Ed White

The first-degree murder and solicitation trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana began in Duval County, Florida, over the 2022 execution-style killing of Microsoft manager Jared Bridegan. Prosecutors allege Saldana and Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, orchestrated a murder-for-hire plot rooted in years of disputes over their children’s upbringing. Bridegan was shot after stopping to move a tire blocking a Jacksonville Beach road while his young daughter was in the car. Investigators linked a similar tire to a property associated with Saldana and found that alleged gunman Henry Tenon received $10,000 from him after the killing. The defense disputes that the payments were connected to murder and argues Saldana’s conduct did not indicate guilt. Gardner will face a separate trial, while Tenon’s case is scheduled for trial in 2027.

Tropical Storm Lala weakened after passing near Hawaii without making landfall but continued to bring hurricane-force mountain gusts, powerful waves and torrential rain, especially to the Big Island. More than 60,000 households lost power, three hospitals switched to generators, one person died in a car accident and at least 19 roofs were damaged. Warnings covered several islands as the storm moved west, with forecasters predicting severe flooding, mudslides and up to 35 inches of rain in higher elevations, while also expecting Lala to regain hurricane strength later in the week. Residents, officials and emergency crews prepared for further damage, including flash floods, fallen trees and possible wildfires.

Hurricane Lala skirted Hawaii’s Big Island without making landfall but brought hurricane-force winds, intense rainfall, flooding and dangerous coastal conditions. At least one person died in a car accident, 19 roofs were lost, tens of thousands of homes lost power and 190 flights were postponed. Forecasters warned of further flooding and mudslides, particularly in higher elevations, while tropical storm warnings remained in effect across several Hawaiian islands as the Category 1 storm moved west and gradually weakened.

A federal judge’s order in Texas striking down registration and background-check requirements for silencers, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and certain other firearms took effect after the Justice Department missed a seven-day appeal deadline. The ruling benefits the lawsuit’s parties but is not a nationwide injunction, and the government may still appeal. Gun-rights advocates celebrated the decision, while Giffords argued that abandoning the regulations threatens public safety. The case concerns provisions of the 1934 National Firearms Act, following the elimination of the $200 suppressor tax by Congress and President Donald Trump.

Police released video showing Chad Williams opening fire multiple times at an In-N-Out drive-thru in Twin Falls, Idaho, killing three people and wounding seven others across the restaurant and nearby areas. Williams later killed himself as police closed in. Police Chief Matthew Hicks praised bystander Braxton Steube for distracting Williams on a walking trail, as well as an off-duty state trooper and former officer A.J. James for confronting the shooter. Investigators had not established a motive nearly a week after the attack.

Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with Spokane’s Old Trails Fire. The fire was among several wildfires that destroyed at least 700 buildings, burned about 12.5 square miles and forced roughly 67,000 people to evacuate. Investigators identified Farinacci after a witness reported seeing a nervous man near the ignition site; he was later found with matches and a butane lighter. More than 1,000 firefighters are battling the fires, while hotter and drier conditions are expected to return. No deaths or major injuries had been reported.

Aaron F. Farinacci was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with Spokane’s Old Trails Fire after a witness reported seeing him near the site where the blaze began. Three major wildfires around Spokane destroyed at least 700 buildings, burned roughly 12.5 square miles and forced about 67,000 people to evacuate. More than 1,000 firefighters were battling the fires, while officials warned that hotter, drier weather could worsen conditions. No deaths or major injuries had been reported, but residents described extensive losses as investigators continued working to determine the causes of the other fires.

No criminal charges will be filed against the parents of an 18-month-old Arizona boy who was found unresponsive in a family pool, pronounced dead at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, and later discovered breathing in the hospital morgue. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said a conviction for negligence was unlikely because the home had child-safety measures, several adults were present, and there was no evidence the parents were impaired. Police records reportedly showed officers observed possible signs of life multiple times before the child was moved to a morgue room. The child was transferred to another hospital and survived, while the initial hospital conducted a review of the care provided.

An investigation into the Interlochen Center for the Arts identified 70 alumni accounts alleging sexual misconduct by 47 former faculty and staff members from the 1950s through the 2010s. The inquiry also found that two women reported sexually inappropriate conduct by major donor Jeffrey Epstein during or in connection with their time at the Michigan arts institution. Interlochen has referred the names of accused individuals to Grand Traverse County authorities, apologized to those affected, and said none of the accused remain employed there. The institution says its safeguarding policies and culture have since fundamentally changed.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a six-lane crossing linking Detroit and Windsor, is set to open after years of planning and billions of dollars in construction. It is expected to increase capacity on a crucial trade route, especially for automotive shipments, and will be operated by the Canadian-created Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. A joint opening ceremony was canceled after President Donald Trump announced 50% tariffs on certain Canadian goods and criticized Canada over trade and wildfire management. Canadian officials called the planned celebration inappropriate, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned of a possible trade war.

