Category: U.S. News

Two separate deadly attacks struck American communities Thursday, as violence erupted at both a Virginia university and a Michigan synagogue in what authorities are investigating as targeted acts of extremism.

At Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, a gunman with ties to ISIS opened fire in a classroom, fatally shooting one person and wounding two others before Reserve Officer Training Corps students tackled and killed him. The FBI has launched a terrorism investigation into the shooting.

Hours later in West Bloomfield, Michigan, an attacker drove his truck directly into Temple Israel and its preschool facility before being killed by security personnel. While all 140 children at the daycare were safely evacuated, 30 law enforcement officers required hospitalization due to smoke inhalation from a fire that broke out when the vehicle crashed into the building.

The Virginia shooter has been identified as Mohamed Jalloh, who served federal prison time after pleading guilty in 2016 to supporting ISIS and was released in 2024. FBI Special Agent Dominique Evans reported that Jalloh shouted “Allahu Akbar” before beginning his attack on the university campus, which has strong military connections and a student population that is nearly one-third service members.

“All three victims were affiliated with the university,” Evans stated, noting that two of those wounded were Army personnel.

At the Michigan synagogue, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard praised the rapid response of trained security staff for preventing greater casualties. One security guard was temporarily knocked unconscious after being struck by the attacker’s vehicle.

“What happens around the world sometimes affects us, so we have to prepare for it,” Bouchard explained to reporters, though he said investigators are still working to establish the exact motivation behind the synagogue attack.

The FBI is treating the Michigan incident as what Special Agent Jennifer Runyan described as a “targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.” The attacker, whose identity has not been released, drove his truck through the synagogue’s entrance and continued down an interior hallway before being confronted by security.

These attacks come during a period of escalating tensions following recent military strikes between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran, which have heightened security concerns for both Jewish and Muslim communities across America.

According to FBI statistics, antisemitic incidents have surged in recent years, representing nearly two-thirds of more than 5,300 religiously motivated hate crimes recorded since February 2024.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel responded to Thursday’s synagogue attack with a statement emphasizing unity: “Antisemitism has no place in Michigan and cannot be tolerated. In moments like these, it’s more important than ever that we come together, stand with our neighbors, confront hate whenever it appears, and build stronger communities.”

President Donald Trump addressed the Michigan attack Thursday evening, saying he had been briefed on the situation. “I want to send our love to the Michigan Jewish community and all of the people in the Detroit area following the attack on the Jewish synagogue earlier today,” Trump stated.

Both Jewish and Islamic organizations nationwide have implemented enhanced security protocols since the U.S. and Israel began their military operations against Iran on February 28.

Sheriff Bouchard told CNN that law enforcement had been anticipating potential violence for weeks. “We’ve been talking for two weeks about the potential, sadly, of this happening. So there was no lack of preparation,” he said, adding that Jewish facilities throughout the region will receive increased police presence.

The nation has experienced multiple security incidents since the current conflict began, including airport scares in Kansas City and the Washington area, plus the arrest of two individuals who allegedly detonated homemade explosives during an anti-Islam demonstration outside New York City’s Gracie Mansion. Police reported that those suspects claimed inspiration from the Islamic State.

ATLANTA — A Georgia judge has turned down a bid for a new trial for Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan immigrant found guilty of murdering nursing student Laken Riley in a case that ignited nationwide immigration discussions.

Defense lawyers claimed Ibarra’s constitutional protections were breached when the court denied two pre-trial requests. The first sought additional time for an expert to examine DNA evidence, while the second aimed to block certain cellphone data from being presented.

Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard, who oversaw the proceedings, stated in Monday’s ruling that the prosecution’s evidence against Ibarra was “overwhelming and powerful.” Following Ibarra’s decision to forgo a jury trial, Haggard convicted him of murder and additional charges in November 2024, imposing a life sentence.

Defense counsel have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the judge’s rejection of their new trial motion. Ibarra has a 30-day window to file an appeal notice.

The 28-year-old defendant crossed into the United States without authorization in 2022 and was permitted to remain while his immigration proceedings continued.

According to prosecutors, Ibarra came across Riley during her morning run at the University of Georgia campus in Athens on February 22, 2024, and fatally attacked her in an altercation. Riley was enrolled at Augusta University College of Nursing, which operates a satellite campus in Athens, approximately 70 miles east of Atlanta.

Defense attorneys had requested a trial postponement after their DNA specialist indicated she required six weeks to examine evidence processed through TrueAllele Casework, specialized software for DNA analysis. In Monday’s decision, Judge Haggard noted that Ibarra’s legal team “effectively challenged the TrueAllele DNA evidence at trial” and determined that rejecting the delay request caused no harm to the defendant.

The DNA specialist provided testimony at a January hearing regarding the new trial motion, but the judge stated he found her testimony neither convincing nor reliable, and that it would not have altered the trial’s result.

Defense lawyers also contested the confiscation of two mobile phones from Ibarra’s residence, claiming they weren’t specified in the search warrant, and tried to suppress evidence obtained from the devices. Haggard ruled there were “exigent circumstances authorizing the seizure of the cellphones” and noted the phones remained unsearched until proper warrants were secured for examining their contents.

A deep-sea explorer who discovered one of America’s most significant underwater treasures has walked free from federal prison after spending more than ten years locked up for withholding information about missing gold coins, according to federal records.

Tommy Thompson was released from custody last Wednesday, as confirmed by Bureau of Prisons documents obtained by The Associated Press. The Ohio native gained national fame in 1988 when he found the legendary S.S. Central America wreckage off South Carolina’s coastline.

The research scientist became a celebrated figure after uncovering the vessel and its massive treasure trove, which had rested on the Atlantic Ocean floor for over 150 years following its tragic sinking.

However, Thompson’s story took a dark turn in subsequent years as financial backers claimed he defrauded them of millions. He eventually became a wanted fugitive before landing in prison for defying judicial orders, all while insisting he had no knowledge of what became of 500 gold coins created from the shipwreck’s precious metal.

The Central America carried an enormous fortune from California’s Gold Rush era when it went down during a devastating hurricane in 1857. The disaster claimed 425 lives and sent thousands of pounds of gold to the ocean depths, helping trigger a nationwide financial crisis.

Financial supporters of Thompson’s expedition filed suit against him in 2005, claiming they never saw a penny from the $50 million generated by selling more than 500 gold bars and thousands of coins — representing only a portion of the ship’s wealth.

Thompson, who had relocated to Florida, disappeared from public view before becoming a federal fugitive in 2012 when an Ohio judge issued an arrest warrant after he skipped a court appearance.

Law enforcement officers found Thompson at a Florida hotel three years after the warrant was issued. The presiding judge subsequently found him in contempt and ordered his imprisonment at the close of 2015 for his refusal to discuss the missing coins’ location.

Thompson, who is now 73 years old, consistently claimed the coins — worth approximately $2.5 million at the time — had been transferred to a Belize-based trust. He also stated that most of the $50 million from the initial gold sales went to cover attorney fees and outstanding loans.

His incarceration continued despite federal statutes typically capping contempt-related jail time at 18 months. In 2019, a federal appellate court dismissed Thompson’s legal challenge, ruling that his non-compliance breached the terms of his plea deal.

During a 2020 video hearing, U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley once again questioned whether Thompson was prepared to reveal the gold’s location.

“Your honor, I don’t know if we’ve gone over this road before or not, but I don’t know the whereabouts of the gold,” Thompson replied. “I feel like I don’t have the keys to my freedom.”

This past February, Judge Marbley decided to terminate Thompson’s civil contempt sentence, stating he no longer believed continued imprisonment would yield results. The judge then directed Thompson to begin serving a two-year term for failing to appear at the 2012 hearing.

Dwight Manley, a California coin merchant who purchased and resold nearly all of the treasure, commented Monday that Thompson faced excessive punishment for what essentially constituted a commercial disagreement.

“Going to prison for 10 years over a business dispute is not America,” Manley stated. “People kill people and get out in half the time.”

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama’s governor has spared a 75-year-old death row prisoner from execution just days before it was scheduled to take place, citing concerns about fairness in the case.

