Category: U.S. News

Adam Sandler’s daughter Sadie takes center stage in Netflix’s new comedy ‘Roommates,’ while former One Direction star Zayn Malik drops fresh music as part of this week’s streaming lineup.

Entertainment options arriving on various platforms this week include Elle Fanning portraying a struggling single mother who turns to OnlyFans in ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles,’ a lunar adventure game from Capcom called Pragmata, and the highly anticipated return of Netflix’s award-winning drama ‘Beef’ featuring an entirely new cast for its second season.

Sadie Sandler, Adam’s oldest child, headlines Netflix’s new comedy ‘Roommates,’ which follows a college student dealing with her intrusive dorm neighbor played by Chloe East. The supporting cast features Nick Kroll and Natasha Lyonne as her parents, alongside Francesca Scorsese, Carol Kane and Storm Reid. The series begins streaming Friday, April 17.

Director Edgar Wright has reimagined Stephen King’s 1982 dystopian novel ‘The Running Man’ with Glen Powell in the lead role, arriving on Prime Video Friday, April 17. Despite underperforming at theaters with earnings under $69 million against a $110 million production cost, the film offers Wright’s interpretation of King’s dark vision. Associated Press critic Jake Coyle noted that ‘from the start, the darkest shades of King’s book have been snuffed out of this blandly entertaining remake that swaps out the brutalist 1980s nihilism of the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie for a satirical portrait of America lacking in bite and prescience.’ However, Coyle acknowledged that ‘if there’s one aspect of Wright’s film that feels genuinely connected to today, it’s the movie’s media metaphor.’

HBO Max debuts the R-rated thriller ‘Dust Bunny’ on Friday, April 17, featuring a young girl (Sophie Sloan) who enlists her hitman neighbor (Mads Mikkelsen) to eliminate the creatures she believes consumed her family. This marks the directorial debut of ‘Hannibal’ series creator Bryan Fuller. The New York Times’ Manohla Dargis praised it as ‘a blast of delightful, visually sumptuous nonsense.’

Exactly a decade has passed since Zayn Malik became the first One Direction member to pursue solo work. His 2016 debut ‘Mind of Mine’ showcased his independence through ambitious R&B compositions that highlighted his distinctive breathy falsetto vocals. He continues building on those strengths with ‘Konnakol,’ his fifth solo album releasing Friday, April 17.

Brooklyn R&B and soul artist Yaya Bey follows up last year’s successful ‘do it afraid’ with ‘Fidelity,’ dropping Friday, April 17. Her previous work demonstrated versatility, from ‘Merlot and Grigio’ featuring Bajan dancehall performer Father Philis to the Prince-influenced ‘Dream Girl’ and jazz-infused ‘Raisins.’ The new album serves as an emotional outlet, processing grief and love after losing her father, respected rapper and Juice Crew member Grand Daddy I.U.

Electronic dance music heavyweight John Summit releases ‘Ctrl Escape’ Friday, April 17, through Experts Only and Darkroom Records. The house music superstar has crafted an album appealing to both club-goers and home listeners who enjoy watching festival performances online.

British disco-pop performer Jessie Ware unveils ‘Superbloom’ on Friday, April 17. Her latest work maintains her dance floor appeal, exemplified by the track ‘Ride,’ which samples the 1966 Western film ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ theme while incorporating her signature sparkling synthesizers. ‘Come be my cowboy, baby, come, let’s ride,’ she croons, ‘You know I want you, I need you tonight, tonight.’

Apple TV’s dramedy ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ stars Elle Fanning as a young mother navigating single parenthood after an affair with her college instructor resulted in pregnancy. She creates an OnlyFans profile to generate income, with Michelle Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman portraying her parents. Based on a popular novel, the series premieres Wednesday.

Peacock presents the second season of ‘Love Island: Beyond the Villa’ on Wednesday, continuing to follow contestants from last summer’s ‘Love Island USA’ after their return from Fiji. The show tracks former winners and ex-couple Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, along with other participants, as their romantic drama continues off the island.

The Emmy-winning anthology series ‘Beef’ returns Thursday, April 16, on Netflix with fresh faces after originally being conceived as a limited series. This season features Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny in the lead roles.

Tubi brings back Nicola Coughlan’s dark comedy ‘Big Mood’ for its second season Thursday, April 16. Coughlan and Lydia West reprise their roles as Maggie and Eddie, codependent best friends from East London whose relationship fractured when Maggie stopped her bipolar medication and Eddie felt abandoned. The new season jumps forward one year.

Gamers can explore the moon through Capcom’s Pragmata, set on a lunar facility devastated by a massive moonquake and mysteriously affected by a substance called Lunafilament. Players control Hugh, a weapons expert, and Diana, an android hacker, as they work together to repair the base while battling rogue robots controlled by malicious artificial intelligence. The game launches Friday, April 17, on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2, and PC.

Nintendo Switch welcomes Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream on Thursday, allowing players to populate an island with customizable Mii characters resembling friends and family. Players must keep their virtual residents content with food, clothing, and furniture while constructing entertainment venues. These digital people will form relationships, fall in love, and start families, with options to visit other players’ islands.

WASHINGTON — American military forces destroyed two vessels suspected of carrying illegal drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Saturday, resulting in five fatalities and one survivor, according to military officials.

The deadly operation adds to a growing death toll from similar maritime strikes conducted by U.S. forces. Since early September, when the Trump administration launched its campaign against suspected drug traffickers, at least 168 people have died in these boat attacks.

U.S. Southern Command reported that the vessels were targeted along established smuggling corridors. However, military officials did not present proof that the boats were actually transporting narcotics. Social media footage displayed small watercraft crossing ocean waters before being destroyed in massive explosions.

Following the strikes, U.S. Southern Command contacted the Coast Guard to initiate rescue operations for the lone survivor. Coast Guard officials confirmed they were managing the search effort and promised updates as information becomes available.

President Trump has declared the United States to be in “armed conflict” with Latin American cartels, defending these aggressive tactics as essential for stopping drug imports and preventing American overdose deaths. However, his administration has provided minimal proof to back up claims about eliminating “narcoterrorists.”

Legal experts and policy analysts have raised concerns about both the lawfulness and effectiveness of these maritime operations. Many point out that fentanyl, responsible for numerous fatal overdoses, typically enters the country through Mexico via land routes, produced using chemicals from China and India.

These Latin American operations have persisted despite U.S. military attention being divided by Middle Eastern conflicts, including a recent multi-week war with Iran.

On Sunday, Trump announced plans for a U.S. Navy blockade targeting ships using the Strait of Hormuz, following unsuccessful ceasefire negotiations with Iran in Pakistan. The president aims to pressure Iran regarding the strategic waterway that handles one-fifth of global oil shipments. Central Command indicated the blockade would affect Iranian port facilities.

UNION, New Jersey — A fatal shooting erupted at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Union, New Jersey on Saturday night, claiming one life and leaving six people wounded, authorities announced.

The violence unfolded around 9 p.m. Saturday evening at the fast-food location. Law enforcement officials stated in a Sunday press release from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office that they do not consider the incident to be a random act of violence. While no suspects are currently in custody, prosecutors emphasized that “there is no immediate ongoing threat to the general public.”

Medical officials report that the six surviving victims sustained injuries that are not expected to be fatal, according to the statement.

A rideshare driver who was approaching the restaurant during the incident described hearing more than seven gunshots fired at close distance, according to his account to WABC television.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill addressed the tragedy Sunday through social media, stating: “Our hearts go out to the victim’s loved ones, and we are hoping for the full recovery of those who were injured.”

The governor also called on anyone with relevant information to reach out to law enforcement officials handling the case.

Corporate representatives from Chick-fil-A have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.

The county prosecutor’s office Homicide Task Force has taken over the investigation into the deadly shooting.

Law enforcement officials have successfully found Joey Shipe, prompting authorities to discontinue the Gold Alert that had been issued for the missing person.

The alert, which is typically used for missing adults with cognitive impairments or other vulnerabilities, has been officially terminated following Shipe’s safe recovery.

