Category: U.S. News

Emergency shelters stayed operational across Southern California on Saturday while officials continued efforts to prevent a dangerous chemical storage tank from exploding near Disneyland’s theme parks.

The Orange County Fire Authority reported no injuries after the pressurized container began overheating Thursday and started releasing vapors in Garden Grove. Officials issued mandatory evacuation orders affecting 40,000 residents, with emergency shelters established by Friday evening at three high schools and other locations.

Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey explained that authorities fear the tank could rupture and spill its contents or potentially explode. The container sits at GKN Aerospace, a facility that manufactures components for commercial and military aircraft. The tank contains between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a chemical used in plastic manufacturing.

Fire crews are using drone technology to track the tank’s temperature, and by Friday evening, cooling efforts showed positive results, Covey reported.

“It is not OK with me just to sit back and watch this thing blow up or fail. That is not acceptable to me,” Covey stated in a social media update. “Our group is going to do everything they can to come up with a third, a fourth, a fifth option that is not that, that is not failure, and we can get all of you back home as soon as possible. I ask you to continue to be patient.”

Officials also requested that residents avoid calling 911 with non-emergency matters, particularly suggestions for resolving the crisis, Covey noted.

“I know that everybody’s thinking they’re going to give us some really good ideas on how to fix that,” he stated. “While we really appreciate the intent of that, trust me, I have the best people around working on solutions.”

The evacuation zone initially covered Garden Grove residents but expanded Friday to include parts of five additional Orange County communities: Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park and Westminster.

Garden Grove sits approximately 38 miles south of downtown Los Angeles and less than a mile from Disneyland’s two theme parks, which remain outside the evacuation area. The community hosts one of the nation’s largest Vietnamese populations, and local Vietnamese television networks have been translating official updates and encouraging residents to take the emergency seriously.

Covey said emergency teams constructed sandbag barriers to contain the toxic substance and prevent it from entering storm drainage systems or reaching nearby waterways and the ocean if a spill occurs.

When the chemical becomes overheated, it can produce vapors dangerous to human health, according to Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, the Orange County health officer. Exposure can trigger breathing problems, eye irritation and burning, nausea and headaches.

Emergency crews initially succeeded in neutralizing one of two compromised tanks, but Covey announced Friday morning that the remaining container was “in the biggest crisis.”

GKN Aerospace released a statement saying the company was “fully focused on working with emergency services, specialized hazardous material teams and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the local community, our employees and everyone else involved.”

A Tennessee federal court has dismissed all criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, bringing an end to a case that captured national headlines due to a deportation error by the Trump administration.

The federal judge cleared Garcia of human smuggling charges that had been pending against him. Garcia’s situation became widely known after the Trump administration mistakenly deported him to a dangerous correctional facility in El Salvador.

The dismissal represents a complete victory for Garcia, who is now free of all federal criminal allegations that had been brought against him.

Sherill Baldwin frequently spends her time working at a neglected graveyard in Connecticut. Though she discovered the location by accident, Baldwin has now become involved in a growing effort by volunteers known as ‘cemetery citizens’ who dedicate themselves to caring for abandoned burial sites.

These dedicated individuals are part of a larger nationwide initiative focused on rehabilitating and maintaining burial grounds that have been overlooked or forgotten by their communities. The volunteers work to clear overgrown vegetation, repair damaged markers, and restore dignity to these final resting places.

After more than 11 months away from home, the crew of the USS Gerald R. Ford received a triumphant reception upon their return to Naval Station Norfolk. The aircraft carrier’s deployment lasted 334 days, during which sailors faced multiple challenges at sea.

The extended mission took the crew through two separate military conflicts while also dealing with onboard emergencies including a fire and malfunctioning sewage systems. Despite these hardships, the sailors were greeted as heroes when they finally stepped onto home soil.

Emotional reunions filled the naval station as family members welcomed back their loved ones after nearly a year of separation. The homecoming marked the end of one of the longest recent deployments for the crew members aboard the massive warship.

Two recent national spelling bee champions, Dev Shah from 2023 and Faizan Zaki from last year, shared nearly identical victory moments – standing on a confetti-covered stage alongside a man wearing glasses and an aloha shirt, proudly displaying his book “Words of Wisdom.”

That man is Scott Remer, and for him, those championship photos represent more than celebration – they’re essential marketing for his unique business.

The 32-year-old Remer holds the distinction of being America’s sole full-time professional spelling coach, while most others in the field are former competitors still attending college or high school. Though nearly every national champion from the last 15 years has received coaching, Remer stands alone in making it his primary profession.

At this year’s competition – running Tuesday through Thursday in Washington with 247 contestants – multiple finalists will likely be Remer’s pupils when the field narrows to roughly 10 competitors.

“He’s probably one of the most influential figures in spelling over the past 10 years,” said Shah, now 17.

Remer’s resume includes training five national champions, and following the competition’s return after pandemic interruptions in 2020 and 2021, he has expanded his coaching operation significantly. This year he claims 34 students, maintaining at least 29 pupils during each of the previous four competitions.

His fees exceed those of competitors: private sessions cost up to $180 per hour. Additionally, when students place in the top 10 and earn prize money, Remer collects up to 10% of their winnings as what he terms “a performance-based bonus.”

Despite his demanding personality during instruction, many families consider Remer’s services worthwhile – or perhaps valuable because of his intensity.

Consistently enthusiastic and outgoing regarding spelling matters, Remer traces his coaching passion to his disappointing fourth-place finish in 2008, his final competition year. He describes his motivation as sharing knowledge, helping children achieve their potential, and the challenge of uncovering competition-worthy words.

“This is really about the love of language and the love of the competition. Part of it is once you’re stung by the bee, there’s kind of no going back,” Remer said. “I’m not going to deny that it pays well, because it does. But I don’t know that there’s anything wrong with that.”

His two most recent champions credit him as essential to their victories.

“Even though his classes are more expensive, it’s definitely worth it,” Faizan said. “I saw results.”

Faizan’s father, Zaki Anwar, negotiated a reduced $120 hourly rate for Remer’s instruction since Faizan already possessed advanced spelling skills. Remer earned 7% of the champion’s $52,500 prize total – a $3,675 bonus.

“After winning, it doesn’t really matter,” Anwar said.

Remer’s instruction focuses on word roots, language patterns, and pattern exceptions. He aims to develop deep linguistic understanding enabling spellers to decode unfamiliar words, as Shah demonstrated with “rommack” in 2023.

However, Remer’s rates and teaching approach have driven some students to seek alternative coaches.

“I found it prohibitively expensive,” said Navneeth Murali, a University of Pennsylvania student who competed through 2020 and now coaches spellers at roughly $50 per hour. “It wasn’t a realistic option for me.”

Grace Walters, who trained 2022 champion Harini Logan, charges $75 hourly. Both she and Murali accept only a few students annually.

“I’m very much quality over quantity. It’s really important to me that I’m able to get to know each speller as a whole person, not just as a speller, and tailor my curriculum to them as individuals,” said Walters, a University of Kentucky linguistics graduate student. “But I have to give credit where it’s due: If everyone was doing it like me, there wouldn’t be enough coaches for all the spellers out there.”

Sree Vidya Siliveri worked with Remer before placing 60th in 2024 but struggled with his methods, according to her father, Sreedhar Siliveri. After finding new coaching, she finished 10th in 2025.

“We were looking for alternatives and found some of the fresh, like, high school students who can be friendlier and charge less,” Sreedhar Siliveri said.

Even devoted Remer supporters acknowledge his sometimes abrupt and demanding approach with middle school students. Simone Kaplan, who placed second among the “octo-champs” of 2019, valued Remer’s rigorous coaching while recognizing it doesn’t suit everyone.