Andrew and Tristan Tate’s potential extradition from the United States to the United Kingdom would require a judge to determine whether the request meets the countries’ treaty and legal standards before the U.S. secretary of state makes the final decision. Legal expert Jacques Semmelman says prosecutors have a significant evidentiary advantage and that completely blocking extradition is rare, though defendants may succeed in narrowing the charges. The brothers face allegations including rape, assault and trafficking relating to southeastern England between 2010 and 2017, while their attorney denies wrongdoing. Past U.S. cases show extradition can be rejected when evidence is insufficient or exceptional circumstances apply.

Extreme heat is forecast to affect New York, Boston, Philadelphia and surrounding parts of the US Northeast just before Fourth of July celebrations, with temperatures approaching or exceeding 100°F when humidity is factored in. A heat dome is trapping hot, humid air across the region, raising concerns about heat exhaustion and heat stroke, especially in cities where concrete, asphalt and steel retain heat. New York is opening hundreds of cooling centers and deploying workers and volunteers to check on homeless people, while other venues are offering relief to children and pets. Experts say increasingly earlier, longer and hotter summers are consistent with climate change.

Dangerous heat and humidity affected millions across the Midwest and Great Lakes, with heat indexes exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit and extreme heat warnings issued across several states. Detroit opened recreation centers for cooling, while communities elsewhere canceled events, offered public cooling spaces and dealt with heat-damaged roads. The conditions were expected to move into the Northeast around the Fourth of July holiday, increasing the risk of heat-related illness, especially for people without air conditioning.

Nicholas Rossi, who was extradited from Scotland to Utah in 2024 after authorities determined he had faked his death and used multiple aliases to evade rape charges, died in a Utah prison hospital. The 38-year-old had been serving at least 10 years after 2025 convictions in two sexual assault cases. The Utah Department of Corrections said he died from complications of an existing medical condition after discontinuing medical treatment.

Merlin Lu, 21, was charged with four felonies and four misdemeanors, including a hate crime, arson and burning a cross to intimidate, after admitting he set fire to a large cross in Chicago's Grant Park. Lu said he was protesting Donald Trump, Christian nationalists and the ruling class rather than intending racial intimidation, while acknowledging that he understood the historical meaning of cross burning. He was scheduled for a detention hearing, and it was not immediately known whether he had legal representation.

Joshua Baer, the founder of Austin venture capital firm Capital Factory, died at age 50 when a business jet crashed on a highway in Laredo, Texas, after reporting mechanical problems. Baer was credited by Austin business and political leaders with helping seed the city's technology boom by investing in startups, mentoring entrepreneurs and connecting people across the local business community. His career included founding an email marketing company after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, working at Trilogy Inc., and establishing Capital Factory in 2009. Leaders including Thom Singer, Bryan Chambers and Ted Cruz said his death represented a major loss for Austin's technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

A six-foot wooden cross was burned in Chicago's Grant Park, prompting a police investigation and fears that it was a hate crime. A University of Illinois Chicago student identified as Merlin Lu, also referred to in a caption as Merlin Liu, said he placed a red MAGA hat on the cross as part of an anti-Trump protest aimed at the ruling class and Christian nationalists, not as a racist or anti-Black act. Mayor Brandon Johnson emphasized the devastating impact of the symbol, while University of Chicago scholar Gina Miranda Samuels said the student may have been sincere but appeared uninformed about the cross's history as a symbol of racial terror.

Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging eight pro-Palestinian activists with allegedly conspiring to intimidate University of Michigan officials in an effort to force the university to sever financial ties to Israel. The indictment cites fake bloody corpses placed outside a university board member’s home, anti-Israel graffiti at former president Santa Ono’s residence, and vandalism targeting Michigan companies and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Six defendants were expected in federal court in Detroit, one was arrested in Wisconsin and another remained at large. The university has rejected claims that its endowment directly invests in Israel, saying less than 0.1% of its assets are in funds that might include Israeli companies; a pro-Palestinian campus encampment was cleared by police in 2024 over public-safety concerns.

The Michigan Court of Appeals unanimously overturned Joe Morrison’s conviction for providing material support for terrorism and related offenses, ruling that kidnapping does not qualify as the underlying violent felony required under Michigan’s terrorism statute. Morrison, who was not accused of directly planning to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, had received a minimum sentence that was later reduced to six years. Attorney General Dana Nessel condemned the decision and said she would appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court. Co-defendants Pete Musico and Paul Bellar are also seeking to overturn their convictions, while the broader investigation has produced mixed results, including five acquittals and the federal conviction of plot leader Adam Fox.

Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros acknowledged personally addressing a grand jury before it indicted immigration-sweep protesters, saying he only urged jurors to remain impartial. Defense lawyers argue that asking jurors to identify themselves if they could not set aside personal views was improper and chilling. The case was later dismissed after alleged misconduct by a prosecutor, amid claims that dissenting jurors were excluded. The episode is presented as part of broader grand jury failures under Donald Trump’s Justice Department, prompting Illinois Democratic senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth to call for Boutros’s resignation.

Transit operators across the United States, Canada and Mexico are preparing for a major surge in demand during the 2026 World Cup, hoping to attract international visitors and occasional riders as air travel becomes more expensive and congested. FlixBus and Greyhound are expanding capacity and technology, while Amtrak and local systems are upgrading preparations. However, limited capacity, rising fuel and security costs, and sharply increased match-day fares have triggered backlash, particularly over NJ Transit’s initially proposed $150 round trip to the New Jersey stadium. Some operators have reduced prices or retained standard fares, while FIFA has rejected calls to fund transportation, leaving transit agencies to balance affordability, operational costs and the needs of everyday commuters.

