Category: U.S. News

Two individuals died when American military forces targeted a vessel suspected of narcotics trafficking in Pacific Ocean waters, according to military officials who announced the operation on Friday.

The U.S. Coast Guard reported receiving notification from Southern Command on Thursday about three individuals requiring rescue assistance in the Pacific. When Coast Guard personnel arrived at the location, they discovered two deceased persons and one surviving individual.

Officials transferred both the survivor and the deceased to Costa Rican Coast Guard authorities, according to a Coast Guard representative.

WASHINGTON — U.S. military forces launched a strike Friday against a boat suspected of drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific Ocean, with three people surviving the attack, according to officials from the Trump administration’s ongoing anti-trafficking operations.

U.S. Southern Command, responsible for military operations across much of Latin America, announced on X that it immediately contacted the U.S. Coast Guard to begin search and rescue operations for the three survivors.

The military statement did not confirm whether the survivors had been successfully rescued or if any fatalities occurred during the operation.

Since the Trump administration launched its campaign against what it terms “narcoterrorists” operating small boats in early September, military strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 157 individuals.

Following the pattern of previous military announcements regarding more than 40 documented strikes across the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, U.S. Southern Command stated it had targeted suspected drug smugglers operating along established trafficking corridors. However, the military provided no proof that the vessel was actually transporting narcotics. Officials released footage on X showing a boat bursting into flames while moving through the water.

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

Opposition voices have raised concerns about both the legal basis for these maritime strikes and their actual impact, noting that fentanyl responsible for many overdose fatalities typically enters the U.S. through overland routes from Mexico, where it’s manufactured using chemicals shipped from China and India.

Spring entertainment takes center stage this March at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, Virginia, with an exciting array of competitions featuring animals and skilled performers.

Dog enthusiasts can enjoy multiple breed exhibitions throughout the month, starting with the Langley Kennel Club’s showcase on March 20. The festivities continue with the Blue Crab Cluster event, featuring both the Chesapeake Virginia Dog Fanciers Association and Southern Maryland Kennel Club from March 26-29.

Action-packed equestrian excitement comes to life during the 1st Virginia Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association’s 2026 Banquet Shoot and Charlie Otto Memorial Shoot on March 21-22. The thrilling weekend will feature both novice and veteran riders competing with rifles and shotguns, plus a cavalry competition that promises high-energy entertainment.

Bird lovers can explore The Old Dominion Poultry Association Virginia Spring Fling on March 21, showcasing various feathered friends and their dedicated handlers. The event includes multiple contests ranging from youth showmanship demonstrations to creative decorated egg displays.

Those wanting to stay informed about upcoming attractions at The Meadow Event Park can sign up for monthly email notifications through the venue’s subscription service.

A comprehensive national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center has identified which behaviors Americans find most ethically objectionable, with adultery leading the list by a significant margin.

According to the extensive polling data, nine out of ten Americans—specifically 90%—view extramarital affairs as morally unacceptable, making it the most widely condemned behavior examined in the study.

The research also found that just over half of respondents, at 52%, believe consuming pornographic material crosses moral boundaries.

However, the survey revealed that most Americans do not view several other controversial topics as ethical violations. Large majorities expressed no moral objections to end-of-life assistance for terminally ill patients, same-sex relationships, betting and gaming activities, marijuana use, or ending marriages through divorce.

The polling showed Americans remain deeply divided on reproductive rights, with opinions on abortion splitting almost evenly between those who consider it morally acceptable and those who do not.

A recent NPR interview examined how Latino communities across the nation are responding to troubling allegations of sexual violence involving civil rights leader Cesar Chavez.

Host Michel Martin conducted the discussion with Mónica Ramírez, a prominent activist and author, who provided insight into the community’s reaction to these serious accusations against the iconic labor organizer.

The interview focused on understanding the complex emotions and responses within Latino communities as they grapple with allegations against a figure long celebrated as a champion of workers’ rights and social justice.

Residents of a small Tennessee community are mobilizing to prevent the establishment of a uranium processing plant that would operate under federal contract to transform depleted uranium materials.

The proposed facility would be responsible for converting depleted uranium into its metallic state, which the federal government requires for nuclear weapons manufacturing purposes.

Local citizens are now urging their elected officials to take action against the planned construction of this controversial facility in their area.

Federal authorities announced Thursday they successfully dismantled four massive criminal computer networks that had compromised more than 3 million devices across the globe, including hundreds of thousands within the United States.

The coordinated international law enforcement effort involved agencies from the United States, Germany, and Canada working together to shut down the criminal operations known as Aisuru, KimWolf, JackSkid, and Mossad, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

These criminal networks primarily targeted everyday internet-connected household items such as security cameras, digital recording devices, and wireless routers to build their illegal operations. The cyber criminals then used these compromised devices to overwhelm computer systems and servers worldwide with massive traffic attacks, including systems belonging to the U.S. military’s computer network. In certain instances, the criminals demanded ransom payments from their targets, federal officials said.

The perpetrators launched hundreds of thousands of these overwhelming cyber attacks using the infected devices, federal prosecutors stated.

“Today’s disruption of four powerful botnets highlights our commitment to eliminate emerging cyber threats to the Department of Defense and its warfighters,” said Kenneth DeChellis, a special agent in charge at the Department of Defense Investigative Service.

The simultaneous law enforcement action across three countries focused on identifying and targeting the individuals responsible for operating these illegal networks, Justice Department officials said.

Nearly two dozen major technology corporations assisted in the operation, including Amazon Web Services, Google, PayPal, and Nokia. The effort also involved the European Union’s law enforcement agency Europol, which has been running specialized operations against cyber criminals since 2017.

Federal authorities announced Thursday that three individuals tied to Super Micro Computer Inc. have been indicted for allegedly orchestrating an illegal scheme to export billions of dollars worth of advanced computer servers containing cutting-edge Nvidia processors to China.

The defendants are accused of breaking federal export control regulations by illegally redirecting enormous quantities of high-performance servers manufactured in America to Chinese buyers during 2024 and 2025, according to court documents filed in Manhattan federal court.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. revealed in a statement that the accused individuals employed falsified paperwork, set up fake equipment displays to fool audit inspections, and operated through a front company to hide their illegal activities and real customer base.

“Schemes such as this pose a direct threat to U.S. national security,” stated U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.

The processors manufactured by Nvidia have become crucial components for data centers that run artificial intelligence systems — revolutionary technology that could transform society and shift global power dynamics. This has sparked an intense competition between America and China for AI dominance, reminiscent of the nuclear weapons development race between the United States and Germany during World War II.

To maintain technological superiority, President Joe Biden implemented restrictions on Nvidia AI chip sales to China — limitations that President Donald Trump has continued for the company’s most advanced processors. The Trump administration recently began relaxing the ban on Nvidia’s lower-end AI chips sold to China, requiring a 15% fee to the U.S. government. Despite this adjustment, Nvidia excluded any Chinese sales from its revenue projections in its latest financial report released last month.

Authorities arrested Yih-Shyan “Wally” Liaw, 71, an American citizen serving as senior vice president and board member of Super Micro Computer, in California Thursday alongside Ting-Wei “Willy” Sun, 44, who worked as a company contractor. Ruei-Tsang “Steven” Chang, employed as a sales manager for the company’s Taiwan operations, remains at large, officials reported. Liaw, a Fremont, California resident, was freed on bail, while Sun, a Taiwanese citizen, was detained pending a Friday bail hearing. Legal representation for both men was not immediately available.

Court filings allege that Liaw and Chang instructed leaders of a Southeast Asian company to order $2.5 billion in servers from the San Jose, California-headquartered Super Micro Computer during 2024 and 2025.

Investigators say the operation grew increasingly bold over time, with at least $510 million worth of Super Micro Computer servers being illegally shipped to China following their assembly in the United States.

While legal documents did not name the company directly, Super Micro Computer Inc. released a statement Thursday evening confirming the employment relationships of the arrested individuals.

“The conduct by these individuals alleged in the indictment is a contravention of the Company’s policies and compliance controls, including efforts to circumvent applicable export control laws and regulations,” the company stated. “Supermicro maintains a robust compliance program and is committed to full adherence to all applicable U.S. export and re-export control laws and regulations.”

The company emphasized it was not charged in the indictment and added that it “has been cooperating fully with the government’s investigation and will continue to do so.”

Nvidia responded with its own statement, saying “strict compliance is a top priority for Nvidia.”

“We continue to work closely with our customers and the government on compliance programs as export regulations have expanded. Unlawful diversion of controlled U.S. computers to China is a losing proposition across the board — NVIDIA does not provide any service or support for such systems, and the enforcement mechanisms are rigorous and effective,” the company declared.

Despite being blocked from Chinese markets, Nvidia has experienced remarkable growth over the past three years, with its market capitalization jumping from approximately $400 billion at the close of 2022 to $4.3 trillion currently — making it the world’s most valuable company.

This week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang indicated the AI surge will persist, forecasting that the company will soon accumulate a $1 trillion backlog of chip orders, twice his projection from a year earlier.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A journalist working for a Spanish-language media company in Tennessee walked free Thursday after posting bond, ending more than two weeks in federal immigration custody that her legal team claims was unjustified.

Estefany Rodríguez Flórez, who works for Nashville Noticias and has published reports criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, was taken into ICE custody following a March 4 traffic stop. Authorities initially held her at an Etowah County, Alabama facility before transferring her to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana.

“We are grateful that Estefany is able to walk away with her freedom to be with her family as she continues to fight for her right to remain in her community and in the US,” her lawyer Mike Holley stated.

