Category: U.S. News

Teresa Younger will conclude her leadership of the Ms. Foundation in June, wrapping up her time at the helm of America’s pioneering women-focused philanthropy during a period marked by significant social and political upheaval under Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.

While acknowledging current challenges in achieving political equality for all people – a core mission of the Ms. Foundation – Younger remains committed to continuing her advocacy work beyond her CEO role.

“I believe feminism is still alive and well,” Younger told The Associated Press during a recent interview. “In fact, it has been the one thing that has been the preservation of democracy and our constitutional rights in some way over the past 12 years.”

During her leadership, Younger addressed domestic violence issues involving NFL players, broadened the organization’s support for community-based groups across Southern and Midwestern states, and successfully secured more than $100 million for the foundation’s permanent fund. In 2018, the organization adopted a new approach prioritizing investments in programs serving girls and women of color – a shift that carried special significance under Younger’s guidance as a leader with Black and Indigenous heritage.

“The institution was explicit in our strategic plan to say that we want to center women and girls of color as a point of inclusion, not exclusion,” Younger explained. “And now we are sitting in a spot where quote-unquote DEI is looked at as bad. And we refuse to accept that.”

This strategic pivot led to the foundation’s 2020 research study titled “Pocket Change: How Women and Girls of Color Do More with Less,” which challenged other charitable organizations to reconsider both their funding priorities and methods.

The study revealed that charitable foundations allocated approximately $356 million to organizations serving women and girls of color in 2017 – representing less than 0.05% of all foundation grants distributed in 2018.

Beyond exposing this minimal investment in some of America’s most underserved communities, the research uncovered significant disconnects between funders and organizations led by women of color. Many of these nonprofits employ comprehensive approaches, combining services like childcare and diaper distribution with reproductive rights advocacy. However, funders often compartmentalize their grants by specific populations, strategies, or issues, choosing to support only portions of these organizations’ work.

The study recommended that foundations offer flexible, long-term financial support, align their strategies with recipient organizations, actively seek feedback from grant recipients, and back intermediary organizations with strong connections to these groups.

This approach has historically defined the work of women’s funds and the Ms. Foundation within the philanthropic sector. These organizations both assist grassroots groups serving marginalized communities and develop innovative funding and partnership models that other funders later adopt as standard practices.

The first women’s funds in America emerged during the 1970s, with the Ms. Foundation becoming the initial national organization dedicated to supporting women’s groups and feminist causes. Gloria Steinem, Patricia Carbine, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, and Marlo Thomas established it in 1973.

Sunny Fischer, who helped establish the Chicago Foundation for Women, explained that the women who created it around 1983 sought to serve women differently than many large social service organizations were doing at that time.

Instead of advising women facing domestic violence to return home and repair their marriages, Fischer noted, “There were new groups that were trying to help women where they were, to really understand what was going on in the home and to try to give women choices about what they could do if they were in an abusive situation.”

Lucia Woods Lindley, a photographer and heir to a wealthy Nebraska family whose wealth originated from telecommunications and coal industries, was another Chicago Foundation for Women founder whom Fischer remembered as “a great planner.”

In 2023, the Ms. Foundation revealed that Woods Lindley had bequeathed $50 million through her estate – the largest donation the organization had ever received. This gift comprised nearly half of the $106 million the foundation eventually secured for its endowment.

During an interview at that time, Younger said the Ms. Foundation had not anticipated Woods Lindley’s bequest would be so substantial.

“She trusted and believed that Ms. (Foundation)’s role as the national public women’s foundation was critical to the thought leadership that needed to happen in philanthropy around feminism and around challenging the field and around growing and asking the right kinds of questions,” Younger said.

Despite these gains, the financial resources managed by women’s funds remain small compared to major foundations’ assets and the largest individual philanthropists’ wealth. Melinda French Gates stands as a notable exception, having pledged billions of dollars to benefit women and girls.

The Women’s Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy has monitored charitable giving to women and girls, finding that over a decade, their share of overall philanthropic support increased from 1.59% in 2012 to 2.04% in 2023, with a peak of 2.18% in 2022.

“The vast majority of philanthropic dollars are going to the general population and based on need rather than identity,” said Jacqueline Ackerman, the institute’s director. However, she noted they monitor giving to historically underfunded groups to determine whether these patterns are shifting.

The Ms. Foundation will announce Younger’s successor this spring, while Younger has not yet revealed her future plans. Speaking with visible emotion, Younger expressed her love for her work with the foundation while expressing confidence it will thrive under new leadership.

“I want to look back and see somebody who’s built on what I’ve been able to do and take it to the next level,” she said. “And I will sit back with pride in what they are able to accomplish.”

A Colorado woman who assisted in one of the nation’s most disturbing funeral home scandals will learn her fate Monday as she faces potential decades behind bars for defrauding grieving families.

Carie Hallford, 48, could receive up to 20 years in federal prison after admitting to stealing more than $130,000 from families while operating a fraudulent funeral business. In many instances, bereaved relatives received urns containing concrete powder rather than their loved ones’ ashes. Investigators also discovered that incorrect bodies were buried in two separate cases.

The shocking scheme unraveled when authorities discovered nearly 200 rotting corpses at the Return to Nature funeral home in Colorado Springs in 2023. Bodies were stacked so densely they blocked doorways, with insects and maggots present throughout the facility. Containers had been positioned to collect bodily fluids leaking from the remains.

In August, Hallford entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, acknowledging that she and former husband Jon Hallford not only deceived customers but also illegally obtained almost $900,000 in federal pandemic relief funds.

Hallford’s defense attorney, Robert Charles Melihercik, argues his client was a victim of domestic abuse who acted out of “fear and severe anxiety.” According to court filings, Carie Hallford filed for divorce in November 2024 after being jailed, which freed her from her ex-husband’s constant communication and allowed the “fog in her mind from the years of abuse” to clear.

The defense claims Jon Hallford employed “classic instruments of domestic violence” to maintain control, including threats of suicide and murder. Melihercik contends these tactics motivated his client’s participation in the scheme.

However, federal prosecutors are pushing for a 15-year sentence, arguing that Hallford exploited families during their most vulnerable moments. While sentencing guidelines suggest up to eight years due to her clean criminal record, government lawyers want harsher punishment given the severity of the crimes.

The former couple had marketed “green burials” without embalming but instead used the pandemic loan money for luxury purchases including vehicles, cryptocurrency, high-end items from Gucci and Tiffany & Co., and cosmetic procedures.

Victims of the scheme have endured lasting psychological trauma, experiencing guilt, shame, nightmares, and panic attacks since learning the truth about their loved ones’ treatment.

Emma Williams, whose family used the funeral home for her father’s services in 2022, rejects the abuse defense. “She continued to stay with the business and take advantage of us out her own greed,” Williams stated.

Crystina Page, whose son’s remains were abandoned at the facility after his 2019 death, believes Hallford spent four years “feeding the monster” by continuing to accept new clients. “She is just as guilty as he is, except that he couldn’t have done it without her bringing him the bodies,” Page said.

Defense documents claim much of the extravagant spending resulted from “love-bombing” as Jon Hallford tried to make amends. While Carie Hallford reportedly urged purchasing cremation equipment with the loan funds, she was allegedly too frightened to insist on it.

“Although she will be behind bars for the next decade or more, she finally feels free,” Melihercik wrote, adding that a reduced sentence would enable Hallford to eventually work and compensate victims.

Hallford also faces 25 to 35 years when sentenced on state charges next month. Both she and her ex-husband pleaded guilty in December to nearly 200 counts of corpse abuse in state court, with plea agreements allowing concurrent federal and state sentences.

Jon Hallford received 20 years federally and 40 years in state court. During his state sentencing, he expressed remorse, saying: “I had so many chances to put a stop to everything and walk away, but I did not. My mistakes will echo for a generation. Everything I did was wrong.”

PARK CITY, Utah — Final arguments are scheduled for Monday in the murder trial of a Utah woman who authored a children’s book about coping with loss following her husband’s death, only to later face charges for allegedly killing him.

The trial, originally planned to span five weeks, concluded unexpectedly last week when Kouri Richins chose not to take the stand and her defense team suddenly ended their case without presenting any witnesses. Her lawyers expressed confidence that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence during three weeks of testimony to secure a murder conviction.

According to prosecutors, 35-year-old Richins mixed five times the deadly amount of fentanyl into a drink she prepared for her husband Eric Richins, leading to his death in March 2022 at their residence near the upscale ski community of Park City.

Additional charges include fraudulent insurance claims following her husband’s death, an alleged earlier murder attempt on Valentine’s Day using a fentanyl-laced sandwich that caused him to lose consciousness, and several other felony counts, court records show. Richins has entered not guilty pleas to every charge.

The primary charge of aggravated murder could result in a prison sentence ranging from 25 years to life.

The prosecution plans to emphasize their theory that Richins murdered her husband for financial gain while planning a life with her alleged lover.

Defense lawyers are anticipated to contend that the state’s case contains significant gaps and relies heavily on conjecture.

Prosecutors revealed that Richins, who worked in real estate focusing on property renovation, owed $4.5 million and incorrectly assumed she would inherit her husband’s estate valued at over $4 million upon his death. Without his awareness, she had secured multiple life insurance policies on her husband totaling approximately $2 million in benefits, according to prosecutors.

The jury viewed text exchanges between Richins and Robert Josh Grossman, the man she allegedly had an affair with, where she discussed dreams of leaving her marriage, obtaining millions through divorce, and eventually marrying Grossman.

A computer forensics expert presented internet searches from Richins’ device, including queries for “what is a lethal.dose.of.fetanayl” [sic], “luxury prisons for the rich America,” and “if someone is poisned” [sic] what does it go down on the death certificate as.”

Before her arrest in May 2023, Richins independently published a children’s book about loss designed to help her sons understand their father’s passing. Her promotion of “Are You with Me?” on regional television and radio programs has been cited by prosecutors as evidence of premeditation and an attempted cover-up.

Summit County Sheriff’s detective Jeff O’Driscoll, who led the investigation, testified that Richins hired a professional writing service to create the book.

O’Driscoll revealed that authorities received an unmarked package following Richins’ arrest containing the book and an accompanying message: “There are two sides to every story. This is a true Kouri, a devoted wife and adoring mother. Thought you should know.”

Amazon records later revealed that Richins’ mother had sent the package.

The defense team worked to undermine the credibility of the prosecution’s primary witness, Carmen Lauber, the family’s housekeeper who testified about selling fentanyl to Richins multiple times.

Defense attorney Wendy Lewis argued that Lauber never dealt fentanyl and was incentivized to provide false testimony for legal benefits. The defense highlighted that Lauber initially denied selling the synthetic opioid but changed her story after investigators revealed Eric Richins died from a fentanyl overdose.

At the time of her arrest in this case, Lauber was participating in drug court as an alternative to jail time for separate charges and had violated certain program requirements.

The defense presented footage of law enforcement telling Lauber they could revoke her drug court arrangement and that she might receive an extended prison term.

