Category: U.S. News

A veteran Associated Press journalist who spent nearly four decades reporting on fashion and Vatican affairs has passed away in Rome at age 80.

Daniela Petroff died Tuesday at her residence while recovering from a recent fall, according to her husband Victor Simpson, who previously served as AP’s Rome bureau chief.

Before joining the Associated Press, Petroff worked as a correspondent for The Chicago Tribune and Time magazine in Rome. She later became a cornerstone of AP’s cultural reporting, establishing comprehensive coverage of Milan’s fashion weeks that included both men’s and women’s collections throughout the year.

The Simpson family faced devastating loss in 1985 when their 11-year-old daughter Natasha was killed in the December 27 terrorist attack at Rome’s airport, which also injured their son Michael. Two years later, when their youngest daughter Debbie was born, Pope John Paul II personally called to offer congratulations to Petroff.

Simpson announced his wife’s passing, writing that she had fallen asleep after lunch and chose not to wake up, “to finally embrace again her beloved Natasha.”

Speaking four languages fluently – Italian, German, French, and English – Petroff pioneered AP’s Milan fashion reporting during Giorgio Armani’s emergence as a global designer. Her approach emphasized factual, concise reporting while avoiding personal opinions and critiques.

“She had a gift for putting the facts into kind of a very artful context,” said Lisa Anderson, who reported on Milan fashion for The Chicago Tribune starting in the mid-1980s. “She looked at that industry, which often takes itself too seriously, with a lot of amusement as well as respect, which is probably the right combination of qualities to approach fashion reporting.”

Petroff’s final AP article appeared in September – an authoritative piece about Armani following the designer’s death.

“Starting with an unlined jacket, a simple pair of pants and an urban palette, Armani put Italian ready-to-wear style on the international fashion map in the late 1970s, creating an instantly recognizable relaxed silhouette that has propelled the fashion house for half a century,” Petroff wrote.

Throughout her career, she documented the emergence of major fashion figures including Gianni Versace, Gucci during Tom Ford’s leadership, Karl Lagerfeld’s work at Fendi, and the Missoni fashion family. She frequently applied her fashion expertise and writing skills to Vatican coverage as well.

In a 2014 article about Pope Francis’ newly appointed cardinals, she wrote: “But with the ‘slum pope’ now calling the sartorial shots, fashionistas and Vaticanistas are wondering how his new cardinals — who hail from some of the poorest places on Earth, including Haiti, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast — will dress themselves for their new role.”

Beyond fashion and Vatican news, Petroff reported on major Italian cultural events, including the 2003 reopening of Venice’s La Fenice opera house following a devastating fire. “True to its namesake the phoenix, La Fenice has risen up from the ashes,” she wrote for the reopening coverage.

Born in 1945 in Mecklenburg, Germany, Petroff spent her childhood in Paris before moving to New York, where she attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart Catholic school. As an only child, she relocated with her parents to Rome for her final two high school years, graduating from Marymount International School.

Following studies at Manhattanville College in New York, Petroff returned to Rome and earned a degree in modern languages from La Sapienza University. She met Victor Simpson, then AP’s new news editor, shortly after returning to Rome. The couple married in 1973.

Gail Willett Bejarano, a childhood friend from New York, remembered ice-skating adventures in Central Park, after-school treats at Schrafft’s, and testing boundaries with the Sacred Heart nuns. Despite being an excellent student, Petroff joined other girls in sneaking looks at boys from nearby Loyola school, “hike your uniform up and put lipstick on, all forbidden,” Bejarano recalled.

Following her 2017 retirement from AP, Petroff devoted her time to Marymount, her former school, where she served as board chair.

A private funeral service is set for Thursday, with a memorial service planned for Monday at Marymount.

Petroff leaves behind her husband Simpson, son Michael, and daughter Debbie.

Emergency responders in South Florida are working around the clock to control a massive blaze that has consumed more than 25,000 acres within Big Cypress National Preserve as of Wednesday. The fire is located approximately 20 miles from the controversial immigration detention center dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz.’

Smoke and reduced visibility from the flames have forced authorities to temporarily shut down lanes along Interstate 75, the major highway known as Alligator Alley that links Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts through the expansive Everglades region. Such fires typically occur during the state’s dry winter months.

Despite the fire’s proximity, the immigration detention facility faces no immediate danger, according to Stephanie Hartman, communications director for the Florida Department of Emergency Management.

‘The fire is situated 20 miles to the west of the facility and is burning in the opposite direction. Thanks to the increased humidity levels, we are seeing faster fire recovery and containment,’ she said.

The detention center, which began operations last July at a remote airstrip located deep within the Everglades, has drawn significant attention amid the current administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. The facility houses individuals facing federal deportation proceedings.

Hartman confirmed that emergency officials maintain constant communication with firefighting teams and would receive 24-hour advance notice if evacuating the detention center becomes necessary. She emphasized that evacuation plans have been thoroughly practiced to ensure rapid deployment.

When pressed about the current number of people held at the facility, Hartman did not provide an immediate response.

State authorities initially announced that ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ could accommodate 3,000 detainees when it opened in July 2025, with potential expansion to house 5,000 individuals. Court proceedings held in Fort Myers during late January revealed the facility currently holds approximately 1,500 people.

A powerful cold front that moved through the region Sunday introduced dry atmospheric conditions, prompting the National Weather Service to issue red flag fire warnings throughout much of Florida, explained Anthony Reynes, a senior meteorologist with the Miami office.

Rising humidity levels on Wednesday helped improve conditions that had been feeding the blaze, Reynes noted. However, he warned that southerly winds combined with parched vegetation and soil continue to create favorable conditions for additional fires.

Weather forecasters predict minimal rainfall for the remainder of the week, meaning the severe drought affecting the entire state will persist, he added.

TAUNTON, Mass. — A devastating blast tore through a Massachusetts neighborhood Wednesday morning, destroying a multi-family residence and sending a young mother and toddler to local hospitals with critical injuries.

Fire crews rushed to the three-unit dwelling around 9:50 a.m. after reports of an explosion, according to local fire department officials. A 25-year-old woman suffered extensive burns while a 2-year-old sustained severe injuries in the incident, both requiring immediate hospital treatment.

Fire Chief Steven Lavigne addressed the severity of the situation, stating: “The situation is now under control, but this was a very serious incident. The weather conditions present unique challenges, but we plan for these situations.”

The primary residence was completely destroyed, leaving eight people without homes, fire department officials confirmed. Two neighboring houses also sustained significant fire damage. City officials quickly established an emergency warming shelter for those forced from their homes Wednesday.

Mayor Shaunna O’Connell spoke to media on a street crowded with emergency vehicles and snow banks, acknowledging she was uncertain whether the victims were inside the structure when the explosion occurred.

Given the tight spacing between residences in the area, O’Connell noted that neighboring families were also forced to evacuate their homes. The powerful blast was heard by residents living several blocks from the scene.

Local resident William James Shivers Jr. rushed to assist with evacuation efforts when he heard the explosion. “Neighbors helping neighbors, as it should be,” Shivers commented. “Taunton police and fire are amazing and I’m blessed to be a part of this community.”

Jake Wark, representing the state Department of Fire Services, confirmed multiple casualties and urged community members to stay clear of the area to allow emergency responders unobstructed access.

State police fire investigation teams and the state fire marshal’s office have joined Taunton fire officials to investigate what triggered the explosion, according to Wark.

The incident occurred as Taunton and much of the Northeast continued recovering from a major winter storm that dumped over two feet of snow on the community of approximately 60,000 residents, located roughly 38 miles south of Boston.

Federal agents executed search warrants Wednesday at both the Los Angeles Unified School District’s main offices and the home of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho as part of an active federal investigation.

A source with knowledge of the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press that FBI officials carried out the warrant searches Wednesday, though they requested anonymity to discuss the ongoing probe. Authorities have not revealed what specific allegations or criminal activity they are investigating.

Neither the school district nor Carvalho’s office provided immediate responses to requests for comment about the federal action.

Television news cameras captured footage of federal agents wearing FBI identification outside Carvalho’s residence in San Pedro, a neighborhood located approximately 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. By mid-morning, no agents were visible at the district’s main administrative building.

Los Angeles Unified serves as the country’s second-largest school system, educating more than 500,000 students across over two dozen municipalities throughout the region.

Carvalho assumed leadership of the district in February 2022. Prior to his Los Angeles appointment, he led Miami-Dade County Public Schools—Florida’s largest district—for 13 years from 2008 to 2021, where he earned recognition for boosting graduation rates and student achievement.

Harvard University will lose one of its prominent faculty members as Larry Summers, who previously served as U.S. Treasury Secretary, plans to step down from his teaching position when the current academic year concludes, according to a Wednesday report from the New York Times.

The departure comes as Harvard continues to grapple with ongoing controversy surrounding Summers’ past associations with Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased financier who faced conviction on sex trafficking charges.

Summers’ decision to leave the prestigious university marks another chapter in the extended repercussions stemming from various academic and business leaders’ connections to Epstein, whose criminal activities have continued to impact institutions and individuals even after his death in federal custody.

NEW YORK — A privately-funded organization believes that simple, accessible community activities are the solution to getting more young Americans involved in civic life.

The organization C&S, formerly called the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, is working with schools, businesses and community partners to motivate youth to participate in activities like contacting their representatives, volunteering in their neighborhoods, or organizing discussions with people from different backgrounds. Their ambitious plan, revealed on Wednesday, aims to inspire 20 million individuals aged 14 to 24 to participate in community-minded activities within the next three years.

C&S President Rajiv Vinnakota compared the approach to fitness training. “You’re not going to immediately go to a gym and try to bench press 325 pounds. You’re gonna start easy, simple, something you can do — both to affirm and start to build your muscle,” Vinnakota explained. “That’s what these civic actions are all about.”

This initiative challenges common assumptions that Generation Z members, typically born from 1997 to 2012, lack interest in civic participation. The program joins other efforts connected to America’s upcoming 250th Independence Day celebration designed to bring citizens together around common goals.

Organizations focused on community service have also been promoting casual volunteer work among younger generations. Jennifer Sirangelo, who leads Points of Light, a group working to double American volunteer participation by 2035, observes that today’s youth prefer service activities outside traditional organizational structures. According to her, they’re more likely to assist neighbors directly or request charitable donations at personal celebrations.

“Gen Z wants to do it fast, they want to do it authentic, they want to do it right now,” Sirangelo explained to The Associated Press recently. “They don’t have time — no patience for institutions or signing up.”

C&S based their strategy on internal studies showing young people will participate when they believe their involvement matters and when they can help create solutions.

According to C&S research, the main obstacles preventing youth civic participation are uncertainty about how to start and doubt about their ability to create change.

“This is a generation that actually sees the problems and actually wants to try to solve them,” Vinnakota stated. “And we need to create the means, the tools and provide the capacity for them to do it.”

A major component of their strategy involves a digital platform set to debut this summer as part of their semiquincentennial commemoration. Drawing inspiration from movements like GivingTuesday, Vinnakota hopes to connect with 15 million young people through an online initiative demonstrating how individual small efforts can create nationwide change.

Existing collaborators including YPulse, which researches young consumer behavior, and DoSomething, a platform for youth social activism, will share these civic opportunities with their networks.

However, Vinnakota stressed that these initiatives must emerge organically rather than being imposed by authority figures, allowing younger participants’ concepts to develop naturally.

“Some of them will work. Some of them won’t. That’s fine,” he noted. “By bringing all those ideas into the common arena, seeing what happens, I think we’re actually going to be a richer society. We’re probably gonna have a greater chance of binding our democracy together.”

Certain young leaders receive additional specialized assistance through an established program supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. C&S recently distributed funding and mentorship to 500 young activists working on diverse projects from cleaning environmental pollutants from waterways to expanding voting access for hospitalized patients.

The organization is also utilizing its university connections. A group of 135 colleges is working to teach students three fundamental democratic capabilities: engaging in constructive dialogue, identifying reliable information sources, and collaborating to address problems despite disagreements.

Additionally, they’re launching a workplace-focused program with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Currently, they’re recruiting 25 businesses for a test program that will train young employees in teamwork and citizenship skills.

The organization’s goal, whether in educational or professional settings, is to bring motivated young people together face-to-face rather than virtually, demonstrating that their peers share similar desires to strengthen community involvement.

“Civic actions that don’t take a lot of effort initially but start to build something that we call agency,” Vinnakota concluded, “and start to get the flywheel moving. That’s what this is about. How can you create the spark?”

Federal authorities have brought criminal charges against three individuals from Mexico in connection with an alleged scheme to exploit agricultural workers through forced labor, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The defendants are accused of coercing Mexican farm laborers into working against their will and illegally harboring them in the United States once their H-2A work visas had expired, all while profiting from the arrangement, Justice Department officials announced.

The H-2A program allows agricultural employers to bring foreign workers to the United States temporarily when American workers are not available for seasonal farm work.

Military officials have terminated a substitute teacher who worked at Mildred B. Poole Elementary School, located on Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The dismissal came after the educator declared himself a “transgender wolf” while teaching and appeared in classrooms wearing animal accessories including a tail and collar.

The unusual behavior prompted multiple parent complaints to school administrators. Several young students at the elementary school reported feeling scared when encountering the teacher during class time.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that military officials have prohibited the individual from returning to the base premises. Fort Bragg operates multiple educational facilities serving military families stationed at the installation.

Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday that a Manchester, New Hampshire man faces serious charges following a weekend shootout with a U.S. Border Patrol agent at the Canadian border.

