A Secret Service agent assigned to Barack Obama’s security detail was fired for allegedly inviting his girlfriend to the former president’s Hawaii home and suggesting they have sex in Michelle Obama’s bathroom. The incident, detailed in a memoir by the girlfriend, Koryeah Dwanyen, occurred in November 2022 while the Obamas were away. Dwanyen claims the agent shared sensitive information about the Obamas and other high-profile … Continue reading Secret Service agent fired for taking lover to Obama Hawaii home

Federal authorities arrested Anas Said, 28, in Houston, thwarting a potential terrorist attack. Said is charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, allegedly creating propaganda, researching Houston synagogues and the Israeli Consulate, and expressing intent to attack U.S. military personnel. Said reportedly claimed he would commit a “9/11-style” attack if capable. The FBI noted his longstanding pro-ISIS activities since 2017, including attempts to … Continue reading The FBI says it stopped a possible terrorist attack in Houston

Defense attorneys for Robert Crimo III, accused of killing seven and injuring dozens at a 2022 Independence Day parade in Highland Park, argue he was denied his right to legal representation during police interrogation. They seek to exclude his videotaped confession from the trial set for February. Prosecutors counter that Crimo was informed of his Miranda rights and willingly cooperated. The case has faced delays … Continue reading Attorneys say accused shooter in 2022 July 4th parade shooting denied lawyer during police interview

New York City will implement the U.S.’s first congestion charge on January 5, aiming to reduce traffic, cut pollution, and fund public transit. Governor Kathy Hochul announced reduced fees compared to earlier proposals: $9 for cars, $14.40 for small trucks, and $21.60 for larger vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street. The plan, paused earlier due to opposition, now faces criticism from incoming President Donald Trump … Continue reading New York to become first US city to have congestion charge

A federal investigation found that conditions at Atlanta’s Fulton County Jail violate constitutional and statutory rights, citing widespread violence, contraband, and neglect. The Department of Justice’s report highlights frequent killings, stabbings, and drug use, with jail staff sometimes complicit. The jail has seen over 1,000 assaults in 2023, including 314 stabbings, far exceeding rates in comparable facilities. Physical deterioration has enabled inmates to chisel through … Continue reading Killings, stabbings, drugs: DoJ report paints damning picture of Atlanta jail

Two people died in a large explosion at the Givaudan Sense Colour factory in Louisville on Tuesday afternoon. The blast caused part of the building to collapse, and emergency responders spent hours searching for victims in the rubble. Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed the deaths, with the identities of the victims withheld at their families’ request. The explosion was felt miles away, damaging local homes and … Continue reading 2 killed in Louisville factory explosion; one found dead hours later in the rubble

The FBI raided the Manhattan home of Shayne Coplan, CEO of the predictive betting site Polymarket, on Wednesday, seizing his phone. While Coplan was not arrested, the company suggested the raid was politically motivated due to the site’s user predictions favoring Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Coplan criticized the raid on social media, calling it political retaliation and arguing that the site was non-partisan. … Continue reading FBI raids home of Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan

Long Island volunteer firefighter Jonathan Quiles was arrested for allegedly starting a brush fire in Medford, New York, on Tuesday, which damaged a nearby vehicle. Authorities reported about six small fires in the area that day, which were contained within six hours without injuries. Quiles, 20, faces arson and reckless endangerment charges and has pleaded not guilty. The Medford Fire Department suspended him, stating he … Continue reading New York firefighter accused of intentionally setting brush fire on Long Island

A Vermont judge has deemed Jason Eaton fit to stand trial for the November 2023 shooting of three Palestinian American students near the University of Vermont. Eaton, who pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges, allegedly shot the students without speaking, as they walked in his neighborhood wearing keffiyeh scarves and speaking in Arabic and English. Prosecutors say there is insufficient evidence to classify the … Continue reading Vermont man is fit to stand trial over shooting of 3 Palestinian college students

Peanut, a social media-famous squirrel seized from owner Mark Longo’s home in Pine City, NY, and later euthanized, tested negative for rabies, county officials reported. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) removed Peanut and a raccoon named Fred on Oct. 30 after complaints of illegal wildlife handling, sparking public outrage. The animals were euthanized for rabies testing after Peanut bit a DEC worker. … Continue reading Peanut the squirrel euthanized after being taken from home tests negative for rabies

A group of 43 female rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee, South Carolina, last Wednesday. While 24 have been recovered, a dozen are still on the loose, though they are reportedly in good health. The monkeys, weighing between 6 and 7 pounds, escaped after a caretaker left an enclosure door unsecured. The facility breeds primates for research purposes, … Continue reading 25 of 43 monkeys have been recovered after escaping a lab in South Carolina last week

Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan national charged with the murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley in February, has opted for a bench trial instead of a jury trial. Ibarra, 26, is accused of killing Riley, a nursing student, while she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus. Ibarra’s trial will begin on November 15, with Judge Patrick Haggard presiding. In addition to murder charges, … Continue reading Laken Riley murder suspect Jose Ibarra chooses trial by judge over jury

An explosion at a business in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday sent at least 12 people to the hospital and prompted a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents. The blast occurred at a Givaudan Sense Colour facility on Payne Street, a manufacturer of food colorings. The explosion caused significant damage, including blown-out windows and a large hole in the building’s roof. Seven people were hospitalized, with two … Continue reading Explosion at Louisville plant leaves 12 people injured

