Category: U.S. News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Representatives for Rihanna have not responded to requests for comment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NORFOLK, Va. — Law enforcement officials reveal that the firearm used in Thursday’s deadly attack at Old Dominion University had its serial number deliberately destroyed, creating additional challenges for investigators trying to determine how the convicted felon acquired the weapon.

According to a law enforcement source who requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation, authorities must now attempt to restore the obliterated number to trace the gun’s origin.

Federal investigators have named Mohamed Bailor Jalloh as the gunman responsible for the classroom attack, which is being treated as an act of terrorism. Jalloh previously served in the Army National Guard and had admitted guilt in 2016 to charges of attempting to support the Islamic State.

Before launching his attack, Jalloh shouted “Allahu akbar” and began firing, but was quickly confronted and fatally stopped by ROTC students, according to FBI representatives who commended the students’ courage in preventing additional casualties. The violence claimed the life of an ROTC instructor who served as a professor of military science at the university, while two others sustained injuries.

Jalloh had completed an 11-year prison term and was freed from federal incarceration in December 2024. At the time of the shooting, he remained under supervised release conditions similar to probation.

The circumstances surrounding his early release from prison remain unclear. While inmates may receive sentence reductions for various factors, officials have not confirmed whether this applied to Jalloh’s situation.

University Police Chief Garrett Shelton reported that fewer than 10 minutes elapsed from the initial emergency call about gunfire in the business school facility to confirmation that the shooter had been neutralized.

Lt. Col. Jimmy Delongchamp, serving as public information officer for the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, confirmed to reporters that two shooting victims were enrolled in ODU’s Army ROTC program. This program provides educational scholarships to students while preparing them for commissioned military service.

Voorhees University in South Carolina has identified the deceased victim as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, who was related by marriage to one of the university’s trustees.

According to his university biography, Shah had previously attended ODU as an ROTC cadet and returned to the institution in 2022 as a program leader. During his military career, Shah flew helicopter missions across Iraq, Afghanistan and Eastern Europe.

The perpetrator also possessed military experience. Jalloh, who became a naturalized American citizen after immigrating from Sierra Leone, served as a specialist in the Virginia Army National Guard between 2009 and 2015, receiving an honorable discharge.

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — What began as a grassroots automotive movement within Mexican American and Chicano neighborhoods across the American Southwest has evolved into an internationally acclaimed art form featuring custom cars.

Starting in the 1940s and 1950s, car enthusiasts began modifying ordinary vehicles with spectacular paint jobs, shining chrome details, luxurious interiors and hydraulic mechanisms that enable the cars to cruise in their signature “low and slow” style.

The cultural movement, which was previously misinterpreted by many, has gained widespread appreciation as an expression of artistic talent, skilled workmanship and community heritage — recently receiving official acknowledgment from the U.S. Postal Service through a commemorative collection of forever stamps featuring these distinctive automobiles.

This photo gallery was assembled by Associated Press photo editors.

An 18-year-old college student at Northern Arizona University has died from alcohol poisoning after consuming dangerous amounts of vodka during a fraternity initiation activity, according to an autopsy report made public Monday.

Colin Daniel Martinez was discovered unconscious on January 31st and medical personnel were unable to revive him, according to the official report. The autopsy revealed his blood-alcohol concentration reached 0.425% — over five times Arizona’s legal driving threshold and at levels typically considered lethal.

Authorities have taken three Delta Tau Delta fraternity officers into custody in connection with Martinez’s death.

The Coconino County Attorney’s Office announced Monday they are examining the circumstances to decide if formal criminal charges should be filed against the three officers, all age 20 when the incident occurred. Law enforcement arrested them on suspected hazing violations.

Court records from the previous month indicate Martinez was one of four fraternity hopefuls who consumed two vodka bottles as part of an initiation requirement designed to make them sick. Some witnesses suggested the alcohol may have been mixed with water to reduce its strength.

According to legal documents, people present attempted to help Martinez throughout the evening by repositioning him while he slept, monitoring his vital signs, and researching alcohol poisoning warning signs online.

Following Martinez’s death, university officials immediately suspended the fraternity chapter. The national Delta Tau Delta organization subsequently decided to permanently close the Northern Arizona University chapter.

Law enforcement officials in New Mexico launched a search Monday of Jeffrey Epstein’s former remote ranch property, where the deceased financier and associates allegedly committed sexual abuse against women and girls, according to state officials.

The Democratic-led state is pursuing fresh leads contained in federal documents made public in January, which include claims that Epstein directed the burial of two foreign girls in hillsides surrounding the isolated compound.

