinese police station designed to target and intimidate democracy advocates living in America, complete with signage reading “Fuzhou Police Overseas Service Station, New York USA.”

Defense attorneys for the accused operator, 64-year-old Lu Jianwang, argue the facility served as nothing more than a gathering place for Chinese-Americans to handle administrative tasks like driver’s license renewals during pandemic travel restrictions while enjoying recreational activities like ping-pong and mahjong.

Lu’s federal trial commenced Wednesday in Brooklyn, over three years since his arrest at his Bronx residence on allegations of conspiring to operate as an unregistered foreign agent and destroying evidence, including WeChat communications with an alleged Chinese government contact.

“Lu was living in New York City but he was working for the Chinese government,” prosecutor Lindsey Oken declared during opening arguments.

According to Oken’s statements, Lu and co-defendant Chen Jinping created the Chinatown facility in 2022 following Lu’s attendance at a Fujian province event where China’s Ministry of Public Security revealed plans for 30 clandestine police stations worldwide.

Oken explained to jurors that China’s communist leadership employs these stations to surveil individuals it “views as enemies of its interests.” She indicated that testimony will include a dissident who allegedly became a target of Lu’s operation.

The disputed Manhattan location operated within the same premises as the America ChangLe Association, a community group managed by Lu and his brother Jimmy that identified itself in tax documentation as a “social gathering place for Fujianese people.” Defense counsel noted that ChangLe translates to “eternal joy.”

While Oken conceded the organization openly provided driver’s license services, she emphasized such activities violated U.S. law without proper registration.

The prosecution contends Lu served Chinese interests “without asking or telling the U.S. government,” breaching the Foreign Agents Registration Act that mandates individuals representing foreign governments register with the Justice Department.

Defense lawyer John Carman characterized the proceedings as a routine administrative oversight rather than international espionage drama.

“Lu was arrested for essentially failing to file a form,” Carman informed the jury.

Carman’s opening statement emphasized that evidence will demonstrate Lu is “not a spy, not a part of Chinese intelligence services, not a part of the Chinese Communist Party, the CCP, and he’s not an agent of the Chinese government.” He referenced two concepts: “No good deed goes unpunished” and “Guilt by association.”

Following a tip from an organization tracking Chinese international suppression efforts, FBI agents conducted a comprehensive search of the alleged New York outpost on October 3, 2022, examining documents, forcing open secured storage areas and confiscating electronic devices, according to Carman.

“They turned the place upside down,” Carman described to jurors.

The following day, Oken stated, Lu acknowledged to federal agents that he created the Manhattan operation, maintained contact with his handler through WeChat and had erased those conversations. Carman noted that neither of Lu’s two-hour FBI questioning sessions were recorded. Authorities arrested Lu in April 2023.

Chen, Lu’s co-defendant, entered a guilty plea in December 2024 to conspiracy charges for acting as an unregistered foreign agent. He awaits sentencing following Lu’s trial while remaining free on bond.

Lu, also known as Harry Lu, sat Wednesday beside Baimadajie Angwang, a former NYPD officer who was exonerated three years ago of accusations that he served as a Chinese government “intelligence asset.” Angwang, currently pursuing legal action to return to police work, now assists Lu’s defense team as an investigator.

Dressed in a dark suit with a light blue tie and glasses, Lu relied on an interpreter who translated the proceedings into Fujianese through an earpiece due to his limited English proficiency. Both Lu and Angwang wore American flag pins on their clothing.

Dozens of supporters, including Lu’s fellow church members, demonstrated outside the courthouse with signs declaring “Justice for Harry Lu” and “Chinese Americans Are Americans!” while waving small American flags as Lu and his legal team arrived.

“No one controls him,” Carman told jurors. “If Harry Lu is an agent of anyone, he is an agent for his community — the local people in his community.”

“You have the life of an innocent man in your hands,” the attorney concluded.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) — Law enforcement officials executed a search warrant Wednesday at a residence linked to the individual found guilty of murdering 19-year-old California Polytechnic State University student Kristin Smart nearly three decades ago.

Smart’s body has never been recovered, leading to her being legally declared deceased in 2002. Paul Flores received a conviction for her murder and was handed a sentence of 25 years to life behind bars.

According to a statement from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, the search conducted in Arroyo Grande on California’s central coast is part of the continuing investigation into Smart’s vanishing. Public records and podcast reporting indicate the residence belongs to Susan Flores, Paul Flores’ mother.

“The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to bringing Kristin home to her family,” officials stated. “No further information is available.”

The “Your Own Backyard” podcast, which played a crucial role in helping investigators solve the case by encouraging additional witnesses to come forward, broke the news of Wednesday’s search and confirmed the home’s ownership. Efforts to contact Susan Flores for a response were unsuccessful.

Smart vanished from California Polytechnic State University in May 1996. Legal authorities contended she died during an attempted sexual assault and that Flores, a fellow student, was the final person observed with her.

Both Flores and his father, Ruben Flores, faced arrest in 2021.

Prosecutors claimed Smart’s body was initially interred on Ruben Flores’ land before being relocated elsewhere. He was cleared of accessory charges. The property searched Wednesday differs from that location.

Paul Flores received his prison sentence in March 2023, where he has suffered physical assaults on multiple occasions.

A court ruling in 2024 ordered Paul Flores to compensate Smart’s family with more than $350,000 for expenses related to her death.

The family has indicated they would waive financial compensation if Flores revealed the location of Kristin’s remains. Defense attorney Harold Mesick stated in 2024 that the legal team has no knowledge of where her body lies. Flores continues to deny guilt.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jurors in Columbus started weighing evidence Wednesday in the second murder trial of a former law enforcement officer accused of killing a young Black man in 2020.

Jason Meade, a white former Franklin County sheriff’s deputy and Baptist minister, faces murder and reckless homicide charges for the December 2020 death of Casey Goodson Jr., 23. Prosecutors say Meade shot Goodson five times in the back while Goodson attempted to enter his grandmother’s home. The initial trial concluded in a mistrial over two years ago.

The fatal encounter occurred during a period of nationwide demonstrations following George Floyd’s death, adding to a series of incidents involving white Ohio police officers killing Black residents throughout the prior decade.

Earlier this year, Goodson’s relatives secured a $7 million settlement in their federal civil rights lawsuit against the county.

Unlike the previous trial where he took the stand, Meade’s legal team chose not to have him testify this time. In his earlier testimony, Meade claimed he followed Goodson after witnessing him display a weapon while their vehicles passed each other. He stated he feared for his safety and others’ wellbeing, ultimately firing when Goodson allegedly turned toward him while armed.