A federal judge temporarily blocked a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public classrooms by January 1, deeming it “unconstitutional on its face.” U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled the law served an overtly religious purpose, violating the First Amendment’s separation of church and state. He disagreed with claims that the Ten Commandments hold historical significance comparable to foundational U.S. … Continue reading Federal judge blocks Louisiana law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments

Jack Teixeira, a former Air National Guardsman, received a 15-year prison sentence for leaking classified national defense information on Discord. Teixeira pleaded guilty to six counts of retaining and transmitting defense materials, which he accessed without authorization in his low-level role. Prosecutors argued his actions caused severe national security risks, including exposing details about U.S. military support to Ukraine and foreign adversaries’ plans. Despite the … Continue reading Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years on federal charges

Five men were killed in multiple shootings across three homes in Wichita, Kansas, on Sunday evening. Police discovered the first victim, a man with a gunshot wound, at a home on Santa Fe South. Soon after, three more victims were found in a nearby home, and a fifth victim was located in another house. The victims, ages 39 to 68, are believed to have known … Continue reading 5 dead after multiple shootings at 3 homes in Kansas

A man has been charged with arson after firing an illegal shotgun round that sparked a wildfire in Jackson Township, New Jersey, burning 350 acres and leading to evacuations. Richard Shashaty, 37, used Dragon’s Breath ammunition, which ignited magnesium shards and caused the fire. This type of incendiary round is banned in New Jersey. The fire forced the evacuation of 15 homes, and 25 more … Continue reading A man has been charged with arson in connection to a New Jersey wildfire sparked by a shotgun round

Authorities in Wisconsin believe missing kayaker Ryan Borgwardt, who was reported missing in August, faked his disappearance and fled the country. After months of searching Green Lake, investigators discovered that Borgwardt had contacted Canadian authorities the day after his disappearance and had taken steps to disappear, including erasing his laptop’s hard drive, changing his bank accounts, and communicating with someone in Uzbekistan. Forensic evidence and … Continue reading Kayaker missing 3 months faked disappearance and fled country, Wisconsin officials say

A nationwide manhunt ended with the capture of Nicholas Hamlett, accused of killing Steven Douglas Lloyd and using his body to fake his own death in Tennessee. Last month, Hamlett called 911, claiming he fell off a cliff while fleeing a bear. Authorities, however, found Lloyd’s body, initially identified as Hamlett. Detectives later confirmed the victim as Lloyd, who had died from blunt-force trauma. Hamlett, … Continue reading Police capture Tennessee murder suspect accused of faking his own death on scenic highway

Richard Allen was convicted of the 2017 murders of two teenage girls, Abigail Williams and Liberty German, who were found dead after a hike in Delphi, Indiana. Allen, arrested five years later, was found guilty on multiple counts, including murder during attempted kidnapping, following a trial marked by delays and leaks. Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland presented confessions from Allen and video evidence identifying him as the … Continue reading Indiana man is found guilty of murder in the Delphi killings of 2 teenage girls

A 37-year-old man was arrested for allegedly stabbing five people in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District on Friday, with possible involvement in four other stabbings the day before. The man, who has a lengthy criminal record, was denied bail after making his first court appearance on Saturday, facing five counts of first-degree assault. Four of the victims were hospitalized, with one in critical condition. Police recovered multiple … Continue reading Man suspected of stabbing spree in Seattle held on $2m bail

Wildfires continued to spread across New Jersey on Sunday, fueled by a prolonged dry spell. The largest, the Jennings Creek wildfire, had burned 2,500 acres by Sunday morning and was threatening 25 structures. It remains at 0% containment. An 18-year-old firefighter, Dariel Vasquez, died while fighting a blaze in Sterling Forest. Other wildfires, like the Cannonball 3 Wildfire in Pompton Lakes, were being contained but … Continue reading N.J. wildfire grows to 2,500 acres, 0% contained yet

A shooting at Tuskegee University early Sunday left one person dead and 16 others injured, including several students. The 18-year-old victim was not a student, but some of the injured were. The shooting occurred at the West Commons on-campus apartments as the university’s 100th Homecoming Week was concluding. Twelve people were injured by gunfire, and four others sustained non-gunshot injuries. Authorities, including the FBI, are … Continue reading One person is dead and 16 are injured after a shooting at Tuskegee University

Improved weather conditions helped firefighters increase containment of the Mountain Fire northwest of Los Angeles, which had destroyed over 130 structures and damaged 88 others. The fire, which started Wednesday in Ventura County, was 26% contained by Sunday morning after burning 20,640 acres. Evacuations were ordered for over 10,000 people, and around 1,000 homes remained evacuated. Firefighters faced challenges with low water pressure and power … Continue reading Firefighters make progress, but Southern California wildfire rages on

A FEMA worker was fired after allegedly telling a team responding to hurricane survivors to avoid homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell condemned the action, calling it a violation of the agency’s core values, and referred the matter to the Office of Special Counsel. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who confirmed the incident occurred in Florida, labeled the behavior as … Continue reading FEMA worker fired for telling hurricane responders to avoid MAGA homes