“Give us the details that will ensure Kouri gets convicted of murder,” a voice in the recording stated.

Lauber received immunity in exchange for her cooperation and testified that she felt compelled to “step up and take accountability of my part in this.”

Prosecutors presented portions of a document discovered in Richins’ jail cell that they claim contains instructions for testimony from her mother and brother. The six-page document directs her brother to inform her previous lawyer that Eric Richins had told him about obtaining fentanyl from Mexico and “gets high every night.”

Defense attorneys maintained the document was part of a fictional story Richins was developing. They have claimed that Eric Richins struggled with painkiller addiction and requested his wife to obtain opioids for him.

Nevertheless, body camera evidence shown in court revealed that Richins told officers on the evening of her husband’s death that he had no background with illegal drug use.

A star-studded psychological thriller featuring Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington and Kate Mara is launching on Apple TV under the title “Imperfect Women,” while fresh musical releases from both BTS and Luke Combs highlight this week’s new entertainment arrivals across streaming platforms.

Additional noteworthy content hitting your screens includes a brand new “Peaky Blinders” film titled “The Immortal Man,” the season’s most anticipated video game release called Crimson Desert, and Bradley Cooper’s latest directorial effort “Is This Thing On?” featuring Will Arnett and Laura Dern.

Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby in “The Immortal Man,” the latest “Peaky Blinders” installment arriving on Netflix Friday, March 20. Series originator Steven Knight penned the screenplay while Tom Harper took the director’s chair, with Rebecca Ferguson and Barry Keoghan joining the cast. All six previous seasons remain available on Netflix for viewers wanting to revisit or catch up on the series.

Bradley Cooper takes on directing duties for “Is This Thing On?,” his third directorial project starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern in a story about a divorcing man who discovers stand-up comedy. The film draws inspiration from Manchester comedian Joseph Bishop’s real experiences. Associated Press reviewer Jocelyn Noveck described it as “a deeply felt film about one teetering marriage, and a work whose power sneaks up on you slowly.” The movie debuts on Hulu Friday, March 20.

“Wicked: For Good,” the dramatic finale of Jon M. Chu’s two-part adaptation, arrives on Peacock Friday, March 20. The cast returns with Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum and others for this darker second installment, which received less favorable reviews than its predecessor and garnered no Oscar nominations. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle noted in his review that “‘Wicked: For Good,’ rather than conjuring Oz anew, always feels like it’s jumping from one set piece to another. Maybe this is a silly gripe for a fantasyland. (‘I don’t have any idea where the offices of the Lollipop Guild are!’) But I rarely found myself lifted into a movie world, but rather sat watching it — sometimes with admiration, rarely with delight — from the mezzanine. The rub of going for maximum effect all the time is that the actors never have a chance to simply be.”

The highly awaited return of BTS happens Friday, March 20, with “ARIRANG” marking their first complete album since all seven members—RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Suga, Jung Kook and j-hope—finished South Korea’s required military service. Their devoted fanbase, known as ARMY, has reached peak excitement levels. Adding to the celebration, supporters can watch their live comeback show on Netflix Saturday, called “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE ‘ARIRANG,’” broadcasting from Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square.

Luke Combs faces the challenge of matching his own massive success, having achieved pop crossover status largely through his widely popular version of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” His answer comes in the form of a new album, “The Way I Am,” releasing Friday. The tracks “Be By You” and “Sleepless in a Hotel Room” have already become country radio favorites, positioning the album to become one of the year’s major country releases.

“Imperfect Women” brings together Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington and Kate Mara in an Apple TV psychological thriller about three close friends whose relationship crumbles following a criminal incident. Moss and Washington serve as executive producers for this series adapted from Araminta Hall’s novel. The supporting cast features Joel Kinnaman, Corey Stoll, Leslie Odom Jr., Sheryl Lee Ralph and Ana Ortiz. The eight-episode series launches Wednesday with its first two episodes.

“The Lady” debuts Wednesday on Britbox as a limited series dramatizing Jane Andrews’ true story—a former dresser for the Duchess of York who was imprisoned for killing her boyfriend. This four-part production stars Mia McKenna-Bruce as Andrews and Natalie Dormer as Sarah Ferguson.

Following the success of the awkward yet brilliant comedy “Jury Duty” in 2023, many questioned whether a second season could work. The original followed Ronald, who believed he was serving on an actual jury for a real case being filmed by documentarians, unaware that everyone except him were actors. Season two introduces Anthony, a temporary worker at a family hot sauce company who doesn’t realize his coworkers are performers and every situation is scripted during a company retreat. “Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat” premieres Wednesday on Prime Video.

The beloved Hallmark series “When Calls the Heart” gets a prequel called “Hope Valley: 1874” exclusively for Hallmark+. Bethany Joy Lenz portrays Rebecca Clarke, a Chicago woman who travels with her daughter to start fresh in the Canadian frontier. When their wagon fails, she must rely on assistance from an unmarried local rancher. Jill Hennessy co-stars in this series premiering Saturday, March 21 on Hallmark+.

Lisa Kudrow reprises her role as struggling actress Valerie Cherish in HBO’s “The Comeback” for a third and final season. Each of the show’s three seasons has been separated by roughly a decade, chronicling a woman’s efforts to remain relevant in Hollywood’s constantly evolving entertainment industry. The new episodes find Cherish starring in an AI-written television series. This dark comedy begins streaming Sunday, March 22 on HBO Max.

Crimson Desert represents spring’s most talked-about gaming release, an expansive role-playing adventure from South Korean developer Pearl Abyss. Players follow Kliff, a warrior in the medieval-inspired realm of Pywel who embarks on a revenge quest after he and his allies are attacked. Expect battles against typical fantasy enemies including witches, demons, ogres and dragons, with promotional footage even showing a flying mechanical unit. The game launches Thursday for PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

Baseball enthusiasts received an early season bonus with this year’s World Baseball Classic, making it fitting that Team USA captain Aaron Judge graces the cover of MLB The Show 26. This year’s version allows players to recreate the WBC alongside unlimited Major League seasons, whether controlling an entire organization or developing a single player from minor leagues to the Hall of Fame. New additions include “Bear Down Pitching” and “Big Zone Hitting” for crucial moments, plus the ability to dispute ball and strike calls. The game releases Monday for PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and Switch.

LOS ANGELES – The Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday night saw the dark comedy thriller ‘One Battle After Another’ take home the top honor of Best Picture, edging out the vampire film ‘Sinners’ in what was considered a tight race for Hollywood’s most prestigious award.

Michael B. Jordan secured the Best Actor award for his performance playing twin brothers in ‘Sinners.’ Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley claimed the Best Actress trophy for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s wife, in the film ‘Hamnet.’

Sean Penn received the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance as a military officer consumed by obsession in ‘One Battle After Another.’ This marks Penn’s third Oscar win. The actor, known for frequently missing industry award ceremonies, was absent from the Dolby Theatre.

‘Sean Penn couldn’t be here, or didn’t want to, so I’ll accept the award on his behalf,’ presenter Kieran Culkin, who won supporting actor last year, told the audience.

Amy Madigan, 75, won Best Supporting Actress for playing the eccentric Aunt Gladys in the horror movie ‘Weapons.’ The victory came four decades after her initial Oscar nomination, marking her first win.

During her acceptance speech, Madigan expressed gratitude to ‘Weapons’ director Zach Cregger.

‘He just wrote a dream part and he just let me grab it by the throat,’ Madigan stated.

The Netflix film ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ which became a worldwide sensation, received the Best Animated Feature award.

The evening’s festivities paused for solemn tributes to two legendary filmmakers who passed away – directors Robert Redford and Rob Reiner.

Billy Crystal, known for ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ praised Reiner’s body of work including ‘A Few Good Men’ and ‘This Is Spinal Tap,’ saying these films would ‘last for lifetimes.’ He was accompanied on stage by Demi Moore, Meg Ryan, and other actors from Reiner’s notable films.

Barbra Streisand, Redford’s co-star in ‘The Way We Were,’ described him as a ‘brilliant, subtle actor’ and an ‘intellectual cowboy.’ She concluded her tribute by performing several lines from the film’s famous theme song.

Conan O’Brien kicked off the evening as host, making light of his role by saying he was proud to serve as ‘the last human host’ during a time when Hollywood fears artificial intelligence might replace human workers.

The star-studded event, considered Hollywood’s most extravagant annual celebration, occurred while the United States is engaged in military conflict with Iran.

Enhanced security measures surrounded the ceremony. Event organizers confirmed collaboration with federal agents and local law enforcement following government warnings about potential Iranian threats against California, although officials stressed no specific or credible danger to the Oscar ceremony had been identified. Guests navigated multiple security checkpoints and metal detectors before entering the venue.

Behind the glamorous facade, the film industry continues grappling with concerns about production moving away from traditional Hollywood locations as studios seek better tax benefits and reduced expenses in other states and countries, diminishing Hollywood’s control over filmmaking.

Warner Bros., which produced both ‘One Battle’ and ‘Sinners,’ is currently being acquired by Paramount Skydance in a transaction that will reduce the number of major film distribution companies. The advocacy organization Free Press operated a mobile billboard throughout Hollywood during the weekend expressing opposition to this corporate merger.

The golden Oscar statues are awarded based on votes from approximately 10,000 entertainment industry professionals including actors, producers, directors, and technical specialists who comprise the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences membership.

This year, the Academy implemented new measures aimed at ensuring voters actually view the films before casting ballots. The digital voting platform now monitors whether voters have streamed each nominated movie. However, voters can still indicate they viewed films through other means outside the Academy’s streaming service.

A former Afghan soldier who served with American military forces has died while in federal immigration custody, marking at least the 12th such death this year during the current administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.

Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, passed away on Saturday from undetermined causes, according to Shawn VanDiver, president of the veteran-led advocacy organization AfghanEvac. Federal agents had taken Paktyawal into custody Friday morning outside his apartment in a Dallas suburb as he was escorting his children to school.

The father of six was residing in Richardson, Texas, with his family while awaiting a decision on his asylum application. VanDiver reported that Paktyawal’s relatives were informed he was transported to a Dallas hospital Friday evening and remained alive Saturday morning before his death occurred.

“It is highly unusual for an otherwise healthy 41-year-old man to die less than a day after being taken into government custody,” VanDiver stated, calling for an immediate investigation into the circumstances.

Paktyawal had served as an Afghan special forces member, collaborating with U.S. Army Special Forces beginning in 2005. He and his family were among those evacuated from Afghanistan in 2021 during the American military withdrawal following two decades of conflict, according to VanDiver.

In Texas, Paktyawal worked at an Afghan halal market and served as the main income earner for his household, which included an 18-month-old baby, VanDiver explained.

This death contributes to rising fatality numbers in immigration detention facilities, with 31 people dying in ICE custody last year – the highest total in twenty years. Current detention numbers have reached unprecedented levels, with approximately 68,000 individuals held in ICE facilities as of early February.