Blu Zeke Daly, 26, who is also known as Cullan Zeke Daly, has been hit with federal charges including attempted murder of a federal officer and assault on a federal officer using a deadly weapon, according to prosecutors. Early Sunday morning, Daly was wounded when a Border Patrol agent fired back after Daly allegedly shot at him first, investigators revealed Monday.

Currently, Daly remains under medical care at a hospital with security present, prosecutors confirmed. The Border Patrol agent involved in the incident was not injured, officials reported earlier this week.

The FBI confirmed that gunfire erupted around 1:00 a.m. Sunday in Pittsburg, a small community of roughly 800 residents located directly on the Canadian border. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Hampshire’s District, the confrontation began late Saturday when a border patrol agent spotted Daly driving by himself near the border area and began trailing him. Daly eventually reached the Pittsburg Port of Entry, which had already closed for the night.

“The Border Patrol agent activated his emergency lights and exited his vehicle, at which point Daly started to turn. Daly then fired a handgun at the Border Patrol agent. The agent returned fire with his own service weapon and shot Daly,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

As of Tuesday evening, it remained unknown whether Daly has secured legal representation. Prosecutors indicated that investigators continue working the case, with the FBI serving as the primary investigating agency.

Pittsburg serves as a remote community that houses New Hampshire’s only border checkpoint with Quebec, Canada. The town sits approximately 150 miles north of Concord, the state’s capital, and shares boundaries with Maine, Vermont, and Canada.

Five people died Tuesday morning in a violent incident outside a residence on Washington’s Key Peninsula, where law enforcement fatally shot a suspect who had just killed four individuals in a stabbing attack.

Deputies from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office were initially dispatched around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday following reports that a 32-year-old individual had violated a no-contact order. Officers secured a copy of the protective order and discovered it hadn’t been properly served to the subject, prompting them to travel to the location to deliver it personally.

During their response, emergency dispatchers received additional calls reporting that the same individual was attacking people with a knife outside the residence, according to the sheriff’s department. The first responding deputy reached the scene within approximately three minutes and fatally shot the attacker, who was declared dead on site, confirmed Officer Shelbie Boyd, a spokesperson for the Pierce County Force Investigation Team.

Four people fell victim to the knife attack, with three pronounced dead at the location and a fourth succumbing to injuries during transport to the hospital.

The tragic events unfolded in a residential cul-de-sac located on the Key Peninsula, positioned northwest of Tacoma.

Today Show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie has made a heartfelt public appeal, announcing that her family is offering a substantial $1 million reward in the search for her missing mother, Nancy.

The television personality released an emotional video message detailing the reward for information that leads to her mother’s safe recovery.

The significant reward amount demonstrates the family’s desperate search efforts to locate Nancy and bring her home safely.

Federal authorities have taken legal action against the University of California, filing a lawsuit on Tuesday that centers on allegations of workplace discrimination at the UCLA campus.

The Department of Justice announced the federal suit, which claims the university has fostered and maintained what officials describe as an antisemitic hostile work environment at its Los Angeles location.

The legal filing represents the latest federal intervention in campus-related discrimination cases across the nation’s higher education system.

A 71-year-old woman who previously led a San Francisco nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless individuals will appear in court Tuesday to face nine felony counts related to the alleged theft of more than $1.2 million in taxpayer money.

Gwendolyn Westbrook is accused of taking funds from the United Council for Human Services during her time as CEO, when she maintained almost complete authority over the organization’s finances, according to Monday’s announcement from San Francisco’s district attorney’s office.

“Prosecutors allege that between 2019 and 2023, Ms. Westbrook engaged in unauthorized self-payments, improper cash withdrawals, and fraudulent reimbursement practices that diverted public funds for personal use,” the statement said.

The charges against Westbrook include misappropriation of public funds, grand theft and filing false California tax returns. Her court appearance is set for Tuesday afternoon.

Attempts to reach Westbrook and the United Council for Human Services for response to the allegations were unsuccessful. No legal representation for Westbrook has been identified.

According to reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle, these charges add to a pattern of legal issues involving both Westbrook and her organization. In 1997, she faced accusations of taking thousands of dollars from a cash collection at a parking facility operated by the San Francisco Port, where she worked at the time. Additionally, in 2015, officials discovered unauthorized gambling equipment at a charity bingo facility operated by the nonprofit.

Court filings from this month detail allegations that Westbrook purchased expensive cars and made transactions at upscale stores including Louis Vuitton and Neiman Marcus using the charity’s funds. She headed the organization, which operated a food service program and received millions in municipal contracts to provide shelter services, for almost twenty years until her termination in 2023.

Similar charges have emerged in Los Angeles, where another homeless services nonprofit leader faces both federal and state fraud allegations involving $23 million in public money. Alexander Soofer, CEO of Abundant Blessings, allegedly used taxpayer funds to purchase a $7 million Los Angeles residence, property in Greece, and a $125,000 Range Rover, according to federal prosecutors.

Soofer has been charged federally with wire fraud, while state charges include felony counts of conflict of interest, offering false evidence and forgery.

WASHINGTON – Federal officials announced Tuesday they have levied financial penalties against seven targets across Russia and the United Arab Emirates for their role in cyber activities that pose risks to American national security.

The Treasury Department’s action affects four individuals and three companies that officials say were involved in obtaining and selling dangerous cyber tools.

According to the Treasury Department’s announcement, these targets faced consequences “for their acquisition and distribution of cyber tools harmful to U.S. national security.”

The State Department simultaneously took action against some of the same targets, designating one person and two organizations under legislation known as the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act due to their connection to stealing trade secrets from Americans.

These sanctions stem from a federal investigation that uncovered how a former executive at a government contracting firm sold confidential trade secrets to a Russian buyer for $1.3 million. That Russian entity is among those now facing US sanctions.

WASHINGTON — American naval forces have intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean following an extensive pursuit that began in Caribbean waters, Pentagon officials announced Tuesday.

The vessel, identified as the Bertha, represents the final tanker being pursued from a group of more than sixteen ships that departed Venezuelan waters following the arrest of the nation’s former authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, according to maritime tracking specialists.

This marks the tenth oil tanker interdiction carried out under the Trump administration’s campaign targeting Venezuelan-connected vessels, which launched in early December. Previous operations took place in Caribbean and North Atlantic waters.

U.S. Southern Command announced via social media that American forces conducted an overnight boarding of the Bertha, describing the action as “a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding.”

“The vessel was operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean and attempted to evade,” officials stated in the post. “From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we tracked it and stopped it.”

A Pentagon source, speaking anonymously about the ongoing operation, explained that like previous Indian Ocean boardings, the Bertha wasn’t formally confiscated but placed under American oversight. The vessel’s ultimate disposition will be decided by the Department of Homeland Security and State Department.

Pentagon footage depicts Navy helicopters launching from an unidentified ship and approaching the oil tanker.

Venezuela has operated under American oil sanctions for years, depending on a covert network of misidentified tankers to transport crude oil into international markets.

President Trump implemented the sanctioned vessel quarantine in December to increase pressure on Maduro prior to his capture in January during an American military mission. The tanker seizures represent part of the Republican administration’s comprehensive strategy to gain control over Venezuelan oil resources.

Treasury Department records show the Bertha carried Cook Islands registration when sanctioned for Iranian connections. However, recent shipping databases indicate the vessel was falsely registered under Curacao’s flag and operated by a Chinese company.

After Maduro’s arrest, at least sixteen tankers departed Venezuelan shores, according to Samir Madani, who co-founded TankerTrackers.com and uses satellite and surface photography to monitor vessel movements.

TankerTrackers.com reported in a February 15th social media update that the Bertha was the sole remaining target from the original sixteen vessels. Madani informed The Associated Press Tuesday that the tanker carried 1.9 million barrels of Merey 16, a Venezuelan crude oil variety.

Madani noted that the ship has previously received Iranian crude through hose transfers from other vessels for Chinese deliveries.

Pentagon representatives stated they had no additional information beyond Southern Command’s social media announcement.

Maduro was transported to the United States to face charges of collaborating with drug organizations to facilitate thousands of tons of cocaine shipments into America. He has entered a not guilty plea.

MANHATTAN — Authorities in New York City have launched an investigation following a chaotic incident where law enforcement officers required hospitalization after being targeted with snowballs during a large winter gathering at Washington Square Park in Manhattan.

Dramatic footage from Monday’s incident captures two uniformed officers walking through the park as they become targets of an intense snowball barrage from multiple directions. The video shows the officers becoming increasingly agitated as they are repeatedly struck and covered with snow from the ongoing assault.

As tensions escalated, the officers physically confronted participants, pushing several individuals to the ground while snowballs continued flying around them. The situation intensified when someone approached an officer from behind and packed snow directly onto his head. The footage concludes with one officer appearing to tend to his eye area.

According to a Tuesday statement from the New York Police Department, several uniformed officers sustained facial injuries from the snowball impacts and required emergency medical transport to a local hospital in stable condition. Officials have not released specific details about the nature or extent of the injuries sustained. No individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the incident.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned the actions, describing the behavior as “disgraceful” and “criminal” while confirming an active investigation is underway.

The incident quickly became a political flashpoint, with numerous city officials speaking out against the confrontation. Critics of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani used the situation to argue that respect for law enforcement has deteriorated during his tenure, referencing controversial statements he made about the police department in 2020, which he has since retracted.

Responding to the controversy on social media platform X Tuesday, Mamdani defended the officers, stating: “Officers, like all city workers, have been out in a historic blizzard, keeping New Yorkers safe and cars moving. Treat them with respect. If anyone’s catching a snowball, it’s me.”

NBC’s Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie announced Tuesday that her family has put up a $1 million reward for any information that could lead to finding her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, who disappeared from her Arizona residence over three weeks ago.

The television host shared that while her family continues to hope for her mother’s safe return, they’re also preparing for the possibility that it may be too late. Law enforcement officials have raised concerns about the 84-year-old’s wellbeing due to her need for essential daily medications.

“She may already be gone,” Guthrie wrote on Instagram. “She may already have gone home to the Lord that she loves and is dancing in heaven.”

Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her residence near Tucson, Arizona, on January 31st and was reported as missing the following day. Law enforcement suspects foul play was involved, with the FBI releasing security footage showing a masked individual at her front entrance on the evening she disappeared.

Investigators discovered blood evidence on her front porch, though officials have kept most details of their investigation confidential.

The NBC host emphasized that her family desperately needs closure, regardless of the circumstances.

“Someone out there knows something that can bring her home,” she stated.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Office reports that hundreds of personnel are dedicated to the investigation, with assistance from the FBI and additional agencies. Officials say they have received more than 20,000 tips from the public.

HIGHLANDVILLE, Mo. — A routine traffic stop in Missouri turned deadly Monday when a gunman killed one sheriff’s deputy and later fatally shot another during an intense manhunt that involved more than 100 law enforcement officers.

Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole told reporters the violence began when a deputy conducted a traffic stop south of Highlandville in southwestern Missouri on Monday. The deputy was shot and killed during the encounter.

A massive search operation followed, with approximately 100 officers, deputies and state troopers joining the hunt for the gunman, according to Cole. Federal agents from the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI and ATF also participated in the search.

Investigators discovered the shooter’s abandoned pickup truck several miles south near Reeds Spring, Cole reported. Officers then focused their search on the surrounding area.

In the early morning hours Tuesday, thermal imaging equipment detected a heat signature in nearby woods, prompting deputies to move in. Cole said the gunman immediately began shooting, hitting three law enforcement officers.

The gunfire killed one Christian County deputy and wounded two others from Christian and Webster counties, though their injuries are not life-threatening, Cole explained. Officers at the scene fired back, killing the suspect.

Sheriff Cole named the deputy killed in the original traffic stop as Deputy Gabriel Ramirez.

“Deputy Ramirez was always kind to everybody,” Cole said. “He was always a friend, was always there for anybody who needed a shoulder to lean on.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Media mogul Oprah Winfrey surprised author Tayari Jones with a personal visit to announce her latest book club selection.

Rather than using her traditional methods of surprise phone calls or unexpected video appearances during virtual meetings, Winfrey chose to deliver the news in person. She appeared at the Penguin Random House publishing offices in Manhattan while Jones was meeting with her publisher about her new novel “Kin.”

This marks the second time Winfrey has chosen one of Jones’ works, having previously selected her critically praised 2018 work “An American Marriage” for the influential book club.

“I’m a two-fer!” Jones said enthusiastically, exchanging high-fives with Winfrey during the surprise encounter.

Jones’ latest work, “Kin,” hit bookstores Tuesday and represents her fifth published novel. The story begins in the 1950s and traces the journeys of young girls without mothers from Honeysuckle, Louisiana, exploring how their paths separate over time. Winfrey described the book in her announcement as being “like a trip back home, like a visit with my own ‘kin’ I hadn’t seen in a long while.”

“It is masterful and reminds us of the true bonds we share with family, whether biological or chosen,” Winfrey stated.

Viewers can watch Winfrey’s conversation with Jones on the Oprah YouTube channel and various podcast platforms.

“To be selected for Oprah’s Book Club is a writer’s dream, and to be chosen twice is a stunning gift,” Jones commented in an official statement. She has previously credited the “An American Marriage” selection as a career-changing moment. “Oprah knows that our stories will heal us. For decades she has elevated the voices of the world — book by book. Like the old folks say, I’m honored to be one in that number.”

The Tuesday announcement made no reference to Winfrey’s previous collaboration with Starbucks, where coffee shop locations served as interview venues since “Oprah’s Book Club: Presented by Starbucks” began in 2024. Representatives for both Starbucks and Winfrey confirmed their partnership concluded at the end of 2025, though they declined to provide details about the decision. Winfrey had previously maintained a multi-year agreement with Apple TV+.