“Scott is a true logophile, a master of languages. He pushes his students to keep up with him,” Kaplan said. “That can inspire some spellers to learn and succeed, but it can also leave a student feeling like they’ve disappointed him if they don’t spell every word right. And that’s difficult for a kid.”

Remer says his objective involves providing support while delivering necessary feedback to prevent repeated errors.

“I try to be tough but fair, and I also try to modulate my teaching methods, based on the kids’ needs and the kids’ personalities,” he said. “Whether I’m always successful at that is I guess an open question.”

A 2016 Yale graduate who earned a Cambridge master’s degree the following year, Remer published his first study guide, “Words of Wisdom: Keys to Success in the Scripps National Spelling Bee,” in 2010 as a teenager. That same year, he coached his first champion, Anamika Veeramani.

He has authored three additional books and previously worked for the Council on Foreign Relations and as communications coordinator for an LGBTQ-friendly New York synagogue. Since 2020, he has focused entirely on spelling coaching while also providing Chinese, Spanish, writing, and standardized test preparation tutoring. Born and raised in Cleveland’s suburbs, he currently resides in Mexico City.

Remer has penned annual Guardian op-eds about the competition since 2019. He distributes email lists featuring his students and progress updates, referring to them as “my spellers” despite many having multiple tutors. (Faizan worked with three coaches last year.) During competition week, Remer maintains constant visibility, conducting on-site lessons and sitting with families during television coverage.

While recognizing the need for self-promotion, he admits discomfort with marketing activities.

“I think I’m trying not to be particularly self-aggrandizing in general,” Remer said, “so if the question is, does it come naturally to me to do that sort of promotional and marketing work, the answer is no.”

Scripps, the Cincinnati media company operating the century-old competition, doesn’t endorse coaching, but executive director Corrie Loeffler considers the practice unavoidable given the competition’s intensity.

Loeffler diplomatically questioned whether any coach should claim responsibility for a speller’s achievements.

“It’s hard work, it’s study ethic, it’s perseverance,” she said. “These kids are doing pretty incredible things at a really high level, especially at a young age, and I want them to be able to take credit for that themselves, knowing that it’s a community and they’ve had so much support along the way.”

Emergency crews in California are working around the clock to prevent a potential disaster after authorities forced tens of thousands of residents from their homes due to a deteriorating chemical storage tank that could either rupture or explode.

The crisis began Thursday in Garden Grove, a community of approximately 172,000 residents located about 30 miles south of Los Angeles, when officials discovered a storage tank at an aerospace manufacturing facility was at risk of catastrophic failure.

Craig Covey, division chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, explained that firefighters have been continuously spraying the tanks with water using remote-controlled equipment to maintain safe temperatures and “buying us time,” according to a video he shared on social media.

The problematic storage container holds methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable and volatile substance used in plastic production and aerospace manufacturing, according to the Orange County Register.

In an earlier video message, Covey outlined the dire situation facing emergency responders, explaining that the tank could fail and release up to 7,000 gallons of toxic chemicals, or it could detonate and threaten additional storage tanks nearby.

“I know I keep talking about we were handed this situation where there’s only two things that can happen, it could crack and leak, or it could blow up. That’s not acceptable to us,” Covey stated in his later video update. “I have an entire team actively working locally, regionally, across the state, and across the country, to try to figure out how to fix this.”

Covey emphasized his determination to find a solution, saying his objective was to “get all these brilliant minds together to put a plan together, so that we don’t let this blow up.”

The evacuation threat escalated Friday when officials received updated information from the manufacturing company that increased explosion concerns, according to TJ McGovern, interim chief of the Orange County Fire Authority.

Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra reported that approximately 40,000 people live within the evacuation area, with roughly 15% declining to leave their homes, as noted by the Orange County Register.

Emergency management teams have established three temporary shelters – one within Garden Grove itself and additional facilities in the adjacent communities of Anaheim and Cypress.

Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong of the Orange County Health Care Agency warned that escaping vapors could cause serious breathing problems if people experience extended exposure, though air quality monitoring equipment has not yet detected any chemical vapors in the atmosphere.

“You are safe as long as you are out of the zone that was determined to be an evacuation zone,” Chinsio-Kwong assured residents.

A devastating blast at a Staten Island dry dock facility Friday resulted in one fatality and left 36 people wounded, according to officials. The explosion occurred while fire crews were already responding to an active blaze and working to free two individuals who had become trapped.

Among the injured were two firefighters who required hospitalization. One fire marshal sustained severe injuries including a skull fracture and brain hemorrhage, requiring intubation for treatment. The second firefighter remained in serious but improving condition, authorities reported.

“This was a complex, fast-developing emergency situation,” New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters.

“First responders did what they always do: they ran towards danger so others could escape to safety.”

Authorities confirmed the fatality was a civilian but released no additional information about the victim’s identity.

Mamdani stated that a thorough investigation would commence after crews fully suppress the remaining fire.

Fire departments had initially responded to reports of a basement fire with two workers trapped inside when the explosion took place, according to officials.

The emergency unfolded in Staten Island’s Richmond Terrace area, located in the New York City borough situated across the harbor from Manhattan.

A fatal explosion at a New York City shipyard on Friday claimed one life and left 36 people wounded, according to officials.

Fire department authorities report that the majority of those hurt in the blast were firefighters and emergency responders who arrived at the scene following the incident.

The explosion occurred at a shipyard facility located on Staten Island, sending multiple people to area hospitals for treatment.

Emergency officials issued evacuation orders for roughly 40,000 residents in Southern California on Friday following a dangerous leak from a chemical storage tank that poses serious safety risks.

The hazardous situation prompted authorities to close local schools as they warned that the compromised storage facility could potentially burst or explode. The chemical tank has continued leaking despite ongoing response efforts.

Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey addressed the media during a press briefing held at the Los Alamitos racetrack in Cypress regarding the dangerous materials incident occurring in Garden Grove.

Emergency crews are working to contain the situation while residents remain displaced from the affected area until the threat is resolved.

Tens of thousands of Southern California residents remained displaced Friday as emergency crews worked desperately to contain a dangerous chemical leak that threatens to explode without warning.

Emergency officials issued mandatory evacuation orders for approximately 40,000 people after a storage vessel containing 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate began overheating and releasing toxic vapors Thursday at an aerospace plastics manufacturing plant in Garden Grove, Orange County.

The leak originated at GKN Aerospace, a facility that produces components for both commercial and military aircraft. When overnight efforts to stop the chemical release failed, authorities expanded evacuation zones Friday to include portions of five additional Orange County communities: Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park and Westminster.

Garden Grove Fire Chief Craig Covey delivered a stark warning during Friday’s afternoon briefing, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

“This is not precautionary. … This thing is going to fail, and we don’t know when,” Covey stated. “We’re doing our best to figure out when or how we can prevent it.”

The fire chief explained that the compromised tank faces two catastrophic scenarios: it could crack and spill the hazardous substance onto the ground, or it could detonate entirely.

Garden Grove Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein acknowledged residents’ concerns during the press conference, saying, “We understand that this is frightening. But the evacuation orders are in place for your safety.”

Emergency responders have constructed protective barriers using sandbags around the facility to contain any potential chemical release and prevent contamination from reaching storm drainage systems, waterways, or the Pacific Ocean.

Covey described methyl methacrylate as extremely volatile, poisonous, and combustible.

“We are setting up these evacuations in preparation for these two options: it fails, or it blows up,” the fire chief explained in a social media video update. “Please follow our requests and orders for evacuations.”

While emergency teams successfully neutralized one damaged storage vessel initially, Covey announced Friday morning that the second tank had entered what he called “the biggest crisis.”

