Category: U.S. News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WASHINGTON – An international cybercriminal successfully penetrated FBI computer systems in 2023, gaining access to materials connected to the bureau’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation, according to a knowledgeable source and Justice Department records obtained by Reuters.

This marks the first public disclosure of specific details about who infiltrated servers at the FBI’s New York Field Office, including confirmation that an overseas hacker was responsible for the security breach.

The FBI characterized what they called a “cyber incident” as “an isolated one” in their official response.

“The FBI restricted access to the malicious actor and rectified the network. The investigation remains ongoing, so we do not have further comments to provide at this time,” the bureau stated.

While the source indicated the attack appeared to be conducted by a cybercriminal rather than a state-sponsored actor, the incident highlights the potential intelligence significance of these files, according to one expert. Court-ordered releases of Justice Department materials have revealed the deceased financier’s connections to influential figures across politics, finance, academia and business sectors, sparking investigations worldwide.

“Who wouldn’t be going after the Epstein files if you’re the Russians or somebody interested in kompromat?” said Jon Lindsay, who researches the role of emerging technology in global security at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “If foreign intelligence agencies are not thinking seriously about the Epstein files as a target, then I would be shocked.”

News outlets CNN and Reuters initially reported the breach on February 17, while French publication Marianne first identified the Epstein connection.

Epstein, who had longstanding ties to President Donald Trump, entered a guilty plea in 2008 to prostitution-related charges, including soliciting a minor. He died by hanging in his jail cell during 2019, officially ruled a suicide, following his re-arrest on federal sex trafficking charges involving minors.

February 2023 Security Incident

The cyberattack succeeded after Special Agent Aaron Spivack accidentally left a server at the Child Exploitation Forensic Lab vulnerable while attempting to work through the bureau’s complicated digital evidence protocols, according to the source and documentation.

Spivack’s written timeline, part of the extensive Epstein document release earlier this year, indicates the infiltration occurred on February 12, 2023. He discovered the breach the next day upon starting his computer and finding a text file alerting him to the network compromise.

Additional investigation revealed evidence of suspicious server activity, with the document noting the activity “included combing through certain files pertaining to the Epstein investigation.”

The timeline doesn’t specify which particular files were viewed, whether the hacker downloaded information, or the intruder’s identity. Reuters couldn’t determine any connection between the compromised data and either the Epstein documents released publicly or those still classified.

Spivack, whose name appears throughout the documents related to the Epstein investigation, hasn’t responded to multiple contact attempts. Reuters couldn’t reach Richard J. Roberson, Jr., identified as Spivack’s attorney in the documents. Seven FBI agents named in the documents as participants in the breach investigation also didn’t return messages.

Video Communication Between Hacker and FBI

In his statement to FBI investigators examining his potential responsibility for the breach, Spivack claimed he was being made “a scapegoat for the intrusion” and blamed contradictory bureau policies and inadequate IT guidance. Reuters couldn’t confirm the outcome of the internal FBI investigation.

The knowledgeable source revealed the intrusion was executed by an international hacker who seemed unaware they had accessed a law enforcement server. The cybercriminal reportedly expressed revulsion at finding child abuse imagery on the system and left a message threatening to report the owner to federal authorities.

Bureau officials reportedly resolved the situation by proving to the hacker they actually were the FBI, partly through a video conference where agents displayed their law enforcement badges to a webcam.

Reuters couldn’t establish – and the source claimed not to know – the hacker’s identity, operating location, what they did with accessed materials, or whether authorities attempted to identify or prosecute them for the FBI server intrusion.

Numerous Justice Department documents remain heavily censored while others stay completely classified despite legal requirements for full disclosure last year. The Trump administration cites protection of victim identities and ongoing investigations as reasons for withholding material.

LEWIS, N.Y. — The peaceful wilderness of New York’s Adirondack Mountains, known for echoing loon calls and quiet lakeside camping, could soon echo with the thunder of military artillery if a controversial testing proposal moves forward.

A military contractor’s plan to conduct howitzer testing in this rural Adirondack Park community has sparked fierce opposition from local residents and environmental advocates, prompting park officials to schedule a rare public hearing on the matter.

Critics worry that artillery blasts on private property would destroy the area’s peaceful atmosphere and frighten away wildlife including moose, deer, bears and various bird species. Environmental groups express additional concern since the proposed testing site sits close to state-owned forest land within the 6-million-acre park’s mix of public and private property.

“I hunt. I shoot. I reload. I know guns,” local resident Dan Canavan explained from his home located roughly one mile from the proposed testing facility in Lewis. “You can’t equate a 155 millimeter howitzer with a hunting rifle, but that’s how he’s been selling it.”

Military contractor Michael Hopmeier argues his howitzer barrel testing would serve national security interests and maintains that noise levels reaching the closest neighbors through the forest wouldn’t exceed typical rural sounds like chainsaws or hunting firearms.

Hopmeier plans to create a testing facility along a country road approximately 10 miles west of Lake Champlain.

The proposal calls for firing steel projectiles from barrels measuring up to 155 millimeters (roughly 6 inches) across a distance equivalent to two football fields, occurring 30 times annually. Testing would happen during midday hours on weekdays, limited to twice daily. A metal shipping container packed with sand and gravel would capture the projectiles, which would contain no explosive warheads.

“We are not investigating explosive shells. We are not blowing things up,” Hopmeier explained during a recent presentation to neighboring town officials.

His company aims to evaluate factors like barrel deterioration and recoil for military applications. Adirondack Park Agency regulators have repeatedly requested additional details since receiving the initial application in 2021.

Hopmeier’s business, Unconventional Concepts, Inc., stated in their application that testing would support research at the U.S. Army laboratory at Watervliet Arsenal, located about two hours south. While no current contract exists, Hopmeier indicated via email that his company could pursue government contracts once testing authorization is secured.

The Army’s DEVCOM Armaments Center confirmed via email that it currently has no plans for howitzer testing at the Adirondack location, “but may consider future artillery experimentation based on Army priorities.”

The proposed testing range would sit near a Cold War-era nuclear missile silo that Hopmeier’s company purchased in 2015 — one of twelve that previously surrounded the now-closed Plattsburgh Air Force Base. The former silo site currently serves research purposes.

Artillery testing would occur on property adjacent to this site. Despite the remote location, 44 residences fall within a 2-mile radius of the proposed testing area.

Howitzer blasts generate extremely intense sound — approximately 180 decibels at the source, exceeding most fireworks and reaching levels that can cause hearing damage and physical harm.

Although testing would occur away from well-known Adirondack destinations like Lake Placid and Lake George, Hopmeier’s proposal has generated significant public attention. State regulators received more than 1,400 public comments, with only 19 expressing approval.

Town council member Lanita Canavan fears losing the tranquil character of their remote community of roughly 1,300 residents and worries about birds abandoning her feeders. Resident April Guilder questions potential impacts on local water sources.

“Who’s sticking up for us? That’s my question,” Guilder asked during a recent informational session at the town fire station. “I don’t feel like there’s anybody that’s doing that, and that’s kind of frustrating.”

Some residents remain upset about Hopmeier’s “Jaded Thunder” military exercises from last September, which involved his property and helicopters from Fort Drum. Multiple complaints emerged about low-altitude helicopter flights and gunfire. One local resident compared the experience to the film “Apocalypse Now.”

While the howitzer proposal stands separately, some residents view it as another disruption connected to Hopmeier’s activities.

However, Jim Pulsifer, who owns the proposed testing property, stated he wouldn’t participate if he believed noise levels would be excessive. Citing the work’s national importance and potential local employment benefits, he offered his land without charge.

“I know there’s a lot of people that moved into the Adirondacks for their little peace and quiet,” said Pulsifer, who lives near the proposed test site. “Well, people have to live in the Adirondacks, too — and make a living.”

Following multiple postponements, a public hearing is scheduled for April 22. An administrative law judge will spend months examining whether howitzer testing aligns with park regulations and character.

Hopmeier has questioned the park agency’s authority to block his testing plans, though he acknowledged that regulatory approval “makes things cleaner.” He has also filed litigation seeking to invalidate the board’s hearing decision, claiming one member with previous environmental group connections should have recused themselves.

“Allowing them to treat me unfairly and disregard basic rights is a disservice to my community and country,” Hopmeier wrote, “so I fight on.”

The 49-year-old son of entertainment icon Cher is set to appear in court Wednesday to address charges stemming from an alleged home invasion in New Hampshire this month.

Elijah Allman, a Malibu, California resident, was taken into custody for the second time in just days after his February 27 arrest for reportedly causing a disturbance at the elite St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire. Authorities have not established any link between Allman and either the prestigious preparatory academy or the Windham, New Hampshire residence he allegedly targeted.

According to Superintendent Jonathan Banville, Allman is currently being held at the Rockingham County Department of Corrections under preventive detention measures.

The son of the late musician Gregg Allman is facing multiple charges related to the March 1 home invasion, including two criminal mischief counts, one burglary charge, and a bail violation count. Law enforcement officials stated in their report that Allman lacked authorization to enter the property and used force to gain access.

During the earlier prep school incident, Allman received charges on four misdemeanor counts: dual simple assault charges, criminal trespass, and criminal threatening. He also received a disorderly conduct violation, which New Hampshire law treats as illegal but not criminal.

Around 7 p.m. on the day of the school incident, Concord police officers responded to complaints about Allman disrupting activities in St. Paul’s School dining facility. Following his charges, authorities released Allman on bail while his case proceeds through the judicial system.

Attempts to reach Allman for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not reply to email inquiries and his phone number was non-functional. Court documentation does not clearly indicate whether Allman has secured legal representation.

Last December, Cher petitioned a court to establish temporary conservatorship over her son’s financial affairs, citing concerns that his mental health struggles and addiction issues have compromised his ability to handle his wealth responsibly and may endanger his wellbeing.

The entertainment star’s legal filing indicated that Elijah Allman receives scheduled distributions from a trust fund. However, the petition stated that “given his ongoing mental health and substance abuse issues,” she worried that “any funds distributed to Elijah will be immediately spent on drugs, leaving Elijah with no assets to provide for himself and putting Elijah’s life at risk.”