Monday’s operation comes after New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez announced last month he would restart the probe into the convicted sex offender’s suspected criminal conduct at the property located 30 miles south of Santa Fe.

“The New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead,” officials stated.

A reporter at the scene Monday observed barking dogs and witnessed a government vehicle displaying a paw-print emblem, indicating it was transporting animals, departing the ranch grounds. State police cruisers and a county emergency response vehicle were also present.

The Epstein document releases have created ongoing political challenges for President Donald Trump.

State officials had previously ended their Epstein probe in 2019 after federal investigators requested they step aside. No comprehensive investigation has ever been conducted regarding the alleged assaults committed by Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and ranch guests.

New Mexico made history last month by establishing the nation’s first legislative “truth commission” designed to expose potential government corruption that enabled Epstein to conduct operations secretly at the ranch for 26 years until his 2019 death.

The deceased financier’s estate transferred ownership of the land in 2023 to Texas entrepreneur Don Huffines, who rechristened it San Rafael Ranch.

Current property owners are providing full cooperation with investigators and have authorized access for the search operations, the department confirmed.

The January 30 document dump revealed millions of additional files detailing Epstein’s relationships with politicians, corporate leaders, and academics whom he hosted at the ranch facility.

Recent Reuters/Ipsos survey data indicates most Americans consider the Epstein matter evidence that wealthy elites seldom face consequences for their actions.

A Chicago mother whose life was turned upside down by an apartment fire in 2019 discovered an unexpected silver lining in the form of a lasting friendship with her Red Cross helper.

The woman’s story was captured in a StoryCorps interview where she sat down with the Red Cross volunteer who provided assistance during her recovery process following the devastating blaze.

The interview highlights how the volunteer’s support during one of the most difficult periods in the mother’s life blossomed into a meaningful, long-term relationship that continues to this day.

Their conversation demonstrates how acts of service during times of crisis can create bonds that extend far beyond the initial emergency response.

Federal investigators are looking into two distinct violent incidents that are not connected to each other, according to the FBI.

The bureau is examining an assault that took place at a synagogue located in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, as well as a separate shooting incident that occurred inside a classroom at a university in Norfolk, Virginia.

Authorities have confirmed that these two cases are unrelated to one another and are being handled as separate investigations.

Residents of Scotland, Connecticut face a unique postal predicament that turns something as simple as getting mail into a daily challenge. This small community operates under six separate zip codes, creating ongoing headaches for anyone trying to receive deliveries or correspondence.

The unusual situation means that neighbors living just streets apart may have completely different zip codes, leading to frequent mail mix-ups and delivery delays. For residents of this compact town, what should be a straightforward process has become a source of regular frustration.

Federal authorities have taken two individuals into custody on charges of attempting to provide material support to the terrorist organization ISIS, according to law enforcement officials.

The arrests stem from an alleged plot involving explosive devices that were intended to target areas near the official residence of New York City’s mayor. The scheme was reportedly thwarted before any attacks could be carried out.

The suspects are accused of planning the bombing attacks as part of their alleged support for the Islamic State terrorist group. Details about how authorities discovered and prevented the plot have not been released.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about ISIS-inspired domestic terrorism threats across the United States. Federal prosecutors are handling the charges against both defendants.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — What started in working-class Mexican American and Chicano neighborhoods across the Southwest has now reached the prestigious halls of the Smithsonian and even streets in Japan — lowrider car culture has achieved global recognition.

Now the United States Postal Service is celebrating this artistic movement with a special stamp collection featuring the iconic “low and slow” custom vehicles. The commemorative stamps, adorned with traditional pinstriping details, made their debut Friday at a ceremony in San Diego.

Members of the lowrider community view this postal tribute as official recognition of their vibrant art form that emerged during the 1940s across working-class neighborhoods in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, where ordinary vehicles were reimagined as unique artistic creations.

These custom cars are distinguished by their brilliant paint jobs, sparkling chrome details, plush interiors and remarkable hydraulic systems that can make them bounce. The vehicles serve as expressions of creativity, skilled workmanship, community pride and cultural heritage.

Designer Antonio Alcalá, who grew up in San Diego admiring these automotive artworks from a distance, considered it a privilege to create the stamp series. His biggest challenge involved selecting the perfect combination of vehicles and color schemes to capture the essence of lowrider culture.

After examining countless photographs, Alcalá narrowed his selection to five vehicles: a 1946 Chevy Fleetline, three different classic Chevy Impalas and a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Each vehicle showcases distinct characteristics, from flowing body curves and lowered profiles to glimpses of the mechanical systems that enable the cars to hop and dance.