Defense lawyer Mark Collins addressed jurors during Wednesday’s closing statements: “Jason had to decide, ladies and gentlemen, whether the gun he had already seen twice was going to be the gun that killed him. He had no pause button. He had no crystal ball. And he had no duty to wait for the first shot. The law does not require perfection from our law enforcement officers. It requires reasonableness.”

Collins urged the panel to find his client not guilty.

State prosecutor Howard Tim Merkle challenged the jury, asking “Who’s got a motive here to deceive?” He contended the defense failed to prove Meade acted in self-defense when he killed Goodson.

“So what evidence is there against the idea, the suggestion that Casey turned and pointed the gun?” Merkle questioned. “We can start with he’s got six shots in his back. They’re not in his front.” Medical evidence showed one of the six gunshot wounds was to Goodson’s side.

No body camera footage captured the incident, and prosecutors maintain Meade stands alone in claiming Goodson held a weapon. Goodson’s relatives and attorneys assert he carried a Subway sandwich bag in one hand and keys in the other when shot. While they acknowledge Goodson may have possessed a firearm, they emphasize he held a valid concealed carry permit.

Investigators discovered Goodson’s gun beneath his body on his grandmother’s kitchen floor with the safety engaged.

Media visionary Ted Turner, the audacious entrepreneur who established CNN and revolutionized television journalism with continuous news coverage, passed away Wednesday at age 87, marking the end of an era for a man whose bold ventures transformed broadcasting, athletics, charitable giving, and how global audiences witnessed history as it happened. In 2018, Turner revealed he was battling Lewy body dementia.

Robert Edward Turner III was born November 19, 1938, in Cincinnati and constructed one of the most influential media legacies of the late 1900s after inheriting his family’s advertising billboard company. Following his father’s passing, Turner assumed leadership of the business, ventured into television broadcasting, and pioneered the “superstation” concept by beaming an Atlanta television station via satellite to cable providers nationwide. This strategic decision transformed a regional broadcaster into a nationwide media powerhouse.

Turner’s most significant risk occurred in 1980 when he established the Cable News Network. During that period, the concept of a television station delivering news around the clock was broadly rejected as costly, unrealistic, and somewhat crazy. Turner, who appeared to use doubt as motivation, forged ahead regardless. CNN emerged as the inaugural 24-hour cable news service and eventually became one of the globe’s most identifiable news organizations.

For Middle Eastern viewers, CNN’s defining achievement occurred during the 1991 Gulf War, when the channel’s live broadcasts from Baghdad transformed warfare into an ongoing worldwide transmission. CNN’s Iraq coverage demonstrated the strength of satellite journalism and altered how political leaders, armed forces, and audiences comprehended immediate conflict reporting. The conflict also elevated CNN to international recognition beyond America and stimulated satellite news expansion throughout the Arab region.

While Middle Eastern affairs weren’t central to Turner’s professional focus, he became involved in a significant Israel-related dispute in 2002. During a Guardian newspaper interview, he implied that both Israelis and Palestinians participated in terrorist activities, prompting harsh criticism from Israeli authorities and Jewish groups. Turner subsequently retracted his statements, expressing regret for any suggestion that Israel’s protective measures equaled terrorism and acknowledging a “fundamental distinction” between Israeli government actions and Palestinian violence.

Outside CNN, Turner developed an extensive media conglomerate encompassing Turner Broadcasting System, TNT, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, and additional channels. He also possessed the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks, captured the 1977 America’s Cup sailing championship, and established the Goodwill Games, a Cold War-period athletic competition designed to promote international rivalry beyond Olympic boycotts of that time.

Turner ranked among America’s most prominent billionaire charitable donors. In 1997, he committed $1 billion toward United Nations initiatives, a contribution that resulted in establishing the United Nations Foundation. He subsequently helped launch the Nuclear Threat Initiative alongside former US Senator Sam Nunn, concentrating on diminishing nuclear, chemical, and biological dangers. His environmental activities encompassed significant land preservation projects, bison recovery efforts, and backing climate-focused causes.

He gained recognition for his confidence, outspoken nature, bold personality, and readiness to express thoughts that more reserved executives would never voice publicly. Known as the “Mouth of the South,” Turner could display brilliance one moment and volatility the next. He wed three times, notably to actress Jane Fonda, and fathered five children.

Turner’s influence remains complex, much like the individual himself. He contributed to establishing global television news infrastructure while simultaneously creating the continuous news environment that later faced criticism for haste, drama, and perpetual emergency atmosphere. He promoted worldwide cooperation, yet his own statements occasionally sparked the exact disputes he claimed communication could resolve.

Nevertheless, the essential truth persists: before Turner, television news appeared at scheduled times. Following Turner, news broadcasting became constant. For positive and negative outcomes—and throughout the Middle East, frequently during periods of conflict, uprising, terrorism, negotiations, and catastrophe—the world adapted to observing history unfold in real time.

WASHINGTON — A Florida activist voluntarily ended his five-day demonstration Wednesday morning after camping on top of a Washington D.C. bridge to protest artificial intelligence and Iran military action.

Guido Reichstadter descended from the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge where he had been stationed since May 1st, creating intermittent traffic delays as D.C. police shut down lanes while attempting to negotiate his surrender.

Photos posted to Reichstadter’s social media account documented his time living in a tent positioned on one of the bridge’s arches. On Tuesday, he announced his intention to surrender and anticipated his arrest.

“I hope that this action has offered something to motivate and inspire you, and that it can serve as fuel for greater commitment and action in the cause of peace and in the fight for our future,” he wrote.

D.C. police arrested Reichstadter on charges including crowding, obstructing, or incommoding, unlawful entry and failure to obey an officer.

This marks Reichstadter’s second protest on the identical bridge structure, having previously demonstrated there in 2022 opposing a Supreme Court ruling.

A New Jersey university has pulled back its invitation to a business executive who was scheduled to address graduates next month after students objected to his social media posts critical of Israel.

Rami Elghandour, who leads biotech firm Arcellx and graduated from Rutgers University, was originally chosen to deliver the May 15 commencement address at the university’s School of Engineering.

The university reversed course after discovering that “some graduating students would not attend their graduation ceremony due to concerns about the invited speaker’s social media posts,” according to a statement from a Rutgers representative.

While the university representative would not identify the specific posts in question, they confirmed the content centered on Israel. Elghandour has not responded to requests for comment.

On his social media accounts, Elghandour regularly posts news stories and video footage showing violence in Gaza and the West Bank, accompanied by his own commentary that accuses Israel of war crimes and maintaining an apartheid system.

Elghandour also worked as executive producer on “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” a documentary telling the story of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli Defense Forces.

This withdrawal adds to growing tensions surrounding graduation ceremonies this spring, as debates over Gaza war protests continue to disrupt college campuses nationwide, resulting in cancelled addresses and ceremony interruptions.

