Category: U.S. News

Following George Floyd’s death in 2020, the nationwide movement for racial justice sparked commitments from corporations and foundations to better support Black-led nonprofit organizations that had historically been underfunded. Companies increased donations to historically Black colleges, climate funders promised greater investment in minority communities, and major donors vowed to address racial wealth disparities.

However, research published Tuesday reveals these financial commitments largely failed to materialize into sustained support. The study, conducted by nonprofit research organization Candid in partnership with Black philanthropy group ABFE, found that larger Black-led nonprofits experienced only brief funding increases from 2020 to 2022, while smaller organizations saw virtually no improvement.

This pattern of reduced investment has placed community organizations at an even greater disadvantage as President Donald Trump’s administration implements policies limiting diversity, equity and inclusion funding. The nonprofit sector faces additional challenges from threats to social service programs, uncertainty about future grants due to agency staff cuts, and restrictions on racial justice funding through anti-DEI executive orders.

Cliff Albright, who co-founded Black Voters Matter, emphasized that these same community nonprofits are now expected to assist increasing numbers of low-income families struggling with elevated healthcare expenses and food costs.

“We’re literally being asked to do more with less resources,” Albright told The Associated Press.

The research found that smaller Black-led nonprofits frequently depended on new donors rather than established supporters, missing out on transformative partnerships that provide long-term stability and help weather difficult periods. Organizations with annual budgets of $1 million or less received just over one-third of their funding from repeat donors, the report indicated.

This challenge affected organizations like the Resident Association of Greater Englewood, which serves a predominantly Black neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side that ranks among the city’s most economically disadvantaged areas. CEO Asiaha Butler co-established the nonprofit over 15 years ago to empower residents to challenge negative perceptions of their community.

While the organization maintained several steady supporters for its mission, summer 2020 brought more than 24 new funding sources.

“All of a sudden, we were desirable for people to fund,” Butler recalled, noting that the “spurt” eventually became a “curse” as the rapid influx of money eventually diminished.

“We started seeing this revenue and thinking we’re gaining really great relationships with funders,” she explained. “And, really, those priorities shifted quickly.”

According to ABFE CEO Susan Taylor Batten, foundations had limited connections with Black organizations of any size before 2020.

Black philanthropy experts say this disconnect created chaos when protesters demanded that businesses and philanthropic organizations confront systemic racism.

Kia Croom, whose fundraising company serves nonprofits in Black communities, reported that her clients received unprecedented corporate funding. Some hired extra development personnel to handle the increased interest, only to conduct layoffs when the money vanished.

“It was just a very transactional gift at best,” she observed.

Kandee Lewis, who leads the Positive Results Center, a Los Angeles nonprofit supporting domestic violence survivors and others who have experienced harm, said receiving contributions from new supporters felt wonderful initially. However, the assistance often proved to be one-time donations rather than the foundation of ongoing partnerships.

Lewis believed the funding arrived solely because her organization was Black-led, not because donors truly understood their mission.

“They were so busy trying to figure out who was who that they didn’t really take time to get to know people,” she stated.

Jaleesa Hall understands that philanthropy operates on relationships. She directs the Raising A Village Foundation, which promotes educational equity through tutoring initiatives. When she established the Washington, D.C. nonprofit over six years ago, her network included few wealthy individuals.

This limited circle made it challenging to attract foundation attention, as these organizations “haven’t really cracked” how to identify potential grant recipients beyond their existing networks of connections.

“Small, Black-led nonprofits simply aren’t in those rooms to begin with,” Hall noted.

The report showed that most foundation grant funding for these organizations came from first-time supporters.

Cathleen Clerkin, associate vice president of research at Candid, explained that the nonprofits’ mission becomes even more difficult due to the “song and dance” required to obtain long-term investment annually.

“They’re just constantly going on first dates with new funders and hoping that somebody will invest in them and understand them,” she said.

Leaders of small nonprofits remain so occupied with daily operations and financial survival that they lack time for networking events or money to travel to national conferences.

T’Pring Westbrook, a nonresident fellow at the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, co-established a consulting firm serving small nonprofits. She argues the issue isn’t that foundations refuse to support marginalized communities, but that they do so through “trend funding.”

“Maybe during Black History Month there will be a funding campaign,” she explained. “But the thing about a campaign is a campaign doesn’t build sustainability.”

Small nonprofits report facing additional obstacles regardless of race, including grant qualification criteria. Limited staffing may prevent eligible organizations from maintaining foundations’ required weekly or monthly progress reports on funded projects.

“It ends up feeling like a burden,” Hall said. “The juice isn’t worth the squeeze.”

The philanthropy sector has moved toward trust-based approaches that provide general operating support and multi-year grants, recognizing nonprofits’ knowledge about best fulfilling their missions. However, Batten noted that Black-led nonprofits typically haven’t benefited from these improved practices.

The study demonstrated that Black-led nonprofits had significantly fewer repeat funders compared to non-Black organizations. Only one-third received general operating support, while just over half of other nonprofits did.

“We are still seeing remnants of bad practice when it comes to investing in Black communities,” Batten stated. “There’s just no way for a foundation to move its mission for communities in this country, let alone Black nonprofits to move theirs, if we do not evolve this sector.”

Butler, the Chicago community leader, now hears explanations from supporters who contributed during the peak of the 2020 racial justice movement: “Priorities have shifted,” they inform her, or there are “new strategic goals.”

“Little buzz words that just say perhaps this nonprofit — grassroots, Black-led, very focused on the Black population — is probably just not in peoples’ cards to continue to support,” she said.

This funding decline postponed a nearly $7 million capital project building on their economic justice efforts following the post-George Floyd civil unrest. The planned 8,800-square-foot building would house a full-service restaurant and another Black-owned business. One tenant would offer workforce development training. Her objective is to strengthen Englewood’s economic and social foundation through a flourishing Black business district.

By 2023, she had obtained a $1 million grant — her nonprofit’s largest — to begin the project. However, she compared her search for additional funding to “pulling teeth.” Former philanthropic partners withdrew support, and their prospects looked dim.

She’s now pursuing public funding. Chicago provided a $2.5 million grant, and Butler said another $1.5 million state award awaits approval.

“Things shifted and so we didn’t want to start soliciting for a capital campaign,” she explained. “The timing was off.”

A comprehensive study marking America’s upcoming 250th anniversary has revealed significant demographic shifts over the past half-century. The Pew Research Center’s analysis shows that American families have become notably smaller since the nation’s bicentennial celebration in 1976.

The research indicates that the typical American woman now has two children during her reproductive years, compared to three children in 1976. According to Pew researchers, “the introduction of the birth control pill, delays in marriage and increases in women working outside the home have contributed to the change.”

This demographic transformation represents one of several major societal shifts documented in Pew’s extensive examination of how the United States has evolved since its bicentennial year.

Drivers traveling on westbound Main Street should plan for potential delays today as construction crews have reduced traffic to a single lane near the State Street intersection.

Traffic control personnel are on scene directing vehicles through the work zone, which is expected to remain in place until 5 PM this evening.

Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes if possible to avoid congestion in the area.

Research released by the Pew Research Center reveals striking differences in how Americans across different generations view moral issues. The data shows a significant generational divide on several controversial topics.

