Trump says Pfizer will sell some drugs at 'most‑favored nation' prices, claiming 50–100% cuts

2m Dev 2 Context

President Trump announced a deal with Pfizer under which some medications would be sold at a "most‑favored nation" cost, and he claimed those prices could fall by 50–100%. The White House is also building a "TrumpRX" website to publicize the initiative.

Corporate News Economy Health

Illegal Immigrant Arrested by ICE Registered in Maryland

3m Dev 1

Ian Andre Roberts, recently arrested by ICE while serving as a Des Moines school superintendent, is alleged to appear as an active Democratic voter on Maryland’s official elections website despite not being a U.S. citizen and reportedly not living in Maryland for years. The Maryland Freedom Caucus flagged the listing and demanded answers; the Maryland State Board of Elections said its public‑information review showed no voting history for that name, cited state privacy law that limits disclosure, and noted unintentional registration is not a crime. Republican officials pressed the Board and the Justice Department for explanations, and Fox News says Maryland Democratic leaders did not respond to requests for comment.

Politics Elections Legal

FTC sues Zillow, alleges $100M payoff to Redfin

9m Breaking 1 Context

The Federal Trade Commission filed a federal antitrust lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleging Zillow paid Redfin $100 million and struck a nine‑year agreement to end Redfin’s competition in the multifamily rental‑advertising market. The FTC says the deal eliminated an independent competitor in a concentrated ad market, harming renters and property managers; Zillow and Redfin dispute the allegations, calling the arrangement pro‑consumer.

Legal Corporate News Housing

CBS: 800 FBI employees, including hundreds of agents, to be separated Tuesday night

12m Breaking 2 Context

CBS sources say about 800 FBI employees will be "separated" from the bureau, including a few hundred FBI agents. The departures are reported to be occurring Tuesday night.

National Security National security Government

Rep. Jayapal rebuts White House incitement claims after Dallas ICE attack

14m Dev 1 Context

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D‑Wash.) publicly denied a White House charge that her rhetoric helped incite attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, speaking in an ABC News interview after the White House issued a statement blaming Democrats for inflammatory language following last week's deadly shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas. Jayapal said her remarks describing ICE actions as "kidnapping" and "deranged" are factual, not violent, and cited a separate threatening post by Arizona state Rep. John Gillette as an example of rhetoric that should be investigated.

Politics Public Safety

Poll: Sherrill Leads New Jersey Governor Race

16m Dev 1 Context

A Fox News poll of New Jersey voters finds Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill leading Republican Jack Ciattarelli 50% to 42% among likely voters (48%–41% among registered voters). The survey, conducted after the Sept. 21 gubernatorial debate and after Sept. 25 reports that portions of Sherrill's military file were released, provides demographic breakdowns (race, age, gender) and measures of voter enthusiasm and issue priorities such as taxes and cost of living.

Politics Elections

Trump says deal near to restore Harvard funding

18m Dev 1 Context

President Trump said the administration is close to finalizing a deal with Harvard University to restore roughly $2.4 billion in federal research grants after earlier freezing about $2.2 billion; Trump said Harvard would commit about $500 million toward workforce and trade‑school programs (including AI training) as part of the arrangement. The announcement—reported from the Oval Office with Education Secretary Linda McMahon—follows a court challenge in which a judge blocked the administration’s freeze and accused it of using antisemitism concerns politically.

Politics Education Government/Regulatory

HHS opens debarment process to bar Harvard

39m Dev 2 Context

The Trump administration has renewed efforts to exclude Harvard from billions in federal research grants after previously cutting more than $2.6 billion in funding — a move a federal judge in Boston recently ordered reversed. President Trump said he is “close to finalizing” a separate deal with Harvard that would include a $500 million payment to create a network of trade schools to teach AI and other skills.

Legal Politics Education

SBA Chief Warns Shutdown Would Halt Small-Business Loans

42m Dev 1 Context

Kelly Loeffler, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, told CBS News in an interview that a federal funding lapse set to begin at midnight would force the SBA to suspend loan processing and effectively cut off access to small-business loans. Loeffler framed the warning as an immediate operational consequence of a shutdown that would affect borrowers seeking capital across the United States and urged Congress to act to prevent the interruption.

Government/Regulatory Economy

Government faces midnight shutdown deadline as Senate plans vote on House funding measure

46m Dev 15 Analysis Context

With federal funding set to lapse at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1, Congress faces a midnight shutdown deadline as Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he will bring the House‑passed continuing resolution (which would fund the government through Nov. 21) to a Tuesday vote, though Senate rules mean most spending measures need 60 votes and a White House meeting failed to produce a deal. President Trump has called a shutdown “probably likely” and aides have discussed using executive authority and reduction‑in‑force measures if funding lapses, while Democrats demand extensions of ACA premium tax credits and reversal of recent health‑program cuts; the CBO estimates about 750,000 federal workers could be furloughed and agencies from DHS to parks, air traffic control and FEMA could face major disruptions, with polls showing more Americans blaming Republicans for a potential shutdown.

Federal Budget Politics Public Safety

Florida teen accused of faking abduction, shooting himself

48m Dev 1 Context

Marion County officials say 17‑year‑old Caden Speight falsely claimed he had been shot and abducted on Sept. 25, 2025 — triggering an Amber Alert and a large multi‑unit search — before leaving on a bicycle with newly purchased camping gear and later shooting himself in the leg in Williston, where citizens found him safe. Sheriff Billy Woods said investigators disproved the abduction claims, found evidence of a single self‑inflicted gunshot wound that was non‑life‑threatening, and are reviewing whether to bring charges while noting Speight’s parents have so far refused detectives’ requests to interview him.

Crime Public Safety

Trump orders AI push for childhood cancer research

1h Dev 1 Context

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the MAHA Commission and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to deploy artificial intelligence in diagnosing, treating and researching pediatric cancers. The order includes an immediate $50 million increase to the NIH’s Childhood Cancer Data Initiative and instructs federal agencies (HHS, NIH, CMS) to fund AI‑focused proposals, use existing molecular and genetic databases to build predictive models, and accelerate clinical‑trial and care improvements for children with cancer.

Health AI & Tech Politics

Mamdani Labels Eric Adams 'Extreme' After Adams Ends Reelection Bid

1h Dev 6 Analysis Context

Mayor Eric Adams announced in a social-media video that he is ending his reelection campaign, saying constant media scrutiny and the Campaign Finance Board’s decision to withhold public matching funds left him unable to mount a serious campaign; he will remain on the ballot as an independent. Progressive Zohran Mamdani, who has gained ground in polls, called Adams “extreme” and “radical,” attacking his record on rents, transit and childcare as the contest narrows to Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa amid reactions from national and local figures.

Elections Politics

Administration Uses Agency Sites to Blame Democrats

1h Dev 1 Context

On Sept. 30, 2025, NPR reported that the Trump administration posted a partisan banner and popup on HUD’s public website and circulated OMB emails to multiple federal agencies blaming 'the Radical Left' and congressional Democrats for a likely government shutdown. The communications — echoed by a VA statement quoting press secretary Pete Kasperowicz — have prompted ethics concerns and warnings from experts that the messages could violate the Hatch Act and other federal rules governing political activity by executive-branch employees.

Politics Legal Government

Swalwell vows oversight of private Trump allies

1h Dev 1 Context

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D‑Calif.) told CNN he plans to use congressional power, including subpoenas, to investigate private actors who have done business with President Donald Trump if Democrats retake the House in 2026. In the interview (reported Monday), Swalwell named targets such as the Department of Justice and private entities — college campuses, entertainment companies and law firms — and tied his comments to skepticism about the timing of the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.

Politics Legal

Trump issues 3–4‑day ultimatum to Hamas to accept 20‑point Gaza plan or face 'very sad end'

1h Dev 11 Context

President Trump circulated a 20‑ to 21‑point Gaza plan and publicly gave Hamas 3–4 days to accept it, warning the group would face “a very sad end” if it refused. The proposal—publicly backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a White House meeting—calls for the rapid release of Israeli hostages, Gaza demilitarization, a transitional “Board of Peace” (involving international figures such as Tony Blair), an Arab‑led stabilization force, phased Israeli withdrawals, large prisoner exchanges and immediate reconstruction aid; Hamas negotiators said they would “review in good faith,” but regional disagreements and a mounting civilian death toll (over 66,000 reported) make a deal uncertain.

U.S. Politics War & Conflict Politics

House Democrats Threaten Shutdown Fight to Protect Expiring ACA Premium Tax Credits

1h Dev 5 Context

House Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries and reinforced at an in-person caucus and a Capitol rally where he vowed “we are in this fight until we win,” say they will oppose any short‑term funding measure that does not extend enhanced ACA premium tax credits set to expire as the Senate readies a continuing resolution through Nov. 21. Republicans have accused Democrats of trying to restore taxpayer-funded care for undocumented immigrants by pointing to Medicaid language in the One Big Beautiful Bill and Oct. 1 eligibility changes—a charge Senate Democrats call false—while a New York Times/Siena poll found 65% of voters oppose a shutdown over the issue, with Democrats and independents notably divided.

Government Public Opinion Budget

Spotify founder Daniel Ek becomes executive chairman

1h Dev 1 Context

Spotify announced that founder and longtime CEO Daniel Ek will step down as CEO to become executive chairman, with current co-presidents Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström elevated to co-CEOs effective Jan. 1. The company said the change 'formalizes' how it has been operating since 2023; Spotify shares fell more than 5% in afternoon trading after the announcement. Ek said he will focus on long-term strategy and growth opportunities — including expansion in underpenetrated markets and investments in AI.

Corporate News Finance

Interior tests AI lawnmowers on National Mall

1h Dev 1 Context

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced this week that it is piloting autonomous, AI-controlled lawnmowers on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as part of a broader agency push to scale AI across DOI operations. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s order — obtained by Fox News Digital — directs the agency to adopt AI to "boost operational efficiency," and National Park Service officials said six mowers (funded by a National Park Foundation grant) are being demonstrated at the Mall and in five other national parks.

AI & Tech Government

CBO estimates 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed daily in shutdown

1h Dev 24 Analysis Context

The Congressional Budget Office on Sept. 30 estimated roughly 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed each day of a government shutdown, at an estimated daily compensation cost of about $400 million, based on agencies’ contingency plans and OPM data. The warning came as the House narrowly passed a Trump‑backed short‑term continuing resolution (217–212) to extend funding through Nov. 21 and add about $88 million for member, executive and judicial security, but Senate advancement stalled amid Democratic demands to extend ACA marketplace subsidies and roll back recent Medicaid changes and the need for 60 votes, raising the prospect of a shutdown if lawmakers don’t act by the Sept. 30 deadline.

Economy Public Safety Government

South Carolina prosecutor to seek death penalty after Biden commuted federal sentence

2h Dev 1 Context

Horry County prosecutors announced they will seek the death penalty against Brandon Council, whose federal death sentence for the 2017 killing of two CresCom Bank employees was commuted to life by President Joe Biden. The move follows new state indictments returned in August that permit a state capital trial; prosecutors and victims’ family members criticized the presidential commutation and said state charges were preserved to allow local action.

Crime Legal

Shutdown could delay government‑backed mortgages, flood insurance

2h Dev 1 Context

As Congress nears an impending funding lapse at the end of September 2025, federal agency shutdowns could slow issuance and closings for government‑backed home loans and complicate required flood insurance. The FHA and VA will mostly continue core loan guarantees but furloughs may slow processing, the USDA will suspend new direct and guaranteed rural home loans and postpone scheduled direct‑loan closings, and FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program — which underwrites more than 4 million policies — could hamper closings in high‑risk flood areas.

Economy Government/Regulatory

Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts resigns after ICE arrest; DOJ opens probe into district hiring

2h Breaking 9 Context

Ian Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was detained by ICE on Sept. 26, 2025; ICE says agents caught him after he fled a vehicle and recovered a loaded Glock 19, a fixed‑blade hunting knife and cash, and that he is subject to a May 22, 2024 final order of removal with expired work authorization. The school board placed him on leave and he has since resigned amid protests and a state licensing revocation, his attorneys have filed to stay deportation, and the DOJ Civil Rights Division has opened a probe into the district’s hiring practices while the district says an I‑9 was completed by a third‑party vendor and it was not aware of any removal order.

Crime Legal Education

Study: AI 'workslop' reduces U.S. workplace productivity

2h Dev 1 Analysis

Researchers from Stanford and BetterUp, reported in the Harvard Business Review and summarized by Axios on Sept. 24, 2025, find that low-quality AI‑generated documents — dubbed 'workslop' — are clogging workflows for U.S. desk workers. A survey of 1,150 U.S. desk workers in August–September found 40% encountered workslop in the prior month, spending an average 1 hour 56 minutes per incident and estimating roughly $186 in lost productivity per worker per month.

AI & Tech Economy

Administration's H‑1B overhaul raises risk of offshoring as firms weigh $100K fee

2h Breaking 11 Analysis Context

The White House signed a proclamation adding a $100,000 surcharge to new H‑1B visa approvals (effective 12:01 a.m. ET Sept. 21 for one year), a leap from the current $215 fee, with officials later clarifying it applies to new filings only (Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick earlier called it “annual”) and noting the FY2025 cap was already met so pending cap‑season petitions are excluded; the move came alongside a separate $1 million “Gold Card” fast‑track citizenship option. Major tech employers that hire thousands of H‑1B workers (Amazon, Google, Microsoft, IBM, Apple, Meta) warned the cost could make hires uneconomic, prompting firms to consider offshoring, spur legal challenges and workforce‑training efforts, and contribute to slower projected immigration and labor‑force growth.

Economy AI & Tech Politics

Lawsuit Seeks to Block Federal Merger of Personal Data

2h Dev 1 Context

A class‑action lawsuit filed Sept. 30, 2025 in U.S. federal court in Washington, D.C., alleges the Trump administration illegally aggregated sensitive personal records from multiple federal agencies — repurposing DHS’s SAVE system (now queryable by Social Security number) and creating a USCIS‑hosted 'data lake' containing SSNs, biometrics, tax, wage and medical records. Plaintiffs (League of Women Voters, EPIC and others) say the changes were made without legally required privacy notice or review, pose cybersecurity risks, and could lead to wrongful labeling of citizens as noncitizens and voter disenfranchisement.

Politics Legal AI & Tech

Mother Blasts Pritzker After Daughter's Death Linked to Immigrant

2h Dev 1 Context

A grieving Illinois mother publicly condemned Gov. JB Pritzker for siding with 'criminals over citizens' after her 37‑year‑old daughter, Megan Bos, was found dead in a container behind the home of Luis Mendoza‑Gonzalez, an undocumented immigrant who has been charged with concealment of a death, abuse of a corpse and obstruction of justice. The case—initially complicated by the suspect’s release by Lake County Judge Randie Bruno at an initial appearance and his later custody by ICE—has fueled local anger and a broader state‑federal dispute over immigration enforcement, with toxicology and coroner results cited in reporting and Pritzker publicly criticizing ICE operations in Illinois.

Crime Immigration Politics

NPR sues to block CPB $57.9M satellite award

2h Dev 2 Context

NPR has filed a federal court motion seeking to block the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s up-to-$57.9 million grant award for the public‑radio satellite distribution system to a new nonprofit, Public Media Infrastructure (founding partners include New York Public Radio, PRX and American Public Media), saying CPB had earlier told NPR it would receive more than $30 million to run the service before reversing course and noting NPR’s current PRSS grant expires Sept. 30, 2025. CPB says the award covers up to $57.9 million over five years and has begun an “orderly wind‑down” with a planned shutdown by early 2026, and a CPB spokesperson told the Washington Post the lawsuit forces the agency to expend scarce funds defending a suit “that has no merits”; the dispute sits alongside NPR’s separate lawsuit challenging a White House order barring CPB from spending federal money on NPR.

Legal Politics Media

U.S. Bank to spend $200M yearly renovating branches

2h Dev TC 1 Context

U.S. Bancorp announced it will invest $200 million a year to renovate its retail-branch network, beginning with upgrades in five key markets and signaling a strategic reappraisal of physical locations as digital banking grows. The plan, announced Sept. 30, 2025, implicates branches in the Twin Cities—where U.S. Bank is headquartered—and could affect branch operations, customer access and local construction work.

Business & Economy Corporate

HHS seeks to add autism to vaccine‑injury table

2h Dev 1 Context

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has floated adding autism to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) by broadening definitions of encephalopathy and encephalitis so some autism cases could qualify; experts warn the move would require formal notice-and-comment rulemaking, likely prompt a surge of claims that could threaten VICP’s finances, and be exploited to sow doubt about vaccines despite decades of scientific evidence refuting a vaccine-autism link.

Health Politics

Shutdown's Impact on Student Loans and Aid

3h Dev 1 Context

The U.S. Department of Education said in a Sept. 28 contingency plan that a government shutdown expected Oct. 1 would not suspend borrowers' obligation to make student‑loan payments and that mandatory‑funded programs—like Pell Grants, Federal Direct Loans, FAFSA processing and most GI Bill benefits—should continue. However, the Department warned many discretionary functions would be curtailed (about 2,100 DOE staff furloughed), potentially delaying borrower assistance, loan forgiveness reviews, new grants and casework that requires agency personnel.

Education Government/Policy

Feds uncover immigration‑fraud ring in Twin Cities

3h Breaking TC 1 Context

Federal authorities — USCIS, ICE and the FBI — said Operation Twin Shields, conducted in the Twin Cities Sept. 19–28, flagged roughly 1,000 suspect cases involving about 900 people for sham marriages, forged documents and fake death certificates. Officials reported four arrests, 42 notices to appear in immigration court, and highlighted abuses tied to Uniting for Ukraine sponsorships and a fake Kenyan death certificate used to allege a spouse was deceased.

Legal Public Safety

Ohio county agrees $7M jail‑death settlement

3h Dev 1 Context

Montgomery County, Ohio agreed to a $7 million settlement with the family of 25‑year‑old Christian Black, who died after being restrained in the county jail on March 26, 2025. The county coroner ruled Black’s death a homicide likely from positional asphyxia after video showed deputies pinning him and placing him in a restraint chair; the family’s attorneys say about nine minutes passed before CPR was begun and are pressing for criminal accountability and reforms including more mental‑health inpatient beds.

Crime Legal

Federal judge rules Trump administration unconstitutionally targeted pro‑Palestinian students for deportation

3h Dev 2 Context

Federal Judge William Young ruled in a 161‑page opinion after a nine‑day trial that the Trump administration unconstitutionally targeted noncitizen pro‑Palestinian students for deportation, naming Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as officials who "acted in concert." The opinion publicly rebukes an anonymous threat postcard, criticizes President Trump for approving a "truly scandalous and unconstitutional suppression of free speech," and sharply condemned ICE practices after recounting the seizure and more‑than‑month detention of Tufts doctoral student Rumeysa Öztürk by masked, plainclothes agents the judge said sought to "terrorize."

Education Immigration Politics

Vance, Trump Jr. to attend TPUSA events to bolster Charlie Kirk legacy

3h Dev 1 Context

Vice President JD Vance and Donald Trump Jr. plan to appear at Turning Point USA (TPUSA) events in the coming months to support the conservative youth organization and honor Charlie Kirk’s political legacy, sources told Fox News (Axios first reported the news). The moves come after Kirk’s Sept. 10 assassination and amid TPUSA’s transition to Erika Kirk as CEO and board chair; the appearances are being framed as efforts to keep TPUSA politically potent and well‑funded ahead of the 2026 midterm cycle.

Politics Elections

Knight Institute and American Oversight ask appeals court to release special counsel report on Trump’s classified‑documents case

3h Dev 2 Context

The Knight First Amendment Institute and American Oversight asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to compel release of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on former President Trump’s classified‑documents case, filing separate motions reported Sept. 30, 2025. Their leaders called the delay "manifestly unreasonable" as they challenge Judge Aileen Cannon’s January order that blocked the DOJ from turning the volume over to Congress — a case in which DOJ later abandoned related prosecutions of co‑defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira.

Legal Politics

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek to step down

4h Dev 1 Context

Daniel Ek, co-founder and long-time CEO of Spotify, announced on Sept. 30, 2025 that he will step down as CEO on January 1, 2026 and transition to the role of executive chairman. Spotify named Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström as co‑CEOs, formalizing a leadership structure that the company says already reflected its operating reality. The move comes amid a controversy after Ek’s venture firm invested over $700 million in Helsing, a defense startup, prompting several indie and major artists to remove music from the platform.

Corporate News Entertainment

Shutdown could close Smithsonian museums and zoo

4h Dev 1 Context

NPR reports that a U.S. federal government shutdown could force closure of Smithsonian museums and suspend many visitor services in Washington, D.C. — the Smithsonian draws about 62% of its funding from the federal government and runs 21 museums plus the National Zoo. While zoo animals will continue to be fed and cared for, webcams and other nonessential services would be turned off; outdoor national monuments would remain physically accessible per NPS guidance but tours and visitor centers are likely to close.

Government/Regulatory Culture

Humberto weakens near Bermuda as Imelda threatens island; U.S. East Coast warned of dangerous swells

4h Dev 6

Humberto — which formed Sept. 24 and strengthened into a hurricane — has been weakening as it nears Bermuda, prompting hurricane watches and island preparations while forecasts showed it likely to diminish as it passes. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Imelda, located near the northern Bahamas and expected to strengthen, has prompted evacuations and school closures there and is forecast to pass near or over Bermuda while producing heavy rain locally and dangerous swells, rip currents and hazardous surf along the U.S. East Coast from Florida to New Jersey.

Environment Public Safety International

Nebraska Opts Into Federal Private‑School Tax Credits

4h Dev 1 Context

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Sept. 30, 2025 signed an executive order opting the state into a new federal school‑choice tax‑credit program included in President Trump’s July tax and budget bill, allowing Nebraska taxpayers to redirect up to $1,700 of federal income taxes owed to scholarship‑granting organizations for K–12 private school expenses. The move implements federal tax credits rather than state appropriations, comes after voters repealed an earlier state law to fund private‑school scholarships, and has drawn criticism from the Nebraska State Education Association over eligibility and potential impacts on public‑school funding.

Politics Education

Shutdown could lapse flood insurance, White House warns

4h Dev 2 Context

The National Flood Insurance Program, which covers more than 4.7 million policies representing about $1.3 trillion in coverage and supports nearly 500,000 home sales annually, is set to expire Tuesday, a lapse that could halt new policies and delay roughly 1,300 property sales per day (about 40,000 closings a month) where flood insurance is required for mortgages. The White House warns more than 400,000 NFIP policies are set to expire in October—with about 152,000 prepaid leaving over 250,000 households potentially losing coverage—and says FEMA has roughly $2.6 billion in reserves to pay claims but could not borrow Treasury funds if a major disaster exhausts those reserves.

Economy Housing Public Safety

WNBA fines and suspends Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve — $15,000 fine, Game 4 suspension

4h Dev 2 Context

The WNBA fined Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve $15,000 and suspended her for Game 4 of the semifinal series after she was ejected with about 21 seconds remaining late in Game 3 (Mercury 84, Lynx 76) following a verbal confrontation over a play in which Napheesa Collier was injured. The league also fined associate coach Eric Thibault and Rebekkah Brunson $500 each, and reportedly issued additional $1,000 fines to Becky Hammon and Stephanie White.

Legal Sports

DOJ Sues LA Sheriff Over Concealed‑Carry Delays

4h Dev 1 Context

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit on Sept. 30, 2025, against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Sheriff Robert Luna, alleging the agency has "systematically" delayed concealed‑carry permit applications in violation of the Second Amendment and California's statutory 90‑day response requirement. DOJ said its civil‑rights probe—opened in March—reviewed more than 8,000 applications (including renewals) and found average wait times exceeding a year; it reported that 3,982 new applications were received between Jan. 2024 and Mar. 2025, with only two approved as of May 8, 2025. Attorney General Pam Bondi is quoted defending the action; the filing follows a parallel suit by gun groups and a judge's partial injunction ordering shorter wait times.

Legal Politics

Adult allegedly enrolls at White Bear Lake HS

4h Breaking TC 1 Context

School officials say an adult allegedly used fraudulent documents and a false identity to enroll at White Bear Lake Area High School in White Bear Lake (Washington County). Principal Russell Reetz emailed families that the person appeared to be over age 21, is now in custody, is banned from district property, and that White Bear Lake police are investigating; officials did not disclose the individual's exact age or how long they had been enrolled.

Education Public Safety

Sean 'Diddy' Combs to seek immediate release at pre‑sentencing hearing ahead of Oct. 3 sentencing

4h Dev 3 Context

At a pre‑sentencing hearing Thursday, defense lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs will ask Judge Arun Subramanian to order his immediate release and cap his sentence at 14 months for his convictions on two Mann Act counts, arguing he has already served enough time. Prosecutors, however, filed a presentence submission seeking at least 11 years and three months—including victim impact letters describing ongoing fear—and are expected to oppose early release ahead of the Oct. 3 sentencing; Combs has remained jailed since his arrest and will have been detained nearly 13 months by then.

Crime Legal

U.S. phases out paper checks for Social Security and federal benefits; about 400,000 recipients affected

4h Dev 2 Context

The Social Security Administration will stop issuing paper checks for Social Security and federal benefits on Sept. 30, 2025, a change initiated by a Trump executive order and justified by the agency as a cost- and security-saving measure (electronic transfers cost about $0.15 vs. $0.50 per check and paper is far more likely to be lost or stolen). The phase-out affects under 1% of roughly 70 million beneficiaries — about 400,000 recipients by one estimate (some counts cite up to 600,000) — raising concerns for unbanked, unhoused or digitally excluded people, though the SSA says exceptions will be made for those with no other means and points to alternatives like the Direct Express card.

Social Policy Economy Government/Regulatory

$200K Home Equity Loan Monthly Cost Post‑Fed Cut

4h 1 Context

CBS News calculates how much monthly payments would be on a $200,000 home equity loan in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s September 2025 rate cut, showing specific payment examples for 10‑ and 15‑year terms and assessing whether borrowing now makes sense for homeowners. The piece cites current quoted fixed rates (8.34% for 10 years; 8.21% for 15 years), provides historical comparisons to March 2025 and October 2024, and offers guidance on risks (home as collateral, need for repayment plan) and potential tax considerations for home projects.

Economy Personal Finance

USCIS uncovers sham marriages, fraud in Minneapolis sweep

4h Dev 1 Context

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services led a coordinated enforcement operation called "Operation Twin Shield" across the Minneapolis–St. Paul area Sept. 19–28, targeting roughly 1,000 cases and conducting more than 900 site visits. USCIS, working with ICE and the FBI, identified fraud or public-safety concerns in 275 cases, referred 44 cases for notices to appear or ICE action, detained two individuals on site, and cited examples including sham marriages with alleged elder exploitation and fabricated death certificates. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow framed the action as part of a broader shift under Executive Order 14161 and a new rule expanding USCIS law-enforcement authority; investigations and additional referrals are ongoing.

Politics Immigration Crime

FBI arrests four in Portland over lasers aimed at CBP aircraft

4h Dev 1 Context

FBI Portland executed a search of a Portland residence linked to an incident in which a laser was allegedly aimed at a Customs and Border Protection helicopter, detaining four people found to be in the U.S. illegally. Agents recovered the suspected laser device, transferred the detainees to ICE Seattle custody, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicated it would likely file federal charges; FBI Director Kash Patel publicly warned that attacks on law enforcement and aircraft will be prosecuted.

Crime National Security Public Safety

India, China deepen trade ties amid U.S. tariffs

4h Dev 1 Context

India is positioning its ports and expanding infrastructure as exporters and shipping lines reroute around summer 2025 shipping logjams tied in part to U.S. tariff policy. The move follows high‑level diplomacy—Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Sept. 1, 2025—and comes as the Trump administration’s 50% tariffs on Indian exports disrupt established trade flows, prompting India and China to emphasize cooperation to stabilize regional trade.

International Economy Trade

FBI Director Gifted 3D‑Printed Pistols to New Zealand Officials

5h Dev 1 Context

During a July 31 visit to Wellington to open the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand, FBI Director Kash Patel presented display stands that included 3D‑printed inoperable pistols to three senior New Zealand security chiefs. New Zealand police and intelligence agencies later sought regulator guidance; the replicas were judged potentially operable under New Zealand law and were surrendered and destroyed, prompting questions about permissions, diplomatic protocol and foreign‑law compliance by a senior U.S. official.

International National security

DoorDash launches Dot autonomous delivery robots

5h Dev 1 Context

DoorDash on Tuesday unveiled Dot, a red autonomous delivery robot, and began rolling the fleet out in the Phoenix metro (Mesa, Arizona). The company says Dot — built to travel in bike lanes, on roads and sidewalks and to navigate doorways and driveways — carries up to 30 pounds, can travel as fast as 20 mph, and is orchestrated by DoorDash’s AI-powered Autonomous Delivery Platform to route small-item deliveries efficiently.

AI & Tech Corporate News

Florida clears site for Trump presidential library

5h Dev 1 Context

Florida state leaders voted unanimously to clear the way for the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library to be built next to Miami’s historic Freedom Tower after Miami Dade College’s board agreed to transfer a 2.6‑acre parking lot to the state. Gov. Ron DeSantis championed the plan and the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation has five years to proceed; the decision prompted student protests and criticism from historians who say the Freedom Tower’s symbolic role as a Cuban‑refugee processing center makes the site controversial.

Politics Government

Retired mother Joy Rogers identified among 3 killed as Nigel Max Edge charged in Southport waterfront massacre

5h Breaking 5 Context

Joy Rogers, a newly retired mother of three who moved to Southport from California about a year ago, was identified as one of three people killed and at least eight wounded when a gunman opened fire at the American Fish Company waterfront restaurant in Southport, N.C., on the night of Sept. 27. Authorities have charged Nigel Max Edge (who has also used the name Nigel Edge and previously changed his name from Sean Debevoise) with three counts of first‑degree murder and multiple counts of attempted first‑degree murder after he allegedly approached by boat, fired into the crowd with a .300 Blackout Sig Sauer rifle and a .380 handgun, was detained after the U.S. Coast Guard spotted him loading a boat, and is being held without bond.

Crime Public Safety Legal

Mamdani, Front‑Runner in NYC Mayoral Race, Vows to Fight Trump's Threat to Withhold Federal Funding

5h Dev 11 Analysis Context

Zohran Mamdani is running as the clear front‑runner in multiple recent polls—generally in the mid‑40s among likely NYC voters—buoyed by voters’ desire for change, concerns about affordability, and strong opposition to Donald Trump; Gov. Kathy Hochul has endorsed him even as some New York Democrats withhold support and activists have raised alarm over his past anti‑Israel positions after polls showed he leads on Israel‑Palestine messaging and that a plurality of voters sympathize more with Palestinians. Mamdani told CNN he will “fight for every single dollar” of federal funding if elected, vowing litigation‑style pushback after President Trump warned on Truth Social he would withhold funds.

Elections Politics New York

Unearthed Biden palm cards list Clinton, Schumer bios

5h Dev 1 Context

Fox News Digital obtained five hand‑sized Biden‑era "palm cards" from National Archives material tied to a review of White House records. The cards include photos and short bios of high‑profile figures — including Hillary Clinton and Denzel Washington — and at least one card labeled for a "Judicial Confirmations Milestone Speech" showing Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Dick Durbin; four of the five cards carry a "PRESIDENT HAS SEEN" stamp. The documents were released to Fox News Digital amid an archives review related to the administration's use of an autopen and it is unclear which, if any, cards Biden actually used during events.

Politics Government

Energy Dept to return $13B in climate funds

5h Dev 1 Analysis

The U.S. Department of Energy said it will return more than $13 billion in unobligated funds that had been set aside for the prior administration’s climate agenda, calling the allocations "wasteful spending." Energy Secretary Chris Wright discussed the decision on CBS Mornings Plus, saying the funds will be returned to taxpayers and were not obligated to active programs.

Energy Government

Hegseth tells generals to embrace MAGA military or resign; reasserts 'highest male' standards

5h Dev 11 Analysis Context

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned roughly 800 flag officers and their top enlisted advisers to an unprecedented meeting at the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico—confirmed by the Pentagon and attended by President Trump—to address senior U.S. military leadership. In an hour‑long address Hegseth rolled out sweeping directives (daily PT, twice‑yearly physical tests and height/weight checks, strict grooming rules with limited exemptions), ordered combat roles to meet the "highest male standard only," urged officers who oppose his anti‑"woke"/MAGA agenda to "do the honorable thing and resign," and praised purging "social justice... toxic ideological garbage" (Trump also warned he would "fire generals on the spot").

Military Politics National Security

Judge pauses Trump administration plan to cut 532 Voice of America jobs

5h Dev 2 Context

A federal judge has paused the Trump administration’s plan to eliminate 532 full‑time Voice of America positions after USAGM Acting CEO Kari Lake announced the cuts in late August and the agency initiated a reduction‑in‑force shortly after a prior hearing. Judge Royce Lamberth blasted the administration for “concerning disrespect” that “readily support[s] contempt proceedings,” noting the dispute comes as Congress appropriated $875 million for USAGM in FY2025 (including $260 million for VOA) and after a March executive order directing cuts to agency functions.

Media Politics Government/Regulatory

Trump Proposes Using U.S. Cities as Military Training Grounds

5h Dev 1 Context

On September 30, 2025, President Donald Trump said in a video clip reported by the Associated Press and republished by PBS that some "dangerous cities" could be used "as training grounds" for the U.S. military, telling Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth "I told Pete ... we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military." He referenced prior deployments of the National Guard and active‑duty Marines to Los Angeles earlier this year and again threatened action in Chicago, saying "we're going into Chicago very soon," remarks that bear on federal‑state roles, domestic troop use and public‑safety policy.

Politics Military Public Safety

Trader Joe's, Walmart Pasta Linked to Listeria Outbreak

5h Dev 1 Context

Federal food-safety officials say pre-cooked pasta meals sold at Walmart (Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara) and Trader Joe’s (Cajun-style Blackened Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo) may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and are genetically linked to an ongoing multi-state outbreak. The USDA/FSIS issued an alert Sept. 30, 2025 after FreshRealm-tested pasta samples returned positive; the CDC says the outbreak has sickened at least 20 people (hospitalizing most) and killed four across 15 states. Consumers are urged to discard affected products, thoroughly clean refrigerators and contact health providers if they develop symptoms.

Health Food Safety

New Brighton man charged in Frogtown fatal shooting

5h Breaking TC 1 Context

TwinCities.com reports that a man from New Brighton was arrested and charged in connection with a fatal shooting in the Frogtown neighborhood of St. Paul. The arrest and charges were reported Sept. 30, 2025; police say the incident involved a deadly shooting in the neighborhood and authorities have moved to file criminal charges against the suspect.

Public Safety Legal

DOJ Sues Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul Over Sanctuary Policies

5h Dev 1 Context

On Sept. 30, 2025 the U.S. Department of Justice filed suit against the State of Minnesota, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and Hennepin County, alleging their sanctuary‑style policies obstruct federal immigration enforcement. The complaint names Attorney General Pam Bondi as announcing the action, cites a February nonbinding advisory opinion from Minnesota AG Keith Ellison and asks a federal court to invalidate state and local laws and practices that DOJ says lead to the release of individuals who would otherwise face deportation.

Politics Legal

Federal government to accept new DACA applications

5h Dev 1 Context

The Justice Department said in a recent court filing that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has prepared to accept and process initial DACA applications to comply with litigation over the program, but implementation will follow an order from U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen; the 5th Circuit’s earlier decision narrows the ruling’s geographic effect so applicants approved outside Texas would receive both deportation protections and work authorization, while approvals for Texas residents would be limited to deportation deferrals without work permits.

Politics Legal Immigration

Democrats' unanimous-consent CR bid blocked on House floor as shutdown deadline looms

5h Dev 2 Context

House Democrats tried an unusual unanimous‑consent maneuver to pass a short‑term continuing resolution extending funding to Oct. 31 with policy riders — including extending pandemic‑era ACA premium subsidies, reversing recent Medicaid cuts and restoring funding to NPR and PBS — but the bid was blocked when Rep. Warren Davidson signaled he would object and Rep. Morgan Griffith, presiding, gavelled the pro‑forma session out. The move failed as the shutdown deadline neared, leaving a GOP‑backed CR that would fund the government roughly flat until Nov. 21 (and includes about $88 million for enhanced security) as the remaining option.

Politics Government/Legislation Government

Hundreds of federal agents sweep Chicago for Tren de Aragua suspects

5h Breaking 1 Context

Nearly 300 federal agents conducted a targeted immigration enforcement operation early Sept. 30, 2025, in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood aimed at suspected members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. The FBI assisted U.S. Border Patrol in the raid on an apartment building; footage showed a helicopter inserting snipers onto the roof, and about two dozen people were taken into custody. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker publicly criticized federal tactics as the operation occurred amid broader ICE 'Operation Midway Blitz' activity and a DHS memo seeking deployment of additional troops to Illinois.

Crime Immigration Public Safety

OMB memo directs agencies to plan RIF mass layoffs if funding lapses at Sept. 30 shutdown

5h Dev 12 Analysis Context

An OMB memo from Director Russ Vought instructs agencies to prepare reduction‑in‑force (RIF) layoff plans — to be used in addition to furloughs — if funding lapses after Sept. 30, directing agencies to spare core benefits and national security functions (Social Security, Medicare, veterans’ benefits, military operations, law enforcement, ICE, CBP, air traffic control) while targeting items such as foreign aid, EV‑charging grants and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and emphasizing border security and defense priorities. The administration frames the guidance as pressure to pass a “clean” continuing resolution (H.R. 5371) through Nov. 21 and warns that as many as millions of federal workers could be affected (est. ~2.3 million), prompting Democratic leaders to call the move intimidation and drawing heated political backlash amid shutdown talks and proposals for large-scale personnel actions.

Economy Politics Labor

State records show Savage daycare was cited for safety violations before infant's death

6h Dev TC 2 Context

State inspection records show the Savage daycare where an infant died had been cited for safety violations before the September incident. Police say they are not ruling out any possible causes, and the Star Tribune report is based on state inspection and licensing documents detailing the facility’s inspection history and the timing of those citations.

Health Public Safety Government/Regulatory

U.S. military strikes alleged Venezuela drug boats as Navy deploys to Caribbean; Congress files War Powers challenge

6h Breaking 11 Context

President Trump announced via social posts that U.S. forces have carried out multiple strikes on alleged Venezuela-linked drug-smuggling boats in the U.S. Southern Command area — posting video of the latest engagement he said killed three people and asserting at least three vessels have been destroyed, while Dominican authorities say one struck speedboat recovered roughly 377 packages — about 1,000 kg — of cocaine about 80 nautical miles south of Isla Beata. The actions come alongside a roughly 4,500-person naval and air buildup in the Caribbean (eight warships, F‑35s to Puerto Rico and clandestine special-operations forces), have drawn legal and human-rights concerns and a War Powers resolution from senators seeking to block further hostilities, and prompted sharp diplomatic denunciations from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and others.

National Security Crime International

DOJ Sues LA Sheriff Over Concealed-Carry Delays

6h Dev 1 Context

The U.S. Department of Justice sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Sept. 30, 2025, alleging the agency’s lengthy delays in processing concealed-carry permit applications violate the Second Amendment and state law. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division — and Attorney General Pam Bondi in a statement — say the sheriff’s office took an average 281 days to begin processing, provided only two approvals out of more than 8,000 applications, and scheduled approval interviews up to two years after application; the complaint, filed in federal court in Los Angeles, seeks a permanent injunction to force timely licensing under California’s 90-day review requirement.

Legal Government/Regulatory

Rep. David Schweikert Enters Arizona GOP Governor Primary

6h Dev 1 Context

Rep. David Schweikert announced on Sept. 30, 2025 that he is running in the Republican primary for Arizona governor, joining a crowded field that includes two Trump‑backed candidates, Karrin Taylor Robson and Andy Biggs. The move raises Democratic hopes of flipping Schweikert’s suburban Phoenix 1st Congressional District next year and complicates Republican efforts to hold a razor‑thin House majority; the article also notes Schweikert’s past campaign‑finance fines and his record of narrow recent victories.

Politics Elections

Paroled felon arrested in Redwood City train stabbing

6h Breaking 1 Context

San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies arrested 31‑year‑old Jose Gomez Bustamante on Aug. 28 in connection with a fatal stabbing on a Caltrain platform in Redwood City, California. The victim, identified by the coroner as Joseph Michael Carreiro, was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition and later died; the case is being investigated as a homicide with assistance from Redwood City police and the county district attorney’s office. Authorities say Bustamante has a prior 2020 attempted‑stabbing conviction, was sentenced in June 2023, and released on parole in April after credits and program participation.

Crime Public Safety

Trump Pledges Full Support to U.S. Military at Quantico

6h Dev 1 Context

President Donald Trump told senior U.S. military leaders at Marine Corps University on Sept. 30, 2025, that he offers "unwavering support" and seeks to "reawaken the warrior spirit," promising administration changes to emphasize fitness, merit and recruiting. Speaking at Marine Corps Base Quantico and joined onstage by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Trump said the Navy, Air Force and Space Force have met or exceeded recruiting goals and criticized what he described as prior politicization of the services.

Politics Military

Border Patrol union warns shutdown would jeopardize operations

6h Dev 1 Context

The National Border Patrol Council, representing about 18,000 CBP agents, urged Senate Democrats to pass the House‑approved continuing resolution to avoid a partial government shutdown before midnight Wednesday. Union president Paul Perez warned that a lapse would cut mission‑critical funding for patrol vehicles, roads, radios, infrastructure and agent pay; lawmakers are negotiating over healthcare and ACA subsidy provisions while the CR would fund government through Nov. 21 and includes roughly $88 million for enhanced security.

Politics Public Safety

Jay Cutler begins four‑day jail term for DUI

6h Dev 1 Context

Former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler reported to the Williamson County Jail in Franklin, Tennessee, on Monday to begin a four‑day sentence after pleading guilty last month to one count of driving under the influence. Under a plea deal, other charges (including weapon possession while impaired and certain collision/consent counts) were dismissed, though Cutler must forfeit a firearm; he will also serve one year of unsupervised probation, attend a DUI safety class, pay a $350 fine and has had his driver's license revoked.

Legal Sports

Hurricane Imelda threatens Bermuda, kills two in Cuba and floods parts of the Bahamas; U.S. East Coast at risk

6h Dev 4

Tropical Storm Imelda, the ninth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic season, rapidly strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday with sustained winds near 75 mph and was forecast to pass near or over Bermuda by Wednesday as a possible Category 2 while moving northeast. Imelda has already killed at least two people in eastern Cuba, forced widespread evacuations and cut off communities, flooded parts of the Bahamas (closing schools and causing power outages), and is expected to bring heavy rain—up to 8 inches in Cuba and the Bahamas and 3–10 inches along parts of Florida and the Carolinas (1–2 inches inland)—and dangerous surf to the U.S. East Coast, prompting tropical-storm watches and warnings.

Weather International Environment

Democratic NJ mayor endorses Ciattarelli, targets sanctuary policy

7h Dev 1 Context

Dover Mayor James P. Dodd, a registered Democrat, told Fox News he is endorsing Republican Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey's 2025 governor’s race, citing rising taxes, retirement costs and what he called failures from Democratic candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill. Dodd said Ciattarelli pledged to end sanctuary‑city policies 'on day one,' urged letting local law enforcement cooperate with federal immigration authorities, and suggested he may switch parties — a development the campaign says reflects shifting voter sentiment in Dover.

Politics Elections Immigration

Denmark reports renewed drone sightings; bans civilian drones ahead of EU summit as NATO boosts Baltic vigilance

7h Dev 5 Analysis

Denmark reported renewed drone sightings over multiple airports and military sites including Karup, Skrydstrup and the Jutland Dragoon Regiment—incidents that forced temporary airport closures, were described by officials as a "hybrid attack," and have prompted consultations with NATO and the EU as authorities say some drones may have been launched locally. Ahead of an EU summit Denmark temporarily banned civilian drone flights with stiff penalties, deployed mobile radar and accepted allied help — Germany sending the frigate FGS Hamburg and C‑sUAS capabilities and Sweden lending anti‑drone systems — while also proposing laws to allow infrastructure owners to shoot down hostile drones; Norway reported a seizure and Moscow denied involvement.

International Public Safety Military

Consumer Confidence Falls as Inflation Worries Grow

7h Dev 1 Context

The Conference Board reported on Sept. 30, 2025 that U.S. consumer confidence slipped 3.6 points to 94.2 in September as more respondents cited prices and inflation as their top concern. The decline—driven by weaker short‑term expectations (73.4) and supported by recent Labor Department data showing CPI rose 2.9% year‑over‑year in August and August payrolls grew by only 22,000—signals rising household pessimism that can damp spending and influence economic policy.

Economy Finance

JOLTS: U.S. Job Openings Essentially Unchanged in August

7h Dev 1 Context

The U.S. Labor Department’s monthly JOLTS release on Sept. 30, 2025 shows job openings ticked to 7.23 million in August from 7.21 million in July, signaling a labor market that remains relatively tight but losing momentum. Hiring was weak (weakest since June 2024), quits declined, layoffs fell, and unemployment remains low at 4.3% — trends analysts tie to Federal Reserve rate moves, President Trump’s trade policies and the risk of a government shutdown.

Economy Finance

Scientists Create Human Eggs from Skin Cells

7h Dev 1 Context

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov report in Nature Communications (Sept. 30, 2025) that they produced human eggs whose nuclear DNA came from adult skin cells by replacing donor-egg DNA and inducing a novel cell-division pathway dubbed 'mitomeiosis.' The team generated 82 functional eggs, fertilized some with sperm, and found about 9% of resulting embryos reached the blastocyst stage, though all embryos exhibited genetic abnormalities that currently preclude implantation.

Health Science

Report: Press Freedom Declines Across Asia

7h Dev 1 Context

NPR reports that press freedom across the Asia‑Pacific is deteriorating, citing a Reporters Without Borders analysis showing journalist detentions climbed from 69 in 2010 to 334 in 2022 (300 last year). The piece highlights high‑profile cases such as Chinese citizen‑journalist Zhang Zhan—recently hit with another four‑year sentence—and flags countries driving the trend (China, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Vietnam), while noting implications for U.S. policy as Washington has reduced funding for independent regional media and Chinese surveillance techniques spread beyond its borders.

International Human Rights

Second detainee Miguel Ángel García‑Hernández dies after Dallas ICE sniper attack; family speaks out

7h Breaking 49 Context

Miguel Ángel García‑Hernández, 32, has died after being shot in the rooftop sniper attack on an ICE detainee transport outside the Dallas field office — the second detainee to die in the assault — and his wife, Stephany Gauffeny, has urged that his name be known, saying the couple had just bought a home and she is pregnant with their fifth child. Authorities have identified 29‑year‑old Joshua Jahn as the shooter; investigators say he fired from a nearby rooftop with a bolt‑action rifle, died of an apparent self‑inflicted wound, left notes and ammunition marked “ANTI‑ICE,” and the FBI is treating the incident as a targeted, ideologically motivated attack while DHS boosts security at ICE facilities.

National security Government/Immigration Homeland Security

DOE Finds Minnesota Violated Title IX

7h Dev 1 Context

The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced they have determined that the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League violated Title IX by allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports. The agencies gave the state a 10‑day deadline to revise policies to comply with federal sex‑based rules, listed specific corrective requirements (including rescinding guidance, issuing statewide notices, adopting biology‑based definitions of sex, restoring girls’ athletic records and training), and warned of referral to the Department of Justice if not corrected.

Education Legal

DNC Chair Urges Statehood, Filibuster End

7h Dev 1 Context

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin told a podcast audience this week that Democrats should move to eliminate the Senate filibuster and push for statehood for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico once the party regains power, and he described the current Trump administration as a "fascist regime." Martin made the remarks on Jaime Harrison’s 'At Our Table' podcast and framed the proposals as part of an aggressive post‑victory agenda tied to the 2026 midterms.