Gov. Kay Ivey announced Tuesday that she has changed Charles “Sonny” Burton’s death sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Burton had been facing execution this week for his role in the 1991 murder of Doug Battle during a robbery, despite the fact that Burton was not present in the building when Battle was actually shot and killed.

The fatal shooting was carried out by Burton’s co-defendant, who had his own death sentence overturned on appeal and converted to life in prison. This disparity in punishment prompted the Republican governor’s decision to intervene.

“I cannot proceed in good conscience with the execution of Mr. Burton under such disparate circumstances. I believe it would be unjust for one participant in this crime to be executed while the participant who pulled the trigger was not,” the Republican governor said in a statement.

Motorists will need to find alternate routes around the 800 block of Lore Avenue after an underground water pipe burst, prompting officials to shut down the roadway.

The street closure will remain in effect until March 13, 2026 at 7:00 AM while crews work to repair the damaged water main infrastructure.

Drivers are advised to plan for delays and use alternative routes when traveling through the area during the extended closure period.

BALTIMORE — A Baltimore police officer sustained a leg wound Tuesday afternoon when responding to a burglary report, with the armed suspect fatally shot by a fellow officer, according to city officials.

During the intense standoff, one woman leaped from a window while another was threatened at gunpoint by the man before he was fatally wounded, according to Police Commissioner Richard Worley.

“It was relatively quick because he was firing on our officers,” Worley said.

The wounded officer remains in stable condition at University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Dr. Thomas Scalea commended a “buddy” who quickly applied a tourniquet on scene.

“We’re just so thankful that the officer or any other folks in that neighborhood were not severely harmed,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott told reporters. “Our thoughts are with him and his family, and even the family of the deceased.”

According to Worley, the deceased man had family connections to the residence where the incident occurred.

Authorities have not disclosed the identities of those involved. The Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police, representing the officers, reported that “all involved members are in good spirits.”

Residents of a small Connecticut community face an unusual postal predicament that turns something as simple as getting mail into a daily challenge. Scotland, Connecticut operates under six separate ZIP codes within its borders, creating ongoing confusion for both residents and mail carriers.

The multiple postal designations have transformed what should be routine mail delivery into what locals describe as an unpredictable experience in the small town.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — A military court will consider whether to accept a guilty plea from an Army sergeant who wounded five colleagues during a shooting incident at Fort Stewart last August.

Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28, now wishes to enter guilty pleas to six criminal charges, including two counts of attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and one domestic violence charge, according to military prosecutors who announced the development Thursday.

The shooting incident occurred when Radford discharged his personal firearm at members of his supply unit, striking four soldiers and one civilian employee who had been romantically involved with Radford. Fellow soldiers subdued and disarmed Radford after the attack, military officials reported.

Initially, Radford entered not guilty pleas last fall to 13 separate criminal charges: six attempted murder counts, six aggravated assault counts, and one domestic violence count. Military prosecutors noted the charges covered six total victims, including one person Radford targeted but failed to hit.

The Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel, handling Radford’s prosecution, stated that his defense team informed a military judge of his intention to change his plea during a recent court appearance.

Defense attorney Lt. Col. Dylan Mack has not responded to requests for comment regarding the plea change.

Military court records indicate Radford’s plea status shifted from “not guilty” to “guilty plea” in advance of his March 31 court hearing, when the judge will review his request to alter his plea.

Military prosecutors emphasized they have not entered into any plea agreement with Radford, meaning he could still receive a life sentence if the judge accepts his guilty plea.

Officials have not disclosed any suspected motive behind the shooting. Radford remains in military custody awaiting trial.

Fort Stewart, the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River, houses thousands of personnel from the 3rd Infantry Division and sits approximately 40 miles southwest of Savannah.

Radford worked as a supply sergeant within the division’s 2nd Armored Brigade and joined the Army in 2018, according to military records.

During the August 6 incident, soldiers responded to gunfire sounds and discovered smoke-filled hallways in an office building, with wounded victims scattered across floors and offices.

Brig. Gen. John Lubas, who commands the 3rd Infantry, praised soldiers for their immediate response in providing medical assistance, including using their hands to stop bleeding from gunshot injuries.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll traveled to Fort Stewart the following day to present Meritorious Service Medals to six soldiers who helped subdue the gunman and assist the wounded.

Property owners in Virginia’s Northampton County now have access to a new tool designed to combat real estate fraud through an innovative alert system launched by the Circuit Court Clerk’s office.

The newly implemented VADeed Alert service provides free notifications to residents whenever official documents involving their property are filed with the court system. This proactive approach aims to help homeowners quickly identify and respond to potentially fraudulent activity targeting their real estate assets.

Deed fraud has become an increasingly concerning issue for property owners, as criminals attempt to illegally transfer ownership or use properties as collateral without the legitimate owner’s knowledge. The alert system serves as an early warning mechanism, notifying property owners immediately when any paperwork affecting their land or buildings is officially recorded.

Residents interested in enrolling in this protective service can sign up at no cost. The system represents part of ongoing efforts by local government officials to leverage technology in protecting citizens from sophisticated fraud schemes that target one of most people’s most valuable assets – their homes and property.

The Circuit Court Clerk’s office encourages all property owners in the county to take advantage of this preventive measure to safeguard their real estate investments and maintain awareness of all official activity involving their properties.

Communities across America are launching initiatives to provide no-cost childcare services as officials recognize the urgent need for family support. This nationwide movement extends far beyond New York City’s recent efforts to expand childcare access.

Local governments are examining this emerging pattern and exploring different methods to finance these programs. Officials are investigating various funding strategies to make childcare accessible to working families in their communities.

The trend reflects growing recognition among municipal and state leaders that affordable childcare represents a critical need for families and economic development in their regions.

WASHINGTON — Cybersecurity professionals are sounding alarms as Iranian-supported hacking organizations expand their digital assault on American companies and infrastructure amid ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts.

Iranian-backed cyber groups took credit for a major digital assault on Wednesday targeting Stryker, a Michigan-based medical technology corporation. Since late February when hostilities began, these digital attackers have attempted to compromise surveillance cameras across Middle Eastern nations to enhance Iran’s missile guidance systems. Their targets have included regional data facilities, Israeli industrial sites, a Saudi Arabian educational institution, and a Kuwaiti airport.

Tehran has made substantial investments in developing offensive digital warfare capabilities while building relationships with various hacking organizations. Over recent years, Iranian-aligned groups have breached former President Donald Trump’s campaign email servers, attempted to compromise American water treatment facilities, and sought to infiltrate military and defense contractor networks.

Their strategy focuses on weakening American military operations, increasing energy costs, overwhelming cybersecurity resources, and inflicting maximum damage on companies supporting the defense sector.

“Something is going to happen because the gloves are off,” stated Kevin Mandia, who founded cybersecurity firms Mandiant and Armadin.

A collective calling itself Handala, which supports Iranian and Palestinian causes, claimed responsibility for disrupting Stryker’s operations. The group justified their attack as revenge for alleged American strikes that reportedly killed Iranian students.

Unlike financially motivated cybercriminals, Handala operates from ideological convictions, explained Ismael Valenzuela, who serves as vice president of threat intelligence at Arctic Wolf cybersecurity company.

“What distinguishes this group is its clear focus on data destruction rather than financial extortion,” Valenzuela noted in written comments.

Polish investigators are examining a recent cyber incident targeting a nuclear research center that may connect to Iran, though officials acknowledge other groups might be responsible and using current conflicts to hide their true identity.

Moving forward, American defense contractors, government suppliers, and Israeli business partners face heightened risk, along with essential infrastructure including medical centers, shipping ports, water treatment plants, electrical grids, and transportation systems.

Iranian-affiliated hackers openly share their strategies through Telegram and similar online platforms.

“The datacenters need to be taken out,” one user posted, according to research from the SITE Intelligence Group. “They host the brains of USAs military communication and targeting systems.”

These digital operations also serve intelligence gathering purposes — such as Iran’s attempts to access neighboring countries’ camera systems to improve missile accuracy. Breaking into American networks would provide insight into military strategies and supply chain operations.