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

JUNEAU, Alaska — A beloved destination for Alaska cruise passengers has been removed from itineraries this season due to dangerous conditions created by a catastrophic landslide.

Tracy Arm, a spectacular 30-mile fjord southeast of Juneau known for its towering mountains, cascading waterfalls and active glaciers, is being bypassed by major cruise operators following last summer’s devastating slope collapse. The August 10th disaster sent massive amounts of debris into the waterway, triggered a tsunami, and launched waves more than a quarter-mile up the opposing mountainside.

Travel industry professional Nate Vallier described the impact of losing the destination: “Tracy Arm is the majestic princess, you know, she is the queen of fjords.”

Companies like Holland America, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages and regional operator Allen Marine are now taking passengers to the alternative location of Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier instead. While Vallier acknowledged this substitute remains “still beautiful by any means, but it’s just not the same.”

The fjord normally showcases two tidewater glaciers — the North and South Sawyer — along with abundant wildlife including seals and bears. However, the landslide originated on steep terrain above the South Sawyer glacier, sending water rushing through the entire fjord system.

Fortunately, no vessels were present during the incident and no casualties occurred, according to officials. However, kayakers camping on a nearby island between Tracy and Endicott arms lost most of their equipment to the surging waters.

Gabriel Wolken, who manages Alaska’s climate and ice hazards program, explained that while landslides are common in southeast Alaska’s temperate rainforest environment, this particular slope hadn’t been flagged as a risk before the collapse. Scientists are now working to determine what triggered the failure and identify other potential dangers in the area.

Steven Sobieszczyk from the U.S. Geological Survey warned that hazardous conditions persist. “Continued rockfall and small-scale sliding from the exposed landslide scar are expected and could impact the water, potentially causing a future localized tsunami,” he stated.

Travel agent Vallier, who operates Alaska Travel Desk, expressed frustration that cruise companies didn’t provide passengers with earlier notification about the itinerary modifications. The first ships of the new season are scheduled to arrive in Ketchikan on April 21st, with Juneau visits beginning the following week.

For many tourists, witnessing an active, calving glacier represents a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which has made Tracy Arm such a sought-after destination. While Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier attracts visitors to the capital city, many must view it from across a distant lake, and it has receded from several popular viewing spots.

Kansas resident Kimberly Lebeda had specifically researched and booked a Tracy Arm excursion for her family last year, drawn by descriptions of the scenery. However, the night before their scheduled visit, passengers learned they would visit Endicott Arm instead due to ice conditions in Tracy Arm.

Despite the change, Lebeda’s family joined other passengers on a smaller vessel equipped with panoramic windows, comfortable seating and refreshments. They observed seals resting on ice formations, dramatic waterfalls, and witnessed “a wall of ice” breaking away from Dawes Glacier.

She described the experience as “an amazing thing to witness.”

“Was it worth it? Yes, because I don’t know if I’ll ever get to do that trip again,” Lebeda reflected. “Again, I haven’t ever been to Tracy Arm so I can’t really compare. But to me, was it worth it and was it exciting? Absolutely.”

During the chaotic decade of the 1960s, a powerful alliance emerged between Black and Jewish activists fighting for civil rights across America. These communities, both with histories of persecution and struggle, joined forces on protest lines, worshipped together, and sacrificed to change the moral fabric of the country.

However, that historic partnership now faces serious challenges as antisemitism and racism surge worldwide. The legacy of that transformative collaboration is at risk of being lost, undermined by widespread misinformation and intentional efforts to erase historical facts.

Through an initiative known as Spill the Honey, veteran civil rights leaders and documentary filmmakers are now attempting to restore the solidarity that once existed between these two communities. Their work comes at a critical time when both groups face increasing threats and hostility.

The effort aims to remind Americans of the shared struggles and common goals that brought Black and Jewish activists together during one of the most pivotal periods in the nation’s civil rights history.

NEW YORK (AP) — A violent incident at a Manhattan subway station Saturday morning left three people wounded in a stabbing attack before police opened fire on the armed suspect.

Officers with the New York Police Department rushed to the 42nd Street-Grand Central station following a 9:40 a.m. emergency report of an assault, where they confronted a man carrying a knife on the platform. Police fired their weapons at the suspect, though authorities have not disclosed the number of rounds fired or how many hit the individual. The suspect was transported to a medical facility in critical condition, according to department officials.

The three individuals who suffered stab wounds — men aged 84 and 65, along with a 70-year-old woman — were hospitalized and listed in stable condition, police reported. Two law enforcement officers were also taken to a hospital for medical evaluation.

Investigators were still working Saturday to determine whether the attack began on the subway platform or inside a train car.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted on social media that she was “grateful to our brave officers who acted quickly to stop the suspect. We’re working closely with the NYPD as the investigation unfolds.”

The police department warned commuters through social media to stay away from Grand Central Station Saturday morning while the investigation continued, cautioning travelers to anticipate delays and increased traffic. The Metropolitan Transit Authority reported that several subway lines were bypassing the station during the response.

While Washington D.C.’s famous Tidal Basin draws approximately 250,000 people each year to view its iconic cherry blossoms, a park located in Newark, New Jersey actually boasts a larger collection of these spectacular flowering trees.

The New Jersey location has become its own destination for spring flower enthusiasts, attracting thousands of visitors who come to witness the stunning pink and white blooms that rival the more well-known display in the nation’s capital.

Bill Mann, a veteran journalist who spent nearly five decades reporting from around the world for The Associated Press, passed away Thursday at a Virginia facility in Reston. He was 83 years old, according to his family.

Mann’s extensive career took him to international assignments covering the Philippines, Egypt, India, Scandinavian countries, and the nation’s capital. Family members and professional colleagues recalled him as someone who demanded precision in his work while showing deep compassion for those around him.

“Billy Mann was a wonderful representative for The Associated Press in global hot spots from the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos to the turbulent Middle East,” longtime AP United Nations bureau chief Edith M. Lederer said. “He was well-liked for his warm personality and admired for his deft reporting.”

Born in Georgia, Mann met his future wife Mimi while both attended journalism school at the University of Georgia. He remained a devoted Georgia Bulldogs supporter throughout his life.

“Outside of family, it was his biggest passion,” his daughter Samantha Rudolph said.

Following his college graduation, Mann completed officer candidate school and spent four years as a naval officer, stationed both in the Philippines and at the Pentagon.

Mann began his journalism career with the AP’s Louisville, Kentucky bureau after completing his military service. His career path led him through the agency’s New York headquarters and various domestic assignments before he took on the role of Cairo bureau chief, a position he held for a decade.

“He would sit in his office in the back, smoking cigars, feet on the desk, reading copy,” Rudolph recalled. “He was just surrounded by incredible people who looked up to him in every way.”

During his time in Egypt, Mann traveled to Somalia in the early 1990s, where the devastation from famine and conflict deeply affected the seasoned correspondent.

“It was seeing the hunger and the deprivation, the remnants of war,” his daughter said. “He refused to talk about it. He saw things that he didn’t want to talk about.”

In 2010, doctors diagnosed Mann with Alzheimer’s disease. He died from a virus while residing in a memory care facility, according to Mimi Mann, his spouse of more than six decades.

Even as the disease progressed, “he kept his love of journalism,” she said.

Among all his professional encounters, Mann treasured one particular interview above others – a meeting with boxer Cassius Clay during his Louisville assignment, before the athlete became world champion Muhammad Ali.

“He interviewed countless heads of state, talked to everybody and what stood out was Muhammad Ali,” Rudolph said. “He always said that without a doubt his best and favorite interview was Muhammad Ali.”

Ken Guggenheim, who worked as one of Mann’s editors, praised his colleague’s dedication to excellence.

“Billy was just the consummate AP man. He was just a stickler for details, determined that the grammar was right, the style was right and that the story would be perfect when it would hit the wire,” Guggenheim said.

Colleagues emphasized that Mann’s compassionate nature distinguished him most.

“Everyone loved Billy,” Guggenheim said. “He was someone who showed you could be a great journalist and a great person at the same time.”