Politics Elections

AGOA Set to Expire Sept. 30 — Kenyan Apparel Exports and Jobs at Risk

7h Dev 2 Context

AGOA's scheduled expiration on Sept. 30 threatens thousands of jobs across Africa and could sharply damage Kenyan apparel exports to the U.S., which grew from about $50 million when AGOA began to roughly $500 million today, a Kenyan factory owner says. Kenyan manufacturers warn they would have "zero chance to compete" with Asian exporters if preferences lapse; President William Ruto has urged renewal and said bilateral talks with the U.S. have made "good progress" toward a deal by year‑end, while analysts note a roughly 10% U.S. tariff on many non‑AGOA exports and warn of notable adverse effects for economies including Nigeria and Lesotho.

Economy International Trade

Second detainee Miguel Angel Garcia‑Hernandez dies after Dallas ICE rooftop sniper attack

7h Breaking 5 Context

Miguel Ángel García‑Hernández, 32, died Tuesday after being taken off life support for wounds sustained Sept. 24 when a rooftop sniper opened fire on a detainee transport outside the Dallas ICE field office—an attack that earlier killed Norlan Guzmán Fuentes and wounded Jose Andres Bordones‑Molina. Authorities identified the shooter as 29‑year‑old Joshua Jahn, who was found dead of an apparent suicide; surveillance video shows him firing at the van while ICE agents shielded and shepherded detainees, and investigators say he researched DHS facilities, tracked ICE activity, and left a note and anti‑ICE‑marked rounds. García‑Hernández’s family said he was a father of four, expecting a fifth child, and had been detained after an Aug. 8 DUI arrest.

Public Safety National Security Crime

U.S. job openings steady at 7.2M in August

7h Dev 1 Context

The U.S. Labor Department's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) showed job openings ticked up to 7.23 million in August from 7.21 million in July, effectively unchanged and indicating a cooling labor market amid trade-policy uncertainty and an approaching government shutdown. The report also found quits and layoffs declined and follows recent downward revisions to earlier job-growth figures that have weighed on hiring momentum and helped prompt Federal Reserve rate cuts.

Economy Finance

ChatGPT Enables Direct Shopping on Etsy and Shopify

8h Dev 1 Context

OpenAI announced on Sept. 30, 2025 that ChatGPT users can now buy directly from Etsy sellers while Shopify merchant support is coming soon, using an "Instant Checkout" system built to work with payment‑processor Stripe. The move makes ChatGPT a virtual merchant interface, positioning OpenAI to capture online‑commerce fees and altering payment and platform dynamics for U.S. sellers and shoppers.

AI & Tech Economy

Netanyahu Faces Mass Walkout at UNGA as He Vows to 'Finish the Job' in Gaza

8h Dev 9 Context

At the U.N. General Assembly Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Israel "must finish the job" in Gaza, thanked President Trump, accused world leaders of appeasing "evil," said Israel had killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and urged Hamas to surrender and free hostages. The address prompted a mass walkout by nearly all Arab and Muslim states (and several African and some European delegations), left the hall largely empty, and Israel said it broadcast the speech into Gaza via loudspeakers and cell‑phone streams—claims disputed by reporters—while Israeli diplomats called the walkout "staged" and fighting and worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza continued.

War & Conflict International Diplomacy

OpenAI may alert police when teens discuss suicide

8h Dev 1 Context

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company is considering a policy to notify authorities if young people seriously discuss suicide on ChatGPT and parents cannot be reached. The change, framed in response to recent lawsuits (including the Adam Raine case) and research about teen reliance on AI, is part of a newly announced 120‑day plan that creates an Expert Council on Well‑Being and a Global Physician Network and will roll out stronger safeguards and parental controls for teens.

AI & Tech Public Safety

YouTube settles Trump suspension suit for $24.5M

8h Dev 1

YouTube (owned by Alphabet/Google) agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a civil lawsuit President Donald Trump brought over the platform’s suspension of his account after the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack. Court filings dated Sept. 30, 2025 show $22 million of the settlement will go to the Trust for the National Mall to support a White House ballroom project and $2.5 million will be distributed to other plaintiffs, including Naomi Wolf and the American Conservative Union; a related hearing was scheduled for Oct. 6 before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers in Oakland.

Legal Politics Technology

Andover school bus crash kills pickup driver

8h Breaking TC 1

A head-on collision involving an Anoka school bus in Andover on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, killed the pickup driver and injured two people on the bus, authorities said. Investigators are examining the circumstances of the crash in the north metro city of Andover in Anoka County.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Energy Dept. Email Instructs Staff to Avoid 'Climate Change' Term

8h Dev 1

The Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy was told in an internal email to avoid using phrases such as "climate change," "decarbonization," "clean energy" and "energy transition" in websites, reports and funding documents, according to an email obtained by NPR and first reported by Politico on Sept. 30, 2025. The DOE press secretary denied there is a directive banning the terms, but the guidance — aimed at the office that manages billions in clean‑energy research funding — raises questions about how the administration is shaping federal climate communications.

Energy Politics Climate

October Fed cut's likely effect on U.S. mortgages

8h 1

U.S. mortgage markets could see modest further easing if the Federal Reserve cuts rates at its Oct. 28–29, 2025 FOMC meeting, but experts warn much of that move may already be priced into bond and mortgage markets. The CBS News piece quotes mortgage lenders and market analysts explaining that Treasury yields and market expectations (CME FedWatch odds ~87.7% for a 25-basis-point cut) often drive mortgage-rate moves more directly than the Fed announcement itself, and that homeowners with 7%–8% loans should evaluate refinancing options now.

Economy Housing/Finance

U.S. coffee prices surge amid tariffs

8h Dev 1

Gregory's Coffee and other U.S. retailers are confronting rapidly rising coffee costs as retail prices climbed roughly 21% year-over-year to a record $8.87 per pound, driven by drought and volatile weather in growing regions and by heavy U.S. tariffs — including a reported 50% levy on Brazilian beans — that have raised import and supply-chain costs for roasters and cafes nationwide. Industry executives from Gregory's, J.M. Smucker Co. and Starbucks told CBS News the combination of crop shortfalls and tariff-driven import expenses is forcing firms to consider price increases, even as some chains' hedging practices delay sticker shock for customers.

Economy Corporate News

House Judiciary Subcommittee Hears Victims' Families in Charlotte; father of Logan Federico decries soft-crime policies after daughter's killing

8h Dev 9 Analysis

A House Judiciary Subcommittee held a Sept. 29 field hearing in Charlotte to hear victims’ families and local officials about the Aug. 22 light‑rail killing of Iryna Zarutska and broader crime policy, with DOJ charging Decarlos Brown Jr., testimony that a magistrate released him on a written promise to appear, and calls for more prosecutors. Stephen Federico, father of 22‑year‑old Logan Federico, condemned "soft‑on‑crime" policies after prosecutors treated alleged killer Alexander Dickey — who had dozens of prior charges and an apparently incomplete rap sheet due to missing fingerprints — as a first‑time offender following a plea reduction, saying Dickey used his daughter's debit card after the slaying.

State & Local Legal Public Safety

Lawmakers flag domestic terror as top threat

8h 5 Analysis

Bipartisan lawmakers warned—particularly on the 9/11 anniversary and after Charlie Kirk’s assassination—that domestic terrorism now poses the greatest threat, citing a climate of violent rhetoric, cancelled events and security concerns, and some lawmakers linking border lapses to potential terrorist entry. Senators and figures like Bernie Sanders condemned the rise in political violence, while a CSIS report found left‑wing incidents in 2025 on pace to be the most violent in over 30 years, noting 750 U.S. terrorist incidents tracked between 1994 and July 2025 and, for the first time in decades, left‑wing attacks outnumbering far‑right ones.

Politics U.S. National Security

U.S. to Return 120 Iranians Detained

8h Dev 1

Iran announced that 120 Iranians detained in the United States for illegal entry will be flown back to Iran in the coming days, and Iranian state media said as many as 400 returnees could be covered under the arrangement. Two U.S. officials told CBS News that a deportation flight carrying fewer than 200 Iranian nationals had been scheduled to depart the U.S. on Monday night with a planned stopover in Qatar; the Trump administration has not publicly confirmed any deal.

Immigration International

How a government shutdown would affect military pay, Pentagon operations and DoD civilians

8h Dev 22 Analysis

The Defense Department has contingency guidance that would prioritize key missions — including border and Middle East operations, missile defense, depot maintenance, shipbuilding and critical munitions — and requires roughly 406,000 of the department’s 741,000 civilian employees to keep working while the remainder could be furloughed and agencies have been told to prepare reduction‑in‑force plans. A bill to guarantee troop and Coast Guard pay during a lapse has been introduced, but timely passage appears unlikely, so pay protections would depend on congressional action.

Health Government/Legislation Public Safety / Services

Shutdown would force military to work without pay

8h Dev 1

If Congress fails to pass funding by Oct. 1, active‑duty service members and deployed National Guard must continue duties with pay delayed until funding is restored; the Pentagon published contingency guidance that prioritizes operations (U.S. Southern Border, Middle East, the 'Golden Dome' missile‑defense project) and estimates roughly 406,000 of 741,000 DoD civilian employees would be required to work during a shutdown. Lawmakers introduced a bill to guarantee military pay, credit unions/USAA plan emergency loans, and elective medical procedures could be postponed even as TRICARE coverage continues.

Military Government/Politics

DOE opens enforcement probe into Fairfax schools over alleged staff‑arranged student abortions

8h Dev 1

The U.S. Department of Education’s Student Privacy Policy Office this week launched an enforcement action under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) against Fairfax County Public Schools, demanding documentation and a written response by Oct. 17 about allegations that school staff arranged abortions for students without parental knowledge or consent. The move follows local reporting and a separate criminal inquiry ordered by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin into alleged 2021–22 incidents at Centreville High School, and the SPPO is seeking to determine whether any federal funds were used or policies violated.

Politics Education Legal

Tennessee governor endorses Matt Van Epps

9h Dev 1

Less than a week before the Oct. 7 Republican primary for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, Gov. Bill Lee publicly endorsed Matt Van Epps to replace retiring Rep. Mark Green. The endorsement arrives in a packed special‑election field of 19 candidates (11 Republicans) and emphasizes Van Epps’ military service, West Point background and recent state cabinet role as DGS commissioner.

Politics Elections

Marine veteran Thomas 'Jake' Sanford identified in Michigan church massacre; FBI probes motive

9h Breaking 16

Thomas Jacob “Jake” Sanford, 40, a U.S. Marine veteran who served 2004–2008 including a 2007–2008 Iraq deployment, has been identified as the attacker in the assault on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, in which investigators say he drove a pickup through the front doors, fired an assault rifle at worshippers and used an accelerant to set the chapel ablaze. Four people were killed and eight wounded; officers shot and killed Sanford after arriving within minutes of 911 calls, and the FBI — calling the episode an “act of targeted violence” — has sent roughly 100 agents, executed search warrants at his residences and is probing a possible anti‑Mormon motive.

Crime Public Safety Military

U.S. Coffee Prices Rise as Costs Surge

9h Dev 2

U.S. coffee prices have risen sharply as costs surge nationwide, with the wholesale price per pound up roughly 40% year‑over‑year, according to a CBS MoneyWatch explainer by Kelly O'Grady. News outlets report consumers are being asked to "swallow the higher prices" as retailers pass increased production and supply costs on to buyers.

Consumer Economy Consumer Prices

Congress Still Paid During Government Shutdown

9h Dev 1

With a federal funding lapse set to begin Oct. 1, 2025, CBS News explains that members of Congress will continue to draw salaries because Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution and a permanent appropriation (in place since 1983) require their pay be paid out of the Treasury regardless of annual appropriations. The piece also details that the president's salary is constitutionally protected, while federal employees, contractors and many congressional staff face furloughs or delayed pay under the Antideficiency Act.

Politics Government

Enhanced ACA tax credit expiry threatens coverage for 22M

9h Dev 1

A key Affordable Care Act subsidy—the enhanced premium tax credit that currently helps about 22 million marketplace enrollees afford coverage—is set to expire at the end of 2025. Lawmakers are tying an extension of the credit to an imminent stopgap spending deal to avert a federal government shutdown, and analysts (KFF, CBO) and insurers warn that expiration could trigger median premium hikes in 2026, cause millions to drop coverage and destabilize marketplaces nationwide.

Health Economy Politics

US firms win $170B in foreign government contracts

9h Dev 1

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration announced that American companies have signed a record $170 billion in foreign government contracts since President Trump returned to office. The ITA says the 98 contracts are expected to generate $144 billion in U.S.-manufactured exports and support nearly 600,000 American jobs, with aerospace and defense accounting for $153 billion of the total; Commerce officials Howard Lutnick and William Kimmitt issued statements highlighting the deals as evidence of renewed U.S. industrial competitiveness.

Economy Trade

Taliban orders nationwide internet blackout in Afghanistan

9h Dev 2

The Taliban has ordered a nationwide internet shutdown in Afghanistan, a blackout that began on Sept. 16 and spread countrywide by Sept. 29, 2025. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan urged the Taliban to restore service, warning the outage has crippled banking and financial systems, disrupted remittances, limited medical and aviation services, isolated women and girls, and undermined disaster response after recent earthquakes and mass forced returns.

Technology International Public Safety

White House meeting ends without deal as shutdown looms

10h Dev TC 7

With days to go before the Oct. 1 funding deadline, a Sept. 29 White House meeting between President Donald Trump and congressional leaders ended without a deal, with participants warning, “We’re headed to a shutdown.” The stalemate follows the House’s Sept. 19 passage of a stopgap bill that stalled in the Senate, and ongoing talks in which Republicans are pushing a funding extension to Nov. 21 while Democrats seek to reverse Medicaid cuts and extend ACA premium tax credits; the House isn’t expected to hold votes this week. As the likelihood of a partial shutdown grows, the White House budget office has ordered agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans, while essential services like Social Security, Medicare, VA health care and USPS would continue and Minnesota’s MSP airport and other federal operations could face disruptions, with furloughed workers guaranteed back pay.

Business & Economy Government & Politics Transit & Infrastructure

California woman wins $17M police‑use‑of‑force settlement

18h Dev 1

Nakia Porter has reached a $17 million settlement with Solano County over a 2020 incident in Dixon, California, where sheriff’s deputies pulled guns on her, slammed her to the pavement, and knocked her unconscious during a traffic stop while she was with family. The federal lawsuit alleged unlawful seizure, assault and excessive force; body‑camera footage referenced in the case shows deputies handcuffing Porter, detaining her father, and Porter being held overnight though she was never charged.

Legal Crime

Florida man Victor Jones scheduled for execution

18h Dev 1

Victor Tony Jones, 64, who was convicted in 1993 of fatally stabbing a married couple during a 1990 robbery in South Florida, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke on Tuesday evening after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant. Jones was a new employee at the victims’ Miami‑Dade business when the killings occurred; his recent appeals—raising intellectual‑disability claims and allegations of past abuse at a state reform school—were rejected by the Florida Supreme Court and an emergency appeal was filed with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Legal Crime

Walz, legislative leaders deadlocked on gun special session; another meeting Friday

18h Breaking TC 6

Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders reported no agreement on a gun-focused special session after Thursday’s talks and will meet again Friday, with Walz saying Republicans won’t budge and House Speaker Lisa Demuth calling that a mischaracterization while arguing there’s no bill language and insufficient votes. The DFL is pushing bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, safe storage, and a gun-violence prevention office, while Republicans emphasize school security and mental health; a Senate working group’s hearings have been contentious, with no GOP proposals advanced and sharp debate over storage rules. With several DFL senators seen as potential no votes, Walz has floated a constitutional amendment to ban assault rifles, though experts say it faces steep political and legal hurdles.

Public Safety Local Government

Harvard Scientist Flags Interstellar Comet as Possible Probe

19h Dev 1

Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb published calculations arguing that interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is far larger and heavier than first estimated—over 33 billion tons and at least 3.1 miles across—and that its measured non‑gravitational acceleration could warrant considering artificial (probe) hypotheses. Loeb urged NASA to point the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter at the object to obtain resolving data as it approaches inner solar system distances in the coming days and weeks; the object was first spotted in July and is slated to pass near Mars' orbital distance soon.

Science Space

State DFL upholds revocation of Fateh mayoral endorsement in 40–7 vote

19h Dev TC 2

The Minnesota DFL State Executive Committee voted 40–7 to uphold the revocation of Sen. Omar Fateh’s Minneapolis mayoral endorsement after a virtual appeal, siding with findings that the July convention’s first ballot was substantially flawed, including 176 uncounted votes and the wrongful elimination of candidate DeWayne Davis. Party leaders also formed a subcommittee to enforce convention policies going forward; Minneapolis DFL chair John Maraist said the convention’s main operator suffered a stroke that hindered operations and records, while the local party argued the state overreached amid a challenge by Mayor Jacob Frey’s campaign.

Elections Local Government

Ex‑DOGE Staffer Describes Logan Circle Beating

19h Dev 1

Former DOGE staffer Edward Coristine recounted on Fox News a brutal group assault in Washington, D.C.'s Logan Circle on Aug. 3 that left him with a broken nose and concussion. A 15‑year‑old from Hyattsville recently pleaded guilty in juvenile court to felony assault, robbery and related charges; Coristine detailed the encounter and his injuries during a televised interview and his account has drawn broader commentary about youth crime in D.C.

Crime Politics

AI Spurs Gen Z Interest in Skilled Trades

19h Dev 1 Analysis

A recent CBS News piece reports that artificial intelligence and tougher entry-level labor markets for college graduates are driving more U.S. Gen Z workers into blue-collar skilled trades. The report combines a ResumeBuilder survey (42% of Gen Z respondents working in or pursuing trades), Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis unemployment analysis for recent college grads, and on-the-ground interviews with young tradespeople and small-business owners (including 23-year-old electrician Jacob Palmer). Industry leaders and contractors say AI automates some white-collar entry jobs but cannot replace fieldwork, making trades more attractive to cost-conscious and risk-averse young workers.

Economy AI & Tech Labor

Trump Calls Climate Change a 'Con Job' at UN

19h 1 Analysis

At the U.N. General Assembly in New York, President Donald Trump said climate change is a "con job," prompting fact-checking coverage that disputes several of his claims. The Associated Press piece (run on PBS) rebuts assertions about renewables' cost and performance, cites UN and IRENA data showing solar and wind among cheapest new electricity sources, and records reactions from small island states and IPCC scientists warning of real-world harms.

Politics Climate International

Sherrill, Ciattarelli spar in first NJ debate

19h Dev 4 Analysis

At a Sept. 21 debate at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli sparred over President Trump’s influence, affordability and political divisions — Ciattarelli embraced elements of Trump’s agenda (including a budget plan, ending the Department of Education and revised vaccine policies) while stressing local concerns like property taxes, public safety, education and rising energy costs (the state Board of Public Utilities had projected electricity bills up 17–20%). The candidates also traded barbs on free speech and political violence — Ciattarelli pressed Sherrill over her vote related to Charlie Kirk and on whether she would support designating political violence as a hate crime, while Sherrill defended constitutional free speech protections, condemned political violence and afterward pledged she would not raise the state sales tax — all under tight security amid heightened national tensions.

Politics Elections

Charlie Javice sentenced to 7 years for defrauding JPMorgan

19h Dev 1

Charlie Javice, a U.S. fintech founder previously convicted of defrauding JPMorgan Chase, was sentenced to seven years in prison, the Axios report says. The sentence was handed down on Sept. 29, 2025 and follows Javice’s criminal conviction in the case alleging she sold fabricated customer leads/data to the bank.

Legal Finance Crime

Foreign investment surges into U.S., but Hyundai Georgia ICE raid strains ties

19h 2

Foreign investment into the U.S. has surged — McKinsey found announced FDI projects to the U.S. and Canada were 89% higher since 2022 compared with 2015–2019, and Federal Reserve data put foreign-held assets in the U.S. at about $16.9 trillion this year. But policy headwinds — notably the Trump administration’s $100,000 H‑1B fee and a Sept. 4, 2025 ICE raid at a Hyundai/LG battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia that arrested hundreds, many South Korean workers — have strained U.S.–Korea ties and risk imperiling promised investments, including a reported $350 billion pledge.

International Economy Trade

ICE raid at Hyundai Georgia plant strains U.S.–South Korea ties

19h Dev 1

A Sept. 4, 2025 U.S. immigration enforcement raid at a Hyundai/LG battery factory in Ellabell, Georgia — part of a $4.3 billion project — led to roughly 475 arrests, about 300 of them South Korean workers. The Christian Science Monitor reports that the enforcement action has provoked strong public and political anger in South Korea, complicating trade negotiations and large Korean investment pledges (cited at $350 billion) and raising doubts about Hyundai’s ability to staff planned U.S. facilities such as an upcoming Louisiana steel plant.

International Economy

Federal agents, Border Patrol patrols in Chicago as governor says DHS requested 100 troops

19h Dev 4

Federal agents and Border Patrol officers were seen patrolling downtown Chicago this weekend — including boat patrols on the Chicago River and marches on Michigan Avenue — and activists described an incident near the Cloud Gate "Bean" where a Latino family was escorted away; Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said DHS has requested about 100 troops and that the Illinois National Guard received a memo to the Defense Department to protect ICE personnel and facilities. The Chicago activity mirrors broader federal deployments to Portland and Memphis that have drawn protests and lawsuits, with on‑the‑ground video showing armed federal officers in city centers and additional agents reported en route to Memphis.

Public Safety Military Politics

Trump orders troops to Portland and Memphis; Oregon federalizes Guard members and sues

20h Dev 4 Analysis

President Trump announced on Truth Social that he had ordered troops to Portland and Memphis, calling Portland “war‑ravaged” and naming Pete Hegseth to provide forces, and federal agents have begun arriving amid confrontations outside a Portland ICE facility. The Pentagon confirmed plans and a DoD memo federalized 200 Oregon National Guard members for a 60‑day deployment, while Oregon officials — Gov. Tina Kotek, AG Dan Rayfield and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson — filed a federal lawsuit alleging executive overreach; officials also say deployments are expected in Memphis (and reports mention planned forces for Illinois).

Legal Public Safety Military

Raft Guides Lead Nolichucky River Cleanup After Helene

20h Dev 1

In Erwin, Tennessee, rafting outfitters and a crew of experienced whitewater guides have been contracted with state‑funded relief grants to remove debris from the Nolichucky River a year after Hurricane Helene's catastrophic flooding. The U.S. Forest Service closed river access while reconstruction and restoration continue; guides are using company 6‑person rafts to haul out car parts, sheet metal, tires and other hazardous debris that large machinery could not reach.

Environment Disaster Recovery

YouTube to pay Trump $24.5M settlement

20h Dev 1

YouTube (owned by Google) agreed to pay $24.5 million to former President Donald Trump to settle a 2021 lawsuit alleging his account was wrongfully suspended after the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack, according to federal court papers filed Sept. 29, 2025. The settlement allocates roughly $22 million to the Trust for the National Mall for construction of a White House ballroom project and $2.5 million to other plaintiffs, including the American Conservative Union and author Naomi Wolf.

Legal Politics AI & Tech

Judge Denies New Trial for Florida Matriarch

20h Dev 1

A Florida circuit judge on Sept. 25 denied Donna Adelson’s request for a new trial after jurors this month convicted her of first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation in the 2014 murder-for-hire killing of Florida State University law professor Daniel Markel in Tallahassee. In a written order, Circuit Judge Stephen Everett found the record contains sufficient evidence of Adelson’s overt acts in furtherance of a murder-for-hire scheme; Adelson faces a possible life sentence and is scheduled to return to court Oct. 14 for further proceedings.

Legal Crime

Canada’s foreign minister rebukes Trump at UN while guarding trade ties

20h Dev 1

On Sept. 29, 2025 at the U.N. General Assembly, Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand pushed back against President Donald Trump’s unilateralist rhetoric—urging continued multilateralism—while signaling caution to avoid escalating a trade dispute with the United States. The speech comes amid sharp bilateral tensions (including Trump’s past threats of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods), recent Canadian rollbacks of retaliatory tariffs, and the fact that more than 75% of Canada’s exports flow to the U.S., raising stakes ahead of an upcoming trade‑deal review.

International Politics Trade

Kansas officer fatally shot during domestic‑call response

20h Breaking 1

Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann, 32, was fatally shot early Sunday while setting a perimeter at the home of a domestic‑violence suspect in Hays, Kansas. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is leading a criminal probe; negotiators had attempted to reach the barricaded suspect, who was later found dead inside the house after officers entered several hours later.

Crime Public Safety

Minnesota man pleads guilty to attempting to join Islamic State

20h Dev 1

Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan, 23, pleaded guilty Sept. 29, 2025 in federal court in St. Paul to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State after prosecutors say he twice tried in December to travel from Minnesota to Somalia to join militants, was observed flying an ISIS flag, and was arrested following an FBI investigation. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank; Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson warned of the serious domestic‑terrorism threat, and Hassan— a naturalized U.S. citizen—remains in custody with sentencing pending.

Crime National Security

Louisiana issues arrest warrant for California doctor

20h Dev 1

Louisiana has sought an arrest warrant for California physician Dr. Remy Coeytaux, accusing him of mailing abortion pills to a Louisiana resident in 2023, a rare criminal enforcement action under the state's post‑Roe abortion ban. The warrant was revealed in a Sept. 19 court filing tied to a broader lawsuit seeking restrictions on telehealth prescriptions of mifepristone; the state attorney general and the patient involved (Rosalie Markezich) are both named parties in related litigation.

Legal Health

Marines Say They Met 2025 Recruiting Goals

20h Dev 1

The U.S. Marine Corps reports it met its fiscal‑year 2025 recruiting goals, enlisting 30,536 active‑duty and reserve enlisted Marines (one over target) and recruiting 1,792 officers (two over target). Lt. Gen. William Bowers said the Corps kept its longstanding entry standards and adjusted shipping dates to avoid exceeding its congressionally authorized size, framing the numbers as a confirmation of the service’s high standards amid broader service recruiting efforts this year.

Military Government

Russia Recruits Cuban Mercenaries in Ukraine

20h Dev 1

CBS News reports videos and passport copies obtained from Ukrainian officials appear to show Cuban nationals captured fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Ukraine estimates as many as 20,000 Cubans have been recruited with one‑year contracts reportedly promising $2,000 a month; Ukrainian sources say at least 39 Cubans have been killed and three are held prisoner while the Cuban government denies official involvement.

International Military National Security

Texas woman on trial for husband's alleged insulin murder

20h Dev 1

Jury selection began in Chambers County, Texas, for Sarah Hartsfield, the woman accused of killing her fifth husband, Joseph Hartsfield, in January 2023. Prosecutors allege Hartsfield injected her husband with excessive insulin and delayed calling 911; she is jailed at the Chambers County Jail on a $2 million bond and has pleaded not guilty. The defense says the death may have been a medical complication; the case has drawn attention because of Hartsfield’s marital history and a prior 2018 fatal shooting ruled self‑defense.

Crime Legal

JIATF‑S: 1M Pounds of Cocaine Seized in FY2025

20h Breaking 1

Joint Inter‑Agency Task Force–South (JIATF‑S), led by U.S. Southern Command and working with the U.S. Coast Guard and partner nations, announced a record seizure of roughly one million pounds of cocaine during fiscal year 2025. Officials said the haul represents about 377.9 million 'lethal doses' and denied transnational criminal organizations an estimated $11.34 billion in revenue; the announcement was made as the 2025 fiscal year closed and is tied to an intensified U.S. counter‑narcotics posture.

Crime National Security

DOJ sues Minnesota, Minneapolis over 'sanctuary' policies

20h Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Sept. 29, 2025, against Minnesota, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hennepin County, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Sheriff Dawanna S. Witt, alleging policies that obstruct federal immigration enforcement. DOJ, citing a DHS directive, claims local noncooperation results in the release of removable offenders; Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vowed to fight the lawsuit, calling it politically motivated.

Legal Local Government

Lawmakers and other political leaders cancel events, boost security after Charlie Kirk assassination

20h 12 Analysis

After Charlie Kirk was killed at a Utah Valley University event on Sept. 10 and a suspect was taken into custody, lawmakers and other political leaders have canceled or postponed in‑person and outdoor appearances, reviewed and beefed up security protocols, and scheduled memorials while urging calmer political rhetoric. The FBI says threats and hoax calls against officials have surged, colleges and groups like Turning Point USA are reassessing how to secure open‑air and campus events, and Capitol Hill reactions have been partisan even as leaders on both sides warn that violent words can precede violent actions.

Security Crime U.S. Congress

Father’s testimony spurs Mickelson to denounce judges

20h Dev 1

At a House Judiciary Subcommittee meeting in Charlotte, Stephen Federico delivered an emotional plea after his 22‑year‑old daughter Logan was fatally shot May 3, prompting LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson to repost the testimony and call for accountability of judges who released the accused. The accused, Alexander Devante Dickey, is reported to have an extensive arrest history (39 arrests, 25 felonies; booked 11 times 2013–2025) and prosecutors are weighing possible death‑penalty pursuit amid broader calls for criminal‑justice changes.

Crime Politics

Illegal immigrant arrested for bomb threat to Rep. Castor

20h Dev 1

Rigoberto Albizar‑Martinez, a 58‑year‑old Cuban living in Tampa, was arrested by ICE over the weekend after leaving an obscenity‑laden voicemail threatening to plant a bomb in Rep. Kathy Castor’s Tampa office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Albizar‑Martinez was found guilty in December of making the threat and was sentenced in May to one year in prison; DHS and ICE framed the arrest as part of a crackdown on serious criminal illegal aliens and issued statements condemning political violence.

Crime Immigration

MnDOT holds first-ever statewide safety stand-down Sept. 29 after two Twin Cities work-zone deaths

22h Dev TC 2

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will hold its first-ever statewide safety stand-down on Sept. 29, pausing projects and requiring all employees to reflect and recommit to work-zone safety in honor of two contractors killed in Twin Cities work zones last week. One worker was struck by a construction vehicle with a boom on I-35W in Burnsville on Sept. 24 and another by a dump truck on Hwy. 610 in Maple Grove on Sept. 26; MnDOT says it is coordinating with the State Patrol and Minnesota OSHA on investigations, noting the deaths are Minnesota’s fifth and sixth construction-related fatalities this year.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Minneapolis begins speed-camera pilot at five intersections; warnings then $40–$80 fines

1d Breaking TC 2

Minneapolis is activating state-authorized automated speed cameras this week in early October 2025 at five intersections: Fremont Ave N near W Broadway; 18th Ave NE near Central Ave NE; 3rd St N near 1st Ave N; Chicago Ave S near Franklin Ave E; and Nicollet Ave S near 46th St W. The first detected offense above 10 mph over the limit results in a warning, with subsequent fines of $40 for >10 mph and $80 for >20 mph; cameras capture license plates only and warning signs are required. The pilot runs through July 2029 and could expand to as many as 42 cameras citywide, with red-light enforcement planned later.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety Local Government

Wedding guest shot at Maplewood's Keller Park

1d Breaking TC 1

A wedding guest was shot and wounded during an event at Keller Regional Park in Maplewood, authorities said Monday. Maplewood police are investigating the incident at the Ramsey County park; the victim’s injuries were not described as life‑threatening in initial reports and no arrests were immediately announced.

Public Safety

Nilfisk closing Brooklyn Park plant; 105 layoffs

1d Breaking TC 1

Nilfisk, a professional cleaning equipment manufacturer, will close its plant in Brooklyn Park, cutting 105 jobs. The shutdown affects Hennepin County workers in the Twin Cities metro; the company confirmed the closure and workforce reductions.

Business & Economy

Driver charged in Maplewood fatal hit-and-run; intoxication alleged

1d Breaking TC 3

Ramsey County prosecutors have charged a driver in a Maplewood fatal hit-and-run that killed a 31-year-old man around 4:30 a.m. on the 2300 block of Maryland Avenue East; the complaint alleges the driver was intoxicated, fled the scene, and then drove roughly two hours to work. Police say a witness saw a large conversion van with a ladder rack near the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and investigators obtained suspected vehicle information and surveillance video, with the Minnesota State Patrol assisting.

Legal Public Safety

Minneapolis man admits twice trying to join ISIS

1d Breaking TC 1

A Minneapolis resident pleaded guilty in Minnesota court to twice trying to join the Islamic State group, concluding the guilt phase of a terrorism-related case tied to the Twin Cities. The plea was entered in Minneapolis, with sentencing to follow.

Legal Public Safety

Normandale 8500 Tower sells at steep discount

1d TC 1

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports that the 8500 Tower at Normandale Lake Office Park in Bloomington has been sold at a price nearly 94% below what the lender paid when it took the property at a 2024 foreclosure auction. The Sept. 29 report cites industry experts on factors contributing to the lower price, highlighting ongoing stress in the Twin Cities office market.

Business & Economy

All victims accounted for; 4 dead, 8 injured after Grand Blanc Latter‑day Saints church shooting and fire

1d Breaking 11

A man allegedly rammed his truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, then opened fire with an assault‑style rifle during Sunday worship and set the meetinghouse ablaze; witnesses reported bodies and police said the shooter is down and there is no ongoing public threat. Michigan authorities, with federal partners and a nearby reunification site in place, said all victims have been accounted for and updated the toll to four dead and eight injured, and law enforcement identified the suspect as Thomas Jacob Sanford.

Public Safety Crime

Michigan church shooting: 4 dead, 8 injured

1d Dev 1

Michigan officials provided a Monday update on the deadly Sunday shooting and subsequent fire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, saying all victims have been accounted for. Authorities confirmed four people were killed and eight others wounded in the attack; CBS News reported the update and provided on‑scene reporting.

Crime Public Safety

Trump's furniture and cabinet tariffs expected to raise U.S. remodeling costs

1d Breaking 4

The White House announced tariffs to take effect Oct. 1, 2025, levying 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture and roughly 25–30% on heavy trucks (alongside a proposed 100% tariff on pharmaceuticals), with exemptions for companies "breaking ground" or "under construction" on U.S. manufacturing plants. Industry analysts say retailers will pass the added costs to consumers—likely causing double‑digit price increases for affected imports and higher remodeling expenses, with furniture prices already up 9.5% year‑over‑year and low‑income households disproportionately affected.

Economy Trade Politics

Mamdani pledges $165M for immigrant legal defense

1d Dev 1

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, pledged on Sept. 21, 2025 to invest $165 million in immigration legal defense and related services if elected. The plan — billed as part of 'Trump-proofing' the city — would sharply increase funding for programs including the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative, the New York Immigrant Family Unit Program and the Immigrant Opportunity Initiative and proposes paying for it via higher taxes on corporations and the top 1% of New Yorkers.

Politics Immigration Legal

Trump imposes 100% tariffs on foreign films

1d Breaking TC 1

President Donald Trump announced Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, that the U.S. will levy 100% tariffs on foreign-made films, a nationwide move that could affect how imported movies are distributed and priced in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. The White House framed the measure as part of its broader tariff policy; implementation details were not immediately available.

Business & Economy Government/Regulatory

Trump administration tightens CDLs for foreign drivers

1d Dev 3

The Trump administration’s Department of Transportation and FMCSA announced tightened rules for non‑domiciled commercial learner’s permits and CDLs — limiting new noncitizen licenses to H‑2A, H‑2B and E‑2 visa holders, requiring states to verify status via the SAVE system, pausing issuance to noncitizens until compliance, and noting only about 10,000 of roughly 200,000 current noncitizen CDL holders would qualify; an FMCSA audit found improperly issued CDLs in California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Washington, with California labeled “most egregious” and given 30 days to fix practices or face about $160 million in withheld federal funds. The move was tied to a deadly Aug. 12 Florida crash involving 28‑year‑old trucker Harjinder Singh—whose CDL history includes Washington and California—who has been charged with three counts of vehicular homicide after an alleged illegal U‑turn, pleaded not guilty, and is being held without bond.

Legal Crime Politics

Compass–Anywhere $1.6B Merger Threatens Small Brokerages

1d Dev 1

Compass and Anywhere proposed a $1.6 billion merger that would unite the nation’s two largest residential-brokerage networks—combining Compass’s regional brokerages with Anywhere’s national brands (Century 21, Coldwell Banker) into a company worth about $10 billion. The proposed deal, announced in late September 2025 and subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, would create a combined 340,000-agent network and has prompted concerns that further consolidation will squeeze independent mom‑and‑pop brokerages and accelerate MLS consolidation. Regulators and market observers are watching for competitive, fee‑and‑transparency implications as the housing market softens.

Corporate News Economy

Lawsuits Against Tylenol Maker Gain Momentum After Trump Links Acetaminophen to Autism

1d Dev 2 Analysis

President Trump publicly urged pregnant women to limit use of Tylenol, linking acetaminophen to autism — comments critics said echoed discredited "blame‑the‑mother" narratives — while the FDA stressed that some studies report an association but do not establish causation. The administration’s citing of expert Dr. Andrea Baccarelli and announcement to begin a label‑update process coincided with plaintiffs’ lawyers reporting more than 1,000 calls and filing new court letters to support an appeal after a 2023 SDNY ruling excluded prior expert testimony for relying on association rather than causation.

Legal Health Politics

Endangered whooping crane dies of avian flu in Wisconsin

1d Dev 1

Ducky, a female whooping crane reared by the International Crane Foundation and scheduled for release this fall, died after becoming infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. Foundation officials say this is the first documented death of a whooping crane from this HPAI strain; with roughly 700 wild whooping cranes in North America and fewer than 70 in the eastern migratory population, the loss reduces the eastern group by about 1%. Staff are using PPE, isolating the cohort, and will decide whether to proceed with planned October releases of eight cranes.

Environment Public Health

Anti‑ICE protester charged after threatening Border Patrol agent

1d Breaking 1

Paul Avery was charged in federal court after court documents say he threatened to 'kill' a U.S. Border Patrol agent during protests outside an immigration facility in Broadview, Illinois, over the weekend. Prosecutors say Avery told the agent, "I'll f***ing kill you right now," and he is among at least four people now facing federal criminal charges tied to the Broadview demonstrations.

Crime Legal

Florida man charged after killing, eating pet peacocks

1d Dev 1

A 61‑year‑old man in Hudson, Florida, was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty after Pasco County deputies say he killed, bled, cooked and ate two of his pet peacocks. An affidavit says the man told investigators he acted in spite because a neighbor fed the birds, wrote a letter threatening to continue killing them, and admitted he would kill remaining peacocks if released.

Crime Legal

Mortgage rates fall to 6.13% — $400,000 loan now costs $2,431.74/month (PI)

1d 9

30-year mortgage rates have dropped to about 6.13% — the lowest since 2022 — as 10‑year Treasury yields fell and markets priced in a 25–50 basis‑point Fed cut. The move has triggered a surge in purchase and refinance activity (Freddie Mac and the MBA report strong year‑over‑year gains and refis nearly half of applications, with MBA noting a 59.8% week‑over‑week jump in refi apps), and a $400,000, 30‑year fixed at 6.13% carries a principal‑and‑interest payment of $2,431.74 (about $240/month less than at January’s 7.04% and about $445/month less than at October’s 7.79%).

Business Housing Real Estate

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox warns against conspiracy theories, condemns ‘ugly’ online reaction; says suspect acted alone

1d Dev 8 Analysis

At a Friday news conference at Utah Valley University, Gov. Spencer Cox condemned the “ugly” online celebratory reactions to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, warned against conspiracy theories and urged Americans—particularly young people—to reject rage politics and “disagree better,” calling the killing an attack on the American experiment. Cox said a suspect is in custody and acted alone, framed the shooting as motivated by hatred toward Kirk and free speech, blamed social media algorithms for stoking division, and urged unity and restraint while local and federal authorities investigate.

US News Crime & Courts U.S. News

CSX replaces CEO amid investor pressure

1d Dev 1

CSX Corporation announced on Sept. 29, 2025 that Joe Hinrichs has resigned and veteran executive Steve Angel will become CEO, a leadership change driven by investor Ancora Holdings’ criticism of deteriorating operating and shareholder performance. The move comes as CSX faces heightened competition and consolidation pressure after Union Pacific’s $85 billion bid for Norfolk Southern, and follows completion this month of major repair and tunnel projects that had disrupted service.

Corporate News Transportation/Infrastructure

Freed Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi returns to Kibbutz Be'eri

1d Dev 1

Eli Sharabi, an Israeli who was held by Hamas for 491 days after the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre at Kibbutz Be'eri, returned to his home earlier this month and spoke with CBS's 'Sunday Morning' about his captivity in Gaza tunnels, the torture he endured, the loss and trauma suffered by his community (101 residents killed), and his new memoir, Hostage. The report includes firsthand quotes, descriptions of life in the tunnels, and Sharabi’s emotional first visit back to the kibbutz.

War & Conflict Human Interest

Ex‑FBI agent: rooftop footprint, DNA and surveillance link Tyler Robinson to Charlie Kirk killing

1d Dev 268 Analysis

A former FBI agent said investigators tied 22‑year‑old Tyler Robinson to the Sept. 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk through rooftop surveillance footage and a footwear impression at the firing position, DNA matching Robinson found on a towel wrapped around a recovered Mauser .30‑06 rifle and on a screwdriver, and other forensic links; authorities recovered the rifle and released images that helped spur a nationwide manhunt. Robinson was arrested after family and associates reported admissions, has been booked on aggravated murder and related charges, and prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty.

Political Violence Free Speech Community Reaction

Magistrate flags inconsistent Comey indictment filings; prosecutor questioned at arraignment docket

1d Dev 27 Analysis

A Virginia magistrate flagged inconsistent Comey indictment filings after two different versions — a two‑count indictment signed by interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan and a three‑count filing — appeared on the docket, prompting on‑the‑record questioning at a late‑evening arraignment session by Magistrate Judge Lindsey Vaala, who noted Halligan said she had not seen the three‑count document. A Northern Virginia grand jury returned two counts — making false statements to Congress and obstructing a Senate Judiciary Committee proceeding tied to Comey’s Sept. 30, 2020 testimony (14 of 23 jurors voted to true‑bill) — as prosecutors raced to file before a five‑year statute‑of‑limitations deadline amid U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert’s recent resignation; Comey has denied the charges and vowed to fight while supporters and critics, including President Trump, reacted publicly.

Media Politics Legal

Top Democrats split on Trump conviction, condemn Comey indictment

1d Dev 1

Senior Democratic leaders publicly praised the criminal conviction of former President Donald Trump as evidence that 'no one is above the law,' while simultaneously condemning the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey as politically motivated retribution. The article collects named statements and quotes from Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Mark Warner, and includes the White House and Trump’s own remarks defending the Comey prosecution.

Politics Legal

Albertsons recalls deli products over listeria

1d Dev 1

Albertsons Companies announced a recall of five store-made deli items after they were found to contain a recalled bowtie pasta produced by Nate's Fine Foods that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The affected deli salads and pasta dishes were sold across Albertsons-owned banners in 15 states; the company says no illnesses have been reported and urges customers to discard or return the products for a refund. FDA and CDC guidance is cited, with officials warning that Listeria can persist in refrigeration and advising extra sanitation and vigilance for high-risk groups.

Health Consumer Retail

FEMA says North Carolina flooding from Hurricane Helene exceeded preparation; Criswell warns of landslides

1d Dev 2

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told CBS's Face the Nation she did not believe anyone could have been fully prepared for the amount of flooding and landslides North Carolina is experiencing from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. Helene — which made landfall last September as a Category 4 storm — continues to affect western North Carolina, where more than 6,800 people remain dependent on rental assistance or living in trailers or other mobile housing and communities like Swannanoa still face closed businesses, a shuttered post office and lingering debris.

Government Environment Public Safety

Iran executes alleged Mossad spy amid mass hangings

1d Dev 1

Iran said it hanged Bahman Choobiasl on Monday after accusing him of acting as a trusted Mossad spy who cooperated on sensitive telecommunications projects. Rights groups say the execution is part of a broader, possibly the largest, wave of executions in decades—activists estimate more than 1,000 people have been executed in 2025—while U.N. experts and international groups condemned the scale and the U.N. this weekend reimposed sanctions on Tehran via the 'snapback' mechanism.

International Human Rights Security

Democratic states mobilize to blunt Trump bill

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Multiple Democratic-led states are convening emergency legislative sessions and enacting budget measures to shore up food assistance, Medicaid and ACA subsidies in response to President Trump’s new "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which cuts federal taxes and alters federal support for safety-net programs. New Mexico opened a special session on Sept. 29 to boost food assistance, rural health care and expand ACA premium subsidies; California enacted a $255 million package to prepare counties for SNAP changes and fund emergency food banks. Governors and state leaders say the moves are intended to minimize fiscal and service disruptions for residents as federal changes begin to take effect.

Politics Economy

Albany man confesses on TV, arrested for parents' killings

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Lorenz Kraus, 53, told a WRGB‑TV news anchor last week that he killed his elderly parents, Franz and Theresia Kraus, and buried them in the backyard of their Albany, New York, home; police say they recovered two bodies and arrested Kraus as he left the station. Kraus admitted on camera that he suffocated them, calling the acts "mercy killings," and was arraigned Sept. 26, 2025 on two counts of murder and two counts of concealment of a human corpse.

Crime Legal

Electronic Arts to be acquired for $55 billion

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Electronic Arts, the video-game maker behind The Sims, agreed to be acquired and taken private in a $55 billion deal valuing the company at $210 per share. The buyout is led by Silver Lake Partners with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Affinity Partners (run by Jared Kushner), has been described as the largest leveraged buyout attempt in history, and EA has about 14,500 employees and recent annual revenues of roughly $7.4–$7.6 billion.

Economy Technology Finance

Trump threatens 100% tariff on foreign‑made movies

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On Sept. 29, 2025, Axios reported that President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on foreign‑made movies. The proposal would target imported films and could immediately affect Hollywood distributors, theater operators and trade relations with major film‑exporting countries, creating market uncertainty for exhibitors and studios.

Economy Trade Entertainment

Spirit Airlines to exit MSP in December

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Spirit Airlines will end all flights and service at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, exiting the market in December. The move follows the carrier’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing earlier this year and comes after it had already scaled back most of its MSP flights.

Transit & Infrastructure Business & Economy

Harris memoir says she was stunned by Biden's debate omission on Kabul casualties, misidentifies the 13 fallen

1d 20 Analysis

In her memoir 107 Days, Kamala Harris writes she was "stunned" that President Biden omitted acknowledging the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul airport suicide bombing during the June 27, 2024 debate and quotes him saying no troops were "dying anywhere in the world" on his watch. Harris also refers to the dead as "thirteen marines," a factual misidentification — the official toll was 11 Marines, one Army soldier and one Navy corpsman — and the excerpts have provoked sharp reactions from Biden aides and commentators.

Books Politics Elections

NYC juvenile crime surge tied to 'Raise the Age' law

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Fox News reports that New York City has seen a sharp rise in juvenile violent crime and juvenile firearm arrests since the state's 2018 'Raise the Age' law, with experts and NYPD data saying gangs increasingly use minors to carry out serious offenses. The article cites Mayor Eric Adams' 2025 annual report showing 5,623 juveniles arrested for major felonies in 2025 (a 9% year‑over‑year increase), historic juvenile gun‑arrest totals in 2024, and a Sept. 15, 2025 Harlem shootout in which three teens were arrested and two 15‑year‑olds were wounded; the trend is surfacing as the city's mayoral race heats up.

Crime Politics

U.S. weighing Tomahawk missile sale to Ukraine, VP Vance says after major Kyiv attack

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked President Trump for Tomahawk cruise missiles during a Sept. 26 meeting — a request Trump said “we will work on” — and Vice President J.D. Vance said the U.S. is “looking at” a sale while Special Envoy Keith Kellogg signaled support for long‑range strikes and the administration suggested Europeans could help fund weapons. The push comes after a massive Russian overnight barrage that killed four and wounded dozens in Kyiv, and the Kremlin’s spokesman questioned who would launch the Tomahawks, which have an approximate range of 1,000–1,500 miles.

International Politics Military

Former WEDC Director Enters Wisconsin Governor Race

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Missy Hughes, the former director of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and a long‑time executive at Organic Valley, announced on Sept. 29, 2025 that she is running for governor as a Democrat from Madison, pledging to reject "divisive politics" and prioritize higher wages, stronger public schools, affordable child care, health care and housing. Hughes resigned the WEDC post on Sept. 19 after six years in the Evers administration and joins a crowded Democratic field for the open seat; the primary is under 11 months away in the pivotal battleground state.