According to the findings, fewer than half of younger Americans believe consuming pornography is morally objectionable, while more than two-thirds of senior citizens consider it wrong. The study also examined attitudes toward homosexuality, finding that 30% of Americans aged 18 to 29 view same-sex relationships as immoral, compared to 46% of those 65 and older who hold similar views.

Almost five decades after a beloved television comedy series brought the call letters into American pop culture, Cincinnati could finally have an actual radio station using the WKRP identifier.

The classic sitcom that entertained audiences in the late 1970s and early 1980s centered around the fictional adventures of staff members at a radio station in Ohio’s Queen City, making the call letters instantly recognizable to television fans across the country.

Almost five decades after a beloved television comedy put the call letters on the map, Cincinnati could soon welcome an actual radio station bearing the WKRP name.

The iconic designation became a household name through the popular late 1970s sitcom that followed the misadventures of a struggling rock station’s staff in Ohio. Now, the fictional broadcast facility that entertained audiences for four seasons may transition from television fantasy to radio reality in the very city where the show took place.

A Utah courtroom will be the scene Tuesday as a judge considers whether to extend protective measures against reality television personality Taylor Frankie Paul, the star whose upcoming ‘Bachelorette’ season was scrapped following domestic violence accusations.

Dakota Mortensen, who currently has temporary custody of the 2-year-old child he shares with Paul, is requesting the court convert a temporary restraining order into a permanent arrangement while law enforcement continues investigating domestic violence reports from February of this year.

Both Paul and Mortensen will join Tuesday’s proceedings via video conference while their legal representatives attend in person at the Salt Lake City courthouse. Court officials have kept the specifics of the temporary restraining order confidential.

Legal teams are anticipated to focus on the February incidents currently under investigation, rather than a 2023 altercation that resulted in Paul’s arrest and gained renewed attention just before her ‘Bachelorette’ debut, although the earlier incident may come up during discussions.

In an extraordinary decision last month, ABC chose to completely shelve a finished season of ‘The Bachelorette’ featuring Paul as the lead. The network and Disney cited a leaked video that TMZ published on March 19, showing footage from 2023 where Paul appears to physically attack Mortensen by punching, kicking and hurling furniture while her young daughter witnessed the violence and became distressed.

Footage from police body cameras during Paul’s 2023 arrest was included in the debut episode of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’ which premiered in 2024. In that footage, Paul describes the incident as “the worst night of my life.” The actual fight video, seemingly recorded from Mortensen’s perspective, remained private until last month’s media leak.

Paul faced charges including aggravated assault and domestic violence committed in front of a minor. She entered a guilty plea to a reduced misdemeanor assault charge, leading to the dismissal of the remaining charges.

Paul is mother to two children from her previous marriage to Tate Paul, plus the son she had with Mortensen following their 2023 conflict.

Following the show’s cancellation, a spokesperson for Paul claimed she had been “silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation” and was “finally gaining the strength to face her accuser.”

Mortensen responded with his own statement, saying he was “used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny.”

Disney has also suspended work on the fifth season of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’ the Hulu program that launched Paul to reality TV fame. Her selection for ‘The Bachelorette’ created promotional opportunities between the shows for Disney, which controls both networks.

Paul gained recognition as a social media influencer within the #MomTok movement, a collective of women from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who document their experiences on TikTok. This community, along with Paul’s revelations about polyamory within the group, inspired the popular reality series.

This past Sunday, Paul revealed she was departing what is commonly called the Mormon church. She posted on Instagram that while she maintains “love and respect” for the Utah-headquartered religious organization, “It’s time to detach myself.”

HONOLULU — Final arguments are set for Tuesday in the attempted murder case against an anesthesiologist who allegedly attacked his wife on a dangerous hiking trail overlooking Hawaii’s coastline.

Nearly one year has passed since Gerhardt and Arielle Konig took what should have been a scenic walk on the Pali Puka trail in Honolulu, but the outing ended with her covered in blood and shouting that he had attempted to murder her. Gerhardt Konig has entered a not guilty plea to the charges.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story contains references to domestic violence. Those seeking assistance can contact the national domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

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The pair had traveled to Hawaii’s capital for a birthday celebration in March 2025, leaving their two young children at home on Maui. According to prosecutors, the 47-year-old doctor became enraged about his wife’s involvement with a colleague and allegedly attempted to force her over the edge of the steep path, struck her head with a stone, and tried to attack her with a medical syringe.

The proceedings, which have been broadcast live on Court TV, have exposed the couple’s troubled relationship and presented two dramatically different accounts of the mountain confrontation.

During his testimony, Gerhardt Konig revealed he had discovered his wife’s extramarital relationship by accessing her phone without permission while she was asleep. Arielle Konig described the relationship as an “emotional affair” consisting of flirtatious text exchanges with a workplace colleague, and said this topic arose during their hike.

Arielle Konig told the court that her husband seized her and attempted to force her toward the precipice, but she managed to throw herself to the ground to resist. She testified that he positioned himself over her while holding a syringe, which she managed to knock from his grasp. In her struggle to escape, she bit his arm and grabbed his groin area, she stated.

Gerhardt Konig disputed claims that he tried to push her off the cliff and instead testified that she struck him with a rock on his face. He said he took the rock from her and hit her twice with it as a defensive measure.

He rejected allegations about carrying syringes on the mountain or attempting to stab her. His legal representative reminded jurors that no syringe was recovered at the location.

Two other hikers who heard Arielle Konig’s cries for help assisted her descent from the trail.

The Pali Puka trail, whose name translates to “pierced cliff” in the Hawaiian language, leads to an opening in a rocky ridge where visitors can view the forest and ocean beyond. State authorities have officially closed the trail due to safety concerns, but hikers frequently bypass barriers through a small gap, disregarding posted warnings that state: “Area Closed! Do not go beyond this sign.”

Gerhardt Konig testified that as he observed his wife moving away from him, he realized both his marriage and professional life were finished and contemplated suicide by jumping. However, he first contacted his adult son from an earlier marriage. According to authorities, the son reported that his father admitted he “tried to kill your stepmom” — a statement Gerhardt Konig denies making.

He remained on the mountain for several hours before choosing to descend and turn himself in to law enforcement.

His wife has subsequently initiated divorce proceedings.

HOLLYWOOD, Florida — Hip-hop artist Offset, a member of the rap group Migos, was wounded in a shooting Monday evening and is currently hospitalized in stable condition, according to his representative.

The musician is receiving medical treatment and remains under close observation at a Florida hospital, his spokesperson confirmed in a public statement.

Offset, who was previously married to rapper Cardi B and shares three children with her, was injured during an incident at the Seminole Hard Rock casino in Hollywood, Florida.

The Seminole Police Department reported that an individual suffered non-fatal injuries Monday night in the valet section outside the casino property. Law enforcement officials have not publicly named the victim.

Authorities have taken two suspects into custody as they continue their investigation into the shooting, police officials announced.

“The site is secure and there is no threat to the public,” police stated. “Operations continue as normal.”

This incident comes two years after Offset’s relative Takeoff, who was also part of Migos, was fatally shot in 2022.

Migos gained widespread recognition for their distinctive rapid-fire musical style and became one of hip-hop’s most successful acts. The group first gained mainstream attention with their 2013 single “Versace” and later received Grammy recognition for their 2018 album “Culture,” which earned nominations for best rap album and best rap performance.

