Category: U.S. News

A veteran reporter who helped bring Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activities to light years before his arrest recently shared her thoughts on the impact of newly released court documents in the case.

Journalist Tina Brown, recognized as one of the earliest media figures to investigate and report on Epstein’s sexual abuse crimes, discussed the continuing consequences of the Epstein document releases during a conversation with NPR’s Juana Summers.

The interview focused on Brown’s perspective regarding the ongoing revelations and their broader implications as more details from the Epstein case continue to emerge through court filings.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — New testimony reveals that a Los Angeles firefighter alerted his team about continuing underground heat from a brush fire several days before officials say it flared back to life, becoming the city’s most devastating wildfire on record.

Los Angeles Fire Department member Scott Pike testified under oath that he informed coworkers the soil remained dangerously hot on January 2nd while assisting with cleanup operations from a New Year’s Day brush fire in the hills surrounding the upscale Pacific Palisades area, according to the Los Angeles Times. Pike’s statements were part of sworn testimony in litigation brought by fire victims, with depositions released publicly this week after city lawyers initially sought to keep them sealed for 30 days.

“I could feel the heat coming off of it, and I didn’t even want to use my gloved hand because it was hot, so I just kicked it with my boot to kind of expose it. And there was like red hot, like coals,” Pike stated during his deposition, as shown in footage aired by KNBC-TV. “I even heard crackling.”

“I felt like I got kind of blown off a little bit,” Pike added. “I saw something, I said something.”

Fire victims’ lawyer Alexander Robertson revealed he secured a judicial order to question twelve firefighters responsible for extinguishing the January 1st fire. Among all those interviewed, Pike was the sole individual who reported that fire department personnel had received warnings about incomplete suppression before crews departed the area, Robertson explained.

The wildfire claimed 12 lives throughout the hillside communities spanning Pacific Palisades and Malibu, representing one of two major fires that erupted on January 7th, 2025. Combined, these blazes resulted in more than 30 fatalities and eliminated over 17,000 residential and commercial structures during their multi-day rampage across Los Angeles County.

Officials have determined the fire was a rekindling of the New Year’s Day incident, which federal prosecutors allege was ignited by a local resident. In October, they filed charges against Jonathan Rinderknecht for initiating the Palisades fire. Rinderknecht maintains his innocence, with his legal counsel arguing he’s being made a scapegoat for the Los Angeles Fire Department’s inability to completely extinguish the initial blaze.

Claims of fire department shortcomings form the foundation of the legal action filed by Palisades fire survivors against the city. The complaint also accuses the municipal water department of failing to supply sufficient water resources for firefighting operations.

A former interim LA fire chief has previously explained that such fires can persist within root systems and penetrate 15 to 20 feet underground, making detection through thermal imaging equipment impossible.

Robertson, representing the plaintiffs, accused the fire department and Mayor Karen Bass’s administration of conducting a “cover-up to conceal and suppress the truth about the Palisades Fire.”

“We will hold them accountable,” he declared.

Yusef Robb, a Bass advisor, described these revelations as disturbing. Bass has instructed the fire department to authorize an independent investigation into the New Year’s Day fire response.

“For more than a year, Mayor Bass has been extremely public about her demand for transparency and accountability to inform ongoing Fire Department reforms, and because those affected deserve nothing less,” Robb wrote in an email statement.

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore, who assumed the position in October, expressed concern about the conflicting accounts in firefighters’ testimonies, the department stated via email.

“That concern underscores why the ongoing independent investigation is so important, and why the Chief is fully committed to providing complete cooperation on behalf of himself and the Department,” the email stated.

A federal court deadline expired Friday for the U.S. government to bring back a 19-year-old college student who was wrongfully deported to Honduras, while her legal team accused federal authorities of delaying tactics and attempting to pressure her onto a flight that might lead to her detention.

Attorney Todd Pomerleau stated his legal team stands ready to pursue the matter through the appeals process and pledged that Any Lucia Lopez Belloza “is not coming back in handcuffs.”

The Babson College student, who maintains a clean criminal record and has been attending classes online from Honduras, indicated she plans to stay there temporarily while her lawyers continue advocating for her return.

“No one should have to feel this powerless. All I’m asking is for honesty and fairness,” she told reporters during a Friday Zoom call. “I’m asking to be treated like a human with rights.”

Lopez Belloza was apprehended at Logan International Airport in Boston last November as she attempted to travel to Texas for a Thanksgiving family visit. Within 48 hours, she found herself deported to Honduras – a nation she departed when she was just 7 years old – even though a court injunction prohibited her removal while legal proceedings were ongoing. Federal prosecutors subsequently admitted in court that immigration officials had wrongfully deported her.

The Department of Homeland Security previously maintained that Lopez Belloza received proper legal procedures and had been subject to a final removal directive issued years ago by an immigration judge. Immigration authorities did not respond immediately Friday to requests for comment regarding the missed deadline and proposed return arrangements.

Lopez Belloza has stated she was unaware of any removal order against her and was only 11 when the immigration decision was made. Pomerleau noted that his initial review of her immigration files showed no active removal order in the system.

January court documents revealed that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official failed to properly engage an alert mechanism that should have highlighted the judge’s order preventing her removal. While the administration expressed regret for the mistake, they maintained it did not nullify the previous removal directive.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns directed the government to arrange her return within two weeks, stating that courts – not executive agencies – must decide her rights and whether her removal was legal. The Friday midnight deadline has now passed.

Government lawyers have contended that the federal court in Boston does not have authority to reverse her removal order.

Both Lopez Belloza and her lawyer reported that federal officials attempted to organize a government flight to the United States within the last day but refused to clarify whether she would be freed upon landing. Pomerleau indicated court documents suggest the government intends to hold her in Texas and might attempt another deportation within days.

“They’re interpreting the judge’s facilitation order to the extreme,” Pomerleau explained. “The judge’s order says to facilitate her return to the United States to maintain the status quo. And in their view, the status quo is that she was in handcuffs in a jail in Texas. So they’re going to bring her back, put her in handcuffs and leave her in that same jail in Texas.”

A bizarre technical glitch at Washington state’s Department of Licensing has left Spanish-speaking callers scratching their heads for months.

When people dial the agency’s customer service line and select option two for Spanish assistance, they don’t get Spanish at all. Instead, they hear an artificial intelligence voice delivering English words with an exaggerated Spanish accent.

Washington resident Maya Edwards discovered this unusual situation last summer when her bilingual Mexican husband attempted to use the Spanish language service for driver’s license information. Facing lengthy wait times for English-speaking representatives, he chose the Spanish option instead.

Edwards compared the experience to something from the satirical TV comedy “Parks and Recreation,” which pokes fun at local government mishaps.

“It was hilarious to us in the moment because it was so absurd,” Edwards explained Thursday. “But at the same time, it has real accessibility issues for people who call in every day and need to speak in a different language other than English.”

The problem persisted for months without resolution. Earlier this month, Edwards tested the system again and found the same error occurring. She recorded the call and shared it on TikTok, where the video gained approximately 2 million views.

Department of Licensing officials have issued an apology and acknowledged they’re working to resolve the technical malfunction. The agency’s statement explained that their self-service system offers assistance in 10 different languages using newer AI-powered technology, though it remains unclear whether other languages have similar problems. Associated Press testing of other language options didn’t reveal additional accented voices.

“DOL apologizes for the error and to its customers for any inconvenience,” officials stated. “An unfortunate byproduct of expanding services is that DOL found problems with the self-service option.”

The department has refused to identify which AI company provides their translation services, redirecting inquiries to WaTech, the state’s technology services agency. WaTech representatives haven’t responded to requests for vendor information.

As of Thursday morning, the phone system continued producing the problematic voice, despite an English-language message acknowledging translation service malfunctions.

When an Associated Press journalist tested the Spanish options, the accented English voice would only pronounce numbers in Spanish while speaking everything else in English.

“Your estimated wait time is less than ‘tres’ minutes,” the voice announced during testing.

The father of a teenager charged in a deadly Georgia school shooting took the witness stand Friday, revealing he presented the rifle used in the attack to his son as a Christmas gift meant to strengthen their relationship through hunting and target practice.

Colin Gray’s testimony came as part of a growing trend nationwide where parents face criminal charges following their children’s involvement in fatal school shootings. Legal experts say prosecutors are attempting to hold Colin Gray responsible for providing the weapon to his son despite warning signs about the teen’s mental state.

During his court appearance, Colin Gray described the moment he surprised his son Colt with the firearm after the family finished opening Christmas presents. Walking to his son’s room, he told the boy he had an additional gift waiting.

“This is a weapon that I want you to shoot when we go to the range, and if you keep doing really good in school, going to school and doing all the things you should, you graduate and you’re 18, this will be your gun,” Colin Gray recalled telling his son.

The younger Gray, age 14 during the September 4, 2024 incident, now faces 55 criminal charges including murder for the deaths of four individuals and 25 counts of aggravated assault. Authorities say he methodically planned the attack at Apalachee High School in Winder, located northeast of Atlanta, which claimed the lives of two educators and two students while injuring several others.

Colin Gray is confronting 29 charges himself, including two second-degree murder counts and two involuntary manslaughter charges.

The father’s trial, now in its second week, has featured testimony from the boy’s mother, Marcee Gray, who said she pressed her husband to secure their firearms to prevent Colt from reaching them. However, witnesses have stated that in the days preceding the school attack, Colt kept the weapon in his bedroom.

The parents had been living apart for much of the period leading to the shooting, and Marcee Gray has not been charged with any offenses.

Last week brought emotional testimony from Georgia high school students who survived being shot during their algebra class. Through tears, they described witnessing a fellow student lying in blood, then discovering they were bleeding and fearing for their lives.

Prosecutors have also presented evidence of what they characterize as a “shrine” dedicated to a Florida school shooter that Colt maintained on his bedroom wall near his computer.

According to Marcee Gray’s testimony this week, Colt had developed a fascination with Nikolas Cruz, who received a conviction for the 2018 shooting that killed 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

This case represents one of multiple prosecutions across the country where legal authorities are pursuing charges against parents following their children’s alleged involvement in deadly school shootings.

When Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder first performed without his bandmates, stage errors left him feeling defeated. However, a chance encounter with Bruce Springsteen changed his perspective on solo performing forever.

Springsteen advised the rock star that solo performances can be frightening, but that exposed vulnerability becomes a strength when properly channeled. Vedder has carried this guidance with him for nearly twenty years.

In October 2023, Vedder applied this wisdom during two completely sold-out solo concerts at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall. These intimate performances became the centerpiece of Netflix’s new documentary “Matter of Time.”

“I remember kind of swimming through it and almost having a psychedelic experience,” he said. “I was so emotional, but I had to keep it together just to play properly.”

The Seattle concerts served as fundraising events for epidermolysis bullosa research, a devastating genetic condition that affects the skin. The Netflix film combines footage from these shows with personal accounts from families battling EB.

Eddie and Jill Vedder recently discussed the documentary and their EB Research Partnership with The Associated Press. The couple launched this organization in 2010 to raise funds and awareness for finding a treatment.

Epidermolysis bullosa causes extremely delicate skin that develops painful blisters and open sores from minimal contact. Severe forms of the condition can result in life-threatening complications like skin cancer. Currently, no cure exists, though organizations like the EB Research Partnership support treatment development and research funding.