Politics Elections

Hegseth launches Gold Star Advisory Council at Pentagon

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Secretary Pete Hegseth formally established the Gold Star Advisory Council (GSAC) by Department memorandum on May 6, 2025, and convened its first Secretary-level meeting this week to give Gold Star families a direct line to the Pentagon. Co-vice chairs Under Secretary Anthony J. Tata and Gold Star wife and senior adviser Jane Horton will help lead the council, which will meet at least twice annually to offer policy recommendations and push to "call out the failures" and shake up the bureaucratic status quo.

Military Government Politics

Study Links GLP‑1 Drugs to Lower Cancer Risk in Women

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A large observational study published in JAMA Oncology by researchers at Indiana University and the University of Florida analyzed electronic health records from 2014–2024 for 86,632 adults eligible for anti‑obesity medications and found GLP‑1 receptor agonist use was associated with a significantly lower overall cancer risk—notably endometrial, ovarian and meningioma cancers—while also noting an association with higher kidney‑cancer incidence; authors call for longer‑term follow‑up to clarify mechanisms and clinical implications.

Health Science

Washington Post names new opinion editor amid Bezos pivot

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The Washington Post has installed 33‑year‑old Adam O'Neal as its new opinion editor as the paper implements owner Jeff Bezos' February directive to steer the editorial pages toward 'personal liberties and free markets.' O'Neal—who joined The Post in July from The Economist and the Wall Street Journal—gave his first interview describing plans to reshape the editorial board's voice even as the edict prompted staff resignations and a wave of subscriber cancellations.

Media Politics

South Korea Asks Trump to Mediate with North Korea

1d Dev 1 Analysis

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung asked U.S. President Donald Trump to act as a 'peacemaker' to persuade North Korea to return to talks aimed at reducing military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told the AP on Sept. 26 at the United Nations. Cho said Trump 'welcomed' the request and expressed willingness to engage with North Korea again; the appeal comes as Seoul reported firing warning shots at a North Korean merchant ship amid heightened regional tensions and ahead of Trump’s expected visit to South Korea for APEC.

International National Security

Malnutrition‑linked diabetes named 'Type 5'

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An international team and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) have moved to formalize a long‑recognized, malnutrition‑associated form of diabetes under the name 'Type 5' diabetes. The IDF adopted the designation in April 2025, and a Lancet Global Health perspective published in September 2025 urges the World Health Organization and other bodies to recognize the classification so clinicians and patients receive appropriate, safer care. Researchers estimate the condition could affect as many as 25 million people across malnutrition‑affected regions in South Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, and standard insulin regimens used for Type 1 diabetes can be dangerous in some of these patients.

Health Science

Battlefield medical innovations save Israeli soldiers' limbs

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During the Gaza war, Israeli surgeons and military medics have used new battlefield technologies — including drones that deliver whole blood, a portable Inovytec oxygen/ventilation device and refined limb‑saving surgical techniques — to save hundreds of wounded soldiers. The NPR investigation (Sept. 29, 2025) names Israeli surgeons (Dr. Galit Sivak), cites military casualty counts (more than 500 serious injuries), and notes U.S. medical engagement (Mayo Clinic surgeons sharing and learning from Israeli experience).

Health Military International

High‑unemployment counties could shield millions from Medicaid work rule

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President Trump's domestic policy law will require many nondisabled adult Medicaid enrollees in expansion states to work, volunteer or study 80 hours per month starting January 2027, but the statute allows county-level exemptions where unemployment is very high. A KFF analysis—cited by CBS News—shows that if the administration uses a one-month threshold roughly 4.6 million enrollees in 386 counties could be exempt today; using a stricter 12-month average would cut that to about 1.4 million in 158 counties, concentrated mainly in California, New York, Michigan, Kentucky and Ohio. The CBO projected the rule would apply to 18.5 million enrollees and cause about 5.3 million to lose coverage by 2034, though final scope depends on how the administration defines and grants county exemptions and whether states apply for them.

Politics Health

58M‑Pound Recall: Corn Dogs, Sausage on Stick

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The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a recall of about 58 million pounds of State Fair and Jimmy Dean branded corn-dog and sausage-on-a-stick products after Hillshire Brands (a Tyson Foods subsidiary) received multiple consumer complaints that wood fragments from sticks were embedded in the batter. The products were made at a Haltom City, Texas facility (EST-582 / P-894) between March 17 and this past Friday and were distributed nationwide — including to school districts and Defense Department facilities; FSIS reports five injury complaints linked to the products.

Public Safety Food & Agriculture

Mideast ministers warn region 'at point of implosion'

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At the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 28, 2025, foreign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman condemned Israel’s offensive in Gaza, warned that the Middle East is on the brink of collapse, and urged an immediate ceasefire and renewed push for a two‑state solution. Egypt’s FM Badr Abdelatty accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and linked regional instability to conflicts in Sudan, Libya, Yemen and cross‑border violations, while Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan emphasized the necessity of two‑state recognition and noted a growing coalition of countries formally recognizing a Palestinian state.

International War & Conflict

Broadview launches criminal probe after ICE pepper‑ball strikes CBS Chicago reporter’s truck

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Broadview police have opened a criminal investigation after a pepper‑ball projectile fired from the direction of the Broadview ICE facility struck CBS Chicago reporter Asal Rezaei’s truck, causing acute chemical exposure; Police Chief Thomas Mills has sought full cooperation from DHS, which had not responded to CBS at the time of reporting. The incident unfolded amid Operation Midway Blitz — a heightened, multiagency ICE/Border Patrol campaign in the Chicago area tied to figures like Border Patrol agent Gregory Bovino and attended by DHS officials including Kristi Noem — which has prompted large protests, the use of tear gas and pepper balls, and hundreds of arrests as federal authorities say they are targeting criminal immigration violators.

Law Enforcement U.S. News Law & Order

Tennessee announces 'Memphis Safe Task Force': National Guard deputized by U.S. Marshals as 13 federal agencies join

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Gov. Bill Lee announced a phased "Memphis Safe Task Force" that will bring personnel from 13 federal agencies — including the FBI, DEA, ATF and U.S. Marshals — plus roughly 300 Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers and an expected (not finalized) contingent of about 150 National Guard members, with federal agents starting to arrive next week. The Guard will be deputized by U.S. Marshals to serve in support roles, will not make arrests and will not be armed unless local law enforcement requests it; officials say guardsmen will wear standard uniforms (no masks) and armored vehicles will not be used.

Politics Public Safety Crime

Notable U.S. church shootings in past 20 years

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A timely Associated Press list — republished by ABC News — catalogs major shooting attacks on U.S. houses of worship over the last two decades, prompted by a Sept. 28, 2025 attack at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints building in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. The item summarizes each notable incident with dates, locations and death tolls to place the Michigan shooting in historical context.

Crime Public Safety

Sentencing Begins for Cleophus Cooksey Jr., Convicted in 2017 Phoenix Slayings

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Sentencing is set to begin Monday for 43-year-old Cleophus Cooksey Jr., who was recently convicted on eight murder counts stemming from a 2017 killing spree in the Phoenix area and faces additional charges including kidnapping, armed robbery and sexual assault. Prosecutors — who presented evidence including DNA links, a recovered firearm, a victim’s necklace and vehicle keys and Cooksey’s arrest at a blood‑spattered apartment — are seeking the death penalty.

Legal Public Safety Crime

Retired CBP agent killed in Eagle Pass casino shooting

1d Breaking 1

A shooting at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Sunday left two people dead, including Marcus "Mark" Antley, a retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent. Authorities identified and arrested 34‑year‑old Keryan Rashad Jones of San Antonio in Wilson County after a vehicle chase and say he faces two counts of capital murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon; the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Police Department is leading the multi‑agency investigation.

Crime Public Safety

States and federal agencies scramble to regulate AI therapy apps

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As AI‑driven mental‑health chatbots proliferate, several U.S. states (including Illinois, Nevada and Utah) enacted laws this year that restrict or ban AI therapy products, while federal regulators — the FTC and the FDA — have opened inquiries and scheduled reviews to evaluate risks and oversight needs. The reporting (Sept. 29, 2025) documents a patchwork of state approaches, named companies under FTC review, fines tied to state bans, and an upcoming FDA advisory‑committee meeting on Nov. 6, 2025 to examine generative AI‑enabled mental‑health devices.

AI & Tech Health

Missouri governor signs Trump-backed congressional map

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Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the 'Missouri First' congressional redistricting map into law, a GOP-backed plan that shifts the Kansas City-area district held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and would likely flip that seat, producing a 7-1 Republican advantage in the state's U.S. House delegation. The map is part of a broader Republican mid-decade redistricting push (including a new Texas map) intended to shore up the narrow GOP House majority ahead of the 2026 midterms; Cleaver has vowed to sue if the map is enacted.

Politics Elections Legal

60 Minutes probe: 'Eagle S' dragging anchor severed Baltic undersea cables; NATO launches 'Baltic Sentry'

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60 Minutes reports that on Dec. 25, 2024 the tanker Eagle S dragged its anchor for about 66 miles and severed the Estlink‑2 undersea power cable roughly 50 miles off Finland, prompting Finnish special forces—authorized by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo—to board by helicopter and detain about two dozen crew. Investigators recovered a continuous seabed drag mark and battered anchor, linked the episode to a pattern including the Newnew Polar Bear’s October 2023 damage to telecom cables and the Balticconnector pipeline, traced fleet financing to a $35 million lease and opaque shell companies tied to sanctioned Russian oil interests, and said NATO has launched "Baltic Sentry" to monitor the shadow fleet amid at least 11 Baltic cable/pipeline breaches over two years.

Military International National security

Dana White 60 Minutes Interview: UFC Growth, ~$8B Media Deal and Ties to Donald Trump

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In a CBS 60 Minutes profile, Dana White recounted taking the UFC from the margins after the Fertitta brothers bought it in 2001 for $2 million (giving White a 10% stake and naming him CEO), growing it into a business sold for $4 billion in 2016 and now valued at more than $15 billion with roughly 675 fighters under contract. The interview notes Paramount/Skydance reportedly paid about $7.7 billion (described in the transcript as "almost $8 billion") for U.S. media rights, and White reiterated his longtime friendship with Donald Trump, saying Trump hosted an early UFC card at the Trump Taj Mahal and "watched the whole card."

Sports Media Corporate News

Missouri governor signs Trump‑backed congressional map

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Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a Trump-backed mid‑decade congressional map into law on Sept. 28, 2025 that redraws Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City district and is aimed at helping Republicans win an additional U.S. House seat in a state where they already hold six of eight seats. Opponents have filed multiple lawsuits — including an NAACP challenge to Kehoe’s authority — and must collect about 110,000 valid petition signatures by Dec. 11 to force a statewide referendum, part of a broader redistricting push in states such as Texas and California that analysts say could net Republicans up to six seats (with possible Democratic countermoves of up to five) based on 2024 results.

Politics Elections

Texas man arrested for threatening Abilene Pride parade

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Joshua Cole of Anson, Texas, was arrested after an FBI affidavit says he posted specific threats to shoot participants at a planned Abilene Pride event, referencing Charlie Kirk’s recent killing. The U.S. District Court filing (Northern District of Texas) and an affidavit by FBI Special Agent Samuel C. Venuti quote alleged Facebook posts under the name 'Jay Dubya' and describe investigators’ interviews and Cole’s booking at Taylor County Jail; a court later ordered Cole detained pending trial citing prior criminal history and danger to the community.

Crime Public Safety

Woman killed as car hits St. Paul yard

2d Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say a vehicle left the roadway around 2:30 p.m. Sunday and crashed into a backyard along Stinson Street near Oxford Street North, striking and killing a 36-year-old woman. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating; the cause of the crash is under investigation.

Public Safety Transportation

Kansas officer killed responding to domestic call

2d Breaking 1

A Hays, Kansas police officer was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call late on Sept. 27, 2025. The suspect was also found dead at the scene; the Kansas Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation and police say no additional suspects are being sought.

Crime Public Safety

Business leaders and Oregon officials urge Trump not to send federal troops to Portland

2d Breaking 9

President Trump announced he was directing the Department of Defense to provide troops to Portland — authorizing "Full Force, if necessary" to protect an ICE facility and naming Pete Hegseth after a request from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem — citing protest‑related incidents at the site. Oregon officials including Gov. Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said troops were not needed, and business and civic leaders organized by the Portland Metro Chamber released an open letter signed by more than 100 organizations (including Oregon Business & Industry and Sen. Ron Wyden) urging the president not to deploy forces, while Sen. Rand Paul said he believed the president had legal authority but would "prefer not" to send troops.

Public Safety Politics Military

U.S. Public Transit Faces Funding Cliff

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A PBS NewsHour segment reports that public-transportation systems across the United States are confronting major budget shortfalls as pandemic-era federal relief winds down and inflation raises operating costs. Transit agencies nationwide are facing deficits that are forcing reduced service, higher fares, and difficult local budget choices, according to interviews with transportation experts including Philip Plotch of the Eno Center for Transportation. The piece frames the situation as an urgent infrastructure and mobility risk with direct effects on commuters and essential workers.

Transportation Economy

Prosecutor: Susan Smith Should Remain Incarcerated

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Tommy Pope, the former South Carolina prosecutor who successfully tried Susan Smith for the 1994 drowning deaths of her two young sons, said at CrimeCon that Smith should remain incarcerated. Smith, serving a life sentence for strapping her sons into a car and rolling it into John D. Long Lake on Oct. 25, 1994, was denied parole in 2024 and will again be eligible in 2026; Pope and family members have publicly opposed release.

Crime Legal

Sen. Klobuchar: Trump's claim FBI planted 'agitators' on Jan. 6 is 'appalling'; OIG found no undercover agents

2d Dev 2 Analysis

Sen. Amy Klobuchar called President Trump's claim that the FBI planted "agitators" on Jan. 6 "appalling," saying congressional investigations found no evidence the bureau acted as provocateurs. Her remarks follow Kash Patel’s assertion that 274 plainclothes FBI agents were used in crowd‑control that day—a claim that has prompted calls for further review even as FBI officials and prior probes reported no indication undercover agents were involved in the Ellipse events.

Government/Legal National security Politics

Stowaway found dead in American Airlines landing gear

2d Breaking 1

A stowaway was discovered dead in the landing‑gear compartment of an American Airlines flight shortly after the plane arrived from Europe at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Sunday morning. Maintenance crews found the body around 9 a.m.; Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department homicide detectives are investigating and American Airlines and airport officials say they are cooperating. The case echoes a January incident at JFK where two stowaways were found dead in a JetBlue landing gear compartment, prompting renewed concerns about aircraft security and stowaway risks.

Crime Public Safety Transportation/Aviation

Russell M. Nelson, 101, Longtime President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, Dies in Salt Lake City

2d Breaking 3

Russell M. Nelson, 101, died at his home in Salt Lake City on the night of Sept. 28, 2025, church spokesperson Candice Madsen said; Dallin H. Oaks is expected to become the next president under the established Quorum of the Twelve Apostles succession rules. A member of top church leadership since 1984 who became president in January 2018 and the first to reach 100 in 2024, Nelson led major institutional changes—including a 2018 name‑usage initiative, repeal of the 2015 baptism ban for children of same‑sex couples and a new youth program replacing the Boy Scouts—while facing scrutiny over the church’s handling of sexual‑abuse reports; before his ecclesiastical service he was an internationally recognized heart surgeon who helped develop an artificial heart and lung machine.

Religion National U.S. Politics

U.S. and Qatar secure release of American detained in Afghanistan

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Amir Amiri, an American detained in Afghanistan in December 2024, was released Sept. 28, 2025 after coordinated efforts between Qatari diplomats and U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler. Qatar — acting as the U.S. protecting power in Afghanistan — negotiated with Afghan authorities and conducted regular health checks during his nine‑month detention, Boehler described an emotional meeting at the Kabul airport gate, and Sen. Marco Rubio publicly thanked Qatar on X for its role.

International Politics National security

House Judiciary Democrats probe Siebert ouster after Lindsey Halligan sworn in as interim U.S. attorney

2d Breaking 11 Analysis

House Judiciary Committee Democrats have opened a formal review of the ouster of Eastern District of Virginia U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert — demanding performance evaluations and all communications between DOJ and the White House about prosecution referrals since Jan. 20, 2025 — after Siebert resigned Sept. 19 amid pressure from President Trump to pursue mortgage‑fraud charges against New York AG Letitia James, a probe that has produced no charges to date. Trump has said he fired Siebert and has nominated White House aide Lindsey Halligan, who was sworn in as interim U.S. attorney for up to 120 days despite having no prior prosecutorial experience, raising concerns about politicization of U.S. attorney appointments.

Politics Legal

Sen. Rand Paul defends executive firing power amid shutdown

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Sen. Rand Paul (R‑Ky.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, told CBS's Face the Nation on Sept. 28, 2025 that both major spending proposals would substantially increase federal deficits, outlined his alternative 'penny plan' (which he says received 36 GOP votes last week), and argued that courts have repeatedly upheld presidential authority to hire and fire executive‑branch employees — remarks delivered as the White House warns a shutdown and RIFs are possible. Paul also said the president has legal authority to send troops to protect federal buildings, though he prefers state cooperation.

Politics National security

Senators press FBI chief on loyalty claim and fitness standards at Judiciary hearing

2d Breaking 9

At a contentious Senate Judiciary oversight hearing, FBI Director Kash Patel defended new applicant fitness standards that add pull-ups beginning Nov. 2025 (minimums reportedly 2–3 for men and 1 for women, with medical exemptions) and rejected Democratic allegations that he has installed “loyalty tests,” saying his allegiance is to the Constitution, not former President Trump. Senators including Adam Schiff, Dick Durbin and Mazie Hirono pressed Patel on leadership and management concerns — from a premature social‑media post in the Charlie Kirk case and reported firings and reassignments to accusations of partisan hires and polygraph loyalty screenings — while Patel touted recruitment gains, increased cyber arrests and backed measures to target funders of violent protests.

Crime National Security Legal

Assata Shakur dies in Havana at 78; Cuba confirms death, NJ officials respond

2d Breaking 4

Joanne Deborah Byron, known as Assata Shakur, died in Havana on Sept. 25, 2025, Cuba’s Foreign Ministry said, attributing her death to health conditions and advanced age; her daughter Kakuya Shakur also confirmed the death. Shakur, who was convicted in 1977 for the 1973 killing of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster, escaped prison in 1979 and lived in Cuba under asylum while remaining on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, and New Jersey officials including Gov. Phil Murphy and State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan said they would oppose any attempt to repatriate her remains, saying “justice was never served.”

Crime Politics International

Jimmy Kimmel returning to Nexstar and Sinclair ABC affiliates Friday

2d Dev 48 Analysis

Jimmy Kimmel will return to ABC affiliates owned by Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, ending days of local blackouts that followed his controversial monologue about Charlie Kirk. The restoration comes after negotiations with Disney/ABC and public pressure — including ABC’s brief suspension of the show and warnings from FCC Chair Brendan Carr — with both station groups saying they engaged with the network on community‑standards commitments.

Entertainment Legal Media

Baltimore residents call for services amid Guard threat

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Baltimore residents in the Penn‑North neighborhood told Fox News Digital this month they want more affordable housing, recreational centers and community resources to reduce crime, after state law enforcement was deployed and following President Trump’s public suggestion of a U.S. National Guard intervention. The reporting cites 2025 city crime totals (91 homicides and 218 nonfatal shootings), a mass drug‑overdose that hospitalized more than two dozen people in July, and local disagreement over whether a Guard deployment would help or inflame tensions.

Public Safety Politics

FBI targets gangs on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens

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FBI New York Assistant Director Christopher Raia said the bureau has deployed multiple squads, working with the NYPD, to dismantle transnational gangs tied to drug trafficking, prostitution and human trafficking along Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, part of a wider enforcement push promoted by FBI Director Kash Patel. The article cites a major FBI‑led operation earlier this summer that resulted in the arrest of eight alleged 18th Street gang members and quotes Raia vowing continued action to "cut off the head of the snake."

Crime Public Safety Politics

Iraqi president declares country '100% safe'

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Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid told Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly that Iraq is entering a 'new phase' and is '100% safe and secure' as U.S. forces prepare a drawdown agreed last year. Rashid praised U.S. help defeating ISIS, urged deeper trade and investment ties, insisted Baghdad will resist outside influence (including from Iran), and dismissed reports of militia incursions while U.S. commanders warn ISIS cells and Iran‑aligned militias remain active.

International Military

Mass shooting at Southport waterfront bar kills three

2d Breaking 1

Three people were killed and at least eight others wounded in a mass shooting Saturday night at the American Fish Company waterfront bar on the Cape Fear River in Southport, North Carolina. Officials say the gunfire came from a boat that stopped briefly in front of the establishment around 9:30 p.m.; the U.S. Coast Guard located and detained a person matching the shooter’s description at an Oak Island boat ramp about 30 minutes later and turned the individual over to local police. North Carolina’s State Bureau of Investigation is assisting and authorities said there is no suspected lingering threat; updates were expected at a Sunday news conference.

Crime Public Safety

Steelers QB Skylar Thompson robbed in Dublin

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Skylar Thompson was reportedly the victim of a robbery in Dublin, Ireland, on Friday night and sustained minor injuries, the NFL Network and team spokesperson said. The Steelers confirmed they are working with NFL security to gather more information; the incident occurred as the team prepared to play the Minnesota Vikings in an NFL regular‑season game being held in Dublin.

Sports Public Safety International

Maine pantries face volunteer shortage, funding cuts

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Local food pantries across Maine — exemplified by Neighbor’s Cupboard in Winterport — report rising demand and shrinking supplies as volunteers age and federal support is pared back. The reporting (Sept. 28, 2025) details how the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent policy moves (including a Sept. 20 decision to stop publishing its food‑insecurity survey and earlier cuts to USDA emergency food programs) and projected SNAP reductions are straining a network of nearly 600 hunger‑relief agencies in the state that rely heavily on retirees to operate.

Public Safety Politics

Russia launches massive drone-and-missile barrage on Ukraine; Kyiv struck, civilians killed

2d Breaking 3

Russia launched a massive overnight drone-and-missile barrage that struck Kyiv and multiple regions — Zelenskyy said it involved “nearly 500” strike drones and more than 40 missiles while Ukraine’s air force put the toll at roughly 595 drones and 48 missiles, with defenses shooting down or jamming the vast majority. At least four people were killed (including a 12-year-old girl) and about 70 wounded nationwide, as strikes damaged residential buildings, a medical facility, a kindergarten and more than 100 civilian sites across Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Odesa.

War & Conflict Public Safety International

Albany man charged after televised confession to killing parents

2d Breaking 1

Lorenz Kraus, 53, confessed on-camera to a CBS6 Albany interviewer that he suffocated his parents, Franz and Theresia Kraus, in 2017 and buried their bodies in the backyard of their Crestwood Court home; police recovered two bodies during an investigation into continued Social Security payments and arrested Kraus after the broadcast. Kraus was charged with two counts of murder and two counts of concealment of a human corpse; a public defender entered a not guilty plea on his behalf at an Albany City Court hearing.

Crime Courts/Legal

Maine food pantries face volunteer shortage, looming cuts

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Maine food pantries are confronting shrinking supplies and an aging volunteer workforce as federal food assistance is pared back. Directors say nearly 600 hunger‑relief agencies statewide — including about 250 food pantries that supply weekly groceries — rely heavily on retirees and volunteers, even as the Trump administration cut over $1 billion from two USDA food programs in March and the USDA recently moved to end the annual food‑insecurity survey; advocates warn SNAP reductions would further strain the charitable network and raise demand.

Social Services Government/Policy Public Health

Education Dept. announces $500M charter grants

2d Breaking 1 Analysis

The U.S. Department of Education said Monday, September 15, 2025, it will award a record $500 million in fiscal 2025 Charter Schools Program grants, citing steep declines in 12th‑grade NAEP math and reading scores. Secretary Linda McMahon called it the largest CSP investment in department history and paired the move with pledges to support American history/civics programs, HBCUs, and TCCUs amid continued shifts away from traditional public schools.

Education Politics

GOP Defers to Trump on DACA Deal

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Republican lawmakers who once supported a legislative fix for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are publicly waiting for President Trump to initiate talks on a permanent solution. The NPR report (Sept. 28, 2025) notes roughly half a million people currently hold DACA protections, that nearly 20 DACA recipients have been detained this year amid expanded immigration enforcement, and that Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar has introduced a bipartisan bill offering a pathway to status but says Trump must lead negotiations.

Politics Immigration

Friends co‑buy homes amid U.S. affordability squeeze

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NPR reports that an increasing number of Americans are teaming up with friends or relatives to buy houses as rising home prices and limited supply push solo buyers out of many markets. The piece cites data and economists — including NAR, Redfin and Zillow — showing a 56% jump in median home prices since February 2020 and industry findings that roughly 15% of recent buyers co‑purchased with nonromantic partners, and profiles buyers in the Bay Area who pooled resources to afford ownership.

Economy Housing

Epstein discharge push exposes MAGA split as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene defies White House

2d Dev 2 Analysis

A discharge petition to force a House vote on Jeffrey Epstein files is nearing the 218 signatures needed — Rep. Thomas Massie expects the 218th via the Arizona special election, Adelita Grijalva has pledged to sign if elected, and several Republicans (including Nancy Mace, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert) are already on the petition while Speaker Mike Johnson urged GOP restraint and Rules Chair Virginia Foxx said she won’t block a floor vote. The push has exposed a MAGA split as Greene publicly defied White House warnings — calling a top West Wing aide, saying “You didn’t get me elected. I do not work for you; I work for my district,” and signaling she will not remain a party team player despite threats of primaries or exclusion from White House events.

Politics Congress Legal

Police release images in hunt for missing mom Jermain Charlo

2d Dev 1

CBS News reports that police have released the last known images and a security‑camera video of 23‑year‑old Jermain Charlo, a missing mother, as part of an active investigation. Authorities and reporters hope the footage will help identify Charlo’s movements and generate public tips to locate her.

Crime Public Safety

California officer killed; ex‑wife admits shooting

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CBS News' '48 Hours' reports that a California man identified in the segment as Officer Green was shot dead in his home. The program says the victim's ex‑wife has admitted pulling the trigger and the episode examines whether a photo posted on social media may have precipitated the killing. The segment is reported by correspondent Erin Moriarty and aired on CBS News' 48 Hours.

Crime Legal Public Safety

Rock Springs erects monument to 1885 anti‑Chinese massacre

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Rock Springs, Wyoming, this September dedicated a prominent bronze statue called 'Requiem' to mark the 140th anniversary of the 1885 Rock Springs massacre in which a mob burned Chinatown and killed 28 Chinese residents. The municipal dedication — led by Mayor Max Mickelson and supported by local museums and students — accompanies an archaeological project by Grinnell College researchers who uncovered a distinct 'burn layer' and artifacts (pottery shards, bones, a door handle and a wooden beam) at the former Chinatown site, as the town grapples with its immigrant history amid contemporary political tensions.

History Civil Rights Local Government

Senate Democrats Plan Vote That Could Trigger Shutdown

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Senate Democrats, frustrated by stalled negotiations with the GOP and President Trump, have adopted a strategy to cast a vote that would allow the federal government to shut down when current funding expires at the end of September if Republicans do not grant immediate extensions of expiring health-care benefits and other concessions. The plan—backed by activist groups including MoveOn—would take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the funding deadline (Sept. 30, 2025) and comes as the White House has outlined contingency layoff and RIF plans and scheduled high-level meetings with congressional leaders to seek a resolution.

Politics Government

DNA links Robert Eugene Brashers to 1991 Austin yogurt‑shop murders; tied to other rapes and killings

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Austin police say DNA testing and genetic genealogy have identified Robert Eugene Brashers as a suspect in the 1991 killings of four teenage girls at an Austin yogurt shop and also tie him to other alleged rapes and murders in South Carolina, Missouri and Tennessee. Brashers, who died by suicide during a 1999 standoff in Missouri, has been connected by investigators to a shell casing found at the scene and the renewed review has revived interest in two never‑identified patrons witnesses said looked out of place that night.

Legal Public Safety Crime

Florida schedules execution for 1998 murder

2d Dev 1

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has set an execution date of Oct. 28, 2025, for Norman Mearle Grim Jr., 65, who was convicted in December 2000 of sexually battering and killing his next‑door neighbor Cynthia Campbell in 1998. Campbell’s remains were found off the Pensacola Bay Bridge; prosecutors say DNA and other physical evidence tied Grim to the crime, which included blunt‑force injuries and multiple stab wounds. The state will carry out the sentence by lethal injection; appeals to the Florida Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court are expected.

Legal Crime

Kilmar Abrego Garcia transferred to Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania; attorneys flag conditions

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ICE notified defense counsel that Kilmar Abrego Garcia was transferred to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania, and defense attorneys filed a status update with U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw Jr. explaining delays in filing a motion about difficulties meeting at Farmville. The lawyers also flagged recent reports of assaults, inadequate medical care and insufficient food at Moshannon; Abrego Garcia, who pleaded not guilty to federal human‑smuggling charges and was wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March before being returned in June, denies alleged MS‑13 ties that were suggested by the administration but not charged.

Legal Public Safety Immigration

U.N. to reimpose 'snapback' sanctions on Iran as efforts by China and Russia fail

2d Breaking 7

The U.N. Security Council failed to approve China and Russia’s bid to delay or block the reimposition, leaving “snapback” sanctions—triggered Aug. 28 by France, Germany and the U.K.—to take effect Sept. 28, restoring measures such as an arms embargo, missile restrictions, asset freezes, travel bans and bans on key nuclear technology. Iran has warned it will suspend cooperation with the IAEA, its rial has plunged to record lows amid rising prices and domestic strain, and senior officials have rejected direct talks while insisting the nuclear program cannot be destroyed.

Economy War & Conflict International

Lt. Col. George E. Hardy, Tuskegee Airman and decorated veteran, dies at 100

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Lt. Col. George E. Hardy, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, died at 100; his death was announced by Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. on Sept. 26, 2025 and reported by NPR on Sept. 27. Born June 8, 1925, in Philadelphia, Hardy joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in July 1943, graduated Tuskegee pilot training in September 1944 as the youngest Red Tail fighter pilot and flew 21 combat missions in World War II, then 45 in the Korean War and 70 in the Vietnam War. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1971 after earning degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology, helped develop the Department of Defense’s first global military telephone system, and received honors including the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters and the Congressional Gold Medal, and he accepted the National WWII Museum’s American Spirit Award on behalf of the Tuskegee Airmen in 2024.

Obituary History Military

Bite‑resistant wetsuits reduce shark‑bite trauma

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Researchers at Flinders University in Adelaide tested four bite‑resistant wetsuit materials (Aqua Armour, Shark Stop, ActionTX‑S and Brewster) by exposing them to bites from tiger and white sharks at Neptune Island Group Marine Park and found all four reduced substantial and critical damage compared with standard neoprene. Published this week in the journal Wildlife Research, the study’s authors and a U.S. expert say the materials—used strategically over major arteries—could cut blood loss after attacks and buy time for victims to reach medical care.

Science Public Safety

Americans Criticize Riyadh Comedy Festival Over Human Rights

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Marc Maron and human-rights groups have publicly condemned the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia — an event running through Oct. 9, 2025 that features dozens of high-profile comedians, including several Americans. Human Rights Watch issued a statement calling the festival an effort to 'launder' the Saudi government's reputation and urged performers to press Saudi authorities to free detained dissidents; the NPR report cites the U.S. State Department's 2024 human-rights findings and documents some comedians declining lucrative invitations.

International Human Rights

Missouri to enact new congressional map

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CBS News reports that Missouri’s Republican governor is expected to sign a controversial new congressional map into law this weekend. The move is the latest development in an ongoing redistricting battle that will redraw U.S. House districts in Missouri and could affect political representation ahead of upcoming federal elections.

Politics Elections

Pedestrian killed by car and bus in Minneapolis

2d Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man died after being struck by a white sedan and a bus while crossing mid-block near Franklin Avenue East and Cedar Avenue South just after 3 p.m. Saturday. Both drivers remained at the scene and are cooperating; no arrests or citations have been issued. The victim’s identity and official cause of death have not yet been released.

Public Safety

Bicyclist seriously injured in Stillwater Township crash

2d Breaking TC 1

A bicyclist was struck and seriously injured in a crash in Stillwater Township on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, according to a Pioneer Press report. The incident occurred in Washington County within the Twin Cities metro; authorities are investigating and additional details were not immediately released.

Public Safety

Texas Tech orders faculty to recognize only two sexes in classroom

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Texas Tech University System Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell directed university presidents to require that faculty recognize only two sexes—male and female—in classroom instruction and to review and revise course materials, curricula and syllabi for legal compliance. The memo ties the requirement to Texas House Bill 229, a Jan. 30 letter from Gov. Greg Abbott, and a presidential executive order, while noting that faculty retain First Amendment rights in private capacities but must follow the law when instructing students.

Education Politics

DOC reduces Stillwater prison population

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A Minnesota Department of Corrections official said Saturday, Sept. 27, that MCF–Stillwater in Washington County is nearing half of its capacity as plans to close the facility advance. The update underscores ongoing state actions to wind down operations at the metro-area prison while closure planning continues.

Public Safety Local Government

At least 4 dead after Arizona floods; hundreds of propane tanks create hazmat risk in Globe

2d Breaking 3

At least four people have died after severe flash flooding inundated Globe and surrounding areas in Arizona, with rescuers finding multiple bodies — including two inside a vehicle and one beneath a Scottsdale walkway bridge — and heavy damage to historic downtown Globe. Roughly 1,000 residential propane tanks were swept from a facility south of Globe, creating a hazardous‑materials risk as hazmat teams and mutual‑aid responders work under a disaster declaration and warnings of additional thunderstorms that could hamper recovery.

Public Safety Local News Environment

Two killed in Loring Park apartment shooting

2d Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say two men were shot and killed just before 2 p.m. Saturday inside an apartment building at 15 E Grand St. in the Loring Park neighborhood. A suspect—who, like the victims, lived in the building—was arrested at the scene without incident after an argument escalated to gunfire; a shotgun and shells were recovered.

Public Safety Legal

Listeria outbreak linked to frozen pasta meals expands; FSIS adds Trader Joe’s product, toll rises to four

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The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service expanded a public‑health alert after FreshRealm and the CDC detected the outbreak strain of Listeria in Walmart’s Marketside refrigerated 12‑ounce Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce (Est. 50784 and 47718; best‑by dates Sept. 22–Oct. 1) and added Trader Joe’s Cajun‑style blackened chicken breast fettuccine Alfredo to the list of linked products. Officials say a third‑party pasta supplier is the likely source, and the outbreak has sickened at least 20 people and been tied to four deaths.

Public Safety Consumer Safety Food & Agriculture

Democrats' trans‑athlete records spotlighted in governor races

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Democratic gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill are facing scrutiny over records seen as supporting transgender athletes in women’s sports — both co‑sponsored the Equality Act, Sherrill also co‑sponsored the Transgender Bill of Rights, and both voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (Sherrill twice). Fox reports Spanberger told ABC13 she favors local, case‑by‑case school decisions, former President Trump has publicly criticized Sherrill on Truth Social, and both campaigns were contacted for comment but had not responded, with coverage citing recent local litigation over trans athletes as immediate context.

Elections Sports Politics

Sherrill Silent on Trans‑Athlete Votes; Trump Criticizes

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Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for New Jersey governor, has not publicly addressed her congressional voting record on bills concerning transgender athletes in women's sports, prompting a Truth Social rebuke from President Donald Trump and criticism from activists and the state GOP. Fox News reports it reached out repeatedly to Sherrill's campaign with no response and highlights her votes against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act and co-sponsorship of the Equality Act and the Transgender Bill of Rights, while local lawsuits by an out‑of‑state athlete provide immediate context.

Politics Elections

Ciattarelli attacks Sherrill at NJ town hall

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At a Manchester Township town hall on Saturday, New Jersey GOP gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli aggressively challenged Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s record on immigration, policing, taxes and ethics, arguing she is not a Jersey centrist and urging voters to 'elect the Jersey guy.' Ciattarelli cited Sherrill’s congressional votes (including opposition to the 2025 GOP 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' and disputed votes tied to policing and transgender‑athlete measures), referenced her STOCK Act fine and past Naval Academy disciplinary actions, and directly quoted attendees while both campaigns were asked for comment.

Politics Elections

Maher highlights mass killings of Nigerian Christians

3d Dev 1

On Sept. 26, 2025, HBO 'Real Time' host Bill Maher said the large‑scale killing of Christians in Nigeria by Islamist groups has been neglected by global media because 'the Jews aren't involved,' citing research from Open Doors (U.K.) that attributes large casualty and displacement figures to jihadist violence. The segment quoted Open Doors' numbers (six‑figure death toll since 2009, thousands of churches burned) and noted the White House is coordinating with the State Department on ways to address the violence.

International Religion Politics

Ex‑Soros Fund Manager Howard Rubin Indicted on Federal Sex‑Trafficking and Bank Fraud Charges

3d Dev 2

Howard Rubin, 70, an ex‑Soros fund manager, was indicted in a 13‑page federal complaint accusing him of running a sex‑trafficking operation out of a soundproofed Central Park penthouse where prosecutors say victims — including former Playboy models — were drugged, restrained, beaten, coerced with nondisclosure agreements and investigated by private detectives. Authorities allege Rubin spent more than $1 million on flights, payouts and maintaining the “sex dungeon” over roughly 2009–2019; he was arrested in Connecticut, pleaded not guilty, was ordered detained without bail despite defense offers of a $25 million bond, and his longtime assistant Jennifer Powers was arrested in Texas.

Legal Crime

Anibal Hernandez Santana charged after ABC10 Sacramento shooting; planner note said 'Do the Next Scary Thing'

3d Dev 5

Anibal Hernandez Santana, 64, was arrested early Saturday after a drive‑by shooting at ABC10’s Sacramento building in which at least three rounds struck a lobby window but caused no injuries; surveillance tied him to a white Nissan Kicks and police recovered a subcompact 9mm in a satchel matching casings at the scene. He was booked on state felony counts — including shooting into an occupied building, assault with a deadly weapon and negligent discharge — and faces federal charges for possession and discharge of a firearm within a school zone and interference with a radio communications station; investigators also found a planner entry reading “Do the Next Scary Thing” and a handwritten note in his car referencing Epstein and warning certain officials were “next.”

Legal Crime Courts/Legal

Dominion settles $1.3B defamation suit with Giuliani

3d Dev 1

Dominion Voting Systems and Rudy Giuliani have reached a confidential settlement that will permanently dismiss Dominion's $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit, according to a filing in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Friday. Dominion sued Giuliani in 2021 over his repeated false claims that the company rigged the 2020 election; the settlement ends that litigation between the Colorado-based voting-machine maker and the former New York mayor, though terms are not disclosed.

Politics Legal

Colombian President Gustavo Petro Accuses Trump of Violating U.N. Principles After U.S. Revokes His Visa

3d Breaking 4

The U.S. State Department announced it will revoke Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s U.S. visa, saying on social media the move responded to his "reckless and incendiary" remarks at a New York street demonstration during U.N. General Assembly events — where he urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and criticized U.S. strikes. Petro, who returned to Colombia, said he believes he has U.N. immunity, noted his European citizenship, and publicly accused President Donald Trump of violating U.N. principles.

International Politics

Trump asks Supreme Court to review birthright order

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The Trump administration’s Justice Department has formally asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review an executive order that would narrow the 14th Amendment’s birthright‑citizenship rule, a petition that was shared with news outlets but has not yet been docketed and does not ask the Court to allow the restrictions to take effect while it considers the case. The order, which departs from the long‑standing Wong Kim Ark precedent, has prompted legal battles — Solicitor General D. John Sauer says lower‑court decisions undermine border security, while the ACLU’s Cody Wofsy calls the policy “plainly unconstitutional,” and scholars such as John Yoo and John Eastman offer competing historical interpretations as Justice Sonia Sotomayor has urged class actions.

Legal Politics

Southeast braces for potential tropical‑storm landfall

3d Dev 1

South Carolina declared a state of emergency as Tropical Depression 9 — now over parts of the Caribbean — is forecast by the National Hurricane Center to strengthen into a tropical storm and possibly reach hurricane intensity before impacting the U.S. coast early next week. Officials warn of significant wind, heavy rainfall and flash, urban and river flooding from coastal Georgia through the Carolinas into the southern Mid‑Atlantic, and residents are urged to monitor official NHC and state updates and prepare accordingly.

Weather Public Safety

Lavrov Warns of 'Decisive Response' at U.N.

3d Dev 1

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 27, 2025, said Russia does not intend to attack Europe but vowed any aggression against Russia would be met with a 'decisive response.' His remarks came amid recent unauthorized flights and drone incidents that breached NATO airspace — including interceptions over Poland and an alleged incursion into Estonia — and follow shifting U.S. statements about Ukraine at the same U.N. meetings.

International Military/Defense

Robert Barnett, influential DC lawyer, dies at 79

3d Dev 1

Robert Barnett, a Washington, D.C. attorney known for brokering blockbuster book and media deals for presidents, politicians and journalists, has died at 79. According to Fox News and a Williams & Connolly partner, Barnett died Thursday night at Sibley Memorial Hospital of an undisclosed illness; his clients included Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Edward M. Kennedy, Dick Cheney and Mitch McConnell. He was famed for negotiating Bill Clinton’s 2004 memoir contract and for serving as a cross‑partisan legal adviser in publishing and entertainment.

Politics Media

Congresswoman urges DOE probe over 'Bisexual Plus' school segment

3d Dev 1

Rep. Ashley Hinson (R‑Iowa) says her 14‑year‑old son’s high school aired student‑run morning announcements celebrating 'Bisexual Plus Awareness Week' that defined 'non‑monosexual identities.' Hinson has sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon and says she will work with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to seek accountability; the Linn‑Mar Community School District says it is reviewing whether policies were violated during the broadcasts on Sept. 23 and Sept. 25, 2025.

Politics Education

Ex‑GOP lawmaker pushes friendshoring for drug supply

3d Dev 1

Former Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has joined the U.S. Israel Education Association as a senior fellow to advise an initiative to 'friendshore' pharmaceutical supply chains away from China toward Abraham Accords partners (Israel, UAE, Bahrain and others). Rodgers told Fox News Digital the move responds to U.S. vulnerabilities—citing a Brookings estimate that Chinese APIs are present in about one‑quarter of drugs sold in the U.S.—and aims to shift production of active pharmaceutical ingredients and generics to allied countries when onshoring to the U.S. is not viable.

Politics Health International

Investigator: Joseph Naso Idolized Caryl Chessman

3d Dev 1

A retired FBI task force investigator, Ken Mains, says convicted serial killer Joseph Naso may have been paying homage to executed inmate Caryl Chessman when he targeted victims whose first and last names shared initials. The claim — highlighted in a new Oxygen docuseries 'Death Row Confidential' and supported by a 300-page dossier compiled by fellow inmate William Noguera — ties Naso’s known murders (1977–1994) and his 2013 conviction to possible broader cold-case leads.

Crime Media

Hungary may designate Antifa; hails U.S. 'golden age'

3d Dev 1

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told Fox News Digital at the U.N. this week that Budapest is poised to follow the U.S. in designating Antifa a terrorist organization and praised the relationship with the United States under President Trump as a 'golden age.' He cited recent comments by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Sept. 19 radio interview) endorsing the 'American model,' and emphasized Hungary’s support for higher NATO defense spending and closer coordination with Washington.

International Politics

Thieves steal $1M in craft whiskey in Washington

3d Dev 1

On July 31, 2025, thieves using forged paperwork picked up a shipment at Westland Distillery’s Burlington, Washington, warehouse and made off with about 12,000 bottles of whiskey — roughly $1 million in product — including limited-edition Garryana 10‑year bottles. The theft was discovered about a week later; the Skagit County Sheriff's Office is investigating a 'sophisticated, fraudulent carrier scheme' and whiskey experts warn the rare, recognizable bottles will be hard to fence domestically.

Crime Business

Chicago Teachers Union honors Assata Shakur, draws backlash

3d Dev 1

The Chicago Teachers Union posted an official tribute mourning Assata Shakur after Cuban officials announced her death, praising her as a 'revolutionary fighter' and sparking criticism. Shakur — convicted in 1977 for the 1973 killing of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster, who was later listed by the FBI on its Most Wanted Terrorists list after her 1979 prison escape and flight to Cuba — remains a polarizing figure; the CTU post prompted national backlash from education critics and conservative commentators.

Education Crime Politics

Pedestrian killed in St. Paul Maryland Avenue crash

3d Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say a male pedestrian died after being struck by a vehicle near Maryland Avenue and Clarence Street around 12:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. The driver, who reported traveling westbound on Maryland and not seeing the victim, showed no signs of impairment, is cooperating with investigators, and has not been arrested as the investigation continues.

Public Safety

Three wounded in downtown Minneapolis shooting

3d Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say three men were shot just after 6:30 p.m. Friday on the 700 block of Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, and all are expected to survive. The shooter fled before officers arrived, and no arrests have been announced as MPD investigates.

Public Safety

Son of Texans co‑founder sues NFL for tortious interference

3d Dev 1

Robert Cary McNair Jr. filed a lawsuit Thursday in New York State Supreme Court suing the National Football League for tortious interference and seeking more than $60 million, alleging an NFL‑backed effort to restructure the McNair family business that excluded him from meaningful roles and installed his brother, Cal McNair, as the owner's representative. The complaint — brought by attorney Tony Buzbee — claims an 'alleged conspiracy' between the NFL and Cal McNair to silence Cary McNair after he publicly questioned player scandals and the league’s decision‑making.

Legal Sports Corporate News

FBI Fires ~20 Agents Over 2020 Kneeling; Union Condemns Dismissals

3d Dev 3

FBI Director Kash Patel ordered roughly 20 agents dismissed, including several who were photographed kneeling at George Floyd‑era racial‑justice demonstrations outside FBI headquarters in 2020; termination letters reportedly cited a “lack of judgment,” and many of the agents had been reassigned to lower‑profile duties in intervening years. The FBI Agents Association condemned the firings as unlawful and a “dangerous precedent,” called for a congressional investigation and said due process was ignored, while a broader purge that included summary ousters of supervisors (named in lawsuits by Steve Jensen, Brian Driscoll and Spencer Evans) and recent suits by top FBI officials have alleged improper motivations and pressure.

Politics Legal National Security

Makena White, girlfriend of golfer Jake Knapp, dies

3d Dev 1

Makena White, 28, the girlfriend of PGA Tour player Jake Knapp, has died; her death was revealed in late September 2025 via an Instagram post by a friend. Fox News reports her final social-media message was posted on Aug. 11, 2025, celebrating Knapp finishing his second PGA season; Knapp’s manager issued a statement to The Associated Press asking for privacy and praising her character.

Sports Public Safety

NATO launches 'Eastern Sentry' after Russian drones violate Polish airspace; U.S. vows to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory

3d Dev 10 Analysis

NATO has launched Operation Eastern Sentry to bolster eastern air defenses — initially in Poland — after roughly 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace during strikes on Ukraine, with three shot down, debris and parts recovered across eastern Poland and some drones tracked from Belarus, prompting immediate deployments including Polish F‑16s, Dutch F‑35s, German Patriot batteries and an Italian AWACS plus pledges of forces from several allies. The U.S. vowed to defend “every inch” of NATO territory, the UK summoned Russia’s ambassador, Poland requested a U.N. Security Council meeting, and Warsaw and Kyiv agreed to deepen cooperation on counter‑drone efforts as allies warned further incursions would be met with force.

U.S. Politics Defense World

Trump asks Supreme Court to uphold birthright limits

3d Dev 1

The Justice Department on Sept. 27, 2025 asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review President Trump’s executive order that would deny birthright U.S. citizenship to children born to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily. The petition, shared with the Associated Press, seeks reversal of lower-court injunctions (including rulings from the 9th Circuit and a New Hampshire federal judge) that have blocked the order, setting up a potential high-court decision next spring or early summer with major constitutional and policy consequences.

Politics Legal

UNC Professor Linked to Redneck Revolt Offshoot

3d Dev 1

Fox News reports that Dwayne Dixon, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is listed on a Redneck Revolt Silver Valley chapter roster and that the group — described by the Counter Extremism Project as an offshoot of the John Brown Gun Club — has been tied by observers to violent attacks on ICE facilities. The article says recruitment flyers referencing celebratory language about violence were posted at Georgetown this week, that the university condemned the flyers, and that Dixon previously faced (and later had dismissed) misdemeanor weapons and assault charges tied to protests in 2017–2018.

