Graeme Massie

Jackie, a bald eagle watched by thousands through a nest camera near Big Bear Lake, died after being injured in a fight with two other eagles and suffering an illness that included anemia. Despite treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center, including a blood transfusion and oxygen therapy, her condition worsened. Conservationists highlighted Jackie’s importance to the public and her species’ broader recovery after DDT restrictions and other protections helped bald eagles rebound from near extinction.

Two people, Ashley Whitehead, 56, and Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, were killed during a shooting at Seattle’s Bite of Seattle festival, while 19-year-old Junior Cee Niko Semo, believed to have been involved in the gunfire, also died. Police detained a 15-year-old and are searching for at least one additional suspect, believing the shooting may have involved suspects firing at one another rather than deliberately targeting festivalgoers. Four people, including a two-year-old child, were hospitalized; three adults were discharged and the child remained in satisfactory condition. Officials and community leaders condemned the violence, while investigators continued to establish exactly what happened.

Two people were hospitalized and another was treated at the scene after a two-vehicle crash involving a Waymo autonomous taxi in Los Angeles’s Pico-Union area. Waymo said its vehicle was traveling at 27 mph when a speeding blue sedan struck a pedestrian, swerved, and collided with the robotaxi. The company said it did not believe its vehicle was at fault and was coordinating with first responders.

Donald Trump and Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at Washington’s Hilton after shots were heard inside the ballroom. Secret Service agents rushed Trump from the stage while attendees took cover. Police reportedly found a suspect armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives, and The New York Times identified him as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California.

Janet Schwaner, 72, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, was killed in Lebanon, New York, after her eastbound 2021 Mazda CX-5 struck a horse running in the wrong lane. The horse also died, and the crash remains under investigation.

The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94–90 in Game 5 of the Finals. Jalen Brunson led the victory with 45 points and was named Finals MVP, while fans celebrated across New York with fireworks and street gatherings. Knicks owner Jim Dolan, coach Mike Brown and Brunson praised the team and supporters. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a ticker-tape parade in Manhattan, with city buildings set to be illuminated in the team’s blue and orange colors.

The Justice Department has reportedly opened a criminal investigation into E Jean Carroll over whether she committed perjury during her civil lawsuits against Donald Trump. The inquiry concerns her 2022 deposition statement that no outside party funded her legal fees, despite later disclosure that Reid Hoffman’s nonprofit American Future Republic supported some expenses. Carroll won a $5 million sexual-abuse verdict and an $83.3 million defamation verdict against Trump, who continues to appeal both cases. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has recused himself because he previously represented Trump, while the investigation is being led by U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros. Carroll’s team and the Justice Department declined to comment, and the investigation has been portrayed as a possible escalation of politically motivated action against Trump’s critics.

Three adults, including a security guard, were killed outside the Islamic Center of San Diego in a shooting that also left two teenage suspects dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Police say the suspects had been reported as runaway juveniles and may have targeted the mosque because of anti-Islamic and racist writings found in their vehicle and on a firearm. Authorities are investigating the attack as a hate crime, while the security guard’s intervention may have prevented further deaths. The Islamic center, police, CAIR and President Donald Trump condemned or responded to the violence.

Two US service members went missing on May 2 near Morocco’s Cap Draa Training Area after participating in the multinational African Lion military exercise. US, Moroccan and other participating forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, while United States Africa Command said the incident remained under investigation. The exercise spans Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal and is intended to strengthen regional security cooperation. The report also notes a 2012 helicopter crash in Morocco that killed two US Marines and injured two others.

Spirit Airlines announced that it was immediately ceasing operations and cancelling all flights after failing to secure a rescue deal amid bankruptcy, heavy debt, rising costs and declining passenger numbers. The shutdown affects roughly 17,000 employees and leaves passengers responsible for arranging alternative travel, although refunds are available and several airlines are offering capped or discounted fares on overlapping routes. The Trump administration made a significant effort to keep Spirit afloat, including consideration of a taxpayer-funded takeover, but the proposal stalled without sufficient backing from bondholders and government stakeholders. Unions warned that the collapse would cost jobs, reduce airline competition and increase fares, particularly in major Spirit markets such as Florida and Las Vegas.