Several weeks following the filing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jessica Uzcategui rejected the conservatorship request, stating she remained unconvinced that such urgent intervention was necessary. Allman attended the hearing alongside his legal team, who recognized his past difficulties but contended he was currently stable, participating in support meetings, receiving treatment, and rebuilding his relationship with his previously separated spouse.

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — A 51-year-old North Texas resident was set to receive a lethal injection Wednesday evening for the brutal murders of his girlfriend and her young child almost 13 years ago.

Cedric Ricks received a death sentence for the May 2013 murders of Roxann Sanchez, 30, and her 8-year-old son Anthony Figueroa inside their Bedford apartment, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. During the violent attack, Sanchez’s older son Marcus Figueroa, then 12, sustained injuries but survived.

The execution was scheduled to take place after 6 p.m. Central Time at the Huntsville state prison facility, located approximately 70 miles north of Houston.

Ricks’ legal team filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to halt the execution, claiming prosecutors improperly excluded potential jurors based on their race, violating his constitutional protections. Courts have previously rejected other appeals from Ricks that challenged his legal representation and sought to exclude certain evidence.

The Supreme Court established in its 1986 Batson v. Kentucky decision that removing jurors due to racial considerations breaches the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

“At trial, Ricks already suspected that the State had singled out minority jurors to exclude them from his jury,” Ricks’ attorneys said in their petition to the Supreme Court.

Defense lawyers contended that prosecutorial notes from jury selection, which weren’t discovered until 2021, demonstrate that prosecutors targeted minority jurors for removal.

However, the Texas Attorney General’s Office maintained that court documentation proves the prosecution’s jury selection choices were “race neutral,” with lower courts already determining that prosecutors acted without discrimination.

Ricks “viciously stabbed his girlfriend Roxann and her eight-year-old son Anthony to death,” the attorney general’s office said. “The public has a strong interest in enforcement of Ricks’ sentence.”

On Monday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected Ricks’ petition for either a 90-day delay or sentence commutation.

According to prosecutors, the tragedy unfolded when Ricks and Sanchez engaged in a heated dispute inside their residence. When Sanchez’s two children from her previous relationship — Anthony and Marcus Figueroa — attempted to intervene in the altercation, the situation escalated.

Court documents reveal that Ricks seized a kitchen knife and repeatedly stabbed Sanchez. Marcus Figueroa fled to his bedroom closet and attempted to contact emergency services. Following Anthony Figueroa’s death, Ricks continued his attack on Marcus, who managed to survive by pretending to be dead. Ricks left unharmed his infant son Isaiah, who was 9 months old at the time.

After fleeing the scene, Ricks was subsequently apprehended in Oklahoma.

During court proceedings, Ricks acknowledged having anger management problems and claimed he was protecting himself from the two boys who had intervened to help their mother.

“Explaining my rage, I was upset. Things happen. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know. I wish I could bring them back, like, right now,” said Ricks, who also apologized for the killings.

The day prior to the fatal stabbings, Ricks had made a court appearance on charges related to a previous assault against Sanchez.

Should the execution proceed as planned, Ricks would become the second individual executed in Texas this year and the sixth nationwide. Texas leads all states in the total number of executions performed.

Meanwhile, Charles “Sonny” Burton, a 75-year-old Alabama death row inmate, was originally scheduled for execution Thursday. However, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey commuted his sentence Tuesday to life imprisonment without parole. Burton had been condemned to death for a 1991 robbery-related killing, despite not being the shooter.

A federal jury in Manhattan has delivered guilty verdicts against three brothers on sex trafficking charges after deliberating following a lengthy five-week trial that concluded Monday.

Two of the convicted men had built careers as highly successful luxury real estate agents, ranking among the most prominent brokers in the nation’s high-end property market before facing these serious federal charges.

The convictions mark the end of a significant federal prosecution that has drawn attention due to the defendants’ previous prominence in the luxury real estate industry.

Delaware’s youngest elementary students continue facing academic challenges linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, even though most were infants or not yet born when the crisis first disrupted schools in early 2020.

A new study released Tuesday by education research organization NWEA reveals that first and second-grade students are underperforming compared to their peers from before the pandemic on both mathematics and reading assessments. While math performance shows gradual improvement each year, reading abilities have remained flat since spring 2021.

The findings suggest the academic struggles extend beyond simple classroom interruptions to broader changes in society during the pandemic years.

“There’s something kind of systemic here happening … within schools and outside of schools,” explained NWEA researcher Megan Kuhfeld. “We can’t pinpoint one specific cause.”

The pandemic’s impact on older students has been extensively documented – remote learning replaced in-person instruction, children missed crucial face-to-face time with teachers, mental health declined during isolation periods, and some students stopped attending school entirely.

Federal funding totaling billions of dollars was distributed to school systems nationwide to address learning gaps, producing varying degrees of success. Recent national testing data from 2024 shows fourth and eighth-grade reading scores continuing to decline, though math performance has shown upward movement.

Because standardized testing for younger children occurs less frequently, the NWEA research provides valuable insight into how deeply the academic disruption affected early learners. The study analyzed test results from students during the current 2024-25 academic year.

Kindergarten students maintained steady math and science scores throughout the pandemic period. However, first and second-graders mirror patterns seen in older students, with both subjects scoring below pre-pandemic benchmarks despite math showing slow recovery.

Reading scores have essentially stagnated since the conclusion of the first complete pandemic school year in spring 2021.

Researchers point to several potential contributing factors, including emerging evidence that fewer parents are reading aloud to their children – an activity proven to enhance literacy development. A 2024 survey conducted in the United Kingdom found less than half of children under age 5 receive regular read-aloud time, representing a 20-point decrease from twelve years earlier.

Some school districts report success in addressing the reading challenges. Minnetonka Public Schools near Minneapolis says their reading scores have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels through increased emphasis on phonics instruction and regular literacy assessments. Students needing additional support receive targeted help in specific areas where they struggle, such as having difficulty with oral reading practice with classmates.

However, certain factors remain beyond schools’ influence. Associate Superintendent Amy LaDue noted that many young children spent extended time at home during the pandemic, missing experiences like museum visits and peer interaction that support language and literacy growth. This particularly affected children from lower-income households.

“These kids weren’t in school when the pandemic happened, but (some) were … in early childhood and preschool,” LaDue observed. “Their opportunities … to have those experiences outside of their home that build literacy skills and to apply them with peers probably were impacted because they were home.”

In response to these challenges, numerous states and municipalities are expanding early childhood education programs. California has implemented universal pre-kindergarten, while New York City is extending pre-K programs to include 2-year-olds. New Mexico has eliminated child care costs for nearly all families.

A defendant who was originally charged with murder for his role in the deadly shooting following the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration received a two-year prison sentence on Monday after prosecutors dropped the murder charge due to Missouri’s self-defense statutes.

Dominic Miller entered a guilty plea to a firearms violation as part of a negotiated agreement. Court documents show Miller was one of at least six individuals who discharged weapons during the chaotic incident that forced players, city leaders, and hundreds of spectators to flee for safety.

The violence broke out near Kansas City’s Union Station as the festivities, which attracted roughly one million attendees, were winding down. Radio host Lisa Lopez-Galvan lost her life while attending the event with her relatives. Approximately 24 additional victims, including many minors, sustained injuries but recovered.

Court filings indicate that 12 individuals displayed weapons during the incident, with confiscated firearms including no fewer than two assault-style rifles.

“Under Missouri’s self-defense and defense-of-others doctrines, we must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any charged defendant was the initial aggressor or did not act in lawful self-defense or defense of others to overcome justification,” the Jackson County prosecutor’s office said in a written statement.

Attempts to reach Miller’s legal representative for comment were unsuccessful.

The original second-degree murder accusation against Miller would have resulted in a sentence ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.

However, Missouri joins more than 30 other states that have enacted various forms of stand-your-ground legislation during the last 20 years. Unlike previous laws that permitted individuals to use force for protection within their residences, stand-your-ground provisions extend broader self-defense protections without regard to location.

Law enforcement officials and prosecutors have stated the shooting spree began when members of one group challenged another for looking at them. Lyndell Mays faces accusations of initiating the gunfire. Subsequently, a 15-year-old opened fire in Mays’ direction, striking Miller, who also acknowledged discharging multiple rounds.

While investigators initially indicated ballistic evidence connected the fatal bullet to Miller’s weapon, prosecutors stated in their recent announcement that insufficient evidence existed to establish his gunshot caused Lopez-Galvan’s death. Officials noted they briefed the victim’s family on the legal obstacles involved.

“The greatest justice would be having Lisa back, but since that is not possible, accountability still matters,” the family said in a statement released through the prosecutor’s office. “We also share the hope expressed in court that change can come from this and that people recognize the importance of making better choices.”

Mays is set to face trial next year on multiple charges including second-degree murder. The juvenile participant previously received a sentence to a youth correctional facility.

NEW YORK — A jury has found three brothers guilty of sex trafficking Monday following a five-week trial that exposed how they allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted numerous women while using their wealth and luxurious lifestyle to lure victims.

Eleven women took the stand to testify about sexual assaults committed by one or more of the defendants: 38-year-old twins Oren and Alon Alexander, and their 39-year-old brother Tal Alexander.

The victims detailed assaults that took place during trips to upscale destinations, including the Hamptons, a Caribbean cruise, and a skiing vacation in Aspen, Colorado. Prosecutors stated that over 60 women have accused one or more of the brothers of rape.

Defense attorneys argued that the alleged victims had unreliable recollections or were motivated by the brothers’ wealth. While acknowledging their clients were promiscuous, the defense maintained all sexual encounters were consensual.

Deliberations started Thursday before the guilty verdict was reached.

Both Oren and Tal Alexander previously worked as brokers at major real estate company Douglas Elliman before launching their own business called Official. Alon Alexander was employed at the family’s private security company.

In addition to the criminal charges, the brothers are facing approximately two dozen civil lawsuits, including one filed Thursday by Tracy Tutor, who appears on Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles.” Tutor claims Oren Alexander drugged and attacked her in a restaurant restroom during a real estate industry event in New York City.

After these lawsuits began emerging, numerous additional women stepped forward with allegations of sexual harassment and assault, revealing that the brothers’ inappropriate behavior toward women had been widely known within real estate circles for years.

Throughout the trial, many witnesses testified they suspected they had been drugged after accepting drinks from the brothers. Several described losing physical control after consuming less than one alcoholic beverage.

