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$Minnesota Protesters: Federal Case Rules Out State Charges","description":"After a high‑profile protest at a Minneapolis church, federal civil‑rights accusations supersede state law concerns, officials say.","summary":"A federal civil‑rights case brought against a dozen anti‑immigration activists following a January protest at Cities Church in St. Paul no longer triggers state charges. City Attorney Irene Kao explained that evidence could not meet Minnesota’s higher standard of proof, sparking criticism from the church, while the US Department of Justice remains focused on civil‑rights violations tied to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/8480605/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fb4%2Fd4%2F7dd7d197e4a4c042a8f8dbe7e115%2F597639ebede64199a79ad8dc86ee86bf","text":"On Wednesday, St. Paul City Attorney Irene Kao announced that the dozen anti‑immigration activists who disrupted a Minnesota church service in January will not face additional state criminal charges. The decision was made after the DOJ’s investigation shifted the focus to federal civil‑rights allegations, leaving state statutes untouched.\n“Current evidence is insufficient to meet that standard for criminal charges under Minnesota state statutes,” Kao said. Her statement was meant to reassure the public that the city is not endorsing unlawful conduct, while emphasizing that peaceful protest and free religious practice remain protected.\nThe protesters, many of whom were connected to former CNN journalist <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-ice-doj-church-protest-st-paul-46dac5c5595ec78e3360ec927eef92d2\" style=\"color:#0066CC; text-decoration:none;\">Don Lemon</a>, had learned that one of the church pastors was an ICE official overseeing a heavy enforcement operation in the state.\nFederal prosecutors brought civil‑rights charges against 39 people—including Lemon—a month after a livestream captured “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good” chants echoing through the worship space. Goodman’s story is grim: her 37‑year‑old body was felled in Minneapolis by an ICE agent amid an unprecedented surge in immigration enforcement.\nPA 211.—Cities Church’s lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell, criticized the city attorney’s reasoning, stating that “calling it a protest only because no windows were broken or drills were destroyed misrepresents the situation.” He pointed out that four other states—Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas—have already outlawed worship‑service disruptions.\nWhile the city claims no violence or property damage occurred, the plaintiffs maintain that the violation of the law is independent of how property was treated. They argue that the lack of property damage does not alleviate the legal breach of protest time and target.\nKey facts— The protests took place at Cities Church on January 18, a date that coincides with the release of a video in which the activists chanted anti‑ICE slogans. The protests were captured by the church’s livestream channel. Ducking under the law, the city weighed the evidence against the state’s stringent standard, which insists on clear proof that a protester caused a direct threat or property damage.\nThe DOJ’s role centers on civil‑rights violations. They argue that the protests, “aligned with an aggressive immigration crackdown,” subverted the rights of worshippers. It is the reason why federal prosecutors chose a civil‑rights avenue over criminal specificities, emphasising the national scope of the ICE crackdown while highlighting the local context.\nIn light of this, the city’s decision is a rare case where the federal justice system effectively shields local law‑enforcementers from local prosecutions as the focus shifts to broader civil‑rights concerns. However, community members grapple with the split between civil‑rights accountability and react to the church’s call for local legal action.\nThe debate opens up questions about how federal and state responsibilities intersect—especially in cases where protest tactics conflict with both civil‑rights parameters and local statutes. Whether the federal civil‑rights charges will powerfully influence Minnesota’s policy on protest conduct remains to be seen.$

Minnesota Protesters: Federal Case Rules Out State Charges","description":"After a high‑profile protest at a Minneapolis church, federal civil‑rights accusations supersede state law concerns, officials say.","summary":"A federal civil‑rights case brought against a dozen anti‑immigration activists following a January protest at Cities Church in St. Paul no longer triggers state charges. City Attorney Irene Kao explained that evidence could not meet Minnesota’s higher standard of proof, sparking criticism from the church, while the US Department of Justice remains focused on civil‑rights violations tied to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/8480605/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fb4%2Fd4%2F7dd7d197e4a4c042a8f8dbe7e115%2F597639ebede64199a79ad8dc86ee86bf","text":"On Wednesday, St. Paul City Attorney Irene Kao announced that the dozen anti‑immigration activists who disrupted a Minnesota church service in January will not face additional state criminal charges. The decision was made after the DOJ’s investigation shifted the focus to federal civil‑rights allegations, leaving state statutes untouched.\n“Current evidence is insufficient to meet that standard for criminal charges under Minnesota state statutes,” Kao said. Her statement was meant to reassure the public that the city is not endorsing unlawful conduct, while emphasizing that peaceful protest and free religious practice remain protected.\nThe protesters, many of whom were connected to former CNN journalist <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-ice-doj-church-protest-st-paul-46dac5c5595ec78e3360ec927eef92d2\" style=\"color:#0066CC; text-decoration:none;\">Don Lemon</a>, had learned that one of the church pastors was an ICE official overseeing a heavy enforcement operation in the state.\nFederal prosecutors brought civil‑rights charges against 39 people—including Lemon—a month after a livestream captured “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good” chants echoing through the worship space. Goodman’s story is grim: her 37‑year‑old body was felled in Minneapolis by an ICE agent amid an unprecedented surge in immigration enforcement.\nPA 211.—Cities Church’s lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell, criticized the city attorney’s reasoning, stating that “calling it a protest only because no windows were broken or drills were destroyed misrepresents the situation.” He pointed out that four other states—Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas—have already outlawed worship‑service disruptions.\nWhile the city claims no violence or property damage occurred, the plaintiffs maintain that the violation of the law is independent of how property was treated. They argue that the lack of property damage does not alleviate the legal breach of protest time and target.\nKey facts— The protests took place at Cities Church on January 18, a date that coincides with the release of a video in which the activists chanted anti‑ICE slogans. The protests were captured by the church’s livestream channel. Ducking under the law, the city weighed the evidence against the state’s stringent standard, which insists on clear proof that a protester caused a direct threat or property damage.\nThe DOJ’s role centers on civil‑rights violations. They argue that the protests, “aligned with an aggressive immigration crackdown,” subverted the rights of worshippers. It is the reason why federal prosecutors chose a civil‑rights avenue over criminal specificities, emphasising the national scope of the ICE crackdown while highlighting the local context.\nIn light of this, the city’s decision is a rare case where the federal justice system effectively shields local law‑enforcementers from local prosecutions as the focus shifts to broader civil‑rights concerns. However, community members grapple with the split between civil‑rights accountability and react to the church’s call for local legal action.\nThe debate opens up questions about how federal and state responsibilities intersect—especially in cases where protest tactics conflict with both civil‑rights parameters and local statutes. Whether the federal civil‑rights charges will powerfully influence Minnesota’s policy on protest conduct remains to be seen.