Two virologists employed at the U.S. government’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe, were charged after authorities allegedly found undeclared vials of deactivated mpox virus in their luggage at Detroit Metropolitan Airport following a trip from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The FBI says Munster denied carrying biological materials and made misleading claims about having the necessary documentation. Officials said concealing and importing the samples without authorization could have endangered the public, while the pair’s reasons for transporting the virus remain unclear. They were expected to appear in federal court in Montana.

A bus traveling from New York to North Carolina reportedly caused a chain-reaction crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia, killing five people, including Massachusetts couple Dmitri and Ecaterina Doncev and their children, Emily and Mark, who were traveling to a wedding. Bus driver Jing S. Dong was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, with additional charges possible. The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a separate investigation into the crash, including the bus's speed, braking and the driver's language proficiency.

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was released from a Wisconsin jail after being arrested on allegations including strangulation and suffocation. Brown County District Attorney David Lasee said prosecutors are seeking additional investigation and have not decided whether to file charges. Jacobs denies wrongdoing, while his attorneys said further review will show that charges are unwarranted. The Packers declined to comment, and coach Matt LaFleur said the team would allow the process to continue. The investigation could affect a key player for Green Bay, which has limited depth at running back.

Jeff Titus, who spent more than two decades in prison for the 1990 killings of Michigan hunters Doug Estes and Jim Bennett, agreed to a $5.25 million settlement. His convictions were erased in 2023 after the University of Michigan Law School Innocence Clinic and investigators uncovered evidence that police had withheld information potentially undermining key trial testimony. The case also raised questions about Ohio serial killer Thomas Dillon, though the settlement focused on alleged violations of Titus's rights rather than proving Dillon was the killer.

Six people from Honduras and Mexico, including a 14-year-old boy, were found dead inside a shipping container at a rail yard in Laredo, Texas. Authorities suspect they died from hyperthermia after being placed in the container during a human-smuggling operation involving a train traveling from California through Texas. Federal authorities are leading the investigation, while local officials called for justice. The deaths highlight continuing dangers along the U.S.-Mexico border and concerns about migrant smuggling by rail.

Federal prosecutors charged Singapore-based Synergy Marine, India-based Synergy Maritime and technical superintendent Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair over the March 2024 Dali crash that destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and killed six construction workers. The charges allege conspiracy, failure to report a known hazardous condition, obstruction and false statements. Investigators found that two electrical blackouts disabled the ship’s controls before it struck the bridge. Maryland has reached a settlement in principle with Synergy Marine and ship owner Grace Ocean, though the terms are undisclosed and claims involving Hyundai and other parties remain unresolved. The collapse disrupted the Port of Baltimore, transportation and the state economy, while bridge replacement costs are estimated at $4.3 billion to $5.2 billion.

Federal prosecutors charged Singapore-based ship operators Synergy Marine and Synergy Maritime, along with Dali technical superintendent Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, over the March 2024 collision that destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and killed six workers. The charges allege conspiracy, failure to report a known hazardous condition, obstruction and false statements. Investigators found that two electrical blackouts disabled the Dali’s controls before it struck the bridge. Maryland estimates replacement costs of $4.3 billion to $5.2 billion, while the collapse also disrupted the Port of Baltimore, transportation and the state economy. Maryland has reached a settlement in principle with the ship operators and owner Grace Ocean, but details and some claims, including those involving Hyundai, remain unresolved.

A handwritten note allegedly found by Jeffrey Epstein’s former cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione after Epstein’s suspected first jail suicide attempt in July 2019 has been publicly released through an unrelated legal dispute. The Justice Department said it was seeing the note for the first time and that it had not been authenticated. A federal judge released it after The New York Times petitioned for disclosure, citing diminished privacy interests following Epstein’s death. The note refers to choosing the time to say goodbye and includes distressed language, while jail records document Epstein’s neck injuries, changing account of an alleged attack by Tartaglione, and subsequent suicide-watch and psychiatric-observation status. Tartaglione’s attorneys had kept the note in a federal court vault since 2021 amid attorney-client privilege proceedings.

Michigan was cleared of liability in a lawsuit brought by thousands of property owners over the 2020 Edenville Dam failure, which flooded communities, destroyed more than 100 homes and drained Wixom Lake. Court of Claims Judge James Redford ruled that relentless rain and an unprecedented flood, rather than the state-authorized lake level, triggered the collapse. He said expert evidence indicated that lowering the lake beforehand would probably not have prevented the disaster. The privately owned dam’s failure also caused the downstream Sanford Dam to overtop and flooded Midland. A Federal Energy Regulatory Commission report later described the failure as foreseeable and preventable but did not attribute responsibility to any single party.

Chinese college student Tianrui Liang was arrested at a New York airport while attempting to leave the United States for Scotland and charged with illegally photographing military aircraft. According to an FBI court filing, Liang admitted taking pictures of RC-135 and E-4B aircraft near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska during a cross-country road trip, despite knowing that photographing grounded military planes without approval was illegal. He said the images were for his personal collection. Liang had not yet appeared in federal court, and his attorney declined to comment.

