Minnesota officials have until Jan. 9 to provide information on child care providers and parents receiving federal funds or risk losing that funding, after the Trump administration alleged widespread fraud. State officials said inspections of nine child care centers accused by a social media influencer found they were largely operating as expected, with no major issues identified. The funding freeze follows viral claims of fraud … Continue reading Minnesota must provide documents to US government in child care fraud probe by next week

A federal magistrate judge ordered that Brian Cole, the Virginia man accused of planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on Jan. 5, 2021, remain in custody ahead of trial, citing public safety concerns. Prosecutors allege Cole planted the devices to cause terror on the eve of the Jan. 6 congressional proceedings, and that the bombs failed to detonate due to … Continue reading D.C. pipe bomb suspect is ‘potential danger’ to public and must stay in custody ahead of trial

The FBI said it thwarted a potential New Year’s Eve terror attack in North Carolina, charging 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant with attempting to carry out a knife and hammer attack in support of ISIS. Court records allege Sturdivant planned to target a grocery store or a Burger King and aimed to kill as many civilians as possible. Investigators say he was radicalized online, pledged allegiance to … Continue reading FBI says it thwarted potential New Year’s terror attack ‘directly inspired’ by ISIS

A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while hiking alone on Crosier Mountain Trail south of Glen Haven in unincorporated Larimer County, authorities said. Hikers discovered the woman around midday and scared off a nearby mountain lion, but a physician in the group found she had no pulse. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, along with local law enforcement and firefighters, closed several trailheads … Continue reading Mountain lion kills person in Colorado

An off-duty ICE officer shot and killed an armed man outside his Los Angeles apartment complex on New Year’s Eve, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The officer reportedly heard what he suspected were gunshots, went outside with his ICE-authorized firearm, and encountered a man armed with a long rifle who allegedly pointed it at him. After identifying himself as law enforcement and giving … Continue reading Off-duty ICE officer allegedly shoots and kills man firing gun outside apartment complex

The U.S. military reported striking two boats allegedly carrying drugs on Wednesday, killing five people, as part of ongoing operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. These strikes are part of the Trump administration’s “war on drugs,” which has targeted over 30 vessels since September, resulting in more than 110 deaths. Concerns have been raised over “double-tap” strikes, where survivors of an initial attack were … Continue reading US military says five killed in latest strike on alleged drug boats

A viral video has drawn national attention to Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), as allegations surface that some day care centers may be billing for absent children. The video, released by Nick Shirley, shows him confronting several centers, claiming they were empty and alleging fraud. Federal and state audits over the past decade have found gaps in oversight, including errors in 11% of sampled … Continue reading Records reveal Minnesota’s long history with day care fraud warnings

A suspected member of Lafayette’s “Do It” gang, Sirrie Gibson, has been arrested after gang members posted photos on social media showing firearms outside an apartment. Police were alerted when someone reported seeing a person hiding in a trash can on Old Romney Road. Gibson was found in a resident’s yard and taken into custody. He faces charges including intimidation, unlawful carrying of a handgun, … Continue reading Alleged gang member arrested for intimidation & gun possession, found in trash can

A newly released cache of surveillance videos from New York City’s Metropolitan Correctional Center is raising fresh questions about the cameras in the facility where Jeffrey Epstein died in 2019. The footage, part of the DOJ’s disclosure under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, includes over 400 one-hour clips spanning back more than a month before Epstein’s death, despite the system being set to retain only … Continue reading Videos released in Epstein files raise fresh questions about jail footage

A Georgia judge has temporarily halted the execution of Stacey Humphreys, which was already delayed, citing questions about potential conflicts of interest on the state’s parole board. Humphreys, 52, was convicted of murdering Cyndi Williams and Lori Brown in a 2003 shooting at their Cobb County real estate office and was scheduled for execution on December 17. His lawyers argued that two parole board members—Kimberly … Continue reading Judge halts a Georgia execution over inmate’s concerns about the clemency process

A New Jersey vintage guitar store had two stolen mandolins returned by the thief, who left a handwritten note apologizing and saying, “SORRY, I BEEN DRUNK, MERRY CHRISTMAS You are good man.” The instruments, valued at $3,500 and $4,250, had been stolen on December 22, with surveillance footage showing the thief stuffing them under his parka. Store owner Buzzy Levine said he saw the man … Continue reading Thief returns stolen mandolins to New Jersey guitar store with apology note

A 21-year-old Texas man, John Michael Garza Jr. of Midlothian, was charged in federal court with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, the Justice Department said. Prosecutors allege Garza took concrete steps toward violent activity, including fundraising for ISIS and bringing bomb-making materials to a meeting with an undercover agent posing as an ISIS supporter. Authorities say he also paid cryptocurrency to the agent, … Continue reading Texas man charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS

The body recovered near Davenport Beach in California has been identified as 55-year-old Erica Fox of Monterey County. Fox went missing on December 21 at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove while swimming, and witnesses reported she may have been attacked by a shark. Her family confirmed the identification based on her clothing, and she had been wearing a shark deterrent anklet at the time of … Continue reading 55-year-old woman ID’d after body discovered in possible California shark attack