Court documents show that Rodríguez, a Colombian national, arrived in the United States through legal channels five years ago. She possesses authorized work documentation and has filed applications for both political asylum and permanent residency through her American citizen spouse. Her legal representatives emphasize she has no criminal background, maintains steady employment, has community connections, and cares for a 7-year-old child.

With assistance from the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Rodríguez’s legal team filed a wrongful detention lawsuit claiming she was singled out due to her journalism criticizing ICE policies during the Trump presidency. They assert violations of her First Amendment protections and Fifth Amendment due process guarantees.

Federal officials countered that no constitutional violations occurred in what they described as the agency’s discretionary choice to initiate deportation procedures, arguing First Amendment protections “may not even be applicable to an illegal alien.”

An immigration judge in Louisiana approved a $10,000 bond for her release on Monday.

Holley indicated they will proceed with the wrongful detention lawsuit, seeking not only her complete freedom “but an order prohibiting ICE from mistreating her in a similar way in the future.”

Rodríguez submitted her asylum request prior to her visa’s September 2021 expiration date and remained in America due to persecution threats in Colombia and because departing would terminate her asylum petition, according to her attorneys. She received work authorization while awaiting her asylum interview in February 2022.

Her legal team contends the arrest constituted an illegal, warrant-free seizure violating Fourth Amendment protections because officials lacked reasonable belief she would flee before obtaining proper documentation. While government lawyers claim they possessed an arrest warrant, Rodríguez’s attorneys questioned its legitimacy. The document was dated two days prior to the arrest, handwritten, wrinkled, missing her identification number, and had an incomplete service certificate section. A second, typed warrant was created and dated March 4.

According to court filings, ICE had previously postponed two scheduled meetings with Rodríguez regarding her case – first due to office closure during severe winter weather, then because an agent could not locate her appointment in their system.

Officials had rescheduled a new meeting for March 17.

Nashville Noticias reported that Rodríguez was traveling with her spouse in a clearly marked company vehicle when multiple cars surrounded them and she was transported to a detention facility.

Attorney Joel Coxander revealed it took more than 10 days before Rodríguez was permitted to communicate with legal counsel.

Multiple journalism organizations filed their own legal document highlighting potential dangers of detaining non-citizen reporters.

“The predictable consequence of the arrest and detention of these individuals is to end that speech and to chill a vast amount of future speech, especially by non-citizen journalists fearful that hard-hitting reporting on sensitive topics could lead to their detention,” stated the brief led by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Following her arrest, authorities transferred Rodríguez to the Etowah County facility in Alabama. After one day there, as she was preparing for transport to Louisiana, an officer inquired about lice and returned her to the jail. She spent approximately five days in solitary confinement before being forced to undress in a shower area where an officer applied a chemical solution to her head that caused eye irritation, the legal filing states.

She was subsequently moved to Louisiana on March 12.

NEWARK, N.J. — Federal aviation authorities are examining a dangerous incident that unfolded Tuesday evening at Newark Liberty International Airport, where two aircraft came dangerously close during landing procedures on intersecting runways.

The National Transportation Safety Board announced Thursday it has launched an investigation into the near-miss involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 that flew directly over a FedEx Boeing 777 at the major airport serving the New York metropolitan area.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is also conducting its own investigation, air traffic control directed Alaska Airlines Flight 294, arriving from Portland, Oregon, to execute a go-around maneuver — meaning pilots had to abort their landing attempt and circle back for another try — after FedEx Flight 721 from Memphis, Tennessee, had already received clearance for final approach on a crossing runway.

In a written response, Alaska Airlines confirmed that while their aircraft had initially received landing clearance at Newark, air traffic controllers subsequently “issued a go around to our aircraft, which our pilots are highly trained for.”

FedEx issued its own statement saying their flight crew complied with all air traffic control directives and completed a safe landing.

Communities nationwide are taking a second look at public memorials dedicated to César Chávez following recent sexual abuse allegations against the renowned labor activist.

The reassessment encompasses various forms of public recognition including statues, educational facilities, roadways, and other locations that carry the civil rights leader’s name throughout the country.

This development represents a collection of images compiled by Associated Press photography staff documenting these tributes currently facing scrutiny.

A 19-year-old Mexican immigrant has died while in immigration custody at a Florida county jail, federal authorities announced.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say Royer Perez-Jimenez died from what they believe was suicide, though investigators are still working to determine the official cause of death.

The young man’s death on Monday marks the 46th fatality in ICE custody since President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2025, based on Associated Press tracking. This makes Perez-Jimenez the youngest detainee to die in immigration custody during Trump’s current administration.

His death represents the second ICE custody fatality this week, following the death of an Afghan immigrant in Texas who had previously assisted U.S. military forces in his home country. Since 2026 began, 13 immigrants have died while in ICE detention.

Immigration advocacy groups have strongly criticized the detention system following the death. “Immigration detention system deprives people of freedom, isolates people away from loved ones, and subjects people to abysmal conditions,” stated Carly Pérez Fernández, who serves as communications director for Detention Watch Network, a national organization opposing immigrant detention.

ICE reports that correctional officers discovered Perez-Jimenez unconscious and unresponsive at 2:34 a.m. Monday morning at the Glades County Detention Center in Moore Haven. This facility, located approximately 55 miles northeast of Fort Myers, had been closed during President Joe Biden’s administration but was reopened under Trump.

Staff members immediately declared a medical emergency in the dormitory and began CPR efforts, according to ICE. Medical personnel arrived within minutes and confirmed the absence of a pulse before fire rescue deputies took over with life-saving measures. Officials pronounced Perez-Jimenez dead at 2:51 a.m., just 17 minutes after his discovery.

Records show that Volusia County sheriff’s deputies arrested the Mexican teenager on January 22, charging him with felony impersonation and resisting an officer. He was transferred to immigration custody one month later. However, when the Associated Press requested arrest records from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office using the name and date provided by ICE, officials responded that no such person appears in their system.

The District 21 Medical Examiner’s Office has not responded to requests for the autopsy report. Florida prosecutors have directed all inquiries to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. attorney general’s office.

Florida maintains strong alignment with Trump administration immigration policies and operates several prominent immigrant detention facilities, including the South Florida Detention Facility, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” and the Krome North Service Processing Center. Detainees at these facilities have reported discovering worms in meals, broken toilets, and sewage overflow problems.

Extended detention periods have become increasingly common during Trump’s current presidency, largely due to new policies that generally prevent immigration judges from releasing detainees while their deportation cases move through backlogged court systems.

A man from upstate New York has entered a guilty plea to federal cyberstalking charges after admitting he made threatening phone calls to a relative of murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Shane Daley, 40, acknowledged in federal court Thursday that he left multiple harassing and menacing voicemail messages for a Thompson family member following the executive’s December 2024 shooting death.

Federal prosecutors charged Daley in August, alleging he made numerous phone calls to a Thompson relative right after the insurance CEO was gunned down, during which he celebrated the killing.

The healthcare executive was shot and killed outside a Manhattan hotel by an individual who was reportedly motivated by anger over perceived corporate greed, prosecutors said. Luigi Mangione, the alleged shooter, has entered a not guilty plea and is facing both state and federal trials.

During his guilty plea, Daley confessed to making repeated calls to a business phone number used by a Thompson family member in the immediate aftermath of the murder. In the voicemails, he used threatening and harassing language, celebrated Thompson’s death, and stated that the family member and Thompson’s children should suffer the same violent fate, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of New York.

“Shane Daley celebrated the cold-blooded murder of Brian Thompson and senselessly tried to maximize the Thompson family’s suffering,” first assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone said in a prepared release.

Daley lives in Galway, located approximately 40 miles north of Albany, and is scheduled for sentencing on July 17. He could receive up to five years behind bars and face fines reaching $250,000.

Thompson served as the leader of one of America’s largest health insurance companies, and his murder sparked widespread public anger about the nation’s healthcare system. Some individuals have praised Mangione as a vigilante figure.

LOS ANGELES — In an unprecedented move, ABC has pulled the plug on an entire season of “The Bachelorette” featuring Taylor Frankie Paul just days before its Sunday premiere, following the emergence of a 2023 video.

The network made the extraordinary decision to cancel the reality show season that had already completed filming, marking an unusual last-minute reversal for the long-running series.

“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” Disney Entertainment Television announced in a statement.

The network’s decision appears connected to footage of a confrontation between Paul and Dakota Mortensen from 2023 that TMZ published Thursday. Paul faced arrest in 2023 on charges including aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child. She entered a guilty plea that August to a reduced misdemeanor aggravated assault charge, while other charges were dropped.

According to People magazine, a Draper City, Utah police representative confirmed an ongoing domestic violence investigation involving Paul and her former partner Mortensen, with accusations coming from both parties. Mortensen is the father of one of Paul’s three children.

Neither Paul nor Mortensen’s representatives responded to requests for comment. ABC has not revealed plans for filling the show’s time slot.

Paul had been actively promoting Season 22 as recently as Wednesday, appearing on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and walking the red carpet at Sunday’s Oscars ceremony. The 31-year-old represented an unconventional choice for the show’s lead role, breaking from tradition by not having previously appeared on the “Bachelor” franchise — which typically selects leads from past season contestants.

Her casting did create corporate synergy, as Paul also appears on Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” reality series. Disney owns both networks. ABC’s October casting announcement praised Paul for “igniting ‘MomTok’ and going viral for pulling back the curtain on Salt Lake’s soft-swinging scene.”