Recent military strikes against Iran and internet disruptions may have temporarily reduced Tehran’s cyber capabilities. However, security experts predict Iranian hackers and their supporters will pursue quick wins by exploiting America’s most vulnerable cybersecurity weaknesses.

Frequently, municipal water systems and healthcare organizations lack sufficient funding and expertise to implement current software updates or other protective measures. This makes them attractive targets due to both their accessibility and the public alarm such disruptions create.

Attack methods may include denial-of-service campaigns that overwhelm networks to block legitimate users, website alterations that prevent customer communication, and hack-and-leak schemes threatening to publish stolen confidential information.

The techniques aren’t particularly advanced, according to Shaun Williams, a former FBI and CIA operative now serving as senior director at SentinelOne cybersecurity firm. However, organizations that have neglected their digital security could face severe consequences, he warned.

“Patch your systems. Ensure your firewalls and security solutions are up to date,” Williams advised. “Remove your stale accounts. All the cyber hygiene that you should be doing, it’s more critical now than ever. Prepare for disruption.”

While Russia and China pose the most significant cyber risks to America, with North Korea emerging as an increasing threat, Iran compensates for limited resources through creative approaches, specialists note.

Recently, Tehran’s digital operatives have masqueraded as American activists online to secretly promote anti-Israel demonstrations on university campuses. They’ve established fraudulent news sites and social media profiles designed to spread misleading information before major elections.

During 2024, Iranian hackers penetrated Trump’s campaign email system and subsequently attempted to distribute files they claimed to have stolen. Iran-connected hackers also tried accessing WhatsApp accounts belonging to both Trump and his Democratic rival, President Joe Biden.

This activity led the Department of Homeland Security to release a public alert about Iranian cyber dangers.

“Iran and especially the proxies don’t care how big or smart you are. This is about making an impact, about creating chaos,” said James Turgal, a cybersecurity specialist with 22 years of FBI experience who now works as vice president at Denver-based Optiv security firm.

Analysts are monitoring whether Russia, China, or their allied hacking groups will assist Iran with digital attacks designed to undermine American operations and complicate sustained military engagement.

Although China has maintained a cautious stance, evidence suggests pro-Iranian hackers in Russia are already active. CrowdStrike cybersecurity researchers identified increased activity from Russian hackers supporting Tehran since conflicts began.

A group called Z-Pentest claimed responsibility for disrupting multiple American networks, including closed-circuit camera systems.

The attack timing indicates hackers were targeting American interests due to Iranian conflicts, according to Adam Meyers, who leads counter adversary operations at CrowdStrike.

“Western organizations should continue to remain on high-alert,” Meyers stated.

Oregon may soon add a stunning natural landmark to its public holdings after legislators intervened to purchase a beloved waterfall that appeared on the real estate market.

Abiqua Falls, featuring a dramatic 92-foot plunge down a columnar basalt cliff face, has remained in private hands for more than 100 years while staying open for public visits. Earlier this year, The Abbey Foundation of Oregon, a nonprofit supporting a Benedictine monk community, decided to sell the property.

When the natural wonder appeared on Redfin, concerned nature enthusiasts feared losing access to the site. However, lawmakers from both parties came together during the final days of the legislative session to authorize $2.1 million for the purchase.

“It’s not every day where you see a waterfall come up for sale on Redfin or Realtor.com with no price,” said Travis Williams, president of the Willamette River Preservation Trust, a conservation nonprofit. “The public was really confused and fearful that the site would be closed off.”

Located approximately 30 miles east of Salem and about 50 miles south of Portland, the waterfall requires visitors to navigate a rugged dirt road followed by a challenging downhill trek. The path is so demanding that previous hikers have installed ropes at certain points to help others navigate the terrain.

Republican state Sen. Fred Girod, who represents the area containing the waterfall, issued a statement saying “Oregon is pledging that Abiqua Falls will continue to be protected and accessible for generations to come.”

Mount Angel Abbey originally obtained the waterfall property in 1908, later transferring ownership to The Abbey Foundation of Oregon in 2002, according to foundation communications director Amanda Staggenborg.

“We just realized that it was time,” she said. “There were a lot of people that were hiking on the property, and while we welcome that, we wanted to ensure that the proper stewardship was overseeing it.”

The foundation launched an open auction for the property in early February without setting minimum or maximum bid requirements, Staggenborg explained. They accepted the state’s proposal submitted through the approved legislation.

Before finalizing the transaction, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department must conduct thorough due diligence, including environmental and archaeological assessments, according to spokesperson Katie Gauthier.

The site won’t automatically become a state park, which would require additional funding, Gauthier noted. Management could fall to local governments, tribal authorities, or other state departments.

“Abiqua Falls is a beautiful but very remote and difficult-to-access site, and we are concerned about the impact managing a property like this could have on an already stretched state park system and our current budget shortfall,” Gauthier said.

Public reaction on the Willamette River Preservation Trust’s social media channels showed support for state ownership, though some expressed concerns about potential entrance fees and increased visitor traffic.

The trust, which submitted its own bid shortly after the listing went live, endorsed the state’s acquisition effort, Williams said.

“It has a sense of spirituality about it,” he said. “It’s just gorgeous.”

A decorated Vietnam War veteran who broke barriers as one of the first African American officers to command Green Beret units has finally received recognition that was long overdue. Paris Davis earned the nation’s highest military honor through his courageous service during the Vietnam conflict, but it took nearly six decades before he was properly acknowledged with the Medal of Honor.

Davis made history as a trailblazing leader among the elite Special Forces, serving with distinction during one of America’s most challenging military engagements. His extraordinary valor and leadership in combat merited the Medal of Honor, yet bureaucratic delays and systemic issues prevented him from receiving this recognition for almost 60 years.

A Chicago-based librarian has transformed a real-world controversy over banned books into a compelling graphic novel that explores censorship in schools.

Jarrett Dapier, who works as a librarian, has authored a graphic novel that recreates the 2013 incident when Chicago Public Schools limited student access to “Persepolis,” the acclaimed memoir by Marjane Satrapi.

The book presents a fictional retelling of the actual events that unfolded more than a decade ago, when school officials placed restrictions on Satrapi’s autobiographical work about growing up during the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Dapier’s graphic novel offers readers insight into the complexities surrounding book challenges in educational environments, drawing directly from the real experiences that occurred within the Chicago school system.

The work represents a creative approach to documenting and discussing the ongoing debates about which materials should be available to students in school libraries and classrooms.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey made the rare decision Tuesday to spare the life of a death row prisoner who was set to be executed this Thursday, even though the man never directly killed anyone.

The governor changed Charles “Sonny” Burton’s death sentence to life imprisonment without any chance of parole. The 75-year-old Burton had been found guilty of capital murder in connection with Doug Battle’s shooting death during a 1991 robbery. However, it was another individual, Derrick DeBruce, who actually fired the fatal shot after Burton had already exited the store.

The fatal incident took place on August 16, 1991, at an AutoZone auto parts store in Talladega during an armed robbery. Doug Battle, a 34-year-old military veteran with four children, was gunned down after walking into the store while the crime was in progress.

According to court testimony, Burton had declared before entering the store that he would “take care of it” if anyone caused problems during the robbery.

When Battle walked into the store as the crime was wrapping up, he threw down his wallet and got on the ground, then had words with DeBruce. LaJuan McCants, who was 16 years old at the time, gave testimony that Burton and the others had already left the premises when DeBruce shot Battle in the back.

Both DeBruce and Burton received capital murder convictions and death sentences from a jury. During final arguments, prosecutors claimed Burton bore equal responsibility to Derrick DeBruce “because he’s there to aid and assist him.” The prosecution used Burton’s earlier statement about handling trouble as proof he led the robbery, though Burton’s legal team challenged this characterization.

DeBruce successfully appealed his death sentence when a court determined his legal representation was inadequate. He received a new sentence of life in prison and eventually died while incarcerated.

Ivey explained she “cannot proceed in good conscience with the execution of Mr. Burton” given that the actual shooter had his sentence reduced to life imprisonment.