More than 70,000 Afghan nationals entered America through the previous administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program after the Taliban regained control of Kabul in 2021, according to Department of Homeland Security data. The current administration has moved to end temporary protected status that had been granted to roughly 14,600 Afghans for humanitarian reasons, potentially subjecting them to deportation proceedings.

The Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s parent agency, indicated it requires additional time to provide a response to media inquiries about the incident.

Six American military personnel lost their lives when their aerial refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq last week during anti-Iran operations, including a Kentucky mother who leaves behind two young children.

Among those killed was Tech Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, who came from Bardstown, Kentucky, and took immense pride in her military service, according to her husband Gregory Pruitt, who spoke Sunday.

“I’ll give you something brief — in a word, radiant,” Gregory Pruitt said during a telephone conversation while fighting back emotion. “If there was a light in the room, she was it.”

Ashley Pruitt is survived by the couple’s 3-year-old daughter and her stepson.

She had been serving with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama, where she worked as an assistant flight chief of operations and trained others to operate the KC-135’s refueling boom.

Ashley enlisted nine years ago and had completed three previous overseas deployments. Her record included nearly 900 combat flight hours and two associate degrees from the Community College of the Air Force.

Military officials released the names of all six victims Saturday night, revealing that three were stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, and Sumpter Smith, while the remaining three served at an Ohio Air National Guard facility in Columbus.

“To lose a member of the Air Force family is excruciatingly painful, especially to those who know them as son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, mom, or dad,” U.S. Air Force Col. Ed Szczepanik, commander of the 6th Air Refueling Wing, stated in an official release. “To lose them at the same time is unimaginable.”

Maj. Gen. Matthew S. Woodruff, Ohio’s adjutant general, described the three Columbus-based victims as “remarkable Airmen whose service and commitment embodied the very best of our Ohio National Guard. Their impact on their teammates and our mission will not be forgotten.”

According to U.S. Central Command, the aircraft was operating in “friendly” airspace Thursday when an undisclosed incident involving another plane occurred. Military officials confirmed the second aircraft landed without incident, and investigators are examining the crash.

The KC-135 aircraft specializes in mid-air refueling operations, enabling other planes to extend their flight range and maintain operations without landing. Military specialists note the aircraft can also transport injured personnel and conduct surveillance operations.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the Air Force operated 376 KC-135s last year, with 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard, and 62 in the Air Force Reserve. The aircraft has remained in service for over six decades.

Maj. John A. “Alex” Klinner, 33, had received his promotion to major just this January and had been deployed for less than a week when the tragedy occurred, his brother-in-law revealed.

The pilot leaves behind three young children: twin infants aged 7 months and a 2-year-old son, according to his brother-in-law James Harrill.

Klinner graduated from Auburn University and served eight years in the U.S. Air Force from Birmingham, Alabama. He had recently relocated his family to a new residence, his wife Libby Klinner shared in a social media post mourning his loss.

He held the position of chief of squadron standards and evaluations at the Birmingham air facility.

Known as an outdoor enthusiast who loved hiking, Klinner was always willing to assist others. During their last meeting in January, Klinner had helped Harrill dig his vehicle out of snow at a family wedding.

“Alex was one of those guys that had this steady command about him,” Harrill, an Atlanta resident who established a GoFundMe campaign for Klinner’s family, explained. “He was literally one of the most kindest, giving people.”

In her social media tribute, Libby Klinner expressed her heartbreak for their children, who will mature without knowing their father.

“They won’t get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could,” she posted. “They won’t see how goofy and funny he was. They won’t witness his selflessness, the way he thought about everyone else before himself. They won’t get to feel the deep love he had for them.”

Klinner had completed four deployments since 2019, accumulating 362 combat hours and 181 combat support hours.

Tech Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, worked with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 166th Air Refueling Squadron as a boom operator handling fuel transfer from tanker to receiving aircraft, his Air Force biography shows.

His mother, Cheryl Simmons, confirmed Saturday that she was arranging funeral services for her son, a Columbus resident.

In a statement provided to WCMH-TV in Columbus, Tyler Simmons’ relatives expressed their immeasurable sadness over the fatal incident.

“Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it. His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grief stricken for the loss of life,” the family stated.

Simmons enlisted in 2017 and obtained an associate degree from the Community College of the Air Force. He became a refueling specialist in 2022 and earned technical sergeant rank in 2023. His service included three deployments over the past decade with 230 combat hours.

Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, served as a pilot with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron and held the role of chief of current operations. Her responsibilities included overseeing the flying hour program and managing daily flight scheduling, among other tasks.

Savino, originally from Covington, Washington, came through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Central Washington University, receiving her active duty commission in 2017.

Her assignments took her to bases in Georgia and Mississippi, where she logged over 300 combat hours. She achieved captain rank in 2021.

Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, worked as an instructor pilot for the KC135R Stratotanker with 19 years of military service, the Ohio National Guard reported.

Koval lived in Stoutsville, Ohio, and served as an aircraft commander with the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus. Military records show he trained pilots in air refueling, aeromedical, cargo and passenger operations.

Government records indicated Koval originally came from Mooresville, Indiana.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in aviation operations from Purdue University and completed five deployments over the past 12 years. His assignments included locations in Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma.

The Ohio Guard reported Koval had logged over 2,000 flight hours, including 443 in combat situations. He received his captain promotion in 2022.

Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, served for ten years after earning a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Cincinnati. He joined the Ohio Air National Guard in 2015, with deployments in 2015 and this year.

Angst flew KC-135R aircraft with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron and resided in Columbus. Federal records indicated he originally came from Wilmington, Ohio.

His flight record included 880 hours, with 67 in combat situations. Angst received his captain promotion this past November.

Motorists traveling on Shilo Church Road should plan for potential delays today due to ongoing lane restrictions in the area.

According to traffic officials, drivers can expect sporadic lane closures along Shilo Church Road in the stretch between US-20 and Johnson Road. These temporary restrictions are scheduled to remain in effect until 3 PM today.

The intermittent nature of the closures means lanes may open and close periodically throughout the day, potentially causing stop-and-go traffic conditions for vehicles passing through the work zone.

Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes if possible to avoid potential delays in the area.

Officials in Anne Arundel County have declared an immediate halt to new sewer connections beginning March 2, 2026, citing overwhelming demand on the region’s wastewater treatment systems.

The Department of Public Works issued the emergency restrictions after the county hit maximum flow limits within the Baltimore City Sewer Service Area, putting strain on aging infrastructure shared between multiple jurisdictions.

Properties that tie into the Baltimore County Patapsco Interceptor and Sewage Pumping Station will face the most significant impact from these new rules.

County officials say that while daily average flows remain within acceptable ranges, deteriorating pipes and excessive water infiltration during storms have pushed peak usage beyond what current agreements between the counties allow.

Baltimore City and Baltimore County cannot provide Anne Arundel County with additional wastewater capacity due to existing legal settlements, creating a backlog for new construction projects.

Under the emergency measures, county officials will stop approving capacity requests for any new developments in the affected service area.

The county will also pause authorization for new building permits and tenant improvements that would connect to the overloaded infrastructure.

Developers who already secured capacity allocations measured in Equivalent Dwelling Units will keep their approvals, but no new allocations will be granted during the moratorium.

County officials plan to make exceptions for properties with failing septic systems that need immediate connection to public sewer lines. Building permits requiring one or more capacity units will undergo individual review.

Construction projects and permit applications that had not received official capacity approval before the announcement must now wait indefinitely.

These stalled projects cannot move forward until the county obtains additional wastewater capacity or officials modify or remove the restrictions entirely.

John Wrory Ficklin was just seven years old when he discovered his father held an extraordinary position of trust and responsibility.

The year was 1963, and America grieved the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Young Wrory sat with his mother and brother in their Washington apartment, watching the somber funeral proceedings unfold on television, when his mother suddenly drew in her breath.

There on the screen stood his father, James Woodson Ficklin, dressed in formal morning attire and positioned alongside Kennedy’s coffin with the White House ushers. Though he served as a White House butler, Jackie Kennedy had specifically requested his presence among the ushers for that historic day.

James Woodson Ficklin dedicated an extraordinary 44 years to the White House residence staff. His son, Wrory Ficklin, also built an impressive White House legacy, spending four decades with the National Security Council.

While presidents typically serve four or eight-year terms, the Ficklin family maintained an almost constant presence at the White House for nearly 80 years. Woodson Ficklin, his wife, several siblings, and son Wrory served under 13 different presidents, spanning from Franklin D. Roosevelt through Barack Obama.

This single family stood beside America’s leaders for one-third of the nation’s 250-year history.

When Wrory retired in 2015, he became the final Ficklin to work full-time at the White House, ending a family service record he chronicles in his book, “An Unusual Path: Three Generations from Slavery to the White House.”

“The book is my family’s history, it’s African American history and it’s our country’s history,” Wrory told The Associated Press during an interview. “My dad and I both stand on my grandfather’s shoulders, and I like to think that we both contributed a lot to our country.”

Wrory describes their saga as a “truly American story” that begins with his grandfather, James Strother Ficklin, born into slavery around 1854 in Virginia’s Rappahannock County.

During the Civil War, Strother served as a water carrier for Confederate forces. Following emancipation, he performed various tasks for his former owners.

After losing his first wife during childbirth, Strother remarried in 1894 and relocated to Youngstown, Ohio, seeking to escape Virginia’s racial hostility while pursuing opportunities in the thriving coal and steel sectors. Historical records indicate the family eventually returned to Rappahannock County, though the reasons remain unclear.

By 1901, Strother and his second wife, Helen, had accumulated sufficient savings to purchase 37 acres in Amissville, Virginia. He constructed a home and cultivated crops to support his family. Following Helen’s death during childbirth, Strother wed Vallie Lee Davenport in 1907. Together, they raised 10 children — five daughters and five sons.

John Woodson Ficklin was among those sons.

At age 15 in 1934, Woodson Ficklin moved to Washington to live with his older sister and her spouse. He balanced various jobs while attending evening high school classes, earning his diploma in 1939 — the same year his older brother Charles began working as a White House butler. Charles helped secure Woodson a part-time role washing dishes and handling tasks the butlers couldn’t complete themselves.

World War II military service temporarily interrupted their White House careers, but both brothers received promotions upon their return. Charles Ficklin advanced to head butler while Woodson Ficklin became a butler. On his second day in the butler role, Woodson Ficklin served breakfast to President Harry Truman and first lady Bess Truman.

Additional promotions came during Dwight Eisenhower’s presidency, with Charles Ficklin ascending to maître d’ — the highest butler position — while Woodson Ficklin became head butler, overseeing six full-time butlers.

When Charles Ficklin retired in March 1967, Woodson Ficklin again stepped into his brother’s role.

As maître d’, Woodson Ficklin managed the planning and coordination of White House social functions, from intimate luncheons and formal state dinners to birthday celebrations and casual South Lawn barbecues.