A hot air balloon carrying 13 people made an emergency landing in a narrow backyard in Temecula, California, after the pilot reported low fuel and changing winds. The passengers, including a couple celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary, landed safely without damaging the home or trees. The pilot then moved the balloon to a nearby street for dismantling, while the ride operator praised the pilot’s judgment.

A storm system spanning central Texas, the Midwest and the Great Lakes has produced more than 1,100 reports of large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes since Monday. At least one man died after apparently being struck by lightning in Waukesha, Wisconsin, while flooding has affected communities across Wisconsin and Michigan. Five tornadoes have been confirmed in southern and central Wisconsin, and further severe storms, tornadoes, heavy rain and flooding were expected Friday before conditions potentially improve. Flood emergencies include rising Wisconsin and Muskegon rivers, threatened infrastructure in Portage and Cheboygan, and an overwhelmed wastewater treatment system in Bellaire. Wisconsin declared a state of emergency, while authorities urged residents to prepare for flooding and avoid driving through dangerous water.

Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore was sentenced to probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunications device. Prosecutors dropped a felony home-invasion charge and two additional counts as part of a deal. Moore had been accused of confronting a former affair partner at her home on the day he was fired, allegedly blaming her for his dismissal and threatening suicide; he avoided jail because of his clean criminal record.

The Plymouth-Canton school district in suburban Detroit agreed to provide First Amendment training to staff and remove records suggesting wrongdoing by Danielle Khalaf, a Palestinian American student who refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in protest of U.S. support for Israel's war in Gaza. The settlement includes a $10,000 insurance payment to Khalaf, while the district admitted no liability. Khalaf said her teacher humiliated her and told her to return to her country, causing emotional distress. The district's superintendent praised her for speaking up and reaffirmed the goal of maintaining a safe and respectful school environment.

Flight attendant Solange Tremblay survived after being thrown from an Air Canada plane that collided with a fire truck while landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport. Her daughter said Tremblay suffered multiple fractures in one leg and would require surgery, while the aircraft's pilot and copilot were killed. Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti attributed her survival partly to the robust, wall-mounted four-point restraint seat used by flight attendants, which is designed to withstand severe crash forces and facilitate evacuation.

Temple Israel near Detroit had strengthened security before an armed man drove into the synagogue, opened fire, and ultimately killed himself. The synagogue had hired former police lieutenant Danny Phillips as security director and conducted active-shooter preparedness training. Officials credited the armed security guard and extensive preparation with preventing casualties among 140 children and others inside the building. The attack has heightened concerns about antisemitism and security at houses of worship, while leaders at a nearby church described renewed anxiety and vigilance.

Families of missing people such as Nancy Guthrie and Darian Nevayaktewa experience “ambiguous loss,” a psychologically painful state in which grief remains unresolved because there is no confirmation of what happened. Experts say the uncertainty can leave families feeling helpless and emotionally frozen, while faith and support from communities with similar experiences can provide solace. Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance from her Tucson-area home remains unsolved despite video evidence and a reward, while her daughter Savannah Guthrie continues to appeal for information. Lynette Pino has spent nearly 18 years seeking answers about her son’s disappearance and urges the Guthrie family not to give up hope or allow law enforcement to set the case aside.

George Calicut Jr. was released after more than 25 years in prison when prosecutors and defense lawyers agreed that his 1999 murder confession had been obtained under duress by Detroit homicide investigator Barbara Simon. Calicut had consistently denied killing Virgie Perkins, and recent DNA analysis found no evidence linking him to the crime. A judge dismissed the case at the request of both sides, with assistance from the University of Michigan Law School Innocence Clinic and the Cooley Innocence Project. Simon had acknowledged writing the statement Calicut signed, while her broader investigative work has led Detroit to pay millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements.

Colin Gray was convicted of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for giving his son, Colt, access to a gun and ammunition before the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia. The case is the latest example of prosecutors pursuing parents when children commit gun violence. Comparable cases include Jeffrey Rupnow in Wisconsin, the imprisoned parents of Oxford shooter Ethan Crumbley, Robert Crimo Jr. in Illinois, and Deja Taylor in Virginia.

U.S. District Judge John Tunheim extended a temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction protecting lawfully present refugees in Minnesota from arrest and deportation under a new Department of Homeland Security policy. The policy claims refugees seeking green cards can be returned to federal custody one year after admission, potentially affecting tens of thousands nationwide. Tunheim said the interpretation lacked congressional authorization, raised constitutional concerns and violated promises made to refugees. The case follows the arrest and transfer of a Minnesota refugee to Texas, where he was shackled, questioned and eventually released.

US Olympian and running coach Jeff Galloway has died aged 80 in Pensacola, Florida, following a hemorrhagic stroke and emergency neurosurgery. Best known for pioneering the run-walk-run method, Galloway taught runners to use scheduled walking breaks to reduce injury risk, conserve energy and build confidence. His approach, developed after his 1972 Olympic appearance and refined through coaching, books, retreats and work with runDisney, helped make distance running accessible to people of all abilities. He completed more than 230 marathons and leaves behind two sons and six grandchildren.