President Donald Trump has authorized a National Guard deployment in New Orleans starting Tuesday to bolster security for New Year’s celebrations, a year after a Bourbon Street attack killed 14 people. The 350 Guardsmen will patrol the French Quarter, focusing on visibility and public safety, and will not participate in immigration enforcement. Their presence complements more than 800 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers … Continue reading National Guard to patrol New Orleans for New Year’s a year after deadly attack

Dennis Hamlin, father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, died Sunday in a house fire in Stanley, North Carolina, officials confirmed. His wife, Mary Lou Hamlin, was hospitalized in Winston-Salem with burn injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and the home was completely destroyed after burning for about two hours. Both Dennis and Mary Lou were outside the house when emergency responders arrived, … Continue reading NASCAR star Denny Hamlin’s father dies from injuries in house fire, officials say

A powerful storm system in the northern U.S. intensified into a “bomb cyclone,” bringing blizzard conditions to the Plains and Great Lakes on Monday. The storm rapidly strengthened due to a sharp drop in atmospheric pressure, a defining feature of bomb cyclones, according to NOAA. Forecasters warned that an Arctic front colliding with warm southern air could create hazardous conditions, including snowstorms, thunderstorms, and unusually … Continue reading “Bomb cyclone” brings blizzards to Midwest as storm turns to East Coast

A Utah judge ordered the release of a transcript and audio from an October closed-door hearing concerning whether Tyler Robinson, charged with killing Charlie Kirk, must be shackled in court. The hearing also included the first defense request to ban cameras, arguing that images of Robinson in restraints could bias potential jurors. Judge Tony Graf emphasized public transparency while implementing measures to protect Robinson’s presumption … Continue reading Court releases transcript from closed hearing for man accused of killing Charlie Kirk

States will receive $10 billion next year through the Rural Health Transformation Program to support rural hospitals and offset Trump-era budget cuts. Half of the funds will be distributed equally, while the other half is based on a CMS formula considering rural population, hospital finances, and health outcomes. $12 billion of the five-year funding is tied to states adopting policies aligned with the Trump administration’s … Continue reading Trump administration rolls out rural health funding

Federal Homeland Security officials conducted a fraud investigation in Minneapolis as part of a broader crackdown on large-scale misuse of federal funds, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said. The action follows years of investigations tied to the Feeding Our Future case, a $300 million COVID-era fraud scheme involving child nutrition programs, with 57 convictions so far. Federal officials allege that a significant portion of billions in … Continue reading Noem says Homeland Security is investigating fraud in Minneapolis

A multi-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck occurred early Sunday morning on the southbound 5 Freeway near 4th Street in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, leaving one person dead. The victim has not yet been publicly identified. Fifteen people were assessed for injuries, with 10 taken to local hospitals, though the extent of their injuries was not specified. The southbound 5 Freeway was closed between 4th Street … Continue reading Big-rig crash near downtown Los Angeles leaves 1 dead, 15 others injured

Brian Cole, the Virginia man arrested for placing pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic National Committees the night before January 6, 2021, told investigators he was not targeting Congress or the certification of Joe Biden’s election win, according to a new court filing. In a lengthy interview after his December 4 arrest, Cole admitted planting the devices, which he intended to detonate with 60-minute … Continue reading Alleged Jan. 6 pipe bomber said he wasn’t targeting Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory: DOJ

The FBI has sent additional agents and resources to Minnesota to crack down on large-scale fraud involving federal programs, according to Director Kash Patel. He said the agency has already dismantled a $250 million scheme that stole food aid intended for children during the Covid pandemic, resulting in dozens of indictments and convictions. Patel warned the case may represent only a small part of a … Continue reading FBI deploys more resources to ‘dismantle fraud schemes’ in Minnesota

A rupture in a 34-inch gas pipeline near Castaic in northern Los Angeles County prompted authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order for nearly 15,000 residents and temporarily close both directions of Interstate 5 on Saturday. No explosions or injuries were reported, and officials said there was no immediate danger, though some residents smelled natural gas. Hazmat crews responded, and SoCalGas later identified and stopped the … Continue reading Gas leak outside Los Angeles shuts down major highway

Two helicopters collided midair near Hammonton Municipal Airport in southern New Jersey on Sunday, killing one pilot and injuring the other. The aircraft involved were an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C, both of which crashed into a field and were severely damaged, with one engulfed in flames. Emergency responders airlifted the victims to a trauma center, with one reportedly in possible cardiac arrest. The … Continue reading Midair helicopter crash in New Jersey leaves one person dead and another injured

More than 30 million people across the Midwest and Northeast are under winter weather alerts as a powerful storm system disrupts holiday travel. Blizzard conditions with strong winds and whiteout visibility have affected parts of the Midwest, causing road closures, power outages, and significant flight delays and cancellations nationwide. Severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes have also damaged communities in Illinois as a sharp cold front … Continue reading Blizzard conditions snarl holiday travel as tornadoes leave damage in the Midwest