His responsibilities encompassed visits from British royalty, annual Christmas celebrations, Tricia Nixon’s 1971 White House wedding, and Gerald Ford’s daughter Susan’s decision to hold her high school prom at the executive mansion.

Throughout his tenure, Woodson Ficklin gained the confidence and respect of presidents and first ladies who depended on his professional knowledge. Many sent appreciation letters following successfully executed events.

In October 1969, first lady Patricia Nixon wrote about “the great number of complimentary remarks we receive following each White House social event,” according to a letter copy featured in the book. “Our family is most grateful to you for the time and interest you devote to make each occasion so enjoyable and memorable for our guests and for us.”

President Jimmy Carter sent a March 1979 letter thanking Woodson Ficklin and his staff for their work during the Egypt-Israel peace treaty signing ceremony.

“Everything was perfect and we are grateful,” Carter wrote.

Woodson Ficklin stepped down in May 1983. In what may represent the greatest tribute to his 44-year service, the Reagans invited him and his wife, Nancy, as guests to that year’s state dinner honoring Bahrain’s emir.

He likely became the first White House residence staff member to attend a state dinner as a guest, generating significant media attention. Woodson Ficklin dined at the first lady’s table and later told reporters she “put me at ease and made me feel like a guest.” When asked about the evening’s service, he responded, “Those are my boys. I trained them.”

Woodson Ficklin passed away in December 1984 at age 65.

“Seeing my Dad on television was a big deal, and to see him participating in our president’s funeral service was beyond my youthful comprehension,” Wrory Ficklin wrote. He noted that years elapsed before he grasped “the severity and the importance” of his father’s contributions.

Despite this, Wrory Ficklin also pursued meaningful White House work, starting with a high school summer position delivering confidential documents between the White House and Watergate special prosecutor. He also assisted his father in the pantry during state dinners and major events.

Wrory Ficklin joined the NSC staff in 1975, launching a 40-year career that overlapped with his father and other relatives. He initially worked evening shifts as a clerk while attending college during daytime hours, and by 1987 was responsible for training new personnel.

During Obama’s administration, Wrory Ficklin earned promotion to special assistant to the president for national security affairs. Before retiring in 2015, he made a special request to his supervisor, national security adviser Susan Rice: Could he attend a state dinner, following his father’s example?

Wrory Ficklin and his wife, Patrice, received invitations to the 2015 state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping. With slight modifications, he wore the same tuxedo jacket and cummerbund his father had worn in 1983.

He described the dinner as his career’s pinnacle.

“Just to experience firsthand the quality of the service, the precision of the butlers, the type of service that they provided, was a legacy to my dad, actually,” Wrory Ficklin said during the interview.

BOSTON — Large crowds filled the streets of South Boston Sunday as the city hosted its yearly St. Patrick’s Day parade, ranking among America’s biggest Irish cultural celebrations.

The annual event attracts spectators from throughout Massachusetts and neighboring states, featuring musical groups, decorated floats, military veterans, and community organizations parading through South Boston’s streets.

Municipal leaders reported weeks of advance planning had taken place, with law enforcement, transportation authorities, and emergency responders working together on crowd control and safety measures for the massive gathering.

The parade represents a significant yearly custom in Boston, which has strong Irish cultural ties, and typically occurs alongside Evacuation Day observances that honor the 1776 withdrawal of British forces from the city.

Authorities advised parade-goers to prepare for street closures and packed public transportation systems as visitors flood the area during the day-long festivities.

The previous year’s celebration attracted tens of thousands of participants and viewers, showcasing numerous marching contingents.

Sunday’s festivities were scheduled to start late morning and run through the afternoon hours.

WASHINGTON – Pentagon officials released Saturday the identities of six American Air Force personnel who perished in an aircraft accident over Iraq.

The service members were aboard a KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft conducting operations in support of U.S. military strikes against Iran. Military officials stated the incident involved a collision with another aircraft but was not caused by enemy fire or friendly fire, and remains under investigation.

Half of the fallen airmen served with the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Florida. They were Major John A. Klinner, 33, from Auburn, Alabama; Captain Ariana G. Savino, 31, from Covington, Washington; and Technical Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, from Bardstown, Kentucky.

The remaining three personnel were members of the 121st Air Refueling Wing stationed at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. Those airmen were Captain Seth R. Koval, 38, from Mooresville, Indiana; Captain Curtis J. Angst, 30, from Wilmington, Ohio; and Technical Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons, 28, from Columbus, Ohio.

Newark law enforcement officials have taken a minor into custody following an early morning attack on a rideshare driver that left the victim hospitalized with stab wounds.

The violent incident unfolded just after midnight on March 14, 2026, when Newark Police Department officers were dispatched to a business parking lot located on the 100 block of Grove Lane in response to reports of a stabbing.

According to investigators, the victim was actively working as a rideshare driver when the assault occurred. Police have not released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the attack or the current condition of the injured driver.

The juvenile suspect now faces attempted murder charges in connection with the stabbing. Authorities have not disclosed the age or identity of the accused due to their minor status.

The investigation into this violent crime remains ongoing as Newark police work to piece together the events that led to the attack on the rideshare operator.

Federal prosecutors in New York have arrested a South Carolina lobbyist on extortion charges, accusing him of hiring an intimidator to force a former client to pay half a million dollars in fees.

Joshua Nass, 34, from Charleston, South Carolina, faces up to two decades behind bars if found guilty of attempted extortion. He was set to appear before a federal magistrate judge on Saturday after charges were made public Friday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

According to federal court filings, Nass began recruiting someone in January to serve as muscle against his former client and the man’s son, demanding they pay $500,000 that Nass claimed they owed him. Court papers identify the victims only as ‘John Doe 1’ and ‘John Doe 2.’

‘Rather than honestly representing his client, Joshua Nass allegedly chose to shake him down by hiring an enforcer to extort payment,’ stated James Barnacle Jr., assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office. ‘The FBI prioritizes crushing violent crimes offenses and extortion schemes.’

Federal lobbying records show Nass represented Joseph Schwartz, listing ‘federal presidential pardon advocacy’ among his services. A disclosure form from January 15 indicated Nass’s firm earned approximately $100,000 during the final quarter of 2025 for lobbying work.

President Trump granted a pardon in November to Joseph Schwartz, who had admitted guilt in 2024 for his involvement in a $38 million employment tax fraud case connected to nursing facilities he controlled nationwide through his New Jersey company, Skyline Management Group.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to confirm Saturday whether the charges against Nass connect to his work for Schwartz.

Authorities apprehended Nass outside his Manhattan hotel Friday, the same day he planned to meet with the government’s cooperating witness.

Nass’s legal representative has not yet responded to requests for comment on the allegations.

Prosecution documents reveal Nass agreed last December to provide lobbying services for $600,000. The client’s son made an initial $100,000 payment but later requested a payment plan for the remaining balance, which Nass considered disrespectful, according to court filings.

Nass, who holds a New York law license, instructed his associate to visit the son’s residence in the New York area to demand payment. However, the son closed the door after learning Nass had sent the visitor, court records state.

From January through March, Nass and the cooperating witness discussed various intimidation tactics to obtain the money, including physical assault and threatening the son with masked accomplices in a vehicle, prosecutors allege. An FBI agent’s sworn statement indicates Nass instructed the witness not to treat the son ‘like a human being.’

An Alabama father who had recently received a promotion to major died alongside five other service members when their military refueling plane went down in Iraq this week, according to his family members who spoke out Saturday.

Major Alex Klinner, 33, had only been deployed for less than a week and leaves behind three young children – infant twins who are 7 months old and a 2-year-old son, according to his brother-in-law James Harrill, who confirmed the death on Saturday.

“It’s kind of heartbreaking to say: He was just a really good dad and really loved his family a lot — like a lot,” Harrill said.

Another victim was identified as an Ohio service member whose family recalled his infectious smile and strong presence.

While the Pentagon has not officially released the names of all six casualties, family members began sharing details about their loved ones on Saturday.

According to U.S. Central Command, the aircraft was operating in “friendly” territory during missions targeting Iran when an undisclosed incident occurred involving a second aircraft. Military officials reported the other plane made a safe landing.

The Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing announced through a Friday evening Facebook statement that three of the deceased were members of their Columbus-based unit.

“We share in the sorrow of their loved ones, and we must not forget the valuable contributions these Airmen made to their country and the impact they have left on our organization,” according to the 121st Air Refueling Wing’s post.

The Birmingham, Alabama native had served eight years in the U.S. Air Force and had recently relocated his family to a new residence, his wife Libby Klinner shared in a heartfelt Instagram tribute following his death.

Known for his love of outdoor activities like hiking, Klinner was always willing to lend a helping hand. During their last meeting in January, Harrill recalled how Klinner cleared snow from his car during a family wedding celebration.

“Alex was one of those guys that had this steady command about him,” said Harrill, who helped set up a GoFundMe site for Klinner’s family. “He was literally one of the most kindest, giving people.”

In her social media tribute, Libby Klinner expressed her devastation for their children, who will never experience their father’s caring nature firsthand.

“They won’t get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could,” she wrote. “They won’t see how goofy and funny he was. They won’t witness his selflessness, the way he thought about everyone else before himself. They won’t get to feel the deep love he had for them.”

Sgt. Tyler Simmons from Columbus, Ohio, was also confirmed as one of the six fatalities in Thursday’s KC-135 Stratotanker accident, his mother Cheryl Simmons verified Saturday. She indicated she was beginning to arrange funeral services for her son.

Through a statement shared with WCMH-TV in Columbus, Tyler Simmons’ relatives expressed their overwhelming grief following news of the tragic crash.

“Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it. His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grief stricken for the loss of life,” they said.

U.S. Central Command, responsible for Middle Eastern operations, confirmed the accident happened during a combat operation over “friendly” western Iraq territory. Military leaders stated an investigation is underway and emphasized the crash was “not due to hostile or friendly fire.”

The KC-135 serves as an aerial refueling platform, enabling other aircraft to extend their flight range and maintain operations without requiring ground stops. Military specialists note the aircraft can also transport injured personnel and perform reconnaissance duties.

Data from the Congressional Research Service indicates the Air Force operated 376 KC-135s last year, with 151 assigned to active duty, 163 serving with the Air National Guard, and 62 in Air Force Reserve units. The aircraft has remained in military service for over six decades.

When a circle of New Jersey friends became frustrated with traditional nightclub experiences, their passion for dancing led them to create their own solution. The group launched a monthly dance event they named ‘All My Friends’ as an alternative to the conventional club atmosphere they had grown weary of.

A federal judge in Manhattan has given initial approval to a settlement that would see Jeffrey Epstein’s estate pay up to $35 million to victims who sued two of the deceased financier’s former advisers.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian on Tuesday found the proposed agreement to be fair and set a September 16 hearing to consider final approval. The settlement was first announced by victim attorneys at Boies Schiller Flexner on February 19.