Federal prosecutors dismissed charges against University of Michigan researchers Xu Bai, Fengfan Zhang and Zhiyong Zhang after they spent more than three months in jail awaiting trial. Defense lawyers said the Chinese Consulate in Chicago intervened and that China negotiated with the United States, although U.S. authorities declined to comment. The researchers had been accused of helping receive biological materials shipped from China; the materials were reportedly transparent worms commonly used in laboratory research and not dangerous. The dismissal followed earlier cases involving Chengxuan Han and Yunqing Jian, Chinese researchers who pleaded to similar biological-material offenses and were deported.

Investigators searching for Nancy Guthrie may use investigative genetic genealogy after DNA collected in the case produced no match in the national CODIS database. Experts say a suitable DNA sample could be compared with databases such as 23andMe, Ancestry, MyHeritage and GEDmatch to identify relatives and build a family tree leading to a suspect, although sample quality, database policies and uneven ethnic representation pose limitations. Similar methods helped identify Joseph DeAngelo Jr. and connect Bryan Kohberger to the Idaho student killings.

DNA from gloves found about two miles from Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona home did not match any profiles in the national CODIS database, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators are analyzing additional DNA recovered from the residence and working with a manufacturer and specialists to locate Guthrie through the signal from her heart pacemaker. Guthrie, 84, disappeared on February 1 after blood was found on her porch and security footage showed a masked man nearby. Her daughter, NBC Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has appealed to the public for information.

Savannah Guthrie has asked the kidnapper of her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, to provide proof that she is alive, but investigators warn that videos, photos and audio can now be convincingly fabricated with artificial intelligence. FBI officials say purported ransom notes are being taken seriously, although no suspects have been identified and there is no evidence that reported deepfake material has been received. A California man was charged with sending bitcoin demands after following the case on television, but authorities have found no indication that he was involved in the disappearance. Former FBI agent Katherine Schweit said direct appeals to a kidnapper can be a tactical step, while the FBI emphasized that the family retains control over its public messages.

A National Transportation Safety Board hearing identified systemic failures behind the January 29, 2025 collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport, which killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft. Investigators cited inadequate helicopter-route separation, missed warnings, crowded airspace, an overwhelmed air traffic controller, reduced situational awareness, and pilots’ limited ability to see each other. NTSB officials said the tragedy resulted from failures across multiple organizations rather than one individual’s mistake. The FAA has reduced arrival rates, increased staffing, and permanently separated helicopter and airplane routes, while the NTSB plans further recommendations. Families and investigators are pressing Congress, the Army, and the Trump administration to implement broader safety changes.

The National Transportation Safety Board is holding a daylong hearing to identify the leading causes of the January 29, 2025, collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., which killed all 67 people aboard. Previously identified contributing factors include a poorly designed helicopter route near Reagan National Airport, the helicopter's excessive altitude, ignored Federal Aviation Administration warnings, and the Army's disabling of a system that would have made the helicopter easier to track. The FAA has made post-crash airspace restrictions permanent, while the NTSB is expected to recommend further action. Victims' families are pressing Congress, the Army and the Trump administration to implement meaningful safety reforms.

Sherrone Moore’s defense attorney says he is innocent and has filed a motion to quash the arrest warrant and dismiss charges including felony home invasion and stalking. Authorities allege Moore entered a former staff member’s apartment, threatened her and threatened suicide after blaming her for his firing. Moore has pleaded not guilty, remains free on bond with electronic monitoring, and is due back in court on February 17. Michigan dismissed him after investigating his personal relationship with the staff member and concluding that he lied during the inquiry.

Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore is scheduled to return to court for an update on the criminal case stemming from an alleged confrontation with a former football staff member after his firing. Moore faces felony home invasion and stalking-related charges, has pleaded not guilty, and remains free on bond with a tracking device. A subsequent hearing may determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. Michigan dismissed Moore after determining he had an undisclosed relationship with the staff member and lied during the university's investigation; Kyle Whittingham has since taken over as coach.

Southfield, Michigan, has agreed to pay $3.25 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Timesha Beauchamp, a 20-year-old woman with cerebral palsy who was declared dead at home in 2020 but was found gasping for air after arriving at a funeral home. Paramedics and a doctor who pronounced her dead remotely were accused of gross negligence. Beauchamp was taken to a hospital but died two months later. Southfield initially won dismissal on governmental-immunity grounds, but the Michigan Court of Appeals reinstated the case in 2024. The city said the settlement cannot erase the family’s suffering and cited the difficulties of the pandemic.

Pasadena’s Rose Parade is forecast to face rain on New Year’s Day, which would be only the 10th rainy occurrence in its 137-year history and the first in two decades. Organizers are preparing rain gear for participants and tow trucks for floats, while spectators are being advised to expect wet conditions; umbrellas are prohibited in ticketed seating areas.

The Pasadena Rose Parade is forecast to experience rain on New Year’s Day for the first time since 2006. Organizers say floats, bands and performers are expected to participate, with rain gear and tow trucks prepared for possible problems. Spectators should expect wet conditions, and umbrellas are prohibited in ticketed seating areas. Other New Year’s celebrations across the United States are also expected to face cold or rainy weather.