Offset and Cardi B married privately in Atlanta during September 2017. Earlier this year, Cardi B publicly announced she had initiated divorce proceedings.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Several Oklahoma City police officers have been suspended pending an internal investigation into a false emergency report made on April 1st that prompted multiple squad cars to respond to what they believed was a baby being thrown from a moving vehicle.

Police Captain Valerie Littlejohn acknowledged Monday that department officials are conducting a comprehensive review of the incident but declined to specify the number of officers currently on administrative leave or elaborate on the specific allegations they face.

“We are aware of a reported pursuit involving some of our officers that included serious claims, which has since been determined to be false,” Littlejohn said in a statement. “We take this situation seriously and are committed to ensuring a thorough review is conducted.”

The department launched its investigation after local television station KFOR and other media outlets obtained and broadcast police radio communications from April 1st. In the recordings, a dispatcher can be heard informing responding units that “the city just advised that the suspect threw a baby out the window.”

“The police officer that’s in pursuit does not have a radio. He’s just messaging his location,” the dispatcher says.

Following the deployment of multiple officers to the scene, the radio traffic reveals the moment the truth was discovered when a dispatcher announces: “It was an April Fools’ prank.”

Another dispatcher responds: “Not funny.”

Attempts to reach the Oklahoma City police union president for comment on Monday were unsuccessful.

Under Oklahoma state law, deliberately providing false information that could trigger the deployment of emergency responders constitutes a misdemeanor offense. Those convicted face potential fines up to $500 plus reimbursement for any expenses incurred by emergency services during their response.

An Army staff sergeant is fighting to prevent his newlywed wife from being deported after federal immigration officials arrested her at a Louisiana military installation where the couple planned to start their new life together.

The detention of the soldier’s spouse, who was born in Honduras and remains held at a federal immigration facility as of Monday, has sparked criticism from military family advocacy groups. They argue such actions hurt morale during wartime and could damage military recruitment efforts by targeting service members’ families.

Staff Sgt. Matthew Blank explained that he brought his wife, Annie Ramos, age 22, to Fort Polk, Louisiana last Thursday to help her begin obtaining military family benefits and start the green card application process. The pair wed in March.

Immigration enforcement officers took Ramos into custody as part of the current administration’s expanded deportation efforts, which immigration law specialists say has ended the Department of Homeland Security’s previous practice of showing leniency toward military families.

“I never imagined that trying to do the right thing would lead to her being taken away from me,” Blank, 23, told The Associated Press. “What was supposed to be the happiest week of our lives has turned into one of the hardest.”

According to DHS records, Ramos arrived in the United States in 2005 when she was not yet 2 years old. Her family missed a required immigration court appearance that year, prompting a judge to issue a final removal order.

“She has no legal status to be in this country,” DHS stated in an email response. “This administration is not going to ignore the rule of law.”

Ramos submitted an application for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2020, but her husband reports the application has been stuck “in limbo” due to ongoing legal challenges to the Obama-era immigration program.

Last April, DHS scrapped a 2022 directive that treated military service by immediate family members as a “significant mitigating factor” when determining whether to pursue immigration enforcement actions. The current policy declares that “military service alone does not exempt aliens from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws.”

Before the current administration’s intensified deportation campaign, DHS typically permitted spouses of active military personnel to obtain legal status through programs like parole in place and deferred action that military recruiters actively promoted, according to Margaret Stock, an expert in military immigration law.

Stock noted that Ramos’ situation would have been easily resolved previously, but DHS now appears focused on arresting military family members whenever possible — even when they’re attempting to follow proper legal procedures for obtaining status.

“It doesn’t make any sense — they’re going to get arrested for following the law? That’s stupid,” Stock commented. “It’s bad for morale, it disrupts the soldiers’ readiness.”

Last September, more than 60 Congressional representatives sent a letter to DHS and the Department of Defense expressing concern that arrests of military personnel and veterans’ family members was “betraying its promises to service members who play a key role in protecting U.S. national security.”

Pentagon officials declined to provide comment on the matter.

Lydiah Owiti-Otienoh, who leads the Foreign-Born Military Spouse Network advocacy organization, reports observing more cases where military families face disruption due to stricter immigration enforcement. She contends the federal government is working against its own interests by pursuing deportation of military spouses.

“It just sends a really bad message — we don’t care about you, about your spouses, anything you are doing,” Owiti-Otienoh explained. “If military families are not stable, national security is not stable.”

Blank’s mother, Jen Rickling, described her daughter-in-law to the AP as a Sunday school teacher and biochemistry student who had exceeded all expectations — someone who “loves my son with her whole heart.”

“We absolutely adore her,” Rickling stated. “I believe in this country. And I believe we can do better than this — for Annie, for other military families, and for the values we hold dear.”

Blank said he had looked forward to beginning their life together on the military base while serving his country.

“I want my wife home,” Blank declared. “And I will not stop fighting until she is back where she belongs, by my side.”

Minneapolis authorities made public security camera footage Monday that captured a January confrontation between federal immigration enforcement agents and two Venezuelan men, an incident that resulted in one man being shot and has since sparked a criminal investigation into potential perjury by federal officers.

The surveillance video, recorded by a city-owned camera, documents portions of an encounter where immigration agents pursued a Venezuelan man to his home. During the ensuing altercation, another Venezuelan resident at the location was wounded by gunfire. In February, federal prosecutors dismissed all criminal charges against both immigrants and launched an investigation into whether two immigration enforcement officers provided false testimony under oath regarding the incident.

Minneapolis made the footage public following reporting by the New York Times, which had previously obtained the video and questioned why it took several weeks for the federal case against the two men to fall apart. According to the Times, federal investigators had the video available within hours of the January 14 shooting but didn’t review it until almost three weeks after filing charges against the two men.

“The video makes it crystal clear that, just like in other situations during Operation Metro Surge, the federal government’s account of what happened simply does not match the facts,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement.

Immigration authorities originally claimed that Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis attacked an ICE agent using a broom handle and snow shovel during the encounter. The agent discharged one round from his weapon, hitting Sosa-Celis in the right thigh. Demonstrators soon gathered at the location and confronted additional officers who had arrived wearing protective gear including gas masks and helmets.

Minneapolis officials offered minimal explanation of what the footage shows, stating only that it was “related” to the shooting incident. Their statement noted, “The City has no additional information and will not be making further comments at this time.”

The distant, nighttime footage appears to capture someone holding a snow shovel near the street outside the residence, then backing toward the house and throwing the shovel into the yard. This occurs as someone being pursued by another individual runs up from the street, stumbles on the sidewalk, recovers, and continues toward the house.

The three individuals appear to engage in a brief struggle near the front entrance lasting approximately 10 seconds. The precise moment of the shooting is not clearly visible. A vehicle with emergency lights arrives, followed by another person approaching the scene.

The camera’s movement suggests it was being operated manually in real-time, as it panned to focus on the street where the incident unfolded before any emergency vehicles appeared.

Charges against Aljorna and Sosa-Celis were withdrawn following an extraordinary filing by Minnesota’s top federal prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, who cited “newly discovered evidence” that was “materially inconsistent with the allegations” in the original criminal complaint and evidence presented during their preliminary hearing. He determined that dismissal with prejudice, preventing the charges from being refiled, “would serve the interests of justice.”

Rosen and other federal prosecutors handling the case, along with the Department of Justice, did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment Monday.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement made no reference to the video in their statement but confirmed their previous announcement that two officers involved appeared to have provided false testimony under oath and were immediately suspended pending an internal investigation. The officers’ identities have not been disclosed.