“I believe it would be unjust for one participant in this crime to be executed while the participant who pulled the trigger was not,” Ivey stated. “To be clear, Mr. Burton will not be eligible for parole and will rightfully spend the remainder of his life behind bars for his role in the robbery that led to the murder of Doug Battle. He will now receive the same punishment as the triggerman.”

This marks just the second instance the Republican governor has shown mercy to a death row prisoner during her tenure, which has overseen 25 executions.

“The murder of Doug Battle was a senseless and tragic crime, and this decision does not diminish the profound loss felt by the Battle family. I pray that they may find peace and closure,” Ivey stated.

The governor’s choice sparked both support and opposition from various officials.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed being “deeply disappointed” with the decision and argued Burton’s execution should have proceeded as planned. Marshall maintained that Burton orchestrated the armed robbery that resulted in Battle’s death, noting that “longstanding Alabama law recognizes accomplice liability, as has every judge that has touched this case over three decades.”

“There has never been any doubt that Sonny Burton has Douglas Battle’s blood on his hands,” Marshall declared.

Alice Marie Johnson, who former President Donald Trump appointed as his “pardon czar” last year, commended Ivey’s decision. She said the governor “showed what courageous and common sense leadership looks like.”

“By commuting the death sentence of Charles ‘Sonny’ Burton, she ensured that justice — not technicalities — guides the most serious decision a state can make,” Johnson posted on social media.

Similar clemency decisions have been made by other Republican governors when concerns arose about executing the less responsible party. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt commuted Tremane Wood’s sentence to life last year, matching his brother’s punishment after the brother admitted to the killing.

Burton will be relocated from Alabama’s death row, where he has been held since 1992, though the timing of this transfer remains uncertain. The Alabama Department of Corrections spokesperson did not respond immediately to requests for information.

Burton will remain imprisoned for life with no possibility of release on parole.

PHILADELPHIA — A federal judge heard arguments Tuesday on whether the University of Pennsylvania should be compelled to turn over employee membership information for Jewish organizations as part of a federal investigation into alleged workplace antisemitism.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is investigating whether antisemitic incidents at the Philadelphia Ivy League institution have created a hostile work environment for staff members. The probe has documented multiple troubling events, including someone screaming antisemitic slurs and vandalizing a Jewish student life center, a Nazi swastika being painted on a campus building, and hateful graffiti appearing outside a fraternity house.

Federal investigators are also examining the university’s handling of protests related to the Gaza conflict and its response to various antisemitic incidents on campus.

During Tuesday’s four-hour hearing before U.S. District Judge Gerald Pappert, attorneys debated the EEOC’s November petition against Penn’s Board of Trustees to enforce an administrative subpoena. The subpoena seeks information as part of the agency’s investigation into allegations that the school has created an illegal hostile workplace for Jewish faculty and staff based on their national origin, religion, or race.

Judge Pappert did not indicate when he might issue his ruling following the lengthy hearing.

The controversy started in December 2023 when the EEOC formally accused Penn of exhibiting a pattern of antisemitic conduct. In court filings last fall, the agency stated it was taking action “in light of the probable reluctance of Jewish faculty and staff to complain of a harassing environment due to fear of hostility and potential violence directed against them.”

In November filings, the EEOC declared that Penn’s “workplace is replete with antisemitism,” and informed the court that investigators believe “identification of those who have witnessed and/or been subjected to the environment is essential for determining whether the work environment was both objectively and subjectively hostile.”

University attorneys countered in January that Penn has been cooperative throughout the more than two-year investigation, providing approximately 900 pages of documentation to federal investigators.

The university maintains that the only remaining disagreement involves what it characterizes as the EEOC’s “extraordinary and unconstitutional demand” for compiled lists of employees that would reveal their Jewish faith or heritage, connections to Jewish organizations, participation in Penn’s Jewish studies programs, and other sensitive information — including personal home addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses.

Vic Walczak, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, explained that five organizations his group represents in the matter have serious concerns about gathering and potentially misusing the information demanded by federal officials.

These organizations — including some with specific Jewish connections and others representing broader faculty groups — support examining antisemitism but believe “this is not the way to do it,” according to Walczak.

“We’re on the same side as Penn — we’re not opposing an investigation, what we’re opposing is the court forcing Penn to create, essentially, lists of participants in Jewish organizations and turning over confidential information, including home addresses,” Walczak explained.

A Penn representative stated via email that the institution will wait for Judge Pappert’s decision.

The university proposed an alternative approach last fall, offering to inform all employees about the federal investigation and provide them with contact information for the agency. However, the EEOC rejected this suggestion. Penn argued this method would “not invade employees’ privacy, sense of safety, and constitutional rights or echo terrifying periods of history for Jewish communities.”

Attempts to reach EEOC regional attorney Debra Lawrence and the agency’s Philadelphia office for comment were unsuccessful Tuesday.

Two people were hospitalized with injuries following a deadly shooting incident at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia on Thursday, according to university officials.

The shooting took place inside the university’s business school facility, where the gunman fired shots before dying at the scene. University officials have not yet disclosed the circumstances surrounding the shooter’s death.

In response to the incident, ODU officials immediately shut down all classes and campus activities for the remainder of Thursday. The university advised students, faculty and community members to stay away from the vicinity of Constant Hall while emergency responders continued their work at the scene.

Federal law enforcement agencies responded to assist with the emergency situation, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirming on social media platform X that their agents were actively supporting the response efforts.

BALTIMORE — Defense attorneys for the alleged leader of a group linked to six fatalities across multiple states requested a mental competency assessment Thursday, telling a federal judge their client may be unfit for trial proceedings.

Jack LaSota, who identifies as a transgender woman and uses the name “Ziz,” was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court for a two-day suppression hearing regarding evidence gathered during her February arrest in Frostburg, Maryland. However, Judge James Bredar instead considered a competency motion filed by defense counsel the previous evening.

Defense attorney Gary Proctor stated in court documents that he has “reasonable cause to believe that the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering her mentally incompetent to the extent that she is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings.”

During Thursday’s proceedings, Proctor explained that LaSota has shown difficulty comprehending court processes, making connections between her fugitive status and transgender identity, and making unfounded accusations against judicial officials. LaSota expressed her desire to handle her own legal representation.

Law enforcement officials have identified LaSota as the presumed head of what observers term the “Zizians” — a collection of young, intellectually gifted technology professionals who reportedly hold extreme views on plant-based diets, animal welfare, gender issues, and artificial intelligence. Beginning in 2022, group members have been connected to multiple violent incidents: a member’s death during an assault on a California property owner, the subsequent murder of that landlord, the fatal shootings of a member’s parents in Pennsylvania, and a deadly gun battle on a Vermont interstate that claimed the lives of a border patrol agent and another group member.

LaSota, along with Michelle Zajko and Daniel Blank, were taken into custody last February after a property owner discovered them residing in box trucks on a remote, snow-covered access road. While none face direct charges in the six fatalities, investigators immediately linked them to the homicide cases spanning California, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

Maryland State Trooper Brandon Jeffries documented following their February 16, 2025 arrests that all “suspects involved are to be questioned regarding other crimes that have occurred across the country and have ties with the Zizians Cult.”

The trio faces state-level charges including trespassing and unlawful possession of firearms and controlled substances. LaSota additionally confronts a federal charge for illegal weapon possession as a fugitive, plus obstruction charges related to the investigation into Zajko’s parents’ deaths. Officials have designated Zajko as a person of interest in that case while investigating Blank’s potential involvement.

According to recent defense filings, “Ms. LaSota eschews the term Zizian and denies any and all allegations that she and her friends have formed a cult.”

Defense attorneys Proctor and Jennifer Smith contend that law enforcement violated LaSota’s Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, arguing she wasn’t trespassing since the landowner had granted them additional time to depart. They further claim officers conducted illegal warrantless searches of the box trucks, making any recovered evidence inadmissible at trial.