Just days ago, the University of Michigan distanced itself from remarks made by history professor Derek R. Peterson during commencement, where he briefly praised pro-Palestinian student demonstrators.

Peterson’s comments prompted Republican lawmakers and donors to threaten funding cuts, claiming the remarks fostered hostility toward Jewish students. The university president’s subsequent apology has faced criticism from free speech advocates and academic organizations.

On Tuesday, Elghandour posted a video excerpt of Peterson’s Michigan speech on X, writing: “Most people choose convenience. Professor Peterson chose principle. True leadership. Much respect.”

A decade ago, Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe’s detective comedy faced a brutal theatrical release, squeezed between superhero blockbusters and defeated by animated birds at the box office. Today, that same film has transformed into one of the most cherished comedies of recent years.

“The Nice Guys,” which marks its 10th anniversary this month, suffered a disappointing debut when it hit theaters in 2016. Released between major franchise films like “Captain America: Civil War” and “X-Men: Apocalypse,” the Shane Black-directed comedy couldn’t compete with its opening weekend rival. “They’re just so angry,” Gosling once remarked about the cartoon birds that overshadowed their film.

Despite its initial commercial failure, the 1970s Los Angeles crime caper has found remarkable success in the streaming era. The film consistently ranks among Netflix’s most-watched content whenever it appears on the platform, introducing new audiences to Gosling’s comedic abilities that would later shine in “Barbie.”

“There’s a lot of interest in ‘The Nice Guys’ today that wasn’t there when it opened. And the box office will attest to that,” Black noted in a recent conversation. “But people find these things. I think there’s kind of a joy of finding a movie on streaming or rental and then suddenly kind of realizing: How did I miss this? And ‘The Nice Guys’ was easy to miss.”

Black, who created the “Lethal Weapon” franchise, has experienced both box office triumphs and cult classics. He’s grown to appreciate his commercially unsuccessful projects, including “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” which helped revitalize Robert Downey Jr.’s career a year before “The Nice Guys.”

“There’s something to being the king of the midnight movie,” Black explained. “It’s not the most lucrative thing in the world.”

The film’s theatrical struggles reflected broader industry changes. During the early 2000s, comedies dominated multiplexes with stars like Will Ferrell, Judd Apatow productions, and hits such as “The Hangover” and “Bridesmaids.” However, as franchise films gained prominence and international markets became crucial, studios abandoned theatrical comedies around the time Warner Bros. released “The Nice Guys” with its $50 million budget, earning approximately $71 million globally.

Recent years have seen comedies migrate primarily to streaming platforms, with Netflix’s Adam Sandler partnership representing an early strategic shift. Horror films largely replaced comedy as the preferred genre for theatrical releases.

Black developed the screenplay with Anthony Bagarozzi, drawing inspiration from classic detective fiction by authors like William Campbell Gault and Brett Halliday. His extensive reading in the genre has become almost supernatural in scope.

“I thought: There’s so much joy here,” Black reflected. “There’s so much fun in plot and twists and capers. You light a fuse and these guys go on this wild caper, and in the end, it’s just these two guys that are important. You can’t really remember the caper but it was there to service the idea, the shape of: These guys are at it again.”

The story pairs Gosling’s Holland March, a private investigator with an unusual handicap (he cannot smell), with Crowe’s Jackson Healy, an enforcer. Their partnership develops around a missing person case set against Los Angeles’s adult entertainment industry, with March’s perceptive young daughter Holly (Angourie Rice) joining the adventure.

The ensemble cast featured Kim Basinger, Keith David, and Margaret Qualley in an early significant role. However, the central dynamic between Gosling and Crowe drove the film’s success. Neither actor was particularly recognized for comedy at the time, with Crowe coming off the serious biblical drama “Noah.”

Black trusted his instincts about their partnership, following the comedy philosophy of writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel from films like “Splash” and “Parenthood.”

“The thing is, Ryan is just a good actor,” Black observed. “He’s funny in everything he does. But he didn’t do a lot of outright comedies. For this, the character was not like a ‘Talladega Nights’ or ‘Step Brothers.’ It’s not that kind of comedy where everything is pushed. It was a story that an actor could do and basically play a real character.”

Black emphasizes character-driven comedy similar to “Midnight Run,” which successfully paired Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. This approach contrasted with the high-concept comedies that dominated the few studio releases during that period.

“The Nice Guys” showcased Gosling’s physical comedy talents through elaborate pratfalls and slapstick sequences. One memorable scene features him attempting to balance multiple tasks while trapped in a bathroom stall, creating what Black describes as choreography worthy of Buster Keaton.

“My favorite that he walked in with one day was where he said, ‘I saw this movie last night with Abbott and Costello where they meet Frankenstein,’” Black remembered. “He said, ‘I’d like to maybe give that type of energy a try.’ When he said that, what he really meant was: I’m going to do a pitch-perfect Lou Costello impression sitting next to a tree for 60 seconds.”

Both leading actors embraced appearing foolish, cowardly, or incompetent on screen. “They wanted to be antiheroes,” Black noted. Crowe has praised the experience, particularly crediting Gosling as the only co-star who consistently made him break character during filming.

The inevitable sequel question frequently arises in Black’s interviews, though he acknowledges the challenging reality.

“It’s one of the most common questions I get,” Black admitted. “The answer, unfortunately, is nebulous.”

“You’re saying to a studio: Hey, we want to get these two big stars. It’s going to cost even more this time. You’re going to spend maybe twice the money on a sequel to a movie that didn’t get you what you wanted back,” he explained. “It’s a tough sell to take a movie that bombed and make a sequel.”

Despite these obstacles, Black remains enthusiastic about the possibility.

“Of course,” he responded when asked about his interest in a sequel. “This was designed for that. Like I said, it’s a caper. There’s these two and they get in a bunch of trouble and here they go again. You want to see them do it again. There’s a whole bunch of mystery capers you could throw at these guys. You could make a grounded, potentially very interesting, touching movie set not in the ’70s but perhaps in the ’80s.”

At the 2016 London premiere, Gosling playfully compared the event to cinema history.

“I wasn’t at the premiere of ‘The Godfather’ or ‘Apocalypse Now,’ but I got a feeling it felt pretty much the same as it does today,” Gosling declared. “You’re looking down the barrel of cinematic history.”

While Gosling spoke in jest, the film’s growing cultural impact suggests his prediction may not have been entirely wrong.

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors revealed disturbing details about a gunman who exchanged fire with law enforcement officers close to the Washington Monument earlier this week, including offensive statements he made about the White House following his arrest.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro disclosed in a Tuesday evening ABC News interview that the individual will face federal charges for assaulting a federal officer and using a firearm during a violent offense.

