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

Morgan Geyser, 23, who stabbed her sixth-grade classmate Payton Leutner in 2014 to appease the fictional character “Slender Man,” is returning to institutionalized care after running away from a Wisconsin group home last month. Geyser cut off her ankle monitor on Nov. 22 and was found roughly 24 hours later in Illinois with her friend Chad Mecca, who she had developed a close bond with … Continue reading Judge revokes conditional release for ‘Slender Man’ stabber after runaway attempt

Ashlee Buzzard was arrested for allegedly killing her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee Buzzard, whose body was found in a rural area of Utah with a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities say Melodee was likely killed shortly after being last seen on October 9 during a road trip with her mother, and investigators have recovered significant evidence linking Ashlee to the crime. A DNA match and … Continue reading Ashlee Buzzard arrested in murder of daughter Melodee

The Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s emergency request to immediately deploy federalized National Guard troops to Chicago, temporarily blocking the plan. The justices upheld a lower court ruling that said the government failed to show legal authority to use the military to enforce laws in Illinois, with three conservative justices dissenting. The decision marks a rare setback for President Trump, who has largely prevailed … Continue reading Supreme Court rules on legality of Trump National Guard deployment to Illinois

At least two people were killed and others remain missing after an apparent gas explosion partially collapsed the Bristol Health and Rehab Center, also known as Silver Lake Nursing Home, in Bristol Township near Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon. The blast occurred around 2:15 p.m. while PECO crews were responding to reports of a gas odor, sending flames and debris into the air and prompting a … Continue reading 2 dead, others missing after explosion at Pennsylvania nursing home

A group of alleged Jeffrey Epstein victims accused the Department of Justice of violating the law in its partial release of Epstein-related investigation files, citing excessive redactions and withheld documents. Although Congress imposed a deadline for full disclosure, the DOJ released only a portion of the records and acknowledged more materials remain under review. The women said victim identities were improperly left unredacted, while key … Continue reading Epstein’s alleged victims accuse DOJ of legal violations over state of files released

Brian Walshe was sentenced to life in prison without parole after a Massachusetts jury found him guilty of killing and dismembering his wife, Ana Walshe, the mother of their three children. Ana, 39, went missing on January 1, 2023, and her body has never been recovered. Evidence presented at trial included surveillance footage, receipts for tools and supplies, blood-stained items from dumpsters, and internet searches … Continue reading Brian Walshe sentenced to life in prison for murdering and dismembering wife

Pretrial suppression hearings in Luigi Mangione’s New York case have concluded after nearly three weeks, focusing on whether key evidence can be used at trial. Mangione, 27, faces state charges including murder for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, as well as weapons and forgery charges. Central to the hearings is a backpack Mangione carried at his arrest, containing a 9 mm handgun, a … Continue reading Mangione pre-trial hearing wraps, but judge won’t rule on evidence for months

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she has reached an agreement with state lawmakers to approve legislation allowing terminally ill people to end their lives with prescribed medication. Hochul said she will support the bill with added “guardrails,” including confirmation by two physicians that a patient has less than six months to live and a mental health evaluation to ensure the decision is voluntary. The … Continue reading New York governor says she has reached a deal to legalize medically assisted suicide

The U.S. Justice Department filed lawsuits Thursday against Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, and the District of Columbia for failing to provide voter information requested by the Trump administration. This is part of a broader effort, with 22 lawsuits filed so far, to collect detailed voter registration data nationwide, including names, dates of birth, addresses, and partial Social Security numbers. States like Georgia and Wisconsin have resisted, … Continue reading US Justice Department sues 3 states, District of Columbia for voter data