The agreement would resolve a 2024 class action lawsuit targeting Darren Indyke, Epstein’s former personal attorney, and Richard Kahn, his former accountant. Both men currently serve as co-executors of Epstein’s estate and were accused of helping facilitate his sex trafficking of young women and girls.

This latest settlement adds to previous payouts from Epstein’s estate. A victim compensation fund previously distributed $121 million, while additional settlements totaled $49 million.

Legal representatives for Indyke and Kahn did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. However, one of their attorneys had previously stated that neither man “made any admission or concession of misconduct” in agreeing to the settlement.

Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Authorities ruled his death a suicide.

The Justice Department has released millions of documents this year from its Epstein investigation, revealing his connections to wealthy and influential individuals worldwide.

In their lawsuit, attorneys alleged that Indyke and Kahn assisted Epstein in establishing a complicated network of companies and financial accounts that allowed him to conceal his criminal activities and compensate both victims and recruiters. The lawsuit claimed the two advisers were “richly compensated” for their services.

The same law firm representing the victims previously secured $365 million in settlements from JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank, alleging the financial institutions ignored warning signs about Epstein’s activities while he remained a profitable client.

A harrowing tale of survival from 1982 shows how the kindness of strangers can mean the difference between life and death in the wilderness.

Jean Muenchrath was mountaineering with her boyfriend in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains when disaster struck. What started as a planned climbing expedition quickly turned into a fight for survival when an unexpected storm forced them far from their intended path.

The severe weather conditions left the pair stranded and facing death in the treacherous mountain terrain. With their situation growing increasingly desperate, their survival seemed unlikely.

That’s when fate intervened in the form of an unidentified rescuer and his family, who discovered the endangered climbers and took extraordinary steps to ensure their safety. These good Samaritans went above and beyond what most would do, ultimately saving both lives.

The dramatic rescue highlights how ordinary people can become heroes when others face life-threatening emergencies in remote wilderness areas.

Federal authorities are now investigating after law enforcement officials confirmed that an explosive device was hurled at New York City’s mayoral residence during an anti-Muslim demonstration. The incident took place outside Gracie Mansion, where protesters had gathered.

Authorities have classified the thrown object as an improvised explosive device, prompting federal investigators to join the ongoing probe into the incident.

A recent study by the Pew Research Center reveals troubling findings about how Americans perceive the moral character of their fellow citizens. The survey shows that 53% of adults in the United States believe their compatriots are morally deficient, marking the highest rate among all 25 nations included in the research.

The data places America at the top of this concerning list, with Turkey coming in second place where 49% of residents hold similarly negative views about their neighbors’ moral standards. In stark contrast, Canada demonstrates the most positive outlook, with only 7% of its population expressing unfavorable moral judgments about their fellow countrymen.

Drivers traveling through the area where Upland Court meets South Skyward Drive should plan for potential delays as construction crews continue their work with periodic lane restrictions.

According to traffic officials, the lane closures at this intersection will remain in effect until 5:30 PM today. The restrictions are described as intermittent, meaning lanes may open and close throughout the day as work progresses.

Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes when possible or allow extra travel time if they must pass through the construction zone.

NEW YORK — Charitable organizations across the country are grappling with questions about how younger Americans approach community service, as these groups work to rebuild volunteer numbers that haven’t fully recovered since the pandemic while dealing with an increasingly older volunteer workforce.

However, recent research suggests young Americans are indeed contributing to their communities — just not in the traditional ways previous generations might expect.

A fresh study conducted by The Allstate Foundation in partnership with Gallup reveals that roughly 8 out of 10 individuals between ages 12 and 25 participate in some type of community service or volunteer work.

When asked about their motivations, approximately two-thirds of young volunteers indicated that making a positive impact or helping others served as “a major reason” for their involvement. Around 6 out of 10 cited contributing to their local community as a primary driver, while about half mentioned supporting causes close to their hearts.

“When we typically think of service it can be very narrow. Of, like, kids picking up litter or engaging in food drives,” explained Zoë Jenkins, 22, who handles recruitment for Civics Unplugged, a nonprofit focused on youth engagement. “That all definitely counts as service. But I think for me, how I think about it is just people helping other people. And that’s, I think, a really broad bucket.”

These perspectives have led some youth-oriented charitable organizations to reconsider their approach to volunteerism for emerging generations. While young people often express interest in face-to-face connections and meaningful impact, they frequently encounter challenges in discovering service opportunities and incorporating them into busy schedules. Approximately half of survey participants who reported never volunteering told researchers that being unaware of available opportunities and time constraints prevented their involvement.

Generation Z, generally considered those born between 1997 and 2012, along with Generation Alpha, roughly spanning 2012 to 2024, tend to serve their communities outside traditional nonprofit frameworks.

Roughly 7 out of 10 young people surveyed indicated they had assisted someone with a task at least “a few times” during the previous week — a finding that Allstate Foundation representatives interpret as evidence that young people view service more broadly, not as an extra activity but as a natural part of everyday living.

Just about 1 in 10 young volunteers reported that all their service activities were mandatory, such as through educational institutions or clubs. Approximately half said some but not all of their service was required, while roughly 4 in 10 indicated none of their volunteer work was mandated.

Greg Weatherford II, who oversees youth empowerment programs as Director of The Allstate Foundation and Social Impact, emphasized they avoid ranking different types of service by importance. He highlighted that meaningful service can range from brief 5-minute interactions to half-day commitments.

“We so applaud the young people that build complex nonprofits that solve complex issues,” he stated. “Equally important is the young person that’s taking time to write a letter to a classmate who may just be needing to have some extra encouragement as they get ready to take their school test or just navigate a new semester.”

According to the Gallup research, the most prevalent form of service among young people involves giving. About half reported donating or organizing donations of food, clothing, or other necessities, highlighting the significance of accessibility for Alex Quian, Senior Manager of The Allstate Foundation Youth Empowerment Program.

Organizing contributions doesn’t demand transportation or complicated scheduling, Quian observed, unlike many other service opportunities. Young people can launch such donation efforts quickly and often collaborate with friends, particularly through social media platforms. About 3 in 10 young volunteers said they had conducted fundraising for causes, while roughly 2 in 10 had worked to raise awareness for issues.

Jenkins noted it’s encouraging to see young people considering their resources and capacity to rally others around causes.

“Young people are perhaps more aware than ever of the power of money,” she stated.

About half of young people indicated their service experiences provided opportunities to make decisions, help with planning, or take leadership roles at least “sometimes,” according to the Gallup analysis. The Allstate Foundation seeks to increase this percentage by channeling more resources toward developing youth-directed volunteer programs.

Gallup discovered that when young people do assume leadership roles, it most commonly involves selecting their service activities. They less frequently receive chances to help determine how service will be carried out, establish objectives, lead activities, or organize experiences.

Jenkins observed that younger volunteers are often limited to highway cleanup efforts and food collection drives. She recommended that nonprofits provide more age-appropriate activities, pointing out that service opportunities suitable for five-year-olds differ significantly from those appropriate for 20-year-olds.

Jenkins suggested storytelling as one type of service that could engage older Gen Z volunteers. She cited the National Organization for Victim Advocacy and the Sexual Assault Youth Support Network as examples of nonprofits that empower young people to advocate for their causes as part of their service contribution.

“It’s not that young people don’t care,” Jenkins said. “We’re not necessarily providing the right opportunities that actually let young people feel like they’re showing up as their full selves.”

One major disaster relief organization has experienced a significant increase in youth volunteering since the pandemic ended.

American Red Cross leadership reported a 25% growth in Gen Z volunteers from 2024 to 2025, making it their fastest-growing and largest age demographic. Matt Bertram, the organization’s vice president of volunteer services, credited the increase to higher participation rates among their more than 1,400 independently operated youth clubs.

Typically based in high schools, these clubs enable students to independently manage their engagement with the American Red Cross. Bertram explained these are not “one-size-fits-all” groups. The organization aims to attract more young people to its overall mission by giving clubs flexibility to participate in as many or as few activities as they choose. Options include community education and preparedness training, blood drives, international humanitarian law campaigns, and fundraisers for measles and rubella prevention.

The American Red Cross reaches out about these opportunities through email and text messaging because young people requested more communication through these channels. Bertram said they’re also removing barriers by allowing underage applicants to directly initiate parental consent requests during the volunteer registration process.

This customized approach acknowledges that volunteers’ motivations evolve over time. Bertram recognized that not everyone joins the Red Cross intending to provide weekly service for multiple years. Commitments shift as high school students enter college or young professionals establish their careers.

By creating short-term volunteer opportunities and project-focused service, Bertram explained, nonprofits can accommodate individuals’ changing availability and capacity.

“There’s lots of folks who want to do traditional volunteering. There’s lots of folks who want to do a one-time project. And there’s lots of folks who want to maybe do something through a club or school or through their service organization,” he said. “If we can continue to work hard to put all those people together, that’s how we’ll build that workforce of the future.”

The Gallup survey was conducted from November 17 through December 1, 2025, among 3,013 American youth and young adults ages 12-25, using samples from Gallup’s probability-based panel. The margin of sampling error for the overall youth and young adult population is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

PAOLI, Pa. — A Pennsylvania State Police corporal lost his life Sunday evening after being gunned down during what began as a routine traffic stop in Chester County, officials announced.

Corporal Tim O’Connor was fatally wounded as he walked toward the stopped vehicle when the driver opened fire from inside, according to Acting Police Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens, who addressed media during a late-night briefing at Paoli Hospital.

Following the shooting, the gunman exited his vehicle, moved a short distance away, and fatally shot himself using a handgun, Bivens reported. Officials have not released the identity of the shooter.

The fallen officer leaves behind a wife and young daughter, according to authorities.

The deadly encounter began when O’Connor was working his patrol shift and received a dispatch call about a driver behaving erratically. After being assigned to respond, O’Connor radioed that he had successfully stopped the vehicle at an intersection in West Caln Township, located approximately 45 miles west of Philadelphia.

“That is the last we heard from Corporal O’Connor,” Bivens stated during the press conference.

When O’Connor failed to respond to subsequent radio communications, fellow troopers were sent to his location to conduct a welfare check and “found a very bad situation,” Bivens explained.

The incident remains under investigation by state police and Chester County officials, Bivens confirmed.

Federal investigators are examining a weekend bombing attempt in New York City that they believe was motivated by ISIS ideology, according to law enforcement officials.

Authorities say two men from Pennsylvania are accused of hurling homemade explosive devices at protesters who were demonstrating against Muslims on Saturday. The incident occurred in Manhattan’s Upper East Side area.

New York Police Department Commissioner described the weapons as “explosive devices that could have caused serious injury or death.”

Law enforcement officers swarmed the Upper East Side neighborhood on Sunday after police identified what they called a “suspicious device in a vehicle,” leading to a significant emergency response in the area.

The investigation is being treated as a terrorism case with suspected ties to the Islamic State group, marking another incident of domestic extremism in the nation’s largest city.