Crime Education Public Safety

Q2 GDP revised up to 3.8%

3d Dev 3

The U.S. economy’s final second‑quarter GDP reading was revised up to a 3.8% annualized pace (from 3.3%), driven by a 2.5% rise in consumer spending and a 29.3% annualized drop in imports that boosted the headline by more than five percentage points, even as private investment and inventories were weaker. National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett called the print “about as good as it gets,” and CBS News used the stronger GDP figure to fact‑check presidential claims while noting ongoing consumer price pressures—residential electricity +6.2% YoY, natural gas +13.8% YoY (August 2025), and food at home +0.6% in August and +2.7% YoY.

Finance Politics Economy

North Korean hackers use AI to forge military IDs

3d Dev 1

South Korean cybersecurity firm Genians says the North Korean hacking group Kimsuky used ChatGPT to generate a realistic draft of a South Korean military ID and included the forged document in phishing emails impersonating a credentialing body. The campaign — disclosed in a Genians blog post and reported Sept. 26, 2025 — illustrates how generative AI lowers the barrier for sophisticated cyberespionage; the article also cites OpenAI and Anthropic disclosures that Chinese and other state-linked hackers have used chatbots to probe U.S. defense and infrastructure systems.

AI & Tech National security

NPR sues to block CPB $57.9M satellite grant

3d Dev 1

National Public Radio asked a federal judge on Sept. 27, 2025 to block the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from awarding a $57.9 million, five‑year contract to a new consortium (Public Media Infrastructure) to run the satellite distribution system that connects U.S. public radio stations. NPR alleges CPB reversed an earlier decision to award NPR multiyear funding for the service; the dispute comes as congressional Republicans and a White House order have stripped CPB of previously approved federal subsidies for public media.

Media Legal

Obama Center's $470M Endowment Holds Just $1M

3d Dev 1

The Obama Foundation pledged a $470 million reserve (endowment) as part of its 2018 agreement with the City of Chicago to build the Obama Presidential Center on 19.3 acres of Jackson Park, but the foundation's tax filing shows it has deposited only $1 million — a sum that has not increased since 2021. With project costs cited as rising from an early $330 million estimate to about $850 million and the foundation holding the park lease for $10 under a 99‑year deal, critics and legal scholars say Chicago taxpayers could be exposed if the project faces budget shortfalls.

Politics Finance

Charles Tillman: Immigration Policy Prompted FBI Exit

3d Dev 1

Former NFL star Charles Tillman told a podcast on Sept. 27, 2025 that he left the FBI after several years because he would not support policies from the Trump administration — notably its immigration‑enforcement crackdowns. Tillman, a 13‑year NFL veteran who graduated from the FBI Academy in 2019, said he could walk away because of financial security and conscience, and his remarks cite wider DHS removal/self‑deportation figures used in the immigration debate.

Politics Law Enforcement Sports

Virginia fans storm field after Cavaliers upset Florida State

3d Dev 1

Virginia defeated No. 8 Florida State 46–38 in double overtime on Sept. 26, 2025 at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville; fans rushed the field after Florida State's final pass fell incomplete. The incident prompted public‑safety concerns — witnesses reported at least one fan taken off on a stretcher and others attended to — and raises potential penalties under a new ACC policy that fines schools for field stormings ($50,000 for a first offense).

Sports Public Safety

MSP Airport $600M renovation nears completion

3d Dev TC 1

A Sept. 27 report says a $600 million renovation program at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is nearing completion. The multi‑year capital project, overseen by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, modernizes facilities at the region’s primary airport and is entering its final phase.

Transit & Infrastructure Business & Economy

Gaines suit advances; attorney seeks consent decree

3d Dev 1

A federal judge on Thursday partially denied motions to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Riley Gaines and 19 co‑plaintiffs alleging the NCAA is subject to Title IX, allowing the case to proceed. Plaintiffs' attorney William Bock said his side might consider a settlement only if accompanied by a consent decree — a long‑term, enforceable court order requiring the NCAA to comply with Title IX and protect women's sports.

Legal Sports

Defense accuses DOJ and White House of prejudicial statements; judge orders DOJ to explain by Oct. 3 in Luigi Mangione case

3d Dev 8 Analysis

Luigi Mangione, 27, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and faces parallel state and federal murder-related charges (a judge recently dismissed state terrorism counts), has had his attorneys accuse the DOJ, the White House and Attorney General Pam Bondi of making prejudicial public statements — including comments cited as supporting a death-penalty pursuit — and of portraying him as “left-wing” or Antifa. In response, Judge Margaret Garnett ordered Southern District of New York prosecutors to file a sworn declaration by Oct. 3 addressing the incidents alleged by the defense as the defense presses a motion to bar the death penalty; the case has also attracted high security and vocal public supporters.

Crime Public Safety Politics

Cocoa extract slows inflammation in older adults

3d Dev 1

Researchers at Mass General Brigham report that in a randomized substudy of the COSMOS trial nearly 600 adults (average age ~70) who took 500 mg of cocoa extract daily for two years showed an 8.4% slower annual increase in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) compared with placebo. The peer-reviewed findings, published this month in Age and Ageing, suggest cocoa flavanols may help reduce low-level chronic inflammation ('inflammaging') linked to cardiovascular and other age-related diseases, though authors caution more research is needed to tie biomarker changes to clinical outcomes.

Health Science

DA Drops Assault Case After Missed Deadline

3d Dev 1

Manhattan prosecutors dropped criminal charges against Brianna Rivers, who was accused of punching pro-life journalist Savannah Craven Antao during a street interview in New York City. The case — a second-degree assault indictment stemming from an April incident — was dismissed in July after the Manhattan District Attorney’s office failed to meet a discovery/filing deadline; the Thomas More Society says it will file a civil suit on behalf of the victim and the DA’s office has apologized and pledged internal steps.

Legal Crime Politics

IDF begins main phase of Gaza City offensive; hospitals report 69 dead

3d Dev 12

The Israel Defense Forces said the main phase of a ground offensive in Gaza City has begun, with multiple divisions pushing toward the center, warning residents to move south and estimating thousands of remaining militants while displacement figures vary widely (UN and Israeli estimates range from around 100,000 to as many as 350,000 people having fled). Hospitals reported at least 69 deaths Tuesday morning — Shifa 49 (including 22 children), Al‑Ahli 17 and Al‑Quds 3 — as intensified strikes and ground operations strain medical facilities and fuel broader humanitarian concerns, including malnutrition deaths, seized relief supplies and tens of thousands of tents awaiting clearance.

Conflict Military Humanitarian

Quinnipiac Poll: Democrats' Favorability Hits Historic Low

3d Dev 1 Analysis

A Quinnipiac University national survey released this week finds just 30% of respondents hold a favorable view of the Democratic Party while 54% view it unfavorably — the lowest reading Quinnipiac has recorded since it began asking the question in 2008. The story includes party-level comparisons (Republicans 38% favorable/51% unfavorable), President Trump's approval (38% approve/54% disapprove), and comments from DNC chair Ken Martin acknowledging a 'brand problem.'

Politics Elections

Poll: Americans oppose National Guard city deployments

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An NPR‑Ipsos national poll (1,020 respondents, Sept. 19–21) finds Americans are worried about crime but do not broadly support President Trump’s practice of deploying National Guard troops to U.S. cities. Roughly seven in ten say crime and violence in cities is at an unacceptable level, yet about half of respondents oppose sending Guard troops to their town or a major city in their state; the survey also shows a stark partisan split, with Republicans overwhelmingly supportive and Democrats overwhelmingly opposed. The poll provides timely public‑opinion context as the administration presses to expand deployments to places such as Memphis and continues a high‑profile Guard presence in Washington, D.C.

Politics Public Safety

DHS social‑media reach exceeds cable viewership

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The Department of Homeland Security says its social‑media accounts produced millions of daily impressions this past summer—surpassing the daily TV audiences of cable networks MSNBC and CNN—and DHS has used the accounts as part of an active ICE recruitment and public‑messaging campaign. Fox News reports DHS compiled internal metrics (verified via Sprout Social) showing roughly 6.4 million daily impressions in July and about 3.4 million in June, and the piece situates those figures alongside Nielsen estimates for MSNBC and CNN viewership while noting recruitment outcomes such as large numbers of ICE job applications.

Politics Public Safety Media

Mamdani Staffer Filmed Tearing Hostage Posters

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A Fox News report says New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani employed Frances Hamed, a Hunter College graduate who was filmed in October 2023 tearing down posters of Israeli hostages abducted in Hamas's Oct. 7 attack. The article says Hamed interned for Mamdani from February–May 2025, links her to a Samidoun rally characterized by Canary Mission and notes the campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

Politics Elections

One Year After Hurricane Helene, NC Towns Still Waiting

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Old Fort, North Carolina and other western Carolina mountain communities mark the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene while recovery remains incomplete. Local officials say debris removal and some business reopenings have occurred, but towns are still awaiting millions in FEMA reimbursements to repair streets, water systems and schools; Gov. Josh Stein has renewed a $13 billion federal aid request, of which under 10% has been approved to date.

Environment Government

Estonia airspace breach by Russian MiG‑31s fuels NATO alarm, U.S. leaders weigh response

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Estonia says three Russian MiG‑31s — with transponders off, no flight plans and no radio contact — flew roughly five nautical miles into its airspace near Vaindloo Island and the Tallinn area for about 12 minutes before Italian F‑35s (with Swedish and Finnish participation) intercepted and forced them out; NATO and Estonian officials noted the jets could carry Kinzhal missiles, though it’s unclear if they were armed. The episode prompted Estonia to summon a Russian diplomat, launch NATO Article 4 consultations and an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, spurred calls for tougher sanctions and responses from EU and Ukrainian leaders, and drew public backing from some U.S. officials for stronger measures, while Moscow denies any violation.

War & Conflict Politics International

Colleges Split Over How to Respond to Trump

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The Trump administration has mounted investigations into the University of California system and demanded it repay or justify more than $1 billion in research funding, prompting divergent responses across UC’s 10 campuses. Campus leaders, regents, faculty and Gov. Gavin Newsom are at odds over strategies — negotiating with federal officials, complying by handing over complaint-related names, or suing and resisting — reflecting a broader national clash over academic freedom, federal oversight and campus safety.

Education Politics Legal

DOT tightens CDL rules for noncitizen truck drivers

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The U.S. Department of Transportation, led by Secretary Sean Duffy, announced stricter rules Friday making it harder for non‑U.S. citizens to obtain commercial driver’s licenses after an audit prompted by a deadly Florida Turnpike crash. The review found improper CDL issuance in six states and DOT warned California it has 30 days to comply or risk losing about $160 million in federal funding; the Florida crash driver, identified as Harjinder Singh, faces vehicular homicide and immigration charges.

Transportation Public Safety Immigration

16 states sue over HHS threats to pull sex‑ed funding

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Sixteen states and the District of Columbia filed a federal lawsuit on Sept. 26, 2025 in Oregon against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, alleging HHS unlawfully threatened to withdraw federal sex‑education grants for curricula that mention diverse gender identities. Plaintiffs — co‑led by Oregon, Washington and Minnesota — say HHS is trying to force changes to PREP and Title V SRAE lessons, putting at least $35 million in funding at risk and violating federal law and Congress’s spending authority.

Legal Education

Alaska begins $1,000 Permanent Fund dividend

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Alaska has started distributing its annual Permanent Fund dividend to residents, with lawmakers setting this year's payout at $1,000 per person and checks beginning to go out the week of Sept. 27, 2025. The payout comes from the state's $83 billion oil‑fund earnings; legislators chose the amount amid budget negotiations and competing priorities including increased K‑12 funding and limits on draws from savings.

Economy Politics

DEA Atlanta opens lab, seizes 1,000+ pounds meth

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The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Atlanta Field Division opened an in‑house forensic lab in May 2025 to process federal drug seizures in Georgia, speeding testing from days to minutes. In September 2025 agents seized more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine tied to Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG), arrested five Mexican nationals, and sent large quantities (including over 700 pounds found in an apartment with children present) to the new lab for immediate analysis; officials estimate the street value at about $4 million.

Crime National Security

Trump trade war threatens U.S. soybean farms

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President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods and Beijing’s retaliatory tariffs have effectively halted Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans, leaving American growers facing unsold crops at harvest and renewed calls for a durable trade deal or federal relief. The article (AP, Sept. 27, 2025) quotes soybean-industry leaders and farmers in Kentucky and Indiana warning of severe market disruption, cites export figures showing China historically bought over half of U.S. soybean exports, and notes the administration is considering aid financed with tariff revenue.

Economy Agriculture Trade

National Archives accidentally released Sherrill military file

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The National Archives’ National Personnel Records Center mistakenly sent a mostly unredacted military file for Rep. Mikie Sherrill to Nicholas De Gregorio, an ally and former Republican candidate, releasing sensitive information — including her Social Security number on nearly every page, home and family addresses, life insurance details, performance evaluations and an NDA. NARA said a technician failed to follow standard procedures, alerted the agency inspector general and apologized to Sherrill (in a Sept. 22, 2025 letter), while Sherrill reiterated she graduated and was commissioned despite not walking in the 1994 Naval Academy ceremony; the Navy and Naval Academy declined to comment.

Politics Elections Government/Legal

Police kill gunman at Georgia elementary carpool

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Valdosta police shot and killed 25-year-old Tychicus Armondo Deshazer on Sept. 26, 2025 after he opened fire on cars waiting in the carpool line at S.L. Mason Elementary School in Valdosta, Georgia. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading the inquiry; the school was placed on lockdown, buses were used to move students back inside, and no other injuries were reported.

Crime Education Public Safety

U.S. to seek equity in Thacker Pass lithium developer

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The White House and Department of Energy are negotiating changes to a $2.3 billion DOE loan to Lithium Americas that would permit the U.S. government to take a very small equity stake (under 10%) in the company developing the Thacker Pass lithium mine in northern Nevada. General Motors has pledged more than $900 million to the project; officials say the proposed U.S. stake would serve as a cash buffer as the company seeks to draw on DOE financing and advance domestic battery‑grade lithium production.

Energy Economy

China’s Li Qiang Frames U.S. as Threat at UN

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China’s second‑in‑command Li Qiang delivered a high‑profile address to the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 26, 2025, warning against unilateralism and Cold‑War thinking and casting Beijing as a defender of international order. His speech invoked specific concerns about U.S. actions—including recent tariff threats and the fate of TikTok—and came as leaders prepare for a tentative Trump–Xi meeting at next month’s APEC summit.

International Politics

79‑year‑old LA man files $50M claim after ICE raid

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Rafie Ollah Shouhed, a 79‑year‑old naturalized U.S. citizen and owner of a Los Angeles car‑wash, filed a $50 million civil‑rights claim on Sept. 26, 2025 alleging federal agents from DHS/ICE/CBP tackled him during a Sept. 9 immigration raid, causing broken ribs, chest and elbow injuries and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. The claim cites interior and exterior surveillance video and names DHS, ICE and CBP as defendants; DHS issued a statement saying five noncitizens were arrested and that Shouhed impeded the operation, an allegation his attorney disputes. The agency has six months to accept or deny the claim before a federal lawsuit can be filed.

Legal Immigration Public Safety

Federal judge rules Lindell defamed Smartmatic

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A U.S. federal judge in Minnesota ruled on Sept. 26, 2025 that MyPillow founder Mike Lindell made false statements defaming election technology company Smartmatic by repeatedly claiming its machines rigged the 2020 presidential election. Judge Jeffrey Bryan identified 51 specific false statements and concluded no reasonable trier of fact could find them true, while deferring the question of whether Lindell acted with actual malice—an element Smartmatic must prove to recover damages. Smartmatic says it will seek nine-figure damages from Lindell and MyPillow; Lindell vowed to continue his campaign against voting machines and said he is considering a Minnesota gubernatorial run.

Legal Politics

Vice President Vance Condemns Left‑Wing Incitement

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Vice President JD Vance, speaking from North Carolina and replying on X, publicly condemned what he called "left‑wing radicals" for inciting political violence, urging supporters to shun violent rhetoric. The remarks — including direct social‑media quotes and on‑the‑record comments during a North Carolina stop — came as Vance responded to a viral clip and in the wake of two recent U.S. attacks: a shooting at a Dallas ICE facility and the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Politics Public Safety

Three indicted for livestreaming and doxxing ICE agent

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A federal grand jury in the Central District of California has indicted three women — Cynthia Raygoza, Ashleigh Brown and Sandra Carmona Samane — for allegedly following an ICE agent from downtown Los Angeles to his home on Aug. 28, 2025, livestreaming the pursuit on Instagram and posting the agent’s address online. Prosecutors charge each with conspiracy and with publicly disclosing a federal agent’s personal information; two were arrested (one held without bond, one released on $5,000), one remains at large, and arraignments are scheduled for Sept. 30 and Oct. 9.

Crime Legal Public Safety

HHS official assaulted at UNGA; suspect arrested

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A Department of Health and Human Services official serving with the U.S. delegation at the U.N. General Assembly was allegedly followed into United Nations Headquarters and physically assaulted on Sept. 25, 2025; the assailant was arrested and U.S. officials, including the White House, say the Secret Service will investigate how the person gained access and are urging a UN security review. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly and a U.S. Mission to the U.N. spokesperson provided quotes to Fox News Digital describing the attack and calling for swift consequences and operational changes.

Politics Public Safety International

Denver settles poll‑worker First Amendment suit

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Denver agreed to pay $65,000 to settle a lawsuit by Virginia Chau, a former part‑time polling‑center supervisor, who alleged she lost her supervisory role after speaking on a 2022 Jon Stewart streaming panel about threats to election workers and inadequate training. The settlement — confirmed by Chau’s lawyer David Lane and city election officials on Sept. 26, 2025 — included no admission of wrongdoing but highlights legal and policy questions about speech rights for government employees and poll‑worker safety.

Legal Elections Civil Rights

Supreme Court extends order allowing Trump administration to keep $4.9B in foreign aid frozen

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The Supreme Court issued an unsigned emergency order extending Chief Justice John Roberts’ Sept. 9 temporary block, allowing the Trump administration to continue withholding about $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid pending further review; the decision was reported as a 6–3 vote with Justices Kagan, Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting. The administration invoked an Aug. 28 "pocket rescission" — described as the first use in about 50 years — and the Justice Department sought emergency relief after U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled the rescission likely violated the law.

Legal International Politics

Atlanta Forfeits $37.5M in FAA Airport Grants

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Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport has forfeited at least $37.5 million in federal grant money after city officials declined to certify compliance with the Trump administration’s executive‑order condition banning certain DEI programs. The FAA had told Atlanta it was holding $57 million pending agreement to language disavowing DEI initiatives; $19 million could be released next fiscal year if the city accepts the terms. The withheld funds were earmarked for projects including taxiway repaving and public‑restroom renovations and clash with Atlanta’s longstanding minority‑and‑women contracting goals (25% minority, 10% women).

Politics Infrastructure

Chelan County coroner: Travis Decker's cause of death 'may never be known' after remains identified

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Human remains recovered on a steep, remote slope of Grindstone Mountain, less than a mile from the campsite where his three daughters (ages 9, 8 and 5) were found in June, were DNA‑matched to fugitive father Travis Decker after investigators recovered bone fragments, clothing and personal items. Chelan County Coroner Wayne Harris said only minimal skeletal remains were recovered and the cause, manner and time of Decker’s death "may never be known," and prosecutors moved to dismiss federal charges after the U.S. Marshals were told he was dead while local officials said they would await DNA confirmation.

Legal Crime Law Enforcement

Pro-life group asks Florida AG to probe abortion‑pill billboards

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40 Days for Life sent a Sept. 19, 2025 letter to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier asking him to investigate Mayday Health’s billboard campaign promoting the abortion pills mifepristone and misoprostol across Florida. The group alleges the ads are 'deceptive and misleading,' omit FDA black‑box warnings and required safety protocols, and could violate Florida’s deceptive‑advertising law in a state that bans most abortions after six weeks.

Politics Legal

Trump orders declassification of Amelia Earhart records

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President Donald Trump on Sept. 26, 2025 directed his administration to declassify any federal records related to aviator Amelia Earhart’s 1937 disappearance, responding to a request from Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Kimberlyn King‑Hinds and amid longstanding theories about Earhart’s fate. The order prompts potential agency reviews of FBI and Navy files and follows previous, limited releases of Earhart‑related documents by the FBI and the National Archives.

Politics Government/Regulatory

FAA restores Boeing's Max/787 self‑certification authority

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The Federal Aviation Administration announced Sept. 26, 2025 that it will restore Boeing's ability to perform final safety inspections and issue airworthiness certificates for 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner aircraft after a multi‑year federal takeover of some approvals. The FAA said Boeing and FAA inspectors will rotate weekly to carry out required pre‑delivery checks, freeing agency inspectors to focus on production‑line quality reviews; the move follows years of regulatory oversight after fatal Max crashes and marks a major operational shift for U.S. aviation oversight and Boeing's manufacturing pipeline.

Government/Regulatory Transportation Corporate News

Former Park Superintendents Urge NPS Closures

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Forty former National Park Service superintendents wrote to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Sept. 26, 2025, urging the Trump administration to close national parks to visitors during any federal government shutdown. The ex‑officials, organized by the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks and the Association of National Park Rangers, argued that parks already face a 24% staff reduction, that an April secretarial order keeping parks open has forced parks to neglect routine maintenance, and that leaving parks open with minimal staff endangers visitors and park resources.

Government Environment

Judge blocks deportation of Central American migrant children

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U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez in Tucson on Sept. 26, 2025 granted a preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration from immediately deporting dozens of unaccompanied children from Guatemala and Honduras. The order stems from a lawsuit by the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project on behalf of 57 Guatemalan and 12 Honduran minors (ages 3–17), and the judge cited government failures to demonstrate coordination with parents abroad and insufficient preparations for removals. Plaintiffs seek counsel access, chance to present claims, and placement in the least restrictive, best‑interest settings while litigation proceeds.

Legal Immigration

Fight over ACA tax credits intensifies as shutdown nears

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A CBS News segment examines a growing dispute in Congress over renewing enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits as lawmakers race to avert a government shutdown next week. KFF vice president Cynthia Cox explains how the outcome of the continuing resolution talks could change marketplace subsidies and consumer premiums, making the credit-renewal fight a central sticking point in appropriations negotiations ahead of the Sept. 30 funding deadline.

Politics Health Economy

Trump orders declassification of Amelia Earhart files

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President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he has ordered his administration to declassify and release all U.S. government records related to aviator Amelia Earhart and her final 1937 flight. The announcement — made in a Truth Social post and prompted in part by a July letter from CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King‑Hinds seeking clarity for constituents — directs agencies to produce any held records that could shed light on the nearly 90‑year‑old disappearance.

Politics Government/Regulatory

Georgetown removes second wave of flyers mocking Charlie Kirk, reports incident to FBI

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On Sept. 24 and again the evening of Sept. 25, inflammatory flyers mocking Charlie Kirk — including the lines "Hey fascist! Catch!" (echoing text reportedly found on a shell casing tied to Kirk's Sept. 10 killing), a "Rest in p-ss" taunt, and an image of Kirk with his eyes blacked out — were posted in Georgetown’s Red Square and carried QR codes linking to a Georgetown John Brown Club recruitment page urging action beyond "ceremonial resistance." Georgetown removed the posters, reported the incident to the FBI, and said its safety and threat‑assessment teams are investigating with law enforcement as students including College Republicans treasurer Shae McInnis and GOP board member Knox Graham demanded a full investigation and said the materials chilled free expression and raised safety concerns.

Politics Public Safety Education

House Democrats release partial Epstein records referencing Musk, Gates and Prince Andrew

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House Oversight Democrats on Friday released six heavily redacted pages drawn from a trove of 8,544 Epstein-related documents — including flight logs, phone logs, daily schedules and ledgers — that contain entries referencing Elon Musk (a Dec. 6, 2014 "to island" notation), Peter Thiel (Nov. 27, 2017 lunch), Steve Bannon (Feb. 16, 2019 breakfast), Bill Gates, and a flight log showing Prince Andrew flew with Jeffrey Epstein from New Jersey to Florida. Committee Democrats said the records, which span flight logs from 1990–2019 and phone logs from 2002–2005, were turned over in response to an August subpoena, victims' names were redacted, and additional material will be released after further review and redactions.

Politics Legal

Congressional CODELs Canceled Ahead of Potential Shutdown

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Axios reports that multiple official congressional delegations (CODELs) scheduled for next week were canceled because lawmakers anticipate a federal government shutdown when appropriations lapse at midnight on Sept. 30, 2025. At least two committee trips — organized through the House Oversight Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee — including visits to Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, were called off; members cited nonrefundable travel logistics and the legal prohibition on funding CODELs without an appropriation.

Politics Government

DOJ sues states to compel voter‑registration lists (PBS: eight states)

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The Justice Department has sued multiple states seeking full voter‑registration lists — including names, birth dates, driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers — saying the data are needed to determine compliance with the Help America Vote Act (CBS named six states; PBS reported eight). State officials have pushed back, raising legal and privacy objections and framing the move as part of broader Trump‑era scrutiny of election systems.

Elections Politics Legal

UN adds 68 firms to settlements blacklist

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On Sept. 26, 2025 the U.N. human rights office added 68 companies from 11 countries to its database of firms it says are complicit in rights violations via business ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The move expands a list now totaling 158 companies (the majority Israeli) and names multinational firms including U.S.-based Expedia Group, Booking Holdings and Airbnb, as well as Germany’s Heidelberg Materials. The U.N. office said companies were given a right of reply; Israel rejected the database as unfair and politically motivated.

International Human Rights

Mass. nonprofit CEO charged with distributing crack

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Javan Tooley, 36, the founder and CEO of Massachusetts legal nonprofit Adapt & Evolve, was charged by federal prosecutors with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base after an alleged Sept. 10 transaction in Dorchester and an arrest on Sept. 23, 2025 near Roxbury District Court. Prosecutors say Tooley sold 100 grams of crack, was found with approximately 160 grams when taken into custody, and is accused of recruiting and exploiting women with substance‑use disorders while using nonprofit phones and alleged law‑enforcement connections to facilitate drug deals.

Crime Legal

Vitamin B3 tied to lower skin cancer risk

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A new peer‑reviewed study in JAMA Dermatology using more than 33,000 U.S. Veterans Affairs patient records (1999–2024) found that oral nicotinamide (vitamin B3) at 500 mg twice daily was associated with a modestly lower incidence of common skin cancers and a substantially lower recurrence risk when started after a first skin‑cancer diagnosis. The researchers — including investigators at Vanderbilt and using VA data — matched exposed and unexposed patients on demographics and clinical risk factors and report specific relative‑risk reductions for basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

Health Science

PCE inflation edges up to 2.7% in August; core PCE steady at 2.9%

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Personal Consumption Expenditures inflation edged up to 2.7% year‑over‑year in August from 2.6% in July, while core PCE — the Fed’s preferred measure excluding food and energy — held steady at 2.9%. Month‑to‑month PCE rose 0.3% and core PCE 0.2%; the Commerce Department released the data as markets and the Fed watch ahead of the Oct. 28–29 FOMC meeting amid a recent Fed rate cut and continuing political pressure on Fed governance.

Politics Finance Economy

Economists warn of costs from looming government shutdown

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Economists told CBS News that a potential federal government shutdown at the Sept. 30 funding deadline (which could take effect Oct. 1) would halt pay for many federal workers, ripple through federal contracting and procurement, and shave roughly $7 billion from the U.S. economy for each week the shutdown continues. The reporting cites EY‑Parthenon chief economist Gregory Daco for the $7 billion/week estimate, references the 2018–2019 34‑day shutdown that left about 800,000 workers unpaid, and flags secondary effects including weaker consumer and investor confidence and delayed economic data (e.g., the Oct. 3 jobs report) that could complicate Federal Reserve decisions.

Economy Government

CSIS: Left-wing incidents on pace for 30-year high

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A new Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report, cited by Fox News, says the number of U.S. terrorist incidents involving left-wing extremists through July 2025 puts 2025 on pace to be the most violent year for the left in more than three decades. The article links the CSIS findings to high-profile recent events, including the Sept. 10, 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah, and cites specific examples and arrests tied to alleged left-wing plots.

Crime Public Safety

Florida AG vows legal action to protect TPUSA chapters

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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s newly created Office of Parental Rights announced it will bring legal action against public schools that block Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapters, calling such denials discriminatory. The announcement — posted on X and made alongside Duval County School Board member April Carney — frames the move as protecting students’ rights to organize; the report also notes a nationwide surge in TPUSA chapter requests and Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters’ pledge to place a chapter in every high school.

Politics Education Legal

California father faults Newsom after migrant truck crash

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A California father says Gov. Gavin Newsom ignored his family's pleas for answers after a June 20, 2024 multi-vehicle crash in Southern California — allegedly caused by a semi driven by Partap Singh — left his daughter, Dalilah Coleman, with traumatic brain injury and lasting disabilities. The article describes new public pressure from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem demanding state action over how the driver obtained eligibility for a commercial license and quotes Newsom’s office pushing back and blaming federal issuance of a work permit.

Crime Immigration Politics

Appeals court weighs $1.8B Planned Parenthood Medicaid case

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A full en banc panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard oral arguments this week in a high-profile Medicaid clawback suit that could require Planned Parenthood to repay as much as $1.8 billion. The dispute centers on whether Planned Parenthood had immunity for collecting Medicaid reimbursements during an earlier injunction after Texas and Louisiana revoked the affiliates' Medicaid qualifications; a jury in the lower court would later determine exact damages if liability is found.

Legal Health Politics

DHS halts payments to 11 ICS providers

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Minnesota’s Department of Human Services suspended payments between Sept. 4 and Sept. 23 to 11 Integrated Community Supports (ICS) providers after the DHS Office of Inspector General found credible fraud allegations involving billing for services not provided. The withholds extend to all affiliated services, suspending payments to 17 additional providers; DHS says it is using data analytics to detect fraud and will work with counties and providers to minimize client impacts in the Twin Cities and statewide.

Local Government Health Housing

Nvidia, OpenAI announce massive U.S. data‑center push

4d Dev 1 Analysis

Nvidia said it will invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI in stages to support OpenAI’s plan to build and deploy at least 10 gigawatts of AI data centers, while OpenAI disclosed additional Stargate commitments with Oracle and SoftBank to build five new U.S. data centers — part of roughly $400 billion in commitments toward a stated $500 billion goal. The deals, announced this week, mark a major corporate financing and infrastructure drive with broad implications for U.S. markets, energy demand and data‑center supply chains.

AI & Tech Economy/Markets

Katy youth baseball shooting: suspects charged; DHS says two had been granted U.S. status under Biden

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Three men — Mahmood Abdelsalam Rababah, 23; Ahmad Mawed, 21; and Mustafa Mohammad Matalgah, 27 — were arrested and charged with felony deadly conduct with a firearm and held on $100,000 bonds after a Sept. 21, 2025, shooting at the Ameripark youth baseball complex in Katy, Texas, in which a 27‑year‑old coach was struck in the shoulder, treated and released. The Department of Homeland Security said two of the suspects had been admitted to the U.S. and later granted legal status during the Biden administration — DHS said Matalgah was reportedly granted U.S. citizenship on Aug. 1, 2023, and Mawed was reportedly granted lawful permanent resident status via an IR‑2 visa on June 3, 2021 — and DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the administration’s vetting.

Crime Immigration Public Safety

Essentia leaves UMN–Fairview health talks

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Essentia Health said Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, it has exited negotiations with the University of Minnesota and Fairview Health Services over an 'All‑Minnesota' health solution intended to reshape the state’s academic health system. The move forces UMN and Fairview—operators of major Twin Cities hospitals and clinics—to reassess next steps for a Minnesota‑based model and the future governance of university‑affiliated facilities.

Health Business & Economy

Border Patrol Deploys Boats to Chicago River

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection deployed marine units and boats onto the Chicago River on Sept. 25, 2025 as part of 'Operation Midway Blitz,' extending immigration‑enforcement patrols into inland waterways. CBP officials and social posts from agency leaders framed the move as part of a broader federal surge that has netted more than 500 arrests in the Chicago region, drawing criticism from local Democratic leaders and renewed debate over National Guard and federal deployments to U.S. cities.

Immigration Politics Public Safety

Defense rebuts attempt to drop SCOTUS trans‑athlete case

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Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador and Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Kristen Waggoner filed a response at the U.S. Supreme Court opposing Lindsay Hecox’s request to dismiss Little v. Hecox after the court agreed to hear the case. The defense argues the plaintiff’s motion is barred by a prior stay and that the case remains live because the issues affect Idaho girls and state authority to regulate women’s sports; dozens of state attorneys general have filed supporting amicus briefs.

Legal Politics Sports

Frey, Fateh clash in first Minneapolis debate

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On Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, the Citizens League hosted the first Minneapolis mayoral debate at Westminster Presbyterian, featuring Mayor Jacob Frey, Sen. Omar Fateh, Rev. Dewayne Davis, Jazz Hampton, and Brenda Short. The 82‑minute forum highlighted divisions on encampment clearances and public safety response models, with only Fateh backing rent control; candidates also agreed against using more city funds to keep the Timberwolves/Lynx. Early voting is already open, and another debate is scheduled for Oct. 13.

Elections Local Government

Census to Test Postal Workers as Takers

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The U.S. Census Bureau announced it will test using U.S. Postal Service carriers as census takers in at least two of six field‑test sites next year as part of preparations for the 2030 decennial census. The tests—described in a Federal Register notice—will take place in western Texas, tribal lands in Arizona, Colorado Springs (CO), western North Carolina, Spartanburg (SC) and Huntsville (AL) and aim to improve counts of undercounted populations and assess operational feasibility.

Government Politics Data

Senate Democrats Demand DHS Records on Tom Homan After DOJ Closes Probe

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After the Justice Department closed an investigation into border czar Tom Homan — which officials said found "no credible evidence" of criminal wrongdoing despite reports that undercover FBI agents recorded him accepting $50,000 during a Sept. 2024 meeting — the White House denied he took the money and defended Homan. A group of seven Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Democrats, including ranking member Sen. Gary Peters, has sent DHS a letter demanding contracts, communications, GEO Group files and records of Homan’s meetings with former clients since Jan. 20, 2025, with an Oct. 10 deadline for production.

Politics Government Legal

Florida secures $38M federal funding for ICE enforcement

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and ICE Deputy Director Madison D. Sheahan announced at a Tallahassee press conference that the state will receive more than $28 million from a federal distribution tied to the administration’s $1.7 billion package, with an additional $10 million directed to local law enforcement under ICE’s 287(g) program. Officials gave a detailed allocation breakdown — including transportation and equipment grants — said the funds will support thousands of state and local officers, and DeSantis warned that attacks on ICE agents in Florida will be met with swift enforcement.

Politics Public Safety Immigration

Global health leaders weigh in after U.S. aid cuts

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At the 80th U.N. General Assembly in New York (Sept. 2025), global‑health leaders told NPR they perceived a different, anxious tone this year following large U.S. foreign‑aid cuts. CEOs and senior directors from groups including The END Fund, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Initiative on Health and the Economy, the Nudge Institute and the Global Fund described concerns about fragmented conversations, the need to pivot toward private‑sector engagement, and urgency to find paths that protect health services amid diminished U.S. funding.

International Health

$20,000 Home Equity Loan: Monthly Costs Now

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A CBS News consumer‑finance piece calculates monthly payments for a $20,000 fixed‑rate home equity loan in the wake of recent Federal Reserve rate cuts, showing concrete payment examples for 10‑ and 15‑year terms and comparing them with earlier points in 2024 and 2025. The article explains that although Fed cuts have only modestly lowered available home‑equity rates, fixed mortgages remain cheaper than most personal‑loan or credit‑card alternatives and include tax and budgeting considerations for U.S. homeowners.

Economy Finance

How debt forgiveness could cut a $20,000 credit‑card balance

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CBS News explains how credit‑card debt settlement (negotiating to pay less than the full balance) could materially reduce a $20,000 balance this October, given elevated U.S. credit‑card interest rates and rising outstanding balances. The piece quantifies typical settlement ranges (30%–50% reductions), compares settlement totals with a conventional repayment scenario at ~22% interest, and outlines timelines and potential interest savings for U.S. consumers.

Economy Personal Finance

Eastern allies urge Trump not to pull U.S. troops

4d Dev 1

Ministers from Estonia, Lithuania and Romania publicly urged President Trump to maintain U.S. rotational forces on NATO’s eastern flank after recent Russian air and drone incursions. They warned that Vladimir Putin is "pushing the limits," argued Moscow "believes only what it sees," and called for visible deterrence measures — including integrated air and missile defenses and sustained U.S. troop rotations — as Washington conducts a global force‑posture review.

International Military

Erika Kirk named TPUSA CEO and board chair

4d Dev 4

Turning Point USA’s board unanimously elected Erika Kirk, widow of founder Charlie Kirk, as CEO and board chair in a Sept. 18, 2025 announcement following his Sept. 10 assassination, saying Charlie had previously told executives he wanted her to lead; the organization — which says it has a presence on about 3,500 U.S. campuses and has received more than 62,000 student chapter requests since his death — said she will continue Charlie’s shows, podcasts, campus tour and events like AmericaFest. Erika Kirk, who holds a Juris Master’s in American Legal Studies, founded Proclaim and hosts a podcast, has said The Charlie Kirk Show will continue with rotating hosts, publicly forgave the accused shooter, and is slated to speak at a Sept. 21 memorial alongside President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, with COO Tyler Bowyer saying her leadership will help expand outreach to young women.

Corporate News Politics Media

Bryce Reeves announces Senate challenge to Mark Warner

4d Dev 1

Virginia state senator Bryce Reeves, a Republican, announced a campaign to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Reeves — a former Airborne Ranger and Prince William County narcotics detective who runs an insurance agency — frames his bid on a law‑and‑order platform and pledges to work with President Donald Trump; the entry adds a high‑profile GOP challenger to the Virginia Senate contest ahead of the 2026 cycle.

Politics Elections

NJ candidate blocked from Naval Academy graduation

4d Dev 2

Rep. Mikie Sherrill was omitted from the U.S. Naval Academy commencement program on May 25, 1994, an omission tied to a cheating scandal that reportedly implicated about 130 midshipmen; Sherrill has said she "didn’t turn in some of my classmates" and has declined to authorize release of sealed disciplinary records. GOP gubernatorial contender Ciattarelli has seized on the resurfaced detail, demanding the records and threatening legal action while his campaign denied any illicit leak and framed the matter as Sherrill’s failure to disclose her role.

Politics Education Elections

Delta replacing APUs on 300+ jets after toxic‑air incidents

4d Dev 1

Delta Air Lines is removing and replacing auxiliary power units (APUs) on more than 300 Airbus A320‑family aircraft after a surge of toxic cabin‑air/fume events that have sickened crew and passengers and forced diverted or aborted flights. The work — which Delta says is about 90% complete — follows internal and industry concern over APU seal problems involving suppliers such as Honeywell and engine makers including Pratt & Whitney; a Sept. 3 lawsuit by three former JetBlue flight attendants accuses carriers and suppliers of causing lasting health harms.

Public Safety Transportation

Scammers Use iCloud Calendar to Phish Users

4d Dev 1

Security reporters say attackers are abusing Apple’s iCloud Calendar invites—sent from Apple’s noreply domain—and Microsoft 365 forwarding behavior to deliver phishing content that bypasses spam filters. The invites place a fraudulent PayPal-dispute message in the calendar 'Notes,' prompting victims to call a scammer who then requests remote‑access software or financial information. The tactic leverages Sender Rewriting Scheme (SRS) forwarding so the messages pass SPF checks and appear legitimate to recipients and automated filters.

AI & Tech Cybersecurity

OCME finds low‑stage CTE in Midtown shooter

4d Dev 2

The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner reported "unambiguous diagnostic evidence" of brain changes corresponding to low‑stage chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in Shane Tamura, who killed four people in a Midtown Manhattan attack and died of a self‑inflicted gunshot. A three‑page note found on Tamura referenced CTE and a traumatic brain injury, blamed the NFL for concealing dangers to players’ brains and expressed a wish to donate his brain to research; Tamura played high‑school football but never in the NFL.

Health Sports Crime

Woman dies after Lake Street encampment shooting; victim identified

4d Dev TC 7

A woman shot during a Sept. 15 mass shooting at a homeless encampment near E. Lake St. and 28th Ave. S. in Minneapolis died Sept. 18; police identified her as 30-year-old Jacinda Oakgrove, while several others were wounded and tents caught fire during the gunfight. Investigators say the violence stemmed from a drug-territory dispute; Hennepin County prosecutors have charged Trivon D. Leonard Jr., 31, of Illinois, with first-degree riot resulting in death and illegal gun possession after he admitted firing before his gun jammed. The city has increased patrols and erected fencing along the corridor, and MPD is examining whether this shooting is connected to another Lake Street shooting earlier that day.

Legal Local Government Housing

Virginia delegate receives death threat; suspect arrested

4d Dev 1

Virginia state Del. Kim Taylor (R‑Petersburg) received a credible death threat sent by text to a campaign official; Dinwiddie County deputies arrested 33‑year‑old Michael Ray Strawmeyer of DeWitt and held him at the Meherrin River correctional facility near South Hill. Taylor said she is safe and thanked law enforcement; state leaders from both parties condemned the threat as part of a wider surge in politically charged violence following recent high‑profile attacks.

Politics Crime Public Safety

Minnetonka ex-CBP agent pleads to child porn

4d Dev TC 1

A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent from Minnetonka admitted in court to possessing child pornography, according to the Star Tribune. The plea resolves the guilt phase of the case, with sentencing to be scheduled by the court.

Legal Public Safety

Minnesota talks stall on gun bans after church shooting

4d Dev 1

About a month after the Aug. 27, 2025 mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis that killed two children and injured 21, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has pushed for a special legislative session to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Negotiations have so far failed to produce the bipartisan consensus required in an evenly divided state legislature; parents, doctors and survivors have urged action while Republican lawmakers and rural constituencies resist new limits.

Politics Public Safety

ICE Agent Placed on Leave After Shoving Woman

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An ICE law‑enforcement officer assigned to New York immigration courts was placed on administrative leave Sept. 26, 2025 after video circulated showing the agent shove a woman — the wife of a detained man from Ecuador — against a wall and to the ground outside a courthouse. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called the conduct "unacceptable" and said a full investigation is underway; the episode comes amid heightened ICE arrests and tensions inside immigration courthouses in New York.

Government Public Safety Immigration

Portland murder suspect mistakenly freed on clerical error recaptured in Florence after multi‑day manhunt

4d Breaking 2

Ty Anthony Sage, one of two men arrested in May on murder and robbery charges tied to the 2021 death of 15‑year‑old Lowgunn Ivey, was mistakenly released from the Multnomah County jail after a Sept. 17 release form set bail at $5,000 despite a judge’s later order denying bail. After a multi‑day manhunt, Sage was recaptured around 1 p.m. at a gas station off Highway 101 in Florence, about 180 miles from the jail, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force; the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office says the error was an isolated misinterpretation and is under review.

Public Safety Crime Legal

CDC: Best time to get your fall flu vaccine

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that most people receive their annual influenza vaccine in September or October, with the agency advising that 'ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October.' The guidance includes specifics for children (some aged 6 months–8 years need two doses spaced four weeks apart), cautions about earlier vaccination for certain groups, and notes that protection takes about two weeks after vaccination.

Health Public Health

House China panel seeks briefing on TikTok deal

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Rep. John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, requested an urgent White House briefing on the proposed TikTok divestment deal one day after President Trump signed an executive order supporting the arrangement. Moolenaar praised the move toward U.S. ownership but warned that the statute requires severing operational ties — especially around the recommendation algorithm — and demanded details about how the deal will meet those legal guardrails.

Politics AI & Tech National Security

House Democrats introduce resolution, launch probes over Kimmel suspension; demand FCC chair’s resignation

4d 19 Analysis

House Democrats, led by Rep. Yassamin Ansari, introduced a resolution denouncing ABC’s indefinite preemption of Jimmy Kimmel’s show and demanding FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s resignation, with 113 co‑sponsors and party leaders characterizing Carr’s public warnings to affiliates as improper government pressure. Democratic investigators — including Rep. Robert Garcia’s Oversight probe into ABC, Sinclair and the Trump administration and planned inquiries by Judiciary ranking member Jamie Raskin — have been launched as the controversy over Carr’s remarks and broadcasters’ preemptions has drawn wide bipartisan and public scrutiny.

Corporate News U.S. News Legal

What closes in a U.S. government shutdown

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An Associated Press explainer (published Sept. 26, 2025) outlines how a lapse in federal appropriations would play out ahead of the Sept. 30 funding deadline: agencies must furlough non-excepted employees, while 'excepted' personnel (those protecting life and property) keep working without pay. The piece lists which programs continue (Social Security, Medicare claims processing, VA care, USPS operations) and which functions are typically frozen, cites historical furlough counts from the 35-day partial shutdown, and links to an OMB memo directing agencies to plan potential mass layoffs if funding lapses.

Politics Government/Regulatory

RFK Jr. reshapes CDC advisory panels and public messaging, prompting contested vaccine votes and warnings about declining uptake

4d Dev 15

As HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reshaped CDC advisory panels—removing longtime experts and installing new ACIP members—this September’s unusually contentious meeting produced a rollback of the MMRV combo for children under 4 in favor of separate MMR and varicella doses, moved COVID-19 recommendations toward shared or individualized decision‑making with added risk language, and tabled a proposed change to the newborn hepatitis B dose. Critics, including ousted CDC director Susan Monarez and public‑health experts, have decried the process as rushed and politically driven, warning that altered guidance and messaging could reduce vaccine uptake and affect coverage through programs like Medicaid/CHIP, while noting all ACIP votes still require CDC director approval.

Public Health Politics Health

$150,000 home equity loan monthly cost after Fed cut

4d 1

CBS News reports that after the Federal Reserve's September 2025 interest-rate cut, a $150,000 fixed-rate home equity loan would cost about $1,846.97 per month on a 10-year term (8.34%) and $1,451.72 per month on a 15-year term (8.21%). The article compares those figures with rates and payments from February 2025 and October 2024 and estimates cumulative savings over time from the lower rates.

Economy Finance

Virginia AG releases report accusing Fairfax prosecutor of 'weaponized incompetence'

4d Dev 1

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares released a 33‑page report alleging systemic failures by Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, citing specific cases where prosecutors downgraded charges, relaxed mandatory‑minimum enforcement and altered bail decisions — including an alleged mall abduction (Caceres Jaldin) and a sex‑offender case involving Richard Cox. Miyares framed the findings as failures of the rule of law and announced the formal investigative report amid rising political scrutiny of Descano's policies.

Politics Legal Crime

Man arrested in Missouri after Waite Park Elementary threat; MPD used license plate reader

4d Breaking TC 2

A man who allegedly called in a threat to “shoot anything that moves” with an AR-15 at Minneapolis’ Waite Park Elementary just before 11 a.m. on Sept. 25—prompting a lockdown—was tracked using a license plate reader and arrested in Missouri with assistance from the ATF and local police. Investigators say he lived about two miles from the school and had ties to two people there; he was booked into the Jackson County Jail and could face a terroristic threats charge as the investigation continues.

Legal Public Safety Education

Pentagon Keeps Wounded Knee Medals, Hegseth Says

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On Sept. 26, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that U.S. Army soldiers who were awarded Medals of Honor for actions at the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre will retain those medals posthumously, rejecting calls from Native American leaders and some lawmakers to strip the awards. The announcement — made on social media and accompanied by a Pentagon panel finding the medals were "justly awarded" — follows a 2024 review ordered by then‑Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and counters pending congressional efforts to rescind the decorations.

Politics Military

Coast Guard Joins Search for Missing Kauai Diver

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The U.S. Coast Guard and local Hawaiian agencies launched an ongoing search for 44-year-old Bryson Higashi, who was last seen around 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 23 near Hanalei Bay on Kauai. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu diverted a Station Kauai 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, an HC-130 airplane and the cutter William Hart after the Kauai Fire Department alerted officials; Higashi’s truck was later found unattended near the bay. Kauai police and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources are assisting amid 2–4 foot seas and 15 mph winds.