After being wounded several times in Monday’s shootout, the gunman made crude remarks while being transported for medical treatment, stating “‘F the White House,’ and ‘Kill me, kill me, kill me’ — three times,” according to Pirro’s account.

ABC News reported that a teenage bystander sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the incident and has since been discharged from the hospital. Law enforcement officials have not yet determined if the suspect had specific targets in mind.

Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn explained during Monday’s press briefing that undercover agents initially noticed the individual near the White House grounds and observed what appeared to be a concealed weapon. The agents tracked him briefly before alerting uniformed personnel.

When Secret Service officers moved to confront him, the suspect attempted to escape, Quinn explained. According to Quinn, the man opened fire on the officers, prompting them to shoot back in response.

The shooting occurred while President Donald Trump was conducting a small business gathering at the White House, resulting in a temporary security lockdown while authorities responded to the situation.

Quinn informed media representatives that he was uncertain whether the incident specifically targeted Trump “but we will find out.”

This incident follows another security breach from just over a week earlier, when California resident Cole Tomas Allen attempted to force his way into the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner while carrying firearms and bladed weapons. Allen faces charges of attempting to assassinate the president and shooting at a Secret Service agent.

The recent nomination of Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve chair has brought attention to more than just his qualifications – his last name serves as a linguistic reminder of a vanishing American dialect.

For many people across South Midland America, Warsh’s surname brings to mind the age-old pronunciation debate: do you say “wash” or “warsh”?

This distinctive way of speaking, which adds an ‘r’ sound to certain words, represents a regional accent that linguists say is gradually disappearing from American speech patterns.

The pronunciation phenomenon has deep roots in South Midland regions of the United States, where generations of speakers have naturally inserted the ‘r’ sound into words like “wash,” turning them into “warsh.”

As Trump’s Federal Reserve nominee continues making headlines, his name inadvertently spotlights this fading piece of American linguistic heritage that once defined entire communities across the South Midland area.

NEW YORK — Federal civil rights officials filed a discrimination lawsuit Tuesday against the New York Times, alleging the newspaper overlooked a white male staff member for advancement to boost diversity within its leadership structure.

The newspaper dismissed the legal action as having political motivations and stated it plans to mount a strong defense.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission brought the case on behalf of a Times editor who filed a complaint after being denied the deputy real estate editor position in 2025. The lawsuit alleges violations of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which bars workplace discrimination based on sex, race, national origin or religion.

According to the EEOC, the publication’s publicly announced objectives to expand diversity in management positions led to the white male candidate being eliminated from final interviews, while three female candidates and one Black male candidate advanced.

EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, a Republican appointee, has actively supported the Trump administration’s efforts to challenge corporate diversity initiatives that she contends discriminate against white men and other groups. Last December, Lucas used social media to encourage white men to file complaints if they felt victimized by their employer’s diversity practices.

“No one is above the law — including ‘elite’ institutions. There is no such thing as ‘reverse discrimination;’ all race or sex discrimination is equally unlawful, according to long-established civil rights principles,” Lucas stated. “No matter the size or power of the employer, the EEOC under my leadership will not pull punches in ensuring evenhanded, colorblind enforcement of Title VII to protect America’s workers, including white males.”

New York Times spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha criticized the EEOC for departing from typical procedures in extraordinary ways. She noted that while the complaint focuses on a single staffing decision among more than 100 deputy roles throughout the newsroom, the federal filing makes broad accusations that disregard facts to support a preconceived conclusion.

“Neither race nor gender played a role in this decision – we hired the most qualified candidate, and she is an excellent editor,” Rhoades Ha stated.

The federal lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, describes the unnamed complainant as a Times editor employed since 2014, primarily serving as a senior staff editor covering international news with prior real estate reporting experience.

The legal filing asserts that the woman selected for the deputy real estate editor role “did not have experience with real estate journalism” but “as a multiracial female, this candidate matched the race and/or sex characteristics NYT sought to increase in its leadership.” The EEOC noted that one interviewer characterized her as “a bit green overall.”

The commission’s lawsuit heavily referenced the Times’ diversity and inclusion initiatives as proof of discriminatory practices.

Specifically, the legal action highlights the newspaper’s “Call to Action” strategy released in February 2021, which established a target of boosting Black and Latino leadership representation by 50% before 2025. While the Times achieved this objective in 2022, it maintained its diversity commitments. Legal documents indicate that in 2024, white staff members comprised 68% of leadership positions, while people of color held 29%.

Lucas has repeatedly criticized representation targets that numerous corporations announced publicly, especially following the 2020 civil unrest after George Floyd’s death at the hands of police.

Title VII generally prohibits employers from considering race or gender in hiring, promotion, and employment decisions. Lucas has targeted practices she believes force managers to factor in these characteristics, including certain bias training programs and requirements for diverse candidate pools. Opponents argue the EEOC is undermining established practices meant to create equal opportunities for workers historically facing workplace discrimination.

In February, the EEOC disclosed an investigation into Nike for alleged racial discrimination against white workers. Unlike the Times case, the Nike probe originated from Lucas herself through a “commissioner’s charge” rather than an employee complaint, examining various diversity policies at the athletic apparel company.

WASHINGTON — Three individuals died Tuesday when American military forces targeted a boat suspected of drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific Ocean waters.

This deadly operation occurred just one day following another U.S. military action against a suspected narcotics vessel in Caribbean waters, which resulted in two fatalities.

Since early September, the Trump administration has maintained an ongoing campaign targeting suspected drug smuggling boats throughout Latin American waters, resulting in a total death toll of at least 191 individuals.

Even amid the Iran conflict, these operations have intensified in recent weeks, demonstrating the administration’s continued commitment to combating what officials term “narcoterrorism” throughout the Western Hemisphere. Military officials have not released evidence confirming the presence of narcotics aboard any of the targeted vessels.

These operations commenced alongside the largest U.S. military buildup in the region in decades and preceded the January raid that resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro was transported to New York to face drug trafficking allegations and has entered a not guilty plea.

During Tuesday’s operation, U.S. Southern Command reported targeting suspected drug smugglers operating along established trafficking corridors. Officials released footage on X displaying a vessel moving through waters before a massive blast engulfed the boat in flames.

President Donald Trump has declared the United States to be in “armed conflict” with Latin American cartels, defending these operations as essential measures to reduce drug imports and prevent American overdose deaths. However, the administration has provided minimal evidence supporting claims of eliminating “narcoterrorists.”

Legal experts have raised concerns regarding the lawfulness of these maritime strikes.

Military officials announced Tuesday that American forces targeted and destroyed a vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in three deaths in what authorities describe as an anti-narcotics operation.

U.S. Southern Command claimed the targeted boat was operated by what they termed “Designated Terrorist Organizations,” though they did not specify which groups. The military characterized the three deceased individuals as “male narco-terrorists” but provided no additional identifying information.