“Lying under oath is a serious federal offense. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is actively investigating these false statements,” the ICE statement said. “Upon conclusion of the investigation, the officers may face termination of employment, as well as potential criminal prosecution.”

The statement provided no update on the status of their case.

Aljorna’s legal representative did not respond to requests for comment. Sosa-Celis’ lawyer, Robin Wolpert, stated, “The video is evidence in ongoing state and federal investigations so I can’t comment.”

Both men remain free while pursuing legal immigration status. They were released even before criminal charges were dropped, though ICE briefly detained them again for alleged immigration violations before another court order secured their release.

State and local prosecutors have expressed frustration with federal authorities’ unwillingness to share information about this incident and the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers. They filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration last month seeking access to evidence they say is necessary for independent investigations of all three shootings.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office refused to comment on the video, citing the ongoing investigation.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin university system leaders will decide Tuesday whether to terminate their president after he declined to step down voluntarily, demanding an explanation for what he called an unexpected dismissal attempt.

Jay Rothman, who oversees the 165,000-student Universities of Wisconsin system, sent correspondence to board members stating he would not voluntarily leave his position without understanding what prompted the action against him.

Board of Regents President Amy Bogost responded Monday that Rothman “was not without notice, nor was this process sudden.”

“The Board has engaged with President Rothman in good-faith discussions over the past several months,” she said.

The termination decision is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday. Rothman did not respond to requests for comment.

The board action comes just five days after news broke that regents had given Rothman an ultimatum to resign or face removal.

Rothman has served as the multi-campus system’s leader since 2022. His correspondence marked the first public revelation that his position was at risk, catching university officials and state leaders off guard.

The attempt to remove Rothman without public explanation drew criticism Friday from Republican state Rep. David Murphy, who leads the Wisconsin Assembly’s higher education committee.

“This lack of transparency is unacceptable,” Murphy said. “President Rothman deserves to know exactly why the Board has lost confidence in his leadership.”

Bogost characterized the decision as forward-looking during a period of “profound change” in higher education, saying “this decision is about the future.”

“The Universities of Wisconsin must be led with a clear vision that both protects and strengthens our flagship, support our comprehensive universities and ensures we are meeting the evolving needs of our students, workforce and communities across all 72 counties,” she said.

During Rothman’s leadership, he has worked to secure additional state funding while facing federal budget reductions, addressed campus free speech issues during pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and managed declining student numbers that resulted in eight satellite campus closures, though overall enrollment remained stable.

Employment attorney Tamara Packard, who examined Rothman’s contract, confirmed that he can be dismissed without cause and has no right to appeal the decision.

The contract requires six months’ advance notice of termination. Typically, dismissed executives focus on transition responsibilities rather than continuing regular duties, Packard explained.

Throughout his term, Rothman has worked with a Republican-majority Legislature while reporting to a regent board dominated by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ appointees. This same board hired him initially.

With Evers not running for re-election, a new governor will soon have authority over regent appointments. The board controls hiring and firing decisions for university leadership.

When questioned Monday about the board’s intentions regarding Rothman, Evers remained neutral.

“It’s their call,” Evers said of the board.

The leadership uncertainty coincides with the departure of Madison campus Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, who will leave in May to become Columbia University’s president.

Before joining the university system, Rothman served as chair and CEO of Milwaukee law firm Foley & Lardner, bringing no previous higher education administration experience to the role.

His current annual compensation totals $600,943.

NEW YORK — A defendant whose murder conviction in the death of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay was overturned may walk free in the coming days following a judge’s decision Monday to approve his $1 million bond.

Karl Jordan Jr. won’t be immediately released because he continues to face separate drug-related charges that aren’t connected to the legendary DJ’s 2002 murder. Jordan stays locked up while federal prosecutors have this week to determine if they’ll challenge the bond ruling. Should they choose not to appeal, he’ll be freed once his bond documentation is completed.

“There’s a real chance, Mr. Jordan, that you may be released in the very near term,” U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall told him. “I wish you luck. And you will stay out of trouble,” she continued.

Jordan nodded silently while more than a dozen family members and supporters watched from the courtroom gallery. Many have shown up to nearly six years of hearings in his case, with 17 people agreeing to co-sign his bond. Jordan’s family also pledged Southern properties valued at $525,000 combined. Should he gain freedom, he’ll be monitored electronically.

Jordan’s defense team refused to speak with reporters following the hearing.

The victim, Jason Mizell, known professionally as Jam Master Jay, died from gunshot wounds at his New York City recording studio in 2002. Serving as Run-DMC’s DJ, he helped bring hip-hop music into the mainstream during the 1980s with popular tracks like “It’s Tricky” and their cover version of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.” Mizell also guided emerging artists, including a then-unknown 50 Cent.

Following years without progress, authorities arrested Jordan and Ronald Washington in 2020. Washington, currently 61, and Jordan, 42, both maintained their innocence.

A jury found both men guilty in 2024 after listening to eyewitness accounts that Jordan fired the fatal shots while Washington prevented anyone from leaving. However, in December 2025, DeArcy Hall threw out Jordan’s conviction and declared him not guilty, while letting Washington’s guilty verdict stand.

The judge’s decision focused on whether prosecutors successfully demonstrated the murder was drug-related, which was necessary for the federal murder charge. Testimony revealed that following Run-DMC’s peak popularity, Mizell became involved in cocaine trafficking to support himself financially and was offering drug business opportunities to Jordan and Washington — who were Mizell’s godson and longtime friend, respectively.

DeArcy Hall determined the jury received adequate evidence showing Washington harbored resentment toward Mizell over a failed Baltimore drug deal. However, similar proof regarding Jordan’s motivation was lacking, with the judge calling it “just conjecture.”

Federal prosecutors are challenging her ruling that cleared Jordan of Mizell’s murder.

Jordan’s legal team contended he deserved bond while the appeal and pending drug and weapons charges proceed.

Jordan, whose romantic partner works as a city jail official, “is not a danger to the community. But his continued detention is a danger to Mr. Jordan,” attorney John Diaz argued during a March 13 hearing. Jordan suffered serious stab wounds at Brooklyn’s problematic federal detention facility last year, with other prisoners facing charges for attacking him.

While prosecutors condemned the stabbing incident, they pressed the judge to keep Jordan detained, arguing he posed a flight risk.

DeArcy Hall ruled Monday that Jordan’s bond arrangement addressed concerns about him fleeing. However, she emphasized to him, “At the end of the day, sir, bond is about you giving me your word.”

“Yeah, I’m aware of that,” Jordan responded.

Looking toward the spectators, she wanted to ensure his relatives understood Jordan must follow all bond requirements.

“You all know I do not play,” the judge cautioned. “We all understood, folks?”

“Yes, your honor,” came the unified response from the audience.

Separately, prosecutors are conducting plea negotiations with a third defendant in Mizell’s death, according to a March 12 court filing from prosecutors and defense lawyers. This third suspect, Jay Bryant, was charged in 2023 after investigators discovered his DNA on a hat found at the crime scene. Bryant has entered a not guilty plea.

According to prosecutors, Bryant secretly entered the studio building and unlocked a rear entrance for Jordan and Washington, having connected with them through a shared contact. Jordan’s attorneys have maintained that the case against Bryant creates reasonable doubt about the now-dismissed charges against Jordan.