The brothers encountered their victims at nightclubs, social gatherings, and through dating applications, often inviting them on expensive trips to exclusive locations while covering travel and accommodation costs. One witness testified about meeting the brothers at a 2012 party at actor Zac Efron’s Manhattan residence. She said she had minimal contact with the actor, who faces no allegations of wrongdoing, before going to a nightclub and later awakening naked with an unclothed Alon Alexander standing nearby.

Prosecutors disputed claims that accusers were pursuing financial gain through litigation. Prosecutor Elizabeth Espinosa informed jurors that only two victims have pending lawsuits, and both women are financially well-off.

One witness who testified about being raped by Alon Alexander in Aspen, Colorado, in 2017 when she was 17 years old, described herself as a billionaire’s daughter.

“I don’t want their money. I just don’t want them to have it,” she told the jury.

Lindsey Acree, a Brooklyn-based artist and gallery owner, testified that Tal Alexander and another man raped her at a Hamptons residence during summer 2011 after she became severely disoriented from drinking less than half a glass of wine, leaving her feeling paralyzed.

The 40-year-old woman explained she filed a lawsuit against Tal Alexander last year despite never needing “their money” because she was frustrated that the Alexanders “kept calling us gold diggers, shake down artists, con artists.”

“If there’s a kid with a stick who keeps hitting people, you take their stick away,” she testified. “Money is their stick, so you take it away so they can’t hurt people anymore.”

The Associated Press typically does not name individuals who report being victims of sexual assault unless they publicly identify themselves, as both Acree and Tutor have chosen to do.

Beyond witness accounts, prosecutors presented text messages and emails showing the brothers apparently bragging about sexual encounters and discussing how different drugs affect women’s ability to resist, along with a blog post titled: “It’s not rape if …”

According to prosecutors, the brothers exchanged emails about smuggling drugs — referred to as “party favors” — onto a cruise ship, filmed at least one assault, and distributed photographs of their victims.

At just 23 years old, Emma MacTaggart realized her limited free time was constantly consumed by screens. Working demanding hours in investment banking, she would immediately reach for her phone after logging off from work each day.

Together with her roommates, MacTaggart sought out an activity to break this digital habit. They discovered needlepoint – a skill she had briefly learned from family members during childhood but hadn’t practiced in years. The trio quickly became captivated by the craft.

“It was a really therapeutic way to kind of distract yourself from either work or stress, but also just do something with your hands instead of doomscrolling,” MacTaggart explained. “We became completely obsessed.”

MacTaggart represents a growing wave of young adults gravitating toward hands-on activities and traditional crafts to disconnect from technology while rediscovering creative expression. Paradoxically, this movement away from digital devices has gained momentum through its popularity on social platforms.

These pursuits – including knitting, gardening, and needlepoint – have earned the nickname “grandma hobbies” online, referencing the older generations typically linked with such activities. However, numerous other hands-on crafts like pottery, origami, and blacksmithing have also captured the attention of Gen Z and millennial audiences on social media.

The pandemic in 2020 initially sparked interest in these activities when many people found themselves with additional leisure time. However, these traditional hobbies have maintained their appeal well beyond the initial lockdown period, with some experiencing continued growth in online popularity.

Despite not considering herself naturally crafty, MacTaggart, now 26, launched her needlepoint company What’s the Stitch and manages popular social media accounts under the same brand. Responding to increasing interest in her posts, she expanded her venture and now offers needlepoint patterns, supplies, and digital templates. Her creations feature playful humor and occasional colorful language.

“It is such a historically buttoned up craft, so it’s fun to put a young spin on it,” MacTaggart noted.

According to Jaime Kurtz, a psychology professor at James Madison University who studies happiness, these activities can help decrease anxiety and stress while providing satisfaction through their focus requirements and challenging nature.

“Hobbies are really important, and a lot of us have lost them, or we just don’t prioritize them enough, or we think we’re too busy,” Kurtz observed. “But just finding little bits of time to carve out to do these kinds of things is a really wise use of time.”

Clara Sherman co-created So Bam Fun to revitalize mahjong among younger players. She describes achieving a peaceful mindset when playing with friends.

“You kind of feel like you’re existing in this little bubble of just myself, my friends and this game we’re all enjoying together,” Sherman shared. “It just really does allow you to shut off the rest of the world.”

Not all young enthusiasts seek to completely avoid their devices through their chosen activities. Some find ways for modern technology to enhance their experiences.

Isaiah Scott, who creates content about birdwatching and art, considers the eBird app essential to his hobby. The application enables bird enthusiasts to record and monitor their sightings while contributing to scientific studies and conservation efforts.

While it’s common to criticize his generation for being “glued to their phones,” Scott argues that technology access “opens so many doors to get involved in hobbies that may have been forgotten about or (are) just difficult to get into otherwise.”

The Savannah, Georgia-based Scott compares birdwatching to the Pokémon games he enjoyed as a child. “It feels like a video game, but in real life,” he explained. Visiting new areas resembles unlocking fresh game levels, while spotting numerous species mirrors achieving high scores. Scott has personally observed approximately 800 different bird species.

Beyond personal enjoyment, birdwatching inspired Scott, 22, to dedicate himself to wildlife protection and conservation. He established the nonprofit Rookery and Roots Conservancy and recently acquired 16 acres in Rincon, Georgia, to preserve natural habitats. His online platform helped make this land purchase possible.

Social media exposure has enabled other traditional craft practitioners to develop successful enterprises. Anna Weare works full-time as a blacksmith and farrier while maintaining her online presence as AnvilAnna.

Weare had already established a solid client base before beginning to share videos on TikTok and other platforms, where she now reaches international audiences. She believes interest in blacksmithing and other ancient trades may stem from frustration with an overly digital world and low-quality manufactured goods. The waiting list for Weare’s handcrafted one-piece spurs, prized for their strength and uniqueness, extends about one year.

“People, now more than ever, are realizing that things made in factories or mass produced, they wear out so quickly,” Weare, 27, observed. Whether customers purchase her creations or feel motivated by her content to try blacksmithing themselves, Weare said “people want longevity, and this craft has been around for so long for a reason.”

Many artisans and hobby enthusiasts also experience strong connections within their communities.

Kristie Landing developed Verse & Sip, a platform for poetry enthusiasts, and shares videos featuring letter writing, letter folding techniques, wax sealing, and origami among other paper crafts. Landing, 34, regularly receives inquiries from an engaged audience about her materials and tools, but viewers also seek connections with like-minded individuals.

She recently launched a pen pal matching service after numerous followers expressed interest in finding correspondence partners who would value the effort invested in handwritten communications and appreciate quality penmanship.

Landing also operates the Verse & Sip Mail Club, sending original poems with accompanying tea to several hundred subscribers worldwide each month. She aims for her online content to deliver the same peace and happiness as reading a printed poem while enjoying tea.

“I am trying to create slower moments on platforms that are based on really quick, short attention span kind of videos,” Landing explained. “These kind of stop you in the scroll.”

Multiple hobbyists interviewed view their chosen activities not as temporary trends but as deliberate choices to embrace non-digital experiences.

Regarding the “grandma hobbies” label, MacTaggart embraces the description.

“I joke with my friends that I have been a grandma my whole life,” she said, “so it’s only fitting that this is now my career.”

Entertainment enthusiasts have plenty of new content to explore this week across various streaming platforms, from blockbuster animated films to acclaimed drama series.

Disney’s massively successful sequel “Zootopia 2” arrives on Disney+ this Wednesday after earning an impressive $1.85 billion at theaters worldwide. The follow-up to the 2016 original continues tracking rabbit officer Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and fox partner Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) as they investigate a new case involving a mysterious viper character (Key Huy Quan) that uncovers fresh secrets about their animal city.

History will be made this Sunday, March 15, when the 97th Academy Awards becomes the first Oscar ceremony available for streaming. While the show airs live on ABC starting at 7 p.m. EDT, Hulu subscribers can watch without needing cable access. Viewers still have time to catch nominated films across platforms: HBO Max features “Sinners,” “One Battle After Another,” “Weapons” and “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”; Netflix offers “Frankenstein,” “Train Dreams,” “KPop Demon Hunters” and “Blue Moon”; while Peacock streams “Bugonia,” “Hamnet” and “Song Sung Blue.”

Music fans can anticipate Kim Gordon’s latest solo effort “Play Me,” releasing Friday. The Sonic Youth founding member and alternative rock pioneer follows up her Grammy-nominated 2024 release “The Collective” with another experimental album featuring aggressive production and socially conscious lyrics, including commentary on consumer culture and wealth inequality.

Heavy metal legends Lamb of God drop their tenth studio record “Into Oblivion” on Friday, with frontman Randy Blythe describing the title as reflecting current world conditions across ten intense tracks.

Television offerings include four fresh “Sesame Street” episodes arriving Monday on Netflix as part of the show’s 56th season. Tuesday brings the second season of Netflix’s live-action “One Piece” adaptation, titled “Into the Grand Line,” continuing Monkey D. Luffy’s pirate adventures across eight new episodes based on Eiichiro Oda’s popular manga.

Nicole Kidman stars in “Scarpetta,” premiering Wednesday, bringing Patricia Cornwell’s renowned forensic pathologist character to screen. The series spans dual timelines with Rosy McEwen portraying the younger Scarpetta and Kidman in present day, supported by Jamie Lee Curtis, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker, and Ariana DeBose.

Saturday, March 14 sees Taylor Sheridan’s Western family drama “The Madison” launch on Paramount+. Michelle Pfeiffer leads the Clyburn family as they relocate from New York to Montana following tragedy, joined by Kurt Russell, Patrick J. Adams, Matthew Fox and Beau Garrett, with a second season already completed.

Gaming enthusiasts can explore “Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection” starting Friday, March 13 on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2 and PC. This Capcom spinoff allows players to partner with creatures rather than hunt them, featuring turn-based combat within a story about two kingdoms facing potential destruction.

NEW YORK — A celebrated salsa music legend will be honored Monday morning as family, friends and admirers come together at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan to remember Willie Colón, the trailblazing musician and activist who passed away last month at age 75.

The public funeral Mass at the iconic midtown cathedral follows a weekend of both private family gatherings and public visitations for mourners. Family members have chosen to keep the burial ceremony private.