The four-person Artemis II crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen—received a hero’s welcome in Houston after returning from a nearly 10-day mission around the Moon. They traveled farther from Earth than any previous lunar explorers, reached 252,756 miles, photographed the Moon’s far side and captured an “Earthset” image. The successful mission supports NASA’s plans for Artemis III and a crewed Moon landing through Artemis IV, scheduled for 2028.

The four Artemis II astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—received a hero’s welcome at NASA’s Houston base after splashing down in the Pacific. Their nearly 10-day mission carried humans farther from Earth than any previous crewed flight, included a lunar far-side flyby, and produced a landmark “Earthset” image. Despite a malfunctioning space toilet, the mission was deemed a success and cleared the way for preparations for Artemis III and the planned Artemis IV lunar landing in 2028.

Jasveen Sangha was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distributing ketamine that contributed to Matthew Perry’s death. Tearfully addressing Perry’s family, Sangha accepted responsibility, but prosecutors highlighted jail calls in which she allegedly discussed book deals and trademarks, as well as her efforts to delete messages after Perry died. Prosecutors characterized her as a brazen dealer motivated by notoriety and profit, while her lawyer argued that she should not receive a longer sentence than the other defendants combined. Perry’s mother and stepfather described the devastating impact of his death. The case has also resulted in prison and other sentences for physician Salvador Plasencia and physician Mark Chavez, while Perry’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and dealer Erik Fleming remain scheduled for sentencing.

Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen,” was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to five federal charges, including distributing ketamine resulting in Matthew Perry’s death. Prosecutors said she sold 51 vials to Perry’s assistant and later deleted messages and was found with drugs and trafficking paraphernalia. Perry’s 2023 death was attributed primarily to acute ketamine effects, along with drowning, coronary artery disease and buprenorphine. Sangha apologized to Perry’s family for her role in the tragedy.

Matthew Perry’s parents attended Jasveen Sangha’s sentencing after she pleaded guilty to five federal charges, including distributing ketamine that resulted in Perry’s death from the acute effects of the drug in October 2023. Prosecutors described Sangha’s conduct as callous and said she deleted messages after Perry’s death; a search of her home uncovered ketamine, methamphetamine, MDMA and drug-trafficking materials. She faces a recommended 15-year prison sentence, while Perry’s assistant and two doctors, along with another individual, have also faced charges in the case.

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton said he had long worried Donald Trump might take Theodore Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize medallion from the White House because of Trump’s fixation on receiving the award. The comments came before Trump was scheduled to meet Venezuelan Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado, after he suggested she might involve him in some aspect of her prize. The Norwegian Nobel Institute has said the award cannot be shared, while Roosevelt’s medallion remains displayed in the White House’s Roosevelt Room.

Donald Trump said the United States is “in charge” of Venezuela after American forces toppled and captured Nicolás Maduro. He indicated that the administration was dealing with acting president Delcy Rodríguez and demanded total U.S. access to Venezuela’s oil and other resources to rebuild its infrastructure, while warning Rodríguez of unspecified consequences if she did not cooperate. Maduro is due to appear in a New York court. Trump also accused Maduro of sending drug users and dealers to the United States and threatened Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, over alleged cocaine production, suggesting that a U.S. operation against Colombia was possible.

Arctic weather continued to disrupt the northern and eastern United States, with more than 4,500 flight delays or cancellations, airport ground stops, school closures and widespread power outages in Pennsylvania and Ohio. More than 70 million people were under cold-weather alerts, while snow affected the Great Lakes, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Forecasters said dangerous wind chills would persist through Monday before temperatures begin recovering Tuesday, with much of the region expected to return to milder conditions by Wednesday and Thursday.