A Connecticut judge declared a mistrial Monday in a decades-old murder case following shocking allegations that an 11-year-old rape and murder victim may have been placed in a contaminated body bag nearly 40 years ago.

The case involves Marc Karun, 60, who was standing trial for the 1986 murder and kidnapping of Kathleen Flynn, a sixth-grade student who was attacked while walking home from her Norwalk middle school. Karun, formerly a Norwalk resident, was taken into custody in 2019 at his residence in Stetson, Maine.

The bombshell revelation came Thursday during proceedings in Stamford when prosecutors revealed they had just received an email from former Norwalk police lieutenant Robert Fabrizzio. In his message, Fabrizzio reported that a state crime laboratory official had informed him shortly after Flynn’s death that her body had been placed in a previously used body bag, raising serious questions about potential evidence contamination.

According to Fabrizzio, the laboratory official who shared this information was Henry Lee, the renowned forensic expert famous for his involvement in the O.J. Simpson case and numerous other prominent criminal investigations nationwide. Lee, who was running the crime lab during that period, passed away last month at 87 years old. Attempts to reach Fabrizzio for comment were unsuccessful.

Judge John Blawie ruled Monday that he had no alternative but to declare a mistrial due to evidence integrity concerns, though he indicated the case would continue and not be dismissed entirely.

Prosecutor Paul Ferencek, who brought Fabrizzio’s email to the court’s attention last week, released a statement saying his office would collaborate with the state crime laboratory and medical examiner to investigate whether Fabrizzio’s allegations have merit.

“We’re obviously disappointed by this turn of events, especially for the family members of Kathy Flynn, who have waited forty years for justice and some degree of closure,” his statement said.

The body bag allegations caught crime laboratory officials off guard, according to Rick Green, who speaks for the lab and its supervising agency, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Green stated that forensic experts from the facility maintain confidence in their courtroom testimony.

Defense attorney Francis O’Reilly, representing Karun, refused to provide comment. Karun continues to be held on $5 million bail.

Authorities in Norwalk accused Karun of murdering Flynn on Sept. 23, 1986. He subsequently received convictions for sexually assaulting or kidnapping four additional female victims during the 1980s and spent approximately a decade behind bars.

Investigators said improvements in DNA analysis technology, combined with similarities between Karun’s previous attacks and Flynn’s murder, resulted in his 2019 arrest. A state forensic laboratory expert testified recently that DNA analysis of material collected from under Flynn’s fingernails indicated the genetic material was 22,000 times more likely to have come from Flynn and Karun together than from the girl and an unrelated individual, according to Hearst Connecticut Media.

Following Karun’s arrest, law enforcement discovered close to 90 rifles and handguns at his Maine residence. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing firearms, officials said. Karun entered a guilty plea to federal weapons charges in 2024 and faces sentencing in that matter this July, based on federal court documents.

Avalanche specialists are raising serious concerns about the judgment calls made by professional guides during California’s most devastating avalanche disaster in recent memory, which claimed nine lives two months ago.

A detailed assessment released Saturday by the Sierra Avalanche Center and featured on the National Avalanche Center website criticizes the tour guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides for allowing their large group to travel bunched together through hazardous terrain while avalanche alerts were active.

The skiers were moving in a condensed formation when proper protocol demanded they be spread apart to minimize danger, the assessment found.

“Exposing only one person at a time to avalanche terrain is an accepted best practice for backcountry travel,” the report said. “Analysis of past avalanche accidents has indicated that larger group sizes (4 or more people) have higher chances of being caught in avalanches.”

The February 17 disaster struck near Lake Tahoe in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains when an enormous mass of snow crashed down a mountainside, burying nine backcountry skiers while six others managed to survive.

Investigators also discovered that multiple group members carried avalanche safety backpacks with inflatable air bags, yet none of this potentially life-saving gear activated when the slide occurred.

Blackbird Mountain Guides responded Monday that their investigation continues.

“The report does not reflect the full scope of what transpired and does not include all of the facts and information currently under review,” the company stated via email. “We are cooperating fully with authorities and will share more when it is appropriate and based on verified and confirmed findings.”

According to the assessment, the 15-person party was traversing a known avalanche path near Castle Peak after heavy snowfall had created conditions ripe for slides.

While the avalanche center lacks enforcement authority, their reports typically offer crucial safety recommendations for mountain recreation.

Both the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and state workplace safety officials are conducting separate investigations into the company’s actions before the tragedy.

The avalanche occurred on the final day of a three-day guided tour, as the group chose to cut their trip short and depart from mountain huts to outrun an approaching storm system.

The center’s analysis drew extensively from interviews with survivors Jim Hamilton and Anton Auzans, who shared their experiences with the New York Times. Both men had completed basic avalanche training and possessed limited backcountry skiing experience prior to the fatal outing.

The survivors reported that guides held private discussions, leaving uncertainty about whether the team knew about warnings of highly probable human-triggered avalanches before departing the huts, which had internet connectivity. The men explained that separate women’s and men’s groups were merged that morning under four guides’ supervision.

During the final mile-long ascent, Hamilton encountered equipment problems and lagged behind the main group. Thirteen skiers, predominantly women, remained clustered behind the lead guides as they entered avalanche-prone terrain. Auzans followed closely when the slide struck, according to the newspaper account. Though buried, he successfully freed himself before Hamilton and another guide arrived to attempt rescue operations.

The center acknowledged that other survivors might possess different perspectives and details that could provide a fuller understanding if they decide to share their accounts. The victims included three seasoned guides and six women who belonged to a tight-knit circle of friends with extensive backcountry skiing backgrounds.

Jess Weaver, speaking for the female friends’ group, indicated that survivors and victims’ families are declining media interviews currently.

Colorado avalanche specialist Dale Atkins said the group violated a fundamental principle of mountain travel by remaining clustered while crossing dangerous terrain. However, Atkins noted that staying together in safer areas made logical sense given the day’s poor visibility and the risk of participants becoming separated.

“Did they mess up? A lot of people will say, ‘Yes,’” said Atkins, who brings five decades of Colorado mountain rescue and avalanche research experience. “I’m not so sure about that. You want to keep the group together. But you don’t keep the group together on an avalanche slope. I suspect the guides in the group didn’t realize they were in an avalanche path.”

Atkins offered similar observations about the decision to ski during the storm: While hindsight suggests staying put until conditions improved would have been wiser, the guides may have reasonably believed that rapid evacuation was the safer choice.

“A lot of armchair quarterbacks, if they were in the middle of the storm out there, they might have made a similar decision,” he said. “Tragically for these people and their families, there’s no do over.”

Law enforcement officials have released a detailed timeline of events surrounding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, in what investigators are calling an abduction case.

The elderly woman was last spotted by family on January 31st following an evening visit to her eldest daughter Annie Guthrie’s Tucson residence, where she had dinner with Annie and her husband.

On February 1st, surveillance footage from Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera recorded a masked individual in the early morning hours attempting to disable the device. The person wore a ski mask, carried a backpack, had on gloves, and appeared to have a holstered weapon. Approximately 30 minutes following this incident, her pacemaker monitoring system lost connection with her phone line. Family members contacted police shortly before midday when Nancy failed to show up for her regular Sunday worship service.

Three days later on February 4th, Savannah Guthrie joined her siblings Annie and Camron Guthrie in posting their initial social media appeal regarding their mother’s vanishing. The family acknowledged media reports about ransom communications and urged the kidnappers to make contact with them directly.