Authorities reported no casualties or fatalities related to the incident. Educational institutions throughout the affected area suspended operations as a safety precaution.

NEW YORK — At least 16 people sustained injuries, three of them serious, when an explosion and fire erupted at a shipyard facility on Staten Island Friday afternoon, according to the New York Fire Department.

The incident began around 3:30 p.m. Friday when someone called to report two workers stuck in a confined area at the dock, according to Joanne Mariano from the fire department’s press office. When firefighters arrived, they discovered flames burning in the lower level of a large metal building at the dock location.

While emergency crews were battling the blaze, a significant explosion happened at the location approximately 50 minutes after their arrival, Mariano explained.

By 5 p.m., emergency personnel had documented 16 injured individuals at the scene, Mariano reported. Among those seriously hurt were two firefighters and one civilian. Two other firefighters suffered moderate injuries, while the remaining victims had minor injuries. Two emergency medical workers were also among those with minor injuries.

Officials were still working to confirm the final number of patients, Mariano noted.

More than 200 firefighters and emergency medical staff from 68 different units responded to the scene Friday evening, according to Mariano. Authorities continue to investigate what caused the fire and explosion.

Richard Oviogor, who was nearby during the incident, spoke to WABC-TV about hearing two explosions and what felt like a “big shock wave.”

The location houses multiple businesses, including a coffee roasting operation and a self-storage business. The shipyard was previously operated by the Bethlehem Steel Company, which constructed vessels for the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Court documents reveal that one of two teenagers responsible for a deadly San Diego mosque attack this week had previously drawn police attention for troubling conduct and Nazi worship, leading authorities to remove his family’s firearms a year prior to the violence.

Law enforcement officials conducting a wellness visit at Caleb Vazquez’s residence documented that he was “involved in suspicious behavior idolizing nazis and mass shooters,” and secured a judicial order on Jan. 29, 2025, to confiscate 26 firearms through a 2014 California statute permitting weapon removal from individuals deemed threatening.

According to an affidavit from Marco Vazquez, the teen’s father, the family had willingly given up the weapons several days before the court action.

Law enforcement officials report that Vazquez, 18, connected with Cain Clark, 17, through internet platforms where both became radicalized. Investigators have not released additional information about their relationship or identified which weapons were utilized in the attack.

On Monday, Cain Clark’s mother contacted police about missing weapons from their residence, initiating an extensive manhunt for the teenagers before they carried out the assault at the Islamic Center of San Diego and subsequently took their own lives, authorities stated.

Legal documents indicate Vazquez’s parents chose to “secure all sharp knives in the home” and turn over firearms previously stored in a locked gun safe after learning of unspecified serious accusations against their son. He had also been previously subjected to involuntary mental health hospitalization. The court papers, initially disclosed by The New York Times, did not detail the reason for his psychiatric admission.

In a Thursday statement, the Vazquez family revealed that Caleb Vazquez was diagnosed with autism and had developed resentment toward certain aspects of his identity, though they did not elaborate on specific challenges.

“Coming from a diverse family that not only includes immigrants but Muslims as well, we always taught the importance of acceptance, compassion, and love for one another. We are proud of the different backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and religions within our family and community,” their statement said.

“We believe this, combined with exposure to hateful rhetoric, extremist content, and propaganda spread across parts of the internet, social media, and other online platforms, contributed to his descent into radicalized ideologies and violent beliefs,” said their statement, released through their attorney Colin Rudolph.

The family encouraged him to pursue treatment and he attended rehabilitation facilities, according to their statement. Vazquez’s parents did not respond immediately to Associated Press interview requests. Legal counsel who represented Vazquez’s parents during the weapon confiscation also did not return calls.

Written materials from Vazquez and Clark containing white supremacist ideology showed Vazquez describing “some mental health issues” and romantic rejection. The documents indicate both teenagers admired previous attackers who died during mass shooting incidents. Their writings displayed animosity toward Jewish people, Muslims, Black people and various other communities.

Vazquez departed San Diego Unified School District in June 2018 following attendance at Washington Elementary through fifth grade, district spokesperson James Canning informed The Associated Press. His subsequent educational placement remains unknown.

Clark was registered in a virtual high school within the district, Canning confirmed.

The search for the teenagers began Monday when Clark’s mother reported her son was suicidal and had fled. She informed authorities he wore camouflage clothing, had stolen multiple weapons from their home, and was accompanied by an associate, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl stated earlier this week.

Officers were continuing to question the mother about potential locations when the shooting commenced at the county’s primary mosque.

In a 2025 court filing, Vazquez’s father described his family’s dedicated attempts to redirect Caleb Vazquez toward positive behavior. He explained that when they relinquished their weapons, they maintained contact with his educational institution, closely supervised his social media activity, and ensured he attended therapy sessions twice weekly.

“We observe all of his online activities, who he talks to, what he talks about, and who he is friends with,” Marco Vazquez wrote, stressing that he rejected his son’s beliefs.

Specialists note growing challenges in assisting individuals attracted to the type of extremism demonstrated by Vazquez and Clark.

Samira Benz works for the Violence Prevention Network, which conducts interventions when people are radicalized into believing in violent extremism. Benz said the work has become increasingly complicated as the internet blurs ideologies and creates niche, meme-based languages that can be fleeting and hard to decipher.

“Even if a parent is looking at the phone of their child, they don’t necessarily see something bad is going on,” Benz said.

A federal judge has thrown out criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man, citing concerns about prosecutorial misconduct.

U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw determined that the Justice Department engaged in vindictive prosecution against Garcia, leading to the dismissal of the criminal case.

The ruling represents a significant legal victory for Garcia, who had previously attended a rally and prayer vigil before reporting to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Baltimore, Maryland in August 2025.

A culture of volunteerism and community support continues to thrive in a Missouri town fifteen years after a devastating tornado brought widespread destruction to the area.

The powerful storm caused extensive damage throughout Joplin, Mo., destroying large portions of the community. In the disaster’s wake, close to 100,000 volunteers arrived to assist with reconstruction efforts.

That remarkable outpouring of support has left a lasting impact on the community, with the volunteer spirit that emerged during the recovery period continuing to shape how residents approach community service today.

A federal judge has thrown out criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego, a Salvadoran migrant whose case became a focal point of immigration enforcement efforts during the previous administration.

The judge ruled on Friday that the charges would not have been brought if Abrego had not fought against his removal from the country, effectively dismissing the indictment.

Abrego had entered the country without authorization and later became a high-profile case when he was deported to a large detention facility in El Salvador this past March. His removal occurred despite an existing court directive that prohibited sending him back due to potential persecution risks.

Following a Supreme Court directive requiring the government to bring him back to American soil, Abrego was returned to the United States in June. However, his return came only after federal prosecutors had obtained criminal charges against him for alleged human smuggling activities.

Abrego entered a plea of not guilty to the charges and maintained through his legal team that the prosecution was launched as payback for his lawsuit demanding his return to the United States.

Historical truth advocates are marking a significant milestone – two centuries and three decades since Ona Judge made her brave break from bondage under George Washington’s ownership.

Born into enslavement on Washington’s estate, Judge was just 22 when she made her bold move on May 21, 1796, fleeing from the president’s official Philadelphia home. She concealed herself aboard a vessel bound for New Hampshire, where she eventually wed and bore three children.

Philadelphia has officially recognized May 21st as Ona Judge Day, with Thursday’s demonstration held at the President’s House location. This site became a focal point of the Trump administration’s campaign to eliminate what it considered “disparaging” content about Americans from government properties. Rally attendees shouted “Tell the truth! Restore our history!” while listening to speakers involved in the battle to reinstate displays about Judge and others who were enslaved there.