Officials have not yet released the identities of the two Pennsylvania suspects or provided details about potential charges they may face in connection with the alleged attack.

Two separate violent incidents occurring within two hours of each other left communities in Virginia and Michigan shaken Thursday, with authorities crediting quick thinking by civilians for preventing greater loss of life.

At Old Dominion University in Virginia, a former military service member who had previously been imprisoned for attempting to support ISIS carried out a deadly shooting in a campus classroom. The gunman fatally shot one individual and injured two others before being neutralized by ROTC students on scene.

Meanwhile in Michigan, an individual who had recently received devastating news about family members killed in Middle East violence drove his vehicle into a synagogue building before ending his own life. Though 140 children and staff members were inside the facility at the time, none sustained injuries. However, a security guard was struck by the vehicle and lost consciousness.

According to law enforcement and court documents, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh shouted “Allahu akbar” and inquired about whether an ROTC gathering was taking place before beginning his attack.

The shooting claimed the life of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, who served as an ROTC instructor, while injuring two additional victims. Federal investigators commended the courage displayed by students who prevented additional casualties.

Medical officials report that one injured person has been discharged from the hospital, while Sentara Health indicates the second victim remains in fair condition.

ROTC participants receive educational funding in exchange for military officer training during their college years.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced via social media that investigators are treating the university shooting as a terrorist act.

Jalloh had become a U.S. citizen after immigrating from Sierra Leone and served as a specialist in Virginia’s Army National Guard until receiving an honorable discharge in 2015.

Two years later, he admitted guilt to charges of providing assistance to ISIS and received an 11-year prison sentence. His early release came after participating in a substance abuse treatment program, though sources told The Associated Press that such programs typically exclude individuals convicted of terrorism-related crimes.

Questions remain about how he became eligible for the program given the usual restrictions for terrorism convictions.

Prison records show Jalloh was moved to a halfway house in August 2024 and completed his federal custody later that year.

At the time of the shooting, he was under probation supervision and enrolled in online courses at the university.

In the Michigan incident, 41-year-old Ayman Mohammad Ghazali spent approximately two hours waiting outside Temple Israel near Detroit with a rifle, commercial fireworks, and containers of what investigators believe was gasoline before ramming into the building.

He began shooting through his windshield and engaged in gunfire with an armed security officer. Ghazali took his own life after becoming trapped in his vehicle when the engine ignited, according to Jennifer Runyan, who heads the FBI’s Detroit office.

Federal investigators leading the case have characterized the assault on one of America’s largest Reform Jewish congregations as violence directed at the Jewish community, though they state insufficient evidence exists currently to classify it as terrorism.

Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard praised the preparedness and training that enabled the rapid response to the attack.

Ghazali was born in Lebanon and had recently learned that an Israeli military strike in his homeland had killed his two brothers along with a niece and nephew, according to an official from the town of Mashgharah who spoke to the AP. The family members died in their home during their evening meal to break the Ramadan fast.

The same official, speaking anonymously due to restrictions on public discussion of the airstrike details, noted that their mother suffered severe injuries and remains hospitalized.

Israeli forces have intensified operations against Hezbollah, the Iranian-supported militant organization in Lebanon, as regional conflict has expanded throughout the Middle East.

Immigration records from the Department of Homeland Security show Ghazali arrived in the United States in 2011 through a spousal visa as the husband of an American citizen, obtaining his own citizenship five years later.

His residence was a single-level brick house in Dearborn Heights, a Detroit suburb located roughly 38 miles from the synagogue.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A tragic accident during what was meant to be a harmless student prank has resulted in the death of a cherished high school educator and criminal charges against five teenagers, according to Georgia authorities.

Jason Hughes, a 40-year-old mathematics instructor at North Hall High School, lost his life Friday night after falling in the roadway and being hit by a pickup truck driven by one of his students. The incident occurred as a group of teenagers was toilet-papering trees outside Hughes’ residence, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Eighteen-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace, who was behind the wheel of the pickup, now faces first-degree vehicular homicide charges — a felony that carries a potential sentence of three to 15 years under Georgia state law. Wallace also received a reckless driving citation. Four additional teenagers were cited for criminal trespassing and littering violations.

According to investigators, the group arrived at Hughes’ home around 11:40 p.m. Friday in two separate vehicles and began covering his trees with toilet paper. When Hughes emerged from his house, the students began departing. During this time, Hughes stumbled and fell into the street, where he was struck by Wallace’s departing pickup truck.

The teenagers immediately stopped their vehicles and attempted to help Hughes until paramedics arrived, authorities stated. Hughes was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.

In an unexpected turn, Hughes’ family revealed that the educator had advance knowledge of the planned prank and had intended to surprise the students rather than stop them. The family has publicly requested that all criminal charges be dismissed.

“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” Hughes’ family said in a statement provided to The Associated Press on Monday. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”

Hughes served as both a mathematics teacher and assistant coach for golf, football and baseball teams at North Hall High School in Gainesville, located approximately 55 miles northeast of Atlanta. Students and colleagues have created a memorial display of flowers along the school’s perimeter fence.

Sean Pender, the school’s head football coach, described Hughes as an educator who supported student-athletes academically and a person of strong religious conviction who facilitated weekly Bible studies for coaching staff.

“What made Jason so special was the way he did it,” Pender wrote in a social media post. “He never judged. He never forced anything on anyone. He simply loved people well. He met people where they were, lifted them up, and reminded them that they mattered.”

Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh will ultimately determine how to proceed with the criminal cases against the teenagers. When contacted Monday, Darragh declined to discuss the matter.

“I’m not commenting on that case presently,” Darragh told an AP reporter by phone Monday. “I don’t have enough information about it to do so.”

Court records for Wallace’s case were not immediately available Monday, and it remains unclear whether he has secured legal representation.

LOS ANGELES — A woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after opening fire near the Beverly Hills residence of pop superstar Rihanna on Sunday afternoon, authorities confirmed Monday.

The incident left no one injured, though it remains unclear whether the Grammy-winning artist was present at the property during the shooting, police officials stated.

Officer Charles Miller, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department, said authorities responded to reports of gunfire in the Beverly Hills neighborhood on Sunday. A 35-year-old suspect was subsequently apprehended “without further incident,” and investigators retrieved a firearm, law enforcement officials confirmed in their statement. The woman now faces attempted murder charges and remains jailed with bail set at $10 million. Prosecutors have not yet filed formal charges.

While Miller declined to identify the homeowner, several local media organizations have reported the residence belongs to the “Umbrella” singer. Property records indicate the Beverly Hills home is held by a trust managed by Evan Jehle, who serves on the advisory board for Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation.

Representatives for Rihanna have not responded to requests for comment.

Television station KABC aired footage displaying what appeared to be five bullet marks in the property’s front gate.

“Shooting just occurred. Ten gunshots fired from the vehicle,” a police dispatcher told responding officers on audio obtained by KABC. Authorities said the shots originated from across the street.

Police have not determined whether the arrested woman had any prior relationship with Rihanna.

This marks the second security incident at one of the performer’s homes in recent years. In 2018, a man broke into a different Rihanna property in the Hollywood Hills and remained there for 12 hours. The intruder entered a no contest plea in 2019 to felony stalking and vandalism charges, plus a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest, receiving a probation sentence.

The nine-time Grammy recipient has achieved 14 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including hits like “We Found Love,” “Work,” “Umbrella” and “Disturbia.” She launched her cosmetics company Fenty Beauty in 2017.

Rihanna and rapper A$AP Rocky welcomed their third child, daughter Rocki Irish Mayers, this past September.

The Pentagon confirmed Monday that a Kentucky soldier has become the seventh American service member to lose his life in the ongoing Iran conflict.

Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, from Glendale, Kentucky, succumbed to injuries Sunday after being hurt in an attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 1, according to Pentagon officials.

Mike Bell, former pastor at Glendale Christian Church, said he had watched Pennington grow up since he was very young. Bell received a phone call from the soldier’s father, Tim, when his son was initially injured.

“I talked to Tim Saturday morning, and he was doing a little better, and they were talking about maybe moving him to Germany,” Bell explained. However, Bell said Tim Pennington reached out again that same evening requesting prayers as his son’s medical situation deteriorated, and later informed him that the young soldier had died from his wounds.

“He was just a quiet person,” Bell remembered, recalling how Pennington participated in the church’s after-school activities. “I mean, he never attracted attention because he was just steady doing what he needed to do to do it. Does that make sense?”

Pennington served with the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade under the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.

According to their official website, the unit specializes in “missile warning, GPS, and long-haul satellite communications.”

“This just breaks my heart,” expressed Keith Taul, judge-executive of Hardin County where Pennington grew up, in a written statement to The Associated Press. “I have known the family for at least 30 years. I can’t imagine the pain and suffering they are experiencing. To lose a single service member is just a devastating blow. But when it is one of our own, we grieve as a community.”

Glendale is a small unincorporated community with approximately 300 residents, located south of Elizabethtown, the Hardin County seat.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear honored Pennington on social media, describing him as “a hero who sacrificed everything serving our country.”

The previous six military deaths in this conflict involved Army reservists who were killed in Kuwait when an Iranian drone attacked an operations center at a civilian port facility.

President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base on Saturday for those six fallen soldiers, joining their families during the solemn ritual.

The dignified transfer ceremony, which honors fallen service members by returning their remains home, represents one of the most serious responsibilities for any president. Trump previously described witnessing these transfers as “the toughest thing I have to do” during his first presidential term.

Pennington completed his education at Central Hardin High School in 2017, where he studied automotive technology, confirmed district spokesman John Wright to the AP. Tom Pitt, his former automotive technology teacher at Hardin County Early College and Career Center, praised him as “an American hero.”

“A lot of times as a teacher, you have students who are smart, you have students who are charismatic, who are likable, dare I say, enchanting,” Pitt shared, noting that Pennington, whom he knew as Nate, was also a Boy Scout. “Rarely do you have students who are all of those. And Ben Pennington was all of those. He was basically the quintessential all-American.”

Following graduation, Pennington joined the military as a unit supply specialist and was later transferred to the space and missile defense command on June 10, 2025, according to Army records.

His military honors included the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

“The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Pennington,” stated Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, USASMDC commanding general. “He gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved. That makes him nothing less than a hero, and he will always be remembered that way. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”

Col. Michael F. Dyer, commander of the 1st Space Brigade, characterized Pennington as “a dedicated and experienced noncommissioned officer who led with strength, professionalism and sense of duty.”

The Pentagon announced that Pennington will receive a posthumous promotion to staff sergeant.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Eight individuals were found guilty Friday on federal terrorism charges stemming from a shooting incident at a Texas immigration detention facility that prosecutors linked to the far-left antifa movement.

A federal jury also convicted one defendant of attempted murder after authorities say he fired shots last summer outside the Prairieland Detention Center near Fort Worth, injuring a police officer. Justice Department officials described the incident as a coordinated assault by antifa activists, though defense lawyers disputed this claim, arguing their clients were participating in a peaceful demonstration with fireworks when gunfire erupted.