$Virginia Bus Crash Sparks Safety Debate","description":"A deadly crash involving a commercial bus has raised questions about driver conduct, company oversight and industry-wide safety standards.","summary":"Virginia bus crash that killed five and injured dozens has exposed gaps in commercial driver safety, highlighting issues of fatigue, company policies and regulatory oversight.","image":"","text":"A commercial bus crash in Virginia that killed five people and injured dozens of others has raised questions about the driver, the company that employed him and the overall safety of the industry.\nIt’s not yet clear what could have prevented last week’s crash because the National Transportation Safety Board investigation is just beginning. Still, it highlights the inherent dangers whenever a bus or semitruck crashes into other vehicles — even if riding a bus is much safer statistically than driving a car.\nWhile collision-avoidance technology and emergency braking systems are standard on many new cars, commercial buses still lack them — even in the face of longtime NTSB recommendations and proposed regulations to require them.\nObservers say the circumstances of the crash that happened early Friday also raise questions about driver fatigue. Court records, meanwhile, show that the E&P Travel Inc. bus driver, who now faces manslaughter charges, was previously ticketed for excessive speeding, along with other drivers for the same company.\nWhile those tickets might not have been enough to automatically revoke the man’s commercial driver’s license, industry experts say even one similar violation would normally get a driver fired.\n\"The fact that there was one conviction and another citation and this driver is still on the road goes against industry norms and best practices in a pretty significant way,\" said Fred Ferguson, who leads the American Bus Association trade group.\nThat NTSB crash investigators also have no power to enforce their recommendations factors into why so many have gone unfulfilled for years, as the industry and regulators often focus on the potential costs involved.\n\"Everybody walks a walk in talking safety at the industry level, at the congressional level. And then at the end of the day, it’s the same old excuses,\" said Jim Hall, who was chairman of the NTSB during the 1990s. \"And if it costs money, there’s going to be a strong resistance.\"\n<h2>A history of speeding</h2>\nFederal rules say that a driver who is convicted twice within three years for driving more than 15 mph over the limit should be disqualified for 60 days.\nThe bus driver in last week’s crash, Jing Sheng Dong, of New York City, was previously convicted of driving 73 mph in a 55 mph zone in Virginia in 2024, and received a second ticket in March in Annapolis, Maryland, that accused him of driving a motorcoach 72 mph in a 50 mph zone. The 48‑year‑old is now facing five charges of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless driving.\nBut Ned Einstein, an expert witness in some 700 transportation lawsuits, said he doubts the criminal charges filed after the crash will be effective at making roads safer because Dong didn’t create the conditions that likely contributed to it.\n\"They never hit the heart of the problem and never go after the person who’s responsible, and the person that’s responsible for these things is the person that runs the company,\" Einstein said, explaining that drivers have to take the shifts they are given while company owners set the schedules and run the businesses.\nFriday’s crash also happened around 2:30 a.m. ET — roughly five hours into a trip from New York to North Carolina. That makes former state trooper Jeremy Disbrow, who helps train law enforcement with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, wonder whether fatigue may have been a factor.\nBus drivers are prohibited under federal law from driving more than 10 hours or working more than 15 hours without taking at least eight hours off to rest. Electronic logs have helped better enforce those rules than paper logbooks, although there have been instances where the former have been tampered with.\nRecords show that another E&P Travel driver was involved in a similar crash in North Carolina in 2024 that injured nine people after the bus failed to slow down for a traffic control vehicle that was performing a moving lane closure. The bus hit that vehicle, and a third vehicle rear‑ended the bus. The bus driver, Pei Jie Lu, later pleaded guilty to failure to reduce speed. That crash occurred three months after Lu was ticketed in Maryland for negligent driving and changing lanes unsafely, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in that case in September 2024.\nTransportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said federal investigators are looking into Dong’s background as well as the company that hired him and the school that trained him. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is also trying to confirm that New York followed the rules when it awarded Dong a commercial driver’s license. Duffy has worked to strengthen and enforce standards for CDL holders, but that effort has focused on truck drivers.\n<h2>A long list of unfulfilled recommendations</h2>\nEven when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agrees that something is a good idea, like automatic braking, it often takes years to finalize a rule requiring it. Commercial buses, for example, have only been required to have seat belts since 2016.\nNumerous NTSB recommendations for buses and other commercial vehicles have never been adopted, including stricter standards to reduce driver fatigue and ensure drivers get enough rest between trips. A rule to require collision-avoidance technology in commercial buses and trucks was proposed in 2023, but it remains pending.\nUltimately, it falls to regulators, Congress and the industry to adopt them. Unlike regulators who must conduct a cost‑benefit analysis, the NTSB isn’t required to consider how practical its recommendations are. It simply urges safety improvements to prevent future tragedies.\nThe Transportation Department didn’t immediately respond this week to questions about why so many recommendations go unfulfilled.\n<h2>Many bus companies do invest in safety</h2>\nThe American Bus Association trade group works to promote safety measures and Ferguson said driver‑monitoring technology, such as inward‑facing video cameras and advanced telematics systems similar to those used by major auto insurers, has become common. Some of those systems can even send alerts about driver behavior to a bus company.\nFerguson also said some companies have installed collision‑avoidance technology on their buses because the difference between catastrophic accidents and not having catastrophic accidents is you keeping your company.\nBut cost is a factor — a new motorcoach previously cost roughly $650,000, and the industry is now dealing with the impact of 10% tariffs. Ferguson said newer buses have the most safety features, but increasing costs will slow upgrades.\n\"Operating safely not only is morally and ethically what they believe in, but it’s good business,\" said Ferguson, whose group represents about 40% of the 1,800 companies that operate about 50,000 motorcoaches across the United States and Canada.\n___\nRamer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press writer Allen G. Breed contributed from Wake Forest, North Carolina.$