STARKE, Fla. — Florida officials are preparing to execute a 65-year-old man Tuesday evening for the brutal murder of a grocery store owner nearly four decades ago.

Melvin Trotter is scheduled to die by lethal injection at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke, marking the state’s second execution of 2025. Trotter received his original death sentence in 1987 after being found guilty of first-degree murder, though the state’s highest court later determined errors were made regarding aggravating circumstances. A new sentencing hearing in 1993 resulted in another death penalty verdict.

This execution continues Florida’s unprecedented pace under Governor Ron DeSantis, who oversaw a record-breaking 19 executions in 2024 — more than any Florida governor since capital punishment resumed nationwide in 1976. The previous state record stood at eight executions in 2014.

Court documents reveal that Trotter attacked Virgie Langford at her Palmetto grocery store in 1986, strangling and stabbing the store owner during a robbery. A truck driver discovered Langford still alive following the assault, and she managed to provide investigators with a description of her assailant before succumbing to her injuries at the hospital.

Langford’s testimony proved crucial to the case, as she told police her attacker wore a Tropicana employee identification badge bearing the name “Melvin.” Investigators later discovered additional evidence linking Trotter to the crime, including a shirt stained with blood matching Langford’s type found at his residence and his handprint recovered from a meat cooler inside the store.

Defense attorneys recently challenged the execution through multiple appeals to the Florida Supreme Court, which rejected their arguments last week. Trotter’s legal team contended that state corrections officials had violated proper death penalty procedures and argued his advanced age should disqualify him from execution.

As of Tuesday, Trotter’s lawyers were still pursuing final appeals with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Florida dominated the nation’s execution statistics in 2024, leading all states with 19 death sentences carried out after DeSantis signed numerous death warrants. Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas each executed five individuals, tying for second place. The United States conducted 47 total executions last year.

Three states have already performed executions in 2025: Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida have each carried out one death sentence.

Earlier this month, Florida executed its first person of the year when 64-year-old Ronald Palmer Heath received a lethal injection on February 10. Heath had been convicted of first-degree murder and additional charges for killing traveling salesman Michael Sheridan in 1989 after meeting him at a bar with his brother.

State officials have already scheduled two additional executions for next month. Billy Leon Kearse, 53, is set to die on March 3, followed by Michael Lee King, 54, on March 17.

Florida’s execution protocol involves administering three separate drugs through injection: a sedative, a paralytic agent, and a medication that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections.

A remarkable philanthropic effort has generated more than $1 billion in charitable commitments in just 48 hours, as wealthy families joined forces to support ambitious nonprofit initiatives addressing some of the world’s most pressing problems.

In October, 35 affluent donor families participating in The Audacious Project convened in California, where they pledged $1.03 billion to support over a dozen charitable organizations with multi-year proposals tackling significant global challenges.

The initiative, operated through TED, revealed the recipient organizations on Tuesday following an extensive selection process that lasted more than a year. During this time, organizers worked with applicant groups to refine their proposals for projects larger in scope than typical philanthropic funding usually supports. The actual funding amounts are determined only when donors gather face-to-face.

Jennifer Loving, who leads the San Jose nonprofit Destination: Home, described the experience as overwhelming when donors agreed to fully fund their request to bring homeless prevention programs to cities across the United States.

“It’s not for the faint of heart to work on this issue in America,” Loving said, referencing the stigma around poverty. “And so you kind of brace yourself. You never know if people are going to see what you see and it was beautiful. It was really beautiful.”

Connie Ballmer, who established Ballmer Group with her husband Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s former chief executive and Los Angeles Clippers owner, has participated as a donor since 2021 after initially joining with one of their children to explore climate change funding opportunities.

“Nowhere that I know of can you raise a billion dollars in two days,” she said. “For an organization to raise an amount — whether it’s $40, $60, $80 million, I mean, do you know how long that takes them to do that kind of fundraising?”

Among this year’s recipients is the Arc Institute, a recently established California research organization that will use the funding to create a virtual cellular model designed to help scientists discover treatments for complicated conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

The South African organization Tiko also secured funding to broaden its services supporting teenage girls, including access to birth control, HIV care, and assistance with sexual violence situations. According to CEO Serah Joy Malaba, this marked Tiko’s third application attempt, driven by their goal to expand their reach to help more young women.

A total of 55 major donor families have taken part in at least one funding cycle of The Audacious Project. Membership grows through invitation, with participants required to pledge a minimum of $10 million per funding round. Many contributors exceed this threshold, often motivated by witnessing others’ generous commitments during the gathering.

Tegan Acton, who established Wildcard Giving with her husband Brian Acton, a WhatsApp co-creator, explained her participation stems from believing in collaborative approaches and appreciating the emphasis on supporting solutions created by those closest to the issues. She also finds value in observing different donors’ decision-making styles.

“Some people come and they have a binder printed and they have a thousand tabs with little notes about every project and they’ve marked up the appendices” she said, whereas others, “show up and watch the videos and see what sparks interest.”

During the application phase, finalist organizations create presentations similar to TED Talks to introduce themselves and their initiatives.

Loving explained that guidance from Audacious and The Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit advisory firm, helped strengthen their strategy for expanding their homelessness prevention model. Their Right at Home program identifies individuals and families at highest risk of housing loss and provides financial assistance and support to prevent homelessness. This method has now secured substantial public funding in San Jose.

“Going through this process was probably one of the most rigorous things we’ve ever done,” Loving said. “I can say with total confidence that it made us smarter.”

Loving’s initiative exemplifies the transformative change The Audacious Project aims to identify. While her organization hadn’t originally planned national expansion, they recognized their solution could benefit other communities. Rather than establishing new offices or direct expansion, they plan to collaborate with local organizations, provide funding, and include them in research to measure effectiveness.

This year marked the first time some organizations received follow-up commitments from Audacious donors, including Last Mile Health. Their original 2018 grant helped train community health workers across multiple African nations, growing from 2,000 to 23,000 workers. Their new $20 million award will support additional training while also backing efforts to coordinate and generate more domestic funding from the countries where they operate.

“It’s not just a philanthropic investment and then a cliff,” said Lisha McCormick, CEO of Last Mile Health. The funding will support restructuring how governments finance their public health systems following significant reductions to U.S. foreign aid, which comprised substantial portions of some nations’ health budgets.

Anna Verghese, executive director of The Audacious Project, noted they had contemplated second-round grants for some time.

“The honest question that we and our donor community had to wrestle with is, what kinds of partners are we if we walk away right when that momentum is building?” she said.

PROVO, Utah — A Utah judge will make a crucial decision Tuesday about whether a prosecutor should remain on the murder case involving Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old defendant accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a university event.

The September 10th shooting occurred during an outdoor gathering at Utah Valley University in Orem, where Robinson allegedly opened fire while Kirk was speaking on stage. Prosecutors are pursuing capital punishment in the case, filing aggravated murder charges against Robinson, who has yet to enter a plea. No trial date has been scheduled.

State District Judge Tony Graf is considering multiple procedural matters, including whether Utah County Chief Deputy Attorney Chad Grunander should be removed from the prosecution team due to potential conflicts of interest.

Defense lawyers contend that Grunander cannot fairly handle the case because his daughter was present during the shooting incident. The prosecutor’s daughter, whose name has been kept confidential, provided court testimony stating she did not film the shooting or its immediate aftermath. She explained that she was observing the crowd and only discovered Kirk was the victim after fleeing to safety.

Approximately 3,000 attendees had gathered to hear Kirk speak at the rally. Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA, was known for his efforts to encourage young voters to support President Donald Trump.

Judge Graf has also restricted the display of complete video footage showing Kirk’s shooting during court proceedings, following defense objections that such material could compromise Robinson’s ability to receive a fair trial.

Additionally, Robinson’s legal team wants to exclude television cameras and photographers from courtroom proceedings, claiming that “highly biased” media coverage could prejudice the case. However, prosecutors, legal representatives for news organizations, and Kirk’s surviving spouse have asked Graf to maintain public access to the hearings.

A key eyewitness who challenged the federal government’s account of a deadly shooting by immigration officers has been killed in a car crash in San Antonio.

Joshua Orta was riding with Ruben Ray Martinez when a Department of Homeland Security agent shot and killed Martinez during a traffic enforcement operation in Texas last March. Orta died Saturday when his vehicle struck a utility pole at high speed on a highway exit ramp, according to San Antonio Police.

The 25-year-old had provided detailed testimony to attorneys representing Martinez’s family that directly contradicted the official government narrative of the shooting incident.

Last Friday, the Department of Homeland Security claimed that Martinez “intentionally ran over a Homeland Security Investigation special agent,” prompting another officer to fire “defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public.”

However, Orta’s sworn statement painted a dramatically different picture of the events. In a draft legal document prepared after September interviews, Orta stated that Martinez never struck any officer with their vehicle, describing their car as “just crawling as we were trying to turn around.” He alleged that a federal agent opened fire through the driver’s window from approximately two feet away without “giving any warning, commands, or opportunity to comply.”

The shooting represents one of at least six fatal incidents involving federal officers during the Trump administration’s nationwide immigration enforcement efforts. DHS kept the agent’s involvement secret from the public for nearly a year.

In Saturday’s fatal crash, police report that passengers managed to escape the burning vehicle but could not rescue the driver. Legal representatives for Rachel Reyes, Martinez’s mother, confirmed that Orta was the crash victim.

“First and foremost, Joshua’s death is an awful tragedy for his family and friends,” stated Alex Stamm, an attorney for the Martinez family. “In terms of Ruben’s death, the world has also now lost a critical eyewitness.”

When contacted Monday, DHS officials responded: “We stand by our original statement.”

The Texas Rangers have opened an investigation into Martinez’s shooting but did not respond to inquiries about whether they had questioned Orta before his death.

According to Orta’s testimony, the two friends had made an impromptu journey to South Padre Island for spring break festivities. After spending time at a condominium with “a few drinks,” attending a pool party, and visiting Whataburger, they encountered the accident scene and reduced their speed.

A local officer initially approached their vehicle, noticed an open alcohol container in the back seat, but instructed the young men to turn around and leave, Orta recounted. As they attempted to navigate through traffic, another officer approached their car and struck the hood while “seemed to be trying to get in front of the car,” he said.

Orta emphasized that Martinez “did not hit anyone.”

Multiple officers then surrounded their vehicle, shouting commands to stop and drawing their weapons, according to Orta’s account. “This was crazy to me because we were only crawling,” he explained, noting that Martinez never accelerated and the officers faced no real threat.

An officer positioned near Martinez’s open driver’s door then discharged his weapon without warning, firing from such close range that spent shell casings fell inside their vehicle, Orta testified.

Orta described hearing his friend say “I’m sorry” before Martinez collapsed unconscious after being struck in the chest. He alleged that agents then removed Martinez from the vehicle and handcuffed him, delaying medical assistance for at least ten minutes.

Martinez’s mother told reporters last week that her son sustained three gunshot wounds. She also revealed that a Texas Rangers investigator had secured video footage of the shooting that she believes contradicts DHS claims that her son attempted to strike the agent with his vehicle.

Internal documents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, show that the HSI agents involved typically work with a maritime border security task force targeting criminal organizations at seaports. However, officers from various federal agencies have been reassigned to immigration enforcement duties over the past year.

A similar incident occurred in January when Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis mother, was fatally shot by an ICE officer while sitting in her SUV. Trump administration officials initially characterized Good as a “domestic terrorist” who tried to ram officers with her vehicle, but multiple videos later emerged that questioned the government’s account.

Law enforcement training typically discourages officers from positioning themselves in front of moving vehicles due to injury risks. Like Good, Martinez had no prior criminal history.

Attorney Stamm said Orta’s testimony confirmed that Martinez’s vehicle was moving very slowly when the HSI agent opened fire.

“He also told us unequivocally that Ruben did not hit anyone,” Stamm explained. “We believe Joshua’s account, and, as we have seen recently in Minneapolis, Chicago, and elsewhere, it is critical that the public be shown every piece of evidence in the government’s possession, and that any witness come forward.”

The U.S. Coast Guard has initiated a formal investigation after discovering a hate symbol at their main recruit training facility in Cape May, New Jersey, officials announced Monday.

A swastika was found drawn on a men’s restroom wall at Training Center Cape May last Thursday evening by a Coast Guard instructor, according to reports from The Washington Post.

“Following discovery of a hate symbol drawn on a bathroom wall in a building at Training Center Cape May, the Coast Guard immediately referred the matter to the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) for investigation – consistent with longstanding Coast Guard policy,” a Coast Guard spokesperson stated. “This hate symbol was immediately removed.”

Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday made a trip to the training center to personally address the situation, speaking directly to approximately 900 recruits and staff members about the incident.

“Anyone who adheres to or advances hate or extremist ideology – get out. Leave. You don’t belong in the United States Coast Guard and we reject you,” Lunday declared in an official statement released by the service.

The swastika, which was used by Nazi Germany and has become associated with white supremacist movements and far-right extremism, represents the type of hate symbolism the Coast Guard says it will not tolerate.

Civil rights organizations have pointed to President Donald Trump’s political influence as contributing to increased white supremacist and far-right messaging in recent years, though Trump has publicly stated his condemnation of white supremacists and neo-Nazis.

This incident comes after The Washington Post reported last November that the Coast Guard had modified language in its workplace harassment guidelines, changing how swastikas were described from “hate symbols” to “potentially divisive.”