“The kids are feeling seen and understood,” Vedder said. “They realize they’re not something to fear, and that they’re not contagious. The only thing contagious about these kids is their hope.”

Throughout the Seattle performances, Vedder mainly used acoustic guitar while occasionally switching to electric guitar and piano for musical variety. Though he played numerous Pearl Jam hits including “Better Man,” “Porch” and “Wishlist,” the song “Just Breathe” revealed his most raw emotional state.

As chairwoman of the EB Research Partnership, Jill Vedder’s involvement goes beyond professional duty to personal connection. She has mourned at children’s funerals and supports families through both sorrow and optimism.

“Every time I spend time with these families, I end up in tears because it’s hard to keep it together,” she said.

Jill Vedder spearheaded the foundation after discovering her childhood friend and co-founder Ryan Fullmer had welcomed a son diagnosed with EB. What began as personal support transformed into an internationally impactful cause, with Eddie joining to amplify their message.

Throughout his 35-year Pearl Jam career, Eddie Vedder has consistently championed philanthropic efforts across various social and charitable initiatives.

Alongside Johnny Depp, Natalie Maines, and other advocates, Vedder spent fifteen years working to exonerate the West Memphis Three, teenagers who were wrongfully convicted.

“I thought we could solve it in a few years,” Vedder said, “but it took patience to get three men out, one on death row.”

This experience shaped their approach to EB research advocacy.

“Now we’re using that patience once again… You learn about the science, but also about the scientists, their drive, devotion, and the toll it takes. It’s more than passion; it’s a commitment to care and persevere,” Vedder said.

Foundation CEO Michael Hund, who joined in 2017, describes their impact using the butterfly effect metaphor: “One small but powerful action, like a butterfly flapping its wings, can build enough force to create a monsoon halfway around the world. That’s the journey of this organization.”

During the filmed concerts, Eddie Vedder observed that exactly 33 years earlier, the group that became Pearl Jam had performed their debut show nearby at The Off Ramp venue.

Following their 2024 release “Dark Matter,” Vedder confirmed Pearl Jam will continue creating music. “We really are more of a group now than ever,” he said.

MCLOUD, Okla. — Tribal members whose forebears were held in bondage by various Oklahoma tribal nations are beginning to gain better access to Native American healthcare, educational opportunities, and social programs, though significant obstacles persist.

Government and tribal organizations have collaborated over recent years to make eligibility standards clearer and educate frontline workers, but a new Government Accountability Office study released before Black History Month demonstrates that additional efforts are needed regarding how Freedmen descendants are treated.

The coronavirus outbreak helped expose what veteran advocate Marilyn Vann described as unequal treatment of these descendants. She highlighted prominent instances where individuals were refused vaccines and financial assistance during the pandemic’s peak.

“There are certainly more opportunities available today, but that doesn’t erase the damage,” Vann stated, noting that a “chilling effect” discourages many Freedmen descendants from pursuing services they have a right to receive.

The Cherokee, Seminole, Muscogee, Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes are among those whose members held people in slavery during the 1800s. After the Civil War ended, these tribes entered into agreements with the federal government that ended slavery and promised tribal membership to Freedmen and their offspring.

Currently, only the Cherokee Nation provides complete citizenship to Freedmen descendants that matches the rights of “by blood” members under tribal regulations. The Seminole nation permits descendants to participate in voting and serve on the general council while limiting their access to specific tribal membership benefits. Descendants of Muscogee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Freedmen are presently refused tribal membership entirely.

The GAO study discovered that registered Cherokee and Seminole Freedmen descendants are occasionally required to provide evidence of “Indian blood” when requesting assistance, and that the Seminole Nation has essentially banned these descendants from obtaining federally supported housing, educational, and senior services.

“We need to expose this modern-day racism,” Vann declared.

John Beecham, a Freedman member of the Cherokee Nation, understood he qualified for affordable education at Haskell Indian Nations University. When the institution moved to online classes in 2020, he decided to submit an application.

Several weeks afterward, he got correspondence from the federally operated tribal college in Kansas requesting documentation showing his level of “Indian blood.”

“The situation felt unjust, as though I was experiencing discrimination,” Beecham explained, having submitted his enrollment card to demonstrate tribal membership.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin intervened to confirm Beecham’s membership status and encouraged Haskell to review his application. Following months of postponement, the institution changed its position and told Beecham he should apply again.

“I wondered, ‘If they’re treating me this way during applications, attending school there might be difficult,’” Beecham said, who felt disturbed by the situation and decided against reapplying.

The U.S. Bureau of Indian Education, which manages two tribal colleges including Haskell and numerous K-12 tribal schools, released a clarification letter in 2024 stating that “eligible Indian students” encompass all members of federally recognized tribes and that tribal enrollment cards sufficiently prove eligibility.

A Bureau spokesperson indicated the agency cannot verify whether Freedmen descendants have registered at its institutions recently because it doesn’t distinguish these descendants from other tribal members in its documentation.

Beecham, who currently works for a railroad technology firm in California, has “found closure” regarding the incident but believes he would probably earn more money if Haskell had accepted him into a bachelor’s degree program. He hasn’t requested any other tribal member services since then.

Some descendants have remained determined.

Mark McClain, a Freedmen member of the Cherokee Nation, performed an unofficial evaluation of Indian Health Service facilities throughout Oklahoma. From 2018 to 2020, he reported that six facilities requested evidence of “Indian blood” before registering him as a patient. When he objected, McClain said IHS personnel sometimes responded with antagonism.

In 2021, following an internal policy examination, the agency clarified that Freedmen descendants only need to demonstrate membership in a federally recognized tribe to obtain IHS treatment. The agency also conducted training for personnel in its Oklahoma City region on proper eligibility evaluation.

Consequently, McClain now receives care at the Kickapoo Tribal Health Center that previously rejected him.

The GAO investigation determined that the Seminole Nation bars Freedmen descendants from federally supported programs managed by the tribe through technical restrictions. For instance, senior assistance, educational scholarships and funeral benefits are provided through a fund only available to tribal members who possess a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood and descend from the Seminole Nation as it existed in 1823 — before “Black Seminoles” gained citizenship recognition.

The Seminole Nation distributes federal housing aid using a scoring method that, the GAO found, favors “by blood” members of all tribes and gives Seminole Freedmen descendants zero points for priority consideration.

Freedmen descendants are already disadvantaged by slavery’s legacy and Jim Crow segregation in Oklahoma, according to Loretta Osborne-Sampson, who represents one of two Seminole Freedmen groups on the tribe’s general council.

“We hope our tribe will show compassion and acknowledge that we’re here to stay,” Osborne-Sampson said, adding that many in her community experience poverty and cannot afford secure housing while their tribe essentially prevents them from receiving help.

The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma did not reply to email inquiries regarding eligibility for its federally funded social programs.

Freedmen descendants in the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations are currently not acknowledged as tribal members and cannot access tribal services including healthcare, education or housing.

In the previous year, the Muscogee Nation Supreme Court overturned a constitutional provision adopted in the 1970s that mandated citizens be Muscogee “by blood,” creating opportunities for Freedmen descendants to join the tribe.

However, the decision hasn’t been implemented.

In a progress report submitted to the court in December, Principal Chief David Hill stated the tribe’s national council must pass new legislation and possibly modify the constitution before citizenship can be granted to Freedmen descendants. The Muscogee Nation did not respond to emailed questions about when these changes might occur.

Cherokee Nation’s Hoskin has described slavery as a “moral blemish” on his tribe’s past. During an interview, he shared hope that other tribes will eventually acknowledge their Freedmen descendants.

“(Freedmen descendants) want recognition and they want their history to be acknowledged after being silenced for many generations,” Hoskin said. “That process will require time.”

For the second consecutive day, civil rights activist Jesse Jackson is being remembered at the Rainbow-Push headquarters in Chicago, where his body lies in repose. Visitors continue to arrive at the organization’s building to honor the legacy of the influential leader and show their final respects.

The ongoing memorial allows community members and supporters to celebrate Jackson’s decades of work in advancing civil rights and social justice causes throughout his lifetime.

Family members and community advocates in Buffalo, New York are demanding answers following the death of a refugee who vanished after federal authorities released him from custody.

The individual was found dead last week after going missing subsequent to his release from federal detention, according to reports. The circumstances surrounding both his disappearance and death remain unclear.

Local community members are now pressing for transparency and accountability regarding what happened between the time of his release and when his body was discovered.

ATLANTA — A massive budget crisis has left Georgia’s child welfare system in disarray after officials discovered an enormous $85.7 million funding gap that forced widespread service cuts affecting the state’s most vulnerable children and families.

The financial emergency prompted Candice Broce, who leads the Department of Human Services and oversees the state’s child welfare operations, to implement sweeping cost-reduction measures last November. These emergency cuts have resulted in canceled visits between children and their biological parents — meetings essential for family reunification — reduced support for foster families caring for children with special needs, and delayed court hearings when children lack transportation to attend.

Foster parent Pamela Bruce described her emotional struggle with the situation. “I’m just stuck. I’m stressed out. Emotionally, I’m exhausted,” Bruce explained, adding that her foster son “can’t grow in survival mode” while she fears having to return him to state custody as support services disappear.

State legislators have approved emergency funding to address the shortfall, but families have already endured months without essential services, and recovery delays are expected to continue. Several lawmakers view the emergency funding as a temporary solution and are calling for a comprehensive investigation to understand how the system reached this breaking point.

While child welfare experts acknowledge Georgia’s budget crisis was unusually severe, the state isn’t alone in facing these challenges. A significant factor contributing to Georgia’s financial strain — an unexpected surge of children requiring intensive behavioral health services — represents a nationwide problem. Broce has received recognition for reducing the number of high-needs children housed in hotels, a concerning practice many states employ when other options aren’t available. However, providing appropriate care and placement for children with complex behavioral needs comes with substantial costs.

In response to the deficit, which analysts believe stems from multiple contributing factors, Broce — a long-time supporter of Republican Governor Brian Kemp — ended agreements with underperforming service contractors and instituted new approval requirements for all contracted services beginning in November. Families, legal advocates, legislators, placement agencies, and service providers statewide report dramatic reductions in service referrals and describe operations that have slowed to a crawl.

Ann Flagg, who directs the Office of Family Assistance for the National Association of Counties advocacy organization and previously served in the Biden administration, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “Every day that a family or kid is not receiving the kinds of support that they need, the situation only compounds,” Flagg stated.

In response to criticism, Broce told The Associated Press that service requests “are approved within hours unless we ask for more information.” These contracted services encompass transportation, mental health counseling, psychological evaluations, behavioral support specialists, and numerous other critical supports.

The child welfare division serves as a crucial safety net for children facing dangerous situations. Operating within the broader state Department of Human Services, which manages a $1.06 billion state budget this year, the agency works to protect children from harm, provide healing support for troubled families when possible, and facilitate safe reunification. Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services maintains a workforce of approximately 7,500 employees.

During legislative testimony, Broce explained that her agency lacks sufficient resources to address the “magnitude” of behavioral and mental health needs among children entering state care. She attempted to reduce expenses by eliminating what she characterized as redundant or unnecessary services, or those that could be covered through the state-federal Medicaid program instead.

“I am being forced to make decisions that nobody wants to make,” Broce informed lawmakers during the hearing.

Despite these cost-reduction efforts, the projected budget gap remained just under $49 million.