According to Southern Command’s statement posted on social media platform X, “Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” Military officials reported no American personnel were injured in the operation.

This latest strike continues a pattern of similar military actions in recent weeks under the Trump administration’s intensified approach to combating maritime drug trafficking. Since September, these military operations against suspected narcotics vessels have resulted in more than 170 deaths.

The escalating use of lethal force has drawn sharp criticism from civil liberties organizations and human rights groups worldwide. Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned these operations, characterizing them as “unlawful extrajudicial killings.”

The American Civil Liberties Union has also voiced opposition, describing the Trump administration’s justifications for targeting these individuals as “unsubstantiated, fear-mongering claims.” Legal experts and human rights advocates continue to raise serious questions about whether these military strikes comply with international law.

Native American communities throughout the nation are coming together this week to remember family members who have disappeared or been murdered while demanding stronger government action to address the ongoing crisis.

The gatherings, taking place during the week of May 5th which marks the national awareness period for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples, include memorial marches, community discussions, self-defense training, and candlelight ceremonies from tribal territories to state government buildings.

These events represent both the profound sorrow and strength of Indigenous communities, where the federal government holds legal obligation for public safety but often fails to provide adequate resources for violence prevention and response.

Participants frequently dress in red clothing, which has become the recognized color for remembering Indigenous violence victims throughout the United States and Canada.

Statistics reveal that Native Americans experience violence at alarming rates, with advocates linking this crisis to historical land seizure and government attempts to destroy Indigenous cultures.

Data from the U.S. Department of Justice shows Native Americans and Alaska Natives face violent crime at more than double the rate of other populations, while Native women experience homicide at twice the national average. Federal records from late 2025 show nearly 1,500 open cases of missing Native Americans.

Researchers believe these figures significantly underestimate the actual problem due to jurisdictional complications, incorrect racial identification, and unreliable record-keeping practices.

Abigail Echo-Hawk, who leads the Urban Indian Health Institute and belongs to the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, acknowledged improvements in documenting the crisis but criticized slow law enforcement response.

“Don’t look at the numbers and feel sorry for us,” Echo-Hawk said. “Look at the numbers and say, ‘How do we ensure that this doesn’t continue?’”

Former President Donald Trump enacted Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act in 2020, legislation designed to combat violent crime in tribal areas through better data tracking and law enforcement improvements.

However, putting these laws into practice has been sluggish and inconsistent. During the Biden presidency, a federal study commission finally assembled in 2022, two years late. The group’s comprehensive suggestions—including expanded tribal police authority and better family communication—became public in 2023.

These recommendations disappeared from government websites last year as the current Trump administration eliminated programs it considers related to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Recognized tribes maintain sovereign nation status within the United States.

The Trump Justice Department has maintained Operation Not Forgotten, deploying FBI agents, analysts and support staff to offices near tribal lands on rotating assignments. The FBI reports these deployments have resulted in over 200 arrests and convictions for murder, domestic violence and sexual assault since 2023.

The Interior Department announced Tuesday the formation of a task force focused on preventing violent crime in tribal areas. Officials describe the initiative as coordinating investigative resources to enhance case handling and prosecution success while prioritizing missing person and murder investigations.

Michael Henderson, who oversees public safety for the Navajo Nation, sees both benefits and drawbacks to increased FBI presence in tribal territories. Federal agents can provide new perspectives and advanced forensic technology for unsolved cases. However, Henderson noted many agents lack experience working with tribal communities or investigating violent crimes.

“More manpower from the FBI on reservations, that’s not a good solution in my mind,” Henderson said, suggesting federal money would be better used supporting tribal police departments with staff and funding.

During a Saturday memorial walk in Colorado Springs, Colorado, participants chanted “No more stolen lives on stolen land” while carrying photographs and stories of dozens of Indigenous people who have been killed or vanished.

Denise Porambo joined the march to honor her daughter, Destiny Jeriann Whiteman, who was murdered last August on the Ute Mountain Ute reservation in southwestern Colorado. Whiteman was 24 years old and left behind an infant son.

“It hurts every day,” Porambo said, her voice breaking.

Similar gatherings occurred in Madison, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota, to build awareness. Outside Duluth’s City Hall, trees displayed red dresses as symbols of remembrance.

In Oklahoma, relatives and supporters wore red shirts and traditional ribbon skirts while holding photographs of lost loved ones. Some painted red handprints over their mouths as a solidarity gesture.

At an Albuquerque memorial walk, participants called out the names of Emily Pike, Ella Mae Begay, Zachariah Shorty and others who have disappeared or been murdered.

Jessica Montoya traveled three hours from the Jicarilla Apache Nation to bring attention to her son Jamian Reval’s 2023 murder. He was 16 when family members say a classmate robbed and shot him on the first day of his junior year.

“He had a lot of goals. He had a lot to look forward to,” Montoya said, holding a sign demanding an end to gun violence.

Dealing with multiple tribal and federal law enforcement agencies has left Montoya and her family feeling dismissed and excluded, adding to their grief.

Without a coordinated national approach to these cases, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples advocates say families often must conduct their own searches and investigations for missing relatives.

Grace Bulltail’s 18-year-old niece, Kaysera Stops Pretty Places, was discovered dead several days after disappearing from her Crow Reservation home in Montana during August 2019. Her family continues organizing marches, vigils and courthouse protests while persistently pressuring law enforcement for action and answers.

No one has been arrested, and officials ruled the death cause inconclusive.

“We have had to advocate for ourselves and for Kaysera every step of the way,” Bulltail said.

Law enforcement officials have successfully located Mark Carosella, prompting authorities to lift the Gold Alert that had been issued for the missing individual.

The Gold Alert system, which is activated when adults with cognitive impairments or other vulnerabilities go missing, has been deactivated now that Carosella has been found safe.

No additional details about the circumstances of his disappearance or recovery have been released at this time.

The University of Michigan found itself at the center of a heated controversy after issuing an official apology following a history professor’s graduation speech that commended pro-Palestinian student demonstrators.

The incident has triggered a wave of criticism from multiple directions, with supporters of Israel demanding cuts to the institution’s funding while others claim university leadership caved to political and financial pressures.

During Saturday’s campus-wide graduation ceremony, Derek R. Peterson, who teaches East African history and serves as the outgoing faculty senate chair, acknowledged “pro-Palestinian student activists who have over these past two years opened our hearts to the injustice and inhumanity of Israel’s war in Gaza.”

Peterson’s controversial statement came after he honored Moritz Levi, the university’s first Jewish faculty member, along with other historical figures he described as champions of justice throughout the school’s past.

Video footage of Peterson’s pro-Palestinian remarks quickly spread across social media platforms, prompting sharp criticism from Jewish organizations who claim anti-Israel demonstrations on campus have created a threatening atmosphere for certain students.