Federal prosecutors responded that officers had sufficient grounds to arrest LaSota and her companions for trespassing, regardless of extended permission that couldn’t apply retroactively. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Beim maintained that officers were justified in conducting protective sweeps for weapons and hidden individuals based on officer safety concerns and reasonable suspicions about the group’s potential for violence, drawn from media coverage.

California’s governor offered reassurance Wednesday following federal intelligence warnings about potential Iranian drone strikes targeting the West Coast, stating that no immediate danger threatens the Golden State.

Gov. Gavin Newsom acknowledged that unmanned aircraft concerns “have always been top of mind” for state officials.

“We’ve been aware of that information. … It’s all about a posture of preparedness for worst-case scenarios,” Newsom told reporters Wednesday.

Federal Bureau of Investigation officials recently issued alerts to law enforcement agencies across California warning of possible Iranian retaliation attempts.

According to reporting by ABC News, the federal warning stated: “Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran.”

“We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack,” FBI officials noted in their alert.

When questioned about the intelligence Wednesday at Joint Base Andrews, President Donald Trump acknowledged the ongoing investigation.

“It’s being investigated, but you have a lot of things happening. All we can do is take ’em as they come,” Trump responded.

Law enforcement agencies in major California cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco confirmed they are actively tracking international developments that could pose risks to their communities. Officials from both departments emphasized their coordination with state and federal security agencies.

A jury in Los Angeles is set to hear final arguments Thursday in a groundbreaking case that could reshape how social media companies are held accountable for their impact on young users.

The proceedings at Spring Street Courthouse will conclude nearly a month of testimony from mental health professionals, addiction specialists, tech engineers and company leaders, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Jurors must now determine whether social media platforms bear responsibility for psychological harm suffered by children who use their services.

The case centers on a 20-year-old woman known in court documents as KGM, though her legal team refers to her as Kaley during proceedings. She alleges that using social media from an early age created an addiction that worsened her depression and thoughts of suicide.

Meta and YouTube, owned by Google, remain as defendants after TikTok and Snap reached settlements prior to trial. This case serves as one of three bellwether trials, meaning the verdict could influence the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits filed against social media companies nationwide.

Both sides acknowledge that Kaley experienced a troubled home environment. Her legal representatives argue she was targeted as a vulnerable user, while defense attorneys for Meta and YouTube contend she used their platforms to cope with existing mental health issues.

Meta’s defense strategy has emphasized Kaley’s pre-existing difficulties before she began using social media. Company attorney Paul Schmidt previously told the court that the central issue is determining whether the platforms played a significant role in causing Kaley’s psychological struggles.

YouTube’s legal team has taken a different approach, arguing that their platform should not be classified as social media and that its design features do not create addiction.

A Michigan jury has delivered a guilty verdict against a farmer who murdered his wife and concealed her body in an agricultural tank for years after her disappearance.

Dale Warner was found guilty Tuesday on charges of second-degree murder and evidence tampering in the death of his wife Dee Warner, whose remains were located in a rural Michigan farm tank in 2024, three years following her disappearance.

The trial revealed details of a dysfunctional marriage between the couple, although Warner’s defense team stressed the absence of physical evidence directly connecting him to the killing. The high-profile case attracted attention from true crime podcasts and television programs.

Community members in Lenawee County, located approximately 70 miles southwest of Detroit, displayed signs and banners throughout the area demanding “Justice For Dee.”

The 52-year-old Dee Warner vanished in April 2021. Authorities filed murder charges against Dale Warner over two years later, even though investigators had not yet located her body at that time. Her remains were eventually found inside a fertilizer tank in 2024, which bore a handwritten note stating “out of service” and “do not fill.”

Medical examination results revealed that Dee Warner died from strangulation and blunt force injuries.

During closing arguments, Prosecutor Jackie Wyse argued that Dale Warner made deliberate choices after realizing what occurred, telling jurors he could have contacted emergency services and admitted “I screwed up,” but instead sealed Dee Warner’s mouth and nose with tape, preventing her from breathing.

“Those were all conscious decisions,” Wyse said.

Defense lawyer Mary Chartier maintained there was sufficient reasonable doubt, pointing out that Dale Warner consistently cooperated with investigators throughout the search and repeatedly denied harming his spouse. She noted his work background in farming and transportation.

“You are not here to judge Mr. Warner as a husband,” Chartier told the jury. “You may think he was a bad husband, a not-very-attentive husband, whatever you may think of him.”

Motorists traveling on Cleveland Avenue should prepare for traffic disruptions as construction activities require periodic lane restrictions at the North Chapel Street intersection.

The ongoing construction work will continue to impact traffic flow with intermittent lane closures scheduled to remain in place until 5:00 AM.

Drivers are advised to plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes when possible during the construction period.

Property owners in Accomack County, Virginia now have access to a free monitoring service designed to safeguard them against deed fraud, according to the local Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.

The clerk’s office is actively promoting enrollment in VADeed Alert, a complimentary and optional monitoring program that tracks changes to property deeds and alerts owners to potential fraudulent activity.

Deed fraud has become an increasingly concerning issue for property owners, as scammers attempt to illegally transfer ownership or use properties as collateral without the legitimate owner’s knowledge or consent.

The VADeed Alert system works by monitoring public records for any changes or filings related to a property owner’s deed. When activity is detected, the system automatically sends notifications to enrolled property owners, allowing them to quickly identify and respond to any unauthorized transactions.

Property owners interested in the service can sign up through the county’s official website or contact the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office directly for assistance with enrollment.

The initiative represents part of ongoing efforts by local government offices to help residents protect their most valuable assets from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes targeting real estate ownership.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State University moved quickly Thursday to fill its top leadership position, selecting its current provost as president just days after the previous leader stepped down amid scandal.

The board of trustees selected Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi Ballamkonda to take over the role, skipping the typical national search process that would normally be conducted. This marks the fourth presidential change at the institution since 2020.

The appointment follows growing details about former President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.’s improper relationship with a woman who hosts a podcast aimed at military veterans.

Ballamkonda brings extensive academic credentials to the position, working as both a bioengineer and neuroscientist. He came to Ohio State in 2021 after serving in leadership and research roles at several prestigious institutions including Emory University, Duke, Georgia Tech and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He holds a Ph.D. in medical science and biomaterials from Brown University.

The leadership change came after university trustees received an external tip and confronted Carter about his conduct less than a week ago. Carter acknowledged in his public statement that he had “made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership” before submitting his resignation. The former Navy vice admiral had served only two years of a five-year agreement that paid him over $1.1 million annually, plus additional compensation and housing at the university’s presidential residence.

Board Chair John Zeiger said he was surprised and disappointed when he accepted Carter’s resignation on Sunday. The university announced it was looking into Carter’s “inappropriate relationship with someone seeking public resources to support her personal business.”

The state’s economic development agency, JobsOhio, confirmed Carter’s departure was “possibly connected” to his association with Krisanthe Vlachos, who hosted a planned four-part veterans’ podcast series called The Callout. The agency paid $15,000 per episode for the full series and is now working to recover the $60,000 payment.

“Ohio State is a trusted partner and Admiral Carter, sharing our passion for military and veterans, recommended The Callout Podcast as an opportunity to build and engage a military and veteran audience in Ohio,” the agency wrote on X, “and connect them to the massive job opportunities coming to Ohio’s super sectors like advanced aerospace/defense and energy.”

University spokesperson Ben Johnson said the investigation centers on Vet Earn USA LLC, a business Vlachos registered in Ohio on December 19.

JobsOhio also provided Vlachos with $10,000 for a veterans’ theater production titled “Last Out” Elegy of a Green Beret.” This funding came through the agency’s Hometown Heroes program, which provides free entertainment for military members, veterans and their families.

A specialized emergency services training program is scheduled to take place at the Fire Training Center on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026.

The training session, identified as ‘Emergency Services – Jennifer,’ will begin at 8:00 AM and conclude at 4:30 PM, providing participants with an eight-and-a-half-hour comprehensive program.

The event was posted on March 12th, 2026, by training coordinator mowens, giving emergency personnel advance notice to prepare for the educational opportunity.

The Fire Training Center will serve as the venue for this professional development session, which appears to be part of ongoing efforts to enhance emergency response capabilities in the region.