Mann leaves behind his wife, daughter, son, and four grandchildren.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Singer Bruno Mars received the ultimate Las Vegas honor Friday when the city crowned him the “new king of Las Vegas” during a spectacular celebration on the famous Strip.

Mars cruised down the boulevard in a pink low-rider convertible flanked by two showgirls as city officials presented him with his own street naming and declared the day in his honor. The festivities coincided with the launch of his global Romantic Tour at Allegiant Stadium.

“It’s such a privilege, and I want to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for giving me this today,” Mars told the enthusiastic crowd gathered along the Strip.

The street designation places Mars among entertainment legends who share this rare Las Vegas distinction — Elvis Presley and Rat Pack icons Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.

MGM Resorts International CEO and president Bill Hornbuckle praised Mars for demonstrating the “legacy and legs” needed for long-term success in the entertainment capital.

Mars has maintained a strong Vegas presence for over 15 years, completing more than 140 performances during his residency spanning 2016 to 2025. He also expanded his Vegas footprint two years ago by launching The Pinky Ring, a cocktail lounge and nightclub at the Bellagio.

“I love this city so much,” Mars expressed to the crowd.

During the ceremony, the performer announced a $1 million donation to Las Vegas Children’s Hospital, with MGM Grand pledging to match the contribution. The festivities concluded with Mars and his band “The Hooligans” delivering a preview performance ahead of that evening’s stadium show.

“My dream was to always have a block party and get everybody dancing,” Mars shared with attendees.

Despite sweltering temperatures, hundreds of fans waited for hours to witness the historic moment. Local resident Deedee Jenkins expressed excitement about Mars joining the ranks of Vegas royalty.

“But they’re old school. This is new blood, and I’m ready for it with my old self,” Jenkins commented.

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — Nearly 15 years after a young real estate professional’s murder shocked the industry and prompted nationwide safety reforms, the accused killer has denied the charges against her.

Kristin Ramsey, 53, entered a not guilty plea on Friday to first-degree murder charges in the death of Ashley Okland. The 27-year-old Iowa Realty agent was discovered dead at a model townhome in West Des Moines on April 8, 2011, where she had been conducting an open house.

Family members and friends of the victim packed the courtroom during Friday’s proceedings for Ramsey, who was taken into custody last month following a grand jury indictment.

“That Friday afternoon when Ashley was taken from us seems so long ago,” Okland’s sister, Brittany Bruce, shared with media in March. “We had lost our hope in finding answers and having any justice for Ashley.”

Since Ramsey’s March 17 indictment and subsequent arrest, prosecutors have remained tight-lipped about potential motives or any new evidence that may have emerged in the case.

Recent court filings related to Friday’s arraignment and bond review hearing offer limited details about the grand jury proceedings.

According to prosecutors, a neighbor who contacted emergency services reportedly witnessed Ramsey, who had professional ties to Okland, standing near the model home’s entrance and walking back and forth by her vehicle while on a phone call before departing. State Assistant Attorney General Scott Brown revealed during Friday’s hearing that Ramsey came back to the location 15 minutes afterward.

Defense attorneys for Ramsey argue there are significant holes in the prosecution’s case presented to the grand jury, including what they claim are mischaracterizations of the witness’s 911 report. Defense attorney Alfredo Parrish noted that even the grand jury expressed skepticism.

“You don’t wait 15 years and then say: ‘OK, let’s make a go of it,’” Parrish stated.

Criminal grand jury proceedings are uncommon in Iowa and typically remain sealed. The prosecution disclosed these details while opposing a defense request to reduce Ramsey’s current $2 million bail.

The victim’s death sent shockwaves through Des Moines’ close-knit real estate community, according to Scott Steelman, her former colleague who serves as president of the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors and works as an agent at Iowa Realty. He characterized the murder as “so out of character for our business, our industry, our profession.”

Following Okland’s death, the local realtors’ association worked to establish safety protocols and guidelines.

“Nationwide, it’s caused the real estate community to take greater caution when interacting with the public,” Steelman explained. “We will not show any property to someone who we don’t know, aren’t familiar or at least have not vetted.”

The safety measures developed in Iowa have been endorsed by the National Association of Realtors and adopted by hundreds of state and local real estate organizations throughout the United States.

Given that Ramsey is also part of the real estate industry, Steelman said her arrest has created bewilderment and raised more questions than it has answered.

At the time of the incident, Ramsey was employed by Rottlund Homes of Iowa, which utilized independent real estate agents for sales purposes. The model home where Okland was killed belonged to Rottlund Homes.

During Friday’s court appearance, Ramsey wore a business suit with restraints on one arm and both feet. She was seen wiping away tears as witnesses spoke about her character during the defense team’s attempt to lower her bail amount. Her spouse and son, along with her parents and grandfather, occupied the front row behind her.

While Ramsey initially received a court-appointed public defender, she is now being represented by well-known defense lawyers who emphasized her deep family connections and lifelong residence in the small rural community of Woodward, Iowa, located approximately 25 miles northwest of Des Moines.

Court documents reveal that a witness in an adjacent townhome that shared a wall with the model home heard two loud sounds “described as thuds that were 3-4 seconds apart.” After hearing these noises, the witness looked outside and spotted Ramsey near the front entrance. The witness then observed her walking by her car while talking on her phone before leaving and later returning.

“Concerned that something was wrong, the witness entered the model home and discovered Ms. Okland unresponsive on the ground,” the court filing states. The witness then contacted emergency services, prosecutors said.

In their counter-argument, Ramsey’s legal team accused prosecutors of presenting “cherry-picked” evidence, claiming they failed to provide the grand jury with any weapon, ballistics analysis, or DNA evidence.

“So while the State is right the grand jury’s job was to consider the evidence presented to it, it fails to disclose that the State chose not to present all the evidence it has collected in the last 15 years,” Ramsey’s attorneys wrote. “The grand jurors here were shown only a few pieces of the puzzle over two days—not the whole picture.”

The trial is scheduled to commence in January.

A Honduran family has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the United States government following the tragic death of their 8-year-old daughter while in border patrol custody last year in Texas.

Anadith Danay Reyes Alvarez, who suffered from ongoing heart complications and sickle cell anemia, became ill with flu-like symptoms and died following an eight-day detention at U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities in Donna and later Harlingen, Texas.

According to an internal CBP review, officials failed to provide adequate medical attention and did not examine documentation the child’s mother provided detailing her daughter’s serious health conditions. While in detention, Anadith developed a dangerous fever reaching 104.9 degrees Fahrenheit, along with nausea, difficulty breathing and severe pain.

The young girl was not transported to a hospital despite her mother’s repeated requests for help, and only received emergency medical attention when she collapsed in her mother’s embrace. Mabel Alvarez Benedicks shared details about her daughter’s tragic death during a heartbreaking interview with The Associated Press following the incident.

The Department of Homeland Security has not yet provided a response regarding the litigation.

This wrongful death case comes after officials rejected a tort claim the family filed against the government last year in October. While the current lawsuit seeks compensation for the family’s suffering, it does not specify a particular dollar amount.

The child’s mother now requires regular psychiatric care and sleep medication to cope with her loss. Rossel Reyes Martinez, Anadith’s father, described losing their daughter as every parent’s most terrifying fear coming true.

“That is why we are filing this lawsuit today in her memory, to ensure that no family has to endure the same pain we have endured,” her father said Thursday.

Federal aviation officials have declared that military laser systems designed to neutralize drones along the southern border pose no safety risk to aircraft when used properly, following a comprehensive review triggered by Texas airport disruptions earlier this year.

The Federal Aviation Administration and Defense Department have reached a formal agreement establishing safety protocols for deploying these anti-drone laser weapons to protect air travelers.

The El Paso airport’s airspace was shut down for multiple hours in early February after a government agency activated a counter-drone laser system without alerting aviation authorities. The closure forced numerous passengers to seek alternative travel arrangements. A second, smaller airspace restriction occurred when military forces mistakenly destroyed a U.S. Customs and Border Protection drone.