The informational displays were suddenly taken down this past January after President Donald Trump issued an executive directive. While some exhibits returned following a court ruling, that restoration work stopped when the administration filed an appeal.

Judge’s display panel has been reinstalled, and her memory lives on through a series of bronze footprint markers placed in the pavement to represent her journey to liberty.

“We remember her courage, her passion, her determination, that we make sure that in no way, shape or form she is ever forgotten,” said Cindy Bass, a member of the Philadelphia City Council. “Each one, teach one. Everyone, tell someone.”

Dawn Chavous, a volunteer for the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, said it’s important to acknowledge the contributions of all people who shaped the country.

“You can’t love America without knowing the good, the bad and the ugly,” she said. “Slavery was part of our American story, and that is not something that we should hide or run away from.”

Meanwhile in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a large-scale artwork honoring Judge will be revealed Saturday – a 13-by-25-foot wall painting on property belonging to the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. This group has highlighted her narrative through guided tours and educational initiatives for many years.

“At a time when stories of struggle and freedom are being erased, New Hampshire is choosing something different: to make the quest for freedom visible, permanent, and undeniable,” the organization said in announcing the mural project.

Drivers will encounter lane restrictions on Collins Road this Wednesday, May 27th, according to a traffic advisory issued Friday.

The partial roadway closure will affect traffic flow in the area. Motorists are advised to plan alternate routes or allow extra travel time when commuting through the affected section.

The advisory was posted Friday afternoon to give drivers advance notice of the upcoming traffic disruption.

The Pentagon made public a second collection of previously secret documents on Friday detailing reported encounters with unidentified flying objects, featuring witness accounts of mysterious green orbs, disc-shaped craft, and unexplained fireballs.

Following President Donald Trump’s directive, this latest disclosure comes two weeks after the initial release on May 8. This continues a tradition of presidential transparency regarding government UFO records that started in the late 1970s.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that these materials – comprising documents, photographs, and video footage of what officials term “unidentified anomalous phenomena” – have sparked public curiosity for decades.

“It’s time the American people see it for themselves,” he said in a statement.

Among the 222 newly released files, one particularly detailed document spans 116 pages and chronicles a sequence of reported encounters and official investigations at a classified military installation in Sandia, New Mexico, spanning from 1948 to 1950.

“This file contains 209 sightings of ‘green orbs’, ‘discs’, and ‘fireballs’ reported near the military base,” the Defense Department said.

Analysts reviewing the initial document release found fresh footage of previously documented incidents but noted the materials provided no definitive proof of alien technology or visitors from other worlds.

A grieving father reflects on the memorial tree growing in his front yard that serves as a living tribute to his son who died while serving in Afghanistan.

The redbud tree stands as a constant reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by his child during military service overseas.

Television host Stephen Colbert wrapped up his 11-year tenure on “The Late Show” Thursday evening, featuring an impromptu conversation with Beatles legend Paul McCartney and delivering sharp commentary about his unexpected exit from CBS.

The concluding episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” opened with the host expressing gratitude to both studio guests and home viewers for following his nightly commentary on current affairs, which frequently included sharp criticism of Republican President Donald Trump.

“We were here to feel the news with you, and I don’t know about you, but I sure have felt it,” Colbert told the laughing audience at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.

CBS revealed last July its decision to cancel “The Late Show,” pointing to financial considerations. The late-night television format, a cornerstone of American entertainment since the 1950s, has experienced declining audience numbers and reduced advertising revenue over recent years.

The network’s choice to terminate the highest-rated late-night program generated significant backlash from Democrats and other observers who interpreted it as an effort to suppress political comedy in defiance of First Amendment free speech guarantees.

The program’s elimination occurred while Paramount Global, CBS’s parent company at the time, was pursuing government approval for a corporate merger. Following approval of that transaction, CBS now operates under David Ellison-led Paramount Skydance.

Colbert’s program maintained its position as the most-viewed late-night talk show among broadcast networks since the 2017-2018 television season, based on Nielsen ratings. During this season, “The Late Show” drew an average of 2.1 million viewers.

During Thursday’s final broadcast, Colbert stepped away from his hosting position and ventured backstage, where he discovered a luminous green circle. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, a regular show contributor, humorously suggested it represented a wormhole created by “two conflicting realities,” namely “a show that was number one on late night, and it also gets canceled.”

“Your cancellation has created a rift in the comedy-variety-talk continuum,” Tyson explained. “If it grows, all of late-night television could be destroyed.”

Other late-night personalities Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and Jon Stewart subsequently joined to provide guidance.

Initially, Colbert indicated he had arranged for Pope Leo to appear as his closing guest. A staff member then jokingly announced that the pontiff had withdrawn due to dissatisfaction with his dressing room refreshments.

McCartney then unexpectedly entered the stage, announcing his availability. “I was just in the area. I was doing some errands,” the musician joked.

McCartney had previously performed in the same venue in 1964, when the Beatles made their American debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Colbert inquired about McCartney’s memories from that historic performance, Sullivan’s personality, and the Beatles’ initial impressions of the United States.

The musician recalled that he and his fellow band members, who were in their early twenties then, perceived America as “the land of the free, the greatest democracy.”

“That’s what it was, and hopefully still is,” McCartney commented.

The program concluded with McCartney performing the Beatles hit “Hello, Goodbye” while Colbert provided backing vocals.

Following the show’s conclusion, Trump posted on Truth Social that Colbert possessed “no talent.”

“You could take any person off of the street and they would be better than this total jerk,” the president stated. “Thank goodness he’s finally gone!”

Prior to Thursday’s broadcast, supporters gathered outside the theater expressed sadness about losing both Colbert’s hosting and “The Late Show” as a cultural institution. Colbert, 62, assumed hosting duties from David Letterman in 2015.

“This is the end of an era. The late night show is a staple. David Letterman, Johnny Carson, it’s upsetting,” said fan Mike McGillicuddy.

Another supporter, Sarah Thompson, expressed being “very sad that Stephen’s leaving.”

“It’s just going to leave a big hole in America because you need to laugh at the end of the day from all the trauma that we’re facing,” she said.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — During her yearly state address on Thursday, Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González announced plans to increase electrical generation capacity across the U.S. territory as ongoing blackouts continue to anger residents throughout the island.

The governor explained that a competitive selection process for adding 3,000 megawatts of new power generation is currently in progress, with the contract expected to be finalized by the end of summer. She also revealed that approximately 1,000 megawatts will come online in the coming months as workers repair and upgrade existing power facilities.

González explained that every 100 megawatts can supply electricity to 60,000 households.

“With more megawatts in the system, we can reduce outages,” she said.

The island’s electrical infrastructure was devastated when Hurricane Maria struck as a Category 4 hurricane in September 2017, though the system was already deteriorating due to insufficient upkeep and funding.

The governor announced that workers have begun installing Tesla battery systems using over $700 million in federal funding, noting these units should help decrease power interruptions with their 430 megawatts of energy storage capability.

Additionally, 244 megawatts worth of backup power plants designed to operate during peak usage periods have been delivered to the island, she stated.

González has received significant criticism for supporting the Trump administration’s decision to reallocate $350 million in federal money initially designated for rooftop solar panels and battery systems for 12,000 low-income Puerto Rican families, funds now being used for the island’s deteriorating electrical grid.

The governor also stated her continued support for converting power facilities to natural gas operations.

“I want to reduce the cost of power in Puerto Rico,” she said.

Last year, the island ranked fifth nationally for highest average electricity costs, trailing only Hawaii, California, Connecticut and Rhode Island, based on U.S. Energy Administration Information data.

González repeated her commitment to terminate a multimillion-dollar agreement with Luma, a private corporation managing power transmission and distribution in Puerto Rico that has faced widespread criticism as blackouts continue.