At that time, Lunday firmly rejected suggestions that the Coast Guard was softening its stance, stating that “claims that the U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses or other extremist imagery as prohibited symbols are categorically false.”

A medical expert specializing in longevity research has departed from CBS News after correspondence linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein became public knowledge, according to network officials Monday.

Dr. Peter Attia’s departure comes approximately three weeks following the public disclosure of his email exchanges with Epstein. The physician’s name surfaces more than 1,700 times throughout the massive collection of 3 million documents that the U.S. Department of Justice made available on January 30 as part of the Epstein legal files.

A representative for Attia explained the decision, stating: “Dr. Attia’s contributor role was newly established and had not yet meaningfully begun. As such, he stepped back to ensure his involvement didn’t become a distraction from the important work being done at CBS. He wishes the network and its leadership well and has no further comment at this time.”

The network had just announced Attia as a new contributor on January 27, bringing him aboard as part of Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss’ restructuring initiative. This plan involved adding 19 fresh contributors to implement a “streaming mentality” approach at the Paramount Skydance-owned network.

Attia had previously appeared on CBS programming, including an October “60 Minutes” segment where producers characterized him as “both a pioneer and a star in the growing field of longevity medicine.”

Following the document release, Attia addressed the controversy through a February 2 social media post on X, where he rejected any involvement in illegal activities. However, he expressed regret about the Epstein correspondence, acknowledging his shame regarding what he described as “crude, tasteless banter.”

The released emails reveal the nature of their relationship. In a 2015 message, Attia wrote: “The biggest problem with becoming friends with you? The life you lead is so outrageous, and yet I can’t tell a soul…”

Another email from 2016 showed Attia writing, using Epstein’s initials: “I go into JE withdrawal when I don’t see him.”

Epstein, a wealthy financier who maintained connections with prominent figures, received a 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. He died by suicide while in custody in 2019.

The Hollywood Reporter initially broke the story regarding Attia’s separation from CBS News.

This CBS departure represents the second professional consequence Attia has faced since the email revelations. Earlier this month, on February 2, he resigned from his position as chief science officer at protein-bar manufacturer David Protein, according to the company founder’s social media announcement. Attia had invested in the company and participated in its $10 million seed funding round completed in August 2024.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Independent search teams continue combing through rugged Arizona desert terrain looking for Nancy Guthrie, the missing 84-year-old mother of NBC Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, even as local law enforcement agencies have requested civilian volunteers step back from the investigation.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department expressed gratitude for public concern regarding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance but emphasized that citizen volunteers should allow trained investigators to handle the complex case without interference.

“We all want to find Nancy, but this work is best left to professionals,” the agency said in a statement over the weekend.

Nancy Guthrie vanished from her residence on the outskirts of Tucson on January 31 and was officially reported as a missing person one day later. Law enforcement officials suspect she may have been taken by force, citing blood evidence discovered on her front porch, though investigators have released limited details about other evidence in the case.

Ignoring official requests to cease independent search activities, volunteer groups have persisted in their efforts. One small team discovered a black backpack on Sunday, though it did not match the brand seen in FBI surveillance footage showing a masked individual at Guthrie’s residence on the evening she disappeared.

A sheriff’s department representative informed Tucson’s KOLD television that the recovered bag and its contents did not appear to provide meaningful investigative leads. The Associated Press contacted the sheriff’s department seeking additional comment on Monday.

Members of Madres Buscadoras de Sonora, known as “Searching Mothers of Sonora,” arrived Sunday carrying excavation equipment near Guthrie’s residence, announcing their intention to participate in search efforts. The group attached flyers bearing Guthrie’s photograph and their contact details to her mailbox.

Former Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada acknowledged that volunteer searchers possess admirable motivations and can provide valuable assistance, but stressed the importance of coordinating such efforts with official law enforcement operations.

“You can’t have people all over the place looking for something and not reporting to anybody or letting them know that they’re going to be in that area,” Estrada said. “They may be trampling into things that may come out to be helpful in the future.”

Chris Boyer, who serves as executive director of the National Association for Search and Rescue, noted that nearly every search operation conducted by U.S. law enforcement relies on volunteer personnel.

However, untrained civilians who arrive uninvited at search locations, despite good intentions, risk compromising crime scene integrity, according to experts.

“It’s painful for law enforcement when that happens,” Boyer said.

Boyer emphasized that volunteers should complete background screenings, receive training in areas such as first aid administration and crime scene preservation, and operate under direct law enforcement supervision. His organization provides educational resources, certification programs, and advocacy for search and rescue operations throughout the United States and internationally.

The sheriff’s department reports that several hundred personnel are actively working the Guthrie investigation, with more than 20,000 tips received from the public. Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and additional agencies are providing support.

Continuous surveillance has been established around Guthrie’s home, with authorities implementing temporary traffic restrictions to ensure emergency vehicles and waste collection trucks can navigate the area. The persistent presence of media crews, online content creators, and curious spectators has generated varied responses from local residents.

While some neighbors welcome the attention focused on the case, others have positioned traffic cones and warning signs on their properties to discourage trespassing.

A growing memorial continues expanding outside Nancy Guthrie’s home, featuring floral arrangements, yellow ribbons, religious crosses, written prayers, and figurines representing patron saints associated with elderly individuals and desperate circumstances.

Aran Aleamoni and his daughter Ariana selected a bouquet containing red, pink and white flowers, placing it at the boundary of Guthrie’s property next to a sign reading “Let Nancy Come Home” and an angel statue.

“My heart goes out to the entire family,” said Aran Aleamoni, who has maintained a longtime relationship with the Guthrie family. “We are all pulling for you. We’re with you in your corner.”

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The late Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. will receive a final tribute at the South Carolina State Capitol, returning to his birthplace where his journey as a civil rights champion first began during his teenage years when he fought to desegregate his hometown library.

Governor Henry McMaster has confirmed that Jackson’s remains will lie in state at the South Carolina Statehouse this coming Monday, with additional arrangements to be announced at a later time.

The renowned activist passed away on February 17 at the age of 84, following his struggle with a uncommon neurological condition that impaired his mobility and speech.

This week, Jackson’s body will first lie in repose at his Rainbow PUSH Coalition offices in Chicago. Following the South Carolina ceremony, his remains will travel to Washington, D.C., for additional memorial events. A large public memorial service is scheduled for March 6 at Chicago’s House of Hope, a venue that accommodates 10,000 people, with private funeral services planned for the following day at Rainbow PUSH headquarters, which will be broadcast online.

Jackson entered the world in 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, in a modest home on Haynie Street near the city center. City officials plan to rename part of that street to commemorate his legacy.

As the starting quarterback for the all-Black Sterling High School, Jackson made history in 1960 when he guided seven fellow African American students into Greenville’s segregated public library, where they quietly read until police took them into custody.

This bold action launched an extraordinary civil rights journey that would see Jackson become a close associate of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., participating in the historic voting rights demonstration from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

Jackson later sought the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination during the 1984 and 1988 election cycles.

His activism in South Carolina continued throughout his life, including his 2003 campaign urging Greenville County officials to recognize the federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and his 2015 efforts to remove the Confederate battle flag from the State Capitol grounds following the tragic racist massacre of nine African American churchgoers in Charleston.

A prominent health expert has voluntarily stepped down from his role at CBS News following revelations about his communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Dr. Peter Attia, known for hosting a popular podcast and writing “Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity,” was recently named by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss as part of a new group of contributors to the network’s programming. The longevity specialist had been featured in a “60 Minutes” segment that aired in October.

However, Attia’s connection to the disgraced financier came to light when his name appeared in hundreds of documents released by the U.S. Justice Department last month. The correspondence between the two men was among the materials made public in the ongoing legal proceedings.

While maintaining his innocence regarding any criminal activity and stating he never participated in Epstein’s illicit gatherings, Attia issued a public statement earlier this month describing some of his email exchanges as “embarrassing, tasteless and indefensible.”

Rather than being terminated by the network, Attia chose to resign from his CBS position voluntarily, according to reports verified by the news organization on Monday. The network had not severed ties with him despite facing some public criticism.

Attia joins a growing list of prominent individuals from business and public life whose connections to Epstein have emerged in recent weeks, leading to several high-profile departures from various organizations.

America’s most popular national destination, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has relied heavily on community volunteers after experiencing significant workforce reductions over the past year.

The National Park Service eliminated approximately 25% of staff positions last year, creating substantial operational challenges for the Tennessee park that welcomes more visitors annually than any other national park in the country.

Local volunteers have stepped forward to fill critical roles and ensure park operations continue running smoothly despite the dramatic personnel cuts affecting the federal agency.

WASHINGTON — Three individuals died Monday when American forces attacked what officials described as a drug trafficking vessel in Caribbean waters, according to military officials. The deadly operation represents the latest action in the Trump administration’s ongoing offensive against suspected narcotics smugglers that launched in early September.

The Monday incident raises the casualty count to no fewer than 151 deaths since the current administration initiated its campaign targeting individuals it labels as “narcoterrorists” operating small watercraft.

Following the pattern of previous military communications regarding the more than 40 documented attacks, U.S. Southern Command reported it engaged suspected drug runners traveling established smuggling corridors. Officials provided no concrete proof the targeted boat carried narcotics, though they released footage on social media platform X showing the destruction of a small vessel equipped with outboard motors.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” Southern Command stated in a post on X. “Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action.”

President Donald Trump has declared the United States engaged in “armed conflict” with Latin American cartels, defending these operations as essential measures to prevent illegal drugs from entering American territory. However, his administration has provided minimal proof supporting its assertions about eliminating “narcoterrorists.”

Opponents have challenged both the legal foundation for these operations and their practical value, noting that fentanyl responsible for numerous deadly overdoses generally enters the U.S. through overland routes from Mexico, where it’s manufactured using chemicals sourced from China and India.

The watercraft attacks have faced sharp condemnation after reports emerged that military forces killed survivors from the initial boat strike in a subsequent attack. Trump administration officials and Republican legislators defended the actions as lawful and essential, while Democratic politicians and legal scholars characterized the deaths as murder or potentially war crimes.

Federal law enforcement officials are examining a gunfire exchange that occurred early Sunday morning at New Hampshire’s border with Canada, where an individual allegedly shot at a border patrol officer who fired back and wounded the attacker.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported the confrontation happened around 1 a.m. Sunday in Pittsburg, a small community of approximately 800 residents located at the Canadian border. Bureau officials have not released the identity of the alleged gunman, though they confirmed the individual is being treated at a medical facility.

The border patrol officer involved in the shooting was not injured during the encounter, according to an FBI representative. The gunfire occurred in this remote area that houses New Hampshire’s only international crossing point with Quebec, Canada.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott confirmed the confrontation happened close to the port of entry. The FBI’s Boston division will conduct the investigation alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Hampshire’s District.

“Initial reports indicate that the subject opened fire on the agent at which time the agent returned fire,” Scott said in a statement. “CBP is cooperating fully with investigators.”

Representatives from the FBI, CBP, and U.S. Attorney’s Office refused to share additional details about the alleged shooter or what circumstances preceded the gunfire exchange. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated in their announcement that more information would be made public if criminal charges are filed against the individual.

Pittsburg sits approximately 150 miles north of New Hampshire’s capital city, Concord. The community shares borders with Maine, Vermont, and Canada. The shooting occurred near this typically peaceful crossing point in New Hampshire’s sole town that adjoins Canada. The international boundary in this area extends for nearly 60 miles.

Military officials announced Monday that American forces launched a fatal attack on a boat suspected of drug smuggling in Caribbean waters, leaving three individuals dead in what marks another recent incident of its kind.

The Trump administration has emphasized its aggressive stance against suspected narcotics smuggling operations throughout the region, highlighting these military interventions as successful counter-drug efforts.

According to a military statement posted on social media platform X, the targeted boat was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”

Independent confirmation of the military’s account was not immediately available through Reuters.

The mother of Georgia school shooting suspect Colt Gray told a courtroom Monday that she warned the teen’s father to secure firearms in their home before the deadly attack at Apalachee High School.

Marcee Gray took the witness stand in the criminal trial of Colin Gray, testifying that she specifically asked him to store the weapons in his vehicle where her son couldn’t reach them.

“They need to be locked somewhere,” she informed jurors in the Winder, Georgia courtroom. “Initially he said he would.”

Her testimony launched the second week of proceedings against Colin Gray, who is facing 29 criminal charges including two second-degree murder counts and two involuntary manslaughter counts. Legal officials argue the father bears responsibility for providing his son with the firearm used in the attack, which he had given as a holiday present despite apparent warning signals about the boy’s mental state.

The younger Gray, age 14 during the September 4, 2024 incident, is charged with 55 counts including murder for the deaths of four individuals and 25 aggravated assault charges. Authorities allege he methodically planned the assault at the Winder school that claimed the lives of two educators and two students while injuring multiple others.

Last week’s court sessions included emotional testimony from Georgia students who described the terror of being wounded during their math class. Through tears, they recalled witnessing a fellow student lying in blood and discovering their own injuries while fearing for their lives. Evidence has also emerged about what prosecutors call a “shrine” honoring a Florida school attacker that Colt maintained near his home computer.

The case represents part of a growing trend nationwide where prosecutors seek to hold parents accountable when their children commit fatal school shootings.

During the months preceding the shooting, Colt’s parents had separated, with the teenager primarily residing with his father. Marcee Gray faces no charges related to the school attack.

She revealed that Colt showed fascination with Nikolas Cruz, who was convicted for the 2018 Parkland, Florida shooting that killed 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. However, Marcee Gray explained she initially viewed her son’s interest as comparable to her own attraction to true crime programming.