The nearly three-week trial was overseen by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, a Trump appointee, and drew attention from legal observers who viewed it as a benchmark for how far federal authorities might go in prosecuting demonstrators.

According to FBI Director Kash Patel, this marked the first instance where material support for terrorism charges were brought against individuals allegedly connected to antifa.

“Today’s verdict on terrorism charges will not be the last as the Trump administration systematically dismantles Antifa and finally halts their violence on America’s streets,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

Antifa, which stands for “anti-fascists,” represents a loose network of far-left militant groups that oppose neo-Nazis and white supremacists at rallies and demonstrations rather than a centralized organization.

Defense lawyers argued before jurors that no violent plan existed for the July 4 gathering outside the Alvarado facility.

Nine defendants faced trial total, with eight charged with providing material support to terrorists along with additional counts. Daniel Sanchez Estrada, the ninth defendant, was charged with corruptly concealing documents and conspiracy to conceal documents, receiving guilty verdicts on both counts.

Estrada’s lawyer, Christopher Weinbel, expressed disbelief at the jury’s decision. Weinbel, who served multiple Army deployments defending the United States, said he hoped his sacrifices “meant something.”

“But I feel like it turned its back on justice with this. … The U.S. lost today with this verdict,” Weinbel said.

During closing statements, prosecutor Shawn Smith argued that the defendants’ preparations — including bringing weapons, medical supplies, and protective gear — demonstrated malicious intentions. He claimed they employed “antifa tactics” and showed obsession with “operational security.”

Defense attorneys maintained there was no planned attack and that demonstrators who carried firearms did so purely for self-defense.

The terrorism charges came after Trump’s directive last fall declaring antifa a domestic terrorist organization. Unlike the State Department’s foreign terrorist organization list, no domestic equivalent exists, partly due to First Amendment protections for U.S.-based groups.

Legal experts worry the case’s outcome could significantly impact future protests.

“That opposition is something that the government wants to squash so a case like this helps the government kind of see how far they can go in criminalizing constitutionally protected protests and also helps them kind of intimidate, increase the fear, hoping that folks in other cities then will think twice over protesting,” said Suzanne Adely, interim president of the National Lawyers Guild, a progressive legal group.

Defense attorneys said most protesters had begun departing when two facility guards emerged, which occurred before any shooting started.

Prosecutors alleged that Benjamin Song, a former Marine Corps reservist, shouted “get to the rifles” before opening fire and wounding a police officer who had just arrived at the scene.

While Song was the shooter, prosecutors also charged several other protesters with attempted murder and firearm discharge, though jurors acquitted them of these charges. The prosecution argued that based on the group’s planning, the other defendants should have anticipated potential violence.

Alvarado Police Lt. Thomas Gross, the wounded officer, testified about responding to the scene and encountering a person dressed entirely in black with a covered face carrying a rifle. He told jurors a bullet entered his shoulder and exited through his neck.

Song’s attorney, Phillip Hayes, argued during closing statements that no call to violence occurred before Gross arrived and “aggressively” drew his weapon. Hayes contended that Song fired “suppressive fire” and that a ricocheting bullet struck the officer.

Before the trial began, several individuals pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists after being accused of supporting antifa. They could receive up to 15 years in prison when sentenced.

Some of these individuals testified for the prosecution, including Seth Sikes, who said he went to the detention center hoping to bring comfort to those detained inside.

“I felt like I was doing the right thing,” he said.

A mysterious chemical odor disrupted air travel across the Washington DC region Friday evening, forcing aviation officials to suspend all flight operations at four major airports for more than an hour.

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the flight suspension at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, and Richmond International Airport after the unidentified smell began affecting air traffic control operations, FAA Secretary Sean Duffy disclosed on social media Friday.

The disruption triggered flight delays stretching approximately two hours at some of the nation’s most heavily trafficked airports. While departures resumed after 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, the ground stop preventing aircraft landings continued.

According to Duffy’s statement, the odor originated from the Potomac TRACON facility, which serves as the terminal radar approach control center overseeing air traffic operations for Washington DC, Baltimore, Richmond, Virginia, and the Richmond-Charlottesville regions, based on FAA information.

Federal aviation officials did not respond to requests for additional details about how the chemical smell was impacting air traffic controllers Friday evening.

Flight tracking data showed that between 25% and one-third of all departures from the four affected airports experienced delays following the ground stop order.

MOUNT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST, Oregon — A dramatic aerial rescue unfolded Thursday when an Oregon Army National Guard helicopter successfully extracted an injured logger from a dangerous situation in the remote wilderness of Mount Hood National Forest, located approximately 60 miles southeast of Portland.

The worker became trapped when a tree fell and pinned him during logging operations. Emergency officials from the Estacada Fire District reported that early assessments suggested the victim suffered a fractured leg along with potential additional injuries.

Fellow crew members at the worksite managed to cut through the fallen timber to free the trapped logger’s leg before emergency responders arrived, according to Estacada Battalion Chief Matt Aalto, who spoke with The Associated Press.

Fire department personnel reached the accident site after a challenging trek through fallen debris and steep mountainous terrain that significantly slowed their response time.

Once emergency crews arrived and provided medical stabilization, they discovered that a standard medical helicopter couldn’t land or safely approach the victim due to the difficult landscape and thick overhead tree coverage.

Officials determined that attempting to carry the injured worker out on foot would pose serious risks and consume too much critical time. The Oregon Army National Guard deployed an HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter equipped with hoisting equipment. Rescue teams secured the logger in a specialized basket and lifted him approximately 200 feet up through the forest canopy to the waiting aircraft. Medical personnel later reported the patient was in stable condition at a nearby hospital.

The rescue operation had a unique twist involving Lt. Tony Hadeed, a paramedic with the Estacada department who happened to be on duty when the emergency call arrived.

Hadeed previously served as a flight medic with the Army National Guard, specifically with the same unit that conducted Thursday’s rescue mission, Aalto explained.

“This was his first time being on the other side of a rescue for Tony, but because of his previous experience, he added additional value with team coordination, site preparation, and patient packaging,” Aalto said.

WASHINGTON — Three separate violent incidents within the past week have highlighted mounting terrorism concerns as the United States navigates ongoing conflicts with Iran while federal law enforcement agencies face significant staffing challenges.

In New York, federal investigators say two individuals motivated by the Islamic State attempted to detonate powerful homemade explosives at a far-right demonstration near the mayor’s residence. Meanwhile, a Lebanese-born naturalized citizen in Michigan drove his car into a synagogue before being shot by security personnel. In Virginia, an individual with a prior terrorism conviction shouted “Allahu akbar” before firing shots in a university classroom, an incident that concluded when students fatally stopped the attacker.

These events have emerged during a period when the nation’s anti-terrorism infrastructure faces strain due to departures of seasoned national security experts from the FBI and Justice Department. The exodus of personnel, combined with resource reallocations to address other administrative priorities over recent months, has raised questions about the government’s capacity to prevent a potential increase in security threats.

“So much experience has been decimated from the ranks,” said Frank Montoya, a retired senior FBI official. “The folks that were best-positioned to get to the bottom of it before something really bad happened” are in many cases no longer with the government, he said, meaning less experienced personnel assigned to the threat are “starting from way behind.”

The FBI declined to discuss staffing numbers and decisions but released a statement noting that “agents and staff are dedicated professionals working around the clock to defend the homeland and crush violent crime. The FBI continuously assesses and realigns our resources to ensure the safety of the American people.”

Iran has promised retaliation following the U.S. and Israeli killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and while military action has remained limited to Middle Eastern territories, the Islamic Republic has repeatedly declared its intent to conduct operations on American territory.

Following the 2020 killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani during the previous Trump presidency, Iranian operatives attempted a failed assassination scheme targeting former national security adviser John Bolton.

Last week in New York, a Pakistani businessman claiming to follow orders from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was found guilty of attempting to recruit assassins in 2024 for murder plots against public figures, including President Donald Trump during his campaign.

While significant focus has centered on Iran’s use of intermediaries and hired operatives for attacks, the nation’s ability to execute large-scale assaults against the U.S. remains uncertain despite widespread concern. The FBI issued a recent alert to law enforcement regarding Iran’s potential plans for a drone strike in California, though officials later stressed the intelligence lacked verification and no concrete plot had been identified.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S. government restructured its intelligence and national security systems to prevent similar disasters. However, in subsequent years, individuals radicalized through online channels have still executed attacks, including the 2015 shooting spree at two military installations in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a 2016 assault at an Orlando nightclub where a gunman killed 49 people while condemning the “filthy ways of the west.”

These self-directed plots have proven extremely challenging to stop and have occurred even when the FBI hasn’t experienced the firings and internal disruption seen during the current Trump administration’s first year.

“They’re self-directed,” said retired FBI official Edward Herbst. “That’s what makes them really lethal. You never know when they’re going to rise up. You never know when and where they’re going to attack.”

Terrorism worries typically escalate during international conflicts when overseas military operations coincide with heightened domestic vigilance, including increased agent outreach to informants, more active tip sharing between federal and local police, and enhanced coordination among FBI joint terrorism task forces, according to Claire Moravec, a former FBI national security official who served as deputy homeland security adviser in Illinois.

Authorities have stated there’s no evidence that the individuals arrested regarding the New York explosives or the person responsible for Thursday’s Old Dominion University shooting were directly motivated by the Iran conflict. The individual who crashed into Temple Israel synagogue near Detroit on Thursday had lost four relatives in an Israeli airstrike in his homeland of Lebanon the previous week, a Lebanese official confirmed.

Nevertheless, conflicts like the current Iran situation can serve as “accelerants,” amplifying the volume and intensity of grievances among disaffected individuals, Moravec explained.

“Ultimately, the goal during these periods is not ‘surveillance’ but maintaining a broad awareness of how international events could translate into domestic security risks, so that threats can be identified and disrupted early,” she said in an email.

The Justice Department’s National Security Division, created in 2006 to handle terrorism, espionage and related threats, has seen its lawyers reassigned over the past year to review Jeffrey Epstein documents for public release, while specialized units focused on prosecuting terrorists and apprehending spies have experienced significant turnover.

Approximately half of the division’s counterterrorism attorneys have departed since the Trump administration began, along with roughly one-third of senior leadership, based on estimates from Justice Connection, an organization of department veterans.

A Justice Department representative stated the division’s primary focus remains “keeping the American people safe from threats foreign and domestic” and that no known or credible threats to the homeland exist.

FBI Director Kash Patel has terminated dozens of agents, most recently dismissing approximately twelve employees who participated in the counterintelligence investigation into Trump’s retention of classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago Florida property.

“This is not an exaggeration to say that they are not as capable as they were a year and a half ago,” Matthew Olsen, who led the National Security Division during the Biden administration, said this week on the Lawfare podcast, adding that “they’ve lost, forced out, fired, the most capable, the most experienced FBI agents, FBI officials and DOJ prosecutors, that were working on the Iran threat.”