Paul gained prominence as a social media influencer within the #MomTok movement, where members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints share their experiences on TikTok. She generated headlines in 2022 when she revealed she had violated an agreement with her husband regarding relationships with other couples, leading to their divorce.

“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” debuted in 2024. Although Season 4 launched last week, production on Season 5 had already been suspended due to the investigation.

“It was a decision that all of us girls came up with,” co-star Mikayla Matthews explained Wednesday on Instagram when asked about the production halt. “We didn’t feel comfortable filming with everything that was happening.”

Paul announced on Instagram in December that “The Bachelorette” filming had concluded. Jesse Palmer serves as the show’s host.

Television industry expert Kate Casey, a former crisis communications professional who hosts the “Reality Life with Kate Casey” podcast, described Paul’s casting as “essentially an experiment gone wrong by Disney.”

“I think they were trying to shake things up, and it makes sense because the ecosystem is saturated with dating shows like ‘F-Boy Island’ and ‘Love Island’ that push the boundaries and ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette’ historically have been saccharine,” explained Casey, who has produced over 1,500 podcast episodes.

Casey believes network executives likely hoped Paul’s casting would attract both “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” viewers and her 6.1 million TikTok followers.

“The thinking was probably, ‘We’re going to get a new audience’ and the new audience is really the most coveted in all of entertainment,” she noted.

A Planned Parenthood affiliate in Illinois has agreed to pay half a million dollars to resolve federal allegations of workplace discrimination, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The EEOC announced that Planned Parenthood of Illinois will provide $500,000 in compensation to settle an investigation that determined the organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies violated federal employment laws.

The federal agency’s probe concluded that the healthcare provider’s DEI initiatives discriminated against employees based on their race, creating an unlawful work environment that violated civil rights protections.

Under the settlement agreement, the Illinois chapter will modify its workplace practices and provide monetary relief to affected staff members. The organization has not admitted wrongdoing as part of the resolution.

This case highlights ongoing legal challenges facing employers as they navigate diversity programs while complying with federal anti-discrimination statutes that protect all workers regardless of race or ethnicity.

California legislators are moving quickly to strip Cesar Chavez’s name from their state holiday following disturbing sexual assault allegations against the late labor leader.

State Assembly members from both parties introduced legislation Thursday to rename the March 31 holiday “Farmworkers Day” instead of honoring Chavez individually. A vote could happen as early as Monday, according to Republican Assembly member Alexandra Macedo.

“Due to the outrage, this is coming up fast,” Macedo said in an interview. “But this holiday has never been about one man. It’s about all the farmworkers who feed and clothe the world, not just California or our nation, but the world.”

The controversy erupted after Dolores Huerta, who helped establish the United Farm Workers union alongside Chavez, publicly accused him Wednesday of sexually assaulting her during the 1960s. Her revelation coincided with a New York Times investigation spanning multiple years that documented a pattern of sexual misconduct allegations against Chavez, including accounts from women who say he molested and raped them as children.

Huerta revealed she had concealed her experiences with Chavez, including bearing two of his children, because she feared damaging the labor movement they built together.

Chavez gained national recognition during the mid-1960s for organizing agricultural workers throughout Central and Southern California, fighting for improved wages and working conditions. He passed away in 1993 at age 66.

President Barack Obama designated Chavez’s birthday as a federal commemorative holiday in 2014. California became the first state to establish it as a state holiday in 2000, with several other states following suit. Traditional observances have included community marches, volunteer service activities, and educational programming.

The United Farm Workers union has already cancelled its planned Chavez celebrations in response to the allegations. Municipal governments are also taking action to remove his name from educational institutions and streets while cancelling or renaming events held in his honor.

While most of these changes will require time to implement, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass moved swiftly Thursday, signing an executive order immediately renaming March 31 as Farmworkers Day within the city.

Airport security checkpoint delays have become impossible to predict during the ongoing government shutdown, as Transportation Security Administration worker attendance varies daily and determines whether passengers face quick processing or extensive waits that extend beyond terminal buildings.

At Houston’s primary airport on Thursday morning, passengers faced wait times lasting several hours because of inadequate staffing, forcing some travelers to miss their departures or rush frantically to boarding gates.

Meanwhile, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport experienced mostly manageable to brief delays, despite having some of Wednesday’s most extensive security queues nationwide, though officials closed one screening area because of insufficient personnel.

Aviation specialists say forecasting which locations will experience the most severe delays at any moment proves difficult since the core issue involves TSA employees failing to report for scheduled work. Approximately 50,000 federal employees responsible for screening travelers and luggage continue working without compensation as Congress remains unable to reach agreement on Department of Homeland Security funding.

This marks the third shutdown impacting TSA staff since autumn began. Increasing financial pressure makes it more challenging for workers to cover essential expenses such as fuel or childcare while maintaining their work schedules, according to the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents the majority of airport security screening personnel. Homeland Security reports that no fewer than 366 TSA agents have resigned since the current shutdown started February 14.

“This is a very unfortunate situation and an extreme situation, and one that has been dragging on far too long, and is only likely to get worse,” said Eric Rosen, director of travel content for the travel and finance site The Points Guy.

Rosen recommended that passengers verify security checkpoint delays at their departure airport by visiting the facility’s website or checking social media updates. Many airports also indicate which screening locations remain operational versus closed, he noted.

This information proves valuable for most passengers using standard security processing, he explained. However, given current circumstances, expedited screening programs offer significant advantages. When Houston wait times reached three hours recently, TSA PreCheck passengers completed screening in just 10 minutes, Rosen observed.

“It can cut down wait times even during the best times when things are flowing smoothly, but right now we’re seeing the true value of that,” he said.

Clear+ membership provides another method for reducing delays, allowing subscribers to bypass identity verification and boarding pass checking lines to proceed directly to baggage screening. The company refused to disclose whether membership has increased over the past month.

However, traveler Sara Oberton reported Thursday that she and other Houston passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport’s Terminal E were directed into a single queue, despite having Clear+ or TSA PreCheck access. Airport representatives declined to provide details, stating only that available TSA screening lanes fluctuate based on staffing availability.

Oberton, who works as a fashion blogger, spent three hours in line, causing her to miss her Los Angeles flight.

“It is pure insanity here in Houston,” she said in a video posted on social media.

Rosen from The Points Guy offered guidance for passengers who arrive hours early but still risk missing flights: Request assistance from airline staff to move ahead in line.

“I know it’s a little cringe and I know it’s a little uncomfortable,” he said. “But it’s not like showing up 20 minutes before your flight and expecting just to breeze through.”

Airlines have no obligation to assist passengers delayed by TSA staffing problems, he cautioned.

“It’s not on them to make sure that you get to the gate on time,” he said.

Hip-hop artist Afroman, legally known as Joseph Foreman, has emerged victorious in a defamation case brought against him by Ohio law enforcement officials following a highly publicized trial.

The legal battle stemmed from the musician’s 2023 release of his album and track titled “Lemon Pound Cake,” which featured home surveillance footage that ridiculed a police search conducted at his Ohio residence.

The deputies who participated in the raid filed a civil lawsuit against the rapper, claiming defamation over his use of the footage in his creative work. However, a jury ultimately ruled in favor of Foreman, rejecting the officers’ claims.

The case gained significant attention online, with the trial becoming a viral sensation as it unfolded. Afroman, best known for his hit song “Because I Got High,” turned the legal proceedings and the original police raid into material for his music and public commentary.

The jury’s decision represents a victory for the artist, who successfully argued his right to use the footage from his own property in his artistic expression.

Authorities in Barcelona, Spain are conducting an intensive search operation for a missing American college student who disappeared after an evening out with friends earlier this week.

James “Jimmy” Gracey, age 20 and enrolled at the University of Alabama, vanished in the early morning hours of Tuesday while visiting friends participating in study abroad programs. The student from Elmhurst, Illinois—a Chicago suburb located approximately 19 miles west of the city—was last spotted leaving the Shoko nightclub near Barceloneta Beach around 3 a.m.

The young man failed to return to his shared accommodation, prompting concern from his companions and family members back home in Illinois.

Catalan regional authorities have launched comprehensive search efforts that include aerial surveillance and underwater operations as they work to locate the missing student.

According to family social media posts, Gracey was dressed in a white shirt and dark trousers when he disappeared, and was wearing a distinctive gold rhinestone cross necklace.

“Jimmy is a kind, responsible, and devoted son and brother. It is completely out of character for him not to check in with family and friends,” Gracey’s family said in a statement shared with The Associated Press. “We are working closely with local authorities and are incredibly grateful for the support we have received. We ask that you keep Jimmy in your thoughts as we continue to do everything we can to bring him home safely.”

His companions remaining in Barcelona have begun distributing missing person flyers throughout the city, featuring Gracey’s photograph and details about when he was last seen.

The University of Alabama released a statement Thursday expressing their concern for the missing student.

“We are keeping Jimmy and his family at the forefront of our thoughts, and our staff are in direct communication with the family to offer every support and assistance possible,” the university stated. “Anyone with information that may help is encouraged to contact local authorities.”

Gracey maintains membership in the Theta Chi fraternity at his university, where he serves in dual leadership roles within the campus chapter.

Michael Mayer, CEO of the international fraternity organization, described ongoing efforts to assist in the search.

“Since learning of his disappearance, the International Fraternity has been in regular communication with federal lawmakers, the University of Alabama, and our chapter members, including those who remain in Barcelona searching tirelessly for Jimmy,” Mayer stated.