Testing conducted at New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range last month provided the FAA with sufficient evidence that these laser systems can operate without compromising aviation safety.

“We will continue working with our interagency partners to ensure the National Airspace System remains safe while addressing emerging drone threats,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement.

Mexican drug cartels frequently deploy drones along the border for smuggling operations and surveillance of law enforcement activities. Congressional testimony from last summer revealed that authorities detected over 27,000 drones within 1,600 feet of the southern border during the final six months of 2024.

The devastating impact of weaponized drones in conflicts across Ukraine and Iran underscores the seriousness of this emerging threat.

Congressional leaders expressed alarm over the apparent communication breakdown after the Pentagon authorized Customs and Border Protection to deploy anti-drone lasers in early February without informing the FAA.

Military personnel used the laser system on February 26 to eliminate what appeared to be a threatening drone near the U.S.-Mexico border. However, the targeted aircraft actually belonged to Customs and Border Protection, according to lawmakers.

This incident prompted the FAA to restrict airspace around Fort Hancock, located approximately 50 miles southeast of El Paso.

The Trump administration has emphasized its commitment to stopping Mexican cartel drone incursions. U.S. Army Brigadier General Matt Ross stated that this new agreement enables the deployment of sophisticated defensive technology to protect American territory.

“By working hand-in-hand with the FAA and our interagency partners, the Department of War is proving that these cutting-edge capabilities are safe, effective, and ready to protect all air travelers from illicit drone use in the national airspace,” Ross said.

The federal government has distributed more than $250 million to help states develop drone response capabilities in preparation for World Cup events and the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations scheduled for this summer.

An additional $250 million in funding will be allocated later this year to enhance national drone defense systems.

A federal appeals court has struck down a Civil War-era prohibition against making spirits at home, ruling Friday that the longstanding federal restriction violates constitutional limits on congressional power.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans sided with the Hobby Distillers Association, a nonprofit organization, along with four individual members from its 1,300-person membership base.

The plaintiffs contended that Americans should have the right to produce distilled beverages in their homes for recreational purposes or personal use, including one member’s desire to craft a homemade apple-pie-vodka blend.

The prohibition dates back to legislation enacted during the Reconstruction period in July 1868, designed partly to combat tax evasion on alcoholic beverages. Violations carried penalties of up to five years imprisonment and $10,000 in fines.

In the majority opinion for the three-judge panel, Circuit Judge Edith Hollan Jones argued that the restriction actually diminished government tax collections by eliminating distillation activities entirely, contrasting it with regulatory measures on commercial spirit production that generate tax revenue.

Jones further noted that accepting the government’s reasoning could allow Congress to criminalize nearly any household activity that might evade tax oversight, including telecommuting and home-operated enterprises.

“Without any limiting principle, the government’s theory would violate this court’s obligation to read the Constitution carefully to avoid creating a general federal authority akin to the police power,” Jones stated in her written decision.

Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor the Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau provided immediate responses to requests for comment.

Devin Watkins, an attorney representing the hobby distilling organization, described the court’s decision as a significant ruling regarding federal power limitations during a post-ruling interview.

Andrew Grossman, who presented the nonprofit’s appellate arguments, characterized the outcome as “an important victory for individual liberty” that allows the plaintiffs to “pursue their passion to distill fine beverages in their homes.”

“I look forward to sampling their output,” Grossman added.

The appellate ruling affirmed a July 2024 decision by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman in Fort Worth, Texas, though Pittman had temporarily suspended his ruling to allow for government appeals.

The dramatic sight of enormous, oversized trucks with massive tires launching skyward before roaring crowds has transformed into a lucrative industry worth millions. These colossal vehicle exhibitions are experiencing unprecedented growth, with multiple national touring circuits now competing for audiences and events expanding into international markets.

Reporter John Burnett plans to cover Monster Truck Wars, billed as “America’s Wildest Monster Truck Show,” scheduled for March 14 in Henderson, Texas. His coverage will include interviews with dedicated enthusiasts and an in-depth look at one of the drivers who pilots these mechanical giants.

The phenomenon has captured audiences nationwide, turning what began as a novelty attraction into a serious entertainment business that continues to expand its reach both domestically and abroad.

Standing on the deck of their sailboat Soul Mate, Lynette Hooker cheerfully announced to her camera: “We’re finally leaving Kemah,” speaking about the Texas harbor town where they had been docked.

“It’s only been four months,” she joked while her husband Brian adjusted the boat’s rigging in preparation for departure.

That “Gulf Crossing” recording from over three years ago captured the beginning of a maritime journey that the couple shared extensively on Facebook – a voyage that has now become evidence in a criminal case following Lynette’s mysterious disappearance in the Bahamas.

Days after Lynette vanished, Bahamian police took Brian into custody. Through his lawyer Terrel Butler, Brian maintains his innocence regarding his wife’s disappearance and states he is fully assisting law enforcement with their inquiry.

According to Brian’s account to police, his spouse of over two decades fell into the ocean Saturday evening from their small motor vessel while traveling between Hope Town and Elbow Cay, two tiny islands in the eastern Bahamas. Brian reported that 55-year-old Lynette possessed the boat keys when the motor stopped running.

“Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her,” authorities explained in their Saturday statement.

Brian reportedly used paddles to reach land and notified others early Sunday morning, police said. Officers arrested and interrogated him the following Wednesday.

The U.S. Coast Guard has launched its own inquiry independent of the Bahamian investigation.

Lynette’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, expressed doubt that her mother would simply tumble off a vessel.

Despite the cheerful demeanor displayed in their online sailing videos, the couple had a troubled past marked by conflict.

Police records from Kentwood, Michigan, obtained by NBC News reveal that both Brian and Lynette accused each other of physical violence in 2015.

The report indicates Brian was intoxicated and had a bloody nose when he told officers his wife had repeatedly hit him in the face. He also claimed Lynette was under the influence of alcohol. She was taken into custody for assault and held overnight in jail. Prosecutors declined to file charges because they couldn’t determine “who started the assault.”

Aylesworth also revealed to NBC that her mother and stepfather had a turbulent relationship with a “history of not getting along, especially when they drink.”

The couple resided in Onsted, located roughly 72 miles southwest of Detroit. The nearest major waterway is Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles southeast of their hometown.

Lynette’s mother, Darlene Hamlett, explained Wednesday that their family has always been connected to water and that her daughter spent her life “near lakes, on boats, sailing and swimming.”

The pair regularly uploaded footage of their Caribbean sailing experiences to their “Sailing Hookers” Facebook account.

In the March 2023 recording, Lynette narrates their departure from Kemah, Texas, as the Soul Mate navigates through morning mist into Gulf of Mexico waters.

“Pretty cool,” Lynette commented as Brian sounded the vessel’s foghorn. During a later scene showing Brian replacing an engine belt, he glances up at his wife and remarks, “Hi sexy.”

An earlier recording shows the couple describing their purchase and renovation of the Soul Mate in Rockport, Texas.

“After several years of driving around the country, looking for our perfect sailboat, we finally found her in Texas,” Lynette explained in the eight-minute video from January 2023. “She was a little rough on the edges. The decks needed to be redone, but we knew we were up for the task.”

That footage captures them collaborating on repairs, scraping, preparing surfaces and applying paint. Text overlay reads: “The decks are done! we’re still married! party time!”

A recording from two years prior shows them using their smaller motorboat for supply runs to shore, though the location isn’t specified.

“We got the grub,” Brian tells the camera, which then pans to show a beer case at his feet and grocery bags in the boat’s front section. “Delivery… the way of life, man.”

Hip-hop star Offset has been discharged from a Florida medical facility following a shooting incident that occurred earlier this week at a casino near Miami, according to his representatives.

The Migos member sustained gunshot wounds Monday evening after an altercation broke out at the Seminole Hard Rock casino in Hollywood, located just north of Miami.

Medical authorities indicated Tuesday that the artist was in stable condition with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, though specific details about his condition remained limited at the time.