Virginia Bus Crash Sparks Safety Debate","description":"A deadly crash involving a commercial bus has raised questions about driver conduct, company oversight and industry-wide safety standards.","summary":"Virginia bus crash that killed five and injured dozens has exposed gaps in commercial driver safety, highlighting issues of fatigue, company policies and regulatory oversight.","image":"","text":"A commercial bus crash in Virginia that killed five people and injured dozens of others has raised questions about the driver, the company that employed him and the overall safety of the industry.\nIt’s not yet clear what could have prevented last week’s crash because the National Transportation Safety Board investigation is just beginning. Still, it highlights the inherent dangers whenever a bus or semitruck crashes into other vehicles — even if riding a bus is much safer statistically than driving a car.\nWhile collision-avoidance technology and emergency braking systems are standard on many new cars, commercial buses still lack them — even in the face of longtime NTSB recommendations and proposed regulations to require them.\nObservers say the circumstances of the crash that happened early Friday also raise questions about driver fatigue. Court records, meanwhile, show that the E&P Travel Inc. bus driver, who now faces manslaughter charges, was previously ticketed for excessive speeding, along with other drivers for the same company.\nWhile those tickets might not have been enough to automatically revoke the man’s commercial driver’s license, industry experts say even one similar violation would normally get a driver fired.\n\"The fact that there was one conviction and another citation and this driver is still on the road goes against industry norms and best practices in a pretty significant way,\" said Fred Ferguson, who leads the American Bus Association trade group.\nThat NTSB crash investigators also have no power to enforce their recommendations factors into why so many have gone unfulfilled for years, as the industry and regulators often focus on the potential costs involved.\n\"Everybody walks a walk in talking safety at the industry level, at the congressional level. And then at the end of the day, it’s the same old excuses,\" said Jim Hall, who was chairman of the NTSB during the 1990s. \"And if it costs money, there’s going to be a strong resistance.\"\n<h2>A history of speeding</h2>\nFederal rules say that a driver who is convicted twice within three years for driving more than 15 mph over the limit should be disqualified for 60 days.\nThe bus driver in last week’s crash, Jing Sheng Dong, of New York City, was previously convicted of driving 73 mph in a 55 mph zone in Virginia in 2024, and received a second ticket in March in Annapolis, Maryland, that accused him of driving a motorcoach 72 mph in a 50 mph zone. The 48‑year‑old is now facing five charges of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless driving.\nBut Ned Einstein, an expert witness in some 700 transportation lawsuits, said he doubts the criminal charges filed after the crash will be effective at making roads safer because Dong didn’t create the conditions that likely contributed to it.\n\"They never hit the heart of the problem and never go after the person who’s responsible, and the person that’s responsible for these things is the person that runs the company,\" Einstein said, explaining that drivers have to take the shifts they are given while company owners set the schedules and run the businesses.\nFriday’s crash also happened around 2:30 a.m. ET — roughly five hours into a trip from New York to North Carolina. That makes former state trooper Jeremy Disbrow, who helps train law enforcement with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, wonder whether fatigue may have been a factor.\nBus drivers are prohibited under federal law from driving more than 10 hours or working more than 15 hours without taking at least eight hours off to rest. Electronic logs have helped better enforce those rules than paper logbooks, although there have been instances where the former have been tampered with.\nRecords show that another E&P Travel driver was involved in a similar crash in North Carolina in 2024 that injured nine people after the bus failed to slow down for a traffic control vehicle that was performing a moving lane closure. The bus hit that vehicle, and a third vehicle rear‑ended the bus. The bus driver, Pei Jie Lu, later pleaded guilty to failure to reduce speed. That crash occurred three months after Lu was ticketed in Maryland for negligent driving and changing lanes unsafely, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in that case in September 2024.\nTransportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said federal investigators are looking into Dong’s background as well as the company that hired him and the school that trained him. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is also trying to confirm that New York followed the rules when it awarded Dong a commercial driver’s license. Duffy has worked to strengthen and enforce standards for CDL holders, but that effort has focused on truck drivers.\n<h2>A long list of unfulfilled recommendations</h2>\nEven when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agrees that something is a good idea, like automatic braking, it often takes years to finalize a rule requiring it. Commercial buses, for example, have only been required to have seat belts since 2016.\nNumerous NTSB recommendations for buses and other commercial vehicles have never been adopted, including stricter standards to reduce driver fatigue and ensure drivers get enough rest between trips. A rule to require collision-avoidance technology in commercial buses and trucks was proposed in 2023, but it remains pending.\nUltimately, it falls to regulators, Congress and the industry to adopt them. Unlike regulators who must conduct a cost‑benefit analysis, the NTSB isn’t required to consider how practical its recommendations are. It simply urges safety improvements to prevent future tragedies.\nThe Transportation Department didn’t immediately respond this week to questions about why so many recommendations go unfulfilled.\n<h2>Many bus companies do invest in safety</h2>\nThe American Bus Association trade group works to promote safety measures and Ferguson said driver‑monitoring technology, such as inward‑facing video cameras and advanced telematics systems similar to those used by major auto insurers, has become common. Some of those systems can even send alerts about driver behavior to a bus company.\nFerguson also said some companies have installed collision‑avoidance technology on their buses because the difference between catastrophic accidents and not having catastrophic accidents is you keeping your company.\nBut cost is a factor — a new motorcoach previously cost roughly $650,000, and the industry is now dealing with the impact of 10% tariffs. Ferguson said newer buses have the most safety features, but increasing costs will slow upgrades.\n\"Operating safely not only is morally and ethically what they believe in, but it’s good business,\" said Ferguson, whose group represents about 40% of the 1,800 companies that operate about 50,000 motorcoaches across the United States and Canada.\n___\nRamer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press writer Allen G. Breed contributed from Wake Forest, North Carolina.