Following shocking sexual abuse accusations against legendary labor organizer César Chávez, officials at California State University, Fresno moved quickly to conceal his campus statue — first draping it with black fabric, then covering it entirely with plywood. University leaders say the monument will soon be removed completely.

This statue represents just one piece of Chávez’s extensive national legacy, with The Associated Press documenting over 130 locations across at least 19 states that bear his name, including educational institutions, roadways, libraries, community facilities, and public spaces.

The once-honored name has now become controversial. Institutions and municipal governments nationwide are beginning efforts to eliminate Chávez’s name from their properties. Beyond physical monuments and street markers, some want to change César Chávez Day, the federal holiday observed on his March 31 birth date.

The accusations that Chávez sexually victimized girls and women, including movement co-leader Dolores Huerta, “call for our full attention and moral reckoning by removing his statute from our campus,” stated Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, president of California State University, Fresno. The timeline for removal remains uncertain.

Questions also surround the future of the César E. Chávez National Monument in Keene, California, which contains the workspace where some alleged abuse reportedly occurred.

Phoenix city council members announced plans to vote next week on renaming the holiday along with any municipal buildings and streets currently honoring Chávez.

The New York Times initially reported Wednesday that credible evidence exists showing Chávez targeted and sexually victimized young girls within the labor movement. One survivor was motivated to speak out after learning of a proposal to name a street in her neighborhood after Chávez.

Huerta, a labor icon who partnered with Chávez in 1962 to establish the National Farm Workers Association — later renamed the United Farm Workers of America — disclosed to the publication that she experienced abuse from him during her thirties.

Advocates are suggesting that locations currently named for Chávez should instead honor Huerta.

His namesake locations include a U.S. Navy cargo vessel recognizing his World War II military service and a national monument created in 2012 by former President Barack Obama on a 187-acre property where Chávez lived and conducted his work.

While California contains the majority of these locations, sites exist across at least 19 states, spanning from New York and Maryland to Oklahoma, Great Lakes states, and Washington.

Educational institutions account for more than half of these locations, with California hosting most of them. In Pueblo, Colorado, one school honors both Chávez and Huerta in its name.

Modifying a national monument’s designation requires either congressional legislation or presidential action.

Authorities have successfully located Kristin Wills and have officially canceled the Gold Alert that was issued for her.

The alert, which was issued to help find the missing woman, has been lifted after Wills was found safe.

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

Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey has reached a private settlement with three men who accused him of sexual assault, according to court documents from London’s High Court.

The accusers claimed the Hollywood star assaulted them during incidents occurring from 2000 through 2013. Spacey has consistently denied these accusations.

The civil proceedings were scheduled to begin later this year, but Judge Christina Lambert halted the case last week after the parties reached an agreement. “By consent, it is ordered that all further proceedings against the defendant in these actions be stayed upon the terms set out in this order and in the confidential schedule,” Lambert stated.

Details of the settlement agreement remain sealed, and the court made no ruling regarding legal costs. The judge’s order, issued on March 13, became public this Wednesday.

Spacey’s legal team has not yet responded to requests for comment.

The 66-year-old actor faced criminal charges in London during 2023, standing trial for nine alleged sexual offenses involving four different men. He was found not guilty on all charges.

Among those pursuing civil action, two individuals whose names remain legally protected had testified during Spacey’s criminal proceedings.

In 2022, Spacey also prevailed in a separate $40 million civil case in New York, brought against him by Anthony Rapp from “Star Trek: Discovery.”

Once considered among the finest actors of his era, Spacey’s career collapsed following multiple sexual misconduct allegations. His notable works include “Glengarry Glen Ross,” “LA Confidential,” and the political drama series “House of Cards.” He earned Oscar recognition twice: Best Supporting Actor for “The Usual Suspects” in 1995 and Best Actor for “American Beauty” in 1999.

From 2004 to 2015, Spacey served as the artistic director at London’s prestigious Old Vic Theatre.

Celebrations and commemorative events dedicated to farm labor leader Cesar Chavez are being canceled or renamed by organizers nationwide as new allegations emerge about the activist’s past conduct.

The reports detailing alleged misconduct by Chavez have prompted event planners across the United States to reassess their tributes to the civil rights figure who championed farmworker rights.

Some organizers are choosing to completely cancel their planned events, while others are opting to rebrand their celebrations to distance themselves from the controversial allegations surrounding the late activist’s legacy.

Celebrations and commemorative events dedicated to labor leader Cesar Chavez are being called off or renamed by planners nationwide following emerging allegations about the activist’s past conduct.

The reports concerning the prominent farm workers’ rights advocate have prompted event coordinators across the United States to take a second look at their planned tributes and decide whether to proceed with honoring Chavez.

Some organizers have chosen to completely cancel their scheduled events, while others are moving forward with rebranded celebrations that distance themselves from the controversial figure.

Supporters of civil rights icon César Chávez across the nation are grappling with disturbing sexual abuse allegations against the celebrated farmworker advocate, prompting many to remove tributes and reconsider his legacy.

Mary Rose Wilcox, a former Phoenix City Council member who marched and fasted with Chávez, described learning about the accusations as devastating. She and her husband, who helped the labor leader establish a Phoenix radio station and decorated their Mexican restaurant with his image, have now removed his photographs from their walls.

“We love César Chavez. But we cannot honor him and we cannot even love him anymore,” Wilcox stated.

The allegations emerged Wednesday when The New York Times published findings that Chávez groomed and sexually abused young girls within the labor movement. Most shocking was the revelation from Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America, that she too was victimized by Chávez.

In a statement, Huerta disclosed she remained silent for six decades, fearing her testimony would damage the farmworker cause. She revealed two sexual encounters with Chávez, describing one where she was “manipulated and pressured” and another where she was “forced against my will.” Both incidents resulted in pregnancies she kept secret, arranging for other families to raise the children.

Huerta joined forces with Chávez in 1962 to establish the National Farm Workers Association, later becoming the United Farm Workers of America. Their partnership in advocating for racial equality and civil rights drew comparisons to Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.

The California Museum announced it would remove Chávez from the state’s Hall of Fame, marking the first time the institution has taken such action. Political leaders from both parties are urging communities to skip traditional March 31st birthday celebrations and consider renaming streets and buildings bearing his name.

Events honoring Chávez in San Francisco, Texas, and Arizona have already been cancelled at the Cesar Chavez Foundation’s request.

Chávez, who died in California in 1993 at 66, gained national recognition through his organizing efforts, hunger strikes, and the famous grape boycott that led to better wages and working conditions for farmworkers. His influence extends across the Southwest, where numerous streets, schools, and parks bear his name.

California was the first state to honor his birthday, and President Barack Obama declared March 31st as national César Chavez Day in 2014. President Joe Biden installed a bronze bust of Chávez in the Oval Office upon taking office. Neither Biden nor Obama have commented on the allegations, while California Governor Gavin Newsom said he’s still processing the news.

Journalist Miriam Pawel, who authored a biography of Chávez, noted the labor leader was always complex. She explained that people within the union witnessed troubling behavior but stayed quiet, believing the organization was crucial for protecting farmworkers.

“For many, many years, for most of those people, even when they saw things that they found disturbing, they did not wanna talk about it,” Pawel explained.

Chávez was born in Yuma, Arizona, to a Mexican American family that migrated throughout California harvesting lettuce, grapes, cotton, and other seasonal crops.

The Chávez family issued a statement expressing devastation over the allegations. “We wish peace and healing to the survivors and commend their courage to come forward. As a family steeped in the values of equity and justice, we honor the voices of those who feel unheard and who report sexual abuse,” the family said.

The Cesar Chavez Foundation pledged complete support for victims and announced it would reassess its mission moving forward. The United Farm Workers union also distanced itself from annual founder celebrations, calling the allegations disturbing.

Wilcox reflected on the painful decision to remove the restaurant photos that visitors cherished. She acknowledged Chávez’s positive impact in demonstrating that workers at every level matter through organizing and legislative achievements.

“There’s two things: Chavez the man and Chavez the man who we didn’t know,” she said. “And the one we knew, we knew the good things he did and the things we saw put in place. … And the one we did not know is like a monster.”

Grammy-nominated artist Afroman successfully defended himself against a defamation case brought by seven Ohio sheriff’s deputies who demanded nearly $4 million in damages over viral music videos mocking their home raid.

“We did it, America! Yeah, we did it! Freedom of speech! Right on! Right on!” the 51-year-old performer, whose real name is Joseph Foreman, celebrated outside the courthouse following Wednesday night’s ruling. He subsequently shared the moment on social media.

The legal battle examined how far artists can push parody boundaries when creating social commentary about public officials. The lawsuit centered on videos that accumulated over 3 million YouTube views.

“No reasonable person would expect a police officer not to be criticized. They’ve been called names before,” stated defense attorney David Osborne during final arguments for the performer famous for his 2000 breakthrough song “Because I Got High.”

The Adams County officers claimed the viral content led to public harassment. The footage captured armed deputies breaking down Afroman’s entrance, examining his footwear and clothing, and appearing interested in kitchen dessert, which inspired the track title “Lemon Pound Cake.”

Additional videos targeted the officers’ private lives and labeled them “crooked cops” after $400 disappeared during the search.

“Police officers shouldn’t be stealing civilians’ money,” Afroman testified during the proceedings. “This whole thing is an outrage.”

Appearing in court dressed in patriotic red, white and blue attire, he argued his case based on First Amendment protections and explained he created the response tracks to compensate for raid damages, including his damaged entrance and gate.