Public Safety Local

HHS Rejects U.N. Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases

4d Dev 1

On Sept. 26, 2025, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the United States will "walk away" from a U.N. political declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) being considered at the U.N. General Assembly, calling the text an overreach and citing concerns about "radical gender ideology" and abortion; the World Health Organization and many governments said they support the declaration, which sets 2030 targets for tobacco reduction, hypertension control and mental-health access and will be voted on in the General Assembly in October.

Health International

Truett McConnell Removes President After Inquiry

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Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, Georgia, announced Sept. 26, 2025 that trustees will not reinstate President Emir Caner after an investigator presented findings in a probe into whether he ignored allegations that a former administrator sexually assaulted a student-employee. Caner had been on leave since June; John Yarbrough, the university’s director of alumni and public policy, becomes interim president as trustees form a search committee for a permanent leader. The case—first reported to school leaders in Feb. 2024 and publicly detailed by the accuser on a May 29 podcast—involves local law enforcement and a renewed review by the White County district attorney.

Education Legal

Poll: Majority Say U.S. Is in Political Crisis

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A Quinnipiac University national survey conducted Sept. 18–21 finds 79% of registered voters say the United States is in a political crisis in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination; the poll (1,276 respondents, ±3.3 points) also shows broad concern about politically motivated violence and pessimism about lowering political tensions. Partisan splits show concern across parties, and a plurality expects political violence to worsen over the next few years.

Politics Public Safety

Virginia AG Says Fairfax Prosecutor Committed 'Weaponized Incompetence'

4d Dev 1

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares released a 33‑page report accusing Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano of systemic failures and violations of public policy and victims’ rights. The report cites specific case handling (including a mall abduction and a jogger rape), alleges Brady and discovery violations, criticizes policies limiting enforcement of mandatory minimums and relaxing cash‑bail practices, and says Descano may have violated the state constitution.

Politics Legal

HHS says FDA is reviewing mifepristone safety after Sept. 19 letter

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In a Sept. 19 joint letter, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the FDA will review mifepristone’s safety, its REMS and “real‑world outcomes,” citing FDA data from 2000–2012 that recorded 2,740 adverse events including 416 transfusions and referencing an EPPC study that reported nearly 11% serious adverse events within 45 days. The letter names policy options such as reinstating an in‑person dispensing requirement that would end telehealth prescribing and mailing of the pill into states with abortion bans, prompting alarm from abortion‑rights groups and clinicians who point to numerous studies and expert analyses finding mifepristone to be highly safe (with some estimates of serious complications well under 1 in 200).

Politics Health

Trump alleges 'triple sabotage' at U.N.; Secret Service to investigate

4d Dev 12 Analysis

At the U.N. General Assembly, three technical problems — an escalator stoppage, a teleprompter blackout and audio loss — led President Trump to call the incidents "triple sabotage," demand arrests on social media and say the Secret Service will investigate while asking the U.N. to preserve security footage. U.N. spokespeople and officials disputed that account, saying a U.S. videographer likely triggered the escalator’s safety mechanism and that the White House operated the teleprompter; Secretary‑General António Guterres ordered a U.N. probe and the U.N. said it will cooperate with U.S. authorities as technicians inspected and reset the escalator.

Public Safety War & Conflict Military

Alabama woman survives Vibrio vulnificus infection

4d Dev 1

Summerlin Skipworth, a 30‑year‑old single mother from Spanish Fort, Ala., contracted Vibrio vulnificus after cutting her foot near a boat launch in Orange Beach over Labor Day weekend, required emergency surgical washout and now carries a mobile IV antibiotic regimen while taking daily oral antibiotics for at least a year. The CBS News profile places her case amid a summer uptick in Vibrio infections across Gulf and East coasts—CDC estimates about 80,000 vibriosis cases a year and V. vulnificus carries an approximate 20% fatality rate—and state officials reported at least 59 cases this summer in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana with multiple deaths.

Health Environment

Minneapolis gang member pleads to federal fraud

4d Breaking TC 1

A member of the Minneapolis 'Lows' gang pleaded guilty in federal court to a fraud scheme that used money mules to steal about $220,000, according to federal prosecutors and court filings. The plea resolves part of a case tied to organized criminal activity in Minneapolis and details how proceeds were moved through recruited intermediaries.

Legal Public Safety

Earle‑Sears Blasts Fairfax Transgender Bathroom Rules

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Virginia Lt. Gov. and Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle‑Sears told a crowd outside a Fairfax County Public Schools board meeting that the district’s handling of transgender student locker‑room access is 'nonsense,' pressing the issue as part of her campaign. The article cites a local incident at West Springfield High School where a male student was reportedly allowed to use the girls’ room and describes FCPS rules on speaker eligibility and a staff decision to shorten girls’ locker‑room time to accommodate the student. Earle‑Sears also referenced Title IX and urged reporters to press Democratic opponent Rep. Abigail Spanberger to clarify her stance.

Politics Education

Trump signs executive order labeling antifa a 'domestic terrorist organization'; legal effect unclear

4d Breaking 8 Analysis

President Trump signed an executive order labeling antifa a “domestic terrorist organization,” directing federal agencies to investigate and disrupt any alleged illegal operations and pursue funders, with the White House saying the entire government will coordinate the effort. Republican allies praised the move, but legal experts and civil-liberties groups note there is no statutory mechanism to designate domestic entities as terrorist organizations—antifa is often described by officials as an ideology—leaving the order’s practical impact uncertain; authorities have not linked the Charlie Kirk killing to antifa.

National Security Legal Politics

Hurricane Gabrielle under Azores hurricane warning; threatens Azores and raises life‑threatening surf risk for U.S. East Coast

4d Dev 6

Hurricane Gabrielle — which rapidly intensified over the Atlantic and at one point reached major‑hurricane strength — has prompted a formal hurricane warning for the Azores as forecasts show it approaching the islands late this week with damaging winds and as much as 5 inches (13 cm) of rain. Swells from Gabrielle are already impacting Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast north of North Carolina (and Atlantic Canada), producing life‑threatening surf and dangerous rip currents.

Public Safety International Environment

ICE officer relieved after shoving woman in NYC court

4d Dev 1

The Department of Homeland Security said Friday that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer has been relieved of duties while DHS investigates video showing him shove a woman to the ground outside the federal immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan. Videos show agents separating a family as they attempted to cling to a man being detained; the woman and her young daughter then confront officers, and one ICE agent pushes the woman down, saying 'adios' as bystanders and photojournalists record the scene. New York Comptroller Brad Lander and immigrant‑rights advocates condemned the action; DHS called the conduct 'unacceptable' and noted ICE officers have recently been deployed to make courthouse arrests.

Crime Government Immigration

Coast Guard seizes $220M in cocaine; images show burning boat

4d Dev 1

The U.S. Coast Guard says crews aboard cutters Midgett and Diligence interdicted multiple suspected drug-smuggling vessels in August and September 2025 under Operation Pacific Viper, seizing roughly 29,826 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of about $220 million. The agency released photos showing crewmembers offloading bales in San Diego on Sept. 25 and a separate image of an alleged smuggling boat burning in the Caribbean a day after a Sept. 7 interdiction north of Panama; officials did not explain how the burning began or whether people remained aboard.

Crime National Security

Queens Commuter Critically Stabbed at Mets‑Willets Point; Suspect Identified, Charged

4d Dev 2

On Sept. 21, 2025, Roberto Gaspar, 25, was ambushed and repeatedly stabbed on the No. 7 train at the Mets‑Willets Point station, suffering larynx injuries that left him intubated, unable to swallow and in critical condition. Police identified 21‑year‑old Luis Pallchisaca as the suspect — he has been charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon, prosecutors say he admitted wearing the shirt seen on surveillance but denied remembering the stabbing, allegedly telling investigators “I just scared him and left,” and authorities released footage and urged witnesses to call in tips while noting he had three arrests and open cases in the prior 30 days.

Public Safety Crime

Iranian‑American Demonstrations Shadow Iran President at UNGA

4d Dev 1

As Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 24, 2025, thousands of Iranian‑Americans and dissidents gathered outside the United Nations in New York — at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza and nearby locations — to denounce Tehran, assert that the regime does not represent them, and call on the U.S. to back democratic change and recognize opposition representatives such as the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Organizers and named participants (including former political prisoner Mitra Samani and Nasser Sharif of the Iranian American Community of California) said protesters came from some 40 states and voiced support for a secular, democratic republic in Iran.

International Politics

Second Twin Cities work-zone death in two days

4d Dev TC 1

A second highway construction-zone worker has been killed in the Twin Cities on successive days, the Star Tribune reports, one day after a worker died on I-35W in Burnsville. Authorities are investigating both crashes amid renewed concerns about driver behavior and safety in active work zones across the metro.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Trump says 'I think we have a deal' on Gaza, claims it will free hostages and end the war

4d Dev 4

During public remarks tied to his White House meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President Trump said “I think we have a deal” to end the war in Gaza, asserting it “is going to be peace” and “will get the hostages back.” The comments came as talks with Erdoğan touched on defense and trade issues — including potential F‑16/F‑35 sales — and followed Trump urging Erdoğan to stop buying Russian oil; he also made unrelated remarks about a possible James Comey indictment and a looming government shutdown.

Energy International Politics

Microsoft halts Azure services to Israel defense ministry

4d Dev 1

Microsoft said this week it has stopped providing certain Azure cloud and AI services to Israel’s Ministry of Defense after independent reporting alleged Unit 8200 used Microsoft platforms to store and analyze recordings from millions of cellphone calls of Palestinians. The Guardian-led investigation claimed large volumes of intercepted-call data (reported as up to 8,000 terabytes) were stored in Microsoft data centers in the Netherlands and Ireland; Microsoft said it found evidence supporting elements of that reporting, has disabled specific subscriptions, informed IMOD, and is continuing a review while reports say the data may be moved to Amazon Web Services.

AI & Tech National Security

Texas teen charged after twin's fatal stabbing

4d Dev 1

Benjamin Elliott, 17, was charged after he called 911 saying, 'I just killed my sister,' and his twin sister Meghan was found fatally stabbed in Texas. The case is now the subject of trial coverage on CBS News' '48 Hours,' where defense attorneys contend Elliott was sleepwalking at the time of the killing and raise the rare parasomnia defense.

Crime Legal

Conservative groups urge U.S. boycott of UN climate summit

4d Dev 1

A coalition of seven conservative energy and environmental organizations sent a letter to three senior Trump administration officials — Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Energy Secretary Chris Wright — urging them to refuse to send a U.S. delegation to the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP‑30) in Brazil, set for Nov. 10–21, 2025. The groups, including the Heartland Institute and CO2 Coalition, argue the conferences harm U.S. economic and energy interests and cite President Trump’s public denunciation of climate alarmism.

Politics Environment

Ryan Walters to lead Teacher Freedom Alliance

4d Dev 1

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters announced he will resign his state post to become CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, starting Oct. 1, 2025. Walters said the national group will target teachers' unions — vowing to 'destroy the teachers unions' — and will push to expand Turning Point USA chapters in high schools; the move drew immediate criticism from American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten.

Politics Education

MLB OKs Robot Umpires for 2026 Season

4d Dev 1 Analysis

Major League Baseball’s 11‑member competition committee approved the Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS) on Sept. 24, 2025, clearing the way for a challenge‑based robot‑umpire implementation beginning in 2026. The system uses Hawk‑Eye cameras to track pitches and will operate as a two‑challenge review for teams (with extra‑inning provisions), with specific strike‑zone calibration and operational rules detailed by MLB and tested in the minor leagues and at the All‑Star Game.

Sports AI & Tech

Trump says World Cup sites could be moved

4d Dev 1

President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Sept. 25, 2025, that U.S. World Cup host sites could be relocated if he judged a city to be unsafe for players and fans. He said he plans National Guard deployments to cities including Washington, Chicago and Memphis, credited FBI Director Kash Patel for crime reductions, and noted the tournament — with U.S. host cities already named — runs June 11–July 19.

Politics Sports Public Safety

Texas teen allegedly killed twin sister while sleepwalking

4d Dev 1

CBS News' '48 Hours' investigates the 2021 killing of 17-year-old Meghan Elliott in Texas, who was stabbed in the neck while asleep; her twin brother Benjamin later called 911 and has said he was sleepwalking. Sleep specialist Dr. Jerald Simmons conducted two sleep studies and concluded Benjamin could enter slow-wave sleep and may have been in that state during a 24-minute phone-inactive window the night of the killing. The episode airs Sept. 27, 2025 and examines the rare criminal defense of parasomnia in a fatal stabbing.

Crime Legal

Texas woman charged after church arson, threats

4d Dev 1

Marynka Marquez, 35, was arrested Sept. 18, 2025, and charged with arson after investigators say she placed a bag against Beth El Bible Church’s exterior wall in El Paso, set it on fire, and left a bag inside containing handwritten threatening messages aimed at an upcoming Charlie Kirk vigil. Police say volunteers escorted her into the building area to drop off the package; investigators trace the suspect after finding a business card in the bag and cite an arrest affidavit recovered by KFOX14. The church reported no injuries and expressed forgiveness while officials continue the criminal investigation.

Crime Public Safety

Veteran appointed to AbilityOne commission

4d Dev 1

Jeffrey Mittman, a blinded Army veteran who lost his sight in a 2005 Iraq IED attack and later became CEO of Bosma Enterprises, was tapped by President Trump in August 2025 to serve on the U.S. AbilityOne Commission, the independent federal body that oversees employment programs for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. The article profiles Mittman’s recovery, his leadership of an AbilityOne-affiliated agency in Indianapolis, and his advocacy for accommodations and employment opportunities for disabled veterans and civilians.

Government Military Disability

Broad wave of firings follows Charlie Kirk assassination; NYT documents 145+ cases

4d 24 Analysis

Following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, employers nationwide have fired, suspended, reassigned or opened investigations into more than 145 people who posted celebratory or mocking reactions online, the New York Times found, with earlier tallies from NPR and other outlets documenting dozens of cases spanning K–12 and higher education, healthcare, public safety, media and private-sector workplaces. Schools, hospitals, airlines and companies cited codes of conduct, social‑media policies and community impact in taking action, while conservative activists and influencers organized campaigns to identify posters and pressure employers, and at least one worker has filed a lawsuit alleging retaliation.

Public Safety Education Media

Federal judge orders reinstatement of professor fired over Charlie Kirk post

4d Dev 1

A federal judge has temporarily reinstated Michael Hook, a tenured University of South Dakota fine‑arts professor whose termination was recommended by the state board of regents after he posted on private Facebook that he didn’t care about Charlie Kirk and called him a 'hate‑spreading Nazi.' The ruling, reported this week, is part of a broader wave of legal challenges by educators and public employees who say firings or suspensions over social‑media reactions to Kirk’s assassination violate their First Amendment rights.

Education Legal

St. Paul opens $250M McCarrons water plant

4d Breaking TC 1

St. Paul Regional Water Services opened its new $250 million McCarrons water treatment plant on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, upgrading core drinking water infrastructure for St. Paul and nearby suburbs. The facility’s commissioning marks a major capital project for the utility intended to enhance service reliability and capacity for metro customers.

Utilities Transit & Infrastructure

DHS says 2 million have departed under 'self‑deport' push as exit incentives roll out

4d Dev 2

DHS says roughly 2 million people have left the U.S. since Jan. 20, 2025 — about 1.6 million by "self‑deportation" and roughly 400,000 formally removed — a figure officials including Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin and Secretary Kristi Noem called a "new milestone" and evidence that "the era of open borders is over." The department is promoting incentives and tools to encourage voluntary departures — a $1,000 "exit bonus," free travel assistance, an app to schedule exits and pursue fines forgiveness — even as ICE reports more than 150,000 job applications and DHS references deportation flights and negotiations for new detention capacity.

Politics Immigration

DHS runs large ICE recruitment push

4d Dev 1

The Department of Homeland Security held a major career expo in Provo, Utah (Sept. 15, 2025) as part of a Congress‑funded effort to recruit tens of thousands of workers for ICE and other DHS components. DHS officials say the event drew more than 1,500 registrants, produced roughly 500 tentative offers (including 370 for ICE enforcement), and is tied to an administration goal to expand deportation capacity—amid concerns about rising threats to officers after a deadly attack at a Dallas ICE field office.

Immigration Government

White House reportedly sought 'low‑billions' payment from TikTok buyer consortium amid sale approval

4d Dev 14

The White House moved to clear a framework for a sale that would place TikTok’s U.S. operations in a majority‑American joint venture — with ByteDance holding under 20%, a seven‑member board dominated by U.S. citizens, Oracle designated to host U.S. data and retrain/run a leased copy of the recommendation algorithm, and a buyer group reported to include investors such as Oracle’s Larry Ellison, Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz and figures named by President Trump like Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch and Michael Dell — and signed an executive order pausing enforcement to let the deal proceed. Reportedly, the administration sought a payment from the buyer consortium “in the low billions,” a demand some investors treated as a finders’ fee while critics condemned it as a “shake‑down” or tax‑like rent‑seeking.

Finance National Security Corporate News

Federal budget fight threatens K‑12 funding

4d Dev 1

Three competing FY2026 funding plans from the White House, House Republicans and the Senate set up a fight over federal K‑12 education dollars. The White House plan would cut Education Department funding by about 15% — eliminating $1.3 billion for English learners and migrant students and consolidating roughly $6.5 billion across 18 streams down to $2 billion — while the House GOP proposal would cut Title I by $4.7 billion; the Senate proposal would make only minor reductions. Analysts warn the cuts would disproportionately harm high‑poverty districts and certain congressional districts.

Education Politics Economy

Animal‑rights groups say NIH approved millions for primate experiments despite pledge to cut animal research

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Animal‑rights groups say recent NIH awards contradict the agency’s pledge to reduce primate research, pointing to a July NIAID $1.4 million award and a University of Pittsburgh kidney‑transplant project slated to receive $10.1 million through 2030 that will use about 99 monkeys from supplier Alpha Genesis (at roughly $10,000 per animal), while watchdog White Coat Waste compiled roughly $91 million in recent NIH animal‑research spending. The reports come as the NIH and administration signal plans to phase out dogs, cats and primates — and the VA ends primate research — even as about 4,000 rhesus monkeys live on Morgan Island and NIH director Jay Bhattacharya says the agency is steering projects toward alternatives; nearly $28 million in federal animal‑testing grants were also canceled per a CBS/Post and Courier investigation.

Science Politics Health

NC Democrat Defends Bail Guidelines After Charlotte Light‑Rail Murder

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After the August stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska by Decarlos Brown — who had been arrested and released multiple times — North Carolina’s Republican-led legislature fast-tracked “Iryna’s Law,” voting to eliminate cashless bail for certain offenses, expand GPS/electronic monitoring and house arrest, tighten mental‑health evaluations and magistrates’ discretion, and accelerate death‑penalty appeals while adding a controversial amendment on execution methods. Democratic Rep. Marcia Morey countered that there is “no correlation” between magistrates setting bail under existing guidelines and the killing; the omnibus measure has passed the legislature and now awaits Gov. Josh Stein’s signature or veto.

Crime Legal Politics

Latinos sour on Trump over tariffs and raids

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New Axios reporting finds Latino support for President Trump weakening after his April 2025 tariffs and stepped-up immigration raids, with multiple recent polls showing sizable drops in favorability and economic consequences for South Texas farmers and small Latino-owned businesses. The piece cites Somos Votantes, Reuters/Ipsos, Equis and UnidosUS polling, quotes GOP and academic analysts, and ties the trend to potential risks for GOP midterm hopes and redistricting plans in states like Texas.

Politics Economy

BMW recalls 196,355 U.S. cars over fire risk

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BMW of North America, via an NHTSA recall notice, is recalling 196,355 vehicles in the United States because a corroding engine starter relay can overheat, short-circuit and raise the risk of an engine fire. The recall covers specific 2019–2022 BMW models (and some Toyota Supras); owner notification letters will go out beginning Nov. 14, dealers will replace the engine starter free, and NHTSA advises owners to park vehicles outside and away from structures until repairs are made.

Public Safety Automotive Government/Regulatory

Man arrested for arson at Florida Chabad

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Blake Hoover was arrested and charged federally after prosecutors say he set fire to the Chabad Jewish Center in Punta Gorda, Florida, last week. Authorities say Hoover’s mother reported fearing he was responsible after he had threatened to burn the center; investigators found evidence including a gas can, a black spray‑paint can and spray‑painted graffiti reading 'J.'

Crime Legal Public Safety

Leaders Coordinate at UN to Push Sudan Ceasefire

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At the U.N. General Assembly in late September 2025, major powers and regional organizations stepped up behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try to end Sudan’s more-than-two-year war. The United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE (the 'Quad') have issued a roadmap calling for an initial three-month humanitarian truce to deliver aid, followed by a nine-month inclusive transition to a civilian-led government; the African Union, European Union and several Western foreign ministers met alongside the Quad to press the warring parties and external backers to stop fighting.

International War & Conflict

LA County report ties fire deaths to resource gaps

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An independent After-Action Report by the McChrystal Group, released Sept. 25–26, 2025 and commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors, finds that staffing shortages, outdated alert policies and communications failures delayed evacuation warnings as the Eaton and Palisades wildfires swept through Altadena and Pacific Palisades in January 2025 — events that killed more than 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes. The review singles out under-resourced Office of Emergency Management staffing, high sheriff's deputy vacancies, limited training on new Genasys alert software, and unreliable field communications as key contributors to the slow public-notification process.

Public Safety Environment

CMS head Oz urges acetaminophen for fevers in pregnancy as FDA flags association; FDA to review leucovorin

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CMS chief Dr. Mehmet Oz told CBS News pregnant women should take acetaminophen when clinically recommended, stressing that fevers can harm fetal development even as the White House and FDA flagged a possible association between prenatal acetaminophen and autism. Experts, ACOG and Tylenol maker Kenvue said the link is unproven and warned against abandoning fever treatment or switching to riskier drugs, while the administration’s promotion of leucovorin as a potential autism therapy has drawn scrutiny and calls for further scientific and regulatory review.

Corporate News Government/Regulatory Health

Trump memo targets 'radical left' funders

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President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum on Sept. 26, 2025 directing federal action to counter 'domestic terrorism and organized political violence,' singling out what he called the 'radical left' and naming funders when pressed. The memo orders the Attorney General to issue guidance broadening domestic‑terrorism priorities (including doxxing, swatting, rioting and related acts), directs allocation of federal funding to law‑enforcement partners, and tasks the IRS commissioner with ensuring tax‑exempt groups do not finance political violence and referring suspected organizations and officers to the Department of Justice for investigation.

Politics Legal

NBC warns of YouTube TV blackout

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NBCUniversal warned customers that its broadcast and cable channels — including NBC, Telemundo, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC and USA Network — could be dropped from YouTube TV if the companies do not reach a new carriage agreement by Sept. 30, 2025. The dispute centers on pricing and terms, with YouTube TV saying NBCU is demanding rates higher than consumer Peacock pricing and pledging a $10 credit to subscribers if content is unavailable for an extended period.

Corporate News Media

Wild owner vows team will stay in St. Paul

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Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold said Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, that the NHL franchise will remain in St. Paul, affirming the team’s long‑term home at Xcel Energy Center. The pledge, reported by the Pioneer Press, addresses questions about the club’s future location and signals continued commitment to downtown St. Paul.

Business & Economy Local Government

Trump threatens 100% tariffs on branded drugs unless companies build U.S. plants by Oct. 1

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President Trump announced a 100% tariff on branded/patented pharmaceutical products effective Oct. 1, 2025, unless companies are "BUILDING" U.S. pharmaceutical plants (defined as breaking ground or under construction); companies cited as already committing multibillion-dollar U.S. investments include Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, Roche, GlaxoSmithKline and Johnson & Johnson. The drug threat accompanies 30–50% tariffs on furniture and cabinetry and a 30% levy on heavy trucks (and a 15% tariff on EU-origin branded drugs under a recent trade deal), and PhRMA warned such steep tariffs could undermine industry investment plans and divert dollars from U.S. manufacturing or R&D.

Economy Health Trade

Alabama executes man by nitrogen gas in 1997 killing

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Geoffrey Todd West, 50, was executed Thursday at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama by nitrogen hypoxia for the 1997 execution‑style killing of convenience‑store clerk Margaret Parrish Berry. The execution proceeded after Gov. Kay Ivey declined clemency; West apologized to the victim's family, who had urged mercy, and prison officials pronounced him dead after the procedure.

Crime Legal

DOJ sues Minnesota for full voter rolls

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The U.S. Department of Justice filed a Sept. 25, 2025 complaint against Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon seeking the state’s full voter registration list for active and inactive voters and documentation of audits/removals of ineligible registrants. The request includes fields such as full name, date of birth, residential address, and either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number; Minnesota previously refused, citing sensitive PII and limits on federal entitlement to the data. Minnesota’s case is part of a broader DOJ effort, with coordinated lawsuits filed against six states that declined to share voter data.

Elections Legal

Waltz vows funding freeze at U.N., calls teleprompter/escalator mishaps 'unacceptable'

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Senate Republicans narrowly confirmed Mike Waltz as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, filling the last Cabinet vacancy after months of delay, and he has signaled an agenda of U.N. reforms, including rooting out antisemitism and pushing a tougher U.S. posture on telecommunications, aviation and space. Waltz said the United States has withheld its 2025 U.N. contribution and vowed to freeze further funding until "sweeping reforms" are implemented after three technical mishaps during President Trump’s U.N. speech — an escalator malfunction, a teleprompter failure and a brief audio switch — which he called "unacceptable" and said are being investigated by the Secret Service with the U.N. secretary‑general cooperating.

Politics International

California bill would curb loud streaming ads nationwide

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California Sen. Tom Umberg’s SB 576 would extend federal-style commercial loudness limits to streaming services, barring ads that play substantially louder than the program audio. The measure unanimously passed the state Senate, cleared an Assembly committee, and now sits on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk; if he signs it the rule would take effect July 1, 2026, with the Motion Picture Association arguing the mandate could harm small streaming services.

Government/Regulatory Entertainment

Judge approves $1.5B Anthropic authors settlement

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A U.S. federal judge in San Francisco gave preliminary approval to a $1.5 billion settlement between AI firm Anthropic and authors who allege nearly half a million books were pirated to train the company's chatbots. The deal—backed by the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers—would pay authors and publishers about $3,000 per covered work, resolves claims about how materials were acquired, and follows a June ruling that found training can be transformative fair use but that Anthropic wrongfully obtained works from pirate sites.

AI & Tech Legal Corporate News

Westbound I-94 closed I-35E to John Ireland Sept. 26–29; MnDOT detours set

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Westbound I-94 will be closed in downtown St. Paul between southbound I-35E and John Ireland Blvd. from 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, through Monday, Sept. 29, as part of a MnDOT project to repair nine bridges on I-94 and I-35E. Detours include routing northbound I-35E traffic to westbound Hwy 36 and southbound Hwy 280, and sending southbound I-35E drivers via eastbound I-94 to southbound Hwy 52 to I-494; additional weekend closures and John Ireland Blvd. bridge work in October mean drivers should expect delays.

Traffic Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Texas Executes Blaine Milam for 2008 'Exorcism' Killing of 13‑Month‑Old

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Texas executed Blaine Milam for the 2008 killing of 13‑month‑old Amora Carson, whom prosecutors say died during a roughly 30‑hour "exorcism" after suffering multiple skull fractures, broken arms, legs and ribs and numerous bite marks, with a pipe wrench among evidence cited. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected his final appeals hours before he was put to death by lethal injection using pentobarbital (injection began at 6:19 p.m.; he was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m.), after courts and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied relief amid defense challenges to bite‑mark and disputed DNA evidence and claims of intellectual disability; co‑defendant Jesseca Carson was sentenced to life without parole.

Public Safety Crime Legal

DEA warns of potent synthetic opioid nitazene

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The Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a warning about nitazene, a class of synthetic opioids described as far more potent than fentanyl, after detections of the drug in the illicit U.S. supply. CBS New York reports the DEA alert comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted overdose deaths were declining since 2023, prompting concern that nitazene could reverse that trend and pose heightened risks to users and first responders.

Health Public Safety Crime

Seized Indonesian coral rehabs at New York Aquarium

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About 200 pieces of live coral illegally exported from Indonesia were seized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at John F. Kennedy Airport in May. Federal authorities, citing protections under the Endangered Species Act and CITES, transferred the corals to the New York Aquarium, where staff have been treating stressed specimens since May and have moved many into public display as they recover. Aquarium experts say the episode highlights illegal wildlife trade risks and provides an educational opportunity for visitors.

Environment Crime

Texas executes man for toddler 'exorcism' murder

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Blaine Milam, 35, was executed by lethal injection Thursday at the Huntsville Unit in Texas for the 2008 killing of his girlfriend’s 13‑month‑old daughter, Amora Carson, a crime prosecutors say occurred during a torturous, 30‑hour attempt to 'exorcise' a demon. Milam’s appeals and clemency requests were denied by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the Board of Pardons and Paroles; his co‑defendant, Jesseca Carson, was convicted and is serving life without parole.

Crime Legal

Feds seize 50,000+ counterfeit pills laced with carfentanil

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Federal agents in Washington state seized more than 50,000 counterfeit pills that testing indicates were laced with carfentanil, a synthetic opioid described in the report as about 100 times more potent than fentanyl. CBS News published video coverage of the enforcement action this week, highlighting public‑safety and public‑health risks posed by the distribution of such pills in U.S. communities.

Crime Public Health

Norman councilmember resigns after viral 'self‑harm' comment

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Bree Danyele Montoya, the Ward 3 member of the Norman, Oklahoma City Council, resigned effective Sept. 23, 2025 after a June Facebook exchange in which she told a Trump‑supporting constituent to harm herself resurfaced and was amplified nationally by the Libs of TikTok account. The city issued a statement saying municipal functions will continue and that elected officials speak for themselves; Council and city officials said they will announce how the Ward 3 vacancy will be filled.

Politics Local Government

Jury deadlocks again in prison sex‑abuse trial

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A federal jury in Oakland, California, deadlocked a second time Sept. 25, 2025, in the retrial of former FCI Dublin correctional officer Darrell Wayne Smith, who is accused of sexually abusing four inmates between 2019 and 2021. Smith faces 14 counts related to sexual abuse; prosecutors say assaults occurred in cells and the prison laundry room, while defense lawyers note the absence of DNA, surveillance video or forensic diaries. The case is part of a broader pattern of abuse at FCI Dublin that prompted an AP investigation, congressional scrutiny and the prison’s closure last year.

Legal Crime Public Safety

Alabama to execute man by nitrogen gas

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Alabama officials are preparing to execute Geoffrey Todd West, 50, for the 1997 shooting death of gas-station clerk Margaret Parrish Berry. The execution, scheduled for Thursday night at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility, will use nitrogen hypoxia — a method authorized by Alabama lawmakers in 2018 — drawing attention because it is among the nation's latest uses of that technique.

Legal Crime

Funerals held for three Northern York County detectives ambushed in North Codorus Township

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Funerals were held this week for Detective Sgt. Cody Becker, Detective Mark Baker and Detective Isaiah Emenheiser of the Northern York County Regional Police Department, who were ambushed and fatally shot after opening a door during a domestic-related follow-up in North Codorus Township; autopsies confirmed all three died of multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities say 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth, who had been sought on stalking and related charges and used an AR‑style rifle with a suppressor, was killed in the ensuing gunfight that also wounded two other officers, and state and federal officials joined local leaders in mourning while assisting the investigation.

Crime Public Safety

Pennsylvania high court strikes down Pittsburgh 'jock tax'

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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Sept. 25, 2025 unanimously ruled that Pittsburgh’s 3% "jock tax"—a levy on income earned by visiting professional athletes and performers at publicly funded stadiums—discriminates against nonresidents and is unlawful. Justice David N. Wecht wrote for the seven-member court, noting resident athletes pay a 1% city tax plus a 2% school district tax, and plaintiffs included named players and the NHL, NFL and MLB players’ associations. The ruling is expected to cost the city millions—the mayor's office said Pittsburgh had collected $2.6 million from the tax so far in 2025.

Legal Economy Sports

North Carolina Medicaid rate cuts threaten care

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North Carolina officials say Medicaid reimbursement rates will be cut beginning Oct. 1, 2025 after a funding impasse in the Republican-controlled legislature left a $319 million shortfall. Governor Josh Stein announced reductions ranging from about 3% (home health, ambulance) to 10% (hospitals, nursing homes, hospice), warning the cuts could prompt providers to leave the program and worsen access for 3.1 million enrollees—particularly in rural and underserved communities—while legislators debate competing funding bills.

Health Politics

Alex Murdaugh’s Banker Pleads Guilty, Faces Prison

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Russell Laffitte, a 54‑year‑old South Carolina banker accused of helping Alex Murdaugh move millions to conceal thefts from clients, pleaded guilty Sept. 25, 2025 to eight state counts as part of a coordinated state–federal deal. The plea calls for concurrent state and federal prison terms (a federal term of about five years and an eight‑year state term), $3.5 million in restitution paid via sale of bank stock, and scheduled sentencing dates including a state hearing on Oct. 13 and an upcoming federal sentencing in Charleston.

Legal Crime

Inver Grove Heights man sentenced to 20 years

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An Inver Grove Heights man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for coercing and manipulating girls to send nude photos, the Pioneer Press reported Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. The case stems from conduct involving minors and concludes with a lengthy prison term for the Twin Cities resident.

Legal Public Safety

Ex‑NFL RB Rudi Johnson dies; Hall of Fame message revealed

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Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson, 45, who was inducted into the Chesterfield Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 18, 2025, reportedly died by suicide just after midnight on Tuesday, according to TMZ. Video of a message he recorded for the induction — in which he thanked coaches and urged Chesterfield youth to 'dream big' and said 'I'll be watching' — was played at the ceremony. The Bengals issued a statement from president Mike Brown expressing sadness and recalling Johnson's on-field contributions.

Sports Public Safety

Independent report: Eaton Fire response failures

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An independent after‑action report says emergency response to two deadly Southern California wildfires in January — including the Eaton Fire — was hampered by communication breakdowns and inadequate staffing, allowing fires to burn through neighborhoods and contributing to deadly outcomes. CBS News (Carter Evans) published a video summary of the report’s findings; the review could prompt agency inquiries and changes to local firefighting and emergency‑management procedures.

Public Safety Environment

Riley Gaines lawsuit against NCAA advances in court

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A federal judge partially denied the NCAA's motion to dismiss the Riley Gaines-led lawsuit, allowing claims that the NCAA receives federal financial assistance and may be subject to Title IX to proceed. U.S. District Judge Tiffany Johnson found the plaintiffs — current and former female college athletes — plausibly alleged NCAA accountability under Title IX, while dismissing claims that the NCAA is a state actor or that a bodily-privacy right was violated; the University of Georgia System’s motion to dismiss was granted.

Legal Sports

Oracle to manage U.S. TikTok algorithm

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Oracle has been named to manage TikTok’s U.S. algorithm under a Trump administration deal, affecting American users including those in the Twin Cities. On Sept. 25, 2025, Trump said China’s President Xi approved a proposed deal to place TikTok under U.S. ownership, and he has formally approved a multibillion-dollar sale to U.S. investors, signaling a shift beyond algorithm oversight toward an ownership transfer.

Technology Government/Regulatory Legal

Trump imposes tariffs on cabinets, furniture, trucks

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President Donald Trump announced new import taxes on kitchen cabinets, furniture, and heavy trucks that will take effect starting next week. The nationwide tariffs, announced Sept. 25, 2025, are poised to impact Twin Cities consumers, retailers, home contractors, and trucking-related businesses as prices and sourcing adjust.

Business & Economy Government/Regulatory

Smash-and-grab robs San Ramon jeweler of $1M

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Surveillance footage shows nearly two dozen masked suspects storm Heller Jewelers in San Ramon, California, smashing display cases with hammers and pickaxes, firing at least one shot through the front entrance and seizing about $1 million worth of merchandise on Monday. San Ramon police said several suspects later fled by vehicle, a pursuit was paused for aerial tracking, and multiple people — including brothers Jimmy Ray and Michael Ray — were detained in the Oakland area as investigations and recoveries continue.

Crime Public Safety

Families of Americans killed in West Bank demand accountability

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A recent PBS NewsHour segment reports that extremist Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank has surged to its highest recorded level by the U.N., and profiles three American families whose relatives were allegedly killed there over the past two years. Reporter Amna Nawaz interviews the families as they press for accountability and justice, drawing attention to the U.S. citizens involved and the diplomatic and human‑rights questions raised by the spike in violence.

International Crime U.S. Affairs

Finland president: Putin should be worried after Trump shift

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Finland President Alexander Stubb welcomed what he called an apparent change in U.S. tone on Ukraine by President Donald Trump and told PBS NewsHour — following remarks tied to a U.N. Security Council appearance this week — that Russian President Vladimir Putin 'should be worried.' Stubb stressed Finland’s security stakes (it borders Russia for roughly 830 miles) and framed Washington’s shift as consequential for NATO cohesion and European deterrence.

International War & Conflict Politics

Russia tracking satellites used by German military

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On Sept. 25, 2025 German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Russia’s Luch‑Olymp reconnaissance satellites are currently tracking two Intelsat satellites used by the German armed forces and warned that Russia and China possess jamming and kinetic capabilities in space. Pistorius announced a planned €35 billion ($41 billion) investment in Germany’s space programs over the next five years and said 39 Chinese and Russian reconnaissance satellites were passing overhead, transmitting real‑time observations.

International Military Space

Judge rules DJ stalker not guilty by mental illness

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A Twin Cities judge found that a person who stalked a DJ at The Current violated a restraining order but entered a verdict of not guilty due to mental illness on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. The ruling acknowledges the conduct occurred while concluding the defendant is not criminally responsible because of mental illness.

Legal Public Safety

Multiple Sylvan centers close in Twin Cities

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FOX 9 reports several Sylvan Learning centers in the Twin Cities shut down ahead of the school year, with Maple Grove and Burnsville locations evicted for unpaid rent and only Edina and Coon Rapids still operating under franchise owner Paul Ripon. Parents who paid thousands of dollars—some financed through Comenity Capital Bank—say sessions were repeatedly canceled or unavailable; Sylvan’s national office says it is working to help impacted customers find services elsewhere.

Education Business & Economy

UNGA spotlights drug enforcement after U.S. strikes

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At the U.N. General Assembly week (Sept. 25, 2025), drug enforcement unexpectedly became a prominent theme after President Donald Trump used his speech to boast of lethal maritime strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats and of designating Latin American cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The remarks drew a sharp public rebuke from Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who accused the U.S. of harming civilians and said Trump should face criminal charges; U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime data showing 316 million drug users in 2023 were cited as context for the heightened focus.

International National Security

Judge Dismisses Minnesota Trans‑Athlete Lawsuit

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A federal judge on Sept. 19 dismissed a suit by three anonymous Minnesota high‑school softball players who challenged the eligibility of a transgender pitcher, Marissa Rothenberger of Champlin Park High School. U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud ruled the plaintiffs had not shown that league bylaws created Title IX‑level disparities denying effective accommodation or equal treatment; the pitcher had helped Champlin Park win the state championship this year.

Legal Education Sports

Trump mocks Rep. Jasmine Crockett, jests about Omar

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President Donald Trump, while signing executive orders in the Oval Office, publicly disparaged Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D‑Texas) calling her 'a very low IQ person' and joked that Somalia should 'take back' Rep. Ilhan Omar (D‑Minn.), saying he had raised the suggestion with Somalia's leader—comments captured in on‑the‑record remarks and reported by Fox News Digital. The remarks were delivered off script during a proclamation/EO signing and could reverberate politically and diplomatically.

Politics International

Chicago Agrees $90M Settlement Over Corrupt Police Unit

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On Sept. 25, 2025, the Chicago City Council approved a $90 million settlement to pay 180 people who say they were falsely arrested, extorted via a "street tax" and had evidence fabricated by a South Side tactical team led by former Sgt. Ronald Watts. The agreement, expected to be paid next year, follows federal prosecutions that began surfacing misconduct in 2012 and guilty pleas by Watts and Officer Kallatt Mohammed for stealing government funds.

Legal Crime

Trump Says He Will Block Netanyahu’s West Bank Annexation While Pushing Gaza Deal

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President Trump publicly and explicitly vowed he would "not allow Israel to annex the West Bank," telling Arab leaders privately he would block annexation after regional officials warned such a move would imperil the Abraham Accords. On Sept. 24 at the U.N. General Assembly he unveiled a Gaza peace plan — calling for hostage releases, a permanent ceasefire, gradual Israeli withdrawal, non‑Hamas postwar governance, a multinational security force and Arab/Muslim reconstruction funding — and has dispatched envoys (including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff) to regional foreign ministers while preparing to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

Politics International

Teen Pleads Guilty in Logan Circle Beating

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A 15-year-old from Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty in D.C. juvenile court to felony assault, simple assault, robbery and attempted robbery for the Aug. 3, 2025 beating of former DOGE staffer Edward 'Big Balls' Coristine in Logan Circle. The August attack — widely circulated in a viral photo — spurred President Trump to deploy the National Guard to Washington, D.C. and assume enhanced federal control of local policing, and the episode has fed recent House legislation tightening juvenile criminal rules.

Crime Politics

Top GOP lawmaker urges tougher sanctions to choke Russia’s war production

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Rep. Mike Turner (R‑Ohio) told reporters that the 'most significant challenge' enabling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is Moscow’s ability to sustain industrial weapons production, and he urged Congress to back expanded sanctions and tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian energy. Turner — speaking after a bipartisan trip to Ukraine during the U.N. General Assembly period — said China, Iran and North Korea are helping keep Russia’s war economy afloat, and noted lawmakers are weighing legislation to tighten economic pressure on Moscow.

Politics War & Conflict

Zelenskyy Warns of AI‑Driven Arms Race at UNGA; Flags Russian Drone Incursions

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At the U.N. General Assembly, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of an emerging AI‑driven arms race — saying autonomous systems will enable “drones fighting drones” and fully autonomous attacks — and tied that threat to recent Russian drone incursions and spillover into NATO eastern states. He urged robust international action, raised the need for tighter sanctions and security guarantees, and warned that Russia seeks to expand its operations beyond Ukraine while meeting with world leaders, including President Trump.

Politics International Military

UEFA expected to vote to suspend Israel

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UEFA’s 20‑member executive committee is reportedly moving toward a vote to suspend Israel from international soccer competitions over the war in Gaza; a suspension would bar the Israeli national team and club sides from tournaments — including potential participation in the 2026 World Cup — prompting the U.S. State Department to say it will try to stop any ban. The Israel Football Association denies having any indication of such action as Israeli officials lobby to block the move.

International Sports

Jeffries Demands Criminal Probe Over Sherrill Records Release

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sept. 25 urged a criminal investigation after CBS reported that the National Personnel Records Center — part of the National Archives — released Rep. Mikie Sherrill's nearly unredacted military personnel file, exposing sensitive information such as her Social Security number and home addresses. The NPRC says a technician failed to follow protocols; the Archives inspector general has been notified and Sherrill’s campaign accused allies of Republican Jack Ciattarelli of distributing the files amid a tight gubernatorial race.

Politics Legal

Multi‑state 911 outage hits Mississippi and Louisiana

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On Thursday afternoon, 911 emergency‑call systems went down across large parts of Mississippi and Louisiana after a major fiber‑optic cut, state emergency agencies said. AT&T crews were reported on site and officials — including the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness — urged residents to use alternate local emergency numbers or landlines while repairs proceed; authorities said there was no indication the outage was malicious.

Public Safety Infrastructure

Speaker Johnson warns against government shutdown

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House Speaker Mike Johnson released a memo this week repurposing earlier Democratic warnings about shutdown harms to press the case that Senate Democrats are now threatening a shutdown unless the House accedes to several spending and policy demands. The memo cites named statements by Chuck Schumer and Bernie Sanders and accuses Democrats of demanding measures including repeal of a tax cut, expanded taxpayer-funded care for undocumented immigrants, and roughly $500 million in media-related spending, all amid an approaching Sept. 30 funding deadline.

Politics Government/Legislation

Trump‑linked group says California lacks standing in trans‑sports suit

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A Trump‑aligned legal watchdog, America First Legal (AFL), provided Fox News Digital with public‑records responses it says show California agencies have no documents documenting harassment or competitive harms to transgender athletes — evidence AFL argues undermines the state's June 2025 lawsuit challenging President Trump’s executive order EO 14168 requiring sports participation based on biological sex. The records cited include replies from the California Civil Rights Department and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) saying no responsive documents could be found; California Attorney General Robert Bonta has publicly responded to related litigation.

Politics Legal

Fed cut reduces $40,000 HELOC monthly cost

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Average HELOC rates have fallen below 8% — Bankrate reports 7.88% after the Fed’s September rate cut — and CBS estimates a $40,000 HELOC at that rate would cost about $482.78/month on a 10-year amortization or $379.49/month on a 15-year plan (vs. $487.85/$385.04 earlier in 2025 at 8.12% and $505.41/$404.28 last fall at 8.94%). Many HELOCs also allow interest‑only payments during a draw period to lower monthly outlays, and markets still expect further Fed cuts (CME probabilities: Oct. 29 ≈85.5%, Dec. 10 ≈61.7%) as U.S. home equity hits a record $17.8 trillion.

Personal Finance Finance Economy

Abbas accuses Israel of 'genocide' in UN virtual address, wins prolonged applause

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After the U.N. General Assembly voted 145–5 (with six abstentions) to permit a video address, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas — who had been among roughly 80 Palestinians whose U.S. visas were revoked, a move the U.N. called a breach of its Host Country Agreement — spoke virtually and accused Israel of "genocide" in Gaza. In the address he demanded full U.N. membership, said the Palestinian Authority was ready to assume governance and security in Gaza if Hamas surrendered its weapons, outlined plans for reforms and future elections, and received a warm, prolonged round of applause.

U.S. Politics U.S. Foreign Policy War & Conflict

Judge no‑show halts Eswatini hearing on U.S. deportees

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A court hearing in Mbabane, Eswatini, on Sept. 25, 2025, regarding the detention of four men deported from the United States failed to proceed after Judge Titus Mlangeni did not appear. The detainees — nationals of Cuba, Laos, Vietnam and Yemen — were sent to Eswatini in mid‑July under the Trump administration’s third‑country deportation program; advocates say the men have been held without charges or access to counsel and allege repeated delays by Eswatini authorities.

International Legal Immigration

1.2M Oster French-door ovens recalled nationwide

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of more than 1.2 million Oster French‑door countertop ovens on Sept. 25, 2025, due to a safety hazard. The recall applies nationwide, including the Twin Cities; consumers are advised to stop using the product and follow recall instructions for a remedy from Oster/Sunbeam.

Public Safety Health

Florida Medicaid expansion ballot push delayed to 2028

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Florida Decides Healthcare, the campaign seeking to place Medicaid expansion on the ballot, announced it will delay its effort until 2028 after the GOP-controlled Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis enacted H.B. 1205 in May 2025. The new law tightens petition-collection rules—capping how many petitions can be gathered, criminalizing certain violations, and barring non‑U.S. citizens and non‑Florida residents from circulating petitions—and the group says those changes make meeting a 2026 signature deadline impossible. The law is being challenged in federal court, with the case slated for trial in January 2026.

Politics Health Legal

I-94 eastbound closed at Hwy 610 in Maple Grove

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MnDOT says eastbound I-94 at Minnesota 610 in Maple Grove is closed Thursday afternoon due to a traffic incident, with reopening estimated around 6 p.m. A separate crash on westbound MN 610 between Fernbrook Lane N and Maple Grove Parkway is contributing to major backups amid ongoing construction lane closures.

Transit & Infrastructure Public Safety

Rep. Adam Smith calls to renegotiate global economic rules

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Rep. Adam Smith, head of a U.S. House delegation to China, said during a visit to Shanghai on Sept. 25, 2025 that the post‑World War II international economic order should be renegotiated to reflect the rise of China and other emerging markets. The four-member delegation (including Reps. Ro Khanna, Chrissy Houlahan and Michael Baumgartner) spent five days meeting Chinese officials in Beijing and Shanghai to open lines of communication amid an ongoing tariff and trade dispute, and Smith urged debate on reducing tariffs and updating international rules.