Family court attorney Jessica Hall questioned the logic of the cuts, asking, “How in the world are we supposed to reunify the families if we don’t have services in place?”

Broce acknowledged in her statement that some requests “are not being escalated to the State Office for review.”

The human impact of these cuts is evident in Bruce’s foster son’s own words to his caseworker, describing how he had developed a “brotherly relationship” with his behavioral aide — the first such connection the teenager had experienced after moving between multiple homes. That meaningful relationship ended when funding for the aide’s services was eliminated last fall.

The teenager wrote about how missing in-person school with friends due to lack of transportation took a “toll on my mind.” He also observed the financial strain on Bruce, who now pays for ride-sharing services to maintain his family visits and stays home to provide care, making it difficult for her to pay household bills. Bruce remains determined to prevent his placement in a group home facility.

Broce explained that the agency gradually reduces services like behavioral aides for older teenagers who show potential for independence, particularly those involved with the juvenile justice system. She also emphasized her efforts to eliminate “cookie cutter” case plans that don’t address individual family circumstances.

Brittney Kleuger, who serves as CEO of Family Menders — a northwest Georgia organization providing transportation, counseling, and behavioral support services — testified at a recent hearing that her agency typically received 80 to 100 new referrals weekly before the November policy changes. Currently, they receive fewer than 10 referrals each week.

During a conference call with child welfare officials, service providers challenged Broce’s assertions about rapid service approvals and questioned whether the state would continue contracting with their organizations. Kristen Toliver, the agency’s director of delivered services, acknowledged that “the approval process will look different” moving forward but indicated some relaxation of requirements for certain services.

According to Broce, the division has lost over 800 placement beds for children since 2019, and psychiatric facility availability remains severely limited. She noted that transportation and behavioral aide services represent significant expenses and said she’s working to ensure Medicaid covers services that fall under its purview rather than using child welfare funds.

Broce has maintained ongoing disagreements with family court judges, whom she accuses of requesting unnecessary services or removals that increase costs. However, Judge Nhan-Ai Simms, who testified to legislators in 2023 that Broce asked judges to violate state law by inappropriately detaining children with mental and behavioral issues in juvenile detention facilities, disputes this characterization.

“The idea that courts are ordering above and beyond what DFCS has recommended, I think those cases are very few and far between,” Simms responded.

Recent changes to federal regulations have made it more difficult for Georgia and other states to access federal child welfare funding.

Melissa Carter, executive director of the Barton Child Law and Policy Center at Emory University, sees broader systemic issues at play. “The budget instability that we see here to me is just signaling this insufficient long-term fiscal strategy,” Carter observed, suggesting the state should increase investments in family preservation services to qualify for additional federal funding.

Multiple legislators remain unsatisfied with Broce’s explanations for the crisis.

State Representative Mary Margaret Oliver, a Democrat, expressed her concerns about the unprecedented nature of the shortfall. “I’ve been in the budget world a long time, and I’ve never seen a deficit like this,” Oliver said. “I don’t think we can blame the providers for that. I think that’s a management issue.”

Juanita Stedman, a former juvenile court judge who now serves as executive director of Together Georgia, defends Broce against criticism regarding the budget crisis.

“Historically, we have not paid for the complexity of the kids,” Stedman explained.

Regardless of the underlying causes, Bruce worries about the possibility of future budget crises. She described feeling more unsupported by child welfare services during her two and a half years as a foster parent than ever before, but said her greatest heartbreak came from watching her foster son miss regular visits with his biological family.

In his own words to his caseworker, the teenager wrote: “My visits are very important to me because I really love my family.”

Federal authorities announced Thursday they will pay up to $10 million for information that leads to capturing two brothers who allegedly oversee Sinaloa cartel operations in Mexico’s Baja California region, including the border city of Tijuana.

The State Department’s bounty announcement coincided with prosecutors filing additional charges against 42-year-old Rene Arzate Garcia, nicknamed “La Rana” or “The Frog.” Beyond his original drug trafficking charges filed in San Diego, Garcia now faces accusations of conspiracy, narcoterrorism and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Federal officials are offering $5 million rewards for both Rene Arzate Garcia and his 52-year-old brother Alfonso Arzate Garcia, who goes by “Aquiles” or “Achilles.” Authorities do not know where either brother is currently located.

According to the State Department, the brothers’ strategic position makes them invaluable to cartel operations. “As controllers of a critical trafficking node in Tijuana at the U.S. border, the Arzate-Garcia brothers have become key essential components of the cartel’s command-and-control structure,” officials stated. “Their control of the Tijuana Plaza offers the Sinaloa Cartel a tactical advantage in maintaining dominance over rival organizations, ensuring no interruption to the busiest border crossing in the Western Hemisphere.”

The California-Mexico border region has become a violent contested territory between the Sinaloa organization and the Jalisco New Generation cartel.

This reward announcement follows by four days the Mexican military’s killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” effectively eliminating the head of what had grown into Mexico’s most influential cartel. His death represented the Mexican government’s most significant victory in demonstrating to the Trump administration its commitment to dismantling cartel networks.

A 56-year-old refugee from Myanmar with severe vision problems died on the streets of Buffalo after federal Border Patrol agents abandoned him at a coffee shop, sparking outrage from local officials and a police investigation.

Nurul Amin Shah Alam was taken into custody by Border Patrol on February 19th following his release from county jail, but federal authorities determined the same day that he could not be deported.

Federal agents then transported him to a Tim Hortons coffee shop in north Buffalo and left him there, according to officials and advocacy groups. His family, who had been waiting at the jail expecting his release, were never notified that he had been freed. Shah Alam’s attorney contacted Buffalo police on February 22nd to report him missing after discovering he wasn’t being held at any local immigration facility.

Authorities discovered Shah Alam’s body Tuesday evening near the downtown arena where the Buffalo Sabres play hockey. Officials haven’t determined how he traveled the several miles from the Tim Hortons location or established when he died.

The county medical examiner is working to determine what caused his death, health department officials announced Thursday. Buffalo Police initially told media that the medical examiner had determined the death was “health related” and eliminated exposure or murder as causes, but the Erie County Health Department later contradicted that statement, clarifying that no official determination had been reached. Investigators are examining the circumstances that led to Shah Alam’s death, which was initially reported by the Investigative Post.

Buffalo’s Democratic mayor partially attributed the death to federal agents’ “dereliction of duty,” arguing they should never have abandoned him alone, far from his residence.

“A vulnerable man — nearly blind and unable to speak English — was left alone on a cold winter night with no known attempt to leave him in a safe, secure location. That decision from U.S. Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional and inhumane,” Mayor Sean Ryan stated in an online post.

Ryan revealed Thursday that Shah Alam was still wearing orange jail-issued footwear instead of appropriate winter shoes when he was left at the restaurant.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement defending their officers’ conduct.

“Border Patrol agents offered him a courtesy ride, which he chose to accept to a coffee shop, determined to be a warm, safe location near his last known address, rather than be released directly from the Border Patrol station,” the agency’s statement read. “He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance.”

Buffalo experienced below-freezing temperatures and light snowfall during the period Shah Alam went missing.

Shah Alam came to America in December 2024 with his wife and two children seeking better opportunities for his family, according to Imran Fazal, a family acquaintance who established the Rohingya Empowerment Community organization. He had previously spent many years working construction jobs in Malaysia.

Buffalo police took Shah Alam into custody a year earlier following an incident that left two officers with minor injuries. He initially faced indictment on assault, burglary and criminal mischief charges, Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane confirmed. Authorities said he was carrying two metal rods when he encountered the officers.

Fazal described the arrest as a misunderstanding caused by language barriers and cultural differences, explaining that Shah Alam had been seeking shelter from snow near a residence at the time. He added that Shah Alam required a cane to walk properly. Shah Alam eventually entered a guilty plea on February 9th to reduced misdemeanor charges of trespassing and weapon possession, with sentencing scheduled for March.

District Attorney Keane said he offered Fazal the reduced plea “in the interest of justice.” He noted that avoiding a felony conviction was one consideration, as it would have triggered automatic deportation proceedings.

Fazal said the family posted bail and arrived at the county jail Thursday anticipating Shah Alam’s release.

“The family was waiting in the waiting room,” Fazal explained. “They were thinking he was just coming out.”

However, because federal Border Patrol had filed an immigration hold following his arrest, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office followed standard procedure by notifying the federal agency about his upcoming release.

Ryan said Shah Alam was first brought to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, which refused to accept him.

Shah Alam’s family began searching after his lawyer learned about the Thursday evening drop-off at Tim Hortons, but were unable to find him, Fazal said.

“He should not be dropped off in a location where he doesn’t know anybody,” Fazal stated. “He doesn’t speak English.”

Fazal described the situation as “a complete failure of the system.”

Democratic U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to federal officials requesting a comprehensive review of the agents’ actions.

Aviation authorities have implemented flight restrictions around Fort Hancock, Texas following an incident where Pentagon officials reportedly used laser-based anti-drone technology to mistakenly destroy a U.S. government aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced the airspace closure Thursday, referencing “special security reasons” for the ban on flights in the border region with Mexico. Neither the FAA nor Pentagon provided immediate statements regarding the incident.

Three prominent Democratic legislators – Representatives Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and Andre Carson – issued a joint statement condemning what they described as inadequate communication between agencies. The lawmakers, who lead committees focused on aviation and homeland security matters, confirmed that Pentagon forces had reportedly destroyed a Customs and Border Protection drone.

Sources within Congress told reporters that military personnel accidentally targeted the CBP aircraft using high-powered laser weaponry in a region frequently penetrated by cartel-operated drones from Mexico. The White House and Customs and Border Protection have not yet responded to media inquiries.

This incident follows similar disruptions earlier this month when aviation officials temporarily suspended operations at El Paso’s airport for what was initially planned as a 10-day closure, only to lift the restriction within eight hours. Fort Hancock sits approximately 50 miles from El Paso.

Media outlets previously reported that the El Paso airport closure resulted from safety concerns surrounding the military’s laser-based drone defense system. The FAA reportedly agreed to remove El Paso restrictions after the Pentagon committed to postponing additional testing while safety evaluations are conducted.

Congressional staff members highlighted the communication breakdown between aviation regulators and military officials. Government representatives briefed legislative offices about both the El Paso situation and the Fort Hancock event late Thursday.

The current flight ban covers all aircraft in the Fort Hancock vicinity, though emergency medical and search-and-rescue missions may receive authorization through the Joint Task Force-Southern Border. These aviation restrictions will remain active through June 24.

Federal authorities announced Thursday they are willing to pay substantial rewards for information that helps capture two brothers believed to be high-ranking leaders within Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa Cartel.

The State Department revealed it will offer up to $5 million for each brother – René Arzate-García and Alfonso Arzate-García – bringing the total potential payout to $10 million for tips that result in their arrests or criminal convictions.

According to the federal announcement made Thursday, both men are suspected of holding leadership positions within the notorious Mexican criminal organization known for drug trafficking operations.

Federal authorities have taken into custody a retired U.S. Air Force pilot accused of working with China’s military to train their aviators, according to the Department of Justice.

Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., 65, who previously served as an F-35 Lightning II training instructor and led classified operations involving nuclear weapon systems, was taken into custody Wednesday in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Federal prosecutors have filed charges alleging he conspired to deliver military training services to pilots serving China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force.