Authorities filed no criminal charges following the 2022 search, which court documents indicated was connected to suspected drug and kidnapping activity. During his testimony, he maintained his right to inform supporters and friends about police actions. He described how the incident affected his children, ages 10 and 12 at the time.

“The whole raid was a mistake. All of this is their fault. If they hadn’t have wrongly raided my house, there would be no lawsuit. I would not know their names,” Foreman explained. “They wouldn’t be on my home surveillance system, and there would be no songs, nothing.”

His song “Will You Help Me Repair My Door?” directly addresses law enforcement: “Did you find what you were looking for/ Would you like a slice of lemon pound cake/ You can take as much as you want to take/ There must be a big mistake.”

The accompanying video features slow-motion shots of an armed officer positioned near a cake display in Afroman’s kitchen.

He continues rapping: “The warrant said, ‘Narcotics and kidnapping’/ Are you kidding? I make my money rapping,” and “You crooked cops need to stop it/ There are no kidnapping victims in my suit pockets,” while showing officers searching his wardrobe area.

During their testimony, the deputies described feeling mocked by the songs. Deputy Lisa Phillips testified that the rapper produced a “derogatory” video questioning her gender identity and sexual orientation.

Sgt. Randy Walters shared how his child faced bullying at school because of Afroman’s content and returned home in tears.

“Where in the world is it OK to make something up for fun that’s damaging to others when you know for sure it’s an absolute lie?” he questioned.

Afroman’s legal team argued during closing statements that exaggeration is common among artists creating social commentary. Robert Klingler, representing the officers, accused Afroman of spreading falsehoods about “these seven brave deputy sheriffs” for three years.

“Even if somebody does something to you that hurts you, that you think is wrong — like a search warrant execution that you think is unfair … that doesn’t justify telling intentional lies designed to hurt people,” he contended.

The rapper resides in Winchester, located approximately 50 miles from Cincinnati.

Mari Younger treasured her West Maui lifestyle. The restaurant industry professional had built an independent life over 11 years in the same condominium, caring for her beloved cat Stella.

Everything changed when a medical crisis ended her physically demanding career. Soon after, devastating fires swept through Lahaina, destroying the community she called home.

Now, two years since the disaster, Younger lives 30 miles from her former home in a converted hotel room, struggling to afford basic groceries. The 49-year-old woman’s weight dropped to just 89 pounds following the fires due to mounting stress, declining health, and limited access to proper nutrition.

Her disability benefits weren’t enough to cover health insurance, vehicle payments, and the nutritious food she desperately needed to regain her strength.

“I really needed help,” said Younger, 49. She wasn’t sure how she’d support herself and Stella, adding, “I’d rather starve and have her eat.”

A case manager then recommended Younger for an innovative cash assistance initiative designed for Maui fire victims. She started receiving $700 each month through a specialized Mastercard in December.

The financial support has made an enormous difference, according to Younger. “It’s like the calvary has shown up. The war is not over, but at least there’s more help coming.”

Younger represents one of 69 families participating in a groundbreaking initiative that provides Lahaina fire survivors with direct cash payments for 12 months, designed to help stabilize the most vulnerable residents during the island’s lengthy recovery process.

Advocates for disaster cash assistance argue it empowers survivors to control their own recovery while providing flexibility to address individual circumstances. “When we let them choose, it unwinds the trauma and gets them out of survival mode faster,” said Nicole Huguenin, executive director of Maui Rapid Response, the mutual aid nonprofit behind the program.

Younger participates in the program’s second phase of three enrollment groups. Strong interest in the program highlights a persistent issue in disaster recovery: some survivors continue facing critical unmet needs years after public attention and funding have diminished.

“The need for longterm recovery is there in every disaster, but very seldom is that funded,” said Kirsten Trusko, co-founder of Payments as a Lifeline, a financial technology nonprofit that promotes disaster cash assistance.

Recovery support becomes even more crucial as increasingly frequent severe weather events mean multiple emergencies can affect survivors simultaneously. This week alone, Hawaii faced significant flooding from a subtropical cyclone that left thousands without power on Maui and caused widespread property damage.

“It’s creating even greater need,” said Huguenin.

Maui Rapid Response introduced the Kahua Card initiative last year as a six-month trial to determine whether direct cash payments could help those still struggling to recover from the August 2023 catastrophe that claimed at least 102 lives, destroyed 2,200 buildings, and forced 12,000 residents from their homes.

Although Lahaina reconstruction efforts are gaining momentum, Maui’s recovery faces significant obstacles including a pre-existing housing crisis, damage to the tourism-dependent economy, and the island’s isolated location that makes construction projects slower and more costly.

At the same time, survivors who were experiencing homelessness, lacked bank accounts, or faced overwhelming challenges such as disabilities or caregiving responsibilities struggled to navigate multiple assistance programs, according to Huguenin.

Younger faced this exact situation when she didn’t meet requirements for certain grants because her residence hadn’t burned, yet she still lost her home when the destruction prompted her landlords to sell the condominium she rented near Lahaina. Post-fire rent increases forced her to relocate to a state-purchased hotel housing survivors.

Using donations collected from thousands of contributors following the fires, Maui Rapid Response provided 18 pilot families with up to $1,100 monthly, based on household size.

Transaction records revealed participants primarily spent funds on food, transportation, utilities, and personal necessities.

When the pilot concluded, 80% of recipients reported reduced anxiety and stress levels, crediting their improvement to increased personal control, ability to help others, or more family time. One-third used the financial relief to pursue better employment opportunities.

“The agency provided a level of mental health that none of us expected,” said Huguenin, adding it enabled survivors to then address other recovery essentials, like moving or finding work.

However, cash payments weren’t a complete solution — more than half of participants reported continued housing challenges when the program ended, and fewer than 20% could apply the additional income toward rent. One-third expressed worry about the payments stopping.

These outcomes mirror broader research on hundreds of non-disaster cash assistance initiatives nationwide, according to Dr. Stacia West, co-founder and director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research and an associate professor at the University of Tennessee.

“Largely, what you’re going to see are reductions in food insecurity, and that people are shoring up their finances,” said West. “They’re making sure that they have a little bit to fall back on.”

Broader research shows less definitive mental health improvements, West noted, possibly because participants worry about program endings combined with increasing living costs. Cash assistance also hasn’t demonstrated strong effectiveness in addressing rent burdens due to rising housing expenses.

Younger has regained 10 pounds since receiving the Kahua card. She primarily purchases food and supplements, along with Stella’s cat supplies, and attempts to buy extra food for others in need. The cash allows her to allocate other income toward health insurance and reducing debt accumulated before finding assistance.

Finances remain challenging, but nothing compared to when she could barely afford to eat. “It brings down the pressure,” she said. It also reduced her stress about potentially replacing spoiled groceries following this week’s power outage.

Long-term cash assistance following disasters remains uncommon. Dolly Parton’s foundation provided $1,000 payments for six months in 2016 to Tennessee fire survivors. Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson led an effort in 2023 that paid 8,100 Maui survivors $1,200 for six months.

Huguenin hopes this program can serve as a model for larger organizations. “We want to show it can be done, so those who have more resources than us can take it and really run with it,” she said.

Last year, the Maui County Council approved a $12 million cash assistance program for working families earning above poverty levels but still unable to meet basic expenses.

The target population differs, but shares similar goals, said Jeeyun Lee, CEO of United Way Maui, which will oversee that program.

“If we’re able to alleviate that stress for a year, and provide some space for breathing and strategizing, what are the longterm possibilities of benefits?” asked Lee.

Coordinating these programs to work together and establishing systems before disasters occur will help prepare for future emergencies, Lee explained. “We’re working toward creating a really extensive safety net, that we can toggle on and off.”

Meanwhile, Younger may need to find new housing for herself and Stella by August. However, she says she now has more mental capacity to plan the transition. “I feel like I’m able to get a little more traction.”

Two legendary figures in labor rights history, Dolores Huerta and the deceased César Chavez, spearheaded a transformative campaign that compelled agricultural employers to enter negotiations for improved compensation and workplace standards for farm laborers.

Their historic contributions are receiving renewed scrutiny following recent accusations that Chavez, who passed away in 1993, committed sexual abuse against Huerta and other women and girls. Multiple commemoration events scheduled nationwide for this month have been called off in response.

The pair established the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, which later evolved into the United Farm Workers of America through a merger with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee several years afterward.

According to Cornell University labor history professor Paul Ortiz, the emergence of this movement represents one of America’s most significant historical developments and stands as the most crucial event in U.S. Latino history. The United Farm Workers achieved the most meaningful and lasting improvements to agricultural working conditions in the country’s history, Ortiz explained.

Farm laborers “from Hawaii to Florida to New York to Southern California had tried to organize to improve their wages and working conditions, literally for centuries, going back to slavery times,” Ortiz said. “And almost every effort failed, some catastrophically.”

The duo’s activism led to California becoming the first state to enact legislation acknowledging farmworkers’ rights to engage in collective bargaining.

Numerous streets and educational institutions bear their names. Multiple states have established March 31, marking Chavez’s birth date, as an official day of remembrance, and former President Barack Obama designated it as a federal commemorative holiday in 2014.

The following examines their personal histories and lasting impact:

Chavez gained recognition for his grassroots field organizing, conducting a hunger strike, orchestrating a grape boycott, and ultimately succeeding in compelling growers to engage in negotiations with farmworkers for enhanced wages and working conditions.

A native of Yuma, Arizona, Chavez was raised in a Mexican American household that migrated throughout California harvesting lettuce, grapes, cotton and various seasonal produce.