A winter storm caused ground stops and substantial delays at New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports and Philadelphia International Airport, with more than 1,000 incoming flights delayed at JFK and over 700 delayed in Philadelphia. Newark also reported significant delays. The storm was expected to clear Sunday afternoon, although freezing temperatures would persist before a gradual warm-up later in the week.

A winter storm caused major travel disruptions across the northeastern United States. Ground stops were implemented at New York’s main airports and Philadelphia International Airport, with more than 1,000 arrival delays at JFK, over 700 delays in Philadelphia, and average incoming-flight delays of about 170 minutes at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The two younger sisters of Arabella McCormack, an 11-year-old California girl who died after allegedly being tortured and starved by her adoptive family, reached a $31.5 million settlement with the city and county of San Diego, Pacific Coast Academy and Rock Church. The lawsuit alleged that social workers, teachers and other institutions failed to report or investigate signs of abuse. Arabella’s adoptive mother, Leticia McCormack, and grandparents Adella and Stanley Tom have pleaded not guilty to criminal charges, while the sisters, now 9 and 11, live with a foster mother.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a strike on an alleged drug boat in international waters, killing four people and bringing the reported death toll from the Trump administration’s Caribbean and Pacific campaign to at least 86. The attack followed congressional briefings on a disputed September 2 follow-up strike that killed survivors of an earlier boat attack. Hegseth defended that operation as lawful, while Democratic lawmakers, some Republicans, human-rights groups and U.N. officials questioned the evidence, due process and compliance with international law. President Donald Trump signaled that the campaign could expand to land operations in Venezuela, whose president Nicolás Maduro denies involvement in drug trafficking. Public opinion remains mixed, with support for attacking suspected drug boats but strong demands for evidence and opposition to military action in Venezuela.

A U.S. military strike on an alleged drug boat in international waters in the Eastern Pacific killed four people, raising the reported death toll from such operations to 86. The vessel was said to be carrying illicit narcotics and operated by a designated terrorist organization. The strike followed congressional briefings on earlier “double tap” attacks, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended as lawful, while Representative Jim Himes called the footage deeply troubling.

California doctor Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and fined $5,600 after pleading guilty to four counts of distributing ketamine to Matthew Perry. Prosecutors and the judge said he exploited Perry’s severe addiction for profit, while Perry’s mother condemned doctors who supplied drugs and called the actor a “moron.” Plasencia was not charged with providing the dose that killed Perry, although prosecutors say an illegal network supplied more than 20 injections in the four days before his death. Perry’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa administered the fatal dose, while Jasveen Sangha, Mark Chavez and Erik Fleming have also pleaded guilty or face sentencing in related cases.

California doctor Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of illegally distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry. Perry died in October 2023 from the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning and coronary artery disease also contributing. Prosecutors said Plasencia exploited Perry's vulnerability for profit, while his lawyers noted that he had already lost his medical license and career. Plasencia was not charged with supplying the specific dose that caused Perry's death, and several other people remain implicated in the case.

The Taliban released American citizen Amir Amiri from detention in Afghanistan following mediation by Qatar. A US official said Amiri had been held since December 2024 and was returning to the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the release but said additional Americans remain detained, including Afghan-American businessman Mahmood Habibi, who disappeared in 2022. Qatar has helped secure the release of several Americans and a British couple held by the Taliban.