Politics International Economy

Chaos at Wisconsin immigration hearing after gavel lunge

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At a Wisconsin State Senate State and Federal Affairs Committee hearing in Madison, ranking Democrat Sen. Tim Carpenter (D‑Milwaukee) lunged at the gavel held by Chairman Chris Kapenga (R‑Oconomowoc) during a heated debate over a bill that would bar public funds from paying for health care for undocumented immigrants. The clash followed an earlier, later‑retracted anecdote told by Sen. Chris Larson about a migrant woman; Larson apologized after reporters found the woman was alive. The episode was captured on video (Wisconsin Eye) and has drawn attention amid broader partisan fights over immigration policy.

Politics State Government

89-year-old dies in Oak Park Heights crash

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An 89-year-old man from New Richmond, Wisconsin died in a vehicle crash in Oak Park Heights in Washington County, according to authorities. The fatal collision occurred in the east Twin Cities metro and remains under investigation; officials did not immediately release additional details on circumstances or other injuries.

Public Safety

Eye drops restore near vision for presbyopia

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A clinical study presented Sept. 14, 2025 at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting in Denmark reports that twice‑daily eye drops combining pilocarpine and diclofenac improved near vision in 766 patients (mostly mid‑50s) with presbyopia. Participants showed significant reading‑chart gains within an hour of dosing, and more than 80% retained improved near vision after one year; reported side effects were mostly transient dimming, mild irritation or headaches.

Health Science

U.N. recognizes dementia as global health priority

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On Sept. 25, 2025, world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly in New York adopted a political declaration that for the first time explicitly names dementia as a priority within global noncommunicable‑disease and mental‑health commitments. The U.N. move — hailed by Alzheimer's Disease International and accompanied by a WHO statement — commits to scaling up services and attention for the roughly 57 million people living with dementia worldwide and aims to drive policy, funding and care improvements, especially in lower‑income countries.

Health International

$75,000 Home Equity Loan Monthly Cost

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CBS News calculates current monthly payments for a $75,000 fixed-rate home equity loan in the wake of a recent Federal Reserve interest-rate cut. The piece gives concrete examples for 10- and 15-year terms and compares those payments with late‑winter and last‑fall rates to show how borrowing costs have shifted.

Economy Personal Finance

Michigan Democrat moves to impeach HHS secretary

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Rep. Haley Stevens (D‑Mich.) announced she has begun drafting articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accusing him of creating 'health care chaos' through rising costs, cuts to research and programs, restricting vaccine access, and politicizing HHS operations — an action that could launch a formal congressional impeachment effort. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon pushed back, calling the move a partisan stunt while Kennedy continues his agenda to change public‑health policy.

Politics Health

AP: Satellite images show likely Iranian missile test

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Satellite photos analyzed by the Associated Press indicate Iran likely carried out an undeclared missile launch last week at the Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Semnan province. Commercial Planet imagery taken after Sept. 18 shows fresh scorch marks on a circular launch pad; an Iranian lawmaker separately claimed a test of a major missile (calling it an ICBM), while weapons analysts say the scorch pattern is consistent with a solid‑fuel missile and use of a blast deflector. The report ties the incident to mounting tensions as U.N. 'snapback' sanctions are expected to be reimposed this weekend.

International Military

U.S. Readies $20B Lifeline for Argentina as Trump Backs Milei

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. is in talks to establish a $20 billion swap line with Argentina and signaled readiness to use the Treasury’s Exchange Stabilization Fund and buy Argentine dollar‑denominated bonds to contain financial upheaval and support President Javier Milei’s reforms. The move — framed as political backing ahead of critical Argentine legislative contests — has prompted domestic pushback from farm groups worried about competitive harm after Argentina’s peso interventions and export‑tax cuts, and a formal rebuke from Senator Elizabeth Warren over using emergency U.S. funds for foreign market intervention.

Finance Politics International

Study of 117‑year‑old offers clues to longevity

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Researchers led by Dr. Manel Esteller at the University of Barcelona analyzed biological samples from Maria Branyas Morera — who died at 117 years and 168 days — and report in Cell Reports Medicine that a mix of protective genetics and healthy habits (notably a Mediterranean diet and daily plain yogurt) likely contributed to her extreme, disease‑free longevity. The team sequenced genomic and microbiome markers from blood, saliva, urine and stool over a multiyear effort and found rare protective genetic variants and a gut microbiome enriched for beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium.

Health Science

Trump likely to nominate Anthony Letai as NCI director

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President Donald Trump is expected to nominate Anthony Letai, a Harvard Medical School oncologist and Dana‑Farber researcher, to lead the $7.2 billion National Cancer Institute; the White House reportedly planned to announce the pick on 29 September. Cancer‑research leaders have publicly welcomed the likely appointment, citing Letai’s basic‑science credentials, his role in developing the leukemia drug venetoclax, and his advocacy for functional precision‑medicine assays amid recent NCI funding turmoil and proposed budget cuts.

Health Science Politics

UEFA set to vote to suspend Israel

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UEFA’s executive committee is reportedly moving toward a vote to suspend the Israel Football Association over the Gaza war, a step that would bar Israeli national and club teams from UEFA competitions and could block their participation in international play including World Cup qualifiers and the 2026 World Cup hosted in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The report (AP via PBS) says a majority of the 20-member executive committee is expected to back suspension, FIFA’s ruling council meets in Zurich next week, and the U.S. State Department said it would work to prevent any ban that would exclude Israel from the World Cup.

International Sports

Students charged in Syracuse Rosh Hashanah hate crime

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Two 18‑year‑old Syracuse University students were arrested and charged on Sept. 24, 2025 after one allegedly entered the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity house and tossed a clear plastic bag of pork onto the wall and floor during a Rosh Hashanah celebration. Onondaga County prosecutors have filed burglary as a hate‑crime and criminal nuisance charges; university officials say the students also face campus disciplinary review and condemned the act as abhorrent.

Crime Education Civil Rights

Delta replacing A320 APUs over toxic‑fume risk

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Delta Air Lines told CBS News it is replacing auxiliary power units (APUs) on more than 300 Airbus A320‑family aircraft to stop incidents in which turbine oils or engine fumes leak into cabin air and cause health problems. The program began in 2022 and is reported as more than 90% complete; occupational‑medicine experts say exposure can damage the nervous system and flight crews have raised safety concerns for years. Other U.S. carriers — including United and Frontier — described proactive maintenance or said incidents are rare, and Delta is also evaluating synthetic turbine oils.

Transportation Health

Trump touts NJ GOP candidate, attacks Democrat

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President Donald Trump publicly praised Republican Jack Ciattarelli and slammed Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill in a social‑media post and remarks tied to a Fox News Digital piece, reiterating his earlier endorsement and highlighting law‑and‑order and tax messaging as the New Jersey gubernatorial race heads into early voting. The article notes the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police endorsement of Ciattarelli and reminds readers that early voting begins Oct. 25 with Election Day on Nov. 4, 2025.

Politics Elections

Minneapolis Fed orders full-time office return

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The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, one of downtown Minneapolis’ largest employers, has mandated a full-time return to the office, reversing hybrid or remote arrangements. The policy goes further than other large organizations that have recently tightened remote-work rules, signaling a notable shift for the downtown workforce.

Business & Economy Local Government Technology

Trump urges delaying newborn hepatitis B shots; doctors warn risk

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President Donald Trump told reporters at a White House briefing he believes newborns should not routinely receive the hepatitis B vaccine and suggested waiting until age 12. Pediatric infectious‑disease specialists and public‑health experts immediately criticized the recommendation as dangerous, noting the U.S. has universally vaccinated newborns since 1991 and that infant infection carries dramatically higher risks of chronic disease and death.

Politics Health

Trump Open to Selling F-35s to Turkey

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At a White House meeting on Thursday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Trump said he could lift sanctions tied to Turkey’s 2019 S‑400 missile purchase and consider resuming F‑35 sales to Ankara 'almost immediately' if talks go well. He also publicly urged Erdogan to stop buying oil and gas from Russia, linking sanctions relief to broader bilateral discussions.

International Military Politics

Lithuanian President Praises Trump, Urges Strength Against Putin

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Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, speaking outside the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 23, 2025, praised President Donald Trump’s UN address as 'strong' and said confronting Russian aggression requires demonstrating military and economic strength. Nausėda cited Lithuania’s own border measures (a 422‑mile Belarus border fence and a 161‑mile Kaliningrad frontier) and said allied deterrence — including higher defense spending (he said Lithuania is 'ready to spend 5% and more') and sanctions enforcement — is the only effective way to press Vladimir Putin toward negotiations.

International Military Politics

Trump says London wants 'Sharia law' at UN

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President Donald Trump, speaking at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Sept. 23, 2025, accused London of moving toward 'Sharia law' while criticizing European immigration policies; London Mayor Sadiq Khan responded publicly, calling Trump 'racist' and 'Islamophobic' and rejecting the characterization. The exchange is part of a wider White House UN address in which Trump warned of immigration and energy policies he said threaten Western Europe.

Politics International

Trump presses to reclaim Bagram, cites Chinese nuclear proximity; Taliban rebuffs demand

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On Sept. 18, 2025, during remarks with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, former President Donald Trump said the U.S. is trying to regain control of Bagram Air Base — warning on Truth Social and to reporters that he wants it "back right away," threatening unspecified consequences and arguing the base is valuable because it lies near where China "makes its nuclear weapons." The Taliban, through spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, rejected the bid and cited the 2020 Doha agreement and Afghanistan’s territorial integrity — a position echoed by Afghan defense officials — while analysts note China’s Lop Nur test site is roughly 1,200 miles from Bagram and the Pentagon projects Beijing could field over 1,000 warheads by 2030.

National security Politics International

Texas brothers hit with federal kidnapping charges in Grant crypto case; feds value theft at $8M

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The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed federal kidnapping charges against Texas brothers Raymond Christian Garcia, 23, and Isiah Angelo Garcia, 24, in a Sept. 19 Grant, Minnesota, home invasion, valuing the stolen cryptocurrency at $8 million—far above the $72,000 cited in county filings. Authorities say the men bound a family with zip ties, used an AR-15-style rifle and a shotgun, and forced transfers at the Grant home and a Jacobson cabin before their arrests in Texas; they face the federal counts in addition to state charges of kidnapping, first-degree burglary, and first-degree aggravated robbery, with a first federal court appearance set for Thursday.

Legal Public Safety

AP and Reuters demand answers after Gaza hospital strike

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The Associated Press and Reuters issued a joint demand on Sept. 25, 2025, asking the Israeli government to explain an August strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, that killed five journalists and 17 others. The agencies — through editors Alessandra Galloni and Julie Pace — called for accountability and concrete steps to protect press workers covering the Gaza war; the Israeli military says it has opened an investigation but has not responded to the agencies' requests.

International Media/Press Freedom

Two hikers hospitalized after brown bear attack in Alaska

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Two unnamed hikers were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after they 'had to fight off' a brown bear about a quarter-mile up the Exit Glacier Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park near Seward, Alaska, officials said. The state Department of Public Safety reported the incident Wednesday; the Exit Glacier Trail was closed and scheduled for assessment by biologists, state troopers and wildlife troopers the following morning, and the National Park Service reiterated guidance on avoiding and responding to bear encounters.

Public Safety Environment

Prison riot in Esmeraldas kills at least 10 inmates

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Bloody clashes between rival drug gangs in an overcrowded Ecuadorian prison in Esmeraldas left at least 10 prisoners dead, with authorities finding bodies in two cell blocks and social‑media images (verified by AFP) showing gruesome violence. The violence involves the Los Choneros and Los Lobos gangs—both designated this month by the U.S. as Foreign Terrorist Organizations—and underscores wider instability as Ecuador serves as a major transit hub for cocaine bound for international markets.

International Public Safety Crime

CDC: Adult STIs Decline; Congenital Syphilis Climbs

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s provisional 2024 surveillance data show overall reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in U.S. adults fell 9% from 2023, but congenital syphilis — where pregnant people transmit syphilis to their newborns — rose for the 12th straight year to nearly 4,000 cases. Public‑health groups warn the rise in congenital syphilis reflects gaps in prenatal screening and threatens severe outcomes including stillbirth and lifelong disability, prompting calls for improved prenatal testing and prevention efforts nationwide.

Health Public Health

AG: No evidence of hate motive in Nashua wedding shooting; suspect reportedly yelled 'Free Palestine'

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A 23-year-old former Sky Meadow Country Club employee, Hunter Nadeau, was arrested after a single-shooter attack at a wedding in Nashua, N.H., that left 59-year-old Robert Steven DeCesare dead and multiple others injured; Nadeau has been charged with second-degree murder, additional charges are expected, and his arraignment is set for Monday. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said investigators have found no evidence so far of a hate-based motive and believe the suspect sought to create chaos, though witnesses reported he shouted “Free Palestine” during the roughly one-minute attack that ended when patrons subdued him.

Crime Public Safety Legal

U.S. Tops Global Antisemitism Incidents in August

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A Combat Antisemitism Movement report found 694 antisemitic incidents globally in August 2025, 458 (66.3%) of which were Israel-related. The United States accounted for the highest national total with 162 incidents — a 13.3% rise from July’s 143 — a tally cited by Fox News.

Crime International Society

Waltz vows to combat antisemitism at U.N.

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Newly confirmed U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz told sources (reported by Fox News) he will prioritize 'rooting out antisemitism' at the U.N., remove 'woke' programs, and push a more assertive U.S. agenda in telecommunications, aviation and space, using language framed as 'Make the U.N. great again.' The reporting frames this as Waltz's opening priorities as he begins his tenure in New York.

Politics International

Florida synagogue arson suspect charged

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Authorities charged Blake Richard Hoover, 31, of Charlotte County with arson and criminal mischief after a fire at the Chabad of Charlotte County in Punta Gorda, Florida. Prosecutors have labeled the case as involving a potential hate crime; local law enforcement announced the charges and investigators continue to probe motive and damages.

Crime Public Safety

HSBC, IBM use quantum computing to optimize bond trading

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HSBC and IBM announced a trial in which IBM's Heron quantum processor augmented classical computing workflows to improve algorithmic bond‑price predictions, delivering a reported 34% improvement in trade‑fill likelihood estimates. The pilot focused on over‑the‑counter bond trading, with HSBC saying the result — called a 'world‑first' by the bank — could increase margins and liquidity and signals a potential near‑term commercial application of quantum computing in finance.

Finance AI & Tech

DNC Keeps 1990s Jeffrey Epstein Donations

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The Democratic National Committee is retaining roughly $32,000 in mid‑1990s donations from the late financier Jeffrey Epstein while other Democratic recipients have returned or offset similar gifts; the Fox News report notes the DNC also accepted more than $90,000 from the hedge fund of Glenn Dubin and includes statements from the DNC and context about 2019 pressure on recipients after federal charges. The disclosure is drawing renewed political scrutiny amid broader debates over the administration's handling of Epstein‑related files.

Politics Ethics

Oklahoma superintendent Ryan Walters resigns to lead conservative educators group

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Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s state superintendent of public instruction, resigned on Sept. 25, 2025 to become CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a conservative nonprofit that says it supports educators promoting "free, moral, and upright American citizens." Walters, 40, is a polarizing figure who recently pledged Turning Point USA chapters in every Oklahoma high school, mandated Bible instruction for grades 5–12 and faced multiple lawsuits over his policy initiatives.

Politics Education

DHS Official Rebukes Omar Over ICE ‘Bait’ Post

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DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin sharply rebuked Rep. Ilhan Omar for reposting a social-media claim that ICE agents used a 5‑year‑old as “bait,” calling it “a vile lie,” while Telemundo‑obtained video showed the child sitting by a law‑enforcement SUV in Leominster and police later recovered the girl and detained Edwards Hip Mejia. NBC has deleted a prior post and issued a correction, but Omar has not amended or removed her X post and did not respond to requests for comment, as DHS warns of a surge in attacks on ICE amid recent violence including a deadly shooting at a Dallas ICE field office.

Politics Crime Public Safety

U.S. airports to test Alef flying car

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Alef Aeronautics announced formal agreements with Half Moon Bay and Hollister airports in California to begin test operations of its road-legal, vertical-takeoff 'carplane' after obtaining an FAA Special Airworthiness Certification for limited testing. The company says the fully electric Model A will drive on roads and take off/land vertically, is range-limited (200 miles driving, 110 miles flying), carries more than 3,300 pre-orders, and is targeted for production by the end of 2025 under daylight- and sparsely populated-route restrictions.

AI & Tech Transportation

Gazan boy found alive after false killing claim

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The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) confirmed that an 8-year-old boy long reported killed after leaving a GHF distribution site in late May has been found alive with his mother and safely extracted from Gaza. The revelation follows public interviews by a former GHF contractor, Anthony Aguilar — an ex-U.S. Army Green Beret — who had claimed Israeli forces killed the child; GHF launched an internal operation and identified the boy (Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamden, aka Abboud) at SDS 3 on Aug. 23, 2025. The episode spotlights disinformation around the Gaza conflict and involves a U.S.-funded subcontractor, UG Solutions, which received roughly $30 million in U.S. government support.

International War & Conflict Disinformation

Oklahoma tiger handler killed during performance

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Ryan Easley, 37, owner and handler at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Oklahoma, died after a tiger he had raised since a cub attacked him during a public demonstration on September 20, 2025. Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park told ABC News the animal bit Easley in the neck and shoulder toward the end of the show; the preserve posted a Facebook statement mourning his death while PETA criticized the facility and Joe Exotic commented on the incident.

Public Safety Entertainment

Starbucks to close stores, cut 900 jobs

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On Sept. 25, 2025, Starbucks announced a roughly $1 billion restructuring that will cut about 900 corporate/nonretail jobs and close roughly 1% of North American stores—ending the fiscal year with about 18,300 locations—a second round of layoffs after 1,100 cuts in February. The company disclosed roughly $450 million for breaking leases and about $150 million for severance, and said it will renovate more than 1,000 locations, trim about 30% of menu options, pursue a four‑minute drink goal, and maintain no upcharges for nondairy milks and free in‑cafe refills.

Corporate News Labor Economy

Amazon ramps warehouse robots for holiday rush

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Amazon is deploying large-scale robotics at its SHV1 fulfillment center in Shreveport, Louisiana, as it prepares for the 2025 holiday shopping season. The 3+ million sq. ft. facility uses nearly 1,000 robots alongside roughly 2,500 human employees, with Amazon saying the site is about 25% more efficient and that robotics create new higher-skilled maintenance and operations jobs backed by retraining.

Corporate News AI & Tech

Syracuse students charged in hate‑crime pork attack

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Two 18-year-old Syracuse University students were arrested and charged after one allegedly entered the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity house during a Rosh Hashanah dinner, threw a clear plastic bag of pork onto a wall and floor—an act prosecutors and university officials say targeted Jewish students. Onondaga County prosecutors charged both with burglary as a hate crime and criminal nuisance; Syracuse University referred the students to its Office of Community Standards for disciplinary action.

Crime Education Legal

EU rolls out biometric entry/exit checks for visitors

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Beginning Oct. 12, 2025, rolled out over roughly six months, most visitors to 29 Schengen-area countries will undergo biometric entry/exit checks that collect four fingerprints and a facial photograph at self-service kiosks, along with passport biographical details and entry/exit timestamps; children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting. The biometric data—including the photo used to verify ID on subsequent visits—will generally be retained for three years (or up to five years if no exit is recorded), and travelers who refuse to provide data may be denied entry; the U.S. State Department has warned citizens to expect automated border checks.

International Government/Regulatory Travel

Amazon settles FTC Prime case for $2.5B, averting jury trial

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Amazon agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit alleging it used deceptive tactics to enroll customers in Prime and made cancellation onerous. The deal resolves a case that a judge had ruled would go before a jury, averting a federal jury trial.

Legal Business & Economy Technology

New COVID Strain Spikes in Nine States

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U.S. public‑health data show the XFG ("Stratus") variant of SARS‑CoV‑2 rising across nine states after being designated by WHO as a 'variant under monitoring.' CDC wastewater surveillance for the week of Sept. 15 identified XFG/Stratus as the predominant variant in the U.S.; health systems such as Stony Brook Medicine report mostly mild illness in vaccinated people but warn of symptoms ranging from persistent dry cough and fatigue to brain fog and shortness of breath. Officials and clinicians urge testing, up‑to‑date vaccinations for high‑risk groups, and standard precautions (masking, ventilation, hand hygiene).

Health Public Safety

Amazon to pay $2.5B to settle FTC lawsuit over Prime enrollment and cancellation practices

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Amazon agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle a U.S. government lawsuit — $1 billion in civil penalties and $1.5 billion in consumer redress — after the FTC accused the company of illegally enrolling customers in Prime and making it difficult to cancel. The settlement was announced as jury selection began Sept. 24, 2025, in Seattle before Judge John Chun in a case alleging ROSCA violations that cited internal Amazon labels and a multistep cancellation process nicknamed "Iliad"; Amazon did not admit wrongdoing.

Consumer Protection Corporate News Legal

Syrian President Ahmad Al‑Sharaa Addresses UNGA After Assad’s Ouster, Invites U.N. Probe of Recent Killings

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Ahmad Al‑Sharaa, who took power after Assad’s abrupt ouster and previously led the Islamist group HTS (once the subject of a U.S. bounty and a lifted terrorist designation), became the first Syrian president to address the U.N. General Assembly in nearly 60 years, where he praised recent U.S. moves toward sanctions relief, criticized Israeli strikes, and sought negotiations on security arrangements. He told the Assembly that Syrian fact‑finding teams had been formed and invited the U.N. to investigate recent deadly sectarian killings — allegations that gunmen aligned with his government attacked Druze and Alawite communities — even as concerns about accountability and regional stability persist.

Diplomacy National Security International

America250 exec fired over Kirk memorial post

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Ariel (Ari) Abergel, the executive director of the U.S. Congressional Semiquincentennial (America250) Commission, was terminated effective immediately after he used a commission social‑media account to post a tribute following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the commission said. The commission accused Abergel of a 'security breach,' misrepresenting himself and other breaches of authority; Abergel disputes that characterization, says he was honoring Kirk, claims internal dysfunction at America250, and says he was appointed earlier in 2025 by the Trump administration and will be reassigned.

Politics Government

Zelensky warns Kremlin, cites U.S. strike permission

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Axios in a post‑U.N. interview that Kremlin leaders 'have to know where the bomb shelters are' and said he received 'express permission' from U.S. President Donald Trump to strike energy and infrastructure targets inside Russia. Zelenskyy also said he asked the U.S. for an unnamed weapons system he believes would pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate; the comments follow his recent address to the U.N. General Assembly and a meeting with Trump.

War & Conflict International

U.S.-South Korea Trade Deal Talks Face New Hurdles

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The Wall Street Journal reports that negotiations over President Trump’s trade deal with South Korea have become strained after recent talks in Washington. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has discussed with Seoul raising the previously guaranteed $350 billion U.S. commitment toward figures closer to the $550 billion Japan pledged, a shift South Korean officials privately say moves the goalposts and puts the pact on shaky ground.

International Economy

James Webb Reveals Sagittarius B2 Star Formation

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NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released new mid‑ and near‑infrared images of Sagittarius B2 — the Milky Way’s most active star‑forming region near the galactic center — showing warm dust, dense opaque clouds and colorful young stars in unprecedented detail. The images, taken with Webb’s Mid‑Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and Near‑Infrared Camera (NIRCam), were highlighted in a NASA news release and involve U.S. and international partners and University of Florida co‑investigators.

Science Space

DHS denies ICE used 5-year-old as bait

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The Department of Homeland Security denied an NBC report that ICE used a 5‑year‑old autistic girl as bait, saying the father abandoned the child and fled into a residence, local police recovered and returned her, and agents remained with the child until she was placed in proper care. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the report a “disgusting smear,” noting the targeted man, Edwards Hip Mejia—detained two days later and held in Plymouth, Massachusetts—has prior domestic‑violence and strangulation convictions, and NBC has updated and appended a correction to its original article.

Media Politics Immigration

Fateh campaign reports vandalism, hate message

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Omar Fateh’s Minneapolis mayoral campaign says it found a message outside its office reading 'Somali Muslim — this is no joke' and filed a police report on Wednesday. The campaign called it the latest hate incident and said it will not be deterred, as Fateh challenges incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey in November.

Elections Public Safety

Clinton warns U.S. losing free speech

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Former President Bill Clinton told the Clinton Global Initiative in New York on Sept. 24, 2025 that he fears the United States is at risk of losing freedom of speech as government pressure is used to curb journalism and comedy. He cited the brief suspension and subsequent affiliate preemptions of Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the host’s remarks about the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk, urged defense of a robust independent press, and condemned political violence.

Politics Media Free Speech

Sprout Organics pouches recalled for lead

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Sprout Organics has expanded an FDA‑notified recall of certain 3.5‑ounce baby food pouches (sweet potato, apple and spinach) after tests showed potentially elevated lead levels. The FDA alert, first shared Sept. 16, 2025 and expanded this week, lists four lot codes with best‑by dates and says the pouches were sold online, at Walgreens and independent retailers in 28 states; consumers are advised to return matching products for a refund and the company provided contact information.

Health Consumer Safety

GSA partners with xAI to provide Grok 4 to federal agencies

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The U.S. General Services Administration announced an immediate agreement with Elon Musk’s xAI to give federal agencies access to Grok 4 and Grok 4 Fast models as part of the GSA’s OneGov strategy. The deal—effective immediately and valid through March 2027—includes engineering support from xAI, an upgrade path to FedRAMP, and quoted pricing and terms that aim to accelerate AI adoption across federal operations.

AI & Tech Government/Regulatory

FDA files notice to update leucovorin label for cerebral folate deficiency; officials tout autism speech benefits

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The FDA has filed a Federal Register notice to update the prescription leucovorin label to add cerebral folate deficiency (CFD) and language about "speech‑related deficits associated with ASD," a move announced at a White House press briefing where officials said Medicaid coverage and further NIH study of safety and effectiveness are expected. Scientists and autism groups warned the evidence is limited—existing studies are small, short and methodologically weak—White House materials stressed the change targets CFD not autism broadly, and some experts urged that leucovorin remain in controlled trials even as some clinicians begin off‑label use.

Health Politics Science

Texas man charged over threat to UTSA Charlie Kirk vigil

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Xaelyn Dunbar, 19, was arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat after investigators say he posted on Facebook on Sept. 15 that he planned to use his truck to disrupt a University of Texas at San Antonio vigil for Charlie Kirk. The Southwest Texas Fusion Center flagged the comment to UTSA and San Antonio police; officers responded to Dunbar’s apartment the same evening, the arrest affidavit quotes him admitting the post and includes threatening language, and he is held in the Bexar County Jail on $40,000 bond.

Crime Public Safety Education

Jack Smith warns rule of law 'under attack'

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Former special counsel Jack Smith told an audience at George Mason University (speech recorded Sept. 16, 2025) that norms protecting the Justice Department and the rule of law are collapsing, citing mass departures of career prosecutors, White House executive actions aimed at law firms, and recent personnel changes — including the forced exit of an Eastern District of Virginia U.S. attorney — as evidence of political pressure on DOJ.

Politics Legal

Corporations pledge nearly $200M for White House ballroom; Google, Lockheed among donors as etched-name recognition considered

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Nearly $200 million in corporate and individual pledges — from companies listed on a donor form including Google, R.J. Reynolds, Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin (reported to have pledged more than $10 million), Palantir and NextEra Energy and individuals such as Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman — have been raised for a new White House ballroom, part of a project now projected to cost up to $250 million; fundraising is led by Meredith O’Rourke and the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall, which allows donors federal tax deductions, and donor recognition options under consideration include etching names in the ballroom’s stone or listing them online (anonymity may be requested). Construction of the roughly 90,000‑square‑foot annex has begun on the South Lawn, renderings from McCrery Architects show a 650‑seat ballroom, and the White House says donors will be disclosed, no foreign contributions will be accepted, and former President Trump has said he is paying for the project himself.

White House U.S. News Corporate News

Pro-Hamas California arsonist sentenced to 19 years

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Casey Robert Goonan was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to setting multiple fires on and near the UC Berkeley campus and attempting to attack the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Goonan acknowledged his attacks were inspired by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 assault on Israel; a federal judge also ordered $94,267.51 in restitution, a $100 special assessment and 15 years of supervised release.

Crime Courts National Security

Former Packers lineman Bill Ferrario dies at 47

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Bill Ferrario, a former Wisconsin Badgers standout and fourth‑round pick of the Green Bay Packers in the 2001 NFL Draft, died unexpectedly at age 47, according to an obituary and local reporting. Ferrario played 16 games for the Packers in 2002, was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and his obituary appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; the cause of death has not been announced.

Sports Obituary

Man dies in NE Minneapolis duplex fire

5d Breaking TC 2

A man died and three others escaped after a duplex fire in northeast Minneapolis late Wednesday; firefighters found the victim on the first floor, where he was pronounced dead, and the blaze is believed to have started in the same unit. The fire broke out around 11:20 p.m. on the 900 block of 22nd Avenue NE, sent heavy flames through the front and both floors, and caused extensive damage that left the building boarded up; the Red Cross is assisting three displaced residents. The cause remains under investigation, the victim’s identity has not been released, and this is Minneapolis’ third fire-related death this year.

Public Safety

States Battle Over Medical-Debt Credit Protections

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With the Trump administration declining to defend a late‑term CFPB regulation that would have removed medical debt from credit reports—and a federal judge in Texas vacating that rule—state capitols are now the primary battleground. Some states (including Maine this year) have passed bans or other limits on medical‑debt reporting and collections, while bills proposing similar protections failed in several conservative legislatures; an estimated 100 million Americans carry health debt and about 15 million would have benefited from the CFPB rule.

Health Policy Consumer Finance

Xcel settles Marshall Fire suits for $640M

5d Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy agreed to a $640 million settlement on Sept. 25, 2025, resolving litigation alleging the utility sparked the Denver-area’s devastating Marshall Fire, reached on the eve of a jury trial. The settlement is a significant financial development for the primary electric utility serving the Twin Cities and could influence regulatory and rate considerations.

Utilities Legal

7‑Eleven launches major U.S. food revamp

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Seven & i Holdings — parent of 7‑Eleven — announced a multi‑billion‑dollar international investment plan to upgrade U.S. stores with higher‑quality prepared foods inspired by Japan, including an egg‑salad sandwich recipe, and to accelerate U.S. openings. The company told Fox News Digital it will invest more than $13 billion over coming years, work with Japanese suppliers and a Texas‑based team to replicate flagship items, and aims to double annual U.S. openings from about 125 to over 250 and add roughly 1,300 stores in five years.

Corporate News Food & Retail

U.S. ramps enforcement against illicit Chinese vape imports

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Federal agencies and local law enforcement have stepped up seizures and raids this month targeting unauthorized vaping products sourced from China. FDA and HHS announced multimillion‑unit confiscations — roughly 2 million units (~$33M retail) in an FDA action and 4.7 million units (~$86.5M retail) in an HHS operation — and federal agents executed a Chicago‑area warehouse raid reported earlier this month as part of a broader effort to disrupt trafficking networks and protect youth from toxic or counterfeit e‑cigarettes.

Public Health Crime

LA medical examiner IDs teen found in Tesla registered to d4vd; world champion Alysa Liu changes routine music

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Los Angeles County medical examiner identified the body found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to singer d4vd as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas; police say her remains were discovered in a bag after the vehicle was towed Sept. 8 for a reported foul smell. Authorities say there is currently no indication a crime occurred, no suspects or arrests have been announced, and the artist is cooperating while multiple tour dates have been canceled, and world champion figure skater Alysa Liu said she is changing her routine music amid the investigation and reported searches of the singer’s home.

Crime Public Safety Entertainment

Doctor says GLP‑1s may reduce inflammation

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Dr. Sue Decotiis, a New York City weight‑loss physician, tells Fox News that GLP‑1 receptor agonists (including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound) may do more than promote weight loss — reducing adipose‑driven inflammatory cytokines and potentially lowering incidence of chronic diseases from arthritis to cardiovascular disease and cancer. The article cites recent research (including a Swiss projection estimating a 6.4% reduction in annual deaths by 2045) and includes the doctor's prescribing guidance urging patients to consult certified weight‑loss physicians rather than self‑dosing.

Health Science

Engraved Ammunition Links Multiple Recent U.S. Shooters

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Federal investigators say a pattern has emerged in several September 2025 U.S. shootings: suspects left engraved/inscribed messages on ammunition recovered at crime scenes. FBI Director Kash Patel publicly shared images from the Dallas ICE attack and called an engraved casing evidence of an ideological motive; similar inscriptions were linked to the Charlie Kirk assassination in Utah and to Luigi Mangione in New York.

Crime National Security

Federal Suit Says Ohio Officer Recklessly Escalated

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The estate of Ta'Kiya Young filed a federal civil lawsuit against Blendon Township and its police chief this week alleging that officers 'recklessly escalated' their response when Officer Connor M. Grubb shot and killed Young — who was at least 25 weeks pregnant — in an Aug. 24, 2023 grocery‑parking‑lot encounter in the Columbus suburbs. The complaint cites prior misconduct complaints against Grubb dating to June 2023, seeks damages and an injunction to stop policies the suit says deprived Young and her unborn child of constitutional rights, and comes as Grubb — who has pleaded not guilty — faces pending criminal charges and a hearing next week.

Crime Legal

Kremlin rebukes Trump’s Ukraine pivot, calling Russia “a real bear”

5d Breaking 12

After meetings with Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, President Trump surprised allies by saying on Truth Social and in a UN speech that, with European and NATO financial support, "Ukraine can fight and WIN all of Ukraine back" — a reversal of prior land‑swap hints that drew praise from hawkish Republicans and cautious optimism from Zelenskyy but skepticism from some Ukrainians. The Kremlin quickly rebuked the remarks: spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected Trump’s "paper tiger" characterization, calling Russia "a real bear," defending Moscow’s economic resilience, labeling Ukrainian recapture of all territory misguided, and suggesting U.S. energy‑market motives.

International War & Conflict Politics

YouTube to Offer Reinstatement to Banned Creators

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Alphabet attorneys told the House Judiciary Committee that YouTube will offer reinstatement to creators whose accounts were terminated under policies the company has since changed — including the phased-out 2020 election fraud rule and the retired standalone COVID-19 restrictions now folded into a broader medical misinformation policy. Fox News reported it obtained a Google document alleging White House pressure to remove alleged COVID-19 misinformation, named high-profile figures such as Dan Bongino, Sebastian Gorka and Steve Bannon as examples of accounts eligible for reinstatement, and quoted a constitutional-law professor calling the move a "huge development" for free-speech advocates.

Politics Legal AI & Tech

St. Paul rejects 28.5% Ashland rent hikes

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The St. Paul City Council voted 4-3 on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, to reject proposed 28.5% rent increases for properties on Ashland Avenue under the city’s rent stabilization framework. The decision directly affects tenants at the Ashland Avenue addresses and reflects the council’s oversight of large rent-hike requests.

Housing Local Government

Zelensky says he'd step down after war

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios in a New York interview that he would be "ready" to leave office once the war with Russia ends and pledged to ask Ukraine’s parliament to organize elections if a multi-month ceasefire is reached. The on-camera remarks came immediately before Zelensky departed the U.N. General Assembly for Kyiv and address logistical and constitutional obstacles — martial law presently bars elections and about 20% of Ukraine is occupied by Russia — but Zelensky said a ceasefire could create the security window needed.

War & Conflict International

Turning Point USA tour resumes at Virginia Tech with heavy security; group reports 120,000 chapter requests

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Turning Point USA’s "This is The Turning Point Tour" resumed at Virginia Tech on Sept. 24, 2025, drawing roughly 3,000 people to a nearly full auditorium and operating with heavy security — metal detectors, uniformed officers, police dogs and even a replica of Charlie Kirk’s tent — while guest hosts Megyn Kelly and Gov. Glenn Youngkin led an audience Q&A that was overwhelmingly conservative‑leaning. The group says it has received more than 120,000 requests for new college and high‑school chapters since Kirk’s death and plans nine remaining tour stops over the next two months with a rotating roster of conservative hosts.

Politics Education Public Safety

Housing costs push Americans toward smaller families

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An NPR report (Sept. 25, 2025) documents how sharply higher U.S. home prices and rising mortgage rates are leading some Americans to limit family size. Using National Association of Realtors pricing data and firsthand examples (a New Jersey couple who bought a larger home with a mortgage payment now near $5,000), the piece ties housing affordability, childcare costs and locked‑in low‑rate homeowners to decisions to have fewer children.

Economy Demographics

Charter network’s strict discipline sidelines students with disabilities

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NPR reports that Paramount Schools of Excellence, a growing Indiana charter K–8 network, has markedly higher suspension rates than state averages — especially for students with disabilities — based on an NPR analysis of 2024–25 Indiana data. Families and students (including a 13‑year‑old in Indianapolis with ADHD) say strict rules that create "calm" classrooms also lead to repeated exclusions; parents further contend federal civil‑rights investigations into such discipline have stalled after federal budget cuts.

Education Civil Rights

Utah redistricting fight could help Democrats

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A Utah judge has voided the state's 2022 congressional map and ordered the Republican-led Legislature to redraw boundaries; the Legislature's redistricting committee will pick from maps posted online (including six commissioned maps and citizen submissions) on Oct. 6, and the new map must be approved by lawmakers and the court by Nov. 10, 2025. The process centers on how Salt Lake County is divided among Utah's four congressional districts and could make at least one district competitive, with implications for control of the U.S. House.

Politics Elections

Judge rules mass probationary firings unlawful

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U.S. District Judge William Alsup issued a 38-page ruling on Sept. 12, 2025 finding the Trump administration’s February purge of probationary federal employees unlawful but declined to order reinstatement, citing recent Supreme Court emergency- docket decisions and the passage of time; the administration has appealed. The decision affects thousands of probationary workers across agencies — including NOAA fisheries biologist Jessie Beck — and raises questions about judicial relief for employment actions tied to presidential authority.

Politics Legal

U.S. jets intercept Russian warplanes near Alaska

5d Breaking 1

NORAD said U.S. fighter jets and support aircraft were scrambled Wednesday to identify and intercept four Russian military planes — two Tu-95 strategic bombers accompanied by two Su-35 fighters — flying in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone. The response included an E-3 AWACS, four F-16s and four KC-135 tankers; NORAD characterized such ADIZ activity as common but said the aircraft did not enter U.S. sovereign airspace.

Military International

UN leaders condemn celebratory reactions to Kirk killing

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At the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 24, 2025, world leaders including Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić, Paraguay’s Santiago Peña and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly condemned social‑media celebrations and divisive responses to the Sept. 10 assassination of U.S. activist Charlie Kirk. They called the reactions a 'sick expression of joy' and a 'macabre response,' warning the episode exposed deep political and emotional fissures with international resonance and noting domestic consequences such as firings tied to celebratory posts.

International Politics Public Safety

New York woman indicted in fentanyl-linked killings

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Tabitha Bundrick, 36, was indicted Sept. 24, 2025 in Manhattan on 11 counts including murder, robbery, burglary and assault after prosecutors allege she used fentanyl-laced drugs to incapacitate and rob four men between 2023 and 2024, resulting in three deaths. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg described the alleged scheme as "extremely calculated"; Bundrick pleaded not guilty at arraignment and previously pleaded guilty to federal drug charges, receiving a 156-month sentence in August.

Crime Legal

China Urges Firms Not to Cut Prices in U.S.

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China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told Chinese companies in New York that they should not bring domestic price‑cutting strategies to U.S. markets, citing Beijing’s desire to avoid overcapacity in sectors such as automobiles and solar‑cell materials. The guidance, issued in a ministry statement after a meeting with company representatives, was framed as part of efforts to stabilize recent economic and trade relations between Beijing and Washington following several rounds of consultations.

International Economy Trade

Midtown hit-and-run kills German tourist

5d Breaking 1

A hit-and-run in Midtown Manhattan just before 2:40 p.m. Wednesday struck a visiting couple from Hamburg on East 40th Street and 5th Avenue; a 50-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene and her 55-year-old husband was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. NYPD’s Highway District Collision Investigation Squad is probing the incident; witnesses said the vehicle—reported as a Toyota Sienna van with a vanity plate reading 'TIMES SQUARE'—sped away after the collision.

Crime Public Safety

Minnesota Supreme Court expands eviction protections

5d Breaking TC 1

On Sept. 24, 2025, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued a ruling that expands eviction protections for renters who use housing vouchers or other rental subsidies, setting binding precedent for courts statewide, including Hennepin and Ramsey counties. The decision clarifies how judges must treat third‑party rental assistance in nonpayment and related eviction proceedings, directly affecting landlords and tenants across the Twin Cities.

Housing Legal

Legislative auditor urges stronger anti-fraud controls

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Minnesota Legislative Auditor Judy Randall said her office is coordinating with the BCA’s new financial crimes unit and stressed the state must tighten and enforce existing internal controls to stop fraud, in an interview following new federal charges in state-funded programs. DHS said it designated the autism program “high risk” in May, enhanced provider screening, imposed stricter billing, and is moving faster to halt payments when fraud is suspected, with expanded data analytics outlined to lawmakers this month.

Local Government Legal Health

China Announces 7–10% Emissions Cut by 2035

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At a U.N. high-level climate summit on Sept. 24, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China—responsible for roughly 31% of global CO2 emissions—will aim to reduce its emissions by 7%–10% by 2035, accelerate wind and solar capacity sixfold from 2020 levels, and mainstream pollution-free vehicles. The pledge, delivered ahead of major international climate negotiations in Brazil, was framed as a bid to strengthen global efforts to curb fossil-fuel emissions and came with endorsement and commentary from U.N. officials and other world leaders.

International Climate

Edina’s Mark Erjavec indicted in $975K COVID-relief fraud

5d Breaking TC 2

Mark Erjavec, 49, of Edina, has been indicted in Minnesota on five counts of wire fraud for an alleged $975,000 scheme targeting COVID-19 relief programs, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors say he reactivated dormant business entities dissolved between 2008 and 2013, opened new bank accounts, and submitted false EIDL and PPP applications with nonexistent employees and inflated revenues; he has appeared in federal court.

Business & Economy Legal

Massachusetts funds conversion of cranberry bogs into wetlands

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The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration is paying cranberry farmers to restore unproductive bogs back to wetlands amid economic pressures on the industry. CBS News highlights a near-complete 30-acre project at the Rhodes family farm in Carver, notes the state has restored more than 500 acres over the past 15 years with another 500 planned, and says the program leverages about $1 million a year in state funding plus other grants to preserve land, improve water filtration, store carbon and boost storm resilience.

Environment Agriculture

Department of the Interior says NPS removed 'Best Friends Forever' Trump‑Epstein statue for permit noncompliance

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On Sept. 23, 2025, a statue titled "Best Friends Forever" depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein was installed on the National Mall and — despite a National Park Service permit reportedly authorizing it to remain through 8 p.m. ET Sunday — was removed before sunrise Wednesday. The Department of the Interior said it was taken down "because it was not compliant with the permit issued," while the installing group, The Secret Handshake Project, says Park Service officials had previously indicated the display was compliant and that they were entitled to 24 hours’ written notice before removal; White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson also issued a statement distancing the president from Epstein.

Public Space Government/Regulatory Politics

UNC sued over closed‑door Bill Belichick hire

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A lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court alleges the University of North Carolina and its Board of Trustees illegally conducted closed‑door meetings — including a Dec. 12, 2024 emergency closed session to hire Bill Belichick — and that the board follows a pattern of secrecy on matters like conference realignment and budget planning. Plaintiffs include former UNC provost Chris Clemens and attorney David McKenzie; the complaint cites prior court interventions, a May 2024 temporary restraining order, and a $25,000 2024 settlement in related litigation.

Legal Education Sports

Rubio meets Lavrov amid Trump Ukraine shift

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly Wednesday. The encounter came a day after President Trump appeared to alter his public language on the war in Ukraine, making the high-level diplomatic contact notable for U.S.–Russia relations and American foreign-policy signaling.

Politics International

Centuries-old Spanish map recovered in Santa Fe returned to Mexico

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The FBI on Sept. 24, 2025 handed over a centuries-old Spanish-era map to Mexican officials at the Mexican consulate in Albuquerque after the document — taken from Mexico’s national archives in 2011 — was identified by Mexican archivists and traced to a Santa Fe library. The map, showing the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and Native place names across what is now New Mexico and northern Mexico, was authenticated using negatives and microfilm and had been held and protected by the New Mexico History Museum while international repatriation protocols were completed.

International Culture Law Enforcement

Judge blocks FEMA grant immigration‑cooperation rule

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U.S. District Judge William Smith (D.R.I.) ruled that the Trump administration cannot require states to cooperate with immigration enforcement to receive certain FEMA disaster grants, granting summary judgment to 20 mostly Democratic states. In a 45‑page opinion issued Wednesday, the court called the DHS guidance linking grant eligibility to honoring ICE requests 'arbitrary and capricious and unconstitutional,' and noted plaintiffs face irreparable harm to emergency preparedness funding; the administration said it would likely appeal.

Legal Politics

Bondi moves Biden‑commuted inmates to ADX supermax

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The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, transferred eight federal inmates to the U.S. Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) in Florence, Colorado this week; the men were among 37 death‑row prisoners whose sentences President Biden commuted in late December. DOJ officials say more of the commuted inmates will be moved to ADX, with all 37 expected to be transferred by 'early next year,' as the administration seeks to tighten confinement conditions for those judged especially violent.

Politics Legal Crime

Jeffries rejects unwritten shutdown deal with GOP

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Sept. 24, 2025 that Democrats will not accept any 'handshake' or unwritten agreement to avert a government shutdown, insisting protections for health‑care provisions must be codified in legislation. The statement comes as federal funding is set to expire at midnight on Sept. 30 and after a planned White House meeting between party leaders was canceled at the urging of Republican congressional leaders.

Politics Government

Oklahoma pledges TPUSA chapter in every high school

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Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced he will establish Turning Point USA chapters in every high school in the state, posting the pledge on X and discussing it on Fox News. Walters framed the move as responding to parent and student requests to promote free speech and "American values," while Democrats and local school officials—including a Tulsa Public Schools board member—publicly rejected the plan and said districts cannot be compelled to adopt partisan organizations.

Education Politics

Lawsuit challenges ICE detention of Omar Jamal

5d Breaking TC 1

A lawsuit was filed Sept. 24, 2025, challenging U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detention of Omar Jamal, a Somali community advocate and civilian employee of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office in the Twin Cities. The case contests the circumstances of Jamal’s detention and seeks legal relief over ICE’s actions.

Legal Public Safety

Capitol Hill services to halt in shutdown

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Fox News reports that if a federal government shutdown occurs next week, nonessential services on Capitol Hill will be suspended — formal Capitol tours and the constituent flag‑flying program will be canceled, garbage collection stopped, and many on‑site retail services (restaurants, barber shops) likely to close. Security and core law‑enforcement functions (U.S. Capitol Police) would continue, and congressional offices will be allowed to pay their staff during the shutdown while each office decides which employees are 'essential.'

Politics Government

MacKenzie Scott Gives $70M to UNCF to Bolster HBCUs

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The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) announced a $70 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to bolster endowments at historically Black colleges and universities across the United States. UNCF president Dr. Michael Lomax told PBS NewsHour the gift is part of a broader, billion-dollar capital campaign to close long-standing funding gaps and ensure HBCUs’ long-term financial stability and capacity to support students.

Education Philanthropy

West Point Law Professor Sues Over Speech Rules

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Tim Bakken, a law professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, has filed a lawsuit alleging the academy is violating the First Amendment by restricting professors’ classroom speech and requiring prior approval for public commentary. PBS NewsHour interviewed Bakken about the complaint, which challenges academy policies that he says bar expressing opinions in class and demand institutional sign-off for outside remarks.