Court documents reveal that Brown started discussions in August 2023 regarding a training agreement with Su Bin, a Chinese citizen who served four years in federal prison after being convicted in 2016 for his role in cyber attacks targeting Boeing and other major American defense companies.

According to the Justice Department’s statement, Brown made a trip to China in December 2023 and remained in the country until his return to the United States this past February.

FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the Counterintelligence and Espionage Division condemned Brown’s actions, stating he “betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against those he swore to protect.”

Chinese embassy officials in Washington have refused to provide any statement regarding the charges.

This arrest comes as President Donald Trump prepares for an upcoming diplomatic visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with both nations working to ease trade tensions between the economic superpowers.

Despite efforts to improve trade relations, military and technological competition between the United States and China continues to intensify, with many experts characterizing the situation as a modern version of the Cold War.

Intelligence officials from the United States and partner nations have issued warnings about China’s ongoing campaign to recruit Western military veterans and active personnel, particularly experienced pilots, to provide training that helps the PLA develop countermeasures against Western air combat strategies. These recruitment efforts often involve attractive financial packages and chances to pilot advanced Chinese military aircraft.

In 2023, the Commerce Department imposed sanctions on more than a dozen organizations across China, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates for their involvement in recruiting Western military expertise for Chinese aviation training programs.

Digital extremism experts are sounding the alarm about dangerous trends emerging in online communities following the recent release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. According to specialists who monitor internet radicalization, the absence of meaningful public accountability connected to these latest file disclosures has created a troubling blend of distrust and hopelessness across various digital platforms.

The concerning development highlights how high-profile cases without clear resolution can become breeding grounds for conspiracy theories and extremist thinking, researchers warn.

A Florida airport created quite the buzz on social media this week after announcing plans to prohibit sleepwear in their terminals – but don’t worry, they weren’t serious about the policy.

Tampa International Airport made waves Thursday with a post on their official X platform declaring they had “seen enough” pajamas after previously going “Crocs-free” at their facility.

“The madness stops today. The movement starts now,” the airport wrote in the post that racked up 5.7 million views by Thursday afternoon and sparked heated discussions about appropriate travel clothing.

Airport representative Beau Zimmer explained to The Associated Press that the message reflected the facility’s well-established humorous social media approach that dates back to their early Twitter days, before the platform became X. This comedic strategy has built them a devoted worldwide fanbase, he noted.

“Our regular social media followers just eat this stuff up,” Zimmer said. “But obviously this is all in fun, and we encourage our travelers to be comfortable.”

The post caught the attention of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who responded with a GIF featuring actor John Krasinski from “The Office” enthusiastically saying “Yes!”

Duffy has been promoting more formal airline attire as part of his civility initiative launched in November, titled “the Golden Age of Travel Starts with You.” According to the Transportation Department, this effort aims “to jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel.”

Tampa International issued a clarification Thursday confirming their sleepwear post was meant as humor.

“Today’s post about ‘banning’ pajamas was another playful nod to day-of-travel fashion debates,” the statement read. “We encourage our passengers to travel comfortably and appreciate our loyal followers who enjoy the online humor.”

According to Zimmer, the airport’s entertaining online presence has existed for at least ten years. It began when a young intern started sharing lighthearted content, including jokes about competing sports teams and their supporters, “and it really took off.”

Recently, following the Tampa Bay Lightning’s dramatic comeback from a four-goal deficit to defeat the Boston Bruins 6-5 in an NHL Stadium Series match, the airport posted: “Oh, and safe flight home to all the Bruins fans today :)”

Last month, referencing a running gag about travelers confusing their TPA airport code with TIA (an Albanian airport), Tampa shared a New Year’s resolution “to stress out less.”

“Unfortunately,” their post added, “some of y’all’s resolutions is to continue calling us TIA so we will not be meeting our goal.”

One social media user suggested Tampa should simply change their code to “GOAT so people don’t get confused,” using the abbreviation for “greatest of all time.”

PORTLAND, Ore. — A jury in Oregon has awarded $305 million to 16 people affected by the state’s catastrophic 2020 wildfires, marking another significant verdict in an ongoing class-action case against utility company PacifiCorp that involves thousands of plaintiffs.

With this latest decision, jury awards against PacifiCorp have now exceeded $1 billion total for class members. The utility was previously determined to be liable in a 2023 trial for failing to shut off electricity during dangerous wind conditions, despite receiving warnings from senior fire officials.

PacifiCorp is currently appealing the case through state courts. More than 1,000 additional class members have trials scheduled for 2026 and 2027.

The Labor Day weekend fires of 2020 rank among Oregon’s most catastrophic natural disasters, claiming 11 lives, scorching over 1,560 square miles (4,040 square kilometers), and destroying thousands of residences.

Wednesday’s monetary awards from the Multnomah County Circuit Court jury went to 16 people affected by the Santiam Canyon blaze in northwest Oregon.

“This verdict is a meaningful acknowledgment of the devastation they’ve endured and reaffirms the irreversible losses they’ve suffered as a result of the fires,” stated Shawn Rabin, who headed the legal team for the plaintiffs.

PacifiCorp responded via email, calling the verdict an “irresponsible outcome related to damages caused by a fire that PacifiCorp did not start or contribute to as determined by the Oregon Department of Forestry.”

“This is why we have been and will continue to challenge these verdicts,” the company stated.

According to a report issued by the Oregon Department of Forestry last year, 12 out of 19 fires in Santiam Canyon during September 2020 originated from embers of an existing fire. The remaining seven fires resulted from fallen power lines but were found to have no impact on the major fire spread in the canyon, as they were extinguished by local residents or firefighting crews.

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs have criticized this report as containing errors.

In addition to these court cases, PacifiCorp has separately agreed to pay more than $2 billion to resolve various lawsuits related to the 2020 fires, including a $575 million settlement with federal authorities for wildfire damage on government property in Oregon and California.

CHICAGO — Thousands of people formed lengthy lines spanning almost two city blocks in Chicago this week to pay their final respects to civil rights champion Jesse Jackson, who passed away last week at the age of 84.

The public viewing took place at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters, the organization Jackson established in 1996. Community members, political leaders, and activists gathered to celebrate the life of a man whose lifelong commitment to social justice transformed the landscape of American politics and gave voice to Black communities and other marginalized groups.

Barricades contained the massive crowd as people waited patiently to see Jackson lying in repose during the memorial service. A large screen outside the building displayed photographs chronicling Jackson’s journey from his early organizing days through the pinnacle of his influential career.

Street vendors positioned themselves at a nearby intersection, offering t-shirts, pins, and memorabilia featuring Jackson’s famous rallying cry “Keep Hope Alive” — a slogan that became deeply connected with his movement and continues to inspire today’s social justice advocates.

Among those in attendance was Theo Scott, an 82-year-old visitor from North Carolina who was in town caring for an ill family member. “He was outstanding and his resilience is one of the things that stands out to me,” she said while explaining her decision to stop by the memorial before returning home.

Within the building, Jackson’s family members and longtime ally Al Sharpton positioned themselves next to his glass-covered casket, greeting each mourner who came to pay their final respects.

“It’s been beautiful to see the outpouring of love,” Yusef Jackson, an attorney and the youngest son of Jesse Jackson, told Reuters. “We’re dealing with a level of personal grief and loss that is a big gap in our household. He was our father, he was our minister and he was also our leader.”

Former U.S. representative Bobby Rush, seated among the attendees, emphasized the responsibility now facing future generations. “It’s up to the younger generation to keep pushing this battle forward,” he stated.

Jazmine Valadez, 32, characterized Jackson’s lifetime of work as “proof of concept” for continued activism efforts. “He showed us we can do amazing things, care for one another, and build those coalitions,” she explained.

Jackson emerged as a prominent figure in the civil rights movement as a young organizer within the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, working closely with the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. He traveled with King to Memphis in 1968 to support striking African-American sanitation workers, just before the assassination of the renowned civil rights leader.

A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson developed into one of the most prominent Black political figures of the latter half of the 20th century. His advocacy efforts included pushing for sanctions against South Africa’s apartheid system, securing the freedom of American hostages in foreign countries, and promoting corporate responsibility and minority business opportunities domestically.

Charles Jenkins, 50, who viewed Jackson as a mentor, remembered their interactions where Jackson was “always teaching.” Even as his health deteriorated, Jenkins noted that Jackson never stopped fighting for economic fairness and community welfare.

“While sick, he had a goal to mobilize 2,000 churches for holiday food distribution,” said Jenkins, who had visited Jackson following his hospitalization in November. “Reverend Jackson led with love at the core, which is to have the highest form of concern for another by demonstration.”

Jackson constructed a political movement focused on economic fairness and building alliances that crossed racial and socioeconomic boundaries. His two presidential campaigns energized millions of previously inactive voters through his “Rainbow Coalition” platform, compelling the Democratic Party to prioritize concerns affecting working-class Americans, agricultural communities, and people of color.

His passing occurs during a period when President Donald Trump’s administration has targeted various U.S. institutions, including museums, monuments, and national parks, to eliminate what the president labels “anti-American” ideology. These actions have included dismantling slavery exhibitions and restoring Confederate monuments, moves that civil rights advocates warn could undo decades of social advancement.

“His fingerprint changed the world,” Charlie Dates, senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, said of Jackson. “I’m feeling a sense of responsibility. So much despair and anxiety is rampant, but we cannot fear, we have to work towards better.”

Upcoming memorial events include a musical tribute called “The People’s Celebration” featuring gospel choirs, scheduled for next week at the House of Hope Baptist church. A private homegoing celebration of life is planned for March 7 at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters.

LOS ANGELES — In a groundbreaking courtroom battle against major tech companies, a 20-year-old woman shared her story Thursday about how social media consumed her childhood, testifying that she spent entire days scrolling through platforms.

The plaintiff, identified in legal papers as KGM and called Kaley by her legal team, claims her childhood exposure to social media created an addiction that worsened her depression and led to thoughts of suicide. Meta and YouTube remain as defendants after TikTok and Snap reached settlements.

This trial serves as a bellwether case, with its results potentially influencing the resolution of thousands of comparable lawsuits filed against social media corporations.

Kaley’s digital journey began early — she started watching YouTube videos at 6 years old and joined Instagram by age 9.

Taking the witness stand in a pink floral dress and beige sweater, Kaley admitted feeling “very nervous” when her lawyer Mark Lanier asked about her state of mind Thursday morning.

Lanier presented family photographs and questioned Kaley about happy childhood memories from her quiet neighborhood street in Chico, California. She recalled elaborate birthday celebrations, amusement park visits, and her mother’s dedication to creating memorable experiences.

However, Kaley’s relationship with her mother experienced tension, primarily centered around phone usage disputes.

Legal teams on both sides have highlighted Kaley’s difficult home environment. Her lawyers contend she was targeted as a vulnerable young user, while Meta and Google’s YouTube legal representatives argue Kaley used their platforms to cope with existing mental health issues.

When questioned about allegations that her mother physically harmed, mistreated, or neglected her, Kaley responded that “she wasn’t perfect, but she was trying her best,” and stated she wouldn’t characterize her mother’s past behavior as abusive or neglectful today. Kaley, who currently works as a personal shopper at Walmart, continues living with her mother in their family home.

During her youth, Kaley created numerous accounts across Instagram and YouTube to like and comment on her own content. She also used services to “purchase” likes by engaging with others’ posts in exchange for reciprocal engagement. “It made me look popular,” she explained.