U.S. Attorney’s Grand Jury Visit Sparks Debate Over Prosecutorial Conduct

$New York Judge Seals Virtual Hearing in Luigi Mangione Murder Case","description":"In a closed proceeding, Judge Gregory Carro sealed a virtual hearing in the state murder case of Luigi Mangione, who is charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The decision sparked criticism over lack of transparency.","summary":"Judge Carro shut out the press and public for a virtual hearing on Wednesday, sealing the session without explaining why. The hearing—held in his chambers and streamed only to defense lawyers and prosecutors—was to discuss scheduling and jury selection. The decision follows a pattern of sealed proceedings, raising concerns about transparency in a high-profile case. Mangione remains charged with state and federal murder and stalking charges and faces potential life imprisonment. The gun and notebook used in the killing have been ruled admissible evidence.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/460263f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2200x1467+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F56%2F3b%2Fac9ef0b0c587e2e19beee88fddcc%2F6c4ffa0ba3e44b4aadca0c028b8bfa5e","text":"On Wednesday, New York Judge Gregory Carro shut out the press and public, sealing a virtual hearing in Luigi Mangione’s state murder case for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.The sealed session, held in Carro’s chambers and accessed only by Mangione’s attorneys and prosecutors, was scheduled to discuss scheduling and jury selection. Carro provided no explanation for the decision to close the hearing, leaving law‑yers and reporters to wonder why the public was barred.This is not the first time Carro has sealed proceedings in the Mangione case. In December a reporter was ejected from the courtroom when trying to object to the sealing of evidence, and in February Carro held a 27‑minute off‑the‑record bench conference that was not open to the public.The judge’s decision is controversial because most New York courtroom hearings are presumed open, and virtual sessions usually allow live public view by TV monitors. When a party requests a seal, judges normally solicit the other side and permit broader input.Mangione, 28, was arrested on May 14, 2024, five days after the shooting, and remains charged with state and federal murder and stalking charges. His federal trial is scheduled for October 13.The gun and notebook that prosecutors claim link Mangione to the murder have been ruled admissible. The pistol is a 3D‑printed model that matches the weapon used in the shooting, while the notebook contains statements about wanting to “wack” a health‑insurance executive and rebelling against a “deadly, greed‑fueled” industry.<img style=\"display:block;margin:16px auto;\" src=\"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/460263f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2200x1467+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F56%2F3b%2Fac9ef0b0c587e2e19beee88fddcc%2F6c4ffa0ba3e44b4aadca0c028b8bfa5e\" alt=\"Luigi Mangione appears at a hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court on May 18, 2026. (Jeenah Moon/Pool Photo via AP)\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\">$