WASHINGTON — The National Museum of African American History and Culture will undergo changes to its slavery exhibition next month as a significant artifact returns to its country of origin following the conclusion of a lending arrangement.

A 33-pound wooden fragment from the São José-Paquete de Africa, one of the earliest slave ship wrecks ever discovered, will be removed from the museum’s “Slavery and Freedom” display and sent back to South Africa. The timber piece has been a centerpiece of the exhibit since the museum’s opening in 2016.

The lending arrangement with the Iziko Museums of South Africa was originally set for five years, then extended for an additional five years in 2021. That agreement concludes on July 1, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press.

Museum visitors will have until March 22 to view the timber fragment, which has been dramatically presented suspended above a dark space alongside ship ballast. Due to the artifact’s fragile condition, museum staff must construct a specialized shipping container for its journey back to South Africa.

Additional artifacts from the vessel, including ballast stones that served as counterweights for human cargo, will remain on display for two more years before their return. A ship’s manifest detailing the cargo will take the place of the timber piece.

The São José was a Portuguese ship carrying more than 400 enslaved people from Mozambique to Brazil when it crashed into rocks and sank near Cape Town in December 1794. About half of those aboard died in the wreck, while survivors were sold back into bondage in the Western Cape region, according to museum records.

The wreckage was discovered in 2015 and identified through the Slave Wrecks Project, an international collaboration of institutions that verified its connection to the transatlantic slave trade. It represents one of the first confirmed slave ship wrecks where enslaved Africans perished that has been recovered and studied.

Located on the museum’s lowest public floor, the artifact is part of the comprehensive “Slavery and Freedom” exhibition that examines the slave trade, transportation methods, conditions aboard ships, and displays items like shackles.

The display focuses on the Middle Passage, the treacherous Atlantic crossing where countless captives died. Paul Gardullo, assistant director of history at the museum, noted that while precise numbers don’t exist, millions of people died during these voyages.

This exhibition modification occurs during a period of heightened scrutiny over historical presentations at federal museums and public spaces. The Trump administration has emphasized presenting America favorably as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s signing.

An executive order signed by President Trump in March 2025, called “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” has placed several Smithsonian museums under review, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Deputy Director Michelle Commander told the AP that the exhibition change stems entirely from the loan agreement, though she acknowledges the timing may prompt questions.

“That’s why we’re being transparent in this moment, because we are aware that there are those kinds of questions,” Commander stated. “But, as we’ve said, this is really about the conservation needs of that item.”

Gardullo explained that South Africa maintains strict cultural patrimony laws governing how artifacts and historical materials are handled and the duration of international loans.

“The wooden materials are more fragile, and they need a little more close care,” he noted.

Recent museum visitors, unaware of the upcoming change, described the powerful impact of seeing the slave ship timber. Visitors often wait in lines to enter the darkened Middle Passage gallery, where the solemn atmosphere encourages reflection on the historical tragedy.

Krystina Hernandez, who was accompanying her 7-year-old son’s school group, said the physical artifacts make the history tangible rather than just academic.

Anehtra Reynolds from northern Virginia became emotional while viewing the exhibit. She said the presentation, including the artifacts and the gallery’s darkness, provided her with “a piece of what they felt in terms of their misery.”

“I think there was a sign in there that mentioned there were some slaves who starved themselves to death in hopes that they would, when they died, they would be returned to their land,” Reynolds observed.

Jim Carnes, visiting from Birmingham, Alabama, where he works in civil rights education, called the artifacts “extraordinarily powerful.” He expressed feeling both sadness and anger, not only about the enslaved people’s conditions but also about current federal efforts to “deny this ever happened.”

Jorge Carvajal, originally from Colombia but now living in south Florida, said the exhibit helps counter stereotypes, particularly the notion that Black people are unreasonably angry.

“Empathy is what I’m trying to say. This will help people empathize a lot more. I mean, at least you would hope,” he explained.

Commander assured that museum staff will work to maintain the exhibit’s emotional impact using the remaining artifacts and displays.

“The story does not leave the museum because this timber is going to be returned to its owners,” she emphasized.

Student loan borrowers across the nation may face increased risks due to gaps in federal monitoring, according to a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

The watchdog agency revealed that the Department of Education has ceased certain oversight activities that previously helped protect borrowers from servicing errors and problems.

According to the GAO’s findings, the absence of this federal supervision means student loan recipients could face serious consequences, including being “placed in the wrong loan repayment status, billed for incorrect amounts” and other harmful mistakes.

The oversight mechanisms were designed to ensure loan servicing companies properly handled borrower accounts and followed federal regulations. With these protections no longer in place, millions of Americans with student debt may be more vulnerable to administrative errors that could impact their financial standing.

The Government Accountability Office’s report highlights concerns about borrower protection at a time when student loan debt remains a significant financial burden for many Americans.

An advocacy organization focused on combating anti-Semitism reports that their New York City taxi advertising campaign was terminated before its planned conclusion. The initiative by Jew Belong was created in response to rising incidents of anti-Jewish hostility throughout the city. The advertisements described how Jewish individuals frequently feel the need to conceal their faith due to concerns about potential backlash.

According to Jonathan Greenblatt from the Anti-Defamation League, “If this campaign is considered controversial, that should alarm all of us. The problem isn’t the signs, it’s the climate that made the message resonate in the first place.”

In other news, the ride-sharing company Uber has expanded nationwide a safety feature that connects female passengers with female drivers, building on an earlier test program designed to address security concerns on their platform. Both Uber and Lyft have received numerous reports of sexual assault incidents involving both riders and drivers over recent years. However, transgender advocacy organizations are raising objections to the program because Uber bases gender identification on what appears on a person’s driver’s license. This policy means transgender women cannot access the service unless their state permits gender marker changes on official identification documents.

Wyoming’s Governor Mark Gordon has enacted legislation prohibiting abortion procedures once a fetal heartbeat is detectable, typically around six weeks into pregnancy. This action places Wyoming among five states with similar restrictions, joining Florida, Georgia, Iowa, and South Carolina. Additionally, thirteen states have comprehensive abortion bans with limited exceptions. The Republican governor expressed reservations about the law in correspondence with state legislators, noting his concerns about the absence of exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, though the legislation does include provisions to protect maternal life.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler, who first won election in 2007, has announced she will not pursue a third ten-year term in the upcoming election. This decision provides liberal candidates another opportunity to strengthen their court majority as significant cases involving social issues, electoral maps, labor rights, and education funding approach the docket. Ziegler becomes the second conservative justice in consecutive years to step down following liberals gaining control of Wisconsin’s supreme court in 2023. Liberal justices maintained their advantage in last year’s election that set national campaign spending records and featured billionaire Elon Musk making campaign appearances in the state.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Family members of enslaved individuals captured in what historians consider the earliest photographs of enslaved people express relief that these historic images are returning to South Carolina.

Following a seven-year court battle, Harvard University has agreed to transfer the photographs to Charleston’s International African American Museum, the institution announced Wednesday.

The daguerreotypes from 1850 show seven enslaved individuals: a man called Renty, his daughter Delia, and five others identified as Jack, Drana, Alfred, Fassena and Jem. These early photographic images captured the subjects unclothed from multiple perspectives and were originally created for a Harvard biologist’s racist studies that supported pro-slavery arguments during the pre-Civil War era.

Charleston’s museum intends to carefully preserve the original daguerreotypes while creating reproductions for public display as the centerpiece of an exhibition exploring the lives of these seven South Carolinians.

The lawsuit was filed by Tamara Lanier, who claims Renty as her great-great-great-grandfather. Lanier pushed for the photographs to be housed at the South Carolina institution because it sits in the same state where her ancestor lived in bondage and where the images were originally captured, according to her legal representative Joshua Koskoff.

“It’s almost spiritual they are coming home. They can breathe at the museum,” Koskoff said.

The court proceedings between Lanier and Harvard moved through Massachusetts courts until both parties reached a settlement agreement in 2025. University officials stated they had always supported transferring the images to an appropriate museum but contested the lawsuit because they could not verify Lanier’s ancestral connection to the photographed individuals.