The renowned trombonist, songwriter, arranger and vocalist passed away on February 21st. While his family has not disclosed the specific cause of death, they shared on social media that he died peacefully with loved ones by his side at a Westchester County medical facility, located just north of New York City.

“While we grieve his absence, we also rejoice in the timeless gift of his music and the cherished memories that will live on forever,” his family said in a statement.

A native of the Bronx, Colón created an impressive musical legacy spanning more than 40 albums that achieved worldwide sales exceeding 30 million copies. Throughout his career, he worked alongside numerous renowned performers, including the Fania All Stars, David Byrne and Celia Cruz.

The accomplished musician earned recognition with 10 Grammy nominations and one Latin Grammy nomination, becoming famous for memorable tracks such as “El gran varón,” “Sin poderte hablar,” “Casanova,” “Amor verdad” and “Oh, qué será.”

Pietro Carlos, who served as Colón’s manager, paid tribute on social media, noting that the artist didn’t simply transform salsa music but also “expanded it, politicized it, clothed it in urban chronicles, and took it to stages where it hadn’t been heard before.”

Beyond his musical achievements, Colón dedicated himself to community advocacy and civil rights causes, primarily throughout the United States. His involvement in public service included roles as a special assistant to former New York City Mayors David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg. In 1994, he mounted an unsuccessful campaign against then-U.S. Representative Eliot Engel in the Democratic primary election.

Pop superstar Rihanna escaped harm Sunday afternoon when a woman opened fire on her Beverly Hills residence, sending at least one bullet through the home’s wall, according to multiple news reports.

Law enforcement officials responded to the shooting incident at 1:21 p.m. on Sunday and took a 30-year-old female suspect into custody, the Los Angeles Times and NBC4 reported, referencing statements from a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson.

According to police radio communications cited by the Los Angeles Times, the suspect discharged “approximately 10 shots” from a vehicle positioned across the street from the property’s entrance gate.

While the Grammy-winning artist was inside her residence during the attack, no one sustained injuries in the incident, the Los Angeles Times reported based on information from a source familiar with the situation.

Neither the Los Angeles Police Department nor representatives for Rihanna provided immediate responses to media inquiries about the shooting.

Family members of a key Jeffrey Epstein accuser made their first visit to the convicted sex offender’s former New Mexico property on Sunday, calling for federal officials to make public complete government documents that could expose additional perpetrators.

Virginia Giuffre’s two brothers gathered with hundreds of demonstrators near the entrance to what was once Epstein’s ranch, located roughly 30 miles south of Santa Fe. The rally coincided with International Women’s Day, with Epstein’s hacienda-style home visible in the distance.

Giuffre, who died by suicide this past April, had been among Epstein’s most vocal accusers. Her brother Sky Roberts, age 37, pressed the Justice Department to make public records that would identify individuals who visited Epstein’s Zorro Ranch property, where authorities say women and girls were sexually exploited.

“All those names are in the files and right now the government is covering those up,” Roberts stated, standing alongside his older brother Daniel Wilson, 47, and their family members.

The disclosure of extensive Epstein records has revealed the financier’s connections to numerous politicians, business leaders and academics who received invitations to the ranch facility.

These document releases have created ongoing political challenges for President Donald Trump, who was referenced in FBI materials made public Thursday containing allegations from an unnamed woman regarding a purported sexual incident.

New Mexico made history in February by establishing the nation’s first state-level “truth commission” to investigate how Epstein managed to conduct operations at Zorro Ranch in secrecy for over two decades.

“New Mexico is setting the example and we expect other states to follow behind,” stated Amanda Roberts, Sky Roberts’ 37-year-old spouse, referencing New York and Florida locations where Epstein maintained properties that warrant similar investigations.

Public opinion research by Reuters/Ipsos indicates Americans widely regard the Epstein matter as evidence that wealthy, influential individuals escape accountability, with most believing federal authorities continue concealing information about Epstein’s associates.

Six people were killed when American military forces attacked a suspected narcotics smuggling boat in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday, according to officials in Washington.

This latest deadly strike raises the fatality count to no fewer than 157 individuals since the Trump administration launched its military offensive against what it terms “narcoterrorists” operating small watercraft in early September.

U.S. Southern Command announced it had struck alleged drug runners along established trafficking corridors, following the pattern of previous statements regarding more than 40 documented attacks in Pacific and Caribbean waters. Military officials provided no proof that narcotics were aboard the targeted vessel, though they released footage on social media showing a small craft exploding on the ocean surface.

President Trump has declared the United States to be in “armed conflict” with Latin American cartels, defending these operations as essential escalation to halt drug imports into America. However, his administration has provided minimal evidence supporting its assertions about eliminating “narcoterrorists.”

During Saturday’s conference with Latin American officials, Trump urged regional leaders to collaborate with America in military operations against drug cartels and international criminal organizations, describing them as presenting an “unacceptable threat” to hemispheric security.

This week witnessed joint military actions between Ecuador and the United States targeting organized criminal networks within the South American nation.

Saturday’s summit allowed Trump to showcase his continued dedication to prioritizing Western Hemisphere affairs in U.S. foreign policy, despite simultaneously conducting warfare against Iran that has created Middle Eastern complications.

Opponents have challenged both the legal authority for these maritime attacks and their practical value, noting that fentanyl responsible for numerous overdose deaths typically enters America through Mexican land routes, manufactured using chemicals from China and India.

The naval strikes have faced harsh condemnation after reports emerged that military forces killed survivors from the initial boat assault in a subsequent attack. Trump administration officials and Republican legislators defended these actions as lawful and essential, while Democratic politicians and legal scholars characterized the killings as murder or potential war crimes.

Motorists should plan alternate routes as Lincoln Street remains shut down for emergency utility repairs between Lancaster Avenue and West 2nd Street.

The road closure is scheduled to last until 10 PM tonight while crews work to address the utility issue. Drivers are advised to seek alternative routes and allow extra travel time in the area.

Officials have not provided details about the nature of the utility emergency that prompted the street closure.

NEW YORK CITY — Authorities have confirmed that an object hurled during a weekend confrontation at an anti-Islam rally was an improvised explosive device, according to initial police findings.

The incident occurred Saturday during a demonstration called “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City,” organized by far-right figure Jake Lang near Manhattan Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home. Two individuals remain in police custody related to the altercation.

While Lang’s gathering had few attendees, it attracted a significantly larger group of opposing demonstrators. Among them was someone who hurled a smoking item packed with nuts, bolts, screws and what authorities described as a “hobby fuse,” according to police reports.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the matter on social media Sunday, stating that bomb squad analysis revealed the item was not a fake device or simple smoke bomb, but rather an “improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.”

According to Tisch, the explosive burned out just feet away from officers at the scene. She added that the individual who threw the first device then obtained another explosive from a fellow counterprotester, though this second item was dropped and failed to detonate.

Criminal charges remain under consideration for both counterprotesters involved. Tisch indicated that investigators are collaborating with federal prosecutors and FBI agents on the matter.

“Violence at a protest is never acceptable,” Mamdani stated Sunday. “The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.”

Police also took into custody someone connected to Lang’s demonstration, filing charges including reckless endangerment, assault and unlawful possession of a noxious substance after allegedly using mace against opposing protesters.

Lang previously faced charges for striking a police officer with a baseball bat, civil disorder and additional offenses, though he received clemency under President Donald Trump’s broad pardons for January 6 participants last year. He has recently declared his candidacy for U.S. Senate in Florida.

This year, Lang organized a pro-Trump immigration rally in Minneapolis that quickly dissolved when angry counterprotesters forced him to flee the scene.

KANSAS CITY — Operations at Kansas City International Airport returned to normal Sunday afternoon following a temporary closure that lasted approximately three hours while federal authorities investigated a security concern, according to the Kansas City Aviation Department.

Jackson Overstreet, a spokesperson for the airport, confirmed via email just after 2 p.m. that the terminal had been cleared for reopening. The facility was shut down around 11 a.m. when officials received word of the potential threat. Aircraft that arrived during the closure were required to remain on taxiways until the all-clear was given.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced on social media Sunday afternoon that federal investigators had examined the threat and concluded it was “not to be credible.”

Traveler Logan Hawley, 29, described the chaotic scene as he prepared to depart for Texas. He observed numerous law enforcement officers and police dogs flooding the terminal area before the evacuation order came.

“Suddenly there was an airport worker saying, ‘Immediately evacuate.’ People got up fast and rushed out of there,” Hawley said.

According to Hawley’s account, approximately 2,000 passengers and visitors were directed outside onto the airport’s tarmac area during the security sweep.

Authorities in New York City confirmed Sunday that a homemade bomb hurled during weekend demonstrations near Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s residence had the potential to inflict severe injuries or kill people.

According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the improvised explosive consisted of a glass container packed with nuts, bolts, and screws, covered in black tape and equipped with a fuse. A counterprotester launched the device on Saturday near Gracie Mansion, though it failed to detonate after the fuse burned out. Two individuals are now in police custody, Tisch confirmed.

Police reported that demonstrators threw two such devices during the confrontation between opposing groups. Officials are still analyzing the second explosive, Tisch noted.

Far-right organizer Jake Lang orchestrated Saturday’s demonstration at Gracie Mansion, where Mamdani resides with his spouse, protesting what he claimed was an Islamic “takeover” of the city and opposing Muslim public prayer. Tisch indicated during Saturday’s news conference that the mayor and his wife appeared to be away during the incident.

On Sunday, Mamdani issued a statement criticizing Lang’s demonstration while expressing greater concern about the subsequent violence.

“Violence at a protest is never acceptable,” Mamdani said. “The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.”

Lang’s gathering drew approximately 20 participants, while a significantly larger counter-demonstration of 125 people formed to drive “Nazis” from New York, Tisch explained during Saturday’s briefing. Authorities identified 18-year-old Emir Balat as a counterprotester who ignited and launched the explosive device.

The bomb rolled toward officers before its fuse died out, Tisch reported Saturday. After throwing the first device, Balat fled but subsequently ignited and discarded a second explosive in the roadway, according to the commissioner.

Police apprehended Balat and a second suspect, later identified as Ibrahim Kayumi, at the scene. The NYPD is collaborating with federal authorities including the FBI and Justice Department on the ongoing investigation.

While Tisch stated Saturday that investigators found no immediate connection between the incident and recent U.S. military action against Iran, the probe continues.