New York Judge Seals Virtual Hearing in Luigi Mangione Murder Case","description":"In a closed proceeding, Judge Gregory Carro sealed a virtual hearing in the state murder case of Luigi Mangione, who is charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The decision sparked criticism over lack of transparency.","summary":"Judge Carro shut out the press and public for a virtual hearing on Wednesday, sealing the session without explaining why. The hearing—held in his chambers and streamed only to defense lawyers and prosecutors—was to discuss scheduling and jury selection. The decision follows a pattern of sealed proceedings, raising concerns about transparency in a high-profile case. Mangione remains charged with state and federal murder and stalking charges and faces potential life imprisonment. The gun and notebook used in the killing have been ruled admissible evidence.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/460263f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2200x1467+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F56%2F3b%2Fac9ef0b0c587e2e19beee88fddcc%2F6c4ffa0ba3e44b4aadca0c028b8bfa5e","text":"On Wednesday, New York Judge Gregory Carro shut out the press and public, sealing a virtual hearing in Luigi Mangione’s state murder case for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.The sealed session, held in Carro’s chambers and accessed only by Mangione’s attorneys and prosecutors, was scheduled to discuss scheduling and jury selection. Carro provided no explanation for the decision to close the hearing, leaving law‑yers and reporters to wonder why the public was barred.This is not the first time Carro has sealed proceedings in the Mangione case. In December a reporter was ejected from the courtroom when trying to object to the sealing of evidence, and in February Carro held a 27‑minute off‑the‑record bench conference that was not open to the public.The judge’s decision is controversial because most New York courtroom hearings are presumed open, and virtual sessions usually allow live public view by TV monitors. When a party requests a seal, judges normally solicit the other side and permit broader input.Mangione, 28, was arrested on May 14, 2024, five days after the shooting, and remains charged with state and federal murder and stalking charges. His federal trial is scheduled for October 13.The gun and notebook that prosecutors claim link Mangione to the murder have been ruled admissible. The pistol is a 3D‑printed model that matches the weapon used in the shooting, while the notebook contains statements about wanting to “wack” a health‑insurance executive and rebelling against a “deadly, greed‑fueled” industry.<img style=\"display:block;margin:16px auto;\" src=\"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/460263f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2200x1467+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F56%2F3b%2Fac9ef0b0c587e2e19beee88fddcc%2F6c4ffa0ba3e44b4aadca0c028b8bfa5e\" alt=\"Luigi Mangione appears at a hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court on May 18, 2026. (Jeenah Moon/Pool Photo via AP)\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\">

Mysterious Sewer Explorers Emerge From NYC Maintenance Holes","description":"Three nighttime videos capture groups of people resurfacing from Brooklyn and Queens sewer tunnels, raising questions about their motives and the safety of underground infrastructure. Police are investigating what happened below ground after security footage shows the crew carrying tools and protective gear.","summary":"In a series of unexplained incidents, groups of seven adults were seen emerging from maintenance holes in NYC’s sewer system after spending hours below the city’s streets. Security cameras captured them with headlamps, shovels and protective gear. Police say no hazards were detected and the city urges the public to avoid underground passages.","image":"https://example.com/placeholder.jpg","text":"For weeks, gritty videos of people mysteriously popping out of the seams of New York City’s sewer system have sparked conversation among residents and officials alike.Three separate nighttime recordings show groups of roughly seven adults slipping out of maintenance holes on streets in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg and Gravesend neighborhoods, as well as a Queens block on May 5. Each footage, captured by local businesses’ security cameras, frames the group in a light‑filled moment as they pulled themselves up, some narrowly avoiding traffic.In one clip, the crew was seen wearing headlamps and carrying shovels and other tools, hinting at possible excavation work. Another filmed them pulling fresh clothing from parked cars after spending three hours underground before the maintenance hatch was shut and cars slowed to walk. Very little is known about the purpose of the trip.The Department of Environmental Protection investigated the sites where the groups surfaced in Brooklyn and confirmed that the sewer infrastructure remained intact. The second incident in Queens is still under investigation, with officials offering a quick note that no damage has been found yet.Police side‑step speculation about theft or vandalism by stressing that entries into the sewer are illegal and dangerous. “Sewers can contain noxious gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks and confined spaces,” spokesperson Rob Wolejsza said, urging the public to refrain from penetrations in any manhole, drain or outfall.On Tuesday, officials reported no injuries or arrests and said the investigation remains ongoing. Meanwhile, a resident of Williamsburg remarked that the group looked as though they were “looking for something important—perhaps money or a way to harm.” However, police remain unconvinced that the intent was anything beyond curiosity in a city’s enormous underground system.

$Federal Judge Challenges Conviction After Trump‑Era Immigration Crackdown","description":"Judge Hannah Dugan’s appeal raises questions about the legal boundaries of federal obstruction statutes amid a renewed focus on immigration enforcement.","summary":"In the wake of President Trump’s immigration push, former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan faces a federal appeal that could reshape how courts view obstructing immigration agents. The case, a first of its kind in Wisconsin, is set to be heard after a jury conviction—bringing attention to the interplay between state judicial independence and federal law.","image":"","text":"MILWAUKEE—American citizens attorney and former state judiciary judge Hannah Dugan faces a federal appeal after a jury convicted her of felony obstruction of an immigration officer. The case is an early test of how the courts will respond to President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.\n<h2>Judge’s sentencing postponed for new arguments</h2>\nFederal District Judge Lynn Adelman postponed Dugan’s sentencing, scheduled for Wednesday, to hear arguments for overturning the conviction. Adelman did not rule from the bench, leaving the outcome uncertain.\n<h2>Attorney cites Virginia appellate decision</h2>\nSteven Biskupic, Dugan’s attorney, argued that a federal appeals court decision in April overturned a Virginia immigration case that the judge’s prosecution relied on. The court had found that ICE’s actions did not constitute a “pending proceeding,” a key requirement of the obstruction law. Biskupic contended that since only a warrant had been filed for the immigrant’s arrest, no proceeding existed; thus the charges were invalid.\nProsecutors countered that the Virginia case was factually different and that other precedents supported the conviction.\n<h2>Administration’s stance on judicial immunity</h2>\nRichard Frohling, acting U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Wisconsin, urged the court to uphold the appeals ruling. In response, the judge asked what numerical period a proceeding could last—“it could be a couple of minutes, it could be a couple of years.” Frohling replied that it depends on the context.\n<h2>Background on Dugan’s trial</h2>\nDugan, 67, was originally convicted on December 19 for obstructing ICE agents after she helped an immigrant—Eduardo Flores‑Ruiz—evade federal officers in Milwaukee in April 2025. The charges stem from her telling ICE that the warrant they held was insufficient for arrest, directing them to the chief judge’s office, and leading the immigrant out a jury door. The immigrant was later arrested and deported.\nFollowing her conviction, Dugan resigned as Milwaukee County circuit judge two weeks later amid potential impeachment proceedings. She had served as a judge for nine years.\n<h2>Significance of the case</h2>\nHer case marks the first time a Wisconsin state judge has gone to trial for obstructing immigration agents. Dugan’s supporters argue she was unfairly targeted during the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policy, while prosecutors see the conviction as a necessary enforcement action.$