She recounted a disturbing conversation where Colt mentioned using tactical gear his father purchased to complete what he called his “school shooter outfit,” though he claimed to be joking.

“He was talking about a vest, his dad buying him a vest, and he said it in what I thought was a joking manner because he was laughing,” she testified. “He was talking about getting the vest and he said ‘yeah, I’ve got to finish my school shooter outfit,’ or something like that or ‘dad’s going to finish my finish my school shooter outfit.’”

Defense attorney Brian Hobbs, representing Colin Gray, maintains that his client couldn’t have known about the shooting plans because “the planning and timing were hidden by Colt Gray from his father.”

“That’s the difference between tragedy and criminal liability,” Hobbs previously stated. “You cannot hold someone criminally responsible for failing to predict what was intentionally hidden from them.”

Investigators say Colt Gray concealed a semiautomatic rifle in his backpack, with the barrel protruding and covered by poster board, when he boarded his school bus. After leaving his second-period class, he reportedly retrieved the weapon from a restroom and opened fire in classrooms and hallways.

District Attorney Brad Smith told jurors during opening statements that Colin Gray had presented the firearm to his son as a Christmas present and subsequently purchased additional equipment, including “a lot of ammunition.”

An investigator testified that Colin Gray was aware of his son’s declining mental health and had contacted counseling services weeks before the tragedy.

“We have had a very difficult past couple of years and he needs help. Anger, anxiety, quick to be volatile. I don’t know what to do,” Colin Gray wrote about his son.

Despite these concerns, Smith noted that Colin Gray never completed the process of having his son admitted to an inpatient treatment facility.

When the overwhelming volume of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents becomes too much to handle, Ellie Leonard steps away from her computer for a brief walk outdoors. But she always returns to continue her work.

This New Jersey mother of four has joined hundreds of amateur investigators and citizen journalists who have become captivated by the materials tied to the deceased Jeffrey Epstein. Leonard is committed to uncovering the truth about his criminal sex trafficking operation and his connections to influential figures worldwide, sharing her findings through her Substack publication.

“I like a good puzzle,” Leonard said. “I like an investigation. I like things that we have to solve and looking for clues.”

Major news organizations jumped into action immediately after the Justice Department made public more than three million document pages and thousands of visual materials on January 30th. Hundreds of reporters from The Associated Press, CBS, NBC, MS NOW and CNBC are working together to analyze these files and distribute their discoveries.

The New York Times alone has assigned dozens of reporters to review the documents, employing artificial intelligence technology to accelerate their analysis. Despite these efforts, the publication acknowledged last week that they have only scratched the surface of the available material.

This is precisely where individuals like Ellie Leonard become valuable contributors.

A continuous flow of news reports has emerged as investigators uncover more information and various people and organizations respond. Some discoveries have resulted in high-profile departures – including the chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs, executive chairman at Hyatt Hotel, chairman of the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, and government officials in Slovakia and Norway.

SmartNews has positioned itself as one independent platform claiming to provide trustworthy summaries of the coverage. “CNN is focused on one angle, Fox is pushing another, Twitter is a mess,” a narrator stated in one of their social media advertisements. “I’m seeing the same story with completely different narratives … Who do I trust?”

Given this landscape, there’s significant opportunity for people like Leonard. Her career has largely revolved around journalism-related work, operating a transcription services company until artificial intelligence made it mostly unnecessary. She briefly worked in education and contributed political and social commentary to her Substack publication, The Panicked Writer.

However, after witnessing the response generated when she began examining Epstein documents several months ago, she decided to dedicate her entire professional focus to this work.

Leonard describes her excitement at discovering, at 1 a.m. during a late-night research session, a document involving attorney Alan Dershowitz and Virginia Giuffre, who has accused multiple men in Epstein’s circle of sexual abuse. Her recent Substack articles have covered contents from a young victim’s diary and email exchanges between Epstein and Sarah Ferguson.

Leonard explained that she searches for details that others might overlook and enjoys demonstrating connections within Epstein’s extensive network. “I’m putting four kids into the world,” she said, “and I don’t want to see something like this happen again.”

Journalist Wajahat Ali, who operates the Left Hook Substack, expressed admiration for Leonard’s efforts and frequently highlights her work on his platform. Some citizen journalists investigating Epstein gather on livestreams to discuss their findings.

Throughout the past ten years, Ali has observed the emergence of a community fascinated by true crime stories who enjoy analyzing evidence and developing their own theories. Law enforcement officials involved in the Arizona search for the missing mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie have expressed frustration about interference from amateur investigators.

Ali described the Epstein files as “the mother lode.” “If you love conspiracy theories, if you love true crime, this is the ‘Citizen Kane’ of true crime. It is the unfortunately sordid gift that will keep on giving.”

Similar to Leonard, Anne P. Mitchell and Kassandra Mable Costa bring professional experience that aids their work with the Epstein documents. Costa, based in North Carolina, applies research skills from her marketing career. Mitchell, a former Colorado law professor, specializes in locating legal documents and translating their meaning into understandable language.

Both fascinated and disturbed by the story, Costa was attracted to the original source materials. Rather than publishing her discoveries, she uses her abilities to assist others, gathering evidence for a friend attempting to have former Maine Sen. George Mitchell’s name removed from an elementary school. The former senator has denied any wrongdoing, but the documents reveal he maintained contact with the sex offender.

“I am not really politically active,” Costa said. “There are ways that I try to help and ways that I try to create a better world. But I’m not overly political. I’m not looking for conflict, I’m not looking for controversy.”

Anne P. Mitchell’s “Notes From the Front” Substack functions as a hub for Epstein researchers; she organizes discussion groups and provides access to numerous documents for her few thousand paid subscribers. “We may have just found a smoking gun,” she writes about a file containing images that appear to show men with victims. Both Mitchell and Leonard provide some content free to followers while charging for premium material.

Mitchell praises people working through the Epstein files. “The more people who are doing it, the more that is going to come to light,” she said. “But I’m guessing that the more people who are doing it, the more it’s not going to be good for their mental health.”

Matthew LaPlante, a journalism professor at Utah State University, believes having more citizens applying reporting techniques – whether they realize it or not – can benefit society. He referenced Minneapolis residents who used cell phones to document immigration enforcement activities.

The drawback, he explains, is that few of these individuals have training in the meticulous process of fact verification – or understand the legal consequences of publishing unconfirmed information. The New York Times, in an article explaining their examination process to readers, emphasized this need for caution. “We don’t publish anonymous information that we can’t verify ourselves,” the newspaper stated.

LaPlante highlighted one Substack post from last week containing more than a dozen videos from the files, most heavily redacted and confusing without proper context – including footage of two unidentified men interacting with a sex doll.

The Epstein files contain numerous unverified allegations, some quite extreme. How much of this unvetted material will enter public discussion – not to mention false or manipulated information created by bad actors?

“What is in the files is damaging enough,” Ali said. “You don’t need to indulge in conspiracy theories. It would be a disservice to the survivors and would hurt the credibility of what is already there.”

There’s sufficient material to occupy the curious – both professionals and amateurs. Potentially, additional new or less-redacted documents may be released.

“I hope I’m around for 15 or 20 years,” said Mitchell, who is mostly homebound due to health concerns. “Because I really think it’s going to take that long for the full extent of this to be exposed.”

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Law enforcement agencies investigating challenging criminal cases are turning to Google with requests to identify users who conducted specific online searches, using what are called “reverse keyword” warrants that civil liberties advocates say put innocent citizens’ privacy at risk.

These warrants operate differently from standard search warrants that focus on known suspects or specific locations. Instead, keyword warrants work in reverse by pinpointing internet addresses where particular search terms were entered during specific time periods, including street addresses of crime scenes or phrases such as “pipe bomb.”

Investigators have employed this technique while working cases involving Texas bombing incidents, the murder of a Brazilian political figure, and a deadly arson case in Colorado.

Law enforcement’s interest in Google search data makes sense given the search engine’s role as the primary internet gateway and the extensive digital footprints people leave behind daily. This data proves especially valuable when investigators have no suspects, such as in the search for Nancy Guthrie’s abductor.

The constitutional battle between solving crimes efficiently and Fourth Amendment protections against excessive searches recently came before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which approved using a reverse keyword warrant in a sexual assault case.

Civil liberties organizations view this practice as providing law enforcement “unfettered access to the thoughts, feelings, concerns and secrets of countless people,” stated an amicus brief submitted during the Pennsylvania case by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Internet Archive, and multiple library groups.

When asked about these warrants, Google responded via email: “Our processes for handling law enforcement requests are designed to protect users’ privacy while meeting our legal obligations. We review all legal demands for legal validity, and we push back against those that are overbroad or improper, including objecting to some entirely.”

Pennsylvania State Police faced a dead end while investigating a brutal sexual assault that occurred in 2016 on an isolated cul-de-sac near Milton, a small central Pennsylvania town. Without viable leads, investigators secured a warrant requiring Google to reveal accounts that had searched for the victim’s name or home address during the week of the attack.

Over a year passed before Google disclosed that two searches for the woman’s address had been conducted hours before the assault from one particular IP address, which identifies a device’s internet location.

This information directed investigators to the residence of state prison guard John Edward Kurtz.

Authorities then monitored Kurtz and retrieved a discarded cigarette that provided DNA evidence matching samples from the victim, court documents show. He admitted to the rape and additional attacks on four other women spanning five years, receiving a conviction in 2020. At age 51, he was sentenced to 59 to 280 years in prison.

Kurtz’s defense team contended that police lacked sufficient probable cause for obtaining the information and violated his privacy rights.

The state Supreme Court dismissed these arguments last year, though justices were divided in their reasoning. Three justices concluded Kurtz had no reasonable expectation of privacy regarding his Google searches, while three others determined police had probable cause to investigate anyone who searched the victim’s address before the attack. However, one dissenting justice argued probable cause demands more than a “bald hunch” and speculation that a criminal might have used Google.

Defense attorney Douglas Taglieri echoed this concern in court documents but acknowledged, “It was a good guess.”

Prosecutor Julia Skinner, who handled the case, explained that reverse keyword searches work best with specific or uncommon terms that limit results, such as unique names or addresses. They’re also most effective for crimes that appear premeditated, she noted.

“I don’t think they’re used super frequently, because what you need to target has to be so specific,” Skinner said. The Kurtz investigation returned 57 searches, though many came from first responders attempting to locate the residence immediately after the crime occurred.

In the Colorado arson case, police requested IP addresses for anyone who searched a home’s address over 15 days where a fatal fire took place. Authorities received IP addresses for 61 searches from eight accounts, ultimately helping identify three teenage suspects.

The Colorado Supreme Court determined in 2023 that while the keyword warrant was constitutionally flawed for lacking “individualized probable cause,” the evidence remained admissible because police acted in good faith based on existing legal understanding.

“If dystopian problems emerge, as some fear, the courts stand ready to hear argument regarding how we should rein in law enforcement’s use of rapidly advancing technology,” the Colorado justices’ majority ruled.

Courts have historically allowed investigators to obtain materials like banking records or telephone logs. However, civil rights organizations argue that extending these powers to online keyword searches makes every internet user a potential suspect.

The annual number of keyword warrants remains unknown — Google doesn’t categorize the warrants it receives by type, according to a January 2024 brief from the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

These organizations reported that police investigating the Austin, Texas bombings sought individuals who searched terms including “low explosives” and “pipe bomb.” In Brazil, investigators working the 2018 assassination of Rio de Janeiro politician Marielle Franco requested information about those who searched Franco’s name and her street address. A Brazilian high court is expected to rule soon on those search disclosures’ legality.

Reverse keyword warrants differ from “geofence” warrants, where investigators seek data about individuals present in specific areas at particular times. The U.S. Supreme Court announced last month it will decide on that method’s constitutionality.

For many users, their Google search history reveals highly personal information, including health concerns, political views, financial choices, and spending habits. Google’s integration of more artificial intelligence into its search platform appears designed to gather even more user data.

“What could be more embarrassing,” questioned University of Pennsylvania law professor and civil rights attorney David Rudovsky, if every Google search “was now out there, gone viral?”

Google informs users that personal information may be shared externally when the company has a “good-faith belief that disclosure of the information is reasonably necessary” to comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or an “enforceable government request.”

In the Kurtz case, Pennsylvania Justice David Wecht distinguished between Kurtz’s decision to search for the victim’s name on Google and a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that restricted broad cellphone location data collection.

“A user who wants to keep such material private has options,” Wecht wrote. “That user does not have to click on Google.”

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Two young performers with facial conditions discovered a powerful connection while bringing the character of Auggie Pullman to life in the musical version of “Wonder” at Harvard University’s American Repertory Theater.

Max Voehl, a 12-year-old from Utah born with bilateral cleft lip and palate, felt an immediate kinship with the character during his audition. Having undergone 13 surgeries compared to Auggie’s 28, and experiencing bullying similar to the character who faces challenges due to Treacher Collins syndrome, Voehl found the role deeply personal.

“Channeling Auggie on stage is actually pretty easy for me because I have felt the emotions he has felt, and I have gone through what he has gone through,” Voehl explained following a matinee show. He shares the starring role with 16-year-old Garrett McNally from California, who actually has Treacher Collins syndrome. Voehl described performing as “pure joy.”

The stage adaptation draws from R.J. Palacio’s 2012 novel about compassion and perseverance, following 10-year-old Auggie as he transitions from homeschooling to attending regular classes in New York. The book also inspired a 2017 movie featuring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as the protagonist’s parents.