In response, Luma issued a statement saying “the improvements to the transmission and distribution network are evident.”

The company added: “As long as the outstanding funds remain available, the reconstruction and modernization work across the island will continue.”

Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority continues working to reorganize over $9 billion in outstanding debt.

González also recognized “serious problems” affecting the island’s water systems, as increasing numbers of communities experience extended periods without service.

“I don’t intend to console anyone,” she said while requesting patience and noting that rebuilding projects are ongoing.

After the nearly two-hour speech, the governor, who belongs to the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, received criticism from opposition politicians.

Pablo José Hernández, Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress and a member of the Popular Democratic Party, released a video statement following the address declaring that Puerto Ricans are not alone, “that your feelings of frustration, dissatisfaction, and anger are justified.”

AUSTIN, Texas — State regulators have revoked the nursing credentials of a Camp Mystic co-director, delivering harsh criticism for her response during last year’s devastating flood that claimed the lives of 25 girls and two teenage counselors.

The disciplinary action represents one of Texas’ initial moves against the family that owns and runs the all-girls Christian camp following the July 4 disaster. Camp Mystic recently called off plans to resume operations this summer amid fierce opposition from grieving families.

Mary Liz Eastland, who held nursing credentials and worked as the camp’s medical officer, had previously testified in court proceedings that she made no attempt to reach children and staff located in the camp’s lower areas as early morning flooding intensified along the Guadalupe River. Her father-in-law, Richard Eastland, who owned Camp Mystic, also perished in the flood.

Permitting Mary Liz Eastland to continue her nursing practice would create a “continuing and imminent threat to public welfare,” stated an order executed Tuesday by Kristin Benton, who heads the Texas Board of Nursing.

The document alleges Eastland “abandoned the campers and staff when the camp site began to flood … by evacuating herself and her children to higher ground without providing any assistance or direction to all of the other campers and staff.”

Eastland disputes these conclusions and plans to challenge the suspension, according to Camp Mystic attorney Joshua Fiveson. He criticized the board for revoking her license with minimal advance notice of proceedings and without gathering testimony or completing a thorough investigation.

“This is a sad day for Mrs. Eastland as well as every licensed nurse in Texas,” Fiveson stated. “This was an exercise in premature punishment.”

The board’s order indicates a final determination regarding her license will be made within two months.

Following the disaster, the Eastland family has faced mounting criticism from bereaved families and Texas legislators. Multiple families have initiated legal proceedings against the Eastlands, who spent months pursuing reopening plans before eventually abandoning them.

Legislative hearings in April revealed the camp’s inadequate flood emergency protocols, dependence on insufficiently trained personnel, and lost opportunities to move children away from riverside cabins.

During those hearings, Mary Liz Eastland detailed her actions that evening when she and her children departed their residence to join her mother-in-law. She described water flooding into the house and breaking a window to escape. The family managed to reach higher ground.

She and other personnel assembled survivors for attendance verification, comparing names with cabin lists. She testified that rising floodwaters prevented her from reaching the campers positioned nearest to the Guadalupe River.

Eastland also faced questioning about why she failed, as the camp’s chief medical officer, to contact or notify other medical personnel to assist campers before the catastrophe occurred. When asked whether additional staff could have aided in camp evacuation efforts, she responded, “Maybe so.”

A woman who previously dated a member of the musical group Why Don’t We now faces serious criminal charges for allegedly attempting to arrange his murder through a hired killer found on the dark web, according to authorities. The alleged scheme was reportedly connected to an ongoing custody battle involving their 7-year-old child.

Gabriela Gonzalez, age 24 and known for her substantial social media presence, received charges on Tuesday including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder in the supposed plan targeting Jack Avery, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Two additional suspects face identical charges: Francisco Gonzalez, her 59-year-old father, and Kai Cordrey, her 26-year-old boyfriend at the time.

“This is a case where the defendants are accused of going to great lengths to find someone to commit murder,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a news release.

According to Hochman, the charges resulted from an extensive investigation that began with the FBI before being transferred to the district attorney’s office.

In a Thursday Instagram message, Avery expressed gratitude to prosecutors and law enforcement for their assistance and stated his priority remains “being the best father I can be.”

According to prosecutors, Gonzalez allegedly enlisted Cordrey’s assistance to locate someone willing to kill Avery during the period spanning 2020 to 2021. Authorities claim that in April 2021, her father provided Cordrey with $10,000 as initial payment for the scheme. Prosecutors allege that two months afterward, Cordrey received an additional $4,000 from Francisco Gonzalez when the supposed assassin demanded more compensation.

In September 2021, an undercover law enforcement agent pretending to be a contract killer engaged in conversations with Cordrey regarding the murder-for-hire scheme. Authorities say Cordrey identified Avery as the intended victim and discussed both payment arrangements and requirements for proof of death with the undercover officer.

Gabriela Gonzalez, whose Instagram account boasts more than 450,000 followers, remained in custody at a Los Angeles-area detention center on Thursday with bail set at $2 million. Her legal representative, Elliot Zarabi, did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Francisco Gonzalez was taken into custody in Florida and is currently waiting for extradition proceedings. He was being held Thursday at a Seminole County jail facility in Florida. Information about legal representation for him on these charges was not available.

According to Los Angeles County jail documentation, Cordrey was arrested on Thursday. Jail records did not indicate whether he had secured legal counsel.

All three suspects could receive life imprisonment if found guilty of the charges.

The musical group Why Don’t We put out their first album in 2018, featuring the track “8 Letters,” followed by a second album three years afterward. The band has since split up, and Avery independently released the song “XOXOX” this year.

Thousands of family members and friends gathered to welcome home the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford following an extended deployment that lasted nearly a year at sea.

The homecoming celebration was designed as part of efforts to help sailors navigate the challenging adjustment period that follows months of separation from their loved ones.

Prison officials in Tennessee called off a scheduled execution Thursday evening after medical staff could not successfully establish the required intravenous access for lethal injection procedures.

The state’s governor later issued a one-year postponement of the death sentence for Tony Carruthers, 57, who received capital punishment following his conviction for the kidnapping and killing of three individuals in 1994.

Medical personnel brought Carruthers into the death chamber at the maximum-security facility in Nashville, where they spent over an hour attempting to set up the necessary IV access before abandoning the procedure and returning the inmate to his holding cell, as witnessed by an Associated Press journalist covering the event.

While staff successfully inserted a primary IV line, they encountered difficulties establishing the secondary access point mandated under the state’s execution procedures, the Tennessee Department of Correction explained in their official statement.

“I am granting Tony Von Carruthers a temporary reprieve from execution for one year,” the governor announced in his official statement.

This incident marks Carruthers as the seventh condemned individual in the United States to escape execution due to failed lethal injection procedures, according to statistics from the anti-death penalty organization Reprieve.

“Lethal injection is touted as a humane, ‘medical’ method of execution. Bloody and prolonged execution attempts like this one expose the gruesome reality,” stated Matt Wells, who serves as Reprieve’s U.S. deputy director.

Federal authorities have arrested two men for producing explicit artificial intelligence-generated images and videos of female celebrities, marking among the first prosecutions under recently enacted legislation designed to combat deepfake pornography.

Cornelius Shannon, 51, and Arturo Hernandez, 20, were taken into custody Tuesday on charges related to creating sexually explicit AI content that garnered millions of online views, court documents reveal.

The two defendants, who appear unrelated to each other, are facing prosecution under the Take It Down Act, legislation enacted last year by President Donald Trump that imposes enhanced penalties for distributing AI-created deepfakes and revenge pornography. The measure received support from both political parties and public endorsement from first lady Melania Trump.

Both men could receive prison sentences of up to two years under the new legislation.