Operations returned to normal at Kansas City International Airport on Sunday afternoon after authorities completed their investigation into a security threat that temporarily shuttered portions of the facility.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the resolution via social media, stating: “The security incident at @Fly_KansasCity is now clear and normal operations are resuming.”

Officials with the Kansas City Aviation Department initiated evacuations of certain areas within the Missouri airport starting approximately 11:15 a.m. local time in response to what they described as a potential threat. Local airport police collaborated with FBI agents during the investigation process.

The airport serves as a major transportation hub, handling nearly one million travelers each month based on facility statistics.

Traffic is being diverted around a section of Porter Road after a railroad crossing malfunction forced authorities to close the roadway near Old Porter Road.

The crossing equipment failure has prompted officials to shut down the affected stretch of Porter Road as a safety precaution while repairs are underway.

Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes and expect delays in the area until the railroad crossing issue can be resolved and the road reopened to normal traffic flow.

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro is launching an ambitious initiative to address what he calls a “five-alarm fire” facing Latino communities nationwide.

Castro, who previously ran for president and now leads the Latino Community Foundation, announced Wednesday his organization’s commitment to establishing a $250 million endowment while expanding grant distribution throughout southwestern states.

“The destiny of the United States is intertwined with the destiny of the Latino community like never before,” Castro shared with The Associated Press. “We’re confident that by helping to ensure that the Latino community does well, we’re helping to ensure that the United States does well in the years to come.”

The initiative addresses a stark funding gap in charitable giving. Organizations serving people of Latin American heritage consistently receive less than 1% of all philanthropic funding, according to Hispanics in Philanthropy, despite Census data showing nearly 20% of Americans identify as Hispanic or Latino.

This disparity has grown more pronounced as community organizations assist immigrant families dealing with President Donald Trump’s expanded enforcement measures. The current administration is increasing detention facility capacity to potentially house around 100,000 immigrants, while enforcement actions in cities like Minneapolis and Chicago have created fear in predominantly Latino neighborhoods, where some residents avoid leaving their homes regardless of their legal status.

Responding to these challenges, the Latino Community Foundation launched its first nationwide funding program last month, distributing an initial $500,000 to five organizations in Minnesota, California and Nevada focused on holding federal immigration authorities accountable and safeguarding families.

The foundation has evolved significantly since starting as a San Francisco United Way affinity group in 1989. Castro hopes to distribute at least $10 million yearly, matching last year’s output when Los Angeles-area wildfire response pushed grantmaking beyond typical levels.

However, the organization’s current $35 million endowment — which Castro describes as “modest” compared to other philanthropies — cannot address expanding nationwide demand.

“Now is the moment, under these unique circumstances that we face, to go bigger and to seek to make a real, lasting impression on philanthropy,” he explained.

Castro, who previously served as San Antonio’s mayor before leading HUD during President Barack Obama’s second term, discussed his foundation vision exclusively with AP.

He emphasized the widespread need across America, noting Latino population growth over recent decades extends beyond traditional areas into smaller communities throughout the Southwest, Midwest, and every region.

During visits to Arizona and Nevada, Castro observed numerous excellent community-rooted nonprofits conducting voter registration, voter mobilization, small business capital access, and Latino empowerment work — all chronically underfunded.

“It feels like an imperative,” Castro said about the current moment. “The moment that we’re going through gives me and the LCF team an added sense of purpose and of urgency to serve our community.”

He noted that all team members share immigrant heritage and feel fortunate to have accessed American opportunities while pursuing their aspirations.

“And that’s what we want for everybody in the country — of course, including other Latinos, whether they’re recent immigrants or they’ve been here for five generations,” Castro continued. “And what I see happening in the country right now is the taking away of opportunity. Subtraction instead of addition.”

The endowment will provide funding for nonprofits typically excluded from mainstream philanthropy, Castro explained, since the Latino Community Foundation emerged partly because mainstream philanthropic dollars rarely reach Latino-led organizations.

“This endowment will help ensure that if somebody is doing excellent grassroots work to serve the Latino community, they always have a place to look,” he said.

Castro acknowledged that many organizations remain deeply connected to their local communities but face staffing shortages, lack grant writers, and need expertise in securing philanthropic resources. He also noted that major philanthropy still requires significant progress in reflecting national diversity and understanding comprehensive community needs.

“We know that there’s a very strong need. We know that that need is going to continue. And that the investments that we’re making to Latino-serving organizations are consistent with the current law,” Castro stated.

While some funders have reduced investments in organizations serving specific demographic groups, Castro called this development unfortunate given persistent generational inequities.

“The Latino Community Foundation is absolutely committed to our mission. And through thick and thin, we’re gonna have the community’s back,” he concluded.

Military families across Iowa are grieving after learning that members of their state’s Army Reserve logistics unit were among those killed in Sunday’s deadly attack in Kuwait.

The Pentagon released the names of four fallen soldiers on Tuesday, though two others who perished in the Iran war incident remain unidentified pending family notification. The servicemembers belonged to a specialized unit responsible for providing essential supplies and equipment to deployed troops.

Among those lost was 20-year-old Sgt. Declan Coady, whose sister Keira spoke with reporters outside the family’s West Des Moines residence while holding her brother’s military photograph. The young soldier was part of the Iowa-based reserve unit that played a crucial role in maintaining supply lines for American forces.

The logistics unit’s mission involved ensuring that deployed personnel received necessary provisions, from meals to critical equipment, making their work essential to military operations in the region. The Sunday attack marked a significant loss for both the Iowa National Guard community and the families who lost their loved ones in service to their country.

Military officials continue working to notify remaining family members before releasing additional names of those killed in the Kuwait incident.

The Defense Department contacted mining companies on Friday requesting assistance in increasing domestic production of 13 essential minerals crucial for manufacturing semiconductors, military weapons, and other defense products, according to documents obtained by Reuters.

The timing of this mineral supply request is significant, coming just 24 hours before the United States and Israel conducted coordinated military strikes against Iran. This development highlights ongoing concerns about America’s limited access to materials essential for military operations.

Defense officials reached out to members of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium, which includes mining companies, academic institutions, and other military suppliers. The Pentagon is seeking project proposals by March 20 that would focus on mining, processing, or recycling materials including nickel, graphite, rare earth elements, and ten other critical minerals.

The Defense Industrial Base Consortium serves as a network connecting the military with private sector companies, universities, and research organizations that provide essential supplies and services to the armed forces.

When contacted for comment, representatives from the White House, the Defense Industrial Base Consortium, and the Pentagon had not yet provided responses to inquiries about this mineral supply initiative.

NEW YORK CITY — Authorities are examining an incident where a counterdemonstrator ignited and hurled an explosive device filled with metal fragments at participants in an anti-Islamic rally on Saturday, according to police officials.

The confrontation began Saturday morning when a member of the “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” demonstration, linked to conservative activist Jake Lang, discharged pepper spray toward a group of counterdemonstrators gathered near Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official residence, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported.

The situation escalated when a counterprotester ignited and launched a device that Tisch characterized as football-sized or smaller toward the roughly 20-person anti-Islam gathering, she explained.

The explosive struck a barricade and went out “just a few feet from police officers,” according to Tisch. The individual then fled, receiving a second device from another person before dropping it. Both devices were covered in black tape and packed with nuts, bolts, and screws, along with a hobby fuse designed to be ignited, Tisch said. Authorities remain uncertain whether the devices were operational or fake.

Three individuals have been taken into custody as the investigation continues, Tisch confirmed.

During her press briefing, Tisch reported no injuries occurred and indicated she believed Mayor Zohran Mamdani was away from the residence during the incident.

Lang previously faced charges including officer assault with a baseball bat and civil disorder related to January 6th before receiving clemency through President Donald Trump’s broad pardoning of January 6th defendants last year. Lang has recently declared his candidacy for U.S. Senate in Florida.

Lang also participated in demonstrations in Minneapolis during the previous Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.

According to Tisch, approximately 20 individuals attended Lang’s Saturday demonstration, while the opposing group reached a maximum of 125 participants.

An investigative journalism team at NPR conducted an extensive examination of court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to the Interlochen Center for the Arts, revealing previously unknown details about predatory behavior at the renowned institution.

The investigation focused on how Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell exploited their relationship with the prestigious arts center to identify and approach vulnerable young students. The reporting team analyzed extensive legal documentation to piece together the methods used by the convicted sex offender and his accomplice.

The examination of these court records has provided fresh insights into the systematic way Epstein and Maxwell leveraged their association with the well-regarded educational institution as part of their criminal enterprise targeting minors.

KALW’s podcast series “Uncuffed” features an in-depth examination of Greg Eskridge’s journey as he navigates freedom following his parole release during the summer of 2024, marking the end of more than three decades spent incarcerated.

The podcast episode includes an extensive interview with Eskridge, who discusses the challenges and experiences of readjusting to life outside prison walls. The conversation delves into his efforts to rebuild connections with family members and integrate back into a society that has changed significantly during his lengthy imprisonment.

The “Uncuffed” series focuses on documenting the complex realities faced by individuals transitioning from long-term incarceration to freedom, offering listeners insight into the personal struggles and triumphs that accompany such a dramatic life change.

An investigative team from NPR has uncovered fresh details about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s exploitation of their ties to a prestigious arts institution, according to a new report examining court documents.

The journalists conducted an extensive review of legal filings connected to Epstein’s case, focusing specifically on materials related to the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Their investigation revealed new information about the methods Epstein and Maxwell employed to exploit their connections to the well-regarded educational institution.

The reporting demonstrates how the convicted sex offender and his associate leveraged their relationship with the arts center as part of their broader pattern of targeting young women. The investigation adds to the growing body of evidence showing how Epstein used his wealth and social connections to gain access to potential victims through respected organizations.

AUSTIN, Texas — A district court judge in Texas refused Wednesday to shut down Camp Mystic, the girls’ summer camp where devastating floods claimed the lives of 25 campers and two staff members last year.

District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble rejected the closure request while a wrongful death lawsuit moves forward, but she did impose restrictions on the camp’s operators. The judge prohibited any alterations or demolition of the flooded cabins and banned use of the camp area nearest the Guadalupe River where those structures stood.