Chavez challenged inadequate compensation and frequently deplorable working environments. Field workers lacked access to restroom facilities and were required to cultivate crops using short-handled tools that forced them into prolonged bending positions.

The farmworker campaign resulted in increased worker compensation, elimination of short-handled farming tools, and establishment of state-required clean water access and restroom facilities in agricultural areas, according to National Park Service documentation supporting the establishment of a national monument honoring Chavez.

In 1966, he organized a march beginning with a small group of advocates in Delano, California, that concluded in Sacramento with 10,000 participants, according to Obama’s 2014 proclamation. Approximately 17 million individuals participated in a grape boycott, compelling growers to agree to some of the first farmworker contracts in history, the proclamation stated.

Chavez initiated the first financial institution for farmworkers, medical facilities, childcare services and vocational training programs, the Cesar Chavez Foundation reported on its website.

“He was, for his own people, a Moses figure,” then-President Bill Clinton said in 1994 when posthumously awarding Chavez the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Chavez had died the previous year in California at age 66.

The labor and civil rights advocate obtained increased compensation, healthcare benefits, retirement plans and pesticide safeguards for farmworkers throughout her decades of organizing and advocacy efforts.

Currently 95 years old, Huerta participated in organizing the 1965 Delano strike involving 5,000 grape workers and served as the primary negotiator for the resulting worker agreement, according to the National Women’s History Museum.

As a single parent, Huerta abandoned a secure teaching position to pursue organizing. She faced arrest more than 20 times for protest activities and sustained severe injuries in 1988 during a demonstration. She subsequently advocated for women’s rights, encouraged Latinas to seek elected office and established the Dolores Huerta Foundation to address discrimination, poverty and inequality.

She created the famous phrase “Sí, se puede” — translated as “Yes, we can” — in 1972 while mobilizing Arizona farmworkers against legislation prohibiting boycotts and strikes. She rejected assertions that organizing in that location was impossible.

Huerta was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012 and in 1993 became the first Latina member of the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Two tugboat workers lost their lives and two others sustained injuries during what Coast Guard officials are calling a confined space emergency on a freight barge anchored in Alaska waters over the weekend.

The tragic incident unfolded Sunday aboard the freight barge Waynehoe, which was anchored roughly 25 miles northwest of Ketchikan. Four crew members from the tugboat Chukchi Sea entered a restricted area on the barge when their colleagues lost communication with them, according to a Coast Guard statement released Wednesday.

Family members of victim Sidney Mohorovich revealed that Coast Guard personnel informed them methane gas was detected in the confined area where the accident took place.

“We don’t know why the series of events that led to all the people being in the confined space, if they all like went down as a team or in separate stages,” Todd Mohorovich explained during a phone interview from his Sedro-Woolley, Washington residence. “I have no information on that, but what I can tell you is that the confined space had high levels of methane gas in it.”

The source and reason for the gas presence remains unknown. Coast Guard representatives have not yet confirmed the methane gas details.

Todd and Eva Mohorovich had their final conversation with their son Saturday evening, when he mentioned approaching severe weather conditions. “He said that the barge was in a spot where they were going to be able to be sheltered from that storm,” Todd Mohorovich recalled.

The work crew had intended to complete routine deck maintenance to secure equipment before the storm arrived.

According to federal maritime rules, a confined space on a vessel means “a compartment of small size and limited access such as a double bottom tank … or other space which by its small size and confined nature can readily create or aggravate a hazardous exposure.” Such areas may have insufficient oxygen levels.

Tugboat crew members contacted the Coast Guard for emergency assistance and successfully retrieved one deceased worker from the area while helping the two survivors escape before rescue teams reached the scene.

The barge was subsequently transported to Ketchikan, where the confined space “was able to be safely cleared for the recovery of the second deceased crew member,” Coast Guard spokesperson Alexander Ransom explained in an email statement.

Autopsy results are pending, and the bodies have been transported to Anchorage. Official causes of death have not been disclosed.

Sidney Mohorovich, age 28, had been working for Hamilton Marine Construction for just one month when the accident occurred.

The construction company has not responded to requests for comment.

This marked Mohorovich’s first assignment in Alaska. The large equipment mechanic resided in Deming, Washington, with his fiancée as they prepared for their June wedding ceremony.

His work background included logging and welding, plus experience in home construction and electrical systems. “He could pretty much figure anything out,” his mother remembered.

“He was loved by so many,” Eva Mohorovich said, describing her son’s friendly nature. “Just an exceptional human being, smarty, witty, funny, loving.”

His father emphasized his son’s generous spirit and willingness to assist others in need.

“We’re just really thankful for who he was,” Todd Mohorovich stated. “I wouldn’t change a thing in the life that we’ve all shared together, regardless of this the tragedy at this time. If we were to change something, it would lead to other changes that we don’t know about.”

The two surviving crew members are reportedly in good condition, according to Ransom, who updated their status from the previously reported stable condition. The second fatality has been identified as Ben Fowler.

Communities nationwide are scrambling to cancel, postpone, or rebrand events that honor deceased labor organizer César Chávez following disturbing sexual abuse accusations against the farmworker rights champion.

The shocking revelations came to light this week when labor activist Dolores Huerta disclosed that she was among multiple women and girls allegedly victimized by Chávez during his leadership of the United Farm Workers Union.

The accusations have triggered immediate responses from government officials and organizations. The United Farm Workers announced it will boycott any commemorative events bearing their former leader’s name.

Multiple states including California, Colorado, Minnesota, Texas, Utah and Washington officially recognize March 31 – Chávez’s birth date – as a state observance. The federal government has acknowledged César Chávez Day since President Barack Obama’s 2014 proclamation, though it remains a symbolic rather than paid federal holiday.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott moved quickly Wednesday, declaring his state would skip this year’s observance and instructing all agency directors to follow suit. Abbott also pledged to collaborate with lawmakers on removing the holiday from state statutes entirely.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs broke with her previous two years of recognition, choosing not to acknowledge March 31 as César Chávez Day, according to spokesperson Liliana Soto. Though Arizona doesn’t mandate a statewide holiday, various municipalities typically close schools and government buildings in observance.

California Governor Gavin Newsom remained noncommittal Wednesday, stating he was still “processing” the developments and wouldn’t pledge any modifications to his state’s official holiday.

Lansing, Michigan officials pulled the plug on their March 25 Legacy of César Chavez Dinner, which was set to feature Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the labor leader’s granddaughter and former Kamala Harris campaign manager, as keynote speaker.

“We remain committed to honoring the Latino community, and the service, dignity, and rights of farmworkers. We will be working on further events and celebrations in the future,” city officials stated.

Milwaukee also scrapped its yearly commemoration, while Arizona’s Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council delayed their annual César E. Chavez Community Breakfast, planning to refocus future gatherings on local Hispanic residents’ contributions.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan announced Wednesday morning that Northern California’s largest city was axing its César Chavez festivities. Mahan indicated the city would explore alternative ways to recognize farmworker movement achievements while avoiding celebration of “individuals who caused such profound harm to the community.”

Austin’s Hispanic Advocates and Business Leaders canceled their March 28 march honoring Chávez, while several city council members voiced support for renaming César Chavez Street. Denver’s César Chavez Peace and Justice Committee also called off their April 11 celebration.

AFL-CIO leadership expressed shock at the allegations, announcing the union federation would withdraw from any César Chavez Day activities.

“Our thoughts are first and foremost with any victims of assault and abuse who have described experiencing what no one — especially children — should ever have to survive,” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond declared jointly. “No legacy can excuse it.”

The labor organization emphasized its continued farmworker support, noting that workers’ hard-won rights “cannot be erased by the horrific actions of one person.”

Chávez’s name graces numerous schools, roadways and landmarks nationwide, including California’s César E. Chávez National Monument in Keene.

Dennis Arguelles from the National Parks Conservation Association’s Southern California division explained that renaming the federal monument would require Congressional action. He suggested the site should continue recognizing the broader farmworker movement and leaders who championed workplace dignity and fair compensation.

The Lubbock Democratic Party urged Texas city officials Wednesday to redesignate César Chavez Drive in honor of Dolores Huerta instead.

Milwaukee City Council member JoCasta Zamarripa indicated upcoming discussions about a Chávez-named street in her city.

Portland City Councilor Candace Avalos announced plans to petition for renaming a city boulevard after Huerta. Municipal regulations require 2,500 signatures to initiate renaming procedures, Avalos explained on social media while encouraging constituent participation.

New Mexico Democratic Senator Ben Ray Luján issued a Wednesday statement condemning abuse of any form, particularly against minors, calling it inexcusable and contradictory to Latino leadership values.

“His name should be removed from landmarks, institutions and honors,” Luján said regarding Chávez. “We cannot celebrate someone who carried out such disturbing harm.”

Travelers navigating the busy spring break period are encountering frustrating scenes of security checkpoint lines extending beyond terminal boundaries, creating additional anxiety for those trying to catch flights.

Several major airports are experiencing extended delays, with some locations reporting waits exceeding one hour. Recent traveler reports indicate security lines at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport have stretched to two hours, while airports in New Orleans and Austin, Texas are recommending passengers arrive three hours ahead of departure times.

However, numerous other airports continue operating under typical conditions, creating confusion for travelers who struggle to predict what delays they might encounter, particularly those who typically arrive close to departure time or have upcoming travel plans.