Federal Judge Challenges Conviction After Trump‑Era Immigration Crackdown","description":"Judge Hannah Dugan’s appeal raises questions about the legal boundaries of federal obstruction statutes amid a renewed focus on immigration enforcement.","summary":"In the wake of President Trump’s immigration push, former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan faces a federal appeal that could reshape how courts view obstructing immigration agents. The case, a first of its kind in Wisconsin, is set to be heard after a jury conviction—bringing attention to the interplay between state judicial independence and federal law.","image":"","text":"MILWAUKEE—American citizens attorney and former state judiciary judge Hannah Dugan faces a federal appeal after a jury convicted her of felony obstruction of an immigration officer. The case is an early test of how the courts will respond to President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.\n<h2>Judge’s sentencing postponed for new arguments</h2>\nFederal District Judge Lynn Adelman postponed Dugan’s sentencing, scheduled for Wednesday, to hear arguments for overturning the conviction. Adelman did not rule from the bench, leaving the outcome uncertain.\n<h2>Attorney cites Virginia appellate decision</h2>\nSteven Biskupic, Dugan’s attorney, argued that a federal appeals court decision in April overturned a Virginia immigration case that the judge’s prosecution relied on. The court had found that ICE’s actions did not constitute a “pending proceeding,” a key requirement of the obstruction law. Biskupic contended that since only a warrant had been filed for the immigrant’s arrest, no proceeding existed; thus the charges were invalid.\nProsecutors countered that the Virginia case was factually different and that other precedents supported the conviction.\n<h2>Administration’s stance on judicial immunity</h2>\nRichard Frohling, acting U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Wisconsin, urged the court to uphold the appeals ruling. In response, the judge asked what numerical period a proceeding could last—“it could be a couple of minutes, it could be a couple of years.” Frohling replied that it depends on the context.\n<h2>Background on Dugan’s trial</h2>\nDugan, 67, was originally convicted on December 19 for obstructing ICE agents after she helped an immigrant—Eduardo Flores‑Ruiz—evade federal officers in Milwaukee in April 2025. The charges stem from her telling ICE that the warrant they held was insufficient for arrest, directing them to the chief judge’s office, and leading the immigrant out a jury door. The immigrant was later arrested and deported.\nFollowing her conviction, Dugan resigned as Milwaukee County circuit judge two weeks later amid potential impeachment proceedings. She had served as a judge for nine years.\n<h2>Significance of the case</h2>\nHer case marks the first time a Wisconsin state judge has gone to trial for obstructing immigration agents. Dugan’s supporters argue she was unfairly targeted during the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policy, while prosecutors see the conviction as a necessary enforcement action.

Hostage Crisis in Bakersfield Ends After FBI Shoot Suspect

Hostage Tension at Bakersfield Chase Bank Building","description":"Police negotiate with suspect confined in downtown Chase bank; two hostages released, others safe amid community evacuation.","summary":"A nighttime standoff unfolded at the downtown Bakersfield Chase bank when a man barricaded himself and hostages in the building. Negotiations led to the release of two hostages, with all remaining inmates reported in good health. Police, FBI agents, and tactical units cordoned off the area, evacuating city hall, the police precinct, and closing nearby streets to ensure public safety.","image":"https://www.apnews.com/apimages/Bakersfield-Chase-Bank.jpg","text":"Police were locked in negotiations Tuesday night with a man holding hostages inside the Chase Bank branch and the adjacent city school district office in the southern California city of Bakersfield.Responding officers arrived around 1 p.m. after receiving a bomb threat call. They found the suspect barricaded inside with several community members, as reported by the Bakersfield Police Department.Through negotiations, two hostages were freed, and the remaining hostage group was confirmed to be in “good health,” according to City Police Sgt. Eric Celedon.Celedon emphasized that every available resource was being deployed to reach a safe resolution.The incident prompted evacuations of nearby city buildings—including city hall and the police headquarters—and the temporary closure of several streets. A perimeter was established around the bank site and neighboring businesses.City officials urged the public to stay away from the area to allow officers, negotiators, and trained professionals to operate safely.The Chase Branch, located on the ground floor, was emptied during the standoff, with JPMorgan Chase coordinating with authorities to ensure client safety.Jacob Davidson, a livestreamer known as “Dad’s Gone Live,” detailed the evolving situation on his channel, capturing live footage of the standoff.Law‑enforcement agencies erected trauma tents—color‑coded for medical triage—in anticipation of potential injuries. FBI agents joined the response team at the scene.Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh monitored the event closely and urged citizens to respect the law‑enforcement process.The standoff ended with all hostages accounted for, the suspect de‑escalated by negotiators, and minimal risk to the surrounding community.