University President Domenico Grasso responded the same day with a public apology, declaring the statements “inappropriate and do not represent our institutional position.”

“We regret the pain this has caused on a day devoted to celebration and accomplishment,” Grasso stated, noting that Peterson’s address “deviated from the remarks he had shared before the ceremony.”

The rapid apology failed to satisfy some Republican leaders, including Florida Senator Rick Scott, who demanded the elimination of federal funding for the school. A Republican regent overseeing the public institution also suggested potential disciplinary action against the professor. Prominent Israeli-American businessman Adam Milstein called on Jewish donors to stop contributing to the university.

Peterson defended his statements, describing expectations for non-political graduations as “ridiculous.”

“Michigan is not a finishing school for polite young men and women,” he declared in his response. “They do not need sentimental, cloying nostalgia. They need encouragement to face a flawed and unjust world head on, using the tools we’ve given them: critical reasoning, careful research, sympathy for the oppressed.”

Peterson also claimed administrators removed his speech from online platforms. A university representative explained the temporary removal resulted from YouTube’s music copyright concerns and confirmed the video was restored.

On Tuesday, a group of academic labor organizations, including the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers, released a joint statement criticizing the university’s response.

“Institutional leaders have an obligation not only to tolerate faculty speech, but to defend it — especially in the face of external political pressure,” their letter stated.

The controversial speech occurred two years after Gaza war protests swept college campuses nationwide, causing speech cancellations and other disruptions to traditional graduation ceremonies. Michigan’s campus experienced student encampments and class walkouts in opposition to the conflict.

Several students at American universities have faced consequences in 2025 for attempting to incorporate pro-Palestinian messages into graduation events, including a New York University graduate whose diploma was withheld after delivering remarks critical of Israel.

A jury in Fort Worth has condemned a former FedEx delivery driver to death row following his guilty plea for the murder of a 7-year-old Texas girl whom he abducted from her family’s home during a package delivery.

The 12-member panel reached their decision Tuesday regarding 34-year-old Tanner Horner’s fate after reviewing approximately one month of testimony and disturbing evidence, including audio recordings capturing Athena Strand’s final moments inside Horner’s delivery vehicle. Horner had entered a guilty plea to capital murder charges last month in connection with the 2022 slaying, just as proceedings were set to begin. Authorities discovered Athena’s remains two days following her disappearance from her residence in Paradise, a small community located near Fort Worth.

Court livestream footage showed Horner displaying no emotional response as the judge announced the verdict.

The jury determined that Horner posed a continued danger to society with a high likelihood of committing future violent crimes. Panel members concluded that neither the circumstances of the offense nor Horner’s personal history provided sufficient grounds to impose life imprisonment without parole rather than execution.

During opening arguments, prosecutor James Stainton accused Horner of telling “lie upon lie upon lie upon lie” throughout the investigation, including his false claim that he accidentally struck Athena with his delivery truck and subsequently killed her in a moment of panic.

Multiple jurors became emotional while viewing video footage and listening to audio from inside the van following Athena’s abduction. The recordings showed Horner placing her in the vehicle before driving away, warning her against screaming or facing harm.

Though Horner later obscured the camera, audio recording continued. The footage captured Horner questioning Athena about her age and school before stopping and announcing they would “hang out.” When he instructed her to remove her shirt, she began weeping, asking what he was doing and whether he was kidnapping her. She pleaded to return home and see her mother.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked him. His response: “Because you are pretty.”

“My mom says I can’t do that to somebody,” she told him. “And you can’t do that to me either.”

The hour-long recording documented Athena’s screams along with sounds of choking and violent impacts.

“If you don’t shut up, I will hurt you worse,” he threatened at one point.

Medical testimony revealed that Athena succumbed to blunt force trauma combined with smothering and strangulation.

Defense attorney Steven Goble acknowledged the evidence against his client was “overwhelming” and “terrible” during his opening remarks, but presented mitigating factors including Horner’s mother’s alcohol consumption during pregnancy, his autism diagnosis, lifelong mental health struggles, and significant lead exposure.

Goble had urged the jury to impose a life sentence instead of death.

According to Athena’s relatives, the package Horner had delivered contained her Christmas gift — a set of “You Can Be Anything” Barbie dolls.

The proceedings were relocated from rural Wise County to Fort Worth after defense lawyers argued their client could not receive impartial treatment in the original venue.

EDMOND, Oklahoma — An altercation at a weekend gathering sparked gunfire that injured 23 people at an Oklahoma park, with one victim remaining in critical condition, authorities announced Tuesday.

No arrests have been made following Sunday evening’s violence, though investigators believe the public faces no continued threat, according to Sgt. James Hamm, spokesperson for Edmond police.

The violence erupted at a picnic shelter near Arcadia Lake, a well-known recreation area for water activities located just north of Oklahoma City.

Social media promotion had drawn a substantial crowd of primarily young adults to the gathering, authorities reported.

Officers were already en route to address noise complaints when the gunfire began, Hamm explained.

Several different groups had assembled at the event, and violence broke out following a dispute, he noted. As of Tuesday, one shooting victim remained in serious condition, Hamm confirmed.

Oklahoma City area medical facilities reported treating 18 individuals from the incident on Monday. Hospital officials indicated the injured ranged from 16 to 30 years old.

While some victims sustained minor wounds and were discharged after treatment, additional people may have been struck but chose not to seek medical care, Hamm suggested.

Many shooting victims were uninvolved in the original dispute and were “simply attending the party,” he noted.

Authorities declined to discuss potential suspects, the number of shooters, or weapon types used, with Hamm citing the need to protect the ongoing investigation.

Edmond Mayor Mark Nash stated Monday that while the public park allows reservations for large events, none had been secured for this gathering.

Party attendee Jeremiah Braxton reported that two of his friends were wounded in the shooting. He described the event as enjoyable, with people eating and dancing, until an argument between women over romantic relationships began.

“It just started a whole bunch of chaos,” he said Monday.

Worcester County emergency responders will participate in a comprehensive training exercise next month at the county’s Fire Training Center.

The emergency services training session, identified as “Jennifer,” is set to take place on Friday, June 5th, 2026, running from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon.

The training event will be conducted at Worcester County’s designated Fire Training Center facility, which serves as the primary location for emergency response preparation and skill development for local first responders.

Details about the specific nature of the training exercises or the number of participants expected to attend have not been released by county officials.

CARROLLTON, Texas — Authorities in Texas report that a gunman opened fire at a shopping plaza Tuesday afternoon, fatally wounding two people and injuring three others in what investigators believe was a targeted attack.

The violence erupted at K Towne Plaza in Carrollton, a community located approximately 20 miles north of Dallas. Police Chief Roberto Arredondo confirmed the shooting was not a random incident, stating that the gunman was acquainted with all five victims.