Donald Trump is scheduled to meet House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at the White House on Monday, one day before federal funding expires. Democrats are withholding votes for a seven-week funding extension while seeking continued Affordable Care Act subsidies and restoration of Medicaid cuts. Republicans oppose attaching those healthcare provisions to the funding bill. Without an agreement, the federal government would shut down at 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

The article reviews the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Philando Castile, Freddie Gray, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Michael Brown, Laquan McDonald and Eric Garner, focusing on what happened to the officers involved. Outcomes ranged from Derek Chauvin’s murder conviction and Michael Slager’s 20-year civil-rights sentence to acquittals, dropped charges, non-indictments and delayed dismissals. The cases illustrate inconsistent accountability, while some investigations also documented racial profiling and systemic problems within police departments.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo acknowledged that his team had not studied whether ending the state’s school vaccine mandates would increase disease transmission, arguing instead that the issue was one of parental rights and moral principle. Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration intends to eliminate the mandates, but Florida has not yet changed the rules and legal challenges are expected. Current requirements cover diseases including polio, measles, rubella, pertussis, mumps and tetanus. The proposal comes as Ladapo faces criticism for promoting vaccine and other health-related misinformation, while CDC data show that childhood vaccines prevent millions of deaths globally and that most people involved in a recent Texas measles outbreak were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.

Two tickets sold in Texas and Missouri won the $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot, the second-largest in the game’s history, so the prize will be split between the winners. Each winner can choose an annuity valued at $893.5 million or a lump-sum payment of $410.3 million. The winning numbers were 11, 23, 44, 61 and 62, with Powerball 17; the jackpot odds are approximately one in 292.2 million.

Two winning Powerball tickets sold in Texas and Missouri will split the US$1.8 billion jackpot, the second-largest in the lottery's history. Each winner can choose an annuitized prize of $893.5 million or a lump-sum payment of $410.3 million. The winning numbers were 11, 23, 44, 61 and 62, with Powerball 17; the odds of winning were approximately one in 292.2 million.

The 751-foot coal freighter W. Sapphire was engulfed in a fireball and damaged by an explosion in the Patapsco River near the site of Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. The Coast Guard and Baltimore City Fire Department responded, but none of the 23 crew members were injured. The ship remained afloat and was being moved to a designated anchorage with tugboat assistance. The Coast Guard has opened an investigation. The bridge collapsed the previous year after the container ship Dali lost power and struck it, killing six construction workers; demolition continues and a replacement is not expected to open until 2028.

The number of people still missing after the devastating July 4 weekend floods in Kerr County, Texas, has fallen from more than 160 to three following verification efforts by state and local agencies. At least 135 people died across the affected area, including 107 in Kerr County and 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic. Recovery operations continue along the Guadalupe River watershed, while one person remains missing in each of Travis and Burnet counties.

A New York Times report said Donald Trump once hosted a Mar-a-Lago party for young women at which Jeffrey Epstein was the only other guest, according to organizer George Houraney. The account adds to scrutiny of Trump’s long association with Epstein as the president faces pressure to release investigative files. Trump has denied authoring a bawdy birthday message attributed to him in a Wall Street Journal report and is suing the Journal, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, and two journalists. Attorney General Pam Bondi has separately sought the release of Epstein-related grand jury transcripts.

A 24-year-old woman, Eleasah Williams, allegedly drove a minivan at an unsafe and illegal speed into Shannondale of Knoxville in Tennessee while intending to kill herself and others. The crash killed 96-year-old patient Walter Humphrey, injured Williams non-fatally, and caused more than $1,000 in building damage. Williams was charged with vehicular homicide with recklessness; police allege she had used a THC vape and prescription medication before the incident.

Amazon plans to invest $20 billion in two artificial-intelligence data centers in Pennsylvania, including a facility near Talen Energy’s Susquehanna nuclear power plant and another in Bucks County. The projects are expected to be completed over several years as Amazon expands infrastructure spending to meet growing AI demand. A proposed arrangement would provide Amazon with up to 960 megawatts of nuclear-generated power, but the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has delayed approval amid concerns about grid costs, power availability for other users, and whether large customers should receive preferential treatment.

A June 14 military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and Donald Trump’s 79th birthday could cause an estimated $16 million in damage to Washington, D.C. streets. The event is expected to cost about $45 million overall and involve tanks, armored vehicles, aircraft, troops, bands and horses. The Army says it will cover repairs and plans to spend $3 million on protective metal plates, while Mayor Muriel Bowser is concerned about the city having to pay upfront and wait for reimbursement. Trump has defended the expense as worthwhile.