$Prediction Markets and Insider Trading: The George Santos Scandal","description":"A curiosity about a former congressman and a forecasting platform turns into a federal investigation.\n\nSummary of the story of how a prediction market flagged insider trading by ex‑Representative George Santos and the broader regulatory response to betting sites like Kalshi.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/04b42ab3edb74f57b307389b93f45f31/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F97%2Fbb%2F1d94341e19d95c13fcd921d0857a%2F04b42ab3edb74f57b307389b93f45f31","text":"On the eve of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, ex‑Representative George Santos – who had been released by Trump after a brief stint in prison – boasted that he would attend the speech on the Washington‑D.C. stage. Minutes later, he posted on X that he had been delayed at the airport, prompting fans on the platform to accuse him of a “second scam.”\n\nBut it wasn’t the social‑media outrage that reached law‑enforcement – it was a prediction market. Kalshi, an online platform where users bet on political outcomes, had recorded a surge of trades by Santos’ account in the 24 hours before Trump’s speech. On the night of the address, Kalshi’s odds placed Santos’ attendance at almost 75 %.\n\nA confidential source told the Associated Press that Kalshi flagged the activity and reported it to the Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The DOJ and the CFTC have been tightening rules against insider trading on prediction markets, but they did not comment on the Santos case before the AP’s drop‑in at the office.\n\nDuring an NPR interview, Santos denied knowledge of the investigation and refused to verify whether he held a Kalshi account. He replied to reporters, “I’m not saying yes, I’m not saying no.” In the same interview, he acknowledged that the market “shows you how fragile these markets are.”\n\nSantos, whose 2024 conviction stemmed from a fraud plot that involved faking a Wall‑Street persona, was sentenced to seven years in prison. After serving 84 days, Trump called him a “rogue” and released him on a short‑term remission, saying the man “didn’t deserve a harsh sentence” and that his vote for the GOP should count.\n\nKalshi and its chief rival Polymarket are drawing scrutiny as their user bases grow. In March, a soldier charged with predicting the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Polymarket earned more than $400,000 from classified information. The Senate passed a bipartisan resolution last month to block members of Congress from trading on the two platforms.\n\nThese policing moves reflect a broader shift in the intersection of technology and politics. Prediction markets rely on real‑time data streams and machine‑learning models that can flag anomalous patterns – a function that aligns with the capabilities of modern quantum‑accelerated analytics, a technology that quanta.report leverages to sift through large election‑related datasets faster than traditional methods.\n\nThe Santos case illustrates a dual reality: the allure of betting on political outcomes and the regulatory mechanisms required to uphold market integrity. While Kalshi says it sends suspicious trades to federal regulators, Biden‑era officials are considering stricter oversight, potentially reshaping how political forecasts are made available to the public and to those with inside information.$

Prediction Markets and Insider Trading: The George Santos Scandal","description":"A curiosity about a former congressman and a forecasting platform turns into a federal investigation.\n\nSummary of the story of how a prediction market flagged insider trading by ex‑Representative George Santos and the broader regulatory response to betting sites like Kalshi.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/04b42ab3edb74f57b307389b93f45f31/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F97%2Fbb%2F1d94341e19d95c13fcd921d0857a%2F04b42ab3edb74f57b307389b93f45f31","text":"On the eve of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, ex‑Representative George Santos – who had been released by Trump after a brief stint in prison – boasted that he would attend the speech on the Washington‑D.C. stage. Minutes later, he posted on X that he had been delayed at the airport, prompting fans on the platform to accuse him of a “second scam.”\n\nBut it wasn’t the social‑media outrage that reached law‑enforcement – it was a prediction market. Kalshi, an online platform where users bet on political outcomes, had recorded a surge of trades by Santos’ account in the 24 hours before Trump’s speech. On the night of the address, Kalshi’s odds placed Santos’ attendance at almost 75 %.\n\nA confidential source told the Associated Press that Kalshi flagged the activity and reported it to the Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The DOJ and the CFTC have been tightening rules against insider trading on prediction markets, but they did not comment on the Santos case before the AP’s drop‑in at the office.\n\nDuring an NPR interview, Santos denied knowledge of the investigation and refused to verify whether he held a Kalshi account. He replied to reporters, “I’m not saying yes, I’m not saying no.” In the same interview, he acknowledged that the market “shows you how fragile these markets are.”\n\nSantos, whose 2024 conviction stemmed from a fraud plot that involved faking a Wall‑Street persona, was sentenced to seven years in prison. After serving 84 days, Trump called him a “rogue” and released him on a short‑term remission, saying the man “didn’t deserve a harsh sentence” and that his vote for the GOP should count.\n\nKalshi and its chief rival Polymarket are drawing scrutiny as their user bases grow. In March, a soldier charged with predicting the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Polymarket earned more than $400,000 from classified information. The Senate passed a bipartisan resolution last month to block members of Congress from trading on the two platforms.\n\nThese policing moves reflect a broader shift in the intersection of technology and politics. Prediction markets rely on real‑time data streams and machine‑learning models that can flag anomalous patterns – a function that aligns with the capabilities of modern quantum‑accelerated analytics, a technology that quanta.report leverages to sift through large election‑related datasets faster than traditional methods.\n\nThe Santos case illustrates a dual reality: the allure of betting on political outcomes and the regulatory mechanisms required to uphold market integrity. While Kalshi says it sends suspicious trades to federal regulators, Biden‑era officials are considering stricter oversight, potentially reshaping how political forecasts are made available to the public and to those with inside information.