“Offset has been released from the hospital and he is up and walking,” a representative for Offset said on Friday. “We’re incredibly grateful to the doctors, nurses, and the entire hospital staff who took such great care of him.”

The artist, whose real name is Kiari Kendrell Cephus, posted his own message on social media Friday, stating: “Thank you to everyone who’s checked in on me and showed me love! I’m good….but I’m planning to be better! I’m focused on my family, my recovery, and getting back to the music…realizing that life is made up of quiet wins and loud losses…”

“Life’s a gamble and I’m still playing to win,” he concluded.

Law enforcement officials took two individuals into custody following the incident. Rapper Lil Tjay, whose legal name is Tione Jayden Merritt, was taken into custody for his alleged involvement in the dispute that preceded the shooting, according to the Seminole Police Department. Authorities charged him with disorderly conduct and driving without a valid license.

A second individual was also detained but has not faced charges, while investigators continue working to identify additional people who may have been involved, police stated Tuesday.

Cephus rose to fame as part of Migos, widely regarded as one of hip-hop’s most successful groups. The Atlanta-based trio became known for their distinctive rapid-fire triplet delivery style, which significantly influenced the trap music genre.

The group achieved massive commercial success with multiple platinum-selling tracks, including their chart-topping hit “Bad and Boujee,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, along with popular songs “Stir Fry” and “Narcos.” Throughout their career, Migos produced four studio albums.

Tragedy struck the group more than three years ago when Offset’s cousin Takeoff, also a Migos member, was fatally shot at a Houston bowling alley.

Beyond his group work, Offset has established himself as a solo performer known for his distinctive melodic yet aggressive style, releasing three individual albums.

The rapper was previously married to fellow artist Cardi B, with whom he exchanged vows in a private Atlanta ceremony in September 2017. Cardi B filed for divorce in 2024, and the former couple shares three children.

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked the release of a man recently acquitted in the murder of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay, as prosecutors challenge his potential freedom on a $1 million bond.

Karl Jordan Jr. was scheduled to be released as early as Friday, but federal prosecutors filed an appeal against the judge’s decision to grant him bond with electronic monitoring. The judge agreed Friday to suspend the release while the appeal process moves forward.

Attorneys for Jordan have not responded to requests for comment, while prosecutors have declined to provide statements on the matter.

Both Jordan and co-defendant Ronald Washington were found guilty in 2024 for the killing of the legendary DJ, more than twenty years after Jam Master Jay was shot to death inside his recording studio. Both defendants had entered not guilty pleas.

In December, a judge reversed Jordan’s conviction and declared him not guilty, while maintaining Washington’s guilty verdict.

Federal prosecutors contend that Jordan should stay incarcerated while they challenge his acquittal and as he faces separate drug-related charges in court. Jordan has entered a not guilty plea to those additional charges.

Defense attorneys for the 42-year-old argue he deserves bond, particularly after suffering severe injuries in a stabbing incident at Brooklyn’s federal detention facility. Jordan’s legal team states that family members have volunteered to guarantee the bond and pledge properties representing their entire assets.

Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, along with his Run-DMC bandmates, played a pivotal role in bringing hip-hop music to mainstream audiences during the 1980s with popular tracks like “It’s Tricky” and their collaboration with Aerosmith on “Walk This Way.”

WOODLAND, Calif. — Authorities in Northern California announced Friday that seven individuals have been taken into custody in connection with a catastrophic fireworks warehouse explosion that claimed seven lives and left two others wounded last July.

The tragic blast occurred near Esparto, a small agricultural community in Yolo County, triggering an enormous fire that forced the cancellation of local Fourth of July festivities in the area.

Officials from the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office planned to reveal the indictments during a Friday press conference. Jail documentation indicates that multiple suspects face murder charges.

Among those apprehended are Samuel and Tammy Machado, the married couple who operated the storage facility located roughly 40 miles northwest of Sacramento. Samuel Machado served as a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, while his spouse Tammy held an administrative position with the department. Both were placed on administrative leave following the incident.

Kenneth Chee, who runs Devastating Pyrotechnics and whose unauthorized fireworks were housed at the facility, was taken into custody in Florida. During his Friday court appearance in Florida, Chee was informed he would be transported back to California within seven days, according to KCRA-TV.

Law enforcement also detained Jack Lee, who managed operations for Devastating Pyrotechnic, and Gary Chan Jr., whose name appears on the company’s federal licensing documents, the television outlet reported.

Craig Cutright, who operates Blackstar Fireworks from the Esparto location owned by the Machados, was also arrested. Cutright served as a volunteer with the Esparto Fire District and was additionally employed by Devastating Pyrotechnics, KCRA-TV stated.

Ronald Botelho III, one of Cutright’s workers, has remained in jail since December. Court records reveal that more than a dozen additional charges were filed against him on Thursday.

Federal aviation officials are examining a dangerous near-collision that occurred at Los Angeles International Airport this week when a Frontier Airlines aircraft came dangerously close to hitting two service vehicles that moved across its path.

The incident unfolded late Wednesday evening around 11:25 p.m. as the commercial jet was traveling along a taxiway. The pilot expressed alarm and used strong language when reporting to air traffic control that he was forced to apply emergency braking to prevent a crash. “It was real close. The closest I have ever seen,” the pilot stated, according to audio recordings published by ATC.com.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed they are investigating the event, noting that multiple vehicles from a service road crossed directly in front of the aircraft. Fortunately, no injuries resulted from the incident.

“We thank our crew for their vigilance and professionalism,” Frontier Airlines stated in their official response.

This close call comes just weeks after a tragic accident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 22, where an Air Canada aircraft carrying 76 passengers and crew members struck a fire truck during landing. That collision resulted in the deaths of both pilots and left dozens injured.

In the LaGuardia tragedy, an air traffic controller had authorized the fire vehicle to cross the runway less than 20 seconds before the crash, then desperately attempted to halt the truck’s movement moments later.

The Los Angeles incident occurred in a section of the airport where aircraft coordinate their movements through air traffic control communications, while ground vehicles are expected to give way to any planes, which typically travel at approximately 15 mph on taxiways. Airport representatives have not yet responded to inquiries about the circumstances or existing safety protocols designed to prevent such conflicts.

Former United Airlines pilot and aviation safety specialist Steve Arroyo noted that similar incidents occur regularly at airports nationwide but typically receive little notice when collisions are successfully avoided. He believes these events will now receive increased scrutiny.

“Multiple incidents, accidents happening, just in March alone, I think it’s time to put some serious eyes on what’s going on on the ramp,” Arroyo commented.

A weekly quiz focusing on celebrity secret identities promises participants at least one correct answer if they stay current with hidden personas and alternate identities.

The quiz features prominent entertainment figures including talk show host Arsenio Hall, late-night television personality Stephen Colbert, and actress Zendaya.

Quiz organizers suggest that those who follow celebrity news and entertainment industry secrets will find success with the questions presented this week.

Birth rates across the United States have plummeted to unprecedented levels, marking a significant demographic shift as American families continue to have fewer children than in previous generations.

The declining birth rate, coupled with decreased immigration numbers, is creating substantial implications for how American families and communities will look in the coming years.

This demographic trend reflects changing patterns in family planning, with many women choosing to postpone childbearing or have smaller families altogether, contributing to what experts are calling a historic low in the nation’s fertility rate.

A compassionate resident in Fayetteville, Arkansas has launched a community-focused initiative to combat hunger by providing complimentary meal delivery services to neighbors in need.

The program offers no-cost food delivery to any community member requiring assistance, representing a grassroots effort to address local food insecurity challenges.

The Arkansas resident discussed the motivation behind creating this neighborhood-based food service, which aims to ensure that community members have access to nutritious meals regardless of their circumstances.

This volunteer-driven program demonstrates how individual community members can make a meaningful impact by addressing basic needs within their local area through direct action and personal commitment to helping others.

One of the most influential figures in hip-hop history has died. Afrika Bambaataa, widely recognized as a founding father of the hip-hop movement, passed away Thursday at the age of 68, his attorney has confirmed.