According to Lanier’s legal team, Harvard generated revenue by licensing these historical images.

“Slavery robbed Renty and Delia of their humanity. But it was Harvard who robbed them of their story,” Koskoff said.

The International African American Museum recently opened at Charleston’s Gadsden’s Wharf, the historic site where nearly half of all enslaved Africans first arrived on American soil.

The head of Los Angeles public schools, currently on paid administrative leave while federal agents investigate, issued his first public statement Wednesday proclaiming his innocence and requesting immediate reinstatement to his position.

Alberto Carvalho has been away from his duties since late February when FBI agents executed search warrants at his residence and the school district’s main offices on February 25th. The district’s Board of Education voted without opposition two days following the searches to temporarily remove him while the investigation continues.

“Mr. Carvalho remains confident that the evidence will ultimately demonstrate that he acted appropriately and in the best interests of students,” said the statement, attributed to a spokesperson and distributed by Holland & Knight, the law firm representing him. “We hope the school board reinstates him promptly to his position as superintendent.”

Federal investigators have not revealed specific details about what they’re examining in the district that educates over 500,000 students, and no criminal charges have been filed against Carvalho.

The FBI investigation also included a search of property near Miami, Florida. According to the Miami Herald, that location was connected to Debra Kerr, who had previously been employed by AllHere, an educational technology firm that had business dealings with the Los Angeles school system before the company failed and its chief executive faced fraud charges.

During 2024, Carvalho actively promoted a partnership with AllHere for an artificial intelligence chatbot called “Ed” that was supposed to assist students. However, approximately three months after introducing the technology and paying AllHere $3 million, the district terminated its relationship with the company, which subsequently filed for bankruptcy. Later, company founder Joanna Smith-Griffin faced charges including securities fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Carvalho previously denied having personal involvement in choosing AllHere as a vendor. Wednesday’s statement marked his first public comments since the February searches occurred.

“Mr. Carvalho respects the rule of law and the investigative process and has always acted in the best interests of students and within the bounds of the law,” the statement said. “While the government’s investigation remains ongoing, no evidence has been presented by prosecutors supporting any allegation that Mr. Carvalho violated federal law.”

After the search of district headquarters, LA Unified officials stated they were providing full cooperation to investigators and had no additional information to share.

Board members explained their decision to place Carvalho on leave was designed to prevent any interference with their primary goal of educating students. Andres Chait, who serves as chief of school operations, has been appointed to serve as acting superintendent during this period.

Carvalho took over leadership of the LA school system in 2022, coming from his previous role heading Miami’s public school district.

LAS VEGAS — A former actor from the acclaimed movie ‘Dances With Wolves’ was set to receive his prison sentence Wednesday morning following his conviction for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls in a case that has deeply impacted Native American communities nationwide.

Nathan Chasing Horse’s sentencing follows his conviction last month on 13 out of 21 criminal charges brought against him. The majority of these charges involved his actions against a victim who was just 14 years old when the abuse began. While convicted on most counts, Chasing Horse was found not guilty on several sexual assault charges.

Throughout the proceedings, Chasing Horse maintained his innocence. His defense lawyer Craig Mueller challenged the primary victim’s reliability, describing her as a “scorned woman.”

The convicted actor is looking at a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years behind bars.

After the trial concluded, Mueller attempted to secure a new trial by filing a motion that claimed a witness lacked proper qualifications to discuss grooming behavior and that the time limit for prosecution had passed. The court rejected this motion.

Wednesday’s sentencing concludes a multi-year legal battle that began when authorities first took Chasing Horse into custody and formally charged him in 2023. His initial arrest created ripple effects throughout Native American communities, prompting law enforcement agencies in multiple states and Canada to pursue additional criminal cases.

Canadian authorities in British Columbia filed sexual assault charges against Chasing Horse in February 2023, stemming from an alleged incident that occurred in September 2018 near the village of Keremeos, located approximately four hours east of Vancouver. The Canadian case was temporarily suspended in November 2023 due to the ongoing U.S. proceedings but later resumed.

According to Damienne Darby, communications counsel for the British Columbia Prosecution Service, Canadian prosecutors will evaluate their next moves once Chasing Horse has completed all appeals in his U.S. case.

Additionally, the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service in Alberta confirmed in a statement following the conviction that an active warrant remains against Chasing Horse, and they continue coordinating with the Alberta Crown Prosecutors Office.

During the trial, Nevada prosecutors argued that Chasing Horse exploited his status as a Lakota medicine man to target Indigenous women and girls for abuse.

Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci informed jurors that Chasing Horse had “spun a web of abuse” that trapped numerous women over nearly two decades.

Three women testified about their experiences of sexual assault at the hands of Chasing Horse. The jury found him guilty on charges related to all three victims.

After gaining recognition for his role as Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costner’s Academy Award-winning “Dances With Wolves,” Chasing Horse, who was born on South Dakota’s Rosebud Reservation, became a fixture at powwows and healing ceremonies across Native American communities.

Several victims testified about participating in his ceremonies or seeking his help for medical issues.

The primary victim was 14 years old in 2012 when prosecutors say Chasing Horse manipulated her by claiming spirits required her to lose her virginity to heal her cancer-stricken mother. He then assaulted her and threatened that revealing the abuse would result in her mother’s death, according to Pucci. These assaults continued over several years, prosecutors stated.

NEW YORK — A clever red fox managed to pull off quite the international adventure by secretly boarding a cargo vessel bound for America.

The 11-pound male fox somehow made his way onto the ship while it was docked in Southampton, England, and rode along for the entire two-week voyage to New York. Zoo officials announced Wednesday that the animal is now receiving care at the Bronx Zoo.

According to the zoo, the fox appears to be in good health following initial veterinary checkups.

“He seems to be settling in well,” said Keith Lovett, the zoo’s director of animal programs, speaking by telephone. “It’s gone through a lot.”

The mystery remains as to exactly how the fox managed to board the automobile-carrying vessel, which departed Southampton on February 4th. The ship reached the Port of New York and New Jersey on February 18th, and port authorities delivered the unexpected passenger to the zoo the following day. Veterinarians estimate the fox to be approximately 2 years old.

Zoo staff members were unable to provide details about how or when crew members first spotted the fox during the journey. Officials have reached out to various government agencies connected to the port for additional information.

The red fox, scientifically known as Vulpes vulpes, can be found across Europe, Asia, North America and certain regions of Africa. Once the animal completes additional health evaluations, zoo officials will determine a permanent living arrangement.

Currently, the fox is staying at the zoo’s veterinary facility where staff are providing him with a varied diet including fruits, vegetables, protein sources and specialized biscuit treats appropriate for omnivores.

A state investigation reveals that a Connecticut police officer experiencing what was described as a “mild anxiety attack” commandeered the initial ambulance dispatched for a fatally wounded shooting victim, forcing the injured man to wait an additional 10 minutes for emergency medical transport.

The incident involved 39-year-old Dyshan Best, who sustained a gunshot wound to his back while running from Bridgeport police officers last year. According to a report made public Tuesday by the state’s inspector general, investigators determined the shooting was warranted since Best was armed and the pursuing officer had legitimate safety concerns.

However, the investigation highlighted troubling details about the emergency response following the March 31 incident, which left Best, an African American man, with life-threatening internal bleeding.

Emergency medical personnel reached the shooting location at 6:02 p.m., roughly 14 minutes following the gunfire. Instead of transporting Best to medical care, fellow officers convinced paramedics to use that ambulance for Officer Erin Perrotta, a white officer who had participated in the foot pursuit, according to the investigation.

Medical responders noted that Perrotta refused treatment during transport, stating according to the report: “I am fine, I just needed to get out of here.” A colleague described Perrotta as appearing “visibly hysterical (crying and breathing rapidly) and had blood all over her uniform” during the incident.

A second emergency vehicle didn’t reach the scene until approximately 6:12 p.m. Medical facility records indicate Best arrived for treatment at 6:22 p.m. — roughly 14 minutes following Perrotta’s hospital arrival, the investigation noted.