A 90% chance of rain is forecast for Pasadena on New Year's Day, potentially making the Rose Parade the first rain-affected event in 20 years. Organizers say floats, bands and entertainers are expected to participate, with rain gear and tow trucks available, while ticketed spectators cannot use umbrellas. Rain is also possible during curbside camping, while New Year's Eve forecasts call for cold temperatures in New York City and possible light rain in Las Vegas.

A life ring and wooden piece from a lifeboat recovered after the 1975 sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald sold for $150,000 at a Detroit auction. Carpenter Larry Orr found the artifacts eight days after the ship went down in Lake Superior, killing all 29 crew members, and later allowed a Michigan museum to display them. The artifacts had briefly been slated for transfer to Michigan as part of an unrelated $600,000 settlement with Orr, but the state returned them after scrutiny of the arrangement.

Former Harvard Medical School morgue manager Cedric Lodge was sentenced to eight years in prison for removing and selling donated human body parts, including brains, skin, hands and a man’s face, after cadavers were no longer needed for research. His wife, Denise Lodge, received just over a year for assisting him. Prosecutors said the couple earned thousands of dollars between 2018 and 2020, while Lodge’s defense acknowledged the harm caused to the deceased and their families. Harvard suspended body donations for five months after charges were filed, and at least six other people have pleaded guilty in the broader trafficking investigation.

A divided federal appeals court blocked Michigan’s ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ minors, ruling that it impermissibly restricts therapists’ First Amendment rights and discriminates based on viewpoint. The court granted Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties a preliminary injunction, while a dissenting judge argued that the case should await the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in a related Colorado dispute. The law, signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2023, could cause therapists to lose their licenses for violations; advocates say conversion therapy increases risks of depression and suicide.

Eighty-eight-year-old Meijer cashier Ed Bambas received a $1.7 million gift after Australian social media creator Sam Weidenhofer shared his story and launched a GoFundMe campaign. Bambas, a General Motors retiree, continued working because his income was insufficient after his wife’s death and he had accumulated $225,000 in debt. More than 15,000 people donated, allowing him to pay off the debt and consider travel and returning to golf, although he plans to work for another month or two before retiring.

Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman were sentenced to one year of probation in Michigan after pleading no contest to voter intimidation, conspiracy and computer crimes over robocalls aimed at discouraging Black Detroit residents from voting by mail in the 2020 presidential election. The messages falsely warned voters that voting by mail could expose them to police, debt collectors and government vaccine officials. The pair also faced related proceedings in Ohio and New York, including community service in Ohio and a settlement of up to $1.25 million in New York.

Michigan veterinarian Amanda Hergenreder was sentenced to 10 days in jail and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution after being convicted of misdemeanor larceny for refusing to return Vinnie, a 16-year-old pit bull mix, to his homeless owner, Chris Hamilton. Hergenreder had found the ailing dog tied to a truck, treated serious health problems and argued that her ethical responsibilities and the dog's lack of a license justified keeping him. A judge rejected her lawyer's request for community service. Hergenreder later acknowledged failing to recognize the bond between Hamilton and the dog. Vinnie was euthanised in July because of age-related health issues.

Investigators say the left engine of a UPS MD-11 detached during takeoff in Louisville after cracks were found in its engine mount. The aircraft reached only about 30 feet before crashing into a UPS warehouse and exploding, killing 14 people. The NTSB released photographs and video documenting the failure, while aviation experts questioned whether required inspection intervals were sufficient. UPS has grounded its MD-11 fleet and is cooperating with investigators to determine the cause and develop a plan for repairs and a possible return to service.

The legal challenge to the indictment against former FBI Director James Comey has highlighted the secretive role of federal grand juries. Grand juries determine whether probable cause supports charges, meet privately, require 12 votes for an indictment, and operate under strict secrecy, although they can reject or limit charges. Comey argues that his indictment should be dismissed because the full grand jury did not review the final two-count indictment and because the prosecution was politically vindictive. The Justice Department acknowledged a possible procedural problem, while a magistrate judge and the trial judge consider whether it warrants dismissal. Comey has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing, characterizing the case as retaliation by President Donald Trump.

O.J. Simpson’s estate has accepted Fred Goldman’s $58 million claim arising from the civil judgment over Ron Goldman’s death, though acceptance does not constitute payment. The estate executor says it may have only $500,000 to $1 million in assets available for distribution, meaning Goldman is likely to recover only a small fraction of the claim. Simpson was acquitted in the criminal case involving Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson but was later found liable in civil court; the estate rejected a larger $117 million claim.

Federal immigration agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection may begin an enforcement operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to the Mecklenburg County sheriff, although the federal government has not publicly confirmed it. The prospect has prompted fear among immigrants, volunteer training to document and protest possible sweeps, and efforts to inform residents of their rights. Charlotte police say they have no authority to enforce federal immigration law and are not participating. There is no indication that the National Guard will be deployed, while the governor’s office says local police are better suited to protect neighborhoods. The Trump administration has pointed to the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska as evidence of public-safety failures in Democratic-led cities, despite local crime data showing significant declines and no indication that Border Patrol would have a role in enforcing state or local laws.