“We don’t know exactly what the meeting was about, but we understand it to be a business relation,” Arredondo explained during a press briefing.

Law enforcement officers apprehended the 69-year-old suspect following a brief foot pursuit that ended at a grocery store roughly 4 miles from the initial crime scene. Online footage captured armed officers moving through the shopping center in the aftermath of the attack.

Federal agents, including personnel from the FBI, responded to assist local authorities at the scene. The shooting occurred in an area commonly referred to as Koreatown within Carrollton.

The city of Carrollton houses approximately 130,000 residents, with more than 4,000 people of Korean heritage according to census data. Over the past two decades, the area has developed into a bustling Korean cultural hub for the greater Dallas region, driven by Korean business investment.

The district features major retailers such as H Mart alongside numerous dining establishments offering Korean cuisine ranging from fried chicken to frozen desserts. Several Korean religious congregations, including Baptist and Presbyterian churches, also call the city home.

SAN FRANCISCO — A Texas resident charged with hurling an incendiary device at the residence of artificial intelligence company CEO Sam Altman entered not guilty pleas Tuesday on attempted murder and arson charges.

Twenty-year-old Daniel Alejandro Moreno-Gama remained silent in his orange detention clothing while his defense counsel submitted the pleas during Tuesday’s state court proceedings. The Spring, Texas resident is also facing separate federal charges.

According to prosecutors, Moreno-Gama launched the explosive device at Altman’s San Francisco residence last month, igniting an exterior gate before escaping on foot. Investigators say he then traveled roughly three miles to OpenAI’s corporate offices within an hour and made threats to destroy the facility.

Defense attorney Diamond Ward, a deputy public defender in San Francisco, previously characterized her client’s actions following an earlier court date last month, stating Moreno-Gama was suffering from mental health difficulties and had been overcharged. Ward argued the incident constituted “a property crime, at best” and suggested prosecutors were attempting to gain favor with Altman.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Ward successfully petitioned for a psychological assessment of Moreno-Gama. The presiding judge approved the evaluation and set a follow-up hearing for later this month.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins previously described the incident as a “targeted attack on Mr. Altman” and stated prosecutors possessed sufficient evidence to support the charges.

In a public statement released shortly after the attack occurred, Moreno-Gama’s family said their son had never previously injured anyone and had recently begun experiencing mental health challenges.

Court documents reveal that Moreno-Gama, who maintains part-time employment at a pizza restaurant while enrolled in community college, had written extensively about his animosity toward artificial intelligence technology. His writings characterized AI as a threat to human existence and warned of “impending extinction,” according to legal filings.

Law enforcement has not disclosed whether Altman was present at his residence during the attack.

If convicted on the state charges, Moreno-Gama could face a sentence ranging from 19 years to life imprisonment.

NEW YORK – Broadway’s newest musical offerings ‘The Lost Boys’ and ‘Schmigadoon!’ emerged as frontrunners for this year’s Tony Awards, each earning 12 nominations, while the revival of ‘Ragtime’ followed closely with 11 nods.

The announcement came Tuesday from presenters Uzo Aduba and Darren Criss, setting the stage for the June 7 ceremony that will celebrate a Broadway season characterized by innovative new works and high-profile revivals that drew enthusiastic audiences back to theaters.

Both leading musicals garnered recognition across multiple major categories including best musical, performance awards, and design honors, demonstrating widespread approval from Tony nominators. Meanwhile, ‘Ragtime’ proved its continued relevance with acknowledgments for its powerful musical score and exceptional cast performances.

This Broadway season has witnessed an unprecedented influx of celebrity talent, with stars like Adrien Brody, Tessa Thompson, and Patrick Ball making their stage debuts. High-profile figures including Kim Kardashian and Barack Obama also stepped into producing roles for shows like ‘The Fear of 13’ and ‘Proof,’ though these productions didn’t receive nominations.

Joshua Henry earned a best actor nomination for his portrayal of Coalhouse Walker Jr. in ‘Ragtime,’ marking one of the season’s most celebrated performances. His recognition comes after a standout moment performing Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ at Monday night’s Met Gala opening, featuring choreography by ‘Ragtime’s’ nominated choreographer Ellenore Scott.

Caissie Levy, Henry’s co-star who received her first nomination two decades after debuting in ‘Hairspray,’ shared her excitement with Reuters: ‘It gives me a huge amount of satisfaction and joy in being recognized by my community at this point in my life for this role and in this show that is so resonant right now in the world we’re living in.’

Nicholas Christopher made history as Bermuda’s first Tony nominee for his powerful performance as Anatoly in ‘Chess,’ overshadowing his more famous castmates Lea Michele and Aaron Tveit, who were overlooked. Fellow ‘Chess’ performer Hannah Cruz also received recognition for best featured actress.

‘Audiences are really responding to this show in a beautiful way,’ Christopher told Reuters. ‘The music is the hook that grabs people and then I think they’re a little bit surprised at how emotionally attached they get to these flawed human beings, and they’re rooting for everybody.’

Mark Strong received a nomination for his title role in the reimagined ‘Oedipus,’ which collected seven total nominations. Strong believes the production resonates due to its timeless themes. ‘The fact that we’re still telling that story, but to be able to update it to a modern idiom, and to a political idiom, as well as all of the family stuff that happens in the story, makes it so immediate for a modern audience,’ he explained.

Veteran performer Kelli O’Hara, earning her ninth nomination for ‘Fallen Angels’ alongside nominated co-star Rose Byrne, embraced the physical comedy aspects of her role. ‘It’s not necessarily something I knew about in myself. I’m grateful for the opportunity to try new things at this point in my life,’ she noted.

Despite numerous well-received musical revivals this season, only three secured nominations in that category: ‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball,’ ‘Ragtime,’ and ‘The Rocky Horror Show.’

Bess Wohl’s ‘Liberation’ earned a best play nomination just one day after claiming the Pulitzer Prize for drama. The Pulitzer committee praised it as ‘a striking blend of comedy and sincerity that explores the legacy of the consciousness-raising feminist groups of the 1970s.’

At 96 years old, June Squibb received a nomination for her Broadway return in ‘Marjorie Prime.’

The Tony Awards ceremony will take place at Radio City Music Hall with pop star Pink serving as host, broadcast live on CBS. Established in 1947, the Tony Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in Broadway theater.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — Park authorities reported Tuesday that two hikers sustained injuries during a bear encounter on Monday afternoon while walking along a well-used trail close to the famous Old Faithful geyser.

Officials characterized the incident as occurring during a single encounter on Monday afternoon as the hikers traveled the Mystic Falls Trail.