Legal representatives for Shannon and Hernandez have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Joseph Nocella, the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, released a statement saying the defendants had “used cutting-edge digital technology to create images that degraded and violated” dozens of women. “This case makes clear that posting deepfake pornography is not a victimless crime,” he added.

According to court filings, Shannon, who lives in New Jersey, distributed at least 240 collections of AI-created pornographic content featuring female politicians, musicians and singers.

Prosecutors stated that Hernandez, a Texas resident, created deepfake material depicting both celebrities and private individuals, including recent high school graduates.

These arrests occur amid growing concerns about increasingly advanced generative AI technology fueling the proliferation of sexually explicit fake content online, frequently targeting minors.

An Ohio man became the first individual convicted under the Take It Down Act last month after admitting guilt to using AI for generating child sexual abuse material.

In March, two teenage boys in Pennsylvania received probation sentences for producing explicit AI images of their classmates at an exclusive private school.

Additionally, three Tennessee teenagers filed a lawsuit earlier this year against Elon Musk’s xAI, alleging the company’s Grok tools transformed their actual photographs into sexually explicit images.

The high school students are pursuing class-action status to represent what their lawsuit claims are thousands of other minors who suffered similar victimization.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — While Americans typically display patriotism through red, white and blue attire or flag imagery, the truest representation of the nation’s spirit might just be hanging in your closet. Blue jeans serve as America’s universal uniform, owned by nearly every person regardless of background.

Despite today’s polarized climate, denim serves as a unifying force that crosses all boundaries — political affiliations, age groups, economic classes, social circles, and backgrounds. From native-born Americans like the jean-wearing Bruce Springsteen featured on his 1984 hit album to immigrants like Levi Strauss who arrived seeking opportunity, denim connects all.

Among America’s diverse tapestry of cultures and ethnicities, blue jeans stand as the singular unifying element.

The iconic garment’s origins trace back to brown canvas material rather than blue fabric. In 1853, Strauss, an immigrant from Bavaria who arrived in San Francisco during California’s Gold Rush era, initially crafted the pants from tent canvas material. When gold prospectors embraced the sturdy pants so enthusiastically that canvas supplies were depleted, Strauss transitioned to indigo-colored denim fabric. The collaboration with Nevada tailor Jacob Davis, who proposed adding copper rivets to strengthen pocket areas, led to their 1873 patent that established today’s blue jean design.

While Levi Strauss & Co. and competitors like H.D. Lee and Wrangler have generated enormous profits from denim sales over the years, blue jeans represent cultural significance beyond the commercial success that defined America.

Beyond their connection to Gold Rush history, blue jeans symbolize:

—the unwavering resolve of railway laborers who donned them while constructing cross-country transportation networks;

—the adventurous courage of frontier cowboys and wanderers who wore them during westward expansion;

—the strong work values of agricultural workers and industrial laborers who chose them for daily tasks;

—the nonconformist attitude of motorcycle riders and other rebels who adopted them following Marlon Brando’s iconic 1953 “The Wild Ones” performance;

—the vibrant creativity of hippie culture, who decorated flared versions with flower appliques and colorful patterns during San Francisco’s 1967 “Summer of Love” movement.

Across all variations and designs, blue jeans represent the ideal match for American identity.

WASHINGTON — The nation’s highest court has rejected Alabama’s effort to proceed with the execution of a death row prisoner determined by lower courts to have intellectual disabilities, in a split decision announced Thursday.

The court’s dismissal upholds earlier rulings protecting Joseph Clifton Smith, age 55, who has spent approximately 27 years awaiting execution following his 1997 conviction for fatally beating a man.

In 2002, the nation’s top court banned the execution of individuals with intellectual disabilities through a groundbreaking decision. Additional rulings in 2014 and 2017 required states to examine supplementary evidence of disability in cases where IQ scores fall near the threshold, acknowledging potential inaccuracies in testing.

Smith’s situation centered on how courts should evaluate cases where multiple IQ assessments yield results just above the commonly recognized disability threshold of 70. His five intelligence tests showed results between 72 and 78. According to his legal team, Smith attended special education classes and left school following seventh grade. When the murder occurred, his academic abilities were severely limited: mathematics at a kindergarten level, spelling equivalent to third grade, and reading skills matching fourth grade.

The court had agreed to review the matter to establish guidelines for evaluating such borderline intellectual disability situations. Oral arguments occurred in December.

Instead of issuing a ruling, however, the justices chose the uncommon step of dismissing the appeal entirely, allowing the most recent lower court decision to remain effective.

Five justices supported the dismissal: the court’s three liberal members plus two conservative colleagues.

The remaining four conservative justices objected, criticizing the federal appeals court in Atlanta for incorrect case analysis and arguing their fellow justices should have directed the appeals court to review Smith’s situation again.

The case reference is Hamm v. Smith, 24-872.

A Minnesota nonprofit director was handed a 41-year prison sentence on Thursday following her conviction for masterminding a massive $250 million fraud targeting federal child nutrition programs.

Aimee Bock, 45, faced charges in 2022 for utilizing her nonprofit organization Feeding Our Future to orchestrate what Justice Department officials described as the most extensive known fraud targeting government relief initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 70 additional individuals face charges in connection with Bock in this case. The fraud scheme has become a frequent talking point for U.S. President Donald Trump, a Republican, as justification for his plans to focus on Minnesota, a state under Democratic leadership, for an intensified immigration enforcement campaign this year.

During her appearance before U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel at the Minneapolis federal courthouse, Bock became emotional while speaking, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune: “I don’t have the words to express just how horrible I feel. I know I’m responsible.”

Federal prosecutors had requested a 50-year prison term. When imposing the 500-month sentence, equivalent to 41 years and eight months, Brasel emphasized that an extended sentence was warranted due to Bock’s leadership position in the scheme.

“This is a vortex of fraud, and you were at the epicenter,” the judge stated, as reported by the Star Tribune.

Officials in New Mexico are working to determine what unknown substance may have caused three deaths and made numerous emergency responders sick during a call to a residence.

Emergency crews responded Wednesday to what appeared to be a drug overdose at a house in Mountainair, located east of Albuquerque in a rural area. Four individuals were found unconscious inside the residence. Three people died, while the surviving person received medical care at an Albuquerque hospital, according to police.

Multiple first responders developed symptoms including coughing, vomiting and dizziness while at the scene, officials reported.

The mayor stated Thursday that authorities are waiting for test results to come back.

The exact number of emergency personnel who became ill remains unclear.

According to the University of New Mexico Hospital, close to two dozen individuals — primarily emergency responders — underwent decontamination procedures and medical evaluation. Three patients required monitoring Wednesday night, hospital representatives said.

Antonette Alguire, who volunteers as a firefighter in Mountainair, witnessed emergency medical technicians and firefighters experiencing coughing and vomiting episodes.

Most individuals who received medical evaluation showed no symptoms and were released, hospital officials confirmed.

Mountainair Mayor Peter Nieto reported observing drugs inside the residence, which is situated on a dirt road, and suggested this could be connected to the fatalities. He declined to specify what type of drugs he believed were present.

The mayor ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning or natural gas exposure as potential explanations for the health problems affecting first responders.

Wilson Silver, a spokesperson for New Mexico State Police, assured that no public danger exists and investigators don’t think the substance was transmitted through the air.

According to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, New Mexico ranked fourth nationally for drug overdose fatalities in 2024, recording 775 deaths.

Community members in Mountainair, which has fewer than 1,000 residents, have expressed concerns about drug problems affecting their area and beyond.

The mayor wrote on social media that the community’s law enforcement and emergency personnel work every day to safeguard residents and handle challenging circumstances.