These inconsistent delays stem from multiple contributing factors, including a partial government shutdown that has impacted Transportation Security Administration workforce levels, combined with increased spring break passenger volume. This creates an unpredictable situation where conditions can change rapidly, even at individual airports throughout the day.

Given this uncertainty, verifying TSA checkpoint wait times before heading to the airport has become essential for air travelers during this period.

The TSA is not maintaining regular updates to its systems during the shutdown, which means wait time information on the MyTSA mobile application may be unreliable. Travel experts note that third-party websites that track TSA checkpoint data may also display outdated information during the shutdown if they depend on government-provided data.

“Luckily, major airports tend to list those checkpoint times, terminal by terminal. I can’t think of a major one that doesn’t,” said Eric Rosen, director of travel content for The Points Guy, a travel and finance advice website.

According to Rosen, the best method for tracking current wait times involves visiting airport websites and monitoring their social media channels, particularly on platform X, where many airports provide real-time updates and passenger guidance.

However, travelers must remember that airport situations can shift rapidly, meaning any posted information might not accurately represent current conditions at any given moment.

Travel experts recommend monitoring airport status frequently and starting early. Waiting until just hours before departure leaves minimal room for unexpected delays, such as when the airport journey takes 45 minutes but the flight departs in three hours.

The shutdown, which started February 14, impacts only the Department of Homeland Security, TSA’s parent agency. This marks the third funding interruption within a year, leaving approximately 50,000 TSA personnel working without compensation while awaiting payment for missed paychecks.

Staff absences are increasing as the shutdown continues because unpaid TSA employees face mounting financial pressure, struggling to cover essential expenses like fuel and childcare while still reporting to work, according to the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents most airport security screening staff. Homeland Security reports that at least 366 TSA agents have resigned during the shutdown period.

“It’s so hard to predict where these bottlenecks are going to pop up,” Rosen said. “One airport might have 30% of its TSA agents calling out in a certain day and 10% the next day. There’s just no way to know that in advance.”

Congressional Democrats have stated that Homeland Security funding will remain blocked until new limitations are implemented on federal immigration enforcement following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis this year.

Tyler Hosford, a security director at global risk management company International SOS, recommends travelers adopt a proactive strategy instead of depending entirely on TSA wait time monitoring.

When making travel arrangements, selecting earlier flights can prove beneficial, he explained, as passengers would have additional time to modify plans if issues arise, whether that involves booking alternative flights, using different airports, or securing rental vehicles.

“I always say you should have a Plan B under the best of circumstances,” Hosford said. “But I think we’re to a point where you need to start having Plan C, D and maybe even E.”

When travelers encounter extensive lines upon airport arrival, the situation doesn’t have to become hopeless, Hosford noted.

Passengers can inquire with security checkpoint personnel about estimated wait times and potential assistance for expediting their progress through lines.

“Always talk to people. It can never hurt to ask,” Hosford said. “The worst they can say is, ‘No, we can’t help you.’”

If that approach fails, he advised contacting the airline through phone, mobile applications, or social media to explore rebooking alternatives.

“Never stay stagnant. You want to be moving forward trying to find your options,” he said. “It can feel exhausting, but the alternate is you potentially get stuck and miss your flight.”

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Defense attorneys are using handwritten notes from deceased crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger to challenge a former FBI agent’s murder conviction, claiming the mobster’s own words prove their client was wrongfully accused.

Legal representatives for ex-FBI agent John Connolly submitted paperwork to Miami-Dade Circuit Court on Monday requesting his conviction be thrown out, pointing to what they call previously hidden evidence that prosecutors kept secret for years.

The evidence consists of FBI interview records containing Bulger’s statements and an incomplete handwritten memoir that federal agents confiscated when they searched Bulger’s residence following his 2011 capture.

According to the court documents, Connolly’s legal team says Bulger, who controlled Boston’s Winter Hill Gang, claimed in these materials that Connolly never provided him information that led to businessman John Callahan’s 1982 murder in Miami, undermining the prosecution’s entire case. The crime boss instead named fellow FBI agent John Morris as his actual source, calling Connolly a “sacrificial lamb” in the filing.

The 85-year-old Connolly received a Florida conviction for second-degree murder and racketeering charges.

Within his memoir, Bulger acknowledged being a “criminal almost all of my life” and detailed how he used confidential information to evade law enforcement.

“I never thought the day would come that I’d be writing a story about my criminal activity,” Bulger penned.

Defense lawyers contend Bulger composed the memoir specifically to exonerate Connolly.

They further argue that both Bulger’s written account and his post-arrest FBI interviews were never shared with the defense team.

These documents surfaced only after a veteran prosecutor working on Connolly’s case left the Miami-Dade state attorney’s office amid allegations of improper conduct, including providing special treatment to witnesses and coaching their testimony.

During 2024, Connolly’s attorneys received correspondence from Miami-Dade Chief Assistant State Attorney Jose Arrojo notifying them that a sealed package marked “confidential” held both the Bulger memoir and his federal statements.

The defense filing accuses prosecutors of widespread wrongdoing, claiming they deliberately concealed evidence that could have helped their client, violating constitutional protections. While courts have previously determined that some evidence was improperly withheld in this case, they concluded it wasn’t significant enough to reverse the conviction.

Connolly’s lawyers argue this newly revealed material goes much further, establishing genuine uncertainty about his involvement in the crime.

After serving part of a 40-year prison term, Connolly received compassionate release in 2021 when a judge considered his fatal illness and COVID-19 dangers.

Connolly worked as a federal agent in Boston during July 1982 when contract killer John Martorano executed Callahan with a gunshot to the head, abandoning his corpse in a vehicle trunk at Miami International Airport.

Authorities charged Connolly with first-degree murder two decades later. Prosecutors at that time alleged Bulger and Stephen Flemmi arranged Callahan’s assassination after Connolly informed them federal investigators were examining Callahan’s connections to Bulger’s organization regarding the 1981 murder of Roger Wheeler, who operated World Jai Alai.

However, the defense claims Bulger’s memoir and federal statements indicate Morris, who supervised Connolly at the FBI, actually set him up.

“I am sure everyone close to me thought all the information I had came from (Connolly), Bulger wrote. “I didn’t discourage that thought — sadly for Connolly, he took the heat for warning me to take off and other things that had come from (Morris).”

Bulger claimed Morris became a “star witness” against Connolly to protect himself. Morris provided testimony against Connolly under a cooperation deal that protected him from criminal charges.

During his criminal reign, Bulger, whose story influenced Jack Nicholson’s role in Martin Scorsese’s 2006 film “The Departed,” simultaneously worked as an FBI informant targeting the Mafia — though he disputed this characterization. He fled in 1994 after receiving advance warning of upcoming charges and remained at large until 2011. Following his conviction for 11 murders and additional offenses that resulted in a life sentence, Bulger died in a prison assault in 2018.

BATON ROUGE, La. — Michael Lawrence Tyler, the Grammy-nominated artist performing under the name Mystikal, entered a guilty plea Tuesday to charges of third-degree rape stemming from an incident at his Louisiana residence almost four years ago.

Court documents confirm that the 55-year-old musician admitted guilt to the charges during proceedings in an Ascension Parish courthouse.

Attempts to reach Tyler’s legal representation for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.

The conviction carries a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison with no possibility of parole, probation, or sentence reduction. A sentencing hearing has been set for June 15.

Tyler has remained in custody at the Ascension Parish Jail since his 2022 arrest on allegations of raping and strangling a woman at his Prairieville residence, located approximately 18 miles from Baton Rouge.

The New Orleans-born artist achieved widespread fame during the 1990s and gained particular recognition for his 2000 track “Shake Ya A**,” which earned a Grammy nomination in the best rap solo performance category.

This marks Tyler’s second conviction for a sexual offense. In 2003, he admitted guilt to sexual battery charges and received a six-year prison term. Ironically, that same year brought him two Grammy nominations for his album “Tarantula” in the best rap album category and his song “Bouncin’ Back (Bumpin’ Me Against The Wall)” for best male rap solo performance.

NEW YORK — An NYPD officer assigned to security detail at the mayor’s official residence and City Hall has been placed on unpaid suspension following an off-duty shooting incident that left a man critically injured, authorities announced Wednesday.

The incident occurred Monday evening around 9 p.m. in the Bronx when the officer became involved in a confrontation with multiple individuals regarding a stolen vehicle, according to police reports. During the altercation, the officer discharged his weapon, striking a 30-year-old man in the head.

The wounded individual remains hospitalized in critical condition. Authorities have not disclosed the identities of either the officer or the victim, and no criminal charges have been filed at this time.

The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division has launched a comprehensive review of the incident. Department officials confirmed the officer has been relieved of duty without compensation pending the outcome of the investigation.

When contacted for comment, a representative for Mayor Zohran Mamdani directed all inquiries to the police department. The mayor’s official residence, known as Gracie Mansion, serves as the historic home where the officer was assigned security duties.

Ada Gomez, who manages a tavern located directly across from the shooting scene, reported that a stray bullet struck and damaged one of her establishment’s windows, though fortunately no patrons were injured.

“Imagine if someone was sitting in that window at that time,” Gomez said.

An investigation published by The New York Times has brought forward disturbing allegations of sexual misconduct against Cesar Chavez, the late civil rights icon and labor organizer.

According to the newspaper’s findings, multiple accusers have come forward with claims that Chavez engaged in the sexual abuse of young girls. The investigation also includes allegations that he sexually assaulted Dolores Huerta, who worked alongside him for years as a key organizing partner in the labor movement.