The legendary DJ died in Pennsylvania after battling prostate cancer, marking the end of an era for the music genre he helped create and shape.

Bambaataa’s contributions to hip-hop culture extended far beyond music, as he was instrumental in establishing the foundational elements that would define the genre for generations to come.

PORTERVILLE, Calif. — A law enforcement officer was fatally shot Thursday morning in central California when a resident opened fire during the service of an eviction notice, with the gunman still holed up inside his residence hours later, according to officials.

The deadly shooting occurred when Tulare County sheriff’s deputies arrived at a Porterville residence to deliver eviction paperwork, where a 60-year-old resident began shooting at the officers, the sheriff’s department announced on social media.

During an afternoon press briefing, Sheriff Mike Boudreaux reported that SWAT personnel were evacuating surrounding residences as the standoff continued to pose significant risks to public safety. Local residents received shelter-in-place orders while area schools implemented lockdown procedures.

The suspect continues to remain inside the residence and is suspected of possessing a rifle, according to reports from news outlet KFSN. Porterville sits approximately 150 miles northeast of Los Angeles within California’s Central Valley region.

Video footage captured by a witness from a nearby driveway and published by the Visalia Times-Delta depicts multiple armed deputies taking cover in the street when gunshots erupt and several officers retreat from the area. The shooter remains out of view in the recording. Separate footage shows an individual being transported to an emergency medical vehicle.

According to Boudreaux, the resident had not paid rent for 35 days and was anticipating the arrival of law enforcement to deliver the final eviction paperwork. The sheriff stated the man “laid in wait” and began firing immediately upon the officers’ arrival.

The fallen deputy had responded as part of a backup team that came to assist after the initial gunfire erupted, Boudreaux explained. Emergency responders transported him to a medical facility where he succumbed to his injuries.

“This is senseless,” Boudreaux stated.

Miguel Ibarra’s 82-year-old mother resides directly across from the shooter’s home and was evacuated along with other neighbors due to the ongoing barricade situation. Ibarra, an Orange County resident, described the surreal experience of watching his parents’ typically peaceful neighborhood appear on television news coverage.

“The police did a really good job keeping us informed and keeping us in the know of what’s going on,” he said.

Lance Taylor, known worldwide as Afrika Bambaataa and recognized as one of hip-hop’s founding fathers, passed away Thursday in Pennsylvania after battling prostate cancer. He was 68 years old.

The music world responded with an overwhelming wave of tributes honoring Bambaataa’s transformative influence on hip-hop culture, though his legacy became complicated in recent years due to multiple allegations of sexual misconduct involving minors.

Born in 1957 in the South Bronx, Bambaataa rose to fame with revolutionary songs including his 1982 hit “Planet Rock” and established the Universal Zulu Nation artistic movement.

“When you talk about Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, these are the three founding fathers of the whole culture,” rapper Fat Joe told The Associated Press of Bambaataa’s legacy in 2023.

Taylor grew up during a turbulent period when the South Bronx was experiencing severe urban decay due to systematic segregation and economic abandonment. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, property owners frequently set fires to their buildings for insurance payouts rather than maintaining them, leaving predominantly Black and Puerto Rican residents with limited opportunities.

Raised by his mother in government housing, Bambaataa had Caribbean roots from Jamaica and Barbados. His early musical education came from his mother’s extensive record collection, according to a 1998 interview with Frank Broughton.

His talent for reimagining and blending classic songs became his trademark at neighborhood parties he organized in local community centers during the early 1970s. He drew significant inspiration from Kool Herc, widely regarded as hip-hop’s originator.

Throughout the decade and into the 1980s, Bambaataa’s DJ performances gained massive popularity, leading to his creation of electronic tracks that helped define the emerging hip-hop and electro-funk scenes. He pioneered the use of beat breaks and was among the first to incorporate the legendary Roland TR-808 drum machine.

“We was playin’ everything, everything that was funky,” he explained. He emphasized that his events stood out because “other DJs would play they great records for fifteen, twenty minutes. We was changing ours every minute or two. I couldn’t have no breakbeat go longer than a minute or two.”

During this period, Bambaataa used his connections with the Black Spades street gang to create the Zulu Nation, named after the South African people who inspired him. His philosophy centered on “peace, love, unity and having fun,” and he aimed to harness hip-hop’s growing influence to end neighborhood gang violence.

He eventually renamed his organization the Universal Zulu Nation to welcome “all people from the planet earth.”

“At the core our music made people feel like they belong to a movement and not a moment, our music offered Hope something positive to believe in, it gave people identity, unity, and a way out,” Ellis Williams, a producer known as Mr. Biggs, wrote in an email to the AP. Mr. Biggs was a member of the group Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force that included Bambaataa.

However, Bambaataa’s reputation became tarnished in recent years when multiple individuals came forward with sexual abuse accusations.

In 2016, Bronx activist and former music executive Ronald Savage publicly accused Bambaataa of molesting him in 1980 when Savage was a teenager.

“I was scared, but at the same time I was like, ‘This is Afrika Bambaataa,’” Savage told the AP in 2016, providing detailed accounts of that incident and four additional encounters.

Bambaataa strongly rejected these accusations.

Following Savage’s public statements, several other men shared similar allegations against Bambaataa. In June 2016, the Universal Zulu Nation issued a public statement apologizing to “the survivors of apparent sexual molestation by Bambaataa,” acknowledging that some organization members were aware of the abuse but “chose not to disclose” it.

“We extend our deepest and most sincere apologies to the many people who have been hurt,” the organization stated.

YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio — Comedy star Dave Chappelle celebrated alongside community members Thursday as he officially opened the doors to a beautifully restored 1800s schoolhouse that will serve as the permanent home for local NPR station WYSO.

The ceremony marked the completion of a renovation project largely bankrolled by Chappelle, ensuring the radio station wouldn’t be forced to move away from Yellow Springs during challenging times for community media organizations.

“It’s like our lifeblood in the community,” Chappelle shared with The Associated Press regarding the station, remembering how losing it to nearby Dayton would have delivered “a crushing blow” to Yellow Springs.

Over 200 community members assembled outside the historic Union Schoolhouse, where Chappelle was joined by his family, station management, and local leaders including Yellow Springs Mayor Steve McQueen and Dayton Mayor Shenise Turner-Sloss for the celebration.

The Union Schoolhouse dates back to 1872 and originally operated as one of the area’s first racially integrated educational facilities before later serving various municipal and commercial purposes. Following years of abandonment, Chappelle’s real estate venture, Iron Table Holdings, acquired the property in 2020.

The building has been completely reimagined as a contemporary, flexible facility, with WYSO’s operations taking up the ground levels and Chappelle’s business offices located upstairs.

Chappelle viewed this investment as equally focused on historic preservation and community development.

“If you have the opportunity like I did, to invest in your community, then it’s one of the greatest investments I’ve ever made,” he explained. “In some ways it feels dutiful. Other times I feel proud. … but ultimately, I’m doing it because I want to, not because I have to.”

This development occurs as community news organizations nationwide struggle with reduced funding, changing audience habits and growing pressure from online competitors.

According to Chappelle, stations like WYSO provide crucial community stability. He characterized it as “a beacon for sanity,” delivering “a solid baseline of truth in context” amid today’s fractured media environment.

“I grew up listening to WYSO since high school, and they’ve always been here connecting to the people,” explained Mark Willis, a Yellow Springs resident. “They’re not out of a big city. They’re not subject to censorship by a sponsor. They tell the truth, they tell the stories, and it’s rare these days. To see them growing instead of shrinking is beautiful.”

Instead of making a simple financial contribution, Chappelle chose to fund the entire building renovation, enabling the station to stay community-based while preserving its editorial freedom.

“Dave has never made a suggestion about our programming,” stated Luke Dennis, WYSO’s general manager. He explained the new location revolutionizes the station’s public engagement through performance venues, community spaces and enhanced programming capabilities.

“We belong to the community,” Dennis emphasized.

Small-market public radio has encountered increasing difficulties recently, from financial constraints to divided audiences.