By February 5th, investigators confirmed through DNA analysis that blood discovered on the missing woman’s front porch belonged to her. The same day marked the first missed deadline mentioned in an alleged ransom message at 5 p.m.

On February 7th, Savannah Guthrie appeared alongside her brother and sister in another video appeal for their mother’s safe return, stating: “This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”

Two days later on February 9th, the Today show host posted an Instagram video declaring: “We believe our mom is still out there” while requesting public assistance in the search. A second ransom deadline came and went without resolution.

February 10th brought significant developments when the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI made public the doorbell camera footage showing the armed intruder at Nancy Guthrie’s residence. Sheriff’s officials later called this video evidence the most important breakthrough in their investigation. That same day, law enforcement conducted a search at a residence in Rio Rico, Arizona, located 60 miles south of Tucson near the border. One individual was detained for questioning but subsequently released without charges. Savannah Guthrie shared images of the masked suspect on Instagram with the message: “We believe she is still alive; bring her home.”

On February 15th, authorities recovered discarded gloves approximately 2 miles from the victim’s home that appeared similar to those worn by the suspect captured on camera. DNA samples were extracted from these gloves.

However, by February 17th, the genetic material from the gloves failed to match any profiles in CODIS, the national DNA database, according to FBI and sheriff’s officials.

The family announced a substantial reward on February 24th, offering up to $1 million for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery. This Instagram video message from Savannah Guthrie marked the first time the family publicly acknowledged the possibility that Nancy might be deceased.

On March 4th, further DNA testing revealed the gloves actually belonged to a local restaurant worker who was ruled out as a suspect, effectively eliminating what investigators had considered a promising lead.

Most recently on April 6th, Savannah Guthrie resumed her duties as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday its intention to recruit 2,300 new air traffic controller trainees in an effort to combat ongoing staffing challenges that have plagued the agency.

Currently, the FAA operates with approximately 3,500 fewer fully certified air traffic controllers than its target staffing requirements. As of late September, the agency employed 13,164 controllers, representing a 6% decline compared to staffing levels from ten years ago. The shortage has forced numerous controllers to work required overtime shifts and six-day work schedules, while the FAA’s training academy for air traffic control continues to struggle with high student dropout rates.

NBC Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie made her return to television Monday morning, resuming her hosting duties more than two months after her elderly mother disappeared in what authorities are investigating as a kidnapping case in Arizona.

Broadcasting from NBC’s Manhattan headquarters at 7 a.m., Guthrie dove into the day’s top stories, covering topics ranging from U.S.-Iran tensions to NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission, before taking a moment to address her extended time away from the program.

“We are so glad you started your week with us, and it is good be home,” Guthrie told viewers.

Her co-host Craig Melvin welcomed her back, saying “Yes, it is good to have you back at home,” while offering a supportive gesture by patting her hand.

“Well, here we go, ready or not, let’s do the news,” Guthrie responded.

Guthrie’s last appearance behind the anchor desk was in January, just before the disappearance of her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, from her residence in the Tucson area. Security footage captured a masked, armed individual interfering with the home’s doorbell camera system before Nancy Guthrie went missing.

The family launched a desperate search effort, with Savannah Guthrie and her brothers and sisters making heartfelt public appeals for information about their mother’s whereabouts. They put up a $1 million reward for her safe return, but Nancy Guthrie’s location remains unknown.

During a February video message, Guthrie shared that her family was “blowing on the embers of hope” that her mother might still be alive, while also confronting the painful possibility that “she may already be gone.”

Entertainment enthusiasts have plenty of new content to explore this week as streaming platforms debut fresh movies, television series, music releases, and video games.

Among the standout offerings are Sydney Sweeney’s portrayal of boxer Christy Martin in a biographical film, the concluding season of the Emmy-winning comedy ‘Hacks,’ country artist Ella Langley’s latest album, Nintendo’s new Pokémon battle game, and a nostalgic return of ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ featuring original stars Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek.

MOVIES

Sydney Sweeney takes on the role of boxing champion Christy Martin in David Michôd’s biographical drama ‘Christy’ (HBO Max, Friday, April 10). Sweeney, who also serves as producer, delivers what critics call one of her finest performances. The film chronicles Martin’s journey from her humble West Virginia roots through her professional boxing career, which was overshadowed by her abusive manager-husband (Ben Foster). According to AP’s Jocelyn Noveck, Sweeney ‘imbues her no-holds-barred portrayal of Martin with both sweetness and rage, with brio and real vulnerability.’

Director Akinola Davies Jr.’s heartfelt family drama ‘My Father’s Shadow’ becomes available Friday, April 10, on MUBI. This semi-autobiographical work, written by Davies and his brother Wale, follows two Nigerian children during an unexpected day with their father (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) in Lagos during a crucial period in the nation’s history. AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr described it as ‘a gem, a deeply felt memory piece and vibrant portrait of Nigeria in 1993.’

Jonah Hill steps behind the camera once again for ‘Outcome,’ a Hollywood satire featuring Keanu Reeves as movie star Reef Hawk, who worries a compromising video might ruin his career. Hill, who co-wrote the screenplay, also appears as Reef’s crisis management attorney. The film launches Friday, April 10, on Apple TV.

MUSIC

Country music sensation Ella Langley drops her second studio album on Friday, April 10. The artist behind hit singles like the nostalgic duet ‘You Look Like You Love Me’ with Riley Green and the chart-topping ‘Choosin’ Texas,’ co-written with Miranda Lambert, releases ‘Dandelion’ as her follow-up record.

British disco-pop performer Jessie Ware unveils ‘Superbloom,’ also arriving Friday, April 10. Her latest work continues her dance floor-ready sound, exemplified by the track ‘Ride,’ which samples the iconic theme from the 1966 Western ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ and blends it with shimmering synthesizers. ‘Come be my cowboy, baby, come, let’s ride,’ she sings, ‘You know I want you, I need you tonight, tonight.’

TELEVISION

‘The Boys’ wraps up with its fifth and final season Wednesday on Prime Video. This acclaimed superhero satire, adapted from comic books, depicts corrupt superheroes and the team working to stop them. Returning cast members include Jack Quaid, Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher and Chace Crawford, along with newer additions Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jensen Ackles. ‘Hamilton’ star Daveed Diggs joins the ensemble.

Hulu presents ‘The Testaments,’ a follow-up to ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ premiering Wednesday. Ann Dowd returns as Aunt Lydia, now overseeing an educational institution that prepares young women for marriage and motherhood in Gilead. The series stars Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday and adapts Margaret Atwood’s novel.

Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen headline the science fiction comedy ‘The Miniature Wife’ on Peacock. The series follows a married couple attempting to repair their relationship when an unusual incident creates additional complications. It debuts Thursday.

‘Hacks’ concludes its run with a fifth and final season on HBO, starting Thursday. The award-winning series explores the complex dynamic between a veteran comedian (Jean Smart) and an ambitious writer (Hannah Einbinder). The show has earned numerous accolades, including an Emmy for outstanding comedy series, with Smart winning four consecutive Emmys and Einbinder claiming one.