“It’s a real thrill,” said Alcalá, the postal service’s art director. “The postage stamps are supposed to represent the best of America. They’re kind of a way that the United States signals to the rest of the world these are things that we find important about our people, our accomplishments, our culture, etc. So to have it commemorated on a stamp is a big deal.”

Alcalá was inspired after watching Danny Alvarado demonstrate the art of pinstriping, mesmerized as the brush moved smoothly across metalflake paint to create elaborate swirling patterns. This became the finishing element he added to each stamp’s corner.

Alvarado, who works as both an illustrator and sculptor, has dedicated approximately five decades to mastering his pinstriping technique and now passes on his knowledge to new artists. The stamp project holds personal significance for him — his father served as a postal worker for over two decades, and the stamps mark another milestone as lowrider culture attracts new enthusiasts and gains broader acceptance.

During the 1980s, various municipalities enacted anti-cruising ordinances and vehicle height requirements, which many viewed as discriminatory measures targeting Chicano youth and unfairly linking lowriders to gang activity, despite the community’s focus on artistic expression and family values.

However, as the Hispanic population has grown across the United States and lowriding has gained popularity, these restrictive policies have been reversed in recent years. California eliminated cruising prohibitions in 2024, while New Mexico legislators honored Lowrider Day at the state capitol last year, though efforts to designate the lowrider as New Mexico’s official state vehicle fell short.

Roberto Hernández, who founded and leads the San Francisco Lowrider Council, started cruising during the late 1970s when California had banned the practice. With the stamp release, Hernández feels “like we got the final stamp of approval as lowriders.”

Alvarado shares this sentiment, noting that widespread appreciation for lowriding’s positive contributions has been overdue.

“It’s a big hit. I mean the lowriding community is so excited about these stamps,” Alvarado said from his home in Monrovia, California. “Everybody I’ve talked to already knows about them, so they just can’t wait till they come out.”

Alvarado referenced car clubs operating in Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Chicago, Dallas, New York and emerging groups internationally — spanning from London to Hungary, New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

Photographer Humberto “Beto” Mendoza, whose images served as reference material for three stamps, compiled his own extensive list, characterizing lowrider culture as both a family tradition and an inclusive community.

Mendoza has traveled extensively to photograph many legendary custom vehicles that have appeared on magazine covers. Among these is “El Rey,” a red 1963 Chevrolet Impala featured on one stamp and currently exhibited at the National Museum of American History.

Mendoza’s passion for lowriders preceded his professional photography career. As a child, his father, who had immigrated from Mexico, taught him composition techniques using a simple point-and-shoot camera before eventually purchasing his first professional equipment. Mendoza then worked tirelessly, carrying a portfolio of his photographs while convincing lowrider owners to let him document their customized vehicles.

The stamp collaboration came as a surprise to Mendoza, who said the timing couldn’t have been better. After suffering a stroke in 2022, he had been struggling emotionally. The project provided hope for both him and the broader lowrider community.

“We’re usually outcasted, you know, so them acknowledging us in this community is historic,” he said. “We feel accepted now.”

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah state judge will determine Friday whether court records and hearings should remain accessible to the public in the death penalty case against the man charged with fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a university campus.

The decision will influence an upcoming April hearing where defense lawyers for Tyler Robinson plan to argue for banning television cameras, recording equipment, and photographers from courtroom proceedings.

Judge Tony Graf has been balancing public transparency against defense concerns that extensive media coverage could jeopardize Robinson’s constitutional right to an impartial trial. District attorneys, Kirk’s surviving spouse, and legal representatives for news outlets have all pushed Graf to maintain open court access.

Robinson, age 22, faces aggravated murder charges and potential execution for the September 10 fatal shooting of the conservative political figure at Utah Valley University in Orem. He has yet to formally respond to the charges.

Legal teams are scheduled to argue Friday over whether the defense’s written motion to ban cameras — currently sealed from public view — should be released. The court classified this document as confidential.

Graf will also decide if the April 17 hearing on media restrictions will proceed openly or behind closed doors. Robinson’s legal team contends in filings that certain portions should remain private to prevent spreading what they characterize as inaccurate information from news reports and government sources.

Questions about press access have dominated recent court sessions, with Graf implementing temporary limits on local television stations for broadcasting images of Robinson in restraints, violating judicial orders, and filming close-up footage that might reveal confidential attorney-client conversations.

The judge has also blocked complete video recordings of Kirk’s shooting from courtroom display after defense attorneys claimed the disturbing footage would compromise trial fairness. Approximately 3,000 attendees gathered at the outdoor political event to hear Kirk, who co-established Turning Point USA and worked to encourage young voter participation for former President Donald Trump.

District attorneys have stated that DNA analysis links Robinson to the homicide.