The allegations represent a shocking development regarding one of America’s most celebrated labor leaders, who became a symbol of workers’ rights and social justice before his death.

VILLA RICA, Ga. — Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal has stepped forward to cover funeral costs for a sixth-grade student who passed away after collapsing following an after-school altercation in Georgia.

The retired NBA star wants to relieve financial stress for the family of Jada West, the 12-year-old who died at a medical facility on March 8, just days after the incident occurred.

“No parent should ever have to bury their child,” O’Neal expressed in his statement. “And if there is anything I can do to ease even a small part of that burden, then it is the right thing to do.”

Law enforcement officials from Douglas County, where the altercation took place, and Henry County, where O’Neal maintains a residence and serves as community relations chief for the sheriff’s department, jointly announced the former athlete’s generous gesture. Both jurisdictions are located in Atlanta’s surrounding areas.

Villa Rica authorities, situated roughly 30 miles west of Atlanta, are conducting the investigation into the young girl’s death. According to police reports, Jada became involved in a physical altercation with another student near a neighborhood bus stop after being dropped off from school on March 5. She passed away at a medical facility three days following the incident.

Police spokesperson Sgt. Spencer Crawford indicated that investigators are examining cellphone footage of the confrontation that was shared on social media platforms. The recording captures both girls approaching one another and exchanging blows after their school bus departed. The footage shows both students falling to the ground before an adult stepped in to intervene. The video concludes with Jada retrieving her school bag and starting to walk away.

However, she never reached her destination. Emergency medical personnel responded to reports of “a young juvenile who was in cardiac arrest laying in the street,” according to Sgt. Crawford’s statements.

Medical examiner results to establish the cause of death remain pending.

Lindsey McClendon Pettiford, one of Jada’s aunts, announced through social media that memorial services are planned for Saturday.

Renowned labor activist Dolores Huerta has broken her silence after 60 years, revealing that she was sexually abused by César Chávez, the celebrated leader of the United Farm Workers union.

Huerta made the disclosure in a public statement released Wednesday, explaining that she had kept quiet for decades to protect the farmworker movement she helped build.

In her account, Huerta detailed two incidents involving Chávez – one where she was “manipulated and pressured” and another where she was “forced against my will.”

“I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was life’s work. The formation of a union was the only vehicle to accomplish and secure those rights and I wasn’t going to let Cesar or anyone else get in the way,” Huerta stated.

Her revelation comes after a New York Times investigation published Wednesday exposed allegations that Chávez groomed and sexually abused young women within the movement, including Huerta.

Huerta expressed that she was unaware Chávez had harmed other women and denounced his behavior while emphasizing that the farmworker cause extends beyond any single individual.

“César’s actions do not reflect the values of our community and our movement,” Huerta declared. “The farmworker movement has always been bigger and far more important than any one individual. César’s actions do not diminish the permanent improvements achieved for farmworkers with the help of thousands of people. We must continue to engage and support our community, which needs advocacy and activism now more than ever.”

Latino organizations and civil rights advocates are now grappling with how these revelations will affect the labor movement’s legacy.

In their responses, Latino civil rights groups stressed that the farmworker cause involved thousands of people working together for justice, not just one leader.

Voto Latino issued a statement declaring that regardless of Chávez’s historical significance, his alleged actions are unforgivable. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) similarly condemned all forms of sexual violence, stating that “no individual, regardless of statue or legacy is above accountability.”

Despite the shocking nature of these allegations for the Latino community, Voto Latino emphasized that it doesn’t erase the contributions of countless workers who built the movement.

“The women who organized, marched, and sacrificed alongside farmworkers carried this movement on their backs,” Voto Latino stated. “Dolores Huerta — a fighter, a giant of the labor movement, and someone who is among the survivors of this abuse — helped build everything this movement stands for.”

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico, who chairs the Democratic Women’s Caucus, released a statement Wednesday expressing her devastation over the accounts from women who claim they were abused as children by Chávez and the painful experience Huerta described.

Leger Fernández noted that the farmworker and civil rights movement was created by numerous individuals, including women and families who made sacrifices for progress.

“Honoring that legacy means facing painful truths and continuing the work for justice with honesty and humanity,” the congresswoman said. “A movement rooted in justice must address all injustice.”

Leger Fernández pledged that the women’s caucus would support survivors and continue advocating for “a future where all women and girls are safe in their communities, homes, and at work.”

The United Farm Workers union has already begun distancing itself from annual commemorations of its founder, describing the allegations as deeply troubling.

In a Tuesday statement, the union expressed concern about claims of “abuse of young women or minors” and encouraged people nationwide to participate in immigration justice activities or community service instead of traditional March events honoring Chávez’s memory.

Prior to the detailed publication of these allegations, multiple César Chávez celebrations in San Francisco, Texas, and Arizona were cancelled at the foundation’s request. Event organizers have not responded to media inquiries about the cancellations.

Both organizations announced they would create mechanisms for anyone potentially harmed by Chávez to share their experiences confidentially.

California was the first state to designate March 31, Chávez’s birth date, as a day honoring the labor leader, with other states following suit. In 2014, President Barack Obama declared March 31 as national César Chávez Day, encouraging Americans to celebrate his contributions.

Following these developments, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has chosen not to officially recognize March 31 as César Chávez Day this year, breaking from her practice in the previous two years, according to spokeswoman Liliana Sota.

“The Governor’s Office is deeply concerned by the troubling allegations against César Chávez. As a social worker who worked with homeless youth and victims of domestic violence, Gov. Hobbs takes allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior against women and minors very seriously,” the statement read.

César Chávez Day is not an official state holiday in Arizona.

There are already discussions about renaming streets and schools that honor Chávez. El Concilio, an Austin, Texas coalition of Mexican American neighborhood groups, is proposing to reverse the decision made shortly after Chávez’s death to rename First Street in his honor.

Numerous streets, educational institutions, and parks across the country bear Chávez’s name. Born in Yuma, Arizona, he grew up in a Mexican American family that migrated throughout California harvesting lettuce, grapes, cotton, and other seasonal crops. He passed away in California in 1993 at 66 years old.

Chávez gained national recognition for his early organizing efforts among farmworkers, staging hunger strikes, leading grape boycotts, and ultimately achieving success in compelling growers to negotiate with workers for improved wages and working conditions.

In 1962, Chávez and Huerta established the National Farm Workers Association together, which later became the United Farm Workers of America.

NEW YORK — Defense attorneys for Luigi Mangione submitted a request Wednesday asking a federal judge to push back his trial for the UnitedHealthcare CEO murder until early 2027, while also planning to request a delay of his state murder case until September.

In their written request to U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett, Mangione’s legal team explained that the existing timeline — with the state case scheduled for June and federal proceedings in September — would force their client “in the position of needing to prepare for two complicated and serious trials at the same time.”

The defense is asking Garnett to reschedule the federal case to January 2027, which would give them time to petition state trial judge Gregory Carro to move that proceeding from its June 8 start date to September 8. Mangione has entered not guilty pleas in both matters.

Judge Carro had previously suggested the possibility of shifting the state case to September — but only if federal attorneys challenged Garnett’s ruling that blocked them from pursuing capital punishment. Since prosecutors chose not to appeal, both the June state proceedings and September federal case remained on the calendar.

The defense team contends that maintaining the existing timeline would compromise Mangione’s constitutional protections.

They expressed particular worry that federal jury selection preparations would coincide with the state trial, hampering Mangione’s capacity to examine questionnaires completed by hundreds of prospective jurors — thereby undermining his right to take part in his defense strategy.

Consecutive trials would also deny Mangione proper legal representation, his attorneys argued, since they would need to handle federal case preparation while simultaneously representing him during the state proceedings.

“Though fierce advocates for their clients, defense counsel cannot be in two places at once,” the legal team of Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo and Jacob Kaplan stated in their filing.

Federal prosecutors are fighting the postponement request, according to the defense.

The Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office handling the federal charges refused to provide comment. The Manhattan district attorney’s office overseeing the state case did not respond to requests for comment.

The 27-year-old Mangione could receive a life sentence if found guilty in either proceeding. During a February court appearance, he voiced opposition to facing dual trials, telling the judge: “It’s the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition.”

Thompson, age 50, was fatally shot on December 4, 2024, while walking to a midtown Manhattan hotel where UnitedHealth Group was hosting its yearly investor meeting. Security footage captured a masked shooter firing at him from behind. Authorities report that the ammunition bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” echoing terminology used to criticize how insurance companies dodge claim payments.

Mangione, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and comes from an affluent Maryland family, was taken into custody five days afterward when someone recognized him at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, approximately 230 miles west of Manhattan.

His legal representatives have claimed that law enforcement damaged his case by transforming his arrest into a “Marvel movie” spectacle, including having armed personnel escort him along a Manhattan pier following his flight to New York and by publicly announcing their intention to pursue the death penalty before formal charges were filed.

In January, Judge Garnett threw out a federal murder charge — murder through firearm use — that would have allowed prosecutors to seek execution, ruling it was legally defective. She explained her decision was meant to “foreclose the death penalty as an available punishment to be considered by the jury” during deliberations on Mangione’s guilt.

In their recent filing, Mangione’s lawyers maintained that postponing the federal trial would create necessary separation between his state case and the start of the juror questionnaire phase that comes before federal jury selection.

Without such a delay, they argued, “Mr. Mangione’s potential federal jurors will be constantly bombarded with news reports and social media posts relating to the allegations and evidence against Mr. Mangione as they fill out juror questionnaires and in the subsequent weeks before they are empaneled in the federal case.”