Dennis believes the investment gives WYSO a competitive advantage. “We’re in a place of strength,” he noted.

Yellow Springs holds deep significance for Chappelle. While raised in Maryland, he spent childhood summers in the village where his deceased father served as dean of students at Antioch College.

Currently residing on a 39-acre property with his wife and three children, Chappelle has become deeply involved in local life. He has purchased additional community real estate, launched a downtown comedy venue and organized nationally recognized events, including pandemic-era performances in a neighboring cornfield.

Chappelle actively participates in municipal governance, attending town hall meetings and championing community projects.

As residents toured the renovated facility following the ceremony, the event represented far more than a simple opening.

“I’m more determined and inspired that these institutions flourish and stay of the people,” Chappelle reflected after the celebration. “The only way they can do that is the people supporting them. I’m hopeful more than worried.”

LOS ANGELES — A massive fraud operation targeting California’s Medicaid system has resulted in criminal charges against 21 individuals accused of stealing more than $267 million through fake hospice billing schemes, state officials announced Thursday.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta revealed that authorities have taken five suspects into custody so far in connection with the elaborate scam, which comes as federal officials intensify their nationwide crackdown on healthcare fraud.

The investigation began after the Department of Health Care Services alerted state prosecutors to suspicious activity. Authorities discovered that the accused fraudsters had purchased stolen personal information from dark web sources, targeting residents from other states to illegally register them for Medi-Cal benefits — California’s version of the federal Medicaid program that serves low-income residents.

Using these fraudulent enrollments, the suspects established 14 separate hospice care businesses and submitted false claims totaling approximately $267 million for services that were never provided, according to Bonta’s office.

“This isn’t a political game for us. This is about protecting taxpayer dollars, protecting the programs that sick and vulnerable Californians rely on, and protecting our state,” Bonta stated in an official announcement.

The defendants face multiple felony charges including conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, money laundering, and identity theft, with additional penalties for aggravated white-collar crimes and money laundering.

California Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized the state’s commitment to prosecuting such crimes. “For years, California has led the charge to protect public programs from fraud and abuse,” Newsom said in the announcement. “We hold accountable to the fullest extent of the law anyone who tries to rip off taxpayers and take advantage of public programs, particularly those as sensitive as hospice care.”

Since taking office, Attorney General Bonta’s administration has pursued 119 criminal cases related to hospice fraud and obtained 51 convictions, his office reported.

The charges come during heightened federal scrutiny of healthcare fraud, particularly in Democratic-led states. The Trump administration has made California a primary target of its anti-fraud initiatives, with particular focus on Medicare hospice fraud in the Los Angeles region. President Trump established an anti-fraud task force in March through executive order, placing Vice President JD Vance in charge of the effort.

Federal authorities arrested eight additional suspects last week in separate healthcare fraud cases throughout the Los Angeles area, demonstrating the scope of fraudulent activity officials are working to combat. While the federal crackdown has primarily focused on states with Democratic leadership, Republican-controlled Florida has also been asked to provide detailed information about its fraud detection and prevention methods.

A federal court in Phoenix has thrown out a plea deal that would have freed a man who confessed to attacking a Navajo elder and abandoning her to die.

Preston Henry Tolth, 26, must now stand trial on carjacking and assault charges connected to Ella Mae Begay’s 2021 vanishing. Court officials have not scheduled a trial date.

The proposed deal would have given Tolth credit for three years already behind bars in return for admitting his involvement and entering a guilty plea to one robbery charge.

Begay’s case drew nationwide coverage and brought attention to the widespread problem of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Almost five years have passed since her disappearance, and she remains missing.

The unusual move to throw out the plea deal came after heartbreaking statements from Begay’s son and niece, who argued Tolth should remain locked up until he discloses where Begay can be found.

Begay’s daughter contacted authorities about her mother’s disappearance in June 2021 from their Sweetwater, Arizona home, located in the northern region of the Navajo Nation.

Tolth, whose father had been in a relationship with Begay’s sister, first claimed he had no connection to her vanishing. During subsequent questioning, he admitted to taking Begay’s pickup truck while she was inside, repeatedly striking her, and abandoning her alongside a road.

According to the plea agreement, Tolth exchanged the vehicle for money and illegal substances.

Tolth was scheduled for trial in 2024, but prosecutors suffered a significant setback when a federal judge ruled his admission could not be used as evidence. The judge determined an FBI agent had improperly pressured Tolth by making false claims about available evidence after Tolth had requested to remain silent.

In court documents, federal prosecutors explained that losing Tolth’s confession had damaged their case and argued the plea deal would give Begay’s family more closure than a trial with limited evidence.

Army ROTC students at Old Dominion University have shared their firsthand account of a deadly campus shooting, describing in vivid detail how their instructor gave his life to protect them and how they fought back against the gunman who targeted their program.

The cadets released a 17-minute video on Wednesday detailing the March 12 attack at the Norfolk campus, where Lt. Col. Brandon Shah threw himself at the shooter to shield his students from harm.

According to Cadet Jah-Ire Urtarte, Shah’s heroic actions prevented further casualties that day.

“If he didn’t lunge at him, you know, I wouldn’t be here right now,” Urtarte explained. “There’s a possibility he could’ve turned his gun and I could’ve been next.”

The attacker, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, an Army National Guard veteran, also perished in the incident. Jalloh had previously admitted guilt in 2016 for trying to assist the Islamic State and served 11 years behind bars. He was under supervised release when the attack occurred.

According to the cadets’ testimony, Jalloh entered their classroom and anxiously inquired whether it was an ROTC session. After receiving confirmation, witnesses say he drew a handgun from his waistband, yelled ‘Allahu akbar,’ and opened fire at Shah.

Students scrambled for safety as Shah wrestled with the gunman. Cadet Louis Ancheta described drawing his pocket knife and advancing toward the struggle, taking a bullet to his chest in the process.

“It really didn’t feel like it hit me,” Ancheta recalled, gesturing toward his sternum. “It felt like a graze. After that, I’m like, ‘I can keep on going.’”

Once Shah managed to turn the attacker around, Ancheta deployed the folding tactical blade that most cadets routinely carry.

“So, I just go in there, just start stabbing him,” he recounted. “As I’m stabbing, other cadets jump in.”

Cadet Jeremy Rawlinson also drew his knife to help neutralize the danger.

Even with multiple students restraining him, Jalloh maintained control of his weapon. Cadet Wesley Myers focused on disarming him, forcing his fingers between the gunman’s grip and the pistol to wrestle it away and remove the remaining bullet.

Once they had secured the weapon, the cadets immediately shifted to treating the injured. Cadet Samuel Reineberg discovered a gunshot wound on Shah’s upper right leg, while Rawlinson provided his belt to create a tourniquet.

“On an instant, we switched over to doing combat care,” Rawlinson explained.

Myers attended to Ancheta’s injuries.

“It’s different when it’s not a mannequin and it’s your friend,” Myers reflected. “So, myself and another cadet pull him to the side and lay him on his back and begin performing first aid.”

Ancheta mentioned asking his fellow cadets to contact his mother during the ordeal.

During his recovery, Ancheta was honored with the Purple Heart, joining several other cadets who received recognition for their courageous response.

The students credited Shah with both protecting them and preparing them for such a crisis through his training.

“So, he got to see all the training that he and the rest of Cadre had been giving us for the past years, he got to see us instantly do that in action,” Rawlinson noted. “He got see right then and there, like, hey, these guys didn’t panic. They immediately switched over.”

According to his university profile, Shah was himself an ODU ROTC graduate who returned to lead the program in 2022. During his military service, Shah piloted helicopters on missions across Iraq, Afghanistan and Eastern Europe.

Just two days prior to the shooting, Shah had instructed cadets to avoid wearing their military uniforms on campus for security reasons, another cadet had previously revealed to The Associated Press.

“Because of all the situation that’s happening with Iran and all of that stuff in the Middle East,” explained Cadet Brandon Rebolledo, who was in the adjacent ROTC facility during the attack. “To make sure that we did not become a target and to make sure that we were keeping a low profile.”