The legal motion came from relatives of 8-year-old Cile Steward, who perished in the floodwaters and whose remains have never been found. Her family sought to prevent the facility from reopening and stop all construction work during ongoing litigation. They argued that any modifications to the property could eliminate crucial evidence for their case.

The tragedy unfolded in the early morning hours of July 4th when rapidly rising waters surged through the camp’s lower elevations. The disaster ultimately took 136 lives across the region, prompting widespread questions about emergency preparedness and response.

Founded nearly a century ago in 1926, the camp chose not to evacuate as river levels climbed dramatically from 14 feet to 29.5 feet in just one hour.

“The worst thing you can do is put a bunch of 8-year-olds on a bus and try to drive them out of there, They all would have drowned,” stated Mikal Watts, legal counsel representing Camp Mystic and its ownership family.

During Wednesday’s emotional hearing, grieving relatives filled the courtroom wearing memorial buttons showing photos of their lost children. Camp attorneys presented images of commemorative trees and architectural plans for rebuilding portions of the facility beyond the 1,000-year flood plain.

Legal representatives for the camp expressed condolences to affected families while asserting that little could have been done to prevent the unprecedented natural disaster. Court proceedings included photographic evidence of the rising floodwaters.

“Nobody had every seen a prior flood anything like we saw in 2025,” Watts commented.

According to testimony, more than 850 children have already registered for this summer’s camping session.

Edward Eastland, whose father Richard Eastland owned the camp and died in the flooding, described his family’s harrowing escape. He testified that floodwaters burst through the doors of their camp residence, forcing his mother, wife, children and a staff member to break a window and flee to safety.

Eastland revealed that while security cameras monitored the property, no one was observing the live footage during the overnight hours as water levels rose. When he attempted to access the system around 3 a.m., it was no longer functioning.

The camp’s decision to partially reopen last year and build a memorial sparked anger among many bereaved families who felt excluded from planning discussions.

“We call on Camp Mystic to halt all discussions of reopening and memorials,” CiCi and Will Steward wrote to camp leadership after the reopening announcement.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has urged state regulators to deny license renewal for Camp Mystic pending completion of the death investigation and upcoming legislative hearings scheduled for spring.

Multiple families have filed lawsuits against camp management, claiming officials failed to implement adequate safety measures as dangerous floodwaters threatened the facility.

Authorities in Arizona continue investigating what they believe is the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie. Here’s how the case has unfolded since she vanished more than a month ago.

Nancy Guthrie 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.

The next morning on February 1st, security footage from Nancy’s doorbell camera recorded a masked intruder outside her Tucson home in the early hours. The individual wore winter gear including a ski mask, carried a backpack, wore gloves, and had a visible firearm in a holster while interfering with the recording device. Around 30 minutes afterward, Nancy’s medical pacemaker device lost connection with her telephone line. Family members contacted police shortly before midday when Nancy didn’t 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. They acknowledged media reports about ransom communications and urged the kidnappers to establish contact with the family.

On February 5th, law enforcement officials verified through genetic testing that blood discovered on Nancy Guthrie’s front entrance belonged to her. That same day at 5 p.m., the first deadline mentioned in an alleged ransom message came and went.

Two days later on February 7th, Savannah Guthrie appeared in another video alongside her siblings, making an emotional appeal for her mother’s safe return. “This is very valuable to us and we will pay,” she stated.

By February 9th, Savannah Guthrie posted on Instagram saying, “We believe our mom is still out there” while requesting public assistance in the search. A second ransom deadline also expired without resolution.

February 10th marked a significant development when the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI made public the doorbell security footage showing the armed suspect. Sheriff’s officials later called this recording their most important piece of evidence. That same day, investigators conducted a search at a residence in Rio Rico, Arizona, located 60 miles south of Tucson near the Mexican border. They detained one individual for questioning but later released him without filing charges. Savannah Guthrie shared the masked suspect’s images on her Instagram account with the message: “We believe she is still alive; bring her home.”

Five days later on February 15th, authorities obtained genetic material from discarded gloves found approximately two miles from Nancy Guthrie’s residence. The gloves appeared similar to those worn by the masked individual in the security recording.

However, on February 17th, the genetic sample from the gloves produced no matches when compared against profiles in CODIS, the national DNA database, according to FBI and sheriff’s officials.

Most recently on March 4th, additional DNA testing revealed the gloves belonged to a local restaurant worker who investigators do not consider connected to the case. This development represents a setback for what had initially appeared to be a significant clue in the investigation.

Cleveland law enforcement officials spent Wednesday working to determine the identities of two young half-sisters whose remains were discovered inside buried suitcases in the eastern part of the city.

The remains were uncovered Monday in Cleveland’s Collinwood area following an alert from someone walking their dog, police reported. Investigators believe one child was aged 8 to 13 years old, while the second was between 10 and 14 years old.

During a Tuesday press briefing, Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd stated that the cause of death for both African American girls remains unknown, though evidence suggests the bodies had been buried for an extended period.

“We are hoping to find answers,” Todd stated. “This is a terrible, tragic situation.”

DNA relationship analysis conducted by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the two children were half-sisters, officials announced in a public statement. Additional details will be shared when they become available, the office indicated.

Todd noted that the details of this case do not align with any current missing person reports in the region.

PHOENIX (AP) — An aircraft on a training flight collided with two residential properties in Phoenix on Wednesday afternoon before coming to rest vertically in a backyard, leaving three people with injuries, according to local officials.

The Piper P-28 aircraft lost one of its wings during the incident, with the detached wing coming to rest on top of the first house that was damaged. The aircraft itself ended up positioned nose-first into the ground beside a backyard swimming pool at the second residence, officials reported.

Both occupants of the aircraft — a flight instructor and student pilot — suffered minor cuts and burns in the crash. They were transported to a local hospital for treatment along with a male resident from one of the damaged homes, according to Phoenix Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Todd Keller, who spoke with Phoenix area television outlets.

“Fortunately, everyone was OK,” Keller said in an interview with azfamily.com.

Officials said the aircraft had been en route to Deer Valley Airport, which is located in the vicinity of the crash site.

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident.

When Lynette Pino saw the February news coverage surrounding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, she made a conscious choice not to let it overwhelm her emotions.

Pino shares a heartbreaking connection with the family of NBC “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie: her own child has been missing for nearly two decades. Her son Darian Nevayaktewa disappeared in 2008, just before starting a new school year, while visiting his father in Arizona.

“I could see in their faces that they want answers,” said the 58-year-old from Tesuque Pueblo in New Mexico. “What’s the next step? What can we do? It’s how I feel. There are no answers. I just pray for them and the other people who are missing.”

“Why,” she questioned, “would someone take an elderly lady?”

Both Pino and the Guthrie family are dealing with what mental health professionals term ambiguous loss. This occurs when a family member vanishes, creating an agonizing uncertainty that may never be resolved. The category encompasses kidnappings, runaways, certain catastrophic events, and warfare. It also includes situations where dementia transforms familiar relatives into strangers.

“They’re frozen in their grief. They have a real sense of helplessness,” explained Tai Mendenhall, a medical family therapist at the University of Minnesota who leads a mental health disaster response team. “There’s no clear resolution from it. We know from research that ambiguous loss is the most psychologically painful kind of loss because of that.”

Pauline Boss pioneered research in this area and coined the terminology. During the 1970s, she conducted interviews with California women whose spouses had gone missing during the Vietnam conflict. Both Boss and Mendenhall provided support to families following the September 11 attacks on New York’s World Trade Center.

Nancy Guthrie, age 84, disappeared from her Tucson-area residence on February 1st while living independently. According to Savannah Guthrie, her mother was “taken in the dark of night from her bed.” Federal investigators later released surveillance footage from outside the home showing an unidentified masked individual. Blood evidence was discovered on the front porch, but authorities have not solved the case.

The unusual nature of the crime and Savannah Guthrie’s prominence as a television host have generated significant media attention. Guthrie has created multiple video appeals, often alongside her siblings Annie and Camron, pleading for her mother’s safe return and recently announcing a $1 million reward for helpful information.

“As my sister says, ‘We are blowing on the embers of hope,’” Guthrie stated on February 24th, with visibly emotional eyes.

Guthrie, Annie, and brother-in-law Tommaso Cioni visited a memorial site at the family home recently, placing flowers and reading handwritten messages of support while embracing each other. Guthrie also made an emotional return to her NBC workplace in New York on Thursday.

Throughout this ordeal, she has referenced her Christian beliefs, previously asking followers on Instagram to “raise your prayers with us” and recently acknowledging that Nancy Guthrie may already be in heaven “dancing with our daddy.” Mental health experts note that faith can be crucial for managing ambiguous loss.

“When people turn toward their faith, that is where they find solace,” Mendenhall observed. “Oftentimes the power of faith comes from the communities that inhabit it. Sometimes the best treatment for ambiguous loss is a community group, people who have had this shared experience.”

Pino relies on prayer regularly while dealing with her son’s disappearance. Nevayaktewa was 19 years old when he went missing in June 2008. His case represents one of many unresolved violent crimes affecting Native American communities. Federal authorities announced last year they were deploying additional agents, analysts, and support staff to ten states to address this issue.

“He wanted to go see his dad on the Hopi reservation in Arizona,” Pino recalled about her son. “I just remember that day hugging him, telling him he only needed a half-semester to graduate from high school. He wasn’t there long, maybe a week, before he disappeared. Someone took him somewhere — I don’t know. Hard to say.”

Savannah Guthrie announced her family’s decision to donate $500,000 to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, recognizing “millions of families that have suffered” with similar uncertainty.

During a trip to Arizona last summer near the anniversary of her son’s disappearance, Pino said she offered prayers and lit candles for Nevayaktewa.

“Do not give up hope,” Pino advised for the Guthries. “Don’t let law enforcement put it aside.”

National Public Radio has revealed the outstanding entries that earned recognition in its 2025 College Podcast Challenge, celebrating the most impressive submissions from student podcasters nationwide.

The annual competition draws participation from college students across the United States who demonstrate their skills in audio production, storytelling, and broadcast journalism through original podcast content.

These honored submissions represent the cream of the crop from this year’s challenge, showcasing the next generation of audio content creators and their innovative approaches to podcasting and digital media.

NPR has announced the finalists for its annual College Podcast Challenge, narrowing down hundreds of student submissions from across the nation.