Best succumbed to his injuries at 7:41 p.m. while receiving treatment for the gunshot wound, which caused damage to his liver and right kidney.

Inspector General Eliot Prescott’s report stopped short of determining whether the ambulance delay played a role in Best’s death.

Tatiana Barrett, Best’s niece, shared with The Associated Press that the report’s findings have brought anger and grief to family members and friends. They maintain he might have survived with immediate ambulance transport.

“Honestly it’s heartbreaking hearing all these details,” she expressed. “We were looking for justice. In our community, we don’t know what justice looks like. We want justice for my uncle. We truly believe he was murdered.”

Bridgeport police spokesperson Shawnna White refused to provide comment Wednesday regarding Perrotta’s use of the first ambulance. In an email response, she indicated the department’s Internal Affairs Division would launch its own review.

Perrotta is currently on administrative leave for an unrelated issue, which White did not specify.

Attempts to reach Perrotta, Mayor Joe Ganim’s office, Prescott’s office, the police union, and Darnell Crosland, the family’s attorney, were unsuccessful Wednesday.

The chain of events started when someone contacted 911 about a fight involving approximately 30 individuals, with reports that some were armed. A witness directed officers toward two men in an SUV, claiming they possessed a weapon, the report states.

Perrotta approached the vehicle’s passenger side and opened the door. Police body camera footage shows Best in the passenger seat holding an alcohol bottle, vape pen, and mobile phone. The video captures Perrotta requesting Best exit the SUV for a pat-down search. Best complies but then flees on foot with officers in pursuit.

While running, Best drew a 9mm pistol, investigators found. As he entered a lot containing disabled vehicles, pursuing Officer Yoon Heo discharged his weapon twice, with one bullet striking Best.

The inspector general determined the shooting was legally justified based on video evidence showing Best pointing his weapon backward toward Heo during the chase.

While injured on the ground, Best stated “I got shot,” captured on video. Heo responded “You pulled a gun on me,” which Best denied. Heo insisted “Yeah you did.” Prescott confirmed a pistol was recovered near Best at the scene.

Following the shooting, family attorney Crosland challenged claims that Best carried a gun, arguing he was holding a vape pen instead. Prescott stated police body camera footage definitively shows Best holding a firearm.

Barrett described her uncle as a truck driver who had returned to his Bridgeport hometown to attend a friend’s funeral.

VILLA RICA, Ga. — Authorities in Georgia are investigating the death of a sixth-grade student who passed away several days after collapsing in the street following a physical confrontation with a classmate near her neighborhood bus stop.

Jada West, 12, died after being hospitalized following the Thursday afternoon incident in Villa Rica, a suburban community located approximately 30 miles west of Atlanta.

Police spokesman Sgt. Spencer Crawford announced Wednesday that investigators are examining evidence, including cellphone footage of the altercation, while waiting for autopsy findings. Authorities plan to consult with prosecutors later this week to determine potential charges.

The altercation involving Jada and a fellow Mason Creek Middle School student occurred at a neighborhood intersection close to the girl’s residence on Thursday afternoon, Crawford reported.

Cellphone footage shared by Jada’s aunt on social media reveals the school bus had already departed more than 90 seconds before any physical contact began. The recording shows both girls exchanging verbal taunts while maintaining distance, surrounded by watching classmates.

An unidentified voice can be heard asking, “Who is going to fight you over some noise?”

The footage captures both students simultaneously dropping their backpacks before approaching each other and exchanging blows. Within moments, they tumbled to the ground while grappling, with Jada falling backward and rolling over her head and neck area.

After both girls got back on their feet, an adult woman stepped in, instructing Jada to return home. The video concludes with Jada retrieving her backpack and seemingly walking away.

What transpired afterward remains unclear, but Jada never reached her residence. Crawford explained that officers responded to an emergency call regarding “a young juvenile who was in cardiac arrest laying in the street.”

“When we actually arrived, paramedics were on the scene, and they were already loading her up and performing CPR,” Crawford stated. “Paramedics told us there was an adult on the scene performing CPR when they arrived.”

Medical personnel transported Jada to a local hospital. Her mother, Rashunda McClendon, posted a Facebook video Sunday requesting prayers, saying “please pray for my baby. She’s fighting for her life.”

Later that same day, Jada’s aunt, De’Quala McClendon, confirmed her niece’s passing through a Facebook announcement.

“Now you got your spiritual crown,” she posted, “it hurts so so bad but I know you are ok.”

Rashunda McClendon chose not to speak with an Associated Press journalist who visited her residence Wednesday.

A handwritten memorial sign placed near the altercation site reads “RIP JADA WEST” with the words “Heaven gain an angel,” accompanied by flowers and a decorative pinwheel.

Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine acknowledged her office’s awareness of the police investigation but provided no additional details.

In an official statement, the Douglas County School System characterized Jada as “an upbeat, kind, and vibrant student.” School officials made counseling services available to students and staff members.

“This incident did not occur on school property or during school hours, and there is nothing to indicate that this is related to any on-campus activity,” the district’s statement clarified.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Lyft has agreed to implement nationwide changes protecting the rights of disabled passengers to travel with service animals following a settlement announced Wednesday in Minnesota.

The agreement stems from complaints filed by college student Tori Andres, who contacted the Minnesota Department of Human Rights after multiple Lyft drivers denied rides to her and her service dog, Alfred. State investigators found the ride-sharing company had violated Minnesota’s Human Rights Act, leading to negotiations that produced a settlement with national implications through mandatory driver training and app modifications.

“This case is a deeply personal thing to me because I travel pretty much everywhere with my guide dog,” Andres explained during a press conference, while her black Labrador rested calmly beside her. “He is my eyes. He is my freedom, and he is why I am able to live independently.”

Under the settlement terms, Lyft must provide disability rights training to all drivers and warn them they could face “deactivation” and lose driving privileges for violating accessibility laws, according to state Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero. She emphasized that drivers cannot cancel or deny rides due to service animals, wheelchairs, or passengers with vision impairments. The state will oversee Lyft’s compliance for three years, while Andres receives $63,000 in compensation.

“We expect that all riders in Minnesota and in fact, across the United States, will benefit from these changes,” Lucero stated.

The settlement mandates several app improvements, including enhanced accessibility settings allowing passengers to inform drivers about service animals and streamlined reporting for service denials. When drivers attempt to cancel rides after passengers disclose service animals through the app, they’ll immediately receive warnings stating “It’s against the law to refuse service animals” and face potential termination.

Minnesota officials reached this agreement without filing a lawsuit. While competitor Uber wasn’t involved in this settlement, Lucero noted that Minnesota’s Human Rights Act applies to all ride-sharing companies. She indicated her office regularly receives transportation-related discrimination complaints but didn’t specify current actions against other companies.

“We recommend that all businesses use this as an opportunity to look at their policies, training and accountability systems to make sure that it’s being enforced correctly,” Lucero advised.

Neither Lyft nor Uber representatives immediately responded to requests for comment about the settlement or their service animal policies. Uber’s website states that service animals must be accommodated according to accessibility laws and company policy, with no exceptions for allergies, religious concerns, or animal fears.

This settlement comes as the federal government pursues a lawsuit against Uber filed in San Francisco last September, alleging systematic refusal to serve disabled individuals, including those with service dogs. A federal magistrate judge recently rejected Uber’s motion to dismiss the case.

“Access to ride shares like Lyft is not a convenience. It is, in fact, a civil right,” Lucero concluded.

WASHINGTON — Federal authorities arrested a motorist Wednesday morning following a collision with a temporary security barrier positioned outside the White House grounds.

According to the Secret Service, the incident occurred shortly before 6:30 a.m. when the individual drove his van directly into the security barrier. Officers from the Secret Service’s uniformed division immediately apprehended the driver at the scene.

The suspect’s name has not been disclosed by authorities, who say he is currently being questioned by investigators. Officials indicate that criminal charges are expected to be filed against the man.

As a precautionary measure, a police bomb squad responded to examine the vehicle and confirmed it contained no explosive materials or other dangerous items.