During the most recent February hearing, Graf rejected a defense motion to remove the local prosecutor’s office from the case. Defense lawyers had claimed a conflict of interest existed because a prosecutor’s daughter witnessed Kirk’s shooting.

Federal court records reveal that Mohamed Bailor Jalloh had been freed from prison in December 2024 after serving time for trying to support ISIS, less than two years before he carried out a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia on Thursday.

ROTC students at the university stopped and fatally wounded Jalloh during the classroom attack that claimed one life and wounded two others. The FBI has confirmed Jalloh as the shooter in the incident.

The violence has sparked concerns from lawmakers about Jalloh’s imprisonment history and release conditions, with many questioning how an individual with documented ISIS connections could execute such an assault.

“The horrific tragedy that occurred today on ODU’s campus never should have happened,” U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, who represents the congressional district neighboring the university, wrote on Facebook.

Following his guilty plea in October 2016 for supplying material assistance to the Islamic State terrorist organization, a federal judge imposed an 11-year sentence in 2017, including credit for time already served dating back to his July 2016 arrest.

Federal authorities released Jalloh on December 23, 2024. Officials have not immediately explained the reason for his earlier-than-expected release. While inmates may receive sentence reductions for various reasons, it remains unclear whether this applied to Jalloh’s case.

At the time of Thursday’s attack, he remained under supervised release – similar to probation – which was scheduled to continue until 2029 based on his release date.

Jalloh’s October 2016 guilty plea followed a three-month undercover FBI operation during which the then-26-year-old admitted to an FBI agent that he was considering an attack modeled after the 2009 Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 people. The investigation began after Jalloh contacted ISIS members in Africa earlier in 2016.

During conversations with the informant, Jalloh revealed that ISIS had approached him about participating in an attack. He attempted to contribute $500 to the organization, but the funds were actually deposited into an FBI-controlled account, according to court filings.

Jalloh subsequently attempted to purchase an AR-15 assault rifle from a Virginia firearms dealer but was denied due to incomplete documentation. Court documents show he returned the following day and successfully bought a different assault rifle. Unknown to Jalloh, prosecutors stated the weapon had been disabled before he left the store. Authorities arrested him the next day.

In 2017, Justice Department prosecutors sought a 20-year prison term for Jalloh, citing his repeated efforts to join ISIS and his attempt to obtain weapons for a murder conspiracy.

“The defendant was fully aware of what he was doing, and the consequences of those actions. His only misgivings seemed to be a fear that he would waver at the critical moment,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

They added: “By putting the idea of this murder plot into religious terms, and by suggesting that murdering members of the US military would be a path to heaven, the defendant showed how strongly committed he was to the deadly ideology” of the Islamic State.

Defense attorneys requested a 6½-year sentence and asked that Jalloh be placed in a facility offering residential drug treatment for inmates struggling with addiction and substance abuse.

U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady, appointed by former President George W. Bush, instead imposed the 11-year prison sentence.

The judge also mandated Jalloh’s participation in substance abuse testing and treatment programs, along with mental health treatment, and recommended evaluation for the federal prison system’s residential drug program.

The federal Bureau of Prisons allows inmates who complete the Residential Drug Abuse Program to reduce their sentence by up to one year. It remains unclear whether Jalloh qualified for this program, as inmates serving terrorism-related sentences typically are not eligible.

Additionally, well-behaved inmates can earn up to 54 days of good conduct credit annually toward sentence reduction. However, the 2018 First Step Act prison reform law excludes inmates convicted of terrorism-related charges from such credits.

Public information about Jalloh, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Sierra Leone, is limited. Court records describe him as a troubled individual who became radicalized by Anwar al-Awlaki, a prominent American imam turned al-Qaeda propagandist.

The Virginia Army National Guard verified his service as a specialist from 2009 to 2015, when he received an honorable discharge. According to a 2016 FBI affidavit in his criminal case, Jalloh told a government informant he left the National Guard after listening to al-Awlaki’s lectures.

In a letter to the federal judge overseeing his sentencing, Jalloh expressed remorse: “I feel deep regret in having been driven by my emotions rather than my intellect and becoming involved with such an evil organization. … I reject and deplore terrorism and any groups associated with it, especially ISIL.”

He explained that drug use began after his girlfriend ended their six-year relationship.

“The pain I felt internally was unbearable, and drugs and alcohol were the only things that took that pain away,” Jalloh wrote. “I started doing marijuana, coke and mushrooms using one of them at least on a daily basis in order to kill the pain I was in and to fill in the void I felt internally.”

While the complete letter remains sealed, his attorney included portions of it in the sentencing memorandum.