The competition drew participants from 75 universities spanning 35 states, showcasing the creativity and talent of student podcasters nationwide. NPR reviewers evaluated all entries to identify the most outstanding productions for the final round.

The challenge provides college students an opportunity to demonstrate their audio storytelling skills and potentially gain recognition in the competitive podcasting landscape.

Family members of sailors serving aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford and members of Congress are raising questions about the extended overseas mission of the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier.

The massive warship has found itself positioned at the heart of two significant international conflicts during recent months, leading to concerns about the effects of the prolonged deployment on crew members and their families back home.

The extended nature of the Ford’s current assignment has prompted discussions among military families and political leaders about the toll such lengthy overseas operations can take on service members and the broader implications for naval readiness.

Body camera footage made public for the first time is challenging official accounts of how a federal immigration officer fatally shot an American citizen during a traffic stop in Texas last year.

The video evidence, released Friday through public records requests, shows the final moments of 23-year-old Ruben Ray Martinez’s life during what began as a routine spring break trip to South Padre Island in March 2025.

Federal officials from the Department of Homeland Security initially claimed Martinez deliberately struck an agent with his vehicle before Homeland Security Investigations Supervisory Special Agent Jack Stevens opened fire. However, the newly available body camera recordings don’t clearly support that version of events.

The shooting marked the first of at least six deadly encounters involving federal agents since President Trump intensified immigration enforcement efforts during his second administration. Multiple cases have seen initial government explanations contradicted by later video evidence.

A Texas grand jury last week chose not to bring criminal charges against Stevens, allowing the Texas Rangers to close their investigation into the March 15 incident, according to state public safety records.

In his official report, Stevens stated he discharged his weapon to safeguard other agents, local police, and civilians from what he perceived as a possible terrorist attack designed to cause mass harm. A DHS representative said previously that the federal agent fired in self-defense after Martinez “intentionally ran over” another officer, leaving that agent “on the hood of the vehicle.”

The body camera recordings, captured from positions behind Martinez’s vehicle, fail to clearly document any agent being struck by the car.

Additional footage captures Joshua Orta, Martinez’s passenger, explaining to investigators that his friend never meant to hurt law enforcement but had “panicked” due to fears of arrest for drunk driving.

“He didn’t know what to do. Like he definitely didn’t want to go to jail,” Orta explained. “But as far as like running over an officer … he wouldn’t do that.”

DHS representatives have not responded to media requests for comment regarding the video footage.

Although local news initially reported the shooting involved a police officer, DHS kept its agents’ involvement secret until media organizations, including the Associated Press, revealed it last month.

Martinez had recently celebrated his 23rd birthday when he and Orta traveled from San Antonio to the popular spring break destination. After drinking with friends and using marijuana, they were returning to town when the incident occurred, Orta told investigators.

Martinez was behind the wheel of his blue Ford sedan when they encountered South Padre police directing traffic around a two-vehicle crash at a busy intersection just after midnight. Three HSI agents from a maritime border security unit, reassigned to immigration enforcement duties, were also present at the scene.

Police body camera footage shows Martinez’s sedan slowly approaching the intersection, apparently continuing straight while other vehicles were being directed to turn left. The car nearly stops completely for pedestrians in the crosswalk, then slowly enters the intersection before halting again as HSI agents approach while shouting stop commands.

Special Agent Hector Sosa, according to official documents, positioned himself in front of the vehicle. Stevens approached the driver’s side and reached toward the door.

“Get him out, get him out,” an officer can be heard yelling.

Martinez’s car began moving slowly forward while turning left, following the path other vehicles had taken. Stevens, staying alongside the driver’s side, appeared to lean toward the open window. As officers continued shouting for Martinez to stop, Stevens drew his weapon and quickly fired three rounds through the window before stepping back.

“Shots fired, shots fired,” a police officer with a body camera radioed.

The entire confrontation lasted approximately 15 seconds.

The blue Ford immediately stopped, and multiple officers pulled Martinez from the vehicle and handcuffed him. Orta was also removed from the passenger seat and restrained.

Martinez remained motionless on the ground in handcuffs for roughly one minute before paramedics, already at the scene for the earlier accident, began providing medical assistance.

Medical examiner findings revealed all three of Stevens’ shots struck Martinez, with bullets passing through his left arm into his torso, damaging his heart, lungs, liver, and other vital organs. The autopsy also found Martinez’s blood alcohol content was 0.12%, exceeding Texas’s 0.08% legal driving limit.

In a three-page statement given to Texas Rangers nearly two months after the shooting, Stevens claimed he fired as Martinez “accelerated forward, striking Special Agent Sosa who wound up on the hood of the vehicle.” He also said he barely avoided being hit himself, struck by the driver’s side “causing the mirror to break off of the vehicle.” Crime scene photos showed the mirror damaged but still attached to the car.

The agent said recent events were “still fresh on his mind” as he fired, including a New Year’s incident weeks earlier when someone drove a truck into crowds in New Orleans.

“The driver’s eyes were open widely, fist clenched to the steering wheel, and he was looking past the officers on scene as he failed to comply with the loud and repeated verbal commands of multiple law enforcement officers,” Stevens wrote. “This is a behavior I have observed in my training and experience as a pre attack indicator and sign of noncompliance as the suspect is looking in the path of their intended movement and is not indicative of compliance. This path of movement, if left unmitigated, would, using the vehicle as a weapon, have resulted in numerous casualties.”

An internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation reported the agent allegedly struck by the car received treatment for an unspecified knee injury at a local hospital and was released. The new video footage shows this same agent arresting Orta after the shooting and walking without any apparent injury or limp.

Orta told investigators Martinez had consumed several alcoholic drinks and a beer earlier that evening, plus marijuana, when they reached the traffic checkpoint where the earlier accident had occurred.

An officer noticed an open alcoholic beverage near Martinez but directed the car to continue moving and turn left. Instead, Martinez drove straight toward the accident scene and additional officers.

“That’s when he panicked and turned the wheel, and he didn’t floor the gas but we kind of went a little bit and I guess they thought he was like trying to run the cop over or something,” Orta said.

Orta described their car coming to a “full stop” initially, then Martinez turning left with the vehicle “barely moving.”

“I saw the officer kind of get on the hood. Like he didn’t hit him, but like he kind of like, you know what I mean, caught his feet,” Orta said. “It was just slowly moving and they started shooting.”

Orta died February 21 in an automobile accident in San Antonio.

Attorneys representing Martinez’s mother, Rachel Reyes, issued a statement saying the newly released videos and evidence demonstrated his car was barely moving when Stevens fired at close range.

“This batch of evidence shows no justification for Ruben’s killing,” lawyers Charles M. Stam and Alex Stamm said. “Still, our pursuit of full transparency will continue until we have all the facts. We, and the public, have yet to see all of the evidence held by the government.”

CHICAGO (AP) — Following a public celebration that drew former presidents, governors, and Chicago community members to honor the late Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., his closest family members and friends will gather for an intimate memorial at his organization’s Chicago headquarters.

The private ceremony at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition building on Chicago’s South Side will welcome only several hundred guests, primarily consisting of family, close allies, and trusted associates. This intimate gathering will conclude a series of memorial events held nationwide throughout the week.

“I foresee tomorrow will represent everything that Rev. Jackson stood for,” said the Rev. Chauncey D. Brown, a Chicago-area pastor and mentee of Jackson’s. “It will include dignitaries and icons, as well as many from where the true power lies, with the people in the streets.”

According to staff members, seating for the morning ceremony will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Following Jackson’s passing last month, his family and supporters have paid tribute to the reverend through memorial services, community outreach, and demonstrations they believe carry forward his mission.

Community members were initially welcomed for public viewings at the Rainbow PUSH headquarters in February, providing Jackson’s long-time neighbors an opportunity to pay their final respects to the civil rights icon.

The reverend’s body was later displayed at the South Carolina Capitol building. Jackson was raised in segregated Greenville, South Carolina, where as a teenager, he organized fellow students in a demonstration that integrated the local library, launching his lifelong commitment to civil rights advocacy.

Memorial events planned for Washington, D.C., were delayed when a request for Jackson to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol was rejected. Republican House leadership referenced established protocol that typically reserves this honor for former presidents and high-ranking military officials.

Jackson’s proteges have continued honoring his work by advocating for causes including voting rights, economic justice, and political mobilization in the weeks following his death. Rainbow PUSH organized a discussion forum where community organizers and clergy mentored by Jackson shared how he influenced their professional paths.

Thursday’s events at the headquarters included various celebrations of Jackson’s life preceding the public ceremony. Hundreds of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity members assembled at the facility to pay tribute to Jackson.

Jackson’s life “is a dream fulfilled,” said Michael Barksdale Jr., one of the fraternity members honoring Jackson. A Chicago public school counselor who first encountered Jackson as a high school freshman, Barksdale explained that the PUSH Coalition provided him with a college scholarship after he served as one of the organization’s youth organizers.

“It is up to my generation now to continue that legacy of Jackson and all the civil rights dignitaries who came before,” said Barksdale, 37. “They did all of the heavy lifting, and we are going to continue to build.”

That evening, the facility welcomed Rainbow PUSH alumni for a reunion celebrating the late reverend and his decades of activism. Attendees included state and local officials, scholars, veteran organizers, and former diplomatic personnel.

Carol Moseley Braun, the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate, attended alongside long-serving organization members who stood by Jackson throughout his career. Braun, who volunteered for Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign, received Jackson’s backing during her victorious 1992 election.

Attendees honored Jackson’s legacy and shared memories of his two presidential campaigns; his international activism fighting apartheid and negotiating hostage releases; and his ministry promoting a Christianity focused on justice and support for the marginalized.

The headquarters also welcomed nearly 100 progressive activists from Minnesota. These groups represented civil rights, labor, and immigration advocacy organizations recently gaining national attention after President Donald Trump’s administration intensified immigration enforcement operations in their state, triggering widespread demonstrations.

“It’s really empowering, at least for me, to see the coalition coming together and to understand the history of civil rights and human rights and immigrants’ rights,” said Yeng Her, the organizing director at the Immigrant Defense Network, one of the organizations protesting the Trump administration’s actions in Minnesota.

The Jackson family brought these activists to Chicago to study Jackson’s approaches and discover resources for their own organizations. Participants met with Rainbow PUSH alumni and several of Jackson’s children.