Nostalgia takes center stage as ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ returns after two decades. The four-episode revival ‘Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair’ reunites Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, with Muniz’s character now parenting a teenage daughter. The episodes premiere Friday, April 10, on both Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

GAMING

Nintendo marks Pokémon’s 30th anniversary with Pokémon Champions, a combat-focused game launching Wednesday on Switch and Switch 2. Following last month’s community-building Pokémon Pokopia, this title emphasizes battle mechanics as players recruit and train creatures for arena competitions. The free-to-start game offers ranked global tournaments and casual matches, with iOS and Android versions planned for later in 2026.

Annapurna Interactive releases People of Note on Tuesday for PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC. This musical adventure follows pop singer Cadence as she forms a band and travels across the world of Note, where each city represents a different musical genre. When a Harmonic Convergence threatens to silence all music, Cadence and her bandmates must solve puzzles, explore dungeons and battle enemies to restore harmony. Developer Iridium Studios promises that ‘each battle is an interactive musical performance.’

NEW YORK — NBC’s “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie will make her first appearance back on the morning program Monday, ending a break of more than two months following her mother’s mysterious vanishing in Arizona.

The television personality admits she has been fundamentally changed by the experience and struggles with moving forward without answers about what happened to her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, who law enforcement officials suspect was forcibly taken from her Arizona residence.

Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on February 1st, and despite comprehensive search efforts involving thousands of federal agents, local law enforcement, and community volunteers, no trace of the mother of three has been discovered.

During an Easter Sunday video message shared by her New York congregation, Guthrie discussed experiencing “moments of deep disappointment with God, the feeling of utter abandonment.” However, she emphasized that Easter’s celebration remains incomplete “if we do not acknowledge the feelings of loss, pain, and yes, death.”

The veteran broadcaster expressed uncertainty about whether she would feel comfortable resuming her television duties.

“It’s hard to imagine doing it because it’s such a place of joy and lightness,” Guthrie explained during her first on-air interview since the incident just over a week ago. “I can’t come back and try to be something that I’m not. But I can’t not come back because it’s my family.”

Having served as a “Today” show co-anchor since 2012, Guthrie has become one of morning television’s most familiar personalities. She stated she won’t pretend to be upbeat during the typically cheerful program, which blends entertainment with serious breaking news coverage.

Considerable uncertainty had surrounded whether she would return to broadcasting.

“I want to smile, and when I do it will be real,” she explained to Hoda Kotb, who returned to temporarily replace Guthrie while she concentrated on the search efforts. “Being there is joyful, and when it’s not I’ll say so.”

Nancy Guthrie had appeared on “Today” several times throughout the years, participating in cooking segments and making surprise visits to see her daughter on set.

During a 2025 hometown visit to Tucson for a show segment, mother and daughter dined at a beloved local restaurant while discussing their shared affection for Arizona.

The family has posted a $1 million reward for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s safe return.

Law enforcement believes Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped or forcibly removed after discovering blood evidence near her home’s entrance in the Tucson foothills area. Federal investigators subsequently released surveillance footage showing a masked individual on her porch that evening.

Search crews and volunteers combed through the surrounding desert landscape of cacti, brush, and rocky terrain during the initial weeks following her disappearance.

However, public focus has diminished regarding an investigation that officials had designated as their highest priority. Investigators haven’t shared new evidence in recent weeks and report a decline in tip submissions. Both the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed late last week they had no new developments to announce.

Initially, some news organizations reported receiving ransom demands connected to the case. Guthrie revealed that she and her siblings responded to two messages they considered legitimate and agreed to make payments.

Guthrie acknowledged that her fame might have motivated her mother’s abduction, calling that possibility “too much to bear.”

TROY, Ala. (AP) — Eight fatalities have resulted from law enforcement pursuits across the United States within a span of less than seven days, as policing experts continue advocating for restrictions on dangerous high-speed chases.

The deadly incidents occurred in multiple states: one person died while fleeing officers in Texas on Sunday, four individuals perished when their vehicle crashed into a tree during an Alabama State Police pursuit on Friday, and three people lost their lives in separate California police chase incidents last week.

These tragic outcomes add to the hundreds of chase-related deaths that happen annually across the nation.

A 2023 study by the Police Executive Research Forum, a national policing policy organization, recommended that law enforcement agencies should limit vehicle pursuits to situations involving violent crimes where suspects present immediate danger. The study highlighted rising death tolls and increased chase frequency in certain jurisdictions, including Houston and New York City.

Regarding the Alabama incident, a motorist was attempting to evade Alabama Law Enforcement Agency highway patrol officers on a rural Pike County road in southeastern Alabama when the fatal crash happened late Friday evening, according to agency spokesperson Amanda Wasden in a Sunday email. The collision involved only the fleeing vehicle.

Three occupants, including the driver and two passengers—one being 17 years old—were ejected from the sedan after not wearing safety restraints. The fourth passenger remained in the vehicle, but all four individuals were declared deceased at the crash site.

Wasden stated that investigators are examining the incident, with no further details currently available. Her correspondence did not specify what initially triggered the pursuit.

In Fort Worth, Texas, law enforcement had been chasing a vehicle operating without headlights on Interstate 35 when it collided with several other cars before crashing, resulting in the driver’s death, the Fort Worth Police Department reported.

In southern California, Pomona Police Department officials stated that officers were pursuing a domestic violence suspect on Wednesday when his vehicle struck another car, killing the couple inside. According to KCBS-TV, the victims were expecting their child within days.

In a separate California case, Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies had tried stopping a stolen U-Haul truck before it collided with an SUV, killing the SUV driver and leaving three passengers in critical condition.

NEW YORK — Federal appeals judges have restored a massive $656 million verdict against Palestinian organizations, marking a significant victory for American victims of violence in Israel and their families.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made the ruling after the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Americans who were killed or injured in attacks overseas. This decision reverses the same court’s action from ten years ago, when it originally threw out the verdict against the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority, determining that American courts lacked jurisdiction over foreign entities for overseas incidents not targeting the United States.

The appeals panel changed course following the Supreme Court’s June decision that upheld congressional legislation from 2019 permitting these victim lawsuits to proceed against the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority.

In their March 30 ruling, the judges stated: “We conclude that the original judgment for the plaintiffs should be reinstated. That conclusion is consistent with the plain import of the Supreme Court’s decision.”

Attorney Kent Yalowitz expressed satisfaction with the outcome in an email statement: “Our client families are very relieved that the court has reinstated the judgment without requiring a new trial. They have been waiting for a very long time for justice to be done.”

Fellow plaintiff attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner also welcomed the ruling after more than two decades of court proceedings.

The legal action was filed using the Anti-Terrorism Act, legislation passed in 1992 that opened American courtrooms to those harmed by international terrorist incidents.

The plaintiffs claim that Palestinian operatives either participated directly in the attacks or encouraged them to happen.

Palestinian representatives have maintained throughout the litigation that American courts should not have authority over these cases.

Defense attorneys had not responded to requests for comment as of Sunday.

A vehicle collision has prompted the closure of a section of Tower Road, blocking traffic between Westville Road and Darling Farm Road.

The accident has resulted in the complete shutdown of this stretch of roadway as emergency responders and cleanup crews work at the scene.

Drivers who normally use this route are being advised to seek alternative paths until the roadway can be safely reopened to traffic.

No additional details about the circumstances of the crash or potential injuries have been released at this time.

Students who attended classes since the 1970s probably remember using the CIA World Factbook at some point during their education – a comprehensive reference guide containing maps and detailed information about every country on Earth that served as a reliable source nearly everyone trusted.