Larry Orr, 77, discovered a life ring and part of a lifeboat from the 1975 Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula shore shortly after the freighter sank, killing all 29 crew members. The state of Michigan acquired the life ring as part of a $600,000 settlement in Orr’s unrelated police misconduct lawsuit. After reports highlighted that the settlement could have left Orr without the relic, a revised agreement ensured he would receive both the life ring and the money.

John Skelton has been charged with three counts of murder and tampering with evidence in the 2010 disappearance of his sons, Andrew, Alexander and Tanner, in Morenci, Michigan. The charges were filed shortly before Skelton was due to leave prison, where he had served a 15-year sentence for failing to return the boys to their mother. The children have never been found despite extensive searches in Michigan and Ohio, and investigators say Skelton gave authorities multiple false accounts about their whereabouts.

Larry Orr will receive the life ring he found after the 1975 sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, while Michigan taxpayers will still pay $600,000 to settle his lawsuit alleging misconduct by state police Lt. David Busacca. The relic had been included in an earlier settlement that increased the payment from about $300,000 to $600,000, but further negotiations returned ownership of the ring to Orr. The state’s unusual handling of the artifact drew criticism, and Orr may auction it to help purchase a home and replace his wife’s aging car.

Chinese researcher Yunqing Jian pleaded guilty in Michigan to smuggling biological material and making false statements to investigators after arranging for samples of the crop pathogen Fusarium graminearum to be sent from China concealed in a book. The material was brought to a University of Michigan laboratory without the required government permits. Although prosecutors sought a two-year sentence and warned of potentially devastating harm, the judge sentenced Jian to five months, which she had already served, and ordered her rapid deportation. Jian said the research was intended to protect crops, while a defense expert found no evidence of dangerous intent or risk to US agriculture. Her alleged collaborator, Zunyong Liu, remains in China.

Two men were charged with terrorism-related crimes in the Detroit area after authorities arrested them and seized weapons from a storage unit and other locations. A federal complaint alleges that the men and other co-conspirators were inspired by Islamic State extremism, discussed a Halloween attack using the term “pumpkins,” and scouted LGBTQ+ bars in Ferndale. Investigators also said a minor participated in discussions. Defense attorney Amir Makled dismissed the allegations as hysteria and fearmongering, while the defendants were scheduled for initial court appearances.

Sean Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder rather than the first-degree charge prosecutors pursued for killing Sonya Massey in her Springfield home. Legal experts said Judge Ryan Cadigan appropriately gave jurors the lesser-charge option because Grayson's testimony could support an argument that he honestly, though unreasonably, feared Massey and her pot of hot water. Grayson said Massey's religious statement and movements caused him to fear an attack, while prosecutors argued he ignored his training and needlessly shot her. The verdict angered Massey's family and supporters, and Grayson faces up to 20 years in prison, substantially less than the 45-years-to-life sentence possible for first-degree murder.

Federal prosecutors will need to prove criminal intent in separate gambling cases involving Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former Charlotte Hornets player Terry Rozier. Legal experts say the Billups case will depend on evidence that he knew high-stakes poker games were rigged and benefited from the scheme, while the Rozier case may rely heavily on text messages and testimony from uncharged co-conspirators. Defense attorneys are expected to challenge the context and meaning of communications, as well as the motive for wealthy, established players to risk their careers for relatively small payouts.

A federal indictment alleges that NBA guard Terry Rozier told longtime friend Deniro “Niro” Laster he would falsely claim an injury and leave a Charlotte Hornets game early, enabling more than $250,000 in profitable player prop bets based on inside information. Laster allegedly shared the information and collected proceeds. The indictment also charges former Los Angeles Lakers assistant Damon Jones with sharing confidential player-availability information, while LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard are identified as players whose status was discussed but who are not accused of wrongdoing. Rozier's attorney denies that he is a gambler, and the National Basketball Players Association stressed both game integrity and the presumption of innocence. Separately, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was charged in an alleged organized-crime-backed scheme to fix high-stakes card games. FanDuel said the cases were deeply disturbing and raised concerns about the integrity of sports.

Michigan agreed to pay Larry Orr $600,000 to settle allegations that a state police officer violated his rights during a discredited sexual abuse investigation. As part of the unusual settlement, Orr agreed to surrender a life ring recovered from the Edmund Fitzgerald, the freighter that sank in Lake Superior in 1975, killing all 29 crew members. The arrangement has prompted questions from Michigan State Police officials and Orr’s attorney, who said the artifact may represent roughly half the settlement’s value. The ring is now in the state’s possession after previously being loaned to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.

Michelino Sunseri set a Grand Teton fastest-known time in 2024 but was convicted of a misdemeanor after using the Old Climber's Trail for about two minutes to avoid hikers. Prosecutors argued that the shortcut violated clearly posted park rules, while Sunseri and his supporters said the route was commonly used, poorly marked, and caused no meaningful environmental damage. Internal Park Service officials later withdrew support for the prosecution, but federal prosecutors continued. A judge has not yet sentenced Sunseri, and prosecutors now propose dismissing the charge if he meets conditions over 12 months. The case has also prompted congressional criticism and proposed legislation requiring willful intent for similar offenses.