The narrative centers on Auggie’s academic year, where the science-loving “Star Wars” enthusiast initially faces curious stares and awkward inquiries about his appearance from classmates. Though he contemplates leaving school, support from friends and family helps him continue, ultimately earning recognition for his bravery and determination at graduation.

The theatrical version explores multiple viewpoints, including sister Via’s feelings of being overlooked, parents struggling between protection and independence for their son, and friend Jack’s journey from betrayal back to loyalty when he chooses Auggie over popular classmates for a science assignment.

Director Taibi Magar discovered the “Wonder” material during 2021’s pandemic uncertainty when theater’s future seemed unclear. She embraced the opportunity to adapt the story, finding it offered audiences a model for more compassionate living.

“I was pretty sad and the world was feeling really cold and mean,” said Magar, who previously helmed “Night Side Songs; The Half-God of Rainfall” and “Macbeth In Stride; We Live in Cairo” at the venue. “Then I got a phone call from my agent to take a look at this material, and it just cracked me open.”

Casting young performers with facial conditions for Auggie presented initial difficulties. The film version used an actor without facial differences, relying on makeup and prosthetics for the transformation.

Project consultant Matthew Joffee, a former therapist and learning disability expert who has Moebius syndrome, insisted the role required someone with an actual facial difference. He worried that casting otherwise would alienate the craniofacial community.

“They were so desperate to get actors that will be able to play the role. They were willing to consider looking for actors and just making them up, and I put my own foot down,” he stated. “The community would be completely outraged to know that an actor with a craniofacial condition wasn’t being used.”

Eventually, the production successfully cast both Voehl and McNally, whom Magar called “two extraordinary actors.”

McNally, making his acting debut, discovered the opportunity through a Facebook group posting and decided auditioning sounded enjoyable. He identified with Auggie’s experience of people viewing him “differently” and not always treating him as a “normal” person.

Learning via Zoom call that he’d landed the major musical role brought excitement mixed with opening night nerves.

“I was nervous because I thought I would mess up or get stage fright, but it generally went pretty smoothly, except for that one time where I hit my shin on one of the tables,” McNally recalled. “Other than that, it was a really good show and I was really proud of myself.”

His mother Jules McNally, while never questioning her son’s abilities, was amazed by his “dedication and commitment” to the performance. Watching audiences respond to her son, whom she describes “as his own unique person,” she hopes the production inspires action.

“I want people to leave the show taking the things that they felt, the empathy that they experienced,” she explained. “I want them to go out into their own communities and do what they need to do to make people feel safe and accepted and welcome.”

Both young actors recognize how portraying Auggie provides an unexpected opportunity to shift attitudes about facial differences.

“I’m making a difference in helping people understand that even though some people may look different or have like a facial difference, we are all in the end the same the on inside,” Voehl observed. “It does not matter what we look like because we are all human.”

During one of the final performances before the February 15 closing, hundreds of enthusiastic students packed the theater after the two-month run. Many, including 14-year-old Dylan Marion from Malden, Massachusetts, sought autographs afterward, collecting signatures from seven cast members on book copies. Students who had read the novel in class eagerly compared the written story with the stage version.

“I loved it. It was amazing,” said 10-year-old Aili Sparandara from a Cambridge school whose entire grade studied the book. “It’s nice how he has people out there who can help him. It was a lot of equality. I like it. This book is based on someone with differences that can be shown. It’s not like everybody in every book has to be perfect.”

The son of acclaimed Hollywood director Rob Reiner is set to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom Monday for arraignment on murder charges following multiple delays and a switch in legal counsel.

Nick Reiner, 32, faces two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the December stabbing deaths of his parents, director Rob Reiner, 78, and photographer-producer Michele Reiner, 70. The couple’s bodies were discovered December 14 at their West Los Angeles home.

The defendant is anticipated to enter not guilty pleas to the charges. He has been held without bail since his arrest shortly after the killings occurred, marking one of Los Angeles’ most startling celebrity murder cases in recent memory.

Rob Reiner rose to prominence as a cast member on the 1970s television hit “All in the Family” before transitioning to a successful directing and screenwriting career. He also became an active Democratic Party supporter and contributor. The couple, wed for almost 37 years, had intended to join former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at an event on the evening they were killed.

The entertainment industry expressed widespread shock and grief over the deaths of the Hollywood veteran, who had collaborated with numerous industry figures throughout his decades-long career.

Reports indicate Nick Reiner had an argument with his parents during a holiday celebration at comedian Conan O’Brien’s residence the evening before the murders took place.

Nick Reiner has publicly battled substance abuse issues for years. A conviction on the current charges would result in a life sentence without parole eligibility. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will pursue capital punishment.

Law enforcement officials have released minimal information about the crime’s details or potential motives. Medical examiners determined both victims suffered “multiple sharp force injuries” as the cause of death.

The case experienced delays when prominent defense attorney Alan Jackson unexpectedly withdrew from representing Nick Reiner on January 7, providing no public explanation for his departure. Public defenders have since taken over his legal representation.

Nick Reiner’s siblings – older brother Jake, 34, and younger sister Romy, 28 – were absent from his previous court appearances. Romy reportedly discovered their father’s body at the scene.

After the defendant’s initial court hearing in December, the surviving siblings released a statement describing the “unimaginable pain” they felt following the “horrific and devastating loss of our parents.”

Nick Reiner’s documented struggles with drug addiction, rehabilitation, and periods of homelessness previously inspired the film “Being Charlie,” which he co-authored with his father. How these mental health challenges might influence the murder case remains unclear.

The New York Times recently reported that Nick Reiner was placed under a court-supervised mental health conservatorship in 2020, which permitted involuntary psychiatric care, but this arrangement concluded in 2021.

Both the public defender’s office and district attorney’s office have declined to provide comments regarding the mental health conservatorship matter, according to the Times.

Nine defendants are scheduled to return to court this Monday for a fresh trial stemming from a shooting incident that took place outside an immigration detention center in Alvarado, Texas, during July 2025.

The upcoming court proceedings follow the conclusion of previous legal proceedings that resulted in a mistrial for all nine individuals facing charges in connection with the detention facility shooting.

Residents from the California community nearest to Castle Peak Mountain came together in a solemn ceremony to honor nine backcountry skiers who perished in a devastating avalanche. The memorial vigil provided an opportunity for locals to pay their respects to those who died in the mountain tragedy.

Entertainment enthusiasts will find no shortage of fresh content arriving on streaming services this week, featuring everything from pop music comebacks to zombie horror games.

The week’s highlights include the highly anticipated return of Bruno Mars with new solo material, K-pop sensation Blackpink reuniting as a group, and an intimate documentary exploring Paul McCartney’s journey following his Beatles years, according to Associated Press entertainment reporters.

Director Andrew Stanton, known for his acclaimed Pixar work on “WALL-E” and “Finding Nemo,” ventures back into live-action territory after his 2012 “John Carter” disappointment. His latest effort, “In the Blink of an Eye,” weaves together multiple storylines examining world history, featuring performances by Kate McKinnon, Rashida Jones and Daveed Diggs. Despite receiving mixed reviews at January’s Sundance Film Festival, the film launches Friday, Feb. 27 on Hulu.

The entertainment industry’s Actor Awards, previously known as the SAG Awards, will broadcast live on Netflix March 1. These honors from the SAG-AFTRA union serve as significant Oscar forecasters, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” leading this year’s nominations.

Music lovers can dive into “Paul McCartney: Man on the Run,” a documentary series from Morgan Neville, the filmmaker behind “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” and “Piece by Piece.” Rather than covering Beatles history, this Amazon Prime Video release focuses on McCartney’s 1970s era, including his Wings period and beyond, premiering Friday, Feb. 27.

That same Friday marks Bruno Mars’ musical comeback with “The Romantic,” his fourth complete album and first solo effort since 2016’s successful “24K Magic.” This doesn’t count his popular collaboration with Anderson .Paak as Silk Sonic on 2021’s “An Evening with Silk Sonic.” Mars continues his signature retro-pop style, with opening track “I Just Might” delivering uplifting disco-pop-soul vibes.

K-pop powerhouse Blackpink reunites after successful individual careers that included viral hits like “APT.” and “The White Lotus” appearances. Members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa drop their “Deadline” EP on Friday, featuring five tracks including the bilingual “Jump,” described as energetic europop with hardstyle influences perfect for Vegas nightlife.

Television offerings include “Paradise” season two on Hulu Monday, continuing Sterling K. Brown’s story as Secret Service agent Xavier protecting President James Marsden’s character. After season one revealed their survival in an underground bunker during an apocalypse, Xavier now searches for his missing wife, with Shailene Woodley joining returning cast members Julianne Nicholson and Marsden.

“Survivor” reaches its milestone 50th season Wednesday on Paramount+ and CBS, featuring returning contestants including “The White Lotus” creator Mike White in a three-hour premiere episode.

Nostalgia continues with “Scrubs” returning to Hulu Thursday, sixteen years after its finale, bringing back Zach Braff’s medical comedy with original cast members Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke and Judy Reyes.

Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman, who previously collaborated on “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” executive produce Prime Video’s Civil War series “The Gray House.” The eight-episode series stars Mary Louise Parker, Ben Vereen, Robert Knepper and Paul Anderson, all episodes available Thursday.

MGM+ launches “American Classic” Sunday, April 1, starring Kevin Kline as a former Broadway performer who returns home to direct a local “Our Town” production while clashing with his ex-girlfriend-turned-mayor, played by Laura Linney.

Gaming enthusiasts can experience “Resident Evil Requiem,” the ninth main franchise entry arriving 30 years after Capcom’s original zombie-filled bioweapon saga. Players control FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, armed with limited weapons and focused on survival, while veteran character Leon Kennedy returns with expanded firepower. The game launches Friday, Feb. 27 for PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2 and PC, targeting both survival horror purists and action-oriented players.

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Jury selection begins Monday in the murder case against a Utah mother who authorities say fatally poisoned her spouse before penning a children’s book about dealing with loss.

Kouri Richins, 35, stands trial on multiple felony counts stemming from allegations she murdered her husband Eric Richins by giving him a lethal fentanyl dose in March 2022 at their residence near the ski resort town of Park City. According to prosecutors, she mixed five times the deadly amount of the synthetic drug into a Moscow mule drink he consumed.

Authorities also claim she attempted to kill him one month prior on Valentine’s Day by putting fentanyl in a sandwich that caused him to develop hives and lose consciousness, court records show.

The prosecution contends Richins murdered her spouse for money while secretly planning to be with another romantic partner. Richins strongly disputes these accusations.

She’s charged with approximately three dozen offenses, including first-degree murder, attempted homicide, document forgery, mortgage fraud and insurance fraud. The murder count alone could result in 25 years to life behind bars.

Her legal representatives, Wendy Lewis, Kathy Nester and Alex Ramos, expressed confidence that the 12 jurors will permit Richins to reunite with her children once they learn her version of events.

“Kouri has waited nearly three years for this moment: the opportunity to have the facts of this case heard by a jury, free from the prosecution’s narrative that has dominated headlines since her arrest,” her legal team said in a statement, adding, “What the public has been told bears little resemblance to the truth.”

During the period before her May 2023 arrest, Richins independently published the children’s title “Are You with Me?” depicting a deceased father with wings watching over his young son. The book, which she advertised on local television, may serve as crucial evidence for prosecutors attempting to portray Eric Richins’ death as a premeditated murder followed by an elaborate cover-up scheme.

According to prosecutors, Richins secretly obtained multiple life insurance policies on her husband years before his death, totaling nearly $2 million in benefits. Court filings reveal she had an overdrawn bank account, owed more than $1.8 million to lenders and faced a creditor lawsuit.

Potential witnesses during the proceedings include a housekeeper who allegedly provided fentanyl to Richins on multiple occasions and the man authorities say she was romantically involved with outside her marriage.

The prosecution’s primary witness, housekeeper Carmen Lauber, informed investigators she supplied Richins with up to 90 blue-green fentanyl tablets obtained from a drug dealer. Lauber faces no criminal charges related to this case, with detectives confirming at a previous hearing that she received immunity.

Defense lawyers plan to argue that Lauber never actually provided Richins with fentanyl and fabricated her story to secure legal protection. No drugs were discovered at her residence, and the dealer claimed he was incarcerated and undergoing drug detox when he initially told investigators in 2023 about selling fentanyl to Lauber. He subsequently stated in a sworn document that he only sold her the prescription painkiller OxyContin.

Additional witnesses may include family members of both the defendant and her deceased husband, along with Eric Richins’ friends who recalled phone calls from the day prosecutors allege his wife first attempted to poison him during their nine-year marriage.

One friend stated in written testimony that they detected fear in Eric Richins’ voice when he telephoned on Valentine’s Day and said, “I think my wife tried to poison me.”

The trial is scheduled to conclude by March 26.

LONDON — The British Academy of Film and Television Arts revealed its 2026 award recipients on Sunday, recognizing excellence in cinema across multiple categories.

‘One Battle After Another’ emerged as the evening’s biggest winner, taking home the coveted Best Film award. The production also earned director Paul Thomas Anderson the directing prize, while Sean Penn received recognition as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the same film.

Robert Aramayo had a particularly successful night, earning both the Best Actor award for ‘I Swear’ and the Rising Star honor, which is determined by public voting.

In the actress categories, Jessie Buckley claimed the lead actress prize for her performance in ‘Hamnet,’ while Wunmi Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress for ‘Sinners.’

‘Hamnet’ also secured the British Film award, highlighting domestic cinema achievements.