Perhaps you accessed portions of it from diskettes or compact discs while rushing to complete a social studies assignment. Maybe you searched through its country listings to find information about Latvia for an upcoming Model United Nations simulation. Some readers explored the world through their imagination while flipping through the printed version, discovering surprising facts like how a simple thumbs-up sign Americans use regularly is actually considered offensive in certain Middle Eastern, European and Argentine regions.

This valuable knowledge came from the Factbook and its users spanning more than 60 years.

The publication’s creators – among the planet’s most skilled intelligence professionals who provided thousands of photographs – maintained this carefully organized database and made it freely available online. Their stated motivations were both geopolitical and ideological. However, examining the facts reveals the Factbook became publicly available in 1975 with grand mission statements during a period when Congressional investigations were exposing misconduct by American intelligence organizations, including the CIA.

“We share these facts with the people of all nations in the belief that knowledge of the truth underpins the functioning of free societies,” the CIA itself explained in its pages.

The intelligence organization has stopped providing this information.

On February 4th, the Trump administration suddenly closed down this widely trusted record of global humanity, including its flags, countries, traditions, armed forces and territorial boundaries. The CIA presented this decision as advancement for an organization whose primary objectives have evolved.

Factbook supporters responded with widespread disappointment. Many expressed sadness over losing an America that cherished learning for educational purposes alone. Others suspected more sinister motivations under a presidential administration that has championed “alternative facts” during both wartime and peacetime.

“Stay curious,” the CIA recommended in its “fond farewell” to the Factbook.

The agency might have also suggested: Best wishes navigating truth from the chaotic and often unreliable internet and artificial intelligence landscape.

Long before Google became a common household term, the Factbook existed.

Its beginning traces back to Japan’s unexpected Pearl Harbor assault in 1941, an American intelligence breakdown that motivated better coordination in collecting and organizing information about the nation’s adversaries. This led to creating the Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies, America’s initial inter-agency basic intelligence initiative. However, by 1946, national security specialists recognized that “the conduct of peace involves all countries, all human activities — not just the enemy and his war production,” according to expert George S. Pettee.

Responsibility for collecting fundamental intelligence about foreign nations was given to the newly established CIA in 1947, based on the agency’s official records.

The Cold War demonstrated the continuing necessity for a centralized basic intelligence source – and created an opportunity for what became the unclassified Factbook in 1971. Public release occurred four years afterward.

Beyond its educational value for students, it carried geopolitical significance. The Factbook demonstrated American intelligence abilities to the former Soviet Union and other adversaries. Inclusion within its pages could grant legitimacy to nations or opposition movements. The irony was striking that an organization built on acquiring and protecting secrets was distributing so much information – termed “basic intelligence” – to everyone.

The Factbook probably also enhanced the CIA’s public reputation and created separation from other intelligence agencies damaged by Congressional investigations. In 1975, U.S. Senator Frank Church, a Democrat from Idaho, organized a committee that conducted over 100 public hearings, many broadcast on television, representing the most substantial intelligence agency oversight since World War II.

In 1976, the Church Committee documented extensive abuse by the CIA, IRS, National Security Agency and FBI, including exposing the CIA’s “Family Jewels.” This internal document detailed illegal CIA operations, including surveillance of American activists and assassination attempts against Cuba’s Fidel Castro.

Also during 1975, what eventually became the CIA World Factbook went public, rising as a dependable research tool frequently recommended for classroom assignments. No official confirmation ever linked the negative publicity to the Factbook’s broad release, but the timing aligned with the CIA’s need for image rehabilitation.

In 1981, the CIA retitled the publication The World Factbook, and by 1997, it became available online. The CIA has characterized it as representing “a tremendous culmination of efforts from some of our country’s brightest analytic minds.”

News about the Factbook’s termination surprised more than American students and researchers. International news organizations covered the story. Social media buzzed with the announcement, as Reddit users directed each other toward archived Factbook versions and scrambled to establish and locate alternative unbiased information sources.

Isabel Altamirano, a chemistry librarian assistant professor at Auburn University in Alabama, explained the data remains available, but “it’ll be harder to find.” University libraries, for instance, provide similar resources to students through their tuition payments.

“It was so easy, because it was all in one place,” she explained during an interview, mentioning that on February 4th, upon learning the news, she immediately removed the Factbook from her business communications class resource list.

Essentially, one expert noted, a Factbook created by a government agency with confidential agendas and covert operations may never have been truly unbiased initially.

“The compilers aren’t, nor can they be expected to be, neutral,” explained Binoy Kampmark, a professor of global, urban and social studies at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. Grieving its disappearance, he stated in an email, would be “misplaced.”

The Factbook, he continued, might serve better as a historical record. Its final publication on February 4th already contains outdated information, according to an archived copy: Iran’s government head remains listed as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei was reportedly killed March 1st in American and Israeli military strikes. The world transformed once more, this time without the Factbook available to document the change.

A drunk driver crashed into a crowd of festival-goers during a Lao New Year parade in rural Louisiana on Saturday, leaving approximately 15 people injured, law enforcement officials reported.

Police quickly apprehended the driver and filed impaired driving charges against the suspect.

Social media footage from the annual celebration in Broussard and New Iberia captured multiple victims lying on the ground. The clips revealed emergency responders treating someone pinned under the vehicle, which came to rest in a roadside ditch after plowing through the parade.

About 15 individuals sustained injuries in the crash, with several in serious condition, the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

“Based on the preliminary investigation, this does not appear to be an intentional act,” stated sheriff’s office spokesperson Rebecca Melancon.

Acadian Ambulance reported deploying 10 ambulances and one helicopter to the scene around 2:30 p.m. The private emergency service transported two critically injured patients by air.

Louisiana State Police identified the suspect as a 57-year-old Jeanerette resident who showed signs of intoxication upon officers’ arrival. Blood tests revealed elevated alcohol levels, leading to charges for impaired, reckless and negligent operation, plus possession of an open alcoholic beverage in his vehicle.

The procession was part of a three-day New Year festival held in Lanxang Village, a Laotian community near New Iberia housing hundreds of families, adjacent to the Wat Thammarattanaram Buddhist temple complex.

The annual celebration draws thousands of visitors for authentic Southeast Asian cuisine, live entertainment, parades and family activities.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry released a public statement addressing the tragedy. “Sharon and I are praying for all those affected, and are grateful for the first responders who have responded to the scene,” he said.

Festival coordinators posted a Facebook message expressing their devastation over the incident.

“We are praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time,” the statement read.

While organizers cancelled all remaining Saturday activities, they announced plans to proceed with Sunday’s religious ceremonies.

Fifteen people were rushed to hospitals Saturday after a vehicle crashed into a crowd gathered for a cultural celebration in New Iberia, Louisiana, according to local law enforcement.

The crash happened near festivities for the Lao New Year, leaving several victims with critical injuries, said Rebecca Melancon, a spokesperson for the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office. Authorities have taken a suspect into custody, though investigators have not yet determined whether the driver intentionally targeted the crowd, Melancon explained.

Emergency responders from Acadian Ambulance transported 13 victims to area medical facilities, the service reported on social media. The most severely injured patients required helicopter transport to trauma centers, according to the ambulance company’s post on X.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash continues as officials work to determine what led to the incident during the community celebration.

Officials have called off the Gold Alert that was previously issued for missing woman Margret Tome.

Authorities stated that no additional updates will be released concerning this case.