The nation’s highest court delivered a decisive 8-1 ruling Thursday supporting a US business in its battle over assets seized during Cuba’s revolutionary period over six decades ago.

The justices breathed new life into legal action brought by Havana Docks, an American firm that previously ran dock operations in Cuba’s capital city. The company is pursuing legal action against four cruise operators that transported vacationers to Cuba when diplomatic relations briefly warmed under the Obama presidency.

Writing for the majority, Justice Clarence Thomas determined that the federal appeals court in Atlanta made an error in throwing out the legal claims, stating that “the cruise lines used confiscated property to which Havana Docks owns the claim.”

While Thursday’s decision doesn’t represent a final resolution in Havana Docks’ lawsuit, it arrives during a period of increased tensions with Cuba under President Donald Trump’s leadership, including Wednesday’s criminal charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro related to the 1996 destruction of civilian aircraft operated by Miami-based Cuban exiles.

The high court’s decision centered on a section of federal legislation called Helms-Burton, which lawmakers enacted following those aircraft incidents. The law’s Title III section permits Americans to pursue legal action against virtually any business that participates in commercial activities or profits from assets seized by Cuba’s administration.

Prior to the initial Trump presidency, every commander-in-chief had put this legal provision on hold due to concerns from US allies conducting business in Cuba and potential impacts on future diplomatic agreements between America and Cuba.

During 2016, President Barack Obama utilized a joint press event with Castro to declare that cruise operators could restart Cuban service. Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises launched Havana port calls that enabled cruise passengers to visit local entertainment venues, historical sites, waterways and coastal areas.

This situation shifted dramatically in 2019 when Trump chose to enable the lawsuit provision and subsequently imposed fresh travel limitations. The cruise companies quickly eliminated Cuban destinations and redirected vessels already at sea.

In the legal proceeding initiated by Havana Docks, US District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami determined the cruise operators were responsible for utilizing the Havana port facility the business previously managed.

Bloom concluded that Treasury Department authorizations from Obama’s administration allowing American passengers to travel to Cuba did not protect the cruise companies from legal action.

She granted Havana Docks more than $400 million total. A federal appeals panel sided with the cruise operators, overturning the monetary award.

The matter now goes back to the appeals court. Thomas noted that the cruise companies have additional legal arguments that remain unresolved.

A Virginia circuit court judge has thrown out all criminal charges against a former school administrator who faced accusations of failing to respond to warnings before a 6-year-old student opened fire on his teacher.

Circuit Judge Rebecca Robinson in Newport News, Virginia, granted a defense motion Thursday to dismiss the case against Ebony Parker on the trial’s fourth day. Parker had been facing eight felony child neglect charges.

“The court is of the legal opinion that this is not a crime,” Robinson stated.

The former assistant principal’s charges stemmed from the January 2023 shooting incident at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, where teacher Abby Zwerner was wounded. Prosecutors had filed separate charges for each bullet in the weapon the child brought to Zwerner’s classroom. A conviction on each count could have resulted in up to five years behind bars.

Special prosecutor Josh Jenkins had not responded to requests for comment by Thursday evening.

Defense lawyer Curtis Rogers argued to the court that Parker’s conduct during the shooting day “wasn’t an act of neglect.”

“Her actions in no way indicated that she believed there was a firearm in the possession” of the child, Rogers stated.

Fellow defense counsel Stephen Teague spoke with reporters after court proceedings, saying “we believe that the right outcome was reached and we’re thrilled for Dr. Parker. It was a great relief for her and we’re just happy that we were part of her journey.”

Parker did not take the witness stand during proceedings. However, on Wednesday, jurors viewed a recorded interview Parker gave to a school district human resources official three days following the shooting.

In that interview, Parker acknowledged receiving reports about the student possibly having a weapon in his backpack, but explained she couldn’t leave her office because of ongoing testing. A reading specialist who initially raised the concerns then examined the backpack but found no weapon, Parker explained.

Parker indicated the student’s mother was expected to arrive and would check through his remaining items.

During her earlier testimony, Zwerner described how the student wore an oversized jacket during playground recess and kept his hands in his pockets throughout the break. Zwerner said she texted this observation to the reading specialist, who had received earlier tips from other students about the gun and had alerted Parker.

Following recess, the student kept the jacket on in the classroom, where Zwerner was shot while at a reading table. Zwerner remained hospitalized for nearly two weeks, underwent six surgical procedures, and lost full function in her left hand. A bullet came close to striking her heart and remains lodged in her chest.

Legal experts note that criminal prosecutions of school officials following campus shootings are uncommon. The incident shocked the military shipbuilding community and the nation, raising questions about how such a young child obtained access to a firearm and shot his educator.

In November, a jury granted Zwerner $10 million in a civil lawsuit, where Parker, who no longer works at the school, was the sole defendant.

The student’s mother received nearly four years in prison for felony child neglect and federal weapons violations.

The nation’s highest court on Thursday threw out Alabama’s appeal regarding how courts should assess intellectual disability in death penalty cases, effectively ending a legal dispute over inmate Joseph Clifton Smith’s mental capacity.

The Supreme Court justices declared the case was “improvidently granted,” reversing their earlier decision to hear the matter after oral arguments took place in December.

Alabama officials had challenged a federal court’s methodology for evaluating Smith’s intellectual abilities, which involved examining several intelligence test results along with expert witness testimony.

A landmark 2002 Supreme Court ruling established that putting intellectually disabled individuals to death breaches the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment. Smith’s case raised questions about whether and how courts may weigh the combined impact of multiple IQ assessments when determining intellectual disability in capital punishment cases.

The Trump administration supported Alabama’s position in the legal battle.

Liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson agreed with the court’s dismissal decision. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito opposed it. Chief Justice John Roberts and conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch partially joined Alito’s opposition.

Smith, currently 55 years old, received a death sentence for killing Durk Van Dam in Alabama’s Mobile County in 1997. Court records show Smith used a hammer and saw to fatally attack the victim to steal his footwear, equipment and $140. Authorities discovered Van Dam’s remains inside his stuck Ford Ranger pickup in a remote forested location.

Alabama, similar to numerous other states, uses IQ test results of 70 or lower as part of its criteria for establishing intellectual disability. Supreme Court decisions from 2014 and 2017 permitted courts to examine IQ score ranges near 70 alongside additional evidence of intellectual impairment, including testimony about “adaptive deficits.”

Smith underwent five IQ evaluations, with scores spanning from 78 at the highest to 72 at the lowest. A federal judge observed that Smith’s minimum score might actually reach 69 when accounting for the standard error of measurement of approximately three points either way. The judge subsequently determined that Smith displayed substantial early-life limitations in social interaction, independent living capabilities and academic performance.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta confirmed the judge’s findings in 2023, overturning Smith’s death sentence. This decision led Alabama officials to submit their first Supreme Court appeal in the matter.

In 2024, the justices overruled the 11th Circuit’s ruling, stating that the appeals court’s analysis of Smith’s IQ results was ambiguous and needed clarification.

The 11th Circuit issued a clarifying opinion explaining that its assessment employed “a holistic approach to multiple IQ scores” while also examining additional pertinent evidence, including expert testimony. This clarification prompted Alabama officials to file their second Supreme Court appeal.

RICHMOND—With AAA projecting that more than 1 million Virginia residents will hit the roads for Memorial Day weekend travel, transportation safety advocates are highlighting current traffic regulations for drivers.

Virginia’s “hands-free” driving regulation prohibits drivers from using handheld communication devices while operating vehicles, a rule that took effect in 2021. Violators face three demerit points from the Department of Motor Vehicles along with penalties beginning at $125.