The lawsuit focuses on features allegedly engineered to create addiction, particularly notifications. Kaley described these Instagram and YouTube alerts as providing a “rush.” She received constant notifications throughout school days and would sneak bathroom breaks to check them — a habit she maintains today.

While Kaley uses YouTube less frequently now, she believes she was previously dependent on it. “Anytime I tried to set limits for myself, it wouldn’t work and I just couldn’t get off,” she testified.

Instagram filters, especially those altering facial features, have become central to the case and were constantly used by Kaley. Lanier’s team displayed a nearly 35-foot banner featuring Kaley’s Instagram photos. She confirmed that “almost all” included filters.

The jury viewed Instagram posts and YouTube content Kaley created as a child and teenager. One video following a popular nighttime routine trend showed young Kaley scrolling her phone, showering, removing makeup, then returning to Instagram browsing. Another clip captured her expressing “crying tears of joy” after reaching 100 YouTube subscribers — before quickly apologizing for her “ugly appearance.”

“I look so fat in this shirt,” young Kaley said in the footage.

Meta maintains that Kaley faced substantial difficulties before ever accessing social media. Company attorney Paul Schmidt stated earlier this month that the central issue is whether these platforms significantly contributed to Kaley’s mental health problems. During opening statements, he extensively reviewed the plaintiff’s medical records, emphasizing various childhood hardships including emotional mistreatment, body image concerns, and peer harassment.

Kaley testified she never experienced negative feelings related to her body dysmorphia diagnosis until she began using social media and filters.

Regarding her heaviest Instagram usage, which reached over 16 hours in a single day, Kaley explained: “I just felt like I wanted to be on it all the time, and if I wasn’t on it, I felt like I was going to miss out on something.”

Her attempts to quit the platforms typically failed.

“Every single day, I was on it all day long,” she stated.

Victoria Burke, a former therapist who worked with Kaley in 2019, testified Wednesday that Kaley’s social media use and self-perception “were closely related,” noting that platform activities could “make or break her mood.”

A Meta attorney spent approximately three hours cross-examining Burke, reviewing her session notes extensively. He emphasized Kaley’s face-to-face bullying experiences, academic stressors, and family problems. Social media references in the notes primarily involved Kaley feeling displaced at home and school but finding acceptance and visibility on social platforms.

Burke’s treatment of Kaley lasted roughly six months and occurred seven years ago.

This case has attracted significant attention from child safety advocacy organizations and technology industry observers, featuring high-profile testimony from Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

During Zuckerberg’s testimony, when asked whether people typically use addictive products more frequently, he replied “I’m not sure what to say to that.”

“I don’t think that applies here,” he added. He expressed belief in the “basic assumption” that “if something is valuable, people will use it more because it’s useful to them.” Mosseri also stated his disbelief that people can develop clinical addictions to social media platforms.

The trial is expected to continue for several more weeks, with the jury’s decision potentially shaping numerous similar lawsuits against social media companies. Meta also faces a separate trial in New Mexico.

Public memorial services for civil rights icon Jesse Jackson have started this week in Chicago. Jackson’s body is being displayed for public viewing at the Rainbow-Push Coalition headquarters on Thursday and Friday, allowing community members and supporters to pay their final respects to the legendary activist.

A repeat stowaway offender has been taken into custody in Italy after allegedly boarding another international flight without authorization, this time traveling from Newark, New Jersey to Milan.

Svetlana Dali was apprehended Thursday at Milan’s Malpensa Airport following the unauthorized journey on a United Airlines aircraft, according to a law enforcement source who requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.

The arrest marks another violation for Dali, who received a conviction earlier in 2024 for illegally traveling to Paris without proper documentation or a valid ticket.

FBI representative Emily Molinari confirmed that the Newark field office has knowledge of “the alleged stowaway” situation but withheld further details. Molinari stated the bureau is collaborating with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees Newark Liberty International Airport, along with the Transportation Security Administration regarding “this open investigation.”

United Airlines acknowledged the breach, stating the company is “investigating this incident and working with the appropriate authorities.”

Michael K. Schneider, serving as Dali’s federal public defender and handling her appeal from previous charges, refused to provide comment Thursday. He also would not discuss whether Dali had completed a required mental health assessment as mandated by her supervised release terms.

“I can’t comment on what she’s done since her release. My office is handling the appeal, which is still pending,” Schneider stated.

Dali’s May 2025 conviction stemmed from bypassing security protocols and airline personnel at John F. Kennedy International Airport before illegally boarding a New York to Paris flight.

Security footage captured Dali, a Russian national with U.S. residency status, blending with legitimate passengers to evade Delta Air Lines staff detection. During court proceedings, Dali admitted to boarding the aircraft without presenting a boarding pass. Prosecutors revealed she concealed herself in an aircraft restroom for multiple hours before discovery as the plane approached Paris.

Following her return to New York, Dali informed an FBI agent she felt compelled to flee the United States due to her belief that individuals were attempting to poison her, court records indicate.

Prior to this recent incident, Dali remained under a one-year supervised release period after receiving a time-served sentence last July. Standard probation terms prohibited her from departing the designated federal judicial district without obtaining prior court or probation officer approval. Additional requirements included undergoing mental health evaluation and participating in treatment if determined necessary.

Federal prosecutors previously stated Dali circumvented security protocols at two additional airports before the JFK breach, with suspicions she may have successfully stowed away on other flights.

Two days before the Paris flight incident, she managed to pass through TSA security at Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Connecticut, by concealing herself among other travelers. Officials reported she made an unsuccessful boarding attempt before departing the facility.

In February 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found Dali hiding in a restroom at Miami International Airport, according to prosecutors. She was removed from the airport after agents could not verify her claim of arriving on an Air France flight.

While federal investigators made no official determination that Dali illegally traveled as a stowaway to Miami, prosecutors noted her statements to law enforcement following her Paris arrest suggested she had entered Miami through illegal means.

NEW ORLEANS — Actor Shia LaBeouf must return to substance abuse treatment following his arrest during Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans, where he faces battery charges for allegedly attacking several people outside a French Quarter establishment.

Orleans Parish Criminal Court Judge Simone Levine established a $100,000 bond Thursday for the 39-year-old actor, who appeared before the court dressed in a fleece jacket and jeans with cowboy boots. The judge criticized LaBeouf for allegedly shouting anti-gay slurs while physically assaulting multiple individuals, with police reports indicating he dislocated one person’s nose.

During the hearing, Levine mandated that LaBeouf undergo weekly substance testing, beginning immediately with a courthouse screening. His legal representative confirmed the initial test came back negative for illegal drugs.

The judge expressed serious concerns about community safety, particularly regarding marginalized groups that have faced significant hardship. “This defendant does not take his alcohol addiction seriously,” Levine stated. “This court does not believe he understands the level of seriousness when it comes to these allegations.”

She specifically referenced the episode as a threat to “the safety of this larger community, especially relative to a marginalized community that has gone through so much terror,” speaking about the LGBTQ+ community.

Following his bond payment, LaBeouf refused media interviews in the courthouse corridor. “No, I won’t say a word,” he told reporters. “God bless you, leave me alone.” The actor has yet to enter a formal plea regarding the charges.

Local performer Jeffrey Damnit, whose legal name is Jeffrey Klein according to police documents, previously described how LaBeouf repeatedly struck him while using homophobic language and making death threats. Damnit believes he became a target due to his makeup and eyeliner.

“This guy wants me to be dead because I wear makeup,” Damnit explained. “It’s a screwed-up thing.”

Judge Levine revealed that when she initially released LaBeouf without bond shortly after his February 17 arrest, she hadn’t yet reviewed the police documentation detailing his alleged use of slurs while returning to the establishment and striking patrons after staff requested his departure. Video footage has emerged showing the actor hitting multiple individuals.

Following his release from jail, LaBeouf was spotted celebrating in the French Quarter streets during Mardi Gras festivities.

The court has prohibited LaBeouf from contacting the victims or visiting the location where the incident occurred. Additionally, Levine rejected his attorney’s request for permission to travel to Rome in March for what was described as “religious observations, including his father’s baptism.”

The judge questioned whether LaBeouf “could handle his alcohol” during the proceedings.

Defense attorney Sarah Chervinsky argued to the court that “being drunk on Mardi Gras is not a crime.”

A man from Chicago has entered a not guilty plea to federal charges following his return from Indonesia, where he spent more than a decade behind bars for the brutal murder of his then-girlfriend’s mother.

Tommy Schaefer received an 18-year prison sentence in Indonesia for the 2014 killing of Sheila von Wiese-Mack, a Chicago socialite, during a vacation trip to Bali with von Wiese-Mack and her daughter Heather Mack.

Federal prosecutors allege that Mack restrained her mother by covering her mouth while Schaefer repeatedly struck her with a fruit bowl. The pair allegedly planned the murder to obtain access to von Wiese-Mack’s $1.5 million trust fund. Authorities in Bali took both suspects into custody the day following the homicide – Mack was 18 years old and expecting a child, while Schaefer was 21.

The shocking crime gained international attention as the Bali “suitcase murder” when investigators found von Wiese-Mack’s beaten body stuffed inside luggage in a taxi’s trunk at a luxury resort.

After serving 11 years and earning multiple good conduct recognitions, Indonesian authorities freed Schaefer on Tuesday. He was immediately transported back to Chicago where he now faces federal charges including conspiracy to commit murder abroad, conspiracy to commit homicide, and evidence tampering.

During Thursday morning’s initial hearing, Schaefer denied all three charges according to court documents. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly scheduled his trial for January 2027 and ruled he must stay in jail pending trial. His defense lawyer, Matthew Madden, has not responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

Mack completed seven years of her 10-year Indonesian prison term before returning to the United States. In January 2024, a Chicago court sentenced her to an additional 26 years in prison after she admitted guilt in her mother’s death and concealing the remains in the suitcase.

Federal investigators executed search warrants Wednesday at the residence and workplace of Los Angeles school district leader Alberto Carvalho, prompting an emergency board meeting to address his future.

The Los Angeles Unified School District’s governing board has scheduled a private session Thursday afternoon to deliberate on Carvalho’s position following the FBI raids. District officials released a brief statement Wednesday confirming their cooperation with investigators while declining to elaborate further.

Federal law enforcement has remained tight-lipped about the scope of their probe into America’s second-largest school system. Agents also conducted a search at a third site in the Miami area, where Carvalho formerly served as schools chief. According to Miami Herald reporting, that Florida residence belongs to Debra Kerr, a former employee of AllHere, an educational technology firm that previously held contracts with Los Angeles schools before its collapse and subsequent fraud charges against its founder.

Carvalho championed AllHere’s artificial intelligence chatbot called ‘Ed’ throughout 2024, describing it as revolutionary for student support. However, the district severed ties with the company roughly three months after the program’s launch and a $3 million payment, as AllHere spiraled into bankruptcy. Company founder Joanna Smith-Griffin later faced federal charges for securities fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft.

When questioned about AllHere’s selection process, Carvalho maintained he played no personal role in choosing the vendor, the Los Angeles Times reported. Following Smith-Griffin’s indictment, Carvalho promised to establish a review committee to investigate the failed partnership, though no public updates have emerged since that announcement.

During his five-year tenure in Los Angeles, Carvalho has earned recognition for boosting student achievement across the district. His reputation was similarly strong in Miami-Dade County, Florida’s largest school system, where he received the National Superintendent of the Year award in 2014 from the American Association of School Administrators.