A 51-year-old man was arrested at California’s Otay Mesa border crossing after U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents found six parrots hidden in his boots while he attempted to enter from Mexico. Six additional birds, including two dead birds, were discovered in his vehicle. The confiscated birds were placed under quarantine by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to test for diseases such as bird flu. The incident followed another case in which a man was caught bringing 16 parakeets and three chickens across the border.

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s office claims victory in a $200 billion COVID-19 lawsuit against China after China failed to appear in court and a default judgment was entered. The lawsuit alleges that China concealed information about the virus, suppressed research, hoarded PPE, obstructed U.S. supplies and sold substandard equipment at inflated prices. The Chinese Academy of Sciences was dismissed as a co-defendant, while China rejects the case and the court’s jurisdiction. A federal judge must still determine whether China can be compelled to pay, and it remains unclear how Mississippi could collect the damages.

A small, single-engine Van's RV-10 aircraft crashed into two homes in Simi Valley, California, on 3 May 2025, killing the pilot, a passenger and a dog. The plane ignited a fire, but residents evacuated safely and firefighters extinguished it. The aircraft had departed from Lancaster and was headed to Camarillo Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause, while the victims' identities had not been released.

Saturday Night Live’s cold open mocked Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office by exaggerating his use of executive orders and his reported interest in becoming pope. James Austin Johnson portrayed Trump and Mikey Day played Stephen Miller in a series of jokes about immigration, PBS funding, interracial couples in advertisements, Bill Belichick’s relationship, J.K. Rowling and other imagined orders. Marcello Hernandez appeared as Marco Rubio in a gag about Hispanic babies. The episode also featured host Quinta Brunson, Sabrina Carpenter and Dwayne Wade in a comedic segment about Brunson and Carpenter’s short stature.

Sovereignty won the muddy 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, defeating favorite Journalism in a field of 19 horses. Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, the Godolphin-bred colt completed the 1¼-mile race in 2:02.31 and earned $3.1 million of the $5 million purse. The victory was Mott’s second Derby win after his 2019 success with Country House, while Journalism recovered from early trouble to finish in contention.

Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Clarence Thomas, dissented after the Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan detainees held at Texas’s Bluebonnet Detention Center under the Alien Enemies Act. Alito called the emergency order unprecedented, hastily granted and unsupported by sufficient factual or legal responses from the government. The majority gave no detailed explanation but maintained that detainees must have a reasonable opportunity to challenge their removal in court. The ruling followed an American Civil Liberties Union request to halt what lawyers described as an imminent new wave of deportations.

A Cessna 180 struck power lines and crashed into a field near Trilla, Illinois, killing two men and two women aboard. The FAA and NTSB are investigating, with the wreckage to be moved for further inspection and a preliminary report expected within 30 days. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed support for those affected and thanked first responders.

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan detainees held at Texas’s Bluebonnet Detention Center under the Alien Enemies Act. The order followed emergency filings by ACLU lawyers, who argued that the migrants faced imminent removal to El Salvador, potentially exposing them to persecution, torture and indefinite detention without meaningful due process. Solicitor General D. John Sauer urged the Court to lift or clarify the stay, arguing that the migrants had bypassed lower courts and that the government retained authority to remove them under other laws. The dispute follows an earlier Supreme Court ruling permitting use of the Alien Enemies Act while requiring detainees to have an opportunity to challenge removals in the appropriate district courts. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.

Authorities in the Dominican Republic confiscated Joshua Riibe’s passport and restricted his movements while investigating the disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki. Riibe, who was last seen with Konanki on a beach near the RIU Hotel & Resort in Punta Cana on March 6, told investigators that he tried to rescue her after a wave swept her away. He is being escorted by police and has been described as a person of interest, while search teams and detectives from Virginia continue efforts to locate Konanki.