Authorities have temporarily shut down a significant portion of the park surrounding the Midway Geyser Basin while they conduct their investigation. The closure encompasses no fewer than five hiking paths and multiple wilderness camping areas.

While park representatives confirmed that at least one bear was responsible for the incident, they have not identified the specific type involved. Yellowstone is home to both grizzly and black bear populations, and distinguishing between the two species can sometimes prove challenging. Grizzly bears tend to display more aggressive behavior and achieve significantly larger sizes — potentially growing to double the weight of black bears. Black bears typically display darker fur coloring.

Officials have not yet disclosed additional details regarding the victims’ ages or current medical status. The Associated Press has attempted to contact park representatives through email and telephone for further information.

Bear encounters involving either grizzly or black bears remain uncommon occurrences despite the millions of annual visitors to Yellowstone. In the previous year, one hiker sustained chest and arm wounds during an encounter on the Turbid Lake Trail located northeast of Yellowstone Lake.

A grizzly bear fatally attacked a woman in an area just outside Yellowstone’s western boundary in 2023. The most recent deadly bear encounter within park boundaries occurred in 2015.

The busy Mystic Falls hiking route features a circular path that takes visitors to view a waterfall measuring 70 feet in height. The starting point for this trail sits approximately two miles northwest of the Old Faithful area.

A deadly stabbing occurred outside Busch Stadium in St. Louis early Monday morning, resulting from an argument between two cleanup workers hired to handle post-game duties, according to police.

Both individuals involved were employed by contractors responsible for cleaning up after baseball games, not direct employees of the Major League Baseball team.

“This could have happened anywhere, but what happened tonight was a dispute between two people. Unfortunately, it happened at a treasured St. Louis staple,” said Mitch McCoy, spokesperson for St. Louis police.

The Cardinals organization characterized the incident as an “isolated altercation.”

Officers responded to the scene at approximately 3 a.m. Monday morning. A 27-year-old man died from his injuries, while a 65-year-old suspect was questioned by detectives.

The team had faced the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday evening. Monday’s scheduled matchup against Milwaukee proceeded as planned, unaffected by the deadly incident.

Defense technology firm Anduril Industries revealed Tuesday which companies will join its effort to build orbital missile interceptors for the U.S. Space Force, marking a key development in the Golden Dome for America defense program launched during the Trump presidency.

The Space-Based Interceptor program represents a shift from traditional ground-launched defense systems by positioning weapons directly in orbit. This orbital positioning allows American forces to target and eliminate incoming threats much earlier during their trajectory, striking missiles closer to their launch point.

Anduril’s partnership roster features Impulse Space, Inversion Space, K2 Space, Sandia National Laboratories, and Voyager Technologies. The collaboration combines emerging commercial space companies with established research facilities to create what Anduril calls “affordable, scalable” interceptor technology.

The Space Force has distributed contracts valued at up to $3.2 billion collectively among 12 companies working on orbital missile defense interceptor development. Major defense contractors receiving awards include Northrop Grumman, RTX’s Raytheon division, SpaceX, and Lockheed Martin.

“The U.S.’s near-peer adversaries have invested in exotic, highly maneuverable vehicles, introducing considerable challenges to protecting the U.S. homeland,” stated Gokul Subramanian, who serves as Anduril’s senior vice president of engineering.

The timeline calls for demonstrating a complete interceptor system integrated with Golden Dome infrastructure by approximately 2028, establishing an orbital defense layer for American homeland security.

The Golden Dome program carries an anticipated price tag of $185 billion and aims to enhance existing ground-based defensive capabilities including interceptor rockets, detection equipment and command systems while incorporating space-based components for threat identification, monitoring and potential elimination from orbit.

Space Force General Michael Guetlein, who leads the Golden Dome initiative, has previously characterized the orbital interceptor program as the project’s most challenging component, pointing to scalability and cost-effectiveness as primary obstacles. He has indicated that directed energy weaponry and advanced artificial intelligence technologies offer the greatest potential for reducing per-target elimination costs.

ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes will become the new television host for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, bringing her analytical expertise to the century-old academic competition. The announcement, made Tuesday, marks the first time a celebrity will host the event since LeVar Burton took on the role in 2022.

The hosting change comes as Scripps, the Cincinnati-based media company, works to revitalize the broadcast after taking control from ESPN and moving it to ION and Bounce networks. The company has also enlisted a new production crew headed by Michael Davies, who currently executive produces “Jeopardy!”

This year’s competition is scheduled for May 26-28 at Constitution Hall in downtown Washington, where 247 young spellers will vie for the championship trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes.

“My goal in this is to give it the big-game feel,” Kimes shared with The Associated Press before the official announcement. “Any event that requires skill and knowledge and preparation can have that feel if it’s presented with enough care and pride on television.”

Davies, whose resume includes “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” “Reading Rainbow” and “Good Morning Football,” echoes Kimes’ enthusiasm for elevating the competition’s profile. His objective, he told AP, is to “make it bigger and make it more famous.”

“We really need to focus the entire broadcast and everything we’re doing around the stakes of the competition and the incredible winning moment, the winning word that happens at the end of the final,” Davies explained.

The 40-year-old Yale graduate is recognized for her thorough research methods and detailed analysis of game footage when breaking down NFL players and coaching strategies. She describes her preparation for the spelling bee in similar terms.

“It honestly does feel a little bit like watching game tape because I really think these kids are elite competitors, not just in terms of being the best of the best, but you can see all of the work that they so clearly put in,” Kimes explained. “The way they get to the right answer is fascinating to me and the more you watch, the more you see the way their brains work. I see a lot of similarities to what I do with football, and I’m so pumped to be a part of this.”

While Kimes never reached the national competition level, she has personal experience with spelling contests, capturing victories at her school in second, third and fifth grades.

Young competitors earn their spots in the National Spelling Bee through regional victories nationwide and must be in eighth grade or younger to participate. Even the most talented students, many working with professional coaches throughout the year, typically have just one or two opportunities to claim victory in this premier English-language spelling contest before becoming too old to compete.

In recent years, Scripps has primarily featured former spelling bee participants as hosts and commentators on air. Paul Loeffler, a sports broadcaster and former competitor who is also the sibling of bee executive director Corrie Loeffler, will continue in his analyst position.

Despite Scripps’ claims of reaching larger audiences through ION’s broader household availability compared to ESPN, viewership numbers have remained flat and shown slight decreases recently, based on Nielsen statistics. The combined primetime finale audience across ION and Bounce totaled 609,000 in 2022, 641,000 in 2023, 461,000 in 2024 and 488,000 last year.

The competition attracted more than 1 million viewers on ESPN in 2012. The championship rounds of the final three pre-pandemic broadcasts on ESPN recorded audiences of 606,000 (2017), 550,000 (2018) and 559,000 (2019).