The Portuguese-born education leader received knighthood from Spain in 2021 for expanding Spanish-language educational opportunities in Miami-Dade schools.

After relocating to California, Carvalho became a vocal opponent of former President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies, particularly following enforcement actions in Los Angeles last year.

Carvalho assumed leadership in Los Angeles during a pivotal period, as the district managed substantial COVID-19 relief funding while addressing pandemic-related challenges including academic setbacks and shrinking student enrollment. He had previously clashed with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over pandemic mask requirements in schools.

Miami-Dade school officials acknowledged awareness of the federal investigation involving their former superintendent but declined further comment.

The FBI’s Miami field office verified that agents conducted a search at a Southwest Ranches home in Broward County, located west of Fort Lauderdale, on Wednesday morning.

A Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a suspect who had just completed a deadly rampage through a South Florida community, authorities announced Thursday.

The violent incident unfolded Wednesday evening in Pahokee, a community of approximately 5,500 residents in South Florida.

According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, deputies initially responded to reports of a double homicide, discovering two victims who had been shot to death. Soon after, law enforcement received additional calls about gunfire at a residence and a convenience store in the area, where another person sustained injuries, Bradshaw explained during a press briefing.

While an officer was securing the second crime scene with tape, the gunman approached in an SUV and deliberately rammed into the deputy, dragging the officer approximately 40 feet, according to the sheriff’s department.

The suspect then exited his vehicle and attempted to shoot the injured officer, but the deputy managed to return fire and kill the attacker, officials reported. A fellow deputy also discharged his weapon during the confrontation.

Law enforcement has named the deceased suspect as Charles McCloud Jr., age 44. Bradshaw stated that investigators are working to establish what motivated the attacks and whether McCloud had any connection to his victims.

Attempts to reach McCloud’s potential family members for comment were unsuccessful Thursday.

“This guy went on one hell of a crime spree tonight, shooting people, killing them, and then obviously trying to kill our deputy,” Bradshaw stated. “The deputy is very, very fortunate that the initial strike with the vehicle didn’t kill him. But he showed a great deal of courage, a great deal of stamina to be able to get his gun out and neutralize this guy before he could shoot him on the ground.”

The injured deputy was transported to a medical facility with severe injuries, the sheriff’s department confirmed. The individual wounded at the store is anticipated to recover, though officials have not provided additional details about his medical status.

The deputy involved in the shooting has been assigned to administrative duty pending investigation, according to standard protocol. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, and the sheriff’s department’s Violent Crimes Division are all conducting investigations into the incident.

NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities in New York City have taken a 27-year-old man into custody Thursday following a chaotic winter scene where police officers sustained injuries after being bombarded with snow and ice during a large-scale snowball fight at Washington Square Park earlier this week.

According to the New York Police Department, the individual faces charges related to “assaulting our officers,” as stated in a department social media announcement. Department representatives indicated that specific charge details were not immediately available.

Details regarding legal representation for the detained individual remain unclear at this time.

The Thursday arrest stems from Monday’s snowball battle, which investigators believe was coordinated by social media influencers. The event created pandemonium as hundreds gathered in the well-known Manhattan park to hurl snowballs during an active winter storm.

Law enforcement responded to Washington Square Park following emergency calls reporting disruptive behavior. Footage from the scene captures two officers being pelted relentlessly with snowballs while an unruly mob shouted and recorded with mobile devices. The responding officers physically confronted several individuals, forcing at least two to the ground while navigating the park walkway under constant snowball bombardment.

Department officials report that numerous officers sustained direct hits to their faces from the projectiles. According to police union representatives, two officers required medical attention at a local hospital for injuries to their faces, heads, and necks.

Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani characterized the incident as a “snowball fight that got out of hand” and expressed skepticism about pursuing criminal prosecution. His administration had not provided additional commentary by Thursday morning.

The police department continues investigating the matter, having distributed photographs of four individuals they seek to question. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has condemned the snowball confrontation as “disgraceful” and “criminal.”

Renowned economist Larry Summers has announced he will step down from his position at Harvard University when the current academic year concludes. The departure comes as the prestigious institution continues its ongoing probe into Summers’ connections with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.

The university’s investigation into faculty relationships with Epstein has been examining various ties between the disgraced financier and members of the Harvard community. Summers’ resignation marks a significant development in the school’s efforts to address these controversial associations.

The timing of Summers’ departure coincides with Harvard’s continued scrutiny of how Epstein maintained relationships within academic circles before his legal troubles and subsequent death in federal custody.

CHICAGO – A series of tribute events will take place in Chicago this week to celebrate the remarkable life of Rev. Jesse Jackson, the renowned civil rights activist who passed away last week at 84 years old. The ceremonies are expected to attract politicians, community advocates, and residents eager to pay their respects to a figure whose lifelong dedication to justice transformed American political landscapes and gave voice to Black and minority communities nationwide.

Jackson established the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and served as a prominent champion for voting rights and integration efforts throughout his career.

As a trusted associate of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson gained national recognition while working as a young activist within the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He stood alongside King during the 1968 Memphis visit supporting striking Black sanitation workers, just before the iconic civil rights leader’s tragic assassination.

The commemorative events will kick off Thursday with a public viewing ceremony on Chicago’s South Side. The following week will feature a musical celebration called “The People’s Celebration” at the House of Hope Baptist church, showcasing gospel performers in Jackson’s honor. A private memorial service is scheduled for March 7 at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition offices, where community members have created a growing shrine of flowers, greeting cards, and small American flags since his death. Religious leaders and longtime colleagues plan to speak about Jackson’s enduring impact.

The charismatic speaker and Chicago resident sought the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination during both the 1984 and 1988 election cycles. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker directed state flags to fly at half-mast following Jackson’s death, describing him in an official statement as “a giant who spent his life on the front lines of the Civil Rights movement.”

A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson emerged as one of America’s most prominent Black political figures during the latter half of the 20th century. His advocacy work included pushing for economic sanctions against South Africa’s apartheid system, securing the freedom of American prisoners held overseas, and promoting corporate responsibility alongside minority-owned business growth domestically.

Jackson created a political movement focused on economic fairness and building alliances that crossed both racial and socioeconomic boundaries. His pair of presidential bids energized millions of first-time voters through his “Rainbow Coalition” message, compelling the Democratic Party to prioritize concerns affecting blue-collar workers, agricultural communities, and people of color.

Jackson received a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 2017, followed by a progressive supranuclear palsy diagnosis in April 2025.

Community officials note that Chicago, which served as Jackson’s operational base for much of his career, will function as the central location for these commemorative gatherings. Many view these memorial services as marking the conclusion of a significant chapter in civil rights history. However, Jackson’s supporters emphasize that his famous rallying cry to “keep hope alive” – a phrase that became emblematic of his cause – continues to inspire ongoing efforts toward equality and justice that defined his life’s work.

His passing occurs during a period when President Donald Trump’s administration has focused on targeting American institutions, including museums, historical sites, and national parks, to eliminate what the president describes as “anti-American” content. This has resulted in the removal of slavery-related exhibitions, the restoration of Confederate monuments, and other actions that civil rights organizations warn could undo decades of social advancement.

Civil rights activists have pledged to continue Jackson’s mission in his honor.

“The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. was a legendary voice for the voiceless, powerful civil rights champion and trailblazer extraordinaire,” stated Hakeem Jeffries, the leading Democrat and House minority leader. “For decades, while laboring in the vineyards of the community, he inspired us to keep hope alive in the struggle for liberty and justice for all.”

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Another life has been lost in the tragic shooting that unfolded at a youth hockey game in Rhode Island, as authorities confirm a third family member has succumbed to his wounds.

Gerald Dorgan, who had been fighting for his life in critical condition, passed away from injuries sustained in the attack, Pawtucket police announced Wednesday.

The devastating incident has now taken the lives of three generations of the same family. Dorgan joins his daughter Rhonda Dorgan and grandson Aidan Dorgan, who were both killed when gunfire erupted during the hockey game.

Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien expressed his grief over the mounting death toll from the violence.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this tragic act of violence,” he said in a statement.

Authorities have identified the gunman as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who took his own life at the scene with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shooter also used the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, police reported. Robert Dorgan was the former spouse of Rhonda Dorgan and father of Aidan Dorgan.

Investigators determined the gunman deliberately targeted members of his own family during the attack.

Two other individuals were wounded in the shooting: Linda Dorgan, who is Rhonda Dorgan’s mother, and Thomas Geruso, described as a family friend.

Police have praised the heroic actions of multiple witnesses who stepped in to end the violence. Officials say at least three people in the crowd managed to subdue the shooter in the bleachers while others evacuated the area around them.

CHICAGO — A series of nationwide memorial ceremonies honoring Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. kicks off Thursday in Chicago, the city the renowned civil rights activist considered his home base.

The former mentee of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and former two-time White House hopeful will be displayed in repose for 48 hours at his Rainbow PUSH Coalition offices, followed by additional ceremonies in Washington, D.C., and his birth state of South Carolina.

“The outpouring of love and support received from around the globe has been abundant and deeply felt,” Jackson’s family members said in a recent statement.

The civil rights champion passed away last week at 84 years old following his battle with a rare neurological condition that impaired his movement and speech during his final years.

Tributes have flooded in from across the world, with multiple states including Minnesota, Iowa and North Carolina lowering their flags to half-mast as a mark of respect.

However, his passing has resonated most deeply in Chicago, America’s third-most populous city, where Jackson established his residence for many years and brought up his six children, one of whom serves in Congress.

Flower arrangements have accumulated outside the family’s Tudor-style residence in the city’s South Side neighborhood for several days. Educational institutions have expressed their sympathies, while the city’s transit system has utilized electronic displays to show Jackson’s image alongside his famous phrase, “I am Somebody!”

Jackson championed numerous causes both domestically and internationally, fighting for disadvantaged populations on matters ranging from electoral access to employment prospects, educational opportunities and medical care. He achieved diplomatic successes with international leaders and utilized his Rainbow PUSH Coalition to transform calls for Black empowerment and autonomy into corporate pressure, pushing business leaders toward creating a more inclusive and fair America.

“We honor him, and his hard-earned legacy as a freedom fighter, philosopher, and faithful shepherd of his family and community here in Chicago,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement.

During the upcoming week, Jackson will be honored at the South Carolina Statehouse, with public ceremonies featuring speeches from Gov. Henry McMaster and a wreath-laying event. Jackson’s early life and initial activist efforts took place in South Carolina.

Information regarding Washington ceremonies remains undisclosed. Nevertheless, he will not receive the honor of lying in state at the U.S. Capitol rotunda following the rejection of such a request by House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office.

The two-week series of events will conclude next week with a major life celebration at a Chicago megachurch, followed by final homegoing ceremonies at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters.

Family representatives announced that all services will welcome public attendance.

“His life is broad enough to cover the full spectrum of what it means to be American,” his eldest son, Jesse Jackson Jr., told reporters recently. “We only ask people to come and be respectful in context of the extraordinary life he lived.”

Federal investigators executed search warrants Wednesday at the residence of Alberto Carvalho, the superintendent overseeing Los Angeles public schools, along with the district’s main offices and a Miami-area location connected to his previous role.

The FBI action is part of an ongoing federal probe, though officials have not disclosed the nature of their investigation.