Donald Trump’s takeover of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, including the dismissal of its leadership and appointment of Richard Grenell, was followed by an estimated 50 percent drop in ticket sales, according to Kennedy Center staff cited by The Washington Post. Issa Rae and writer Louise Penny canceled scheduled appearances, while Trump allies argued that the institution should prioritize commercially successful programming and promised a “Golden Age of the Arts.” The article also recounts the center’s bipartisan origins and historical development.

Five people, including Briana Payne and her three young daughters, were found shot dead in their Lake Station, Indiana, home during a welfare check. Authorities ruled the deaths of the mother and children homicides and determined that the girls’ father, Robert Payne, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in an apparent murder-suicide. A neighbor reported recent arguments, while a GoFundMe campaign was established to help cover funeral costs.

Alabama executed Demetrius Terrence Frazier for the 1991 rape and murder of Pauline Brown, making him the fourth U.S. death-row inmate put to death by nitrogen hypoxia. Frazier’s final words included an apology to Brown’s family, a reference to Detroit, and a message to fellow death-row prisoners; his final meal consisted of Taco Bell burritos and Mountain Dew. Governor Kay Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall defended the execution, while Frazier’s lawyers argued that Michigan should have intervened because he was from that state. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declined to take action.

Los Angeles wildfires have killed at least 16 people, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and burned roughly 62 square miles amid powerful Santa Ana winds, dry conditions and limited water supplies. Governor Gavin Newsom has called for an independent investigation into dry fire hydrants, depleted water pressure and an empty 117-million-gallon Palisades reservoir, while rejecting Donald Trump’s criticism as disinformation and accusing him of politicizing the disaster. Officials warn that additional high winds could worsen the fires and increase fatalities, with large evacuation zones and tens of thousands of structures at risk. President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster and promised full reimbursement of initial firefighting costs, while Newsom says California remains committed to hosting the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics and rebuilding the affected communities.

Jimmy Carter continued volunteering with Habitat for Humanity for more than 35 years after leaving the White House, working with about 103,000 volunteers across 14 countries to build, renovate or repair 4,331 homes. Together with Rosalynn Carter, he participated in projects including affordable housing in New York, post-Hurricane Katrina rebuilding along the US Gulf Coast and earthquake recovery in Haiti. Carter’s final project was in Nashville in 2019, when he participated at age 95 despite having recently sustained a head injury.

Joe Biden reportedly still believes he could have defeated Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, despite his low approval ratings, dwindling donations and disastrous June debate. He withdrew on 21 July after mounting pressure from Democrats and endorsed Kamala Harris, leaving her roughly three months to campaign; she subsequently lost the battleground states and the popular vote by 2.2 million. Biden reportedly accepts some responsibility, including for running for a second term after promising to be transitional and for selecting Merrick Garland as attorney general. He has privately criticized Garland's pace in prosecuting Trump over January 6 while noting the Justice Department's prosecution of his son Hunter, whom Biden later pardoned.

A Brightline passenger train collided with a Delray Beach Fire Rescue ladder truck while it was crossing railroad tracks in Delray Beach, Florida. Three firefighters were hospitalized in stable condition, while 12 passengers suffered minor injuries; no deaths were reported. The Delray Beach Police Department, Brightline and the National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation, and East Atlantic Avenue was temporarily closed for cleanup and investigative work.

Alabama executed Carey Dale Grayson for the 1994 murder and mutilation of hitchhiker Vickie DeBlieux, making him the third US prisoner put to death by nitrogen hypoxia. Grayson cursed at the prison warden and made obscene gestures before dying at William C. Holman Correctional Facility. The US Supreme Court rejected his lawyers’ request for a stay, while opponents argued that the method remains insufficiently studied and may amount to torture. Alabama officials defended the procedure, despite reports that the earlier execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith involved prolonged writhing and convulsions.