bbc.co.uk

Iran Rejects Appeal of British Couple, Upholding 10‑Year Prison Sentence

$Six Killed in Muscatine, Iowa Shooting; Suspect Dead","description":"A tragic shooting in Muscatine, Iowa left six people dead, including two students, two staff members and four relatives. The 52‑year‑old suspect, Ryan Willis McFarland, died by suicide. Authorities are probing the motive and urging community solidarity.","summary":"In Muscatine, a fatal shooting claimed six lives and sparked a community-wide response. Two students were among those killed, with police confirming that the 52‑year‑old suspect ended his life after confrontation. The incident is the sixth family mass killing this year and has drawn attention to the broader pattern of such tragedies across the U.S.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/95f98f0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3792x2122+0+0/resize/599x335!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F95f98f0","text":"A 52‑year‑old resident of Muscatine, Iowa, was apprehended by police on Monday after a shooting that left six people dead. Authorities say the suspect, Ryan Willis McFarland, was killed by suicide while talking to officers, and that the other victims—two students and two school employees—were found in a Muscatine home. Superintendent Clint Christopher expressed deep sorrow for the victims’ families and peers, saying: <blockquote style=\"margin:0 0 1rem 0;padding:1rem; background:#f9f9f9; border-left:4px solid #4a90e2; font-style:italic; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">“Our hearts are broken for the family members, friends, colleagues, classmates, and all those affected by this unimaginable loss.”</blockquote> Police chief Anthony Kies confirmed that the suspects are believed to be relatives. He added that additional details, including the ages of the victims, will be released on a Tuesday vigil. The incident has marked the sixth family‑related mass killing this year, according to a database maintained by the Associated Press and USA‑Today in partnership with Northeastern University.McFarland’s criminal record is known, but further information is withheld pending investigation. Actual crime scenes are located across Muscatine, with victims identified at a local residence and a business premises.The tragedy, which unfolded in the city of about 24,000 residents, has prompted a statewide conversation about violence and mental health. Local schools have offered counseling for displaced students. The situation also draws attention to the broader trend of mass killings in the United States, totaling thirteen to date this year. EDITOR’S NOTE — This story contains discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988. An online chat is also available at <a href=\"https://988lifeline.org\" style=\"color:#0066cc; text-decoration:none;\">988lifeline.org</a>.$

Six Killed in Muscatine, Iowa Shooting; Suspect Dead","description":"A tragic shooting in Muscatine, Iowa left six people dead, including two students, two staff members and four relatives. The 52‑year‑old suspect, Ryan Willis McFarland, died by suicide. Authorities are probing the motive and urging community solidarity.","summary":"In Muscatine, a fatal shooting claimed six lives and sparked a community-wide response. Two students were among those killed, with police confirming that the 52‑year‑old suspect ended his life after confrontation. The incident is the sixth family mass killing this year and has drawn attention to the broader pattern of such tragedies across the U.S.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/95f98f0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3792x2122+0+0/resize/599x335!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F95f98f0","text":"A 52‑year‑old resident of Muscatine, Iowa, was apprehended by police on Monday after a shooting that left six people dead. Authorities say the suspect, Ryan Willis McFarland, was killed by suicide while talking to officers, and that the other victims—two students and two school employees—were found in a Muscatine home. Superintendent Clint Christopher expressed deep sorrow for the victims’ families and peers, saying: <blockquote style=\"margin:0 0 1rem 0;padding:1rem; background:#f9f9f9; border-left:4px solid #4a90e2; font-style:italic; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\">“Our hearts are broken for the family members, friends, colleagues, classmates, and all those affected by this unimaginable loss.”</blockquote> Police chief Anthony Kies confirmed that the suspects are believed to be relatives. He added that additional details, including the ages of the victims, will be released on a Tuesday vigil. The incident has marked the sixth family‑related mass killing this year, according to a database maintained by the Associated Press and USA‑Today in partnership with Northeastern University.McFarland’s criminal record is known, but further information is withheld pending investigation. Actual crime scenes are located across Muscatine, with victims identified at a local residence and a business premises.The tragedy, which unfolded in the city of about 24,000 residents, has prompted a statewide conversation about violence and mental health. Local schools have offered counseling for displaced students. The situation also draws attention to the broader trend of mass killings in the United States, totaling thirteen to date this year. EDITOR’S NOTE — This story contains discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988. An online chat is also available at <a href=\"https://988lifeline.org\" style=\"color:#0066cc; text-decoration:none;\">988lifeline.org</a>.

bbc.co.uk

U.S. Attorney’s Grand Jury Visit Sparks Debate Over Prosecutorial Conduct

Hostage Crisis in Bakersfield Ends After FBI Shoot Suspect

Iran Rejects Appeal of British Couple, Upholding 10‑Year Prison Sentence

Trump Names Housing Official as Acting US Spy Chief, Stirring Political Storm