Legal Education Military

Pentagon Seeks Presidential Approval to Execute Nidal Hasan

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The Pentagon is preparing to ask President Donald Trump to authorize the execution of Nidal Hasan, the Army major convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting that killed 13 service members and wounded 32. Hasan was convicted by a military jury in 2013 and has been on death row at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth; his final legal challenge was rejected in April 2025 and the Department of War (DoD) — backed by Secretary Pete Hegseth — is advancing a recommendation for execution.

Military Legal

First charge in MN autism program fraud

5d Breaking TC 2

Federal prosecutors charged Asha Farhan Hassan, 28, with wire fraud, alleging she used Smart Therapy LLC/Smart Therapy Centers to obtain more than $14 million from Minnesota’s EIDBI program via DHS and UCare by paying parents $300–$1,500 a month and hiring unqualified teen relatives, while also claiming to feed up to 1,200 children a day under Feeding Our Future and seeking nearly $500,000 in reimbursements. Authorities say funds were moved overseas, including for property in Kenya; the FBI previously raided autism centers in Minneapolis and St. Cloud, and Hassan is the 76th defendant tied to the broader Feeding Our Future case but the first charged in the autism-center probe. Her attorney says she plans to plead guilty within weeks and is cooperating to some degree, as investigators estimate related fraud totals approaching $300 million; the defense called it a “perfect storm” amid recent state funding changes.

Legal Health

Gene therapy appears to slow Huntington progression

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UniQure announced results from a small clinical trial of AMT-130, a one-time AAV-delivered gene therapy infused directly into the brain, reporting that 12 high-dose recipients declined 75% less on the Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale over 3 years compared with a ~1,600-patient untreated comparison group; academic leaders and outside neuroscientists called the findings encouraging while noting the trial is small and not yet peer-reviewed.

Health Science

Arizona holds special election for 7th District

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Arizona held a special election in the majority‑Hispanic 7th Congressional District to fill the seat vacated after Rep. Raúl Grijalva died in March 2025, and Democrat Adelita Grijalva won the contest against Republican Daniel Butierez to serve the roughly 15 months remaining in the term. The district — where Democrats hold about a 2‑to‑1 registration advantage — had been a strong Democratic seat, and Grijalva’s victory narrows the GOP House majority to 219–214 with two vacancies.

Elections Politics

MyPillow to sell Chaska HQ, shift offices

6d Breaking TC 1

MyPillow has put its Chaska headquarters up for sale and will relocate office functions to Shakopee, according to a Star Tribune report. The move consolidates operations within the Twin Cities metro across Carver and Scott counties; details on timing and employment impacts were not immediately disclosed.

Business & Economy Housing

Lake Street restaurant owner gets 8-month sentence

6d Breaking TC 1

The owner of a Lake Street restaurant in Minneapolis was sentenced to eight months in an immigration-related case, following an earlier federal raid at the business. The federal sentencing closes a local investigation tied to immigration violations at the establishment, according to the Star Tribune.

Legal Public Safety

California students sue over trans athlete policy

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Three current and former Jurupa Valley High School players — Hadeel Hazameh, Alyssa McPherson and former player Madison McPherson — sued the Jurupa Unified School District, the California Interscholastic Federation and the California Department of Education on Sept. 9, alleging religious objections and a school-created hostile environment over the district’s policy allowing a transgender athlete to play on the girls’ volleyball team. Since the filing, at least eight California teams have reportedly forfeited matches to Jurupa Valley — including Riverside Poly, Rim of the World, Orange Vista, A.B. Miller, and more recently Aquinas, Yucaipa and San Dimas at the Sept. 13 Freeway Games (with Patriot High confirming a Sept. 26 intra‑district forfeit) — according to school reports and MaxPreps.

Education Sports Legal

Families file first federal suit after D.C. midair crash

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Rachel Crafton, wife of victim Casey Crafton, filed the first federal wrongful-death suit this week on behalf of his estate, naming American Airlines, regional carrier PSA Airlines and the U.S. government (including the FAA and U.S. Army) after the Jan. 29 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 64 people aboard the American Eagle jet and three on the Army Black Hawk. The complaint alleges operational and training negligence and air‑traffic control/oversight failures, cites NTSB findings of Black Hawk altimeter problems and prior near‑misses and says both aircraft struck the Potomac after colliding at about 278 feet; families have filed Form 95 administrative claims and expect consolidated litigation.

Legal Aviation Courts/Legal

Retailers to Hire Fewest Seasonal Workers Since 2009

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Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas projects U.S. retailers will add fewer than 500,000 seasonal workers in the fourth quarter of 2025 — the smallest seasonal hiring gain since 2009 — citing tariffs, lingering inflation, and increased automation. The forecast comes as August payrolls were weak (22,000 jobs added) and Consumer Price Index data show inflation edging up to 2.9% year‑over‑year.

Economy Business

Charges filed in U of M Rapson Hall gunfire

6d Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County prosecutors charged 18-year-old Anas Mursal Mohamed after two shots were fired outside the University of Minnesota’s Rapson Hall around 8:45 p.m. on Sept. 18, causing panic and the evacuation of hundreds with no injuries. A criminal complaint cites surveillance video showing Mohamed firing twice, 10mm casings at the scene, recovery of a discarded hoodie and a 10mm Glock near the area, and his arrest the next day during a traffic stop where a loaded 9mm was found under the driver’s seat.

Public Safety Legal

Solar 'bump' could recover data‑center waste heat

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Researchers (Rice University, reported in the journal Solar Energy) propose a 'solar bump' system that runs low‑temperature data‑center wastewater through flat‑plate solar thermal collectors so sunlight and waste heat jointly produce steam to drive turbines. Case studies for Los Angeles and Ashburn, Virginia show the approach could recoup about 8% of a data center’s electricity use and deliver recovered power at costs 16.5% and 5.5% below local market rates, respectively. The method targets tepid waste streams (40–60°C) without energy‑intensive heat pumps and is positioned as a cost‑sensitive option as AI‑driven demand pushes data‑center electricity needs higher.

Science Energy AI & Tech

U.N. to Launch Global AI Governance Bodies

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On Sept. 24, 2025 the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution creating two new AI governance mechanisms: a Global Dialogue on AI Governance (a forum for governments and stakeholders) and an independent scientific panel of experts. The Security Council is convening an open debate and Secretary-General António Guterres will formally launch the forum; the panel will recruit about 40 experts and is expected to meet in Geneva next year and in New York in 2027 to shepherd international cooperation on AI risks.

International AI & Tech

Minnesota Supreme Court censures, suspends Anoka County judge for misconduct

6d Breaking TC 2

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Sept. 23, 2025, publicly censured and suspended an Anoka County District Court judge for nine months following a misconduct case brought by the Board on Judicial Standards. The high court’s order cites key findings from the board’s investigation, according to the Star Tribune.

Local Government Legal

Court blocks FEMA immigration condition on aid

6d Breaking TC 1

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the federal government cannot require states or localities to cooperate on immigration enforcement as a condition for receiving FEMA disaster funding. The decision immediately affects eligibility rules for disaster relief and mitigation money nationwide, including for Minneapolis–Saint Paul agencies and governments that rely on FEMA funds after floods and severe storms.

Legal Local Government

Oppidan sells Pillars of Prospect Park for $140M

6d Breaking TC 1

Oppidan sold the Pillars of Prospect Park senior living community near the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to Ventas for $140 million, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports on Sept. 23, 2025. The deal is described as one of the Twin Cities’ largest real estate transactions of the year, with the property’s unique features and partnerships cited as drivers of the price.

Business & Economy Housing

Iran rebuilding missile sites; key mixers absent

6d Dev 1

Satellite imagery analyzed by the Associated Press shows Iran has begun repairing buildings at missile-production sites hit by Israeli strikes in June, notably at Parchin and Shahroud, but experts say large 'planetary mixers' needed to make solid rocket fuel are likely still missing. The work signals Tehran is prioritizing restoring its solid-fuel missile infrastructure ahead of an expected reimposition of U.N. 'snapback' sanctions later this month; analysts warn acquisition of mixers—possibly from China—would rapidly restore production capability.

International Military Security

Medical examiner: Orlando coaster death due to multiple blunt impact injuries; family lawyers allege head strikes

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The Orlando medical examiner ruled the death of a 32-year-old rider after boarding Universal’s Stardust Racers at Epic Universe an accidental death caused by “multiple blunt impact injuries.” Family attorneys say the man was likely unconscious for much of the ride and struck his head repeatedly on a restraint during downward thrusts, and that his spinal disability did not cause the fatal injuries. Universal and Florida investigators say preliminary internal reviews found ride systems and equipment functioning normally; the coaster remains closed pending a comprehensive review with the manufacturer.

Corporate News Legal Public Safety

Judge declines to reinstate eight Trump‑fired inspectors general

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U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes on Tuesday refused to order the reinstatement of eight inspectors general who were dismissed en masse after President Trump returned to the White House, but wrote that the president violated the Inspector General Act by removing them without the required 30‑day notice and case‑specific reasons to Congress. The fired watchdogs — from the Small Business Administration and the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Labor, State and Veterans Affairs — sought reinstatement and back pay; the judge found the plaintiffs had not shown irreparable harm even as she admonished the administration's process and noted some IG replacement nominees have since been advanced.

Politics Legal

Poll: Americans more confident in Republicans on key issues

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A Reuters/Ipsos national poll conducted Sept. 19–21, 2025 finds more U.S. adults say Republicans, rather than Democrats, have better plans to handle top problems. The GOP led on crime (40% vs. 20%), held an 18-point advantage on immigration and a 12-point edge on foreign conflicts, and a 10-point advantage on the economy — even as a majority view the economy as on the wrong track and President Trump's economic approval remains modest.

Politics Public Opinion

China pledges 7–10% emissions cut by 2035

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Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on Sept. 24, 2025, at a U.N. high-level climate summit during the General Assembly that China will reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by 7%–10% by 2035. Xi also pledged to increase wind and solar capacity sixfold from 2020 levels and to push pollution-free vehicles into the mainstream as part of commitments ahead of the November international climate negotiations in Brazil.

International Climate

Construction worker killed on I-35W in Burnsville

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A construction worker was fatally struck by a vehicle on Interstate 35W in Burnsville on Sept. 24, 2025, authorities said. The incident occurred within a work zone on the core Twin Cities freeway and remains under investigation.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich to Depart

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Taylor Budowich, White House Deputy Chief of Staff and longtime adviser to President Trump, plans to leave the administration at the end of the month to return to the private sector, Axios reports. Budowich ran major pro‑Trump outside groups (MAGA Inc. and Securing American Greatness), oversaw communications, public liaison, cabinet affairs and speechwriting in the West Wing, and was a central figure in the 2024 comeback strategy.

Politics Government

SEC: REV founders ran $112M Ponzi scheme

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The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil lawsuit Monday in the Southern District of Florida accusing Alex Mehr and Tai Lopez, founders of Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), of defrauding investors of about $112 million. The SEC alleges the pair misrepresented the profitability and cash flow of distressed retail brands they bought (including RadioShack, Modell's and Pier 1), used new investor funds and intercompany transfers to pay maturing obligations and investor returns, and diverted millions for personal use.

Legal Corporate News

White House swaps Biden portrait for autopen image

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The White House unveiled a 'Presidential Walk of Fame' display outside the West Wing this week and posted a video on X that shows previous presidents’ portraits — but replaces former President Joe Biden’s portrait with an image of an autopen making his signature. The move highlights the administration’s mocking of Biden’s documented use of an autopen for signing certain orders and ties into ongoing Republican criticism and claims about Biden’s use of the device for pardons.

Politics Media

CDC warns of dramatic U.S. NDM‑CRE superbug surge

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a dramatic nationwide increase in NDM‑producing carbapenem‑resistant Enterobacterales (NDM‑CRE), with laboratory data showing infections rose more than 460% from 2019 to 2023. CDC officials and outside experts warn these strains resist most antibiotics, cause severe infections (UTI, pneumonia, bloodstream, wound), and call for expanded testing and infection‑control measures across U.S. healthcare settings.

Health Public Health

$100K Home Equity Loan vs. HELOC Cost Comparison

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After the Federal Reserve cut interest rates in September 2025, CBS News analyzed which way to borrow $100,000 of home equity is cheaper today. The piece compares fixed‑rate home equity loans and variable‑rate HELOCs using current market examples (10‑ and 15‑year terms), showing HELOCs are slightly cheaper at present but carry variable‑rate risk and different budgeting tradeoffs for U.S. homeowners.

Economy Finance

Average U.S. credit card balance hits $6,500

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VantageScore data show the average U.S. credit‑card balance rose to $6,500 in August 2025, with overall credit utilization climbing above 30%, signaling that many Americans are relying more heavily on revolving credit amid higher living costs. The CBS News piece (Sept. 2025) reports the balance is up $96 from a year earlier and $67 from the prior month, notes average APRs over 21%, and outlines debt‑repayment options such as consolidation loans, 0% balance transfers and debt settlement.

Economy Finance

Mahtomedi homecoming canceled amid manhunt for Grant kidnapping suspects

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Mahtomedi High School canceled its homecoming football game on the advice of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office due to ongoing law enforcement activity near campus, with electronic ticket purchases to be refunded. The cancellation coincided with a shelter-in-place as authorities searched for Texas brothers Raymond and Isiah Garcia, who are charged in Washington County in a Grant home-invasion kidnapping and robbery involving armed suspects, a hostage, and the forced transfer of more than $72,000 in cryptocurrency.

Public Safety Education

AOC appears in Newsom-backed Prop 50 ad as California redistricting fight goes public

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Gov. Gavin Newsom posted a paid "Yes on 50" ad starring Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez — including a Spanish‑language version — urging Californians to "fight for democracy," a move that drew criticism from state Republicans for featuring an out‑of‑state Democrat and prompted opposition from Arnold Schwarzenegger. The proposal, which Newsom has raised roughly $70 million to back (including a $10 million contribution from the Soros family and total spending expected to exceed $200 million), would authorize temporary changes to congressional maps to produce five additional Democrat‑friendly House seats — a rare and controversial bid to override the voter‑approved independent redistricting commission that explicitly cites recent Texas GOP mapmaking.

State Government U.S. House Elections

GSA tells purged employees to return — must report Oct. 6 after months off

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The General Services Administration has offered reinstatement to hundreds of employees who were laid off earlier this year by the agency referred to as DOGE, giving them until the end of the week to accept or decline and requiring those who accept to report for duty on Oct. 6, 2025. The internal memo — reported by AP/PBS and noted in a CBS segment — follows months away during which some purged workers were still paid and GSA incurred higher lease costs, drawing criticism as other agencies pursue similar partial rehiring efforts.

Government Politics Economy

U.S.-backed capture of cartel baby‑trafficking ringleader

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In a U.S.-Mexican operation, authorities captured Martha Alicia Mendez Aguilar ('La Diabla') on Sept. 2, 2025; U.S. intelligence from the National Counterterrorism Center helped tip Mexican forces, and U.S. agencies including the Marshals, FBI El Paso, DSS and CBP provided support. Mexican prosecutors say she led a Jalisco New Generation Cartel network that lured pregnant women, allegedly carried out illegal C-sections, killed the mothers, harvested organs, and sold newborns — sometimes to buyers in the United States — for roughly 250,000 pesos each.

International Crime National Security

Europe racing to counter Russian drone, EW threat

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Estonian and other Baltic officials say they are ramping up both hard physical defenses and plans for a coordinated ‘drone wall’ after about 20 Russian drones breached Polish airspace earlier this month. The Associated Press reports officials warning NATO’s conventional air defenses are ill-suited to low-cost, slow, low-flying drones and electronic warfare, urging investment in cheaper, mass-producible detection and interception systems and faster procurement cycles.

International Military

China relinquishes WTO 'developing country' status

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China announced on Sep. 24, 2025 that it will no longer seek the special and differential treatment afforded to self-identified developing countries in World Trade Organization agreements. Premier Li Qiang made the declaration in New York at a China-organized development forum during the U.N. General Assembly; Chinese officials and the WTO director-general said the move aims to bolster the global trading system, while Beijing stressed the change covers ongoing and future negotiations but not existing agreements.

International Economy

NYPD uses drones to stop deadly subway surfing

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The New York Police Department and Mayor Eric Adams have used drones since 2022 to spot people riding on top of moving subway trains in New York City; the program has detected and removed riders at stations, the NYPD says it has saved more than 200 people, and city data show 16 deaths and 21 injuries from subway surfing over the past three years. The article also notes a wrongful-death lawsuit by the mother of a 15-year-old victim against TikTok and Instagram parent companies and that a separate claim against the MTA was dismissed in June 2025.

Public Safety Transportation Legal

Trump’s shifting rhetoric on Zelenskyy and Putin

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A timeline from the Associated Press (published on PBS NewsHour) chronicles how President Donald Trump’s public statements about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin have changed during his second term, from early conciliatory remarks toward Putin to growing exasperation and a recent public softening toward Zelenskyy culminating in a Sept. 24 comment that Ukraine could retake lost territory. The piece compiles dated quotes and episodes (including an Oval Office Feb. 28 confrontation and a temporary pause in U.S. military aid) that illustrate how White House messaging has shifted and what that implies for U.S. foreign policy.

Politics International War & Conflict

Ben Carson Named USDA Adviser on Nutrition

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on September 24, 2025 that retired neurosurgeon and former HUD Secretary Ben Carson will serve as an adviser on nutrition, health and rural housing. Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said Carson will lead agency efforts on chronic disease and inadequate rural housing and will join the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission; the piece notes Carson's public support for state limits on certain SNAP purchases and that President Trump plans to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Politics Health Agriculture

Navajo man pleads guilty to massive grow ring

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Dineh Benally, a 48-year-old Navajo man, pleaded guilty Sept. 24, 2025 to 15 federal charges for leading an extensive illegal marijuana cultivation and distribution network spanning New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. Prosecutors say the scheme involved more than 1,100 greenhouses, exploited undocumented and foreign workers, smuggled illegal pesticides into the U.S., polluted the San Juan River, and resulted in large seizures of plants, processed marijuana, drugs and weapons; Benally faces a statutory range from a 15-year mandatory minimum up to life in prison when sentenced.

Crime Legal Environment

Athletes, Coaches Running for Congress in 2026

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Multiple former professional athletes and coaches are launching campaigns for federal office in the 2026 midterms. Former New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira announced a run for a Texas House seat being vacated by Rep. Chip Roy, and former college coach Derek Dooley entered the Republican Senate primary in Georgia to challenge Sen. Jon Ossoff; the piece catalogs other sports figures who have sought or held federal office and notes campaign themes and name recognition advantages.

Politics Elections

Parents: Leucovorin helped nonverbal autistic son speak

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A CBS News report profiles U.S. parents who say their son — previously nonverbal and diagnosed with autism — began speaking after an off‑label course of leucovorin (folinic acid). The piece summarizes the scientific rationale (cerebral folate deficiency and folate‑receptor alpha autoantibodies), quotes Dr. Richard Frye (a U.S. researcher conducting trials), cites multiple blinded and randomized studies reporting speech benefits, and notes ongoing NIH funding and trial‑design questions.

Health Science

Family sues FAA, Army, airlines over D.C. midair crash

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The widow of Casey Crafton filed a civil lawsuit on Wednesday seeking to hold the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Army, American Airlines and PSA Airlines accountable for the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people. The complaint alleges failures including inadequate pilot training and airline procedures, overworked air‑traffic controllers and systemic FAA lapses flagged by the NTSB; the suit represents the first of multiple expected family legal actions and is brought amid ongoing NTSB investigation findings.

Legal Public Safety Aviation

DOJ arrests Santa Monica man for doxxing ICE attorney as California's mask‑ban law draws criticism

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The Justice Department arrested 68-year-old Santa Monica resident Gregory John Curcio and charged him with publishing an ICE attorney’s home address in February and encouraging “SWAT” calls, with prosecutors saying the posting was malicious; he was jailed without bond and is due for an October arraignment. The move comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 627 — the “No Secret Police Act” — banning most on‑duty face coverings for local and federal officers in California (with narrow exemptions) to force identifiability, a measure supporters tie to recent masked immigration raids while federal officials and DHS officials have blasted the law as unenforceable against federal agents and dangerous to officer safety.

State Government Legal Politics

Federal arrest after doxxing ICE attorney prompts criticism of California mask ban

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Federal prosecutors arrested Gregory John Curcio, 68, of Santa Monica this week on charges of publishing private identifying information about an ICE attorney and urging others to 'SWAT' her. The arrest, and public warnings from ICE commander Gregory Bovino and statements from U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, have intensified a debate over California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s newly signed law (SB 627) that restricts law‑enforcement masking during operations.

Legal Politics Public Safety

Iran president accuses U.S. of strikes at UNGA

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking in his first address to the U.N. General Assembly this session, publicly accused the United States and Israel of carrying out airstrikes on Iranian cities and nuclear sites, calling the June attacks a 'grave betrayal of diplomacy' that killed civilians and undermined regional peace. He denied Iran seeks nuclear weapons, cited a religious edict from Iran’s supreme leader, and urged Muslim states to unite in collective defense while condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza.

International National Security Politics

Trump administration rolls out streamlined FAFSA

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The U.S. Department of Education announced a streamlined and earlier Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026–2027 cycle, saying a beta launched Aug. 3 and the live form is now available. Education Secretary Linda McMahon and department spokespeople provided completion metrics and user‑survey results, and the administration framed the change as correcting prior rollout problems and improving access for students seeking federal aid.

Education Politics

South Dakota Approves $650M Prison in Sioux Falls

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In a Sept. 24, 2025 special session, the South Dakota Legislature approved $650 million to build a new 1,500-bed men’s prison in Sioux Falls to replace an overcrowded penitentiary built 140 years ago. Gov. Larry Rhoden signed the measure; state officials say the modern facility will address inmate deaths, fights, drug smuggling and space for rehabilitation programs, with construction expected to take about four years.

Politics Public Safety

Inglewood agrees $25M settlement for wrongfully convicted man

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The City of Inglewood has agreed to pay $25 million to Maurice Hastings, 72, who spent more than 38 years in prison for a 1983 kidnapping, sexual assault and murder he did not commit. Hastings was exonerated after new DNA evidence in 2022, officially declared factually innocent in 2023, and attorneys say the settlement resolves federal civil‑rights claims alleging an Inglewood detective falsified evidence and suppressed exculpatory proof.

Legal Crime

Judge dismisses Reese’s Halloween packaging lawsuit

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U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian dismissed a 2024 class-action suit on Sept. 19, 2025, that accused Hershey of deceptive advertising for depicting spooky designs on Reese's Halloween wrappers when the unwrapped chocolates lack carved faces. The ruling found plaintiffs failed to show a concrete economic injury, though their attorney said they intend to amend the complaint.

Legal Consumer

How an $80,000 home equity loan costs after Fed rate cut

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CBS News calculates monthly payments for an $80,000 home equity loan using current fixed-rate offers after the Federal Reserve’s recent rate cut, showing modest monthly savings versus earlier in 2025 and last fall. The piece provides specific payment examples for 10- and 15-year terms, compares them to February 2025 and September 2024 rates, and frames the change in the context of expected additional cuts.

Economy Personal Finance

DHS rebuts reports on Louisiana Lockup conditions

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The Department of Homeland Security issued a public rebuttal to media reports claiming mistreatment at a newly opened ICE housing unit inside Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola) in West Feliciana Parish. DHS said allegations — including a reported hunger strike and denied medical care — are false, provided counts of inmates (including child predators and convicted murderers), and quoted Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin and department spokespeople defending detainee access to medical treatment, meals and legal counsel.

Politics Immigration Public Safety

Karen Attiah threatens legal action after Washington Post firing over Charlie Kirk social posts

6d Breaking 2 Analysis

Former Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah says she was fired over social media posts she made after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, disclosing the termination in a Substack post with screenshots of her Bluesky posts and disputing the paper’s characterization of her conduct as "unacceptable" and "gross misconduct"; the Washington Post declined to comment on personnel matters. On Sept. 11, 2025, the Democracy Defenders Fund sent a four‑page letter to WaPo HR chief Wayne Connell threatening to "pursue all appropriate remedies," asserting she did not engage in misconduct, that her posts were consistent with her role as an opinion journalist, and that the firing may violate the Washington‑Baltimore News Guild collective bargaining agreement.

Legal Media Corporate News

Brookhaven’s RHIC wraps up operations

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Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) is on its final run and will shut down to make room for a new accelerator, ending more than two decades of U.S. experiments that recreated quark‑gluon plasma. The article reviews RHIC’s history (DOE approval in 1992, operations since 2000), notes the program’s scientific legacy in demonstrating lab‑made QGP, and explains that continued QGP studies will increasingly rely on CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.

Science Research

Rare 'pink meanie' jellyfish wash up on Gulf coast

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Multiple rare 'pink meanie' jellyfish (Drymonema larsoni) have been observed washing up along the U.S. Gulf Coast, including more than 10 strandings reported on the Texas coast by Jace Tunnell of Texas A&M–Corpus Christi’s Harte Research Institute. The brightly colored predators — capable of 70-foot tentacles and weighing over 50 pounds — feed on abundant moon jellies and have been seen recently in parts of the Gulf, prompting local interest for beachgoers and marine scientists.

Environment Science

Superprime U.S. Borrowers See Spike in Delinquencies

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A recent VantageScore report, cited by CBS News, finds delinquencies rising even among the highest‑credit U.S. borrowers: superprime consumers (scores 781–850) experienced a roughly 300% increase in 90–119 day delinquencies last month. The report also shows average credit card balances near $6,500, credit utilization around 31%, and a shift toward unsecured loan originations as households seek liquidity, prompting consumer‑finance advice on consolidation, debt management plans and lender communication.

Economy Personal Finance

I-94 St. Croix bridge work starts Monday

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Bridge work on Interstate 94 over the St. Croix River at the Minnesota–Wisconsin border will begin Monday, affecting traffic between Washington County and Hudson. The project is slated to create travel impacts at the busy Twin Cities–to–Wisconsin crossing; drivers should plan for delays and possible changes to traffic patterns.

Transit & Infrastructure

AP‑NORC Poll: Trump’s Economic Edge Weakens

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An AP story reporting new AP‑NORC polling finds President Donald Trump’s perceived strength on the economy has declined in his second term, with only about 37% approving of his handling of the economy and 39% approving overall. The poll also shows immigration (43%) and crime (46%) now rank as relatively stronger issues for Trump, signaling a shift in the administration’s political positioning ahead of upcoming campaigns.

Politics Economy

House GOP proposes Charlie Kirk commemorative coin

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House Republicans Reps. August Pfluger (R‑TX) and Abe Hamadeh (R‑AZ) plan to introduce legislation on Sept. 26, 2025 directing the U.S. Treasury to mint 400,000 silver dollar coins bearing the likeness of Charlie Kirk and inscriptions including 'well done, good and faithful servant' and the year 2026. The bill would make the coins legal tender and delegates final design selection to the Treasury Secretary in consultation with the sitting president; the proposal comes amid a wave of Congressional measures to honor Kirk after his Sept. 10 assassination.

Politics Government/Regulatory

Supreme Court allows Trump to remove FTC Commissioner Slaughter while it reviews Humphrey’s Executor

6d Dev 5 Analysis

The Supreme Court, in a 6–3 order, granted a stay allowing President Trump to remove Democratic FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter while it fast-tracks December arguments on whether the FTC’s for-cause removal protections violate separation of powers and whether to overturn the 1935 Humphrey’s Executor precedent; the stay remains until a final ruling. The justices will also consider whether courts can block or remedy removals—after lower courts briefly reinstated Slaughter—with Solicitor General D. John Sauer arguing reinstatement is unavailable and only back pay may be, as Justice Elena Kagan dissented that the majority is handing presidents sweeping control over independent agencies. The dispute unfolds alongside Trump’s removal of FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya (who later resigned) and other challenges involving NLRB and MSPB members, while the Court has hinted Federal Reserve officials like Lisa Cook may have special insulation.

Legal Politics

Senators Seek IG Probes of Trump‑Era Chips, Crypto Deals

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Senators Elizabeth Warren and Elissa Slotkin asked the acting inspectors general at the State and Commerce Departments and the Office of Government Ethics to investigate whether Trump administration officials violated ethics rules in two multibillion‑dollar transactions with Emirati entities. The New York Times reported one deal would have allowed the UAE to import U.S.-designed AI chips (raising White House national‑security concerns) and the other involved a government‑backed Emirati firm sending $2 billion to a crypto company tied to the Trumps and the family of adviser Steve Witkoff, who served at State earlier this year before joining the White House.

Politics National security Finance

Teens charged after fatal TikTok table‑surfing stunts

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Northampton County prosecutors charged two Pennsylvania teenagers after separate TikTok‑inspired driving stunts left a 17‑year‑old dead and a 20‑year‑old with catastrophic, likely permanent brain injuries. One victim, David Nagy, 17, died on June 1 after riding on a folding table tied to a car and being thrown into a parked vehicle; in the other March 18 incident a woman surfing on a trunk fell off and sustained severe head trauma. District Attorney Stephen Baratta called the conduct 'grossly negligent and reckless' and said his office will seek accountability while accommodating victims’ families’ wishes to focus on deterrence rather than incarceration if plea deals are accepted.

Crime Public Safety

Space weather satellites launched to study solar storms

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On Sept. 24, 2025, NASA and NOAA launched a cluster of space‑weather satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center, including NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) and the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, plus a NOAA space‑weather observatory. The roughly $1.6 billion U.S. program aims to position instruments near a sun‑orbiting lookout about 1 million miles from Earth to improve forecasts of solar storms that can disrupt communications and threaten astronauts, with NASA missions expected operational by early 2026 and NOAA’s craft by spring.

Space Science

AI-enabled fake debt-collector scams target retirees

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Cybersecurity experts warn of an FBI-noted wave of scams using AI and phone‑spoofing to impersonate debt collectors and pressure retirees into paying via gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency. The Fox News Digital piece quotes Pete Nicoletti, chief information security officer at Check Point, and lays out concrete consumer-protection steps — including invoking FDCPA debt‑validation rights, checking with the CFPB/FTC and contacting original creditors directly — to verify and block fraudulent demands.

AI & Tech Consumer Protection

Robbinsdale schools weigh mergers, closures amid $21M deficit

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Robbinsdale Area Schools said at a Tuesday night board meeting it faces a $21 million budget shortfall and is considering merging Cooper and Armstrong high schools, closing several middle and elementary schools, and seeking a voter-approved bond to build a new high school. The district, now in statutory operating debt, must submit a board‑approved plan to the Minnesota Department of Education by Jan. 31, 2026. Leaders cited declining enrollment, rising costs, and a $20 million compensatory funding double‑count as drivers of the crisis, with closures projected to save $500,000 to over $1 million per building.

Education Local Government

Hegseth, Noem Back Coast Guard Secretary Proposal

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Senior administration officials Pete Hegseth (Secretary of War) and Kristi Noem (Homeland Security) publicly endorse creating a civilian Secretary of the Coast Guard — a change included as a provision in the House‑passed Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 — arguing it would strengthen civilian oversight, streamline bureaucracy and better integrate the service into national security operations such as Operation Pacific Viper. Rep. Mike Ezell sponsored the provision in the bill; Noem pledged to work with President Trump and lawmakers to enact the change.

Politics Military

Kim offers talks if U.S. drops denuclearization demand

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he would be open to talks with the United States only if Washington abandons its demand for denuclearization, insisting his country's nuclear arsenal is irreversible and even codified in law, and recalling "good personal memories" of Donald Trump. Trump has expressed interest in meeting Kim again during upcoming trips to Asia, but a senior State Department official said no DMZ meeting is currently planned, even as Seoul and U.S. officials continue to press denuclearization and analysts estimate North Korea possesses on the order of dozens of nuclear warheads amid closer ties with Russia and China.

International War & Conflict Military

Flotilla Says Drones Attacked Ships Near Greece

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Activists with the Global Sumud Flotilla reported overnight drone attacks and communications jamming while en route south of Greece toward Gaza, saying at least 13 explosions were heard and 'unidentified objects' were dropped on about 10 boats. Italy condemned the strikes and sent the frigate Fasan toward the area for possible rescue operations; the U.N. Human Rights Office called for an independent investigation and activists — including Greta Thunberg and at least one American — said there were damages but no casualties.

International War & Conflict

GOP push to remove DEI from federal contracts

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Republican lawmakers led by Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Roger Williams are pressing to strip Diversity, Equity and Inclusion requirements from federal contracting and from SBIR/STTR grant rules ahead of a Sept. 30 reauthorization deadline, proposing the INNOVATE Act as a replacement that would prioritize merit-based awards. At the same time Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore warning that Annapolis may be considering contractor selection for the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild based on race and sex — a move Duffy said could raise Civil Rights Act and legal issues for a federally funded project estimated at $1.8 billion.

Politics Infrastructure

Oregon exhumes 1946 'Oak Grove Jane Doe' remains

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Oregon State Police this week exhumed the remains of the 'Oak Grove Jane Doe' from Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City as part of a renewed homicide investigation into a woman found dead in April 1946 along the Willamette River. The agency said the degraded remains will undergo advanced forensic testing — including modern anthropological and identification techniques — after evidence went missing in the 1950s; officials hope the work will finally identify the victim and bring resolution to the state's oldest unidentified person case.

Crime Science

SNAP cuts loom as grocery prices rise

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Analyses and agency actions tied to the Republican 'big, beautiful' tax and spending law are set to shrink benefits or remove millions from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The CBO estimates about 2.4 million people could lose access in a typical month, while an Urban Institute study says up to 22.3 million U.S. households could see lower benefits or be cut off; the USDA also announced on Sept. 20, 2025 that it will halt its annual Household Food Security Report, complicating efforts to track hunger impacts. States such as Pennsylvania are already moving to implement stricter work requirements, effective Nov. 1, 2025.

Economy Social Policy

Senators Clash Over Trump Administration Speech Push

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Senate Republicans and Democrats sparred after recent White House and FCC statements suggesting tougher action against critics and certain speech, with lawmakers warning the rhetoric risks government overreach into broadcasting licenses and free expression. The debate was prompted by ABC's brief sidelining of Jimmy Kimmel over comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk and by public comments from FCC Chair Brendan Carr and the White House that some senators called chilling or authoritarian.

Politics Government/Regulatory

Venezuelan pleads guilty after posing as Ohio teen

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Anthony Emmanuel Labrador‑Sierra, a 24‑year‑old Venezuelan national, pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing a firearm as an alien, making false statements to purchase a gun, and using false documents after enrolling at Perrysburg High School in Ohio under the identity of a 16‑year‑old. Authorities say he used fraudulent paperwork to obtain Temporary Protected Status, an Ohio driver’s license and other documents, was arrested during a traffic stop on Interstate 75, and is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 23, 2026.

Crime Education Immigration

Judge Tosses Strzok Suit Over FBI Firing

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A federal judge in the District of Columbia rejected former FBI official Peter Strzok’s claims that his 2018 firing violated the First and Fifth Amendments, concluding the FBI’s interest in avoiding the appearance of bias outweighed Strzok’s speech on an FBI-issued phone. Judge Amy Berman Jackson docketed a sealed memorandum opinion and ordered the parties to state by Sept. 30, 2025 whether portions should remain sealed.

Politics Legal

UK arrest after cyberattack disrupts European airports

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U.K. authorities arrested a man in his 40s in West Sussex on suspicion of computer‑misuse offenses after a cyberattack disrupted check‑in and baggage‑handling systems at several European airports — including Berlin, Brussels and London Heathrow — beginning late Friday and continuing through the weekend. The affected software belongs to Collins Aerospace, a U.S.-based provider, which said certain European sites experienced a 'cyber‑related disruption'; the suspect was released on conditional bail as the NCA investigation continues.

International AI & Tech Transportation

New screwworm case detected near U.S. border

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Mexico activated emergency controls after discovering a new New World screwworm infection in cattle in Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo León — the closest detected case to the U.S. border since an outbreak began last year. The animal originated in Veracruz, Mexico has reported more than 500 active cattle cases, and U.S. officials have kept imports of Mexican cattle, bison and horses suspended while warning of urgent biosecurity and trade impacts.

Agriculture Public Safety International

Seattle stabbing: Repeat offender charged in Chinatown attack

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Seattle police arrested and charged 44-year-old Jose Francisco Garcia with first-degree assault after surveillance video showed him stab a man in the stomach from behind while the victim walked with a cart in the Chinatown-International District. Officers say Garcia fled on a bicycle but was captured within nine minutes; bodycam and dashcam footage show officers tackling him and recovering a fixed-blade knife. Court records cite a criminal history back to 1997 and a pending drug-possession charge from November as detectives continue their investigation.

Crime Public Safety

Former Diddy stylist sues alleging sexual abuse

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Deonte Nash, a former stylist who testified in Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ federal criminal trial, filed a 37-page civil lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging sexual battery, human trafficking, false imprisonment and physical violence by Combs and Bad Boy Entertainment. Nash says he worked for Combs from about 2008–2018, recounts multiple alleged assaults (including incidents in 2013–2014), claims ongoing threats after resigning in 2018, and seeks compensatory and punitive damages and a jury trial; the suit appears amid Combs’ recent criminal conviction and an Oct. 3 sentencing date.

Legal Crime Entertainment

UN commission says Israel committing genocide in Gaza, names Netanyahu, Herzog, Gallant for incitement

6d Breaking 4 Analysis

The U.N. Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, finding four of the five Genocide Convention acts—killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, inflicting conditions of life to bring about destruction, and measures intended to prevent births—are occurring, asserting direct evidence of genocidal intent, and alleging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant incited genocide. Chair Navi Pillay urged states to act without waiting for the ICJ, noting the findings could inform ICC/ICJ cases even though the Council cannot sanction; Israel and critics, including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Sen. Ted Cruz, condemned the report as false or antisemitic, while the commission called for urgent international action and unimpeded humanitarian access.

International War & Conflict Legal

Experts explain rise in autism diagnoses

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U.S. health reporters and clinicians say the rise in autism diagnoses over recent decades reflects a mix of broader diagnostic criteria, greater awareness and earlier screening — though some experts caution environmental and prenatal factors may also play a role. The article cites CDC prevalence milestones (from an estimated 1-in‑5,000–10,000 in the 1970s to 1-in‑31 in 2022), includes quotes from Dr. Steven Quay and Dr. Aggie Papazyan, and links the discussion to recent Washington, D.C. announcements about autism research and possible therapies.

Health Science

Rep. Tom Tiffany enters Wisconsin governor's race

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U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R‑Wis.) announced his candidacy for governor of Wisconsin in a campaign video published Sept. 23, 2025, declaring he will roll up his sleeves to 'deliver results' and pledging policies including a property‑tax freeze and protections for farmland. The entry makes the 2026 contest an open‑seat race after Gov. Tony Evers said he would not seek a third term and adds to a growing GOP primary that includes Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann and businessman/former Navy SEAL Bill Berrien.

Politics Elections

Trump signs $1M ‘Gold Card’ green‑card program; 80,000 slots, $15k vetting fee

6d Breaking 6 Analysis

President Trump signed an executive order launching a $1 million “Gold Card” route to lawful permanent residency, with 80,000 slots and a $15,000 State/DHS vetting fee; a portal (trumpcard.gov) is live, individual applicants can pay $1 million and companies may sponsor at $2 million, with expedited review and background checks. The administration says the program will replace existing employment‑based green‑card categories (including EB‑1 and EB‑2) and has floated a $5 million “Platinum Card” allowing up to 270 days in the U.S. without U.S. tax on foreign income pending congressional approval. In a separate move, Trump imposed a $100,000 annual fee on H‑1B visas to discourage employer reliance, a package critics say sidesteps Congress and will face legal challenges.

Immigration Politics Economy

Map: Where America's Oldest Residents Live

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The U.S. Census Bureau’s new deep‑dive on 2020 Census data shows the number of centenarians rose roughly 50% from 2010 to 2020, with about 80,100 people aged 100+ nationwide. The report provides state‑level rates (Hawai'i, Rhode Island and South Dakota highest) and demographic breakdowns—including that nearly 79% of centenarians are women—details that have implications for eldercare and public‑health planning across states.

Health Demographics

Judge vacancy crisis strains D.C. courts

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A CBS News report details mounting judicial shortfalls in Washington, D.C., where 13 vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court — plus two judges on medical leave and two more retirements due by January — threaten to leave up to 15 of 62 trial-court seats empty and create major case backlogs. The piece explains how the District’s unique appointment process (the Judicial Nomination Commission sends lists to the president, who nominates, and the Senate confirms) has left many seats unfilled; President Trump has submitted four Superior Court nominations and the JNC says it has provided candidates for every vacancy.

Politics Legal

At Glendale memorial, Trump pledges Medal of Freedom for Charlie Kirk’s family

6d Dev 26 Analysis

At a packed State Farm Stadium memorial in Glendale, Arizona — with tens of thousands attending, overflow sites and a SEAR‑1 security designation led by the Secret Service amid reported threats and the detention of an armed man — President Trump pledged to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk’s family and called Kirk a “martyr for American freedom,” while a lineup of conservative figures including Vice President JD Vance, Marco Rubio and Tucker Carlson also spoke. Erika Kirk publicly forgave her husband’s accused killer and framed the gathering as a spiritual revival even as the event blended elements of a state‑style funeral, worship and partisan politics.

Obituaries & Memorials Events Politics

Gabbard revokes clearances, hinders Brennan probe

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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on Aug. 19 that she revoked security clearances for 37 current and former intelligence professionals. Four Trump administration officials tell Axios that the action removed or chilled nearly a dozen witnesses DOJ had planned to call in its criminal investigation of former CIA director John Brennan — complicating prosecutors' ability to discuss classified material and potentially undermining witness credibility. DOJ prosecutor David Metcalf reportedly warned the revocations create 'a major complication' for the case.

Politics Legal National Security

Pentagon limits shaving waivers to 1 year, orders review of grooming standards

6d Breaking 3

The Pentagon’s Aug. 20 memo, made public in mid‑September 2025, limits shaving waivers across all branches to one year, requires an accompanying medical treatment plan and says service members may be separated if the condition persists beyond that period, while not specifying treatment options, costs or how the rule interacts with special‑operations/Arctic shaving rules or religious accommodations; it cites pseudofolliculitis barbae as a common condition. Adviser Hegseth has ordered a review of how grooming standards have changed over the last decade, with Pentagon spokespeople stressing a uniform “clean‑shaven” standard as the Army simultaneously tightened appearance rules for female soldiers — moves observers have tied to broader Pentagon rebranding and more aggressive rhetoric.

Government Politics Military

Pentagon codifies vetting of external engagements and tightens press‑access rules

6d Breaking 7

The Pentagon this month codified a stricter vetting regime for external engagements in a 17‑page memo directing that speeches, conferences and interviews be vetted under a streamlined approval process and allowing leadership to reject events or organizations deemed unprofessional or contrary to administration values amid the department's rebranding as the "Department of War." At the same time the memo requires Pentagon reporters to sign a pledge not to collect or disclose classified or controlled‑unclassified "sensitive" information without authorization, formalizes escort‑only and off‑limits areas inside the building, and ties violations to loss of press credentials — a step defended publicly by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and sharply criticized by press groups.

Military Politics Media

Pentagon rebranding raises questions about U.S. military posture

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has spearheaded a Pentagon rebranding—styling the Defense Department as the 'Department of War'—and implemented internal appearance and personnel rules (including limits on shaving waivers and bans on lipstick for servicewomen). Reporters say 'Department of War' seals have been installed at U.S. bases, and Hegseth is quoted urging a shift to 'offense' and 'maximum lethality,' prompting analysts to debate whether these symbolic and policy moves signal a substantive change in U.S. use of force under the Trump administration.

Military Politics

New York City may move mayoral elections to even years

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New York voters will consider a ballot proposal to shift future city elections — including the mayoralty and other local offices — from off‑cycle (odd‑year) dates to even‑numbered years to coincide with federal and statewide elections. Proponents say the change would raise turnout and broaden the electorate; experts and the article cite national examples (e.g., Las Vegas saw turnout jump after a 2019 on‑cycle change) while opponents worry local contests and issues could be overshadowed on busier ballots.

Politics Elections

Mamdani Proposes City-Run Grocery Stores to Cut Prices

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Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic front-runner in the New York City mayoral race, proposes creating a network of city-owned grocery stores (potentially one per borough) to lower grocery prices. The New York Times video visits existing city-owned markets such as Essex Market and Arthur Avenue—where subsidized rents help keep prices down—and presents supporters, critics in the private grocery industry, and poll data showing broad public support.

Elections Economy

DNC launches ad blitz against swing Republicans

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The Democratic National Committee on Wednesday launched a modest, five‑figure digital ad campaign accusing President Trump of 'attacks on free speech' and targeting four vulnerable House Republicans — Reps. Rob Wittman (VA), Jen Kiggans (VA), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) and Tom Kean Jr. (NJ). The spots will run on conservative and independent outlets, including the podcasts of Joe Rogan and Ben Shapiro, and were timed to respond to ABC's brief suspension and subsequent reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel amid FCC threats and affiliate preemptions.

Politics Elections

Mexican national dies in ICE custody at Adelanto

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Ismael Ayala-Uribe, a 39-year-old Mexican national and former DACA recipient, died after being hospitalized while detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County. ICE says he was arrested Aug. 17, transferred to Adelanto on Aug. 22, evaluated by an on-call medical provider Sept. 18, referred to a hospital for an abscess and hypertension, and was later pronounced dead after being found unresponsive; the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is investigating.

Immigration Public Safety

Georgia inmate sentenced 80 years for mailing bombs

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A Georgia state prison inmate, identified as David Dwayne Cassady (who now goes by Lena Noel Summerlin), was sentenced to 80 years in federal custody after pleading guilty to making two functional explosive devices in prison and mailing them to a U.S. federal courthouse in Anchorage, Alaska, and to the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Federal prosecutors and U.S. Postal Inspection Service officials said the devices posed a danger to recipients and those who handled the mail; the defendant admitted the mailings were 'in retaliation for prison conditions.'

Crime Courts/Legal

Former pledge sues over alleged brutal fraternity hazing

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Rafeal Joseph filed a federal lawsuit on Sept. 23, 2025 alleging that members of Omega Psi Phi’s Nu Eta chapter and others at the University of Southern Mississippi brutally beat him during a April 16, 2023 'Hell Night' pledge event, causing severe injuries that required emergency surgery and a blood transfusion and ultimately led him to drop out. The suit names the fraternity, the university and multiple individuals and organizations; civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers represents Joseph and said the case reflects criminal violence that university leaders have ignored.

Legal Education Public Safety

Storm rips hospital roof; patients evacuated in Oklahoma

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On Sept. 23, 2025, storms with heavy rain and damaging winds peeled part of the roof off the Northeastern Health System hospital in Sallisaw, Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, forcing the evacuation of about nine patients and soaking part of the facility. County emergency management officials — including Sequoyah County Emergency Management director Brad Taylor — said there were no injuries reported and crews were rushing to protect the building with tarps and sandbags as the National Weather Service warned of additional damaging rain across Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Public Safety Weather

Districts Weigh School Closures as Enrollment Falls

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School districts across the United States — including St. Louis, Philadelphia, Boston, Houston and Norfolk — are considering closing or consolidating schools as enrollment declines strain budgets. The trend, driven by a falling birthrate, post‑COVID funding rollbacks, and shifts to school choice and homeschooling, is backed by NCES projections and recent research showing thousands of schools have seen steep enrollment drops and potential persistent harms to displaced students.

Education Local Government/Policy

United grounds U.S., Canada departures briefly

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United Airlines requested an FAA ground stop Tuesday night after reporting a brief connectivity issue that temporarily halted all departures in the U.S. and Canada; operations resumed after roughly 30 minutes. The carrier said this was the second such network halt in under two months, noting an early‑August ground stop that produced multi‑hour delays at major hubs including Newark, Denver, Houston and Chicago.

Transportation Public Safety

Camp Mystic to reopen Cypress Lake next summer; Guadalupe site remains too damaged

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Camp Mystic said it will reopen its Cypress Lake sister site next summer while its 99‑year‑old Camp Mystic Guadalupe — where a July 4 flash flood killed 27 campers and counselors and was part of a wider Texas flooding disaster that killed at least 136 people — remains too damaged to reopen. Leaders say the reopening will follow newly passed Texas camp‑safety laws (including bans on cabins in dangerous flood zones, detailed emergency plans, staff training and emergency warning systems), that they are working with engineers and other experts, and that they plan to build a memorial; the legislative package includes roughly $240 million from the state's rainy‑day fund for disaster relief, warning sirens and improved forecasting.