Donald Trump is reportedly expected to appoint Florida Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, although the selection could still change. Rubio, a prominent Trump campaign ally and former Republican primary rival, would become the first Latino to hold the position. He is described as hawkish toward China and Iran, strongly supportive of Israel, critical of Venezuela’s Maduro regime, and supportive of negotiating an end to the Russia-Ukraine war rather than seeking to retake occupied territory. The appointment would highlight the dramatic shift in Rubio and Trump’s relationship, while also exposing tensions between Rubio’s interventionist positions and Trump’s campaign rhetoric favoring restraint and ending foreign military engagements.

Nancy Pelosi criticized Joe Biden for remaining in the 2024 presidential race too long and thereby denying Democrats an open process to choose his replacement. She said Kamala Harris might have been stronger after a primary, but Biden’s immediate endorsement made a contest nearly impossible. Pelosi had helped pressure Biden to withdraw after his damaging debate against Donald Trump, who went on to defeat Harris. Democrats are now conducting a public review of the failed Harris campaign, while Pelosi continues to defend the Biden administration’s legislative record.

Singer Jada Arnell Thomas was shot in the chest while signing autographs after a performance at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters in Dallas. Police arrested 26-year-old Micah Williams, who they said was experiencing a mental health episode, after she allegedly fled to a hotel. Williams faces aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is being held on $200,000 bail. Thomas is recovering, while the venue plans to introduce enhanced security measures.

John Willis Pittman Jr., who is serving a 40-year sentence for the 1998 manslaughter of Jennifer Vedol in Morgan City, Louisiana, has been charged with the second-degree murder of Amber Lynn Jenkins Garcia. Pittman was a suspect when Garcia’s body was found, but investigators lacked sufficient evidence at the time. After reopening the case and reexamining evidence using improved DNA technology, police linked him to the killing; a conviction could result in a life sentence.

Donald Trump appeared close to securing the presidency after taking early leads and projected wins in North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania, while also leading in Michigan and Wisconsin. The New York Times forecast a 95 percent chance of a Trump victory and projected him to win 306 Electoral College votes. Kamala Harris’s campaign argued that the remaining route through the “Blue Wall” states was still viable, citing strong turnout in Philadelphia and expected turnout in Detroit, but the mood at her Howard University watch party deteriorated as she declined to address supporters that night. Trump allies celebrated the apparent Republican wave, while results from Arizona, Nevada and other battleground areas remained outstanding.

NBC gave Donald Trump two free 60-second airtime slots during Sunday Night Football and a NASCAR playoff race after Kamala Harris appeared in a Saturday Night Live sketch. The move followed criticism from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who argued that Harris’s appearance may have violated equal-time rules and denied other candidates the usual opportunity to request comparable access. Trump used the slots to urge voting and warn that a Harris presidency would cause a depression, while his campaign separately attacked her SNL appearance. NBC and the Trump campaign were contacted for comment.

Kamala Harris’s surprise appearance alongside Maya Rudolph on Saturday Night Live shortly before the 2024 U.S. election may have triggered the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time rule. FCC commissioner Brendan Carr called the cameo a partisan attempt to benefit Harris unless other qualifying candidates receive comparable airtime. SNL creator Lorne Michaels had previously said the show could not feature actual candidates because of election-law requirements. Donald Trump’s senior adviser Jason Miller said he was surprised by Harris’s appearance, while the article notes that other major political figures, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and Trump himself, have appeared on the program during past campaigns.

Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance alongside Maya Rudolph on Saturday Night Live's final episode before the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Harris joked about Donald Trump's recent difficulty entering a garbage truck and appealed to voters in Pennsylvania, while the Trump campaign criticized the appearance. The segment also raised questions about election-law equal-time provisions, although SNL creator Lorne Michaels said the show had not planned to feature candidates.