Carvalho has built his career around transforming educational outcomes in major urban school systems across the country.

Born in Portugal, Carvalho has openly shared his journey from childhood poverty to educational leadership during various public appearances and media interviews throughout his career.

He arrived in the United States over 40 years ago as a teenager without legal immigration status. Starting his American experience in New York City before relocating to Miami, he initially supported himself through manual labor jobs, including washing dishes and working as a day laborer.

After earning his biology degree from Barry University, a Catholic institution near Miami, in 1990, he began his education career teaching science in Miami-Dade County schools.

“My world changed when I became a teacher,” Carvalho remarked in 2021. “I still feel this journey is a fairytale.”

His rise through Miami’s education system was swift, advancing from classroom teacher to principal, then serving as district spokesperson and assistant superintendent before taking the top position in 2008.

Throughout his 14-year leadership of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Carvalho earned recognition for boosting graduation rates and academic achievement, particularly among Black and Hispanic student populations.

The national superintendents association honored him as Superintendent of the Year in 2014, and Spain knighted him in 2021 for expanding Spanish-language educational programs.

Los Angeles school board members unanimously selected him for their superintendent role in 2021, bringing him to lead a district dealing with both substantial COVID-19 relief funding and pandemic-related challenges including learning setbacks and enrollment drops.

Academic performance improvements in the district over the past five years have drawn praise for Carvalho’s leadership.

Drawing from his own immigration experience, Carvalho has consistently pushed back against federal immigration enforcement activities in the Los Angeles area.

The district serves approximately 500,000 students, including roughly 30,000 immigrants, some without legal documentation, making it the country’s second-largest school system.

Last August, before the school year began, he called on immigration officials to avoid enforcement actions within two blocks of school campuses.

“We are appealing to the better senses of those who have the power to eliminate trauma from the streets of our community,” Carvalho stated.

His protective measures for students and families included modifying bus routes to serve more students and distributing preparedness materials containing legal rights information, emergency contacts, and guidance on arranging alternative caregivers if parents face detention.

Carvalho’s career has included some controversial moments. In Florida during 2020, questions arose when a nonprofit organization he established received a $1.57 million contribution from an online education company that the district initially planned to contract but ultimately rejected.

While the district’s inspector general found no violation of ethics rules, the official noted the situation created an “appearance of impropriety” and recommended returning the funds. Instead, the money was distributed as $100 gift cards to Miami-Dade teachers.

Earlier in his Miami tenure, Carvalho faced criticism over inappropriate email exchanges with a former Miami Herald journalist. He denied having an affair while acknowledging the communications were improper.

More recently in Los Angeles, Carvalho promoted the creation of “Ed,” an AI chatbot developed by AllHere for student use. After investing $3 million in the technology in 2024, the district severed ties with AllHere just three months later as the company collapsed.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Carvalho denied personal involvement in choosing AllHere. Following fraud and identity theft charges against the company’s founder, he promised to establish a task force to review the failed project, though no such group has been announced.

Buffalo authorities have confirmed the death of a visually impaired refugee from Myanmar who went missing after federal agents released him from custody last week.

The body of 56-year-old Nurul Amin Shah Alam was discovered by Buffalo police officers on Tuesday evening on a city street, according to department officials.

Shah Alam had been unaccounted for since February 19, when Border Patrol agents transported him from county jail to a coffee shop located several miles from his residence. He had spent nearly a year in jail while facing criminal charges that were ultimately resolved through a misdemeanor plea agreement.

Investigators from the homicide unit are now examining the circumstances surrounding Shah Alam’s death, police confirmed.

Buffalo’s Democratic Mayor Sean Ryan issued a statement Wednesday condemning what he called preventable circumstances leading to the refugee’s death, describing federal immigration officials’ actions as lacking humanity.

“A vulnerable man − nearly blind and unable to speak English − was left alone on a cold winter night with no known attempt to leave him in a safe, secure location,” Ryan said. “That decision from U.S. Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional and inhumane.”

CBP officials have not yet provided a response to requests for comment from our newsroom.

However, in a statement provided to Buffalo-based Investigative Post, a CBP representative explained that agents transported Shah Alam to the coffee shop after determining his refugee status prevented deportation.

“Border Patrol agents offered him a courtesy ride, which he chose to accept to a coffee shop, determined to be a warm, safe location near his last known address, rather than be released directly from the Border Patrol station,” the agency said. “He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues or disabilities requiring special assistance.”

Weather conditions in Buffalo, situated close to the Canadian border, dropped below freezing over the past weekend.

According to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Shah Alam was taken into custody one year ago following an incident that caused minor injuries to two Buffalo police officers. He was granted bail release this month after accepting the plea arrangement.

Following his arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed an immigration detainer, which is an official request to assume custody of a non-citizen upon their scheduled release from criminal detention.

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office contacted Border Patrol before Shah Alam’s release in response to the immigration detainer, a sheriff’s spokesperson confirmed.

Mohamad Faisal, Shah Alam’s son, explained in a text message that his father’s arrest stemmed from a miscommunication with law enforcement officers.

Shah Alam, who had no English language skills, had been taking a walk while using a curtain rod he had purchased as a makeshift walking aid, according to Faisal.

His father became disoriented and wandered onto private property, prompting the homeowner to contact police, Faisal explained. When Shah Alam failed to comprehend officers’ instructions to put down the curtain rod, they placed him under arrest.

After his father’s release last week, “Nobody told me or my family or attorney where my dad was dropped off,” Faisal said.

According to Faisal, his father was unable to read, write, or operate electronic devices.

Shah Alam’s only desires were to “eat home-cooked food” and “be united with the rest of [his] family,” his son shared.

The family belongs to the Arakan Rohingya refugee community, Faisal noted.

GREENBELT, Md. — A well-known attorney who argued dozens of cases before the U.S. Supreme Court has been found guilty of hiding millions in poker winnings from federal tax authorities.

Thomas Goldstein, who helped create the widely-read SCOTUSblog and built a career representing clients before the nation’s top court, was convicted Wednesday on 12 of 16 criminal charges following a six-week federal trial. The jury spent roughly two days deliberating before finding him guilty of tax evasion, assisting in filing fraudulent tax documents, deliberately failing to pay taxes on time, and making false statements on loan paperwork.

Federal prosecutors alleged Goldstein concealed millions in gambling earnings while operating as a secretive high-stakes poker participant. They also claimed he took money from his legal practice to settle gambling obligations and incorrectly claimed poker losses as legitimate business write-offs.

Before stepping away from practice in 2023, Goldstein had presented more than 40 cases to the Supreme Court, including serving on the legal team that defended Democrat Al Gore during the contested 2000 presidential election that ultimately went to Republican George W. Bush.

When charges were filed against Goldstein last year, the news stunned Washington’s legal establishment. Many professional associates were unaware of the scope of his gambling activities.

During final arguments, Justice Department attorney Sean Beaty told the jury: “He lied to everyone around him.”

Goldstein’s defense lawyer Jonathan Kravis maintained that federal investigators acted hastily and conducted an insufficient investigation. He argued his client committed unintentional errors on tax filings rather than deliberately cheating the system or knowingly providing false information.

“A mistake is not a crime,” Kravis stated to jurors.

Prosecutor Beaty characterized Goldstein as a “willful tax cheat.” According to Beaty’s presentation, Goldstein earned roughly $50 million from poker during 2016 alone, with about $22 million coming from games played in Asia. The prosecution said the tax fraud scheme unraveled when another poker player, upset with Goldstein over money matters, contacted the IRS about a 2016 debt involving the attorney.

“It was a textbook tax-evasion scheme,” Beaty declared. “And Mr. Goldstein executed that nearly flawlessly.”

The trial, which began January 12, featured unusual testimony from actor Tobey Maguire, known for his “Spider-Man” roles and serious poker playing, who had sought Goldstein’s legal assistance in collecting a gambling debt from a wealthy individual.

Taking the witness stand in his own defense, Goldstein maintained his innocence. He claimed he consistently directed his law firm’s personnel and accounting professionals to properly categorize his personal expenditures. In a 2014 electronic message, he informed a firm worker that “we always play completely by the rules.”

Additional allegations against Goldstein included deceiving IRS investigators and concealing his gambling obligations from accountants, staff members, and mortgage companies. When he and his wife searched for a Washington, D.C. residence in 2021, he allegedly left out a $15 million gambling debt from mortgage application documents.

“He was thinking only of his wife when he left off the gambling debts,” defense attorney Kravis explained.

Defense attorneys representing Pennsylvania high school students say their young clients had no way of knowing that the plainclothes man who grabbed a 15-year-old girl by the neck during a protest was actually the town’s police chief.

The legal team says students from Quakertown Community High School were demonstrating against immigration enforcement when they acted to protect themselves, and they plan to challenge all charges. The accusations include simple assault that was upgraded to felony aggravated assault because the alleged target is Police Chief Scott McElree.

“He charged from his vehicle into the middle of this group of kids,” defense attorney Donald Souders explained Wednesday. “Many of the kids jumped in, in an attempt to defend her. They assumed that this was a counterprotester.”

According to the defense team, 72-year-old McElree drove up in an unmarked vehicle without wearing any uniform, badge, or hat, and failed to announce his identity. Social media videos captured the altercation between the students and law enforcement officers.

McElree, who doubles as the Philadelphia suburb’s borough manager, hasn’t responded to messages left at his residence and workplace on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“My client was directly choked by the chief. It was alleged that she had struck him, which she did not,” stated attorney Timothy Prendergast, representing the small 15-year-old girl. “They are innocent. They were exercising their First Amendment rights. The chief did not like that and acted outside of his authority.”

Prendergast’s client and at least two other students were freed Tuesday, with some placed under house arrest wearing electronic monitoring devices. It remained unclear Wednesday whether the remaining two students were still detained. The attorneys haven’t revealed their clients’ names, as juvenile court files aren’t available to the public.

Community members are demanding McElree step down. Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan launched an investigation while simultaneously pursuing charges against the teenagers in juvenile court. Defense counsel questioned Khan’s ability to remain neutral while handling both responsibilities.

Approximately 35 students had organized a walkout Friday to oppose U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies when officers confronted them near a bakery, roughly half a mile from their school.

Souders is defending a 16-year-old male student whose glasses were shattered when a uniformed officer pushed him into a large planter during the confrontation. The teenager spent his weekend in detention trying to remove glass fragments from his eye, receiving care from a nurse before his father brought him to a hospital Tuesday following his release, Souders reported.

School district leaders had initially discussed the planned walkout with student organizers but revoked approval Friday morning due to safety worries, according to the acting superintendent’s public statement.

Most participants are students of color, with several being children of immigrant families, their legal representatives noted. Both Quakertown, home to roughly 9,300 people, and the high school, enrolling about 1,650 students, have predominantly white populations.

Defense attorneys say the demonstrating students faced harassment during their march from another student group shouting insults and racial slurs at them.

“Throughout the protest, the police were following from a distance,” Souders noted. “Probably in hindsight, they should have interceded between the protesters and counterprotesters. They were saying really awful things to get the kids riled up.”

His client, a junior who maintains two restaurant jobs, was freed under house arrest with electronic monitoring, allowing him to leave only for school, work, religious services, and other pre-approved activities.

As minors, the teenagers are entitled to adjudication hearings within 30 days — or 10 days if remaining in custody. However, the legal team expects to request additional time to collect video footage and other case evidence.