Education Politics Public Safety

Minneapolis to nominate three Black heritage sites

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The City of Minneapolis says it will nominate the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder building, the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center in North Minneapolis, and the former home of Harry Davis Sr. in South Minneapolis to the National Register of Historic Places. The effort, part of a city initiative begun in 2019 to document Black history, could open access to preservation grants and tax credits, with decisions expected in late 2026 or early 2027.

Local Government Housing

Brooklyn synagogue requires voter registration for High Holidays

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Congregation Shaare Zion in Gravesend, Brooklyn, told congregants in a Sept. 2025 letter that proof of voter registration is required to secure seats for High Holidays services, citing concerns about the upcoming New York City mayoral election. The policy does not name candidates or instruct how to vote but warns the election outcome could pose 'very serious problems' for the Jewish community; scholars and rabbinic authorities questioned its permissibility and flagged church–state and election-law implications.

Politics Religion Elections

Ryan Routh convicted on five counts, including attempted assassination of Donald Trump

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A jury convicted Ryan Routh on five federal counts — including attempted assassination of Donald Trump, assaulting a federal officer, and firearms offenses — after testimony and evidence in Fort Pierce showed a Secret Service agent saw Routh aim an SKS‑style rifle through a fence at Trump’s golf course and prosecutors tied Routh to the hide with DNA, phone, financial records, surveillance, and a handwritten “Dear World” note describing an assassination attempt. Routh, who represented himself and whose opening was cut off by Judge Aileen Cannon, faces a possible life sentence with sentencing set for December; he attempted to stab himself and was restrained by U.S. Marshals immediately after the guilty verdict.

Courts & Law Media Public Safety

Arrest made in Aug. 26 Minneapolis mass shooting

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Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Tuesday that officers arrested 24-year-old Trayveion Alvin Green on a murder warrant in the Aug. 26 mass shooting near Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and a nearby encampment. Green is the third suspect charged, following Ryan Timothy Quinn and Tiffany Lynn Marie Martindale; the shooting involved a .223 rifle and left seven people shot, including one man who died.

Public Safety Legal

Judge grants TRO barring encampments on Sabri Minneapolis properties

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A Hennepin County judge granted a temporary restraining order barring homeless encampments on any Minneapolis properties owned by Hamoudi Sabri, following the city’s lawsuit over alleged public nuisance conditions at his East Lake Street and 28th Avenue South lot and a mass shooting there that injured seven. The ruling followed failed talks over the duration of restrictions (the city sought 90 days; Sabri 30) and came amid heightened police patrols and new fencing; Mayor Jacob Frey called it the right call, while Sabri said he is weighing next legal steps and criticized the city’s handling of homelessness. The city says it spent about $50,000 clearing the site and plans to seek reimbursement, after earlier issuing roughly $15,000 in citations and reporting that crews were initially blocked from cleanup.

Public Safety Legal Housing

Gates Foundation pledges nearly $1B for global health

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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a pledge of more than $900 million to support global health programs fighting diseases such as HIV and malaria, an effort CBS News says is intended in part to help offset recent U.S. reductions in foreign and humanitarian aid. The funding was described in a CBS News report by Elaine Quijano and is aimed at boosting prevention, treatment and program continuity in low‑ and middle‑income countries.

Health Philanthropy

US citizens detained amid immigration raids

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CBS News reports that as the Department of Homeland Security ramps up enforcement — saying it is on pace to deport nearly 600,000 people by year's end — several U.S. citizens have been caught up in immigration arrests and held in detention until they can prove their citizenship. The video piece documents nationwide enforcement raids and illustrates operational strains and civil‑liberties concerns tied to aggressive immigration operations.

Immigration Public Safety

ICE detains Salvadoran charged with strangling infant

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Alvaro Mejia-Ayala, a 21-year-old Salvadoran national, was arrested in Leesburg, Virginia, after police say an infant was found unresponsive with a charging cable around her neck on the morning of Sept. 17, 2025. Local authorities charged Mejia-Ayala with strangulation and the infant is in critical condition; the Department of Homeland Security said ICE lodged an immigration detainer, noting his 2016 entry and that his immigration case was dismissed on Oct. 17, 2024. DHS officials publicly condemned the attack, calling it 'PURE EVIL,' and highlighted prior local charges including a Feb. 2024 reckless-driving conviction.

Crime Immigration

Ex‑SJSU coach sues for wrongful termination

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Melissa Batie-Smoose, a former San Jose State University women's volleyball assistant coach, filed a lawsuit against the Board of Trustees of the California State University system alleging wrongful termination after her contract was not renewed following a midseason suspension tied to a Title IX complaint. The complaint stems from her challenge to the program’s handling of a transgender athlete, Blaire Fleming, and related allegations involving teammate Brooke Slusser; Mountain West conducted an investigation that it said found insufficient evidence.

Legal Education Sports

12‑year‑old shot at Minneapolis church shows recovery

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Sophia Forchas, a 12-year-old critically wounded when a shooter opened fire through a window at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis less than a month ago, is showing unexpected neurological recovery and will move from acute care to an inpatient rehabilitation program this week. Doctors say she suffered severe brain damage from a bullet that lodged in her brain, underwent emergency surgery including removal of part of her skull to relieve pressure, and remains on a long rehabilitation path; the attack killed two students and wounded 21 others, and the shooter died by suicide.

Crime Public Safety Health

Connecticut settles wrongful‑death suit for visiting nurse

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Connecticut officials agreed to a $2.25 million settlement in a wrongful‑death lawsuit over the 2023 killing of visiting nurse Joyce Grayson at a Willimantic halfway house; a state judge approved the deal on Sept. 23, 2025. The suit, filed by Grayson’s husband, accuses the Department of Correction and the Judicial Branch’s probation oversight of failing to supervise convict Michael Reese, who later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 years; talks with the nurse’s employer, Elara Caring, continue.

Legal Public Safety Health

GE plant lays off immigrants after CHNV ends

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At GE Appliances’ Louisville, Kentucky plant, nearly 150 immigrant workers—mostly Cubans protected under the CHNV parole program—were laid off in May after the Department of Homeland Security moved to terminate the program and the Supreme Court allowed the administration to proceed. The rescission of CHNV (affecting roughly 532,000 people) and subsequent DHS notices in June forced workers without alternate legal status to leave, leaving the 5,000-employee plant short-staffed, relying on overtime and ongoing training to maintain production.

Economy Immigration

NJ police union endorses Trump‑backed Ciattarelli

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The New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police (NJ FOP) formally endorsed Republican Jack Ciattarelli this week, giving the Trump‑backed gubernatorial candidate a significant law‑enforcement endorsement. Ciattarelli hailed the backing on social media, pledged to support police and their families as governor, and said he would repeal the state’s Immigrant Trust Directive and withdraw state lawsuits against the Trump administration if elected.

Politics Public Safety

Duffy: DOT Obligates $42M for Brightline Safety

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the U.S. Department of Transportation is obligating $42 million in previously announced grants to Florida’s Brightline rail to fund fencing, grade-crossing upgrades and trespassing mitigation, and accused the Biden‑Buttigieg administration of leaving an "unprecedented backlog" of over 3,200 announced but unobligated grants. DOT provided a breakdown of the Brightline awards ($24.9M; $15.4M; $1.6M; $150K) and said the oldest grant was first announced in 2022; a Buttigieg spokesman dismissed the criticism as nonsense.

Politics Transportation Public Safety

Ramsey County sets 9.75% preliminary levy

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The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 23 set a preliminary 2026 property tax levy increase of up to 9.75%, signaling the maximum that can be reduced before final adoption later this year. Commissioners indicated they may try to lower the levy in coming weeks during budget deliberations and public input.

Local Government Business & Economy

Melania Trump unveils global children’s digital safety coalition

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At the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, First Lady Melania Trump announced 'Fostering the Future Together,' a White House–led international coalition focused on children’s well‑being in the digital era, with its first meeting slated for early 2026 at the White House. The initiative calls on spouses or equivalents of heads of government to lead national programs, and will partner with private‑sector firms to expand access to AI, robotics and blockchain education while sharing best practices on benefits and risks.

Politics AI & Tech Education

1989 Arizona murder victim, daughters identified

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The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office identified Marina Ramos as the woman found stabbed to death in the Arizona desert on Dec. 12, 1989, and used DNA in August 2025 to locate her two infant daughters, who were abandoned in a park restroom in Oxnard, California, two days after the killing. Investigators tied Ramos to an alias via an FBI fingerprint match after a 2022 NamUs resubmission, found the sisters were fostered and later adopted in Ventura County, and are now seeking public tips as the homicide suspects remain unknown.

Crime Public Safety

Lilly oral GLP‑1 pill shows strong weight loss

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Eli Lilly’s once-daily oral GLP‑1 drug orforglipron produced significant weight loss and cardiometabolic benefits over 72 weeks in a phase 3 trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, with safety similar to injectable GLP‑1s. Lilly says it will seek U.S. approval for obesity as early as 2026 and plans to pursue a type 2 diabetes indication the same year, as analysts suggest the pill could reduce reliance on costly injectables.

Health Science

Dakota County proposes 9.9% levy increase

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Dakota County on Sept. 23, 2025, proposed a 9.9% property tax levy increase for its 2026 budget, affecting homeowners and businesses across the Twin Cities county. The proposal begins the county’s annual budget process toward final adoption later this year.

Local Government Business & Economy

Washington County sets 2026 levy cap at 6.95%

7d Breaking TC 1

The Washington County Board on Sept. 23, 2025, approved a preliminary 2026 property tax levy allowing an increase of up to 6.95%. The preliminary action sets the maximum levy that can be reduced before final adoption later this year, affecting homeowners and businesses countywide in the east Twin Cities metro.

Local Government Business & Economy

Iowa woman convicted in Minneapolis girlfriend’s murder

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A Hennepin County jury on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, convicted 32-year-old Margot Lewis of second-degree murder with intent and second-degree murder without intent while committing a felony for the June 14 killing of her girlfriend, 35-year-old Liara Tsai, at a Minneapolis apartment. Tsai’s body was later found wrapped in bedding and a futon mattress in Lewis’s car after a high‑speed crash on I‑90 near Highway 42 in Olmsted County; sentencing is set for Nov. 18, and Lewis remains in Hennepin County Jail.

Legal Public Safety

EV sales spike before federal credits expire

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With federal EV tax credits of $7,500 for new and $4,000 for used vehicles set to end on September 30 under the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, U.S. buyers are rushing to purchase and lease electric cars. Cox Automotive reports August new EV sales up 17.7% year over year and used EV sales up 59%, while dealers offer aggressive incentives—some leases as low as $40/month—amid concerns sales could slow once credits lapse.

Economy Energy

Hegseth ends DACOWITS women’s services panel

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has terminated the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS), with the Department of War’s press secretary calling the panel “divisive” and saying the department will pursue uniform, sex‑neutral standards. The committee, created in 1951 and long influential on recruitment, retention and well‑being policies for servicewomen, was dissolved Tuesday via an announcement on X amid Hegseth’s broader rollback of DEI initiatives.

Military Politics

Disney hikes prices for Disney+, Hulu, ESPN

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Disney announced Tuesday it will raise prices for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN bundles effective October 21, increasing Disney+ ad-supported to $11.99/month (from $9.99) and ad-free to $18.99 (from $15.99). The Disney+–Hulu ad bundle will rise to $12.99 (ad-free $19.99), while the Disney+–Hulu–ESPN Select bundle will cost $19.99 with ads (from $16.99) and $29.99 ad-free (from $26.99). The move follows recent streaming price hikes by Apple, Peacock and Netflix and comes as Disney+ reported 128 million subscribers in Q3.

Corporate News Entertainment

Judge extends injunction to NIH, DOD, DOT; orders broader restoration of terminated UC grants

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U.S. District Judge Rita Lin broadened her UC-wide injunction to cover NIH, the Defense Department, and Transportation, ordering NIH to restore terminated grants to UC researchers—including about $500 million in NIH funding to UCLA on Sept. 22, 2025—after earlier reinstating $81 million in NSF awards. The preliminary injunction also bars agencies from issuing future mass terminations via generic form letters that lack specific reasons. Lin held that the Supreme Court’s APHA v. NIH ruling doesn’t preclude district court relief because UC researchers aren’t parties to the grant contracts and the Claims Court can’t hear First Amendment claims; she rejected First Amendment claims against NIH and DOD but found DOT’s DEI-cited cancellations were impermissible viewpoint discrimination.

Science Education Legal

Conservative group urges Jordan climate subpoenas

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The American Energy Institute urged House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan last week to subpoena records from the Environmental Law Institute’s Climate Judiciary Project, alleging coordination that could influence climate lawsuits. In a letter citing a Sept. 12 Chevron filing in Multnomah County v. ExxonMobil, the group claims a plaintiffs’ attorney had undisclosed involvement in studies presented as independent evidence and that a draft acknowledgment of Climate Judiciary Project funding was removed from a final publication, with draft judicial training materials reportedly found on the attorney’s firm website.

Politics Legal Climate

Mayo study: nontraditional causes in women’s heart attacks

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Mayo Clinic researchers report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that more than half of heart attacks in women under 65 are caused by nontraditional factors such as embolisms and spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which are frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed. An analysis of 1,474 heart attacks over more than 15 years found atherosclerosis caused 75% of men’s events but only 47% of women’s, with SCAD nearly six times more common in women; stressor-related heart attacks (e.g., anemia, infection) carried higher five‑year mortality.

Health Science

Nicole Mitchell sentencing set Tuesday; defense seeks misdemeanor downgrade and Ramsey County confinement

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Sentencing is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday in Becker County (Detroit Lakes) for Nicole Mitchell, a Minnesota state senator representing Woodbury, following her July 2025 jury convictions for first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools. Her defense is asking the court to reduce the felony convictions to misdemeanors, to allow any sentence—minimum six months in jail or workhouse—to be served in Ramsey County rather than Becker County, and is disputing $23,585 in restitution sought by prosecutors.

Elections Local Government Legal

Pennsylvania mother charged after four infants found

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Pennsylvania authorities arrested 39-year-old Jessica Marie Mauthe after her former landlord discovered an infant’s remains in a closet at her evicted residence near Ford City; investigators later found three more infants in the attic. Mauthe is charged with criminal homicide, involuntary manslaughter, and multiple counts of abuse of a corpse, and is being held without bail at the Armstrong County Jail, with a preliminary hearing set for next week. An affidavit states she described separate births about a year ago and six years ago where the newborns did not survive.

Crime Legal

Dense fog advisory for Twin Cities

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A dense fog advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, for eastern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, with conditions expected to brighten by late morning. Highs around 70°F are forecast in the metro with light northeast winds; more morning fog is possible Wednesday, followed by a warm-up into the upper 70s and low 80s later this week.

Weather

France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and Monaco recognize Palestinian state; U.S., Israel boycott UNGA event

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At the U.N. General Assembly in New York, France formally recognized the State of Palestine and was joined by Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and Monaco at a France–Saudi‑hosted two‑state conference, where U.N. chief António Guterres said Palestinian statehood is a right and Mahmoud Abbas addressed by video after the U.S. denied him a visa. President Emmanuel Macron framed recognition as a step to isolate and disarm Hamas, outlined a phased plan and proposed a U.N.‑mandated security force for Gaza, while Israel and the U.S. boycotted the event—Israel calling it a “charade” and warning of consequences for countries recognizing Palestine.

International Politics War & Conflict

Secret Service seizes NYC SIM-farm network

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The U.S. Secret Service said Tuesday it dismantled a sprawling SIM‑farm telecom network at more than five abandoned apartment sites in the New York tri‑state area, seizing about 300 SIM servers and over 100,000 SIM cards capable of blasting 30 million texts per minute. Officials said the network could have disabled cell towers and blocked EMS and police dispatch during this week’s U.N. General Assembly; no arrests have been made as Homeland Security Investigations leads a continuing criminal probe.

National Security Public Safety

EIA: CO2 fell in every state since 2005

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The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports energy-related CO2 emissions per capita declined in every U.S. state from 2005 to 2023, down 30% nationally, with absolute emissions falling 20% as population grew 14%. EIA attributes the drop mainly to a sharp reduction in coal-fired power offset by more natural gas and rising wind and solar, and it projects a roughly 1% increase in overall CO2 emissions in 2025 as data centers and heavy industry boost electricity demand.

Climate Energy

Duffy threatens CTA, MBTA funding over safety

7d Dev 1 Analysis

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Friday that Chicago’s CTA and Boston’s MBTA could lose federal support unless they quickly improve safety, citing recent violent incidents against riders and workers. In formal letters to CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen and MBTA GM Phillip Eng, DOT ordered 14‑day reports detailing actions on crime, fare evasion, and cleanliness, and required summaries of FY2025–2026 safety/security funding, including any DHS funds.

Public Safety Transportation Politics

Volunteers document Smithsonian amid Trump review

7d Dev 1 Analysis

Two historians launched a 'Citizen Historians' volunteer effort to systematically photograph current wall text and exhibits across Smithsonian museums after the Trump administration ordered a comprehensive internal review of eight museums and issued an executive order criticizing the institution’s narratives. The organizers say hundreds of people from the D.C. area have joined to create a record of displays before any potential changes following the mid‑August directive to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III.

Politics Education

House passes DC Crimes Act and juvenile sentencing bill; White House seeks dismissal of D.C. Guard suit

7d Breaking 3 Analysis

The House passed two GOP-led bills reshaping D.C.’s criminal justice system: the DC Crimes Act, 240–179 with 30 Democrats in support, lowering the youth‑offender age from 24 to 18, requiring sentences at least as long as adult mandatory minimums, and mandating a public youth‑crime data website; and the D.C. Juvenile Sentencing Reform Act, 225–203 with eight Democratic votes and Rep. Thomas Massie as the lone Republican “no,” allowing juveniles as young as 14 to be tried as adults for serious violent crimes. As Mayor Muriel Bowser defended city policy in a House hearing amid a continued federal public‑safety surge, the White House moved to dismiss D.C.’s lawsuit over National Guard intervention and to block a temporary injunction, with 23 states siding with the administration and 22 backing the District.

Politics Public Safety Crime

U.S.–U.K. 'Tech Prosperity Deal' adds 12 advanced reactors; U.S. firms pledge £150B

7d Breaking 14 Analysis

During President Trump’s unprecedented second U.K. state visit, the two countries signed a “Tech Prosperity Deal” at Chequers to deepen cooperation in AI, quantum and nuclear energy, amid royal pageantry, protests and heightened security. The U.K. says U.S. firms pledged about £150 billion, including Microsoft’s $30 billion and Google’s $6.8 billion, a U.K. arm of the “Stargate” AI infrastructure with roughly 120,000 Nvidia chips and a nationwide data‑center network, plus plans for 12 advanced nuclear reactors—investments projected to support about 15,000 U.K. and 2,500 U.S. jobs.

AI & Tech Economy Energy

Georgia senators press DHS on ICE deaths

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Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem demanding detailed answers on more than a dozen deaths in U.S. immigration detention since President Trump took office, citing 10 fatalities between January and June 2025—the highest six‑month rate in available records—and alleged failures to report deaths within ICE’s 48‑hour policy. The senators also flagged overcrowding as ICE rapidly expanded detention capacity via military bases and state partnerships and raised concerns after cuts to DHS oversight offices.

Politics Immigration

FTC v. Amazon over Prime ‘dark patterns’ opens in Seattle jury trial

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Jury selection is underway Monday with opening statements Tuesday in Seattle federal court, where U.S. District Judge John Chun is presiding over the FTC’s case accusing Amazon of using “dark patterns” to enroll customers in auto-renewing Prime memberships. Regulators cite checkout designs featuring a large yellow “Get FREE Two-Day Shipping” button versus a smaller “No thanks” link and an allegedly onerous “Iliad Flow” to cancel—four pages, six clicks, fifteen options—with one internal warning that making the process clearer would be an “unspoken cancer” on subscriber growth. Amazon denies wrongdoing; a jury will decide in a trial expected to last up to four weeks, as a separate, broader FTC antitrust case against the company is slated before the same judge in early 2027.

Legal Corporate News AI & Tech

House delegation in Beijing warns U.S. and China are 'talking past each other,' presses fentanyl and rare earths

7d Dev 3

A bipartisan U.S. House delegation — the first to visit Beijing since 2019 — met Premier Li Qiang, Defense Minister Dong Jun and Vice Premier He Lifeng at the Great Hall of the People on an “icebreaking” trip focused on strengthening recently restored military-to-military communications after a post-2022 suspension. Rep. Adam Smith said the two sides are still “talking past each other” and warned of risky close encounters, as the delegation pressed for meaningful Chinese action to curb fentanyl inflows and raised concerns over curbs on rare earths. The group, in China through Thursday, includes Smith, Michael Baumgartner, Ro Khanna and Chrissy Houlahan.

Military International Politics

Hochul endorses Mamdani for NYC mayor

7d Breaking 5

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul endorsed Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor on Sept. 14, 2025, via a New York Times op-ed and social media, citing affordability and safety after “frank conversations”; recent polls show Mamdani leading by 22 points. The move exposed Democratic rifts—state party chair Jay Jacobs refused to endorse (citing policy differences, including over Israel) while Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries remained noncommittal—prompting Sen. Chris Van Hollen to blast holdouts as “spineless” and Jeffries to retort “Chris Van Who?,” even as Kamala Harris offered lukewarm support. President Trump attacked the endorsement, labeling Mamdani a “Liddle Communist” and warning NYC’s federal funding could be at risk; Mamdani thanked Hochul, emphasized his affordability agenda, and has denied being a communist.

Politics Elections

Tad Jude announces secretary of state bid

7d Breaking TC 1

Tad Jude announced he is running for Minnesota secretary of state, emphasizing a platform of transparency in election administration. The statewide office oversees elections that include Minneapolis–Saint Paul, making the campaign relevant to metro voters as the 2026 race takes shape.

Elections Local Government

St. Paul driver gets workhouse in fatal crash

7d Breaking TC 1

A driver who was traveling 77 mph on a St. Paul city street when he fatally struck a pedestrian was sentenced to serve time in a workhouse on Sept. 22, 2025. The case concludes with a non‑prison sentence following the deadly collision on a St. Paul roadway.

Legal Public Safety

Arden Hills considers allowing backyard ducks

7d Breaking TC 1

The Arden Hills City Council will take public comment Monday on proposed changes to its backyard poultry ordinance that would allow residents to keep ducks and loosen chicken rules. The proposal would raise the chicken limit from three to seven, permit larger coops, allow fenced-yard roaming, and enable coops in detached garages; a staff memo notes six metro cities already allow ducks and the Planning Commission recommended approval 7–0.

Local Government Environment

Union fights Ramsey County detox closure

Sep 22 Dev TC 1

A labor union representing Ramsey County workers publicly opposed a proposal to close the county’s detox program, warning of reduced access to critical withdrawal management services for St. Paul and Ramsey County residents. The pushback, reported Sept. 22, 2025, comes as county officials consider shutting the program, which the union argues would strain hospitals, law enforcement, and public health systems.

Health Local Government

Blue Line shuts 10 p.m. Sept. 22–Oct. 4; buses replace trains

Sep 22 Breaking TC 3

Metro Transit will shut the Blue Line light rail for 12 days starting at 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, through Saturday, Oct. 4, with replacement buses running and trips expected to take longer. The closure launches phase one of the agency’s multi-year Renew the Blue project, replacing track along the entire corridor and several switches near Cedar-Riverside; trains resume at 7 a.m. Oct. 4, running every 12 minutes. A second phase is planned for June 2026 with a 45-day full-line closure; the Blue Line carries more than 17,000 rides per day.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

St. Paul restores library, rec center internet

Sep 22 Dev TC 2

St. Paul has restored public internet access at its libraries and recreation centers after a cyberattack disrupted services, officials announced Sept. 18, 2025. Mayor Melvin Carter said the city did not pay a ransom in the summer ransomware attack and that response and cybersecurity upgrades have cost well over $1 million, with teams working around the clock to back up data and restore services.

Local Government Technology

St. Paul cyberattack cost tops $1M; no ransom

Sep 22 Dev TC 1

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said in a Sept. 22 FOX 9 interview that the city did not pay a ransom after this summer’s ransomware attack and that response and cybersecurity upgrades have cost 'well over $1 million.' He added teams worked around the clock to back up data and restore services as systems came back online.

Technology Local Government

St. Paul man sentenced in White Bear shootout

Sep 22 Dev TC 1

A St. Paul man was sentenced on Sept. 22, 2025, for his role in a 2023 shootout at Doc's Landing bar in White Bear Lake. The case stems from gunfire inside or near the bar that year and concludes with a district court sentence handed down in the Twin Cities metro.

Legal Public Safety

Court: Bus stop arms must be fully extended

Sep 22 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Court of Appeals overturned a driver’s school‑bus stop‑arm conviction and ruled that motorists are required to stop only when the bus’s stop sign/arm is fully extended. Issued this week, the decision clarifies statewide enforcement and applies to drivers, police, and school transportation across the Twin Cities metro.

Legal Public Safety

St. Paul leaders push 'yes' on civil fines

Sep 22 Dev TC 1

St. Paul officials, including Mayor Melvin Carter, held a Monday press conference launching the 'Vote Yes for a Fairer St. Paul' campaign urging approval of Ballot Question No. 1, which would allow the city to use administrative (civil) fines to enforce ordinances instead of relying solely on criminal citations. The measure, unanimously backed by the City Council in late 2024, aims to curb overcriminalization and improve enforcement of tenant and worker protections; in‑person early voting is open through Nov. 3.

Elections Local Government

DOJ seeks breakup of Google ad business

Sep 22 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Department of Justice said on Sept. 22, 2025, that it is seeking to break up Google’s digital advertising business as part of its ongoing antitrust case, asking a federal court for structural remedies. Any breakup of Google’s ad-tech operations could reshape online advertising markets relied on by Twin Cities publishers and businesses.

Legal Technology Business & Economy

Man killed in shooting near Peavey Field Park

Sep 21 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a man was shot just before midnight Saturday near Chicago Avenue and E. Franklin Avenue by Peavey Field Park in the Ventura Village neighborhood and later died at the hospital. MPD says an altercation preceded the gunfire, a possible suspect ran from the scene, and no arrests have been made; Chief Brian O’Hara is asking anyone with information to contact police or CrimeStoppers.

Public Safety

Maplewood rollover kills baby; driver arrested

Sep 21 Breaking TC 1

A black Chevy Tahoe rolled off the eastbound Hwy 36 to southbound Hwy 61 exit ramp in Maplewood around 6:25 p.m., landing upside down in 1–2 feet of water, the Minnesota State Patrol said. One-year-old Revon Melvin Anthony Todd was extricated and later died; two boys, ages 5 and 6, and a 32-year-old man were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Driver Rachale Francine Peloquin, 28, of St. Paul, was arrested after medical clearance, suspected of alcohol use, and booked into Ramsey County Jail on criminal vehicular homicide.

Public Safety Legal

Minneapolis opens shooting assistance center

Sep 20 Dev TC 1

The City of Minneapolis has opened an assistance center to support people affected by recent shootings in the city, providing a centralized place to access victim services and other resources. The move follows multiple high-profile shootings and is intended to streamline help for victims, families, and impacted community members.

Public Safety Local Government

Man dies after Lake Street transit station shooting; victim identified as Adam Peterson

Sep 20 Breaking TC 4

Five people were shot near the Midtown Greenway by Lake Street and Stevens Avenue, steps from the transit station, shortly after 11 a.m. on Sept. 15; one victim, 46-year-old Adam John Peterson, died at the hospital Saturday. Investigators say shots were fired near the Greenway and on a walkway by the I-35W exit ramp, with victims found at multiple nearby locations; no arrests have been made as the investigation continues. Police Chief Brian O’Hara has linked the violence to nearby encampment activity and signaled increased enforcement.

Public Safety Transit & Infrastructure

Minnesota OKs campaign funds for candidate security

Sep 20 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board has ruled that campaign funds may be used for candidate security, including threat assessments and on‑site event protection, following a request from the Minnesota DFL Party. The decision applies statewide to candidates of any party, enabling security expenses during the 2025–2026 campaign cycle across the Twin Cities and Minnesota.

Elections Local Government

Eight charged in MN Housing Stabilization Services fraud allegedly spent millions on Kenya real estate, luxury cars

Sep 20 Breaking TC 3

Eight people have been federally charged with wire fraud for allegedly exploiting Minnesota’s Medicaid-funded Housing Stabilization Services program by submitting bogus claims, in a scheme tied to companies including Brilliant Minds Services, Leo Human Services, Faladcare and Liberty Plus. Prosecutors say they stole more than $8 million and spent it on real estate in Kenya, leased luxury vehicles (BMWs and Mercedes) and a Roseville apartment, with four suspects pocketing up to $400,000 each and nearly $500,000 charged to a shared American Express Platinum card. The investigation, which included FBI raids in July, is ongoing with more charges expected; the state shut down the program in August after it paid about $302 million, far above initial estimates.

Legal Housing

St. Paul's West 7th Street reopens after sinkhole

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

The City of St. Paul reopened West 7th Street on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, after a sinkhole forced a four-month closure. The restoration of the major corridor resumes normal traffic flow along a key route connecting downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

Hennepin County halts charges from minor stops

Sep 19 Breaking TC 2

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced her office will no longer charge cases arising from low-level traffic stops — such as equipment or registration violations — across Minneapolis and its suburbs. The policy, which effectively limits felony prosecutions stemming from these stops, drew swift criticism from multiple police officials, who warned it could hinder prosecutions and harm public safety.

Legal Public Safety Local Government

Metro Transit boosts service for Farm Aid 40

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

Metro Transit says it will increase service to accommodate the all-day Farm Aid 40 concert at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, adding capacity and extra trips to handle large crowds before and after the event. The agency is directing concertgoers to use transit for access to the stadium area given expected heavy traffic and limited parking.

Transit & Infrastructure

Trump to impose $100K H-1B visa fee

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

A White House official says President Donald Trump will sign a presidential proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. The change would dramatically increase costs for employers nationwide, including in the Twin Cities, that sponsor high‑skilled foreign workers under the H-1B program.

Business & Economy Legal

Trump seeks Supreme Court rollback of Venezuelan protections

Sep 19 Dev TC 1

The Trump administration on Sept. 19, 2025, asked the U.S. Supreme Court to remove legal protections from Venezuelan migrants, a nationwide change that would affect those living and working in the Twin Cities. The filing seeks high‑court intervention to alter current immigration protections for Venezuelan nationals.

Legal Government

BB guns found at St. Paul school

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul police say preteen boys brought BB guns to Creative Arts Secondary School in St. Paul on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. Police responded and the BB guns were found on campus; the incident involves juveniles and is under investigation.

Public Safety Education

Hennepin County charges Mora man for email threats

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

Hennepin County charged John Allen Sandeen Jr., 64, of Mora with four counts of terroristic threats for emails sent Sept. 13–16 that threatened a Maple Grove church music director and another person, referencing retaliation for the killing of Charlie Kirk. Maple Grove police took the report on Sept. 15; Sandeen is in Ramsey County custody on a related matter, and a Hennepin County arrest warrant is active. County Attorney Mary Moriarty called the threats “chilling” and vowed to pursue accountability.

Public Safety Legal

Columbia Heights man Abdullahe Nur Jesow pleads guilty in Feeding Our Future scheme tied to S&S Catering

Sep 19 Dev TC 2

Abdullahe Nur Jesow, 65, of Columbia Heights, pleaded guilty in federal court in Minnesota to money laundering in the Feeding Our Future fraud case, becoming the 56th defendant to do so. Prosecutors say he was linked to the S&S Catering group that stole and laundered $17.4 million, operating the Academy For Youth Excellence site that claimed more than 1.7 million meals from Dec. 2020 to Sept. 2021, resulting in $4,286,088 in inflated reimbursements, of which he kept about 5% and returned most via cash or checks to launder proceeds. He had been set for trial Oct. 14; sentencing will be scheduled later.

Legal Public Safety

Trump asks Supreme Court to pause passport policy

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

On Sept. 19, 2025, the Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt a lower-court order requiring the State Department to let passport applicants choose their sex marker based on gender identity. If a stay is granted, passport processing rules would change nationwide, directly affecting Twin Cities residents seeking new or renewed passports.

Legal Government/Regulatory

Second defendant gets 12½ years in South St. Paul killing

Sep 19 Breaking TC 2

On Sept. 18, 2025, a second defendant was sentenced to 12½ years in prison for his role in the fatal shooting of a South St. Paul father during a marijuana robbery. The accomplice received nearly the same prison term as the shooter, indicating little disparity between the codefendants.

Legal Public Safety

HUD pulls funds from Twin Cities housing projects

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development canceled funding for supportive housing developments in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, the Minnesota Reformer reported on Sept. 19, 2025. The federal action threatens financing and timelines for planned supportive housing units in the metro, with local developers and governments likely needing contingency plans or replacement funding.

Housing Local Government

Minnesota free school meals hit 302M total

Sep 19 TC 1

Gov. Tim Walz said Minnesota’s Universal Free School Meals program served 151 million meals in its second year, bringing the total to more than 302 million since the program launched in 2023. The statewide program provides free breakfast and lunch to all K–12 students regardless of income, with the governor’s office estimating about $1,000 in annual savings per student; a State Fair House poll found most respondents opposed an income cap. Parents interviewed praised access while noting some portion-size concerns requiring paid seconds.

Education Local Government

Minneapolis hires firm for neighbor shooting audit

Sep 19 Dev TC 1

The City of Minneapolis says it has contracted an independent law firm to assist with an audit related to the shooting of Davis Moturi by his neighbor, John Sawchak, and anticipates releasing findings in February 2026. Moturi, who was shot in the neck while trimming a tree and says MPD took five days to arrest Sawchak, continues to seek accountability as Chief Brian O’Hara has previously said the department failed him.

Public Safety Local Government

Minnesota adds 5,900 jobs in August

Sep 19 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota’s August 2025 jobs report shows a net gain of 5,900 jobs while the statewide unemployment rate ticked up to 3.6%, according to data released Sept. 18. The update, from the state’s employment agency, reflects current labor-market conditions that directly affect Twin Cities workers and employers.

Business & Economy

Early voting starts Sept. 19 in Twin Cities

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

Early in-person voting for Minnesota’s 2025 elections begins Friday, Sept. 19—46 days before Election Day (Nov. 4)—with the Minneapolis Early Vote Center opening at 8 a.m. Minneapolis voters will use ranked-choice voting for mayor and other city offices, while St. Paul voters will choose a mayor by RCV and decide a charter amendment allowing administrative citations. Ballots also include special elections for Senate District 47 (Woodbury/southern Maplewood: DFL Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger vs. GOP Dwight Dorau) and Senate District 29 (parts of Hennepin/Meeker/Wright: DFL Louis McNutt vs. GOP Michael Holmstrom Jr.).

Elections Local Government

Toyota, Hyundai recall 1.1M vehicles for defects

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

On September 18, 2025, Toyota and Hyundai announced nationwide vehicle recalls totaling more than 1.1 million vehicles to address seat belt and panel display problems. The recalls affect owners in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro due to their national scope and will require affected vehicles to be serviced to remedy the defects.

Public Safety Business & Economy

Carter, Her meet in first mayoral forum

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and challenger Kaohly Her appeared together at the first candidate forum of the 2025 mayoral race in St. Paul, marking their initial head-to-head event of the campaign. The Star Tribune reports the forum introduced contrasts between the two candidates as they made their cases to voters ahead of the election.

Elections Local Government

MNsure warns of 50% premium hikes

Sep 18 TC 1

The Minnesota Reformer reports on Sept. 18, 2025, that premiums would rise about 50% for approximately 89,000 Minnesotans enrolled through MNsure unless Congress extends enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire. The projected increases would affect many Twin Cities residents who buy coverage on the state marketplace, making federal action pivotal to avoid sharp cost spikes.

Health Local Government

FTC sues Ticketmaster over pricing practices

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit on Sept. 18, 2025, against Ticketmaster/Live Nation, alleging practices that force fans to pay more for concerts and events. The case seeks to curb alleged anticompetitive or unfair methods that raise ticket costs nationwide, which could affect Twin Cities consumers who buy tickets for metro venues.

Legal Business & Economy

Duluth man charged in Mariucci upskirt case; 144 victims, CSAM alleged

Sep 18 Breaking TC 2

A Duluth man, Benjamin Thomas Goldsmith, 32, has been charged in Hennepin County via warrant with three counts of possessing pornographic work and three counts of interfering with privacy after prosecutors say he filmed under the skirts of high school graduates at Minneapolis’ Mariucci Arena on June 1–2, 2024. Authorities say there are 144 alleged victims; witnesses reported Goldsmith for avoiding metal detectors, leading to his arrest and the discovery of a concealed camera, and a vehicle search turned up a hard drive with 151 child sexual abuse material images and videos. Investigators also found programs from other graduations and are examining whether additional victims or locations are involved; the criminal complaint was filed Sept. 16, 2025.

Legal Education Public Safety

Bluestem to close Eden Prairie HQ; 103 layoffs

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

Eden Prairie–based Bluestem Brands is closing its headquarters and laying off 103 employees, including its CEO, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports on Sept. 18, 2025. The move follows prior layoffs and two bankruptcy filings; the company’s online shops reportedly have only a few items remaining.

Business & Economy Employment

Carver man indicted on 16 animal-crushing counts

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

Federal prosecutors charged Bryan Wesley Edison, 32, of Carver, with 16 counts of animal crushing for allegedly creating nearly 350 pay-per-view YouTube videos showing animals being tortured and killed since 2022. The DOJ says YouTube has removed the accounts; Edison made his initial appearance Wednesday and remains jailed in Sherburne County. Prosecutors cited the 2019 federal PACT Act expansion in announcing the case.

Legal Public Safety

Mahtomedi crash driver sentenced for killing two classmates

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

A driver who killed two Mahtomedi classmates in a crash was sentenced on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in the Twin Cities metro. Families addressed the court during sentencing and expressed grace toward the driver, according to the report.

Legal Public Safety

Pentair acquires Hydra-Stop from Madison Industries

Sep 18 Breaking TC 1

Twin Cities–based Pentair announced on Sept. 18, 2025, that it acquired Illinois-based Hydra-Stop from Madison Industries. Pentair says the acquired business is expected to generate about $50 million in 2025 revenue with roughly a 30% return on sales, signaling strategic expansion of its water-related offerings.

Business & Economy Utilities

Man pleads guilty in Twin Cities mosque arsons

Sep 17 Dev TC 1

Jackie Rahm Little pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Sept. 17, 2025, to federal charges for setting fires at two Minneapolis mosques in April 2023, which prosecutors said were driven by anger toward Muslims. The incidents at Masjid Al Rahma (Mercy Islamic Center) and Masjid Omar Islamic Center forced evacuations but caused no reported injuries; sentencing will be scheduled.

Legal Public Safety

Hao Nguyen enters Hennepin County Attorney race

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

Senior prosecutor Hao Nguyen announced his candidacy for Hennepin County Attorney, becoming the second declared candidate in the countywide race that will determine leadership of the office overseeing prosecutions in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs. The announcement adds to a developing field for the influential post affecting public safety policy across Hennepin County.

Elections Legal

DPS, State Patrol join MPD patrols after shootings

Sep 17 Dev TC 2

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety will partner with the Minneapolis Police Department under a Joint Powers Agreement to boost patrols, with Minnesota State Patrol troopers assigned to the Lake Street corridor following two mass shootings on Monday. MPD has further increased its own presence, and the city has erected fencing and barriers along parts of Lake Street to control access, measures officials say aim to deter further violence and stabilize the area. DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson announced the deployment, while MPD Chief Brian O’Hara said the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the BCA are assisting and the National Guard is not currently needed.

Public Safety Local Government

St. Paul budget leaves 16 police vacancies

Sep 17 Dev TC 1

The Pioneer Press reports that under Mayor Melvin Carter’s proposed city budget, 16 vacant St. Paul Police Department positions would remain unfilled as part of the spending plan outlined Wednesday in St. Paul. The move affects police staffing levels and is part of the administration’s budgeting decisions for the upcoming year.

Local Government Public Safety

East Ridge High placed on lockdown

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

East Ridge High School in Woodbury was placed on lockdown Wednesday following a report of a weapon. Authorities responded to the campus as the situation was assessed; the school and district communicated the lockdown to families.

Public Safety Education

Amazon invests $1B to raise pay, cut health costs

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

Amazon announced on Sept. 17, 2025, that it will spend $1 billion to increase pay and lower health care costs for U.S. employees, a change that applies to workers nationwide, including those in the Twin Cities metro. The company said the investment is aimed at boosting compensation and reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Business & Economy Health

Illume Candles closing Maple Grove HQ, cutting 132 jobs

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

Illume Candles will close its Maple Grove headquarters and manufacturing operations and lay off 132 workers, according to a Star Tribune report. The move affects employees at the Hennepin County facility and removes a local manufacturing and office footprint in the Twin Cities suburb.

Business & Economy

UMN ends ICE contract, closes range access

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

The University of Minnesota has ended its contract allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to use the campus shooting range and will no longer permit outside law enforcement agencies to train there, the university said. The change affects metro-area agencies that previously used the facility and limits access to university purposes.

Education Public Safety

DFL Sen. Ann Rest to retire after 40 years

Sep 17 Breaking TC 1

DFL state Sen. Ann Rest, a longtime legislator representing a northwest Hennepin County district in the Twin Cities metro, announced her retirement after 40 years in office, according to the Star Tribune on Sept. 17, 2025. Her departure will open a metro Senate seat and marks the end of one of the longest tenures in the Minnesota Legislature.

Elections Local Government

Falcon Heights debates Les Bolstad redevelopment

Sep 17 Dev TC 1

Falcon Heights and University of Minnesota officials drew a large crowd Tuesday night to discuss the future of the 141-acre Les Bolstad Golf Course, which the university plans to close for financial reasons. The city presented mixed-use concepts including affordable housing, green space, and small-scale retail, citing a study that the site could support 1,500–2,000 homes; the Planning Commission is set to vote next Tuesday on a community feedback report to guide next steps with the university and developers.

Housing Local Government

Xp Lee wins Minnesota House District 34B special election

Sep 17 Dev TC 2

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, voters in Minnesota House District 34B—which includes parts of Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, and Champlin in Anoka and Hennepin counties—held a special election to fill the seat vacated after Rep. Melissa Hortman’s killing in June, for which a suspect has been indicted. DFL nominee Xp Lee defeated Republican Ruth Bittner with 60.82% (4,331 votes) to 39.11% (2,785), according to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s unofficial results; the district had 26,596 registered voters at 7 a.m. on Election Day, and results will be certified later. Lee thanked supporters and pledged to honor Hortman’s legacy, as party leaders praised the win.

Local Government Elections

Charges filed in Willard-Hay killing; complaint says suspect confessed despite stay-away order

Sep 16 Breaking TC 3

An adult woman was shot to death at her home in the 1400 block of Russell Avenue North in Minneapolis’ Willard-Hay neighborhood just before 8 a.m. Sunday in what police initially described as a domestic-related incident; the suspect fled. Her family has identified her, police later arrested a suspect, and prosecutors have filed charges; according to a criminal complaint, the Minneapolis man confessed to killing his ex-girlfriend despite a court order requiring him to stay away from her.

Legal Public Safety

Gov. Tim Walz launches third-term campaign

Sep 16 Breaking TC 1

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Tuesday morning, Sept. 16, 2025, that he will seek a third term, releasing a campaign video stating he’s "always tried to do what's right for Minnesota." The bid sets up a 2026 race in which Republicans including Dr. Scott Jensen, Rep. Kristin Robbins, and Kendall Qualls are competing for their party’s nomination; no Minnesota governor has won three consecutive four-year terms since the state adopted four-year terms in 1958.

Elections Local Government

First metro recreational cannabis shops open

Sep 16 Breaking TC 1

Recreational cannabis sales began Tuesday at Green Goods locations statewide, including five shops in the Twin Cities, while RISE is opening five recreational dispensaries with 8 a.m. ribbon cuttings, three of them in the metro. Legacy Cannabis in Duluth is set to open at 4:20 p.m. Tuesday with flower grown by the White Earth Nation, after a tribal compact and new state licenses eased supply constraints that had delayed non-tribal openings.

Business & Economy Legal

MPD chief details Annunciation response timeline

Sep 16 Dev TC 1

MPD Chief Brian O’Hara said Tuesday that Lt. Ryan Kelly arrived at Annunciation Church within four minutes of the Aug. 27 mass shooting and that it took 14 minutes from Kelly’s arrival to load the final patient into an ambulance. O’Hara noted Kelly entered without SWAT gear and relayed a parent’s account that the officer’s decisive actions gave them hope; two students were killed and 21 people were wounded in the attack.

Public Safety Local Government

GOP seeks Annunciation shooter toxicology

Sep 16 Dev TC 1

Minnesota Republican lawmakers led by Sen. Steve Drazkowski sent a letter to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension requesting the Annunciation Church shooter's complete autopsy and toxicology reports and asking for an expanded screen for antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, cannabinoids, psychoactive substances, and gender‑transition medications. The request follows the Aug. 27 Minneapolis mass shooting during morning Mass that killed two children and injured 21 before the gunman died by suicide.

Public Safety Local Government

Urban farm group misses Roof Depot deadline

Sep 16 Dev TC 1

Urban farm activists seeking to buy Minneapolis’ Roof Depot industrial site in the East Phillips neighborhood missed a city-imposed deadline to complete the purchase. The lapse puts the future of the long-disputed site back in the City of Minneapolis’ hands as officials determine next steps for the property.

Local Government Housing Environment

Minneapolis man sues Met Council over LRT access

Sep 16 Breaking TC 1

A Minneapolis resident filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Metropolitan Council, alleging Metro Transit light-rail stations have accessibility barriers that impede access for people with disabilities. The case targets station conditions on the Twin Cities LRT system; details on the specific stations and court venue were not immediately available.

Legal Transit & Infrastructure

Appeals court lets dentist’s defamation suit proceed

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that a Twin Cities dentist’s defamation lawsuit over a negative Google review may move forward, allowing the case to continue in district court. The decision clarifies that claims tied to allegedly false online statements can proceed past initial challenges in Minnesota.

Legal Technology

Shakopee crash kills 83; driver suspected drunk

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

Shakopee police say an 83-year-old motorist died after a suspected drunk driver caused a collision at a city intersection in the Twin Cities metro. Police reported the fatality and indicated alcohol was a factor as they investigate; additional details on any arrest or charges were not immediately released.

Public Safety Legal

PUC holds hearing on Xcel rate hikes

Sep 15 Dev TC 1

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is holding a public meeting from 6:30–8:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 15, at the Washington County Heritage Center Education Center in Stillwater on Xcel Energy’s proposed two-year electric rate increases. Xcel seeks 9.6% in 2025 ($353.3M; about $9.89/month for the average residential customer) and 3.6% in 2026 ($137.5M; about $3.90/month), totaling 13.2% ($490.7M). Public comments are open through Dec. 30, evidentiary hearings are Dec. 17–19, and the PUC’s order deadline is July 31, 2026.

Utilities Energy

Blaine child-solicitation sting nets 22 arrests

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

The Blaine Police Department led a child-solicitation operation in Blaine, resulting in 22 arrests, according to police and local reporting. The enforcement action targeted adults attempting to solicit minors in the north metro suburb; authorities said the investigation continues and announced the results publicly.

Public Safety Legal

Falcon Heights nets $49K from State Fair parking

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

The City of Falcon Heights reports earning a $49,000 profit from on-street parking fees charged during the Minnesota State Fair in areas near the fairgrounds. The fees were enforced on city streets in Falcon Heights during the event, generating revenue beyond program costs.

Local Government Transit & Infrastructure Business & Economy

Man killed, another hurt in Lake Street shooting

Sep 15 Breaking TC 1

Minneapolis police say a shooting on the 1500 block of East Lake Street just before 1:50 a.m. Sunday left one man dead and another with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation; the fatally wounded man died at the hospital, and a second victim arrived separately. No arrests have been announced, and Chief Brian O’Hara urged anyone with information to come forward.

Public Safety Legal