The cadets maintain that Shah was the true hero of that tragic day.

“So, he has a saying: Be bold, be quick, be gone,’” Rawlinson shared.

Cadet Oshea Bego added: “Col. Shah really set that example for what it means, not just as a warrior, leader and soldier, but also just as a human being.”

MADISON, Wis. — Board members overseeing Wisconsin’s university system pushed back against their ousted president’s assertion that his termination came without warning, explaining to state legislators Thursday that he failed to tackle urgent matters including artificial intelligence policy and avoided making tough choices that might displease various stakeholders.

The board of regents had remained largely silent about their shocking decision Tuesday to remove Jay Rothman from his position leading the 165,000-student system until Thursday’s hearing. The regents made their unanimous choice to terminate Rothman following private deliberations, with no public debate.

In a Wednesday interview with The Associated Press, Rothman stated he was unaware of the reasons behind his termination and felt “blindsided” by the decision.

However, during Thursday’s state Senate committee session, two regents contradicted Rothman’s account, asserting he understood more about the situation than he’s acknowledging. They emphasized there were “substantial” justifications for his removal, which Rothman was cognizant of.

“That decision was not made lightly,” Regent President Amy Bogost said. “It was not political. It was not retaliatory. It was unanimous. … We made a difficult decision for the right reasons, and I firmly stand by it.”

Frustrated Republican legislators organized the public hearing to demand explanations from regents regarding the unexpected dismissal.

Regent Timothy Nixon outlined multiple concerns about Rothman’s leadership, including insufficient urgency in handling crucial matters like artificial intelligence, misalignment with board priorities, attempts to restrict public board conversations and transparency, interference with board members’ legislative communications, and claiming individual credit for collective achievements.

Nixon additionally mentioned his ongoing efforts to have the university system explain its workforce of 579 employees, an issue Rothman failed to address adequately.

“He doesn’t want to upset either the Legislature, the governor or the faculty or anybody else,” Nixon testified. “He didn’t want to upset the apple cart and, quite frankly, I think the apple cart needs some upsetting.”

Board members informed lawmakers that Rothman could choose to waive confidentiality protections regarding personnel matters, but he understands this would allow regents to reveal additional information. Instead, Rothman is leveraging that confidentiality to create a narrative “that is deliberately one-sided” and damaging to the institution, Bogost explained.

“That is not a search for truth,” she said. “That is strategy. … To do the media circuit that he’s on denigrates our great universities, and that makes me sad.”

Nixon compared the handling of Rothman’s departure, including the declined option to retire or resign, to standard practices for corporate executives.

“This is no different than moving on to a new quarterback, no matter what you thought of the previous quarterback and what they did,” Nixon said.

HAMBURG, N.Y. (AP) — A western New York resident has abandoned his legal battle to retrieve his beloved 12-foot alligator after state officials confiscated the massive reptile following more than three decades of cohabitation.

Tony Cavallaro filed a lawsuit against New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation following the March 2024 incident when officers arrived at his Buffalo-area residence with a search warrant. The authorities tranquilized the enormous 750-pound alligator, which Cavallaro had named Albert, before transporting the animal away in a vehicle.

The reptile, which had been residing in Cavallaro’s indoor pool area, was subsequently relocated to a wildlife sanctuary in Texas.

Cavallaro challenged the state’s refusal to grant him a permit for keeping Albert. However, this past March, he chose to end his legal pursuit after nearly two years of expensive court proceedings with no resolution in sight, his legal representative confirmed.

“Tony’s upset,” attorney Peter Kooshoian said Thursday. “He had the animal for over 30 years — never had a problem until this occurred. So he doesn’t feel he was treated correctly by the government.”

Kooshoian explained that even if Cavallaro had won his case, he anticipated the state would impose strict oversight on his care of the animal.

According to the department, Cavallaro’s permit to possess Albert had lapsed in 2021. The agency also stated that regardless of license status, Cavallaro had violated regulations by allowing visitors to touch the alligator and swim alongside it, which justified the removal under dangerous animal protection laws.

State officials reported that the confiscated reptile suffered from vision loss in both eyes and spinal problems, along with additional medical concerns.

Cavallaro maintained that Albert was “just a big baby” who had never displayed hostile behavior.

He had purchased the alligator as a two-month-old hatchling from a reptile exhibition in Ohio and regarded the animal as his “emotional support animal.”

Following the death of her father, acclaimed novelist Peter Straub, author Emma Straub was navigating deep grief when she spotted an advertisement that would change everything: a New Kids on the Block fan cruise.

Straub had just completed her 2022 book “This Time Tomorrow” while watching her father’s health deteriorate. The novel tells the story of a woman who travels back to her 16th birthday to reconnect with her father when he was young and healthy, serving as Straub’s tribute to their relationship. Peter Straub passed away shortly after the book’s completion.

While mourning, Straub decided to join thousands of devoted fans aboard a four-day voyage featuring the iconic boy band. The ship hosted exclusive performances and special events allowing supporters to interact with the group members. Almost immediately, Straub recognized this unique environment as the perfect backdrop for her next literary work.

“For the first time, I had the whole idea,” explained Straub, whose previous works include “Modern Lovers,” “All Adults Here” and “The Vacationers.” “I knew it was a book. I could write it and I would have the time of my life doing it.”

That inspiration became “American Fantasy,” which hit bookstores Tuesday. The story follows Annie, a recently divorced woman whose children have left home, as she joins a cruise celebrating a 1990s boy band and develops an unexpected relationship with one of the performers.

During a recent interview with The Associated Press, Straub reflected on her creative process and what drew her to this unusual setting.

“My everyday life is quite small. I walk the same loop, from my bookstore to my kid’s school and home. When I leave that, I’m reminded there’s a great big world out there,” Straub explained. “The cruise in particular struck me as novelistic from the get-go. You have a certain number of people trapped together in a small space for a certain number of days. That’s a novel right there.”

Initially, Straub approached the cruise experience as an outsider looking in. However, she quickly discovered she fit right in with the passionate fanbase.

“I went in feeling like an observer. A fan, but really an observer, because it all felt so foreign. Pretty quickly, I realized I wasn’t any better than anyone else there,” she shared. “I eavesdropped on everything and knew 100% of the New Kids references they were talking about. What impressed me was how much these women had spent so much time and energy planning their experience. They wore costumes, decorated the doors of their cabins and made gifts for each other. These were middle-aged women who had given themselves the gift of doing something purely for their own pleasure. I had never seen anything quite like it.”

The experience reinforced Straub’s belief that midlife represents a period of possibility rather than decline.

“I have so many women friends who have made enormous changes between 40 and 55. They have changed careers, gone back to school, moved across the country, gotten divorced and gotten remarried,” she noted. “I grew up thinking of middle age as a downward slope. That’s just not true. We are all still making choices and doing things for the first time. I wanted to spend time with a character who was in that struggle of realizing that and ultimately able to embrace it.”

Straub’s research extended beyond observation to actual conversations with band member Joe McIntyre, who provided insights into the unique challenges of longtime fame.

“I got to know Joe McIntyre from the New Kids. He is smart and funny, and introspective. I wanted to know what it’s like to be a middle-aged man who has had this life, and a relationship with these other men who you’ve known for 40 years, whether you love them or hate them, you’re like truly stuck in this work environment,” Straub said. “You are yoked to these other men for your entire life. What does that feel like? How does it feel to have these kinds of fans? How it feels to grow up in the public eye? And I was able to ask him all these questions. He was so generous with me.”

Despite market trends favoring certain genres, Straub remains committed to authentic storytelling over commercial considerations.

“In an alternate world, I would be able to say, the things that are selling the most right now are murdery thrillers with this kind of protagonist or, you know, romantasy with dragons or whatever, so I’m going to do that. But, that’s not how writing works, you know?” she concluded. “If I’ve learned anything, it is that the best book you can write is always the one that is most personal and most authentic to you. And so, alas, I’ve yet to have a dragon in one of my books.”