This gathering served as preparation for both the private family service and an additional commemoration.

This Sunday, Jackson family members and many of his mentees will journey to Selma, Alabama, to observe the “Bloody Sunday” protest anniversary, marking when civil rights demonstrators were attacked by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965.

Jackson regularly participated in this annual commemorative march.

A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court accuses bestselling author and venture capitalist Amy Griffin of appropriating another woman’s personal accounts of childhood sexual assault for her acclaimed memoir “The Tell.”

The accuser, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, claims Griffin incorporated intimate details of her own traumatic experiences into the book without authorization. Griffin’s legal representative dismissed the allegations as “absurd” and without merit.

Griffin’s memoir, released in 2025, details how MDMA-assisted therapy helped her recover suppressed memories of being sexually abused by an educator at her Amarillo, Texas middle school during the 1980s.

“I knew that these memories were real,” Griffin states in her book. “My body knew what had happened to me.”

The memoir gained significant recognition, earning selection for Oprah’s Book Club and endorsements from celebrities including Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow.

According to the legal filing, the plaintiff contends that Griffin’s accounts mirror her own experiences of sexual assault by a different educator, occurring both at a school dance and within school restroom facilities. The lawsuit maintains Griffin had access to information about these incidents.

“‘The Tell’ constitutes neither a genuine nor harmless memoir,” the court documents state, with charges including privacy invasion, unauthorized disclosure of personal information, negligence, and causing emotional harm. The plaintiff seeks monetary compensation to be established during proceedings.

The legal action also targets Griffin’s publishing companies and a ghostwriter involved in the project.

Questions about the book’s authenticity surfaced in September when The New York Times published an investigative piece highlighting skepticism about the recovered memories’ validity. The report also revealed financial connections between Griffin and prominent figures who endorsed her work.

The plaintiff discovered the memoir’s existence only after Times journalists contacted her during their investigation.

“She immediately recognized that the character of Claudia appeared to be based on herself,” the lawsuit states. “She further recognized that a number of stories attributed to the memories of Defendant GRIFFIN that supposedly resurfaced during MDMA therapy were actually her own real life past experiences.”

Griffin’s attorney Thomas A. Clare responded via email, stating: “We look forward to exposing these meritless claims in court, as well as the deeply flawed New York Times reporting that is at the center of it.”

Clare further alleged: “Just like the New York Times manufactured a false narrative about Amy Griffin and ‘The Tell,’ it also engineered the premise for this absurd lawsuit. After two New York Times reporters instigated this whole situation by bringing the book to her attention, the Plaintiff made her own choice to publicize her narrative to a global audience.” He continued, “For its part, the Times took full advantage, publicizing this inaccurate narrative despite receiving many red-flag warnings.”

Times representative Danielle Rhoades Ha responded: “We’re confident in the accuracy of our reporting.”

The lawsuit provides specific details about the alleged connection between the two women. During the school dance assault, the plaintiff was wearing clothing borrowed from Griffin. The legal documents claim the attack would have been noticeable to attendees based on how she departed and returned. Additionally, the borrowed dress was allegedly returned to Griffin containing biological evidence from the assault. The plaintiff also states she sought religious forgiveness for the incident during a church youth gathering Griffin attended.

Court papers describe a 2019 meeting between the two women at a California coffee establishment after decades apart, an encounter referenced in Griffin’s memoir. However, the plaintiff maintains she did not discuss her assault experiences during this reunion.

The accuser later detailed her abuse to a talent representative who contacted her about her life experiences. The lawsuit indicates this agent claimed to have learned about her through an unnamed source. When she began questioning the agent extensively, he ceased communication, and the plaintiff alleges information from their discussions subsequently appeared in “The Tell.”

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Federal authorities have brought a 28-year-old Bangladeshi man to the United States to face charges related to the online sexual exploitation of hundreds of teenage girls across the country.

Zobaidul Amin entered a not guilty plea during his first court appearance in Anchorage on Thursday, following his transfer from Malaysia where the FBI had taken him into custody. Amin had been attending medical school in Kuala Lumpur while facing similar charges there, according to federal prosecutors.

Court documents reveal disturbing details about Amin’s alleged crimes. “Amin delighted in sexually abusing hundreds of minor victims over social media,” prosecutors stated in their detention filing. “He bragged about causing victims to become suicidal and engage in self-harm. He shared hundreds of nude images and videos of minor victims all over the internet and encouraged other perpetrators to do the same.”

Federal prosecutors secured an indictment against Amin in 2022 on multiple charges including child pornography, cyberstalking and wire fraud. Authorities say he created fake online personas, frequently pretending to be a teenager himself, to manipulate his young victims into sharing explicit photographs.

The case originated when a 14-year-old girl from Alaska contacted law enforcement about her abuse. She told investigators that when she stopped responding to Amin’s messages, he carried out his threats by distributing her explicit images to people in her social circle.

Through extensive investigation involving numerous search warrants and subpoenas, federal agents identified Amin and discovered he had targeted hundreds of minors in similar schemes. According to prosecutors, Amin told victims the only way to stop his demands for additional images was to help him find new victims.

Prosecutors say Amin believed his location in Malaysia made him immune from American law enforcement. “Because he was in Malaysia and his victims were primarily in the U.S., Amin viewed himself as untouchable by law enforcement,” court documents state. “In one conversation, he told a minor victim that the ‘cops won’t do anything,’ and the ‘cops won’t track me down because I live no where near u.’”

Initial attempts to extradite Amin were unsuccessful, but Malaysian authorities filed their own charges with FBI assistance, the Justice Department reported. After his release on bail during those proceedings, the United States ultimately secured his expulsion from Malaysia, allowing FBI agents to take custody and transport him to Alaska.

FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the agency’s global commitment to protecting children. “The FBI’s commitment to protecting our children from exploitation doesn’t change whether an offender is here in the United States or overseas,” Patel said in an official statement.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle Reardon ruled Thursday that Amin must remain jailed as his case moves forward through the court system.

A Coast Guard rescue swimmer has passed away following injuries sustained during a life-saving mission off Washington state’s coastline.

Tyler Jaggers died Thursday night, but not before experiencing two deeply moving moments: his family orchestrated a bedside engagement proposal to his partner, and military officials presented him with the Distinguished Flying Cross – among the military’s most prestigious honors for aerial heroism – while loved ones and fellow service members looked on.

Military leadership also elevated Jaggers to petty officer 2nd class during the ceremony.

“He demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of danger, upholding the highest standards of courage and excellence for Coast Guard operations,” Admiral Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard, said in a statement Friday. “We honor his selfless actions and unwavering devotion to our highest calling: to save others.”

The tragic incident occurred February 27th when Jaggers’ Astoria, Oregon-based team was dispatched to airlift a stroke patient from a commercial ship positioned 120 nautical miles off Washington’s shoreline.

While Coast Guard officials haven’t released specific details pending their ongoing investigation, Rick McElrath from the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Association explained that Jaggers suffered his injuries after falling while being lowered from the aircraft to the vessel’s deck. McElrath leads the nonprofit organization supporting Coast Guard aviation veterans.

Medical teams kept Jaggers on life support while treating him at facilities in Victoria, British Columbia, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Seattle before his death Thursday evening.

Jaggers enlisted in January 2022 and had been stationed in Astoria since 2024. The Department of Homeland Security had previously commended his outstanding service aboard the Coast Guard cutter Legare during Caribbean operations.

Officials continue investigating the circumstances surrounding his injuries.

The Canadian Coast Guard ultimately completed the stroke victim’s evacuation, McElrath noted.

In Thursday’s social media post, Jaggers’ partner Cassandra Weaver shared the touching story of their engagement: his father placed the ring on her finger while she sat beside his hospital bed.

“What I didn’t realize was that he had recently told some of his closest buddies that he was getting ready to propose,” Cassandra Weaver wrote. “So yesterday, surrounded by the people who love him most, his family carried out the proposal on Tyler’s behalf.”

Her post featured images of her engagement ring while holding his hand and touching his Coast Guard uniform.

“I always told him I didn’t care if he proposed with a Ring Pop,” she wrote. “I said yes.”

Television journalist Don Lemon spoke out against growing authoritarianism and expressed concerns about media industry consolidation during Thursday’s GLAAD awards ceremony in Beverly Hills.

Speaking to reporters on the red carpet, Lemon highlighted how corporate mergers in the media landscape could pose risks to newsroom diversity and freedom of expression.

“It’s going to be really important for independent journalists and independent media to stand up for representation,” he told Reuters.

His comments come as Paramount Global moves forward with a planned $110 billion purchase of Warner Bros Discovery, which owns CNN – the network that terminated Lemon’s anchor position in 2023. Paramount executives have stated they will preserve editorial independence at the network following completion of the deal.

Thursday’s Beverly Hills event marked Lemon’s most prominent public appearance since his January arrest during coverage of ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis. At the ceremony, he expressed gratitude to GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis and the National Association of Black Journalists for their support following his arrest.

“Journalism is about the truth, and the truth has no right or no left,” he said.

The evening celebration, hosted by “Mean Girls” star Jonathan Bennett and featuring a special appearance by Liza Minnelli, highlighted LGBTQ representation across various media platforms. HBO Max and Crave’s “Heated Rivalry” took home the award for outstanding new TV series, with creator Jacob Tierney acknowledging groundbreaking programs like “Queer as Folk” and “The L Word” for opening doors.

The award-winning drama follows an intense hockey competition and hidden romantic relationship between two athletes, played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.

Comedy duo Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers were honored with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for their work promoting LGBTQ visibility through their popular culture podcast “Las Culturistas,” which explores major cultural events alongside celebrity guests including Lady Gaga and Laura Dern.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation will make the awards ceremony available for streaming on Hulu starting March 21.

Federal authorities are pointing fingers at China following a cybersecurity incident that compromised an FBI computer system, according to a Wall Street Journal report released Friday.

Investigators believe hackers with ties to the Chinese government successfully penetrated an internal FBI network that stores data connected to domestic surveillance operations, sources familiar with the investigation told the publication.

Officials have not yet determined how extensive the security breach was or the full impact of the intrusion, as the probe remains in preliminary phases.

When contacted for comment, both the FBI and China’s embassy in Washington have yet to provide responses regarding the alleged cyber incident.