A federal judge in Detroit ordered bond hearings within seven days for Jose Contreras-Cervantes and seven other immigrants held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ruling that detention without assessing flight risk or dangerousness violates due process. Contreras-Cervantes, a Mexican national with chronic myeloid leukemia, has been detained since an August traffic stop and reportedly went 22 days without his prescribed medication. The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan represented the plaintiffs, while the Justice Department defended the administration’s policy and argued that the case belonged before an immigration appeals board.

Bodycam video released by police shows officers confronting and shooting Thomas “Jake” Sanford after repeatedly ordering him to drop his gun during a deadly attack on a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. Sanford had rammed a pickup truck into the building, fired repeatedly and set it on fire, killing four people and injuring eight others before being killed by officers. Police Chief William Renye said the response took less than four minutes from the first 911 call and involved at least eight shots; he declined to release footage showing Sanford after he was killed.

The ACLU of Michigan is seeking a bond hearing for Jose Contreras-Cervantes, a 33-year-old immigrant detained after a traffic stop despite having no criminal record and suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia. His lawyer and wife say he was transferred between Michigan and Ohio, went 22 days without medication, and is now receiving a substitute treatment at a privately operated Michigan detention center rather than the medication recommended by his doctors. The petition challenges the Trump administration’s policy of denying bond hearings to immigrants who entered the country unlawfully. A federal court in Detroit is being asked to order hearings for Contreras-Cervantes and seven other detainees, while ICE has not commented.

Lisa Louis, who was inside a Michigan Latter-day Saints chapel when Thomas “Jake” Sanford attacked, said she locked eyes with the gunman while kneeling beside her mortally wounded father, Craig Hayden, and instantly forgave him. She shared a handwritten account calling for an end to hatred and said Sanford allowed her to live. Sanford rammed a truck into the Grand Blanc Township church, opened fire and set the building ablaze before police killed him. Four people died and eight were wounded. A separate church said Sanford had recently become agitated after staff declined to baptize his 10-year-old son, who they believed did not understand the religious rite.

Four people were killed and eight others, including a six-year-old child, were wounded when Marine veteran Thomas Jacob Sanford drove a pickup truck into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, opened fire and set the building ablaze. John Bond, a Navy veteran and beloved grandfather, was identified by friends as one of the victims. Sanford was killed in a gunfight with two officers. Federal investigators continued examining the scene, including reports of gasoline and explosive devices, while authorities had not disclosed a motive or confirmed any connection between Sanford and the church. Local faith communities rallied around the shaken congregation.

Former U.S. Marine Thomas “Jake” Sanford, 40, drove his pickup truck into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, opened fire and set the building ablaze, killing four people before being killed by police. Witnesses said Sanford had recently become intensely hostile when discussing the Mormon faith, while FBI information cited by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated he hated Mormons. Investigators are searching his vehicles, home and electronic devices for a motive. Friends and neighbors described a generally ordinary man, and records showed no prior Michigan petition to remove his firearms; his military history and his family’s earlier experience seeking medical treatment for his son provide additional background.

A Michigan jury convicted veterinarian Amanda Hergenreder of misdemeanor larceny after she refused to return an elderly pit bull mix, Biggby—called Vinny by his owner, Chris Hamilton—whom she had taken for treatment after finding him tied to a truck. Hergenreder said she acted according to her veterinary and animal-welfare responsibilities because Hamilton lacked permanent housing and the dog was unlicensed. Her defense argued that authorities had not assured them they would investigate the dog’s living conditions. The conviction could bring up to 93 days in jail and a fine, but Hamilton will not regain custody because the dog was euthanized in July after suffering age-related health problems.

Lawyers representing more than 140 US citizens who were killed or injured in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, along with American family members, have filed a federal lawsuit seeking at least $7 billion. The suit names Hamas and other militant groups, as well as Iran, Syria and North Korea, alleging that they participated in, planned, aided or materially supported the assault. The plaintiffs cite a United Nations inquiry and may seek compensation through a federally established terrorism-victims fund. The case follows the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which began with the attack that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 others abducted.

A series of recent US political-violence cases reached significant developments across Utah, New York, Minnesota and Florida. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Tyler Robinson, accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk; a judge dismissed a terrorism charge against Luigi Mangione while allowing a murder case over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson to continue; and Democrat Xp Lee won the Minnesota seat of assassinated lawmaker Melissa Hortman, preserving a 67-67 House tie. Separately, prosecutors are nearing the end of their case against Ryan Routh, who is accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro warned that leaders must condemn political violence consistently.

A Maryland judge released a heavily redacted FBI affidavit supporting the August 22 search of former national security adviser John Bolton’s home. The affidavit cites probable cause that classified and national defense information was unlawfully retained, and says agents seized phones, computer equipment and documents. The judge kept many passages secret because of national-security concerns and the ongoing criminal investigation. The filing references concerns over classified material in Bolton’s 2020 memoir and a possible hack of his AOL account. Bolton has not been charged, and his attorney says he possessed ordinary records from his government career and characterizes the search as politically motivated.