The state’s yearly Click It or Ticket seatbelt awareness and enforcement initiative continues throughout May. Drive Smart Virginia collaborates with the DMV to advance this campaign annually.

“The Click It or Ticket message reminds everyone to wear their seatbelt or face getting a ticket,” said David Tenembaum, Drive Smart board treasurer and senior actuarial manager at Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “Additionally, Drive Smart’s social-norming campaign Love Clicks reminds Virginians of the law—all vehicle occupants must wear their seat belt.”

Before holiday travel begins, drivers should also remember Virginia’s Move Over regulation.

Updated in 2023, this requirement mandates that motorists switch lanes when feasible or reduce speed for any roadside vehicle displaying amber warning lights, hazard signals, triangles or flares. The regulation covers utility vehicles, towing services and roadside assistance trucks on highways containing four or more lanes.

The Virginia Department of Transportation plans to halt numerous highway construction projects and remove temporary lane restrictions on interstates and major thoroughfares from noon Friday, May 22 through noon Tuesday, May 26. Drivers may still encounter long-term construction areas that will stay active during this period.

Travelers can review VDOT’s Travel Advisories for current traffic alerts throughout their region and statewide.

VDOT offers a complimentary mobile 511 application that provides hands-free audio updates about construction activities, traffic conditions, accidents and congestion, plus access to traffic monitoring cameras, weather information, electric vehicle charging locations, and travel alerts for incidents and roadwork along vacation routes. Traffic details are also accessible at 511.vdot.virginia.gov.

The 511 Virginia platform features a travel patterns map for the Memorial Day holiday showing expected peak congestion times on Virginia interstates during the approaching holiday travel season. Though it cannot exactly forecast when traffic jams will develop this year, it helps drivers avoid traveling during historically slow periods. Using the navigation menu at 511.vdot.virginia.gov, select “Holiday Travel” to view the Memorial Day map displaying anticipated peak congestion periods on Virginia interstates during the upcoming holiday.

Media: Contact Rich Jacobs, DSV, at 804-929-2988.

A fallen tree has forced authorities to shut down West Park Place, blocking traffic between South College Avenue and Orchard Road.

City maintenance teams have arrived at the location and are actively working to clear the tree from the roadway. Officials warn that the street closure will continue for a significant amount of time while crews complete the removal process.

Drivers are advised to find alternate routes while the cleanup operation continues.

The Transportation Security Administration has unveiled a new initiative called ‘Gold+’ aimed at expanding private security screening operations at airports nationwide.

According to the agency, this program represents an enhancement of the existing Screening Partnership Program, which currently operates at 20 airports throughout the United States. Under this existing arrangement, private security contractors handle passenger screening duties instead of federal employees.

The Transportation Security Administration was established following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, though not all airports in the United States utilize federal screening personnel.

The new Gold+ program seeks to increase the number of airports that rely on private security companies for passenger checkpoint operations rather than government workers.

Tennessee officials plan to carry out the execution of Tony Carruthers on Thursday, despite ongoing legal battles over the state’s lethal injection protocols and his defense team’s concerns about his mental fitness for execution.

Carruthers, age 57, received a death sentence following his conviction for the 1994 abductions and killings of Marcellos Anderson, his mother Delois Anderson, and Frederick Tucker. During his trial, he was compelled to act as his own lawyer after repeatedly objecting to his court-appointed legal representation and making threats against multiple attorneys.

The conviction relied heavily on witness statements from individuals who claimed they heard Carruthers admit to or discuss the murders, as prosecutors presented no physical evidence connecting him to the deaths. Among those witnesses was someone later identified as a police informant who publicly stated he received payment for his testimony. James Montgomery, who was initially co-defendant and also received a death sentence alongside Carruthers, later had his sentence reduced and was freed from prison in 2015, court documents show.

Law enforcement officials indicated that Marcellos Anderson dealt drugs, and prosecutors alleged Carruthers sought control over the illicit drug business in their Memphis community. Defense lawyers contended that their client’s mental state, characterized by suspicion and false beliefs, made it impossible for him to work effectively with assigned counsel, though the presiding judge determined his behavior was deliberate.

On appeal, the Tennessee Supreme Court acknowledged that Carruthers’ conduct during trial proceedings was inappropriate and harmful to his own case, but ruled that he had created the circumstances himself. Should the execution proceed as planned, Carruthers would become the first individual put to death after being required to represent himself in over 100 years, according to a clemency appeal submitted to the governor.

In their clemency request, Carruthers’ legal team contends that his death sentence resulted from a medical examiner’s testimony describing how the victims were interred while still alive, providing graphic details to jurors. The examiner subsequently retracted this assertion, and other experts have determined it was inaccurate.

Defense attorneys have attempted to demonstrate that Carruthers lacks the mental capacity for execution. Legal documents state that Carruthers maintains the government is pretending to execute him to force him into accepting an imaginary plea agreement, believing this allows officials to avoid paying him millions of dollars he thinks they owe him. He remains convinced his own lawyers are conspiring against him and will not communicate with them, court papers indicate.

Nationwide executions increased dramatically from 25 in 2024 to 47 in 2025, primarily due to Florida’s significant uptick. Florida conducted 19 executions in 2025 compared to just one the year before, data from the Death Penalty Information Center shows. This year, four states have already executed 13 individuals, with 11 additional executions on the calendar.

Multiple executions within brief timeframes occur regularly. In 2025, four individuals were put to death across three days in March across Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana and Arizona. Another five executions took place within one week in October across Arizona, Mississippi, Missouri, Florida and Indiana, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Tennessee resumed executions in 2025 following a three-year halt after officials discovered the state failed to properly examine lethal injection chemicals for quality and strength. A subsequent independent investigation revealed that none of the drugs used for the seven inmates executed in Tennessee since 2018 underwent complete testing. The state attorney general’s office also admitted in court that two officials primarily responsible for overseeing Tennessee’s execution drugs provided false testimony under oath regarding chemical testing requirements.

NEW YORK (AP) — Thursday night marks the end of an era as Stephen Colbert takes his place at the CBS desk one last time to conclude his run hosting ‘The Late Show.’

The network has kept details about the farewell episode under wraps, though the production team has had several months to plan for the conclusion of CBS’s three-decade-plus late-night programming tradition.

The show’s final week featured an impressive roster of celebrity visitors including Michael Keaton, Jon Stewart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Steven Spielberg, David Byrne and Bruce Springsteen, along with a comedic musical number transforming ‘It’s Raining Men’ into ‘It’s Raining Fish.’

Last summer, CBS revealed plans to end Colbert’s program after 11 seasons, pointing to financial considerations despite the show’s position as the top performer in late-night television ratings. Colbert himself, along with numerous observers, have questioned whether President Donald Trump’s ongoing attacks on the program influenced the network’s decision.

The cancellation announcement followed parent company Paramount’s $16 million settlement of Trump’s legal action regarding a ’60 Minutes’ segment, as the company sought the incoming administration’s green light for its proposed acquisition by Skydance Media. Colbert had previously characterized the settlement as a ‘big fat bribe.’

Dustin Kidd, a professor of sociology at Temple University, points out that Colbert’s departure comes while he maintains his dominant position in late-night ratings, making purely economic explanations insufficient.

‘I would argue that it’s answerable, frankly, through politics,’ Kidd said. ‘There’s been a lot of political pressure levied against this show and a lot of political pressure at work within CBS more generally. And I think that has a lot more to offer in terms of explaining why this show, at this time.’

Competing networks ABC’s ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon’ have scheduled repeat episodes during Colbert’s farewell broadcast Thursday evening.

CBS plans to replace ‘The Late Show’ with ‘Comics Unleashed,’ a program featuring comedians telling personal anecdotes. The show’s host Byron Allen has pledged to steer clear of political content.