Technical categories saw ‘One Battle After Another’ continue its winning streak, with Michael Bauman taking cinematography honors and Andy Jurgensen winning for editing. Paul Thomas Anderson added another trophy to his collection with the Adapted Screenplay award.

Ryan Coogler earned the Original Screenplay prize for ‘Sinners,’ which also won the Musical Score category.

Other notable winners included ‘Sentimental Value’ for Best Film Not in the English Language, and ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ for Visual Effects.

In specialized categories, ‘Frankenstein’ dominated design awards, winning both Production Design and Costume Design through Kate Hawley’s work, plus Makeup and Hair.

The animated film category went to ‘Zootropolis 2,’ known as ‘Zootopia 2’ in American markets.

Documentary honors went to ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin,’ while ‘This is Endometriosis’ won British Short Film and ‘Two Black Boys in Paradise’ claimed British Short Animation.

Industry recognition awards included the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema for Clare Binns, Creative Director of PictureHouse Cinemas, and the BAFTA Fellowship for NBCUniversal Entertainment chairperson Donna Langley.

The Outstanding British Debut award recognized Akinola Davies Jr. and Wale Davies for their writing and directing work on ‘My Father’s Shadow.’

WASHINGTON – Federal officials backtracked Sunday on plans to halt TSA PreCheck services, announcing the expedited airport screening program will continue operating despite a partial agency shutdown.

The Department of Homeland Security had initially indicated that PreCheck would be temporarily suspended as part of broader agency closures, but reversed that decision in a Sunday announcement.

The program allows pre-approved travelers to move through airport security more quickly without removing shoes, belts, or laptops from bags.

Want to launch your own business, master artificial intelligence, or dive into a fascinating new pastime? Educational institutions across the country are seeing record numbers of adults signing up for both credit-bearing and non-credit courses.

Countless American adults are enrolling in college programs to obtain professional certifications, develop new capabilities, or work toward academic credentials. Many of these returning students seek career progression, better compensation, and employment stability, while others are driven by curiosity and personal enrichment.

Eric Deschamps, who oversees continuing education at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, explains the diverse backgrounds of these learners. “They might have kids, they might be working full-time, they might be older non-traditional students,” Deschamps noted. However, returning to the classroom “opens doors to education for students that might not have those doors open to them otherwise.”

These mature students frequently bring valuable professional and life experiences to their academic pursuits, though they must navigate the complex challenge of balancing coursework with employment, family care, and other obligations. While demanding, this juggling act often helps clarify goals and delivers deep personal satisfaction.

Educational specialists share insights about re-entering academia, important considerations before enrolling, and strategies for managing studies alongside professional and personal duties.

The continuing education arm of the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Extension, provides over 90 certificate and specialty programs spanning interior design, early childhood education, accounting, photography, paralegal training, and music production. Individual classes address diverse subjects including retirement planning, novel writing, business management for athletes and artists, and ikebana, the traditional Japanese practice of flower arrangement.

Approximately 33,500 students participated in the most recent academic year, with nearly half being over age 35. During the same timeframe, UCLA recorded full-time enrollment of roughly 32,600 undergraduate degree candidates.

Traci Fordham, UCLA’s interim associate dean for academic programs and learning innovation, offers a fresh perspective on these students. “I prefer calling our (adult) learners not only continuous, but the new majority student. These are learners who tend to already be employed, often supporting a family, looking for up-skilling or sometimes a career change,” Fordham explained.

Higher education specialists observe that many adults pursue classes for career development as economic uncertainties, technological progress, and evolving workplace demands create feelings of professional vulnerability.

Deschamps provided a current example: “A great example of that is artificial intelligence. These new technologies are coming out pretty quickly and for folks that got a degree, even just 5 or 10 years ago, their knowledge might be a little bit outdated.”

Academic counselors recommend that adults considering a return to education should evaluate their available time and financial resources, carefully weighing potential advantages and drawbacks, including monetary costs, risk of exhaustion, and educational benefits that may take time to realize.

Deschamps recommends considering your five or ten-year aspirations and determining how additional coursework or certification might help achieve those objectives. For instance, someone hoping to open a microbrewery would benefit from learning brewing techniques or business management. Those seeking promotions or career transitions might pursue job training, skill updates, or industry knowledge to demonstrate their qualifications.

Universities like UCLA and Northern Arizona University strive to make continuing education accessible through affordable pricing compared to degree programs and various financial aid options. Multiple learning formats are typically available, including face-to-face and online classes, intensive and flexible scheduling, helping adults blend academic work with personal and professional responsibilities.

Katie Swavely, assistant director for academic advising and student success at UCLA, began her educational journey at community college before transferring to UCLA for anthropology studies. She waited a decade after graduation before pursuing her master’s degree in counseling with an academic advising concentration. Swavely finished that program in 2020, made possible through employer-provided tuition benefits from her workplace at the time.

Swavely, who is married with two children, reflected on her journey: “I felt like in so many ways I didn’t really know who I was or what I wanted to do other than just pay the bills and survive. It was hard. And I thought about quitting many times. We had to budget to the extreme and find additional ways to make it work.”

She continued: “There are questions of how are we going to make it work and do we have the money. As a parent, sacrifices are there all the time. You make those judgment calls every day. But making sure that you’re investing in yourself. There’s always gonna be reasons why it’s not today, not this month, not this year, but it’s also OK to just jump in and go for it and see how it works out.”

As someone passionate about literature, Swavely now hopes to enroll in a book editing course and continue her educational pursuits through the university.

Some specialists identify psychological obstacles as a primary challenge for returning students. Concerns about outdated writing abilities, insufficient mathematical or technological knowledge can trigger feelings of doubt or inadequacy.

Fordham addressed this barrier: “I think this is tied to access. Many of our learners, not all of them, haven’t imagined themselves in any kind of higher education, post-secondary education environment.”

Swavely emphasized the importance of establishing a support system and utilizing available counseling and advising resources during her student experience.

She urges adults advancing their education to focus on “finding your community.” Having supportive people at home and in classes who boosted her confidence helped her complete graduate school, Swavely explained. She also recommends establishing limits and showing yourself compassion when assistance is needed.

Swavely concluded with encouragement: “The biggest piece of advice is for people to realize you’re never too old to learn.”

LONDON — Hollywood celebrities are gathering in London tonight for the British Academy Film Awards, where two blockbuster films are competing head-to-head for the evening’s biggest prizes.

The political thriller “One Battle After Another” enters the ceremony with the most recognition at 14 nominations, while the blues-themed epic “Sinners” trails closely behind with 13 nods from British film industry voters.

However, betting experts believe the Shakespearean drama “Hamnet” might surprise both frontrunners for the top award if voters are drawn to its emotional storytelling, English countryside backdrop, and powerful acting in Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s historical novel.

“Hamnet” and the table tennis adventure “Marty Supreme” each received 11 nominations, while Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” remake and the Norwegian family story “Sentimental Value” both earned eight nominations apiece.

These British honors, officially known as the EE BAFTA Film Awards, frequently signal which films will triumph at Hollywood’s Oscar ceremony scheduled for March 15. In Academy Award nominations, “Sinners” broke records with 16 nominations, while “One Battle After Another” secured 13.

A-list celebrities including Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Glenn Close and Ethan Hawke are anticipated to walk the red carpet outside London’s Royal Festival Hall before the formal ceremony begins, with Scottish performer Alan Cumming serving as host.

Cumming, known for hosting the American edition of “The Traitors” reality series, promised to maintain a “balance between celebration and mischief” during the evening.

Five films are vying for the BAFTA’s top honor: “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “Sinners” and “Sentimental Value.” The ceremony also highlights British cinema with a dedicated category featuring 10 domestic films including “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” “Pillion,” “I Swear” and “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.”

Six filmmakers are competing for the directing award: Paul Thomas Anderson for “One Battle,” Josh Safdie for “Marty Supreme,” Ryan Coogler for “Sinners,” Yorgos Lanthimos for the dystopian comedy “Bugonia,” Joachim Trier for “Sentimental Value” and Zhao for “Hamnet.” A victory for Zhao would make her the first woman to claim two BAFTA directing prizes, following her 2021 win for “Nomadland.”

In the leading actor race, oddsmakers favor Timothée Chalamet for “Marty Supreme,” competing against Leonardo DiCaprio for “One Battle After Another,” Ethan Hawke for Broadway drama “Blue Moon,” Michael B. Jordan for “Sinners,” Jesse Plemons for “Bugonia” and Robert Aramayo for his portrayal of a man with Tourette’s syndrome in “I Swear.”

The leading actress competition features heavy favorite Jessie Buckley for her role as Agnes Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s wife, in “Hamnet.” Her competition includes Rose Byrne for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” Kate Hudson for “Song Sung Blue,” Chase Infiniti for “One Battle After Another,” Renate Reinsve for “Sentimental Value” and Emma Stone for “Bugonia.”

Three performers from “One Battle” — Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn — all earned supporting performance nominations.

The Associated Press received recognition in the documentary category through Mstyslav Chernov’s powerful Ukraine war film “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” which AP co-produced with Frontline PBS.

While 8,500 British film industry professionals select most winners, the Rising Star award relies on public voting and has successfully identified future major stars. This year’s candidates are Infiniti, Aramayo, “Sinners” actor Miles Caton and British performers Archie Madekwe and Posy Sterling.

Donna Langley, the British-born leader of NBCUniversal Entertainment, will receive the academy’s most prestigious recognition, the BAFTA fellowship.

Tonight’s ceremony begins at 2 p.m. Eastern time on BBC in Britain and 8 p.m. Eastern on E! network in America.

Celebrated salsa musician Willie Colón passed away Saturday at the age of 75, according to a statement from his family.

His relatives shared their grief on Colón’s social media page, writing: “While we grieve his absence, we also rejoice in the timeless gift of his music and the cherished memories he created that will live on forever.”

The family has not revealed what caused his death.

Colón, who was born in the Bronx to parents from Puerto Rico, created numerous albums throughout his career, including notable releases like “La Gran Fuga” (The Big Break) from 1970 and “El Juicio” from 1972, as documented by Fania Records, a label known for promoting salsa artists.

The musician began his professional journey early, joining Fania Records when he was just 15 years old. By 1967, at age 17, he had released his debut album “El Malo,” which went on to sell over 300,000 copies, according to information from the LA Philharmonic’s website.

His musical style was distinctive for blending jazz, rock, and salsa elements while drawing from traditional sounds of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Africa, his official biography notes.

According to the LA Philharmonic, Colón’s work carried deep cultural meaning: “A significant overarching theme in Colón’s music—which draws from many cultures and several different styles—is an exploration of the competing associations that Puerto Ricans have with their home and with the United States.”

The biography further explained: “He uses his songs to depict and investigate the problems of living in the U.S. as a Puerto Rican and also to imply the cultural contributions that Puerto Ricans have to offer.”

In recognition of his contributions to Latin music, Colón received a lifetime achievement award in 2004 from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Beyond music, Colón was deeply committed to social causes, serving with organizations including the Latino Commission on AIDS and the United Nations Immigrant Foundation, while also holding a board position at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

TRUCKEE, Calif. — Recovery teams deployed a Black Hawk helicopter Saturday morning into California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, where rescue workers are battling dangerous conditions to retrieve the remains of eight people killed in this week’s devastating avalanche.

The military aircraft departed from Truckee’s airport around 10 a.m. with four crew members dressed in brown cargo uniforms aboard. Tracking data revealed the helicopter spent approximately 90 minutes circling the Frog Lake area near Castle Peak, where rescue teams discovered the eight victims on Tuesday. A ninth person remains unaccounted for and is also believed to have perished.

Severe weather conditions combined with the ongoing threat of additional avalanches have prevented recovery teams from safely accessing the site where the victims remain trapped. The deadly slide, which covered an area comparable to a football field, occurred Tuesday in the mountainous terrain.

Aviation authorities have extended a no-fly zone over the disaster site until 5 p.m. Sunday, prohibiting drones and unauthorized aircraft from entering the airspace during recovery operations.

On Friday, officials revealed they are employing water cannons to break apart unstable snow formations as part of avalanche prevention measures. This controlled technique aims to trigger potential snow slides before rescue personnel enter the hazardous zone.

Multiple agencies are coordinating the complex rescue operation, including California Highway Patrol aviation units, Nevada County Sheriff’s search and rescue teams, Tahoe Nordic search and rescue, Pacific Gas & Electric crews, and the Sierra avalanche center.

Nevada County Sheriff’s officials confirmed Saturday morning that recovery operations are still underway, with a news briefing scheduled for 1 p.m.

NEW YORK — Defense attorneys representing convicted British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell are mounting a legal challenge to prevent the public disclosure of approximately 90,000 pages of documents tied to the late Jeffrey Epstein scandal, arguing that federal legislation requiring their release is unconstitutional.

The legal team submitted court filings on Friday evening in Manhattan federal court, seeking to prevent the unsealing of materials from a civil defamation case that Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein victim who has since died, filed against Maxwell ten years ago. Federal prosecutors recently petitioned a judge to remove confidentiality protections from these files.

According to Maxwell’s defense team, federal investigators improperly acquired these materials—which were previously protected under court secrecy orders—while conducting their criminal investigation of Maxwell. The attorneys stated that the documentation contains deposition transcripts from more than 30 individuals, along with private financial and intimate details concerning Maxwell and other parties.

Certain materials from the year-long discovery process in the civil litigation have already been made available to the public following a federal appellate court directive.

Maxwell’s legal representatives contend that the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Congress enacted in December to mandate the release of millions of Epstein-connected documents, breaches the Constitution’s separation of powers principle.