In national security work, where experience and source cultivation are essential, losing institutional knowledge and community connections can be devastating, according to Montoya, the former FBI official.

“There was no transition,” Montoya said of the agents who have been abruptly fired. “These guys were just walked out of the building. The new guys can call them and say, ‘Hey, can you tell me what you were doing?’” but even so, “you’re still introducing a brand new face into the equation.”

GREENVILLE, Miss. — A federal jury has cleared a retired military engineer of criminal charges connected to a devastating 2017 aircraft accident that claimed the lives of 16 service members in Mississippi.

James Michael Fisher was declared not guilty on Thursday following an eight-day federal trial in Greenville, Mississippi. The charges against him included making false statements and obstructing justice during the criminal probe into the military aircraft disaster.

Fisher previously worked as the chief propulsion engineer at Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex in Georgia back in 2011. According to military investigators, civilian maintenance workers at that time missed critical defects in a damaged and deteriorated propeller blade that was later mounted on a KC-130T transport aircraft. The faulty propeller blade eventually failed during flight on July 10, 2017, as the New York-stationed aircraft traveled from Cherry Point, North Carolina to El Centro, California.

The propeller failure proved catastrophic when the broken blade struck the aircraft’s fuselage, creating a devastating impact that tore the plane apart mid-flight and sent debris crashing into Mississippi soybean fields near Itta Bena. The accident killed 15 Marines and one Navy corpsman.

Federal prosecutors brought an indictment against the already-retired Fisher in 2024. The charges claimed Fisher provided false information to federal agents regarding modifications to inspection protocols during a 2021 investigation, implying he participated in a conspiracy to place responsibility on maintenance workers.

However, Fisher’s attorney Steve Farese argued that another individual authorized technicians to modify propeller inspection methods while Fisher was traveling in Brazil. Therefore, Farese contended, Fisher was truthful when he informed investigators that no documentation approving maintenance modifications had been authorized in 2011. The defense also maintained that work on the problematic propeller occurred several days prior to the form’s approval, meaning the authorization document had no connection to the crash.

“Nobody did it intentionally,” Farese told The Associated Press in a phone interview Monday. “As one witness said, there were 10 different ways for that blade to have through inspection and be missed or put back in the system accidentally. There were 10 different ways it could have happened. So there was no clarity in the trial as to exactly what did happen.”

Prosecutors had not responded to requests for comment by Monday. The indictment claimed that engineers at the Georgia facility had authorized approximately 30 modifications to propeller inspection procedures between 2008 and 2017, despite Fisher’s earlier failure to provide documentation. Investigators reportedly concluded “they could no longer trust Fisher.”

The aircraft operated from Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, and was transporting Marine special operations personnel from North Carolina to Arizona for training exercises. This incident marked the Marine Corps’ most devastating aviation accident since 2005, when a transport helicopter crashed in an Iraq sandstorm, resulting in 30 Marine and one sailor fatalities.

In the 2017 disaster, six Marines and the sailor belonged to an elite Marine Raider battalion stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and were en route to pre-deployment preparation in Yuma, Arizona, according to Marine Corps officials. The other nine Marines had been stationed in New York.

Wreckage scattered across two to three miles of agricultural land near the Mississippi Delta community of Itta Bena, approximately 85 miles north of Jackson, the state capital. Family members returned to the location one year later to unveil a memorial honoring Yanky 72, the aircraft’s radio call sign.

Following the accident, the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force temporarily suspended operations of some or all C-130 aircraft, conducting thorough inspections and propeller blade replacements.

A Georgia district attorney has dismissed vehicular homicide charges against an 18-year-old student whose vehicle accidentally killed a high school teacher during a toilet papering incident, according to the teen’s attorney. The teacher’s family had urged prosecutors to abandon the case.

Jason Hughes, a 40-year-old educator, passed away at a medical facility in the early hours of March 7 following the tragic accident, Hall County Sheriff’s officials reported. Eighteen-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace had been facing a felony vehicular homicide charge, while four additional students received misdemeanor citations.

Attorney Graham McKinnon, representing Wallace, announced Friday that prosecutors had dismissed all charges against his client.

According to sheriff’s investigators, the group of students arrived at Hughes’ residence at approximately 11:40 p.m. on March 6 to wrap his property’s trees with toilet paper. The teenagers attempted to flee when Hughes emerged from his home — though his family later revealed he had learned about the planned prank beforehand and wanted to catch them in the act.

During the students’ departure, “Hughes tripped and fell into the road and was run over,” sheriff’s officials stated.

Following the collision, the teenagers immediately stopped their vehicle and provided assistance until paramedics and other emergency personnel reached the scene, according to law enforcement.

McKinnon described the toilet papering as part of a “competitive game” that had become a longstanding custom among North Hall High School students.

The defense attorney argued that vehicular homicide charges were inappropriate since his client had not operated his vehicle in a reckless or improper manner.

“Jaden is still grieving deeply, but he’s determined eventually to carry on and live his life in a way that would make Coach Hughes proud,” McKinnon stated.

Hughes served as a mathematics instructor and assistant coach for golf, football and baseball teams at North Hall High School in Gainesville, and had been a “mentor” to Wallace, the attorney noted.

“I pledge to live out the remainder of my life in a manner that honors the memory of Coach Hughes by exemplifying Christ. He will never be forgotten,” Wallace stated in a family statement released Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Hughes’ relatives released their own statement explaining that the deceased educator had personal relationships with all five students and requesting that authorities dismiss the charges.

“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” the Hughes family declared. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”

A decorated military officer who taught Army ROTC at Old Dominion University has been identified as the victim killed in Thursday’s campus shooting in Norfolk, Virginia.

Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah, age 42, lost his life to gunshot wounds during the incident at ODU. Shah, originally from Chesapeake, Virginia, served as the university’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps professor of military science.

University President Brian Hemphill praised Shah as a cherished and admired leader on campus. “Lt. Col. Shah was a beloved and respected leader at Old Dominion University. He personally guided students in the Army ROTC Monarch Battalion through his caring spirit and combat experience,” Hemphill stated.

The president further described Shah as someone who “embodied what it means to be a devoted family man, a revered leader, and heroic protector even in his final moments.”

Shah’s military career began when he joined the Army in 2003. Two years later, he became a student at Old Dominion University, where he would eventually work. He earned his commission as an officer and completed his bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2007.

During his service as an Army aviator, Shah piloted AH64 Apache helicopters during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. According to President Hemphill, Shah accumulated more than 1,200 flight hours, with 600 of those hours during combat operations across three different aircraft.

In honor of Shah’s service and sacrifice, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has directed that American and Virginia state flags be lowered to half-staff at all state and local government properties.

Family background details emerged when Shah’s cousin spoke to NBC News, explaining that Shah was born in the United States after his father emigrated from Pakistan.

Federal authorities have launched a terrorism investigation into Thursday’s shooting incident, which left Shah dead and two other people wounded. The FBI confirmed they are leading the probe into the attack.

All three shooting victims had connections to the university, which maintains strong relationships with military institutions according to its official website. The person responsible for the shooting also died during the incident.

Every year, millions of viewers tune in to watch Hollywood’s biggest night, eagerly waiting to hear those famous words: ‘And the Oscar goes to…’ But have you ever wondered how the Academy Award statuette earned its beloved nickname?

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the ‘Oscar’ name official back in 1939, yet the true story behind this moniker continues to puzzle entertainment historians. While several theories exist about who first coined the term, none have been definitively confirmed.

Four persistent stories have emerged over the decades, each claiming to reveal the real source of the Oscar name. However, entertainment industry experts acknowledge that the actual origin may forever remain one of Hollywood’s most enduring mysteries.

The golden statuette has become synonymous with cinematic excellence, regardless of how it acquired its famous nickname. Whether we ever learn the truth about Oscar’s identity or not, the name has certainly secured its place in entertainment history.

KINGSTON, N.Y. — A retired New York State Trooper has been found guilty of manslaughter in the death of an 11-year-old girl during a deadly pursuit in December 2020.

Christopher Baldner was convicted Friday in his second trial for causing the crash that killed Monica Goods. According to prosecutors, Baldner struck the family’s SUV two times while traveling on the New York State Thruway, which caused the vehicle to roll over and crash. Baldner’s legal team maintained that the collision happened when the SUV moved in front of the trooper’s patrol car as he drove alongside during the chase.

In November, a jury cleared Baldner of murder and reckless endangerment but could not reach a decision on the second-degree manslaughter charge. Following the hung jury, Judge Bryan Rounds called a mistrial, leading to the second trial that started last month on the remaining charge.

During the recent proceedings, Assistant State Attorney General Jennifer Gashi argued that Baldner made the decision to “recklessly use his patrol car as a weapon” during the pursuit north of New York City. The defense, led by attorney Anthony Ricco, countered that Monica’s father, Tristin Goods, was the one who drove recklessly and caused his daughter’s death, the Daily Freeman reported.

The fatal incident began when Baldner stopped Tristin Goods for driving over the speed limit on the highway near Kingston on the evening of December 22, 2020. The Goods family, including Tristin, his wife, and their two daughters, were traveling north from New York City to spend time with relatives.

After Baldner and Goods got into a dispute, the trooper used pepper spray inside their vehicle. Goods then drove away, prompting Baldner to give chase.

The defense claimed that Goods hit Baldner’s patrol vehicle twice during the pursuit. A crash reconstruction specialist testifying for the defense said Goods lost control of the SUV when he oversteered following “a very minor impact,” according to the newspaper.

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

SANTA FE, N.M. — Authorities in New Mexico initiated a comprehensive search Monday of a remote ranch property once owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following claims the location may have served as a site for sexual exploitation and trafficking of young women.

State Attorney General Raúl Torrez’s office confirmed the investigation is proceeding with full assistance from the property’s current owners.

The attorney general revived the ranch investigation last month after it had been shuttered in 2019 upon request from federal prosecutors in New York. State officials now indicate that “revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination.”

The disgraced financier acquired the expansive Zorro Ranch property in Stanley, New Mexico — located roughly 30 miles south of Santa Fe — in 1993 from former Democratic Governor Bruce King. Epstein constructed an elaborate hilltop estate complete with its own airstrip on the grounds.

Following Epstein’s death, his estate sold the ranch in 2023 to the family of Don Huffines, who recently secured the Republican nomination for Texas state comptroller. The sale proceeds were directed toward paying estate creditors.

“The New Mexico Department of Justice appreciates the cooperation of the current property owners,” officials stated. Prosecutors pledged to “continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead.”

State lawmakers have also created a special commission tasked with examining historical activities that occurred at the ranch property.

Epstein died by suicide in a New York City jail cell in 2019 while facing federal charges for sexually abusing and trafficking numerous underage victims.

Though Epstein was never prosecuted in New Mexico, state prosecutors acknowledged in 2019 that they had conducted interviews with potential victims who had visited the ranch facility.