“This was an abomination of (police) escalation when it should have been a teaching moment for de-escalation,” said attorney Ettore “Ed” Angelo, who represents another charged 15-year-old girl who was released.

State police have released dashcam footage capturing the moment former WWE executive Vince McMahon slammed his high-end sports car into another vehicle on a Connecticut interstate last summer while a trooper was attempting to catch up with him.

The 80-year-old McMahon was behind the wheel of his 2024 Bentley Continental GT, traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph on the Merritt Parkway in Westport when the collision occurred, state police reported.

Dashcam footage from the trooper’s vehicle captures McMahon speeding up, then failing to brake in time to prevent striking a BMW from behind. The expensive Bentley then veers into a guardrail before spinning back across the roadway, sending debris and dust flying.

“Why were you driving all over 100 mph?” state police Detective Maxwell Robins questioned McMahon when he reached the damaged Bentley, which carries a price tag of more than $300,000.

“I got my granddaughter’s birthday,” McMahon responded, telling the officer he was heading to celebrate with her. This exchange was captured on police body camera footage.

The July 24 incident resulted in no serious injuries, occurring on the same date that wrestling icon Hulk Hogan passed away from a heart attack in Florida.

In addition to damaging the BMW’s rear end, a third vehicle traveling in the opposite direction was hit by flying wreckage. Coincidentally, the driver of that vehicle was wearing WWE merchandise, the police video shows.

Authorities issued McMahon citations for reckless driving and following too closely. An October court appearance resulted in McMahon being accepted into a pretrial probation program that will clear the charges from his record next October upon successful completion. The court also required him to donate $1,000 to charity.

Defense attorney Mark Sherman characterized the incident as an unfortunate accident.

“Not every car accident is a crime,” Sherman stated. “Vince’s primary concern during this case was for the other drivers and is appreciative that the court saw this more of an accident than a crime that needed to be prosecuted.”

According to state police, Detective Robins was attempting to measure McMahon’s speed and conduct a traffic stop when the crash happened. Officials clarified this was not a police chase, which involves officers pursuing someone attempting to evade law enforcement. They noted McMahon didn’t appear to be trying to escape, though the video suggests some confusion.

“I’m trying to catch up to you and you keep taking off,” Robins tells McMahon in the footage.

“No, no no. I’m not trying to outrun you,” McMahon responds.

Initial crash reports released to news outlets shortly after the incident made no reference to police involvement.

The Associated Press secured the video recordings Wednesday via public records request. The Sun newspaper had previously obtained the footage.

Body camera video also captures the trooper asking McMahon if he was using his phone during the crash. McMahon denied this and mentioned he hadn’t operated his vehicle in quite some time.

When Robins comments on the car’s speed capabilities, McMahon agrees, saying “Yeah, too (expletive) fast.”

The footage includes McMahon speaking with the driver he struck from behind. Barbara Doran of New York City previously told the AP that McMahon showed concern for her wellbeing and expressed relief she wasn’t hurt. She was traveling to catch a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard when the collision occurred.

Following the issuance of traffic citations, McMahon exchanged handshakes with Robins and another officer, who offered him well wishes.

McMahon resigned from his WWE CEO position in 2022 during a company probe into sexual misconduct claims. He also stepped down as executive chairman of TKO Group Holdings’ board of directors in 2024, one day after a former WWE staff member filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against him. McMahon has disputed these allegations, and the legal case continues.

McMahon purchased what was then called the World Wrestling Federation in 1982, building it from a regional operation into a global entertainment empire. He managed the company alongside his wife Linda, who currently serves as U.S. education secretary, while also making personal appearances at WWE events.

A federal jury has found Thomas Goldstein, a renowned Washington attorney known for arguing Supreme Court cases, guilty on multiple tax and financial fraud charges connected to his secret career as a professional poker player.

The 12-member jury delivered their decision Wednesday following three days of deliberations in Greenbelt, Maryland, after a lengthy seven-week trial. Goldstein faced conviction on 12 out of 16 criminal charges, though jurors cleared him of several counts related to helping prepare fraudulent tax documents.

Federal prosecutors had accused the prominent lawyer of concealing millions of dollars earned through poker gambling, providing false information on mortgage applications, and making unauthorized payments through his former legal practice, Goldstein & Russell. His sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

Before retiring from legal practice in 2023, Goldstein had established himself as one of the nation’s premier appellate lawyers, presenting more than 40 cases before the Supreme Court and helping create the legal news platform SCOTUSblog. His criminal charges shocked Washington’s legal establishment.

The trial exposed Goldstein’s extensive participation in international high-stakes poker competitions. Government lawyers revealed that he earned more than $26 million during a single tournament series in late 2016, money they claim he illegally hid from tax authorities and financial institutions.

The case centered on whether Goldstein deliberately broke federal tax and mortgage regulations. He maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, attributing any financial reporting mistakes to excessive dependence on his professional advisors and accounting staff.

Taking the witness stand in his own defense, Goldstein acknowledged he should have been more vigilant about his tax filings and law firm’s financial matters, but denied any criminal intent. “The mistakes, responsibility for those tax years is mine. I may end up continuing to pay for this for a long time,” he told the jury. “That’s my responsibility. It’s just very different from whether I committed a crime.”

Prosecutors painted a different picture, describing Goldstein as a detail-oriented attorney who fully understood his legal obligation to report gambling earnings and losses. Lead prosecutor Sean Beaty challenged Goldstein’s testimony, characterizing him as dishonest and accusing him of hiding the extent of his poker activities from his spouse and others.

Beaty highlighted Goldstein’s extravagant purchases of luxury timepieces, vehicles, and real estate for the jury. “Poker. Travel. Cars. Watches. All while you owed millions of dollars to the IRS,” the prosecutor stated.

Goldstein admitted to having second thoughts about his spending choices but maintained that purchasing property while owing back taxes wasn’t against the law.

The trial featured testimony from several notable witnesses, including Hollywood actor Tobey Maguire, famous for his role in 2002’s “Spider-Man” and other major films. Maguire, who faces no criminal allegations, explained how he retained Goldstein’s legal services in 2020 to collect more than $7 million that a Texas businessman allegedly owed him from poker games.

Goldstein successfully helped Maguire recover the debt. The actor testified that Goldstein instructed him to send his $500,000 legal fee to a third party instead of paying him directly.

The original criminal charges included allegations about payments to women involved in extramarital affairs with Goldstein, but the presiding judge dismissed those particular accusations before trial.

A Texas grand jury declined Wednesday to issue criminal charges against a federal immigration officer who shot and killed an American citizen during a traffic encounter last March, according to local prosecutors.

Ruben Ray Martinez was fatally shot by a Homeland Security Investigations agent on March 15, 2025. The Department of Homeland Security kept the incident under wraps until news organizations including The Associated Press brought it to light last week.

Cameron County District Attorney’s Office released a brief statement confirming the grand jury’s decision not to pursue indictments after reviewing the case. Officials provided no further explanation for the determination.

According to DHS officials, Martinez “intentionally ran over a Homeland Security Investigation special agent,” prompting another officer to discharge “defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public.”

This incident represents the first in a series of at least six fatal encounters involving federal law enforcement since President Donald Trump’s administration began its intensified immigration enforcement efforts.

However, a passenger traveling with Martinez has challenged the government’s version of events. Joshua Orta, who witnessed the shooting, provided a conflicting account in a preliminary sworn statement prepared last year, according to lawyers representing Martinez’s relatives. Tragically, Orta died in an automobile accident over the weekend.

The two men were visiting South Padre Island when they approached an intersection where local police and federal agents were managing traffic flow around a vehicle collision, based on Orta’s preliminary statement.

According to the draft testimony, Orta maintained that Martinez never struck any officer with their vehicle, describing their car as moving at a crawl when a federal agent opened fire through the driver’s window without issuing any verbal warnings or commands for compliance.

Legal representatives for Martinez’s family have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the grand jury’s decision.

NEW YORK (AP) — Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein has assembled a new defense team featuring attorneys who represent Luigi Mangione and Sean “Diddy” Combs as he prepares for his third New York rape trial.

Court documents filed Tuesday confirmed that attorneys Jacob Kaplan, Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos will now handle Weinstein’s defense. They are replacing his previous attorney Arthur Aidala, who will shift his focus to handling the former studio executive’s appeals and civil litigation matters.

Kaplan previously served on Weinstein’s original defense team in 2018 and is anticipated to play a key role in the upcoming trial. The case centers on allegations that the Oscar-winning producer sexually assaulted hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann at a Manhattan hotel in 2013.

During a January court appearance, Weinstein maintained his innocence, stating he “never assaulted anyone” and expressing that his “spirit was breaking” after spending nearly six years in prison.

The trial was originally scheduled to begin March 3 but has been delayed without a new date set. Weinstein is scheduled to appear in court March 4 for a status update. The legal team changes were first disclosed by Law360.

Kaplan and Agnifilo currently serve as defense counsel for Mangione in both state and federal proceedings related to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The attorneys successfully had terrorism charges dismissed in the state case and prevented the death penalty from being sought in federal court.

Agnifilo and Geragos previously defended Combs, securing a mixed verdict with acquittals on sex trafficking and racketeering counts. They are currently among the legal team defending wealthy siblings Alon, Oren and Tal Alexander in their Manhattan federal sex trafficking case.

All three attorneys work as partners at the Manhattan-based firm Agnifilo Intrater.

“Harvey believes that, after two prior trials on this matter, a recalibrated outlook and strategic approach offers the most effective path forward,” stated Weinstein spokesperson Juda Engelmayer.

Last June’s retrial produced a complicated outcome: Weinstein was found guilty of forcing oral sex on Miriam Haley, cleared of similar charges involving Kaja Sokola, while jurors failed to reach a decision on the rape charge concerning Mann. The deliberation process collapsed when the jury foreman declined to continue participating.

The Associated Press typically withholds the names of alleged sexual assault victims unless they provide consent, which Haley, Sokola and Mann have all granted.

Weinstein’s legal team contended that the retrial outcome was compromised by conflicts and intimidation among jury members. However, Judge Curtis Farber, who will preside over the third trial, dismissed these claims and told Weinstein during the January hearing: “You had a fair trial.”

Weinstein’s initial 2020 trial resulted in convictions for raping Mann and sexually assaulting Haley, but New York’s top court reversed those verdicts and mandated last year’s retrial. The Court of Appeals determined that Weinstein’s case was compromised by testimony regarding accusations not directly related to the charges.

The transition between Weinstein and Aidala, who handled the appeal and represented him in both previous trials, appears to have been mutually agreed upon and cordial.

“Our work does not end here,” Aidala commented. “We will continue to advocate forcefully on his behalf in the appellate courts, where we are confident that serious legal errors will be addressed and his most significant conviction will ultimately be overturned.”

The timing of Weinstein’s trial may be influenced by his new attorneys’ busy schedules, including Mangione’s state trial set to commence June 8. Prosecutors estimate that even with only Mann as an accuser, the proceedings could extend up to five weeks.

Weinstein could receive up to 25 years in prison for his conviction on first-degree criminal sex act charges involving Haley. The pending third-degree rape charge related to Mann carries a maximum sentence of four years — less time than he has already served.

The Academy Award-winning producer has remained incarcerated since his original 2020 conviction and received an additional prison sentence in a California case that he is currently appealing.