Attorneys Laura Menninger and Jeffrey Pagliuca stated in their filing: “Congress cannot, by statute, strip this Court of the power or relieve it of the responsibility to protect its files from misuse. To do so violates the separation of powers.”

The lawyers further argued: “Under the Constitution’s separation of powers, neither Congress nor the Executive Branch may intrude on the judicial power. That power includes the power to definitively and finally resolve cases and disputes.”

The ongoing release of Epstein-connected materials from criminal investigations, which commenced several weeks ago, has produced fresh details about Epstein’s systematic sexual exploitation of women and minors spanning multiple decades. Several survivors have expressed frustration that their identities and personal details were exposed in the documents while the names of perpetrators remained redacted.

Congressional representatives have criticized that approximately half of available documents, many heavily redacted, have been disclosed publicly, despite Justice Department assertions that all releasable materials have been provided, with some files awaiting judicial approval for publication.

Giuffre alleged that Epstein forced her into sexual encounters with other men, including former Prince Andrew, now called Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. She initiated legal action against Mountbatten-Windsor in 2021, alleging sexual contact when she was 17 years old.

Mountbatten-Windsor disputed her allegations, and both parties reached a settlement agreement in 2022. Recently, he was detained for nearly 11 hours on allegations of improperly sharing confidential business information with Epstein.

In posthumously published memoirs following her suicide last year, Giuffre revealed that prosecutors informed her they excluded her from Maxwell’s sex trafficking case to prevent her accusations from diverting jury attention.

Maxwell, age 64, received a guilty verdict in December 2021 and was sentenced to two decades in federal prison. Epstein died by suicide in federal detention in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was transferred from a Florida federal facility to a minimum-security prison facility in Texas last summer following two days of interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Two weeks prior, she refused to respond to questions from House Oversight Committee members during a video deposition from her prison facility, though her attorney indicated she was “prepared to speak fully and honestly” if granted executive clemency.

The Justice Department has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the matter.

EDGEWOOD, N.M. — During the 1970s, thousands of Native American women underwent sterilization procedures through the Indian Health Service without receiving proper informed consent, robbing them of their ability to have children or expand their families.

Now, after decades of silence, New Mexico officials are preparing to examine this dark chapter in medical history and its enduring consequences.

State lawmakers this week authorized the Indian Affairs Department and Commission on the Status of Women to conduct a comprehensive review of forced and coerced sterilizations performed on women of color by the Indian Health Service and other medical providers. Officials expect to deliver their conclusions to the governor before 2027 ends.

State Sen. Linda Lopez, who sponsored the legislation, emphasized the significance of the investigation. “It’s important for New Mexico to understand the atrocities that took place within the borders of our state,” Lopez stated.

New Mexico joins other states addressing similar historical wrongs. Vermont established a truth and reconciliation commission in 2023 to examine forced sterilizations of marginalized populations, including Native Americans. California started providing compensation in 2024 to individuals sterilized without consent in state facilities.

The New Mexico Legislature also established groundwork for creating a healing commission and formal recognition of this lesser-known historical trauma affecting Native families.

University of Kansas School of Law professor Sarah Deer believes this action comes far too late. “The women in these communities carry these stories,” Deer explained.

Beyond a 1976 Government Accountability Office report, federal authorities have never officially recognized what Deer describes as “systemic” sterilization campaigns targeting Native American communities.

Neither the Indian Health Service nor its parent organization, the Department of Health and Human Services, responded to requests for comment regarding New Mexico’s investigation.

Jean Whitehorse’s experience illustrates the trauma many women endured. In 1972, the 22-year-old new mother was rushed to an Indian Health Service facility in Gallup with a ruptured appendix. Whitehorse recalls suffering “extreme pain” while medical staff presented numerous consent documents before emergency surgery.

“The nurse held the pen in my hand. I just signed on the line,” recalled Whitehorse, who belongs to the Navajo Nation.

Years later, while trying to conceive another child, Whitehorse discovered she had received a tubal ligation during that emergency procedure. This revelation devastated her, damaged her relationship, and led to struggles with alcohol addiction.

Advocacy groups were already raising concerns about women like Whitehorse who visited IHS facilities for childbirth or medical procedures only to later discover their inability to conceive. The activist organization Women of All Red Nations, connected to the American Indian Movement, formed partly to expose these practices.

In 1974, Dr. Connie Redbird Uri, a physician of Choctaw and Cherokee heritage, examined IHS records and claimed the federal agency had sterilized up to 25% of women in their reproductive years. Some women Uri interviewed were unaware of their sterilizations, while others reported being pressured into consent or told the procedures could be reversed.

Uri’s findings led to the GAO investigation, which documented 3,406 sterilizations performed by the Indian Health Service across four of its 12 regions between 1973 and 1976, including the Albuquerque area. Investigators found many patients were under 21, and most signed documents that failed to meet federal standards for informed consent.

GAO investigators decided against interviewing sterilized women, claiming such conversations “would not be productive” based on a single study of heart surgery patients in New York who had difficulty remembering doctor conversations. Due to this limited approach and narrow scope, advocates argue the complete extent and impact remains unknown.

Whitehorse kept her experience secret for nearly four decades before first telling her daughter, then other relatives. “Each time I tell my story, it relieves the shame, the guilt,” Whitehorse shared. “Now I think, why should I be ashamed? It’s the government that should be ashamed of what they did to us.”

Today, Whitehorse publicly advocates for forced sterilization survivors. She testified before the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in 2025, urging the United States to issue a formal apology.

While Whitehorse supports New Mexico’s investigation as a platform for survivor stories, advocates like Rachael Lorenzo warn about potential re-traumatization. Lorenzo leads Indigenous Women Rising, an Albuquerque reproductive health organization.

“It’s such a taboo topic. There’s a lot of support that needs to happen when we tell these traumatic stories,” Lorenzo noted.

During recent New Mexico legislative hearings, retired Indian Health Service physician Dr. Donald Clark testified about treating patients in their twenties and thirties who “seeking contraception but not trusting that they will not be irreversibly sterilized” due to family stories passed down through generations.

“It’s still an issue that is affecting women’s choice of birth control today,” Clark testified.

The 1927 Supreme Court case Buck v. Bell authorized states to sterilize individuals deemed “unfit” for reproduction, enabling forced sterilizations of immigrants, racial minorities, disabled individuals, and other marginalized groups throughout the 1900s.

According to Lorenzo and Deer, Native American women’s sterilizations represent part of broader federal policies designed to undermine Indigenous reproductive rights, including systematic removal of Native children to boarding schools and non-Native foster care, plus the 1976 Hyde Amendment preventing federally-funded tribal medical facilities from providing most abortion services.

Canadian doctors faced sanctions as recently as 2023 for sterilizing Indigenous women without consent.

Deer believes New Mexico’s investigation could establish precedent for accountability, though she warns that federal government cooperation will be essential for effective fact-finding.

SALT LAKE CITY — Twelve months following her husband’s passing, a Utah mother of three published a children’s book on her own, claiming it assisted her boys in dealing with their unexpected loss. Kouri Richins appeared on local television to promote “Are You With Me?” and received recognition for supporting young children through parental grief.

Just weeks following the book’s 2023 release, authorities took her into custody on murder charges related to her husband’s death.

The detention created widespread disbelief throughout her small mountain community near Park City, where twelve jurors will determine her future during a month-long trial beginning Monday.

The 35-year-old Richins confronts almost three dozen charges related to her husband’s death, including aggravated murder, attempted murder, forgery, mortgage fraud and insurance fraud. She has entered a not guilty plea.

According to prosecutors, she murdered her husband Eric Richins at their residence in March 2022 by adding fentanyl to a cocktail he consumed. They claim she faced significant debt and committed the murder for monetary benefit while planning a life with another man she was secretly dating.

This disturbing situation involving a formerly respected local writer accused of benefiting from her own alleged violent act has fascinated true-crime followers since her detention. Previously celebrated as an emotional story, her book now serves as evidence for prosecutors claiming she executed a premeditated murder.

Her defense lawyers, Wendy Lewis, Kathy Nester and Alex Ramos, expressed confidence that jurors will side with Richins after learning her version of events.

“Kouri has waited nearly three years for this moment: the opportunity to have the facts of this case heard by a jury, free from the prosecution’s narrative that has dominated headlines since her arrest,” her legal team said in a statement. “What the public has been told bears little resemblance to the truth.”

During the evening her husband died, Richins contacted emergency services to report discovering him “cold to the touch” at their bed’s foot, the police report states. Medical personnel declared him deceased, and an autopsy later revealed five times the fatal amount of fentanyl in his body.

According to charging documents, this wasn’t her initial attempt on his life.

One month prior on Valentine’s Day, Eric Richins informed friends he developed hives and lost consciousness after eating one bite of a sandwich Richins had prepared for him. She purchased the sandwich during the same week authorities say she obtained fentanyl pills from their family housekeeper. Opioids like fentanyl can trigger serious allergic responses.

Following self-administration of his son’s EpiPen and consuming large amounts of Benadryl, Eric Richins awakened from deep sleep and contacted a friend saying, “I think my wife tried to poison me,” according to the friend’s written testimony.

One day following Valentine’s Day, Kouri Richins messaged her supposed lover, “If he could just go away … life would be so perfect.”

The friend Eric Richins contacted that evening and the housekeeper who claims she sold his wife drugs may serve as crucial witnesses in the coming trial. Additional witnesses might include family members and the man Kouri Richins allegedly conducted an affair with.

The prosecution’s primary witness, housekeeper Carmen Lauber, informed police she provided Richins with fentanyl pills purchased from a dealer several days before Valentine’s Day. Later that month, Richins supposedly told the housekeeper the pills weren’t potent enough and requested she obtain stronger fentanyl, charging documents indicate.

Defense lawyers plan to argue Lauber never actually provided Richins with fentanyl and was motivated to fabricate her story for legal immunity. Lauber faces no charges in this case, and investigators confirmed at a previous hearing she received immunity.

Authorities never discovered fentanyl pills at Richins’ residence, and the housekeeper’s dealer stated he was incarcerated and withdrawing from drugs when he told investigators in 2023 about selling Lauber fentanyl. He subsequently claimed in a sworn statement he only sold her OxyContin.

Court documents show Eric Richins consulted with a divorce lawyer and estate planner in October 2020, one month after learning his wife made significant financial choices without his awareness. She maintained a negative bank balance, owed lenders over $1.8 million and faced a creditor lawsuit, court records show.

Prosecutors claim Kouri Richins incorrectly assumed she would receive her husband’s estate according to their prenuptial agreement terms. She also secretly established multiple life insurance policies on her husband totaling nearly $2 million in benefits, prosecutors claim.

She additionally faces accusations of falsifying loan documents and fraudulently collecting insurance payments following her husband’s death.

Legal professionals are calling a criminal investigation into backcountry ski guides highly unusual after a devastating avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains claimed nine lives this week, with legal experts saying such probes have virtually no precedent.

Typically, backcountry skiing clients sign liability waivers that protect guides and tour companies from lawsuits, according to attorney Andrew McDevitt. California courts also recognize skiing as an activity with inherent dangers.

This means recreational skiers accept certain hazards, including potential impacts with rocks or trees and unpredictable snow conditions, McDevitt explained.

McDevitt and fellow attorneys across California, Colorado and Utah who work on ski accident litigation said they’ve never encountered a guided trip fatality from an avalanche that triggered criminal charges.

However, this week’s tragedy is receiving heightened scrutiny likely due to its magnitude and the choice to continue despite avalanche forecasts, McDevitt noted. The incident represents the most deadly avalanche in the United States since 1981, when 11 climbers perished on Washington state’s Mount Rainier.

Utah attorney Rob Miner, who specializes in ski injuries, emphasized that liability waivers don’t excuse guide companies if they ignore proper safety measures or inadequately warn clients about dangers.

“They’re guides. It is presumed they will not guide you into an experience that may kill you, or that creates an unreasonable risk of death,” Miner said.

The massive avalanche struck the group Tuesday as they descended from the remote Sierra Nevada backcountry. Among the fatalities were three of four guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides who were leading the expedition. Six individuals survived the disaster.

Key factors investigators will likely examine include the guides’ decision to begin a three-day backcountry expedition with 11 clients during elevated avalanche danger, then choosing to ski out Tuesday after conditions deteriorated from a powerful storm.

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office provided no additional details when announcing the investigation Friday. A state workplace safety agency also confirmed it launched its own probe into the incident.

The guides’ choices and their communication with clients could also influence potential wrongful death lawsuits, legal experts noted. It remains unclear what weather information the guides accessed before the group began skiing out.

“There’s a lot of speculation,” said attorney Ravn Whitington, who handles ski injury and wrongful death litigation in Truckee, California, close to the avalanche site. “What investigators know at Nevada County Search and Rescue, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and the Nevada County District Attorney’s Office are just not known to the public.”

In a company statement, Blackbird Mountain Guides noted that all four guides held backcountry skiing certifications and taught avalanche education courses. The company explained that guides maintain contact with senior staff at Blackbird’s headquarters during expeditions to discuss conditions and route options.

“There is still a lot that we’re learning about what happened. It’s too soon to draw conclusions, but investigations are underway,” the company said.

The 15-person ski group launched their expedition Sunday as storm warnings were escalating. By Tuesday morning, officials warned that avalanches were anticipated. Safety specialists note that backcountry skiers commonly venture out during avalanche watches or even more severe avalanche warnings.

Families of the six Blackbird clients who died stated the expedition was thoroughly planned beforehand and the victims carried avalanche safety gear. “They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip,” the families said in a Thursday statement.