Donald Trump complained at a Pennsylvania campaign rally that ballistic glass installed by the Secret Service made him look worse on television and was too large. He also said he would not mind if a gunman had to shoot through members of the media to reach him, prompting his campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung to argue that Trump was discussing the danger posed by two assassination attempts rather than endorsing harm to journalists. Trump additionally expressed concern about a car horn and gaps in the protective barrier, highlighting the heightened security surrounding his final campaign rallies before the 2024 US election.

George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush will not endorse a candidate or publicly disclose how they will vote in the 2024 presidential election. The decision contrasts with former vice president Dick Cheney’s endorsement of Kamala Harris and Liz Cheney’s campaign urging conservatives to reject Donald Trump, whom they view as a threat to democracy. Harris’s campaign highlights support from several anti-Trump Republicans, while a New York Times/Siena College poll shows Trump narrowly leading Harris 48% to 47% and voters viewing Harris as more liberal. The candidates are preparing for their first presidential debate.

Category 4 Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry in Florida’s Big Bend region at about 11:10 p.m. ET on 26 September 2024, bringing sustained winds of 140 mph and a potentially unsurvivable storm surge of up to 20 feet. More than 800,000 customers in Florida and Georgia had lost power, 61 Florida counties were under a state of emergency, and some areas issued evacuation orders. Governor Ron DeSantis reported one death before landfall and warned of further fatalities and major property damage as Helene moved through Georgia toward Tennessee.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on five federal counts, including bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy and soliciting campaign contributions from a foreign national. Prosecutors allege that he accepted more than $100,000 in luxury travel, hotel stays, meals and other benefits from foreign-linked benefactors, concealed those benefits, and used straw donors to obtain prohibited or excessive campaign contributions. Adams denies wrongdoing and says he will remain in office. Several politicians, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for his resignation. If he steps down, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would become acting mayor and arrange a special election; Governor Kathy Hochul has the authority to remove Adams, though such action was described as unlikely. Several senior Adams administration officials have already resigned.

South Carolina carried out its first execution in 13 years, killing Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah, formerly Freddie Owens, by lethal injection for the 1997 murder of convenience-store cashier Irene Graves. His final meal included cheeseburgers, fries, steak, chicken wings, sodas and apple pie, and he made no formal final statement. The execution proceeded after the US Supreme Court declined to intervene and Governor Henry McMaster denied clemency. Allah maintained his innocence, while former co-defendant Steven Golden recanted testimony shortly before the execution, claiming he had lied under a secret deal with prosecutors. Federal defense lawyers called the execution a tragedy and cited alleged hidden deals, false evidence and broader legal failures. The execution also renewed attention to South Carolina’s efforts to resume lethal injections after drug shortages led it to authorize electrocution and firing squads, while The Independent and the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice continued their campaign against the US death penalty.

A New York Times/Siena College poll puts Kamala Harris at 47 percent and Donald Trump at 48 percent among likely voters ahead of their first presidential debate against each other in Philadelphia. Harris has gained momentum among Democrats since replacing Joe Biden and raised a record $361 million in August, nearly three times Trump's total. The poll also found that 30 percent of voters believe the country is on the right track, while 60 percent disagree; its margin of error is 2.8 percentage points.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz mocked Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance’s awkward doughnut-shop appearance while visiting Cherry Hill Orchards and Farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Walz joked about having no trouble choosing doughnuts and bought whoopie pies and apple cider donuts. Democrats have used Vance’s interaction with staff at a Georgia doughnut store to support their portrayal of him as “weird.” Walz and Vance are scheduled to debate on CBS on October 1, while Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are set to debate on September 10 in Philadelphia.

Toby Shane Kessler, 39, of no fixed address, has been charged with burglary over an alleged break-in at a Trump campaign office in Ashburn, Virginia. Authorities say he forced entry through a back door on 11 August, briefly entered the premises and left; it remains unclear whether anything was stolen. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant and asked the public for information. The office also serves as the headquarters of the Virginia 10th District Republican Committee. The case comes amid an FBI investigation into alleged hacking targeting staff connected to both the Biden-Harris and Trump campaigns.