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Ukraine Strikes Five Cargo Ships Amid Escalation; Romanian Drone Incident Highlights Security Risks

Colorado Court Orders New Trials for Paramers Convicted in Elijah McClain’s Killing","description":"A Colorado appellate decision reverses homicide convictions of two paramedics involved in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, opening the way for new trials.","summary":"After a 2019 incident in which Elijah McClain was pinned down by police and injected with ketamine by paramedics, the Colorado Court of Appeals reversed the homicide convictions of the two paramedics. The ruling, coupled with the state attorney general’s planned appeal, could delay new trials and reignite debates over first‑responder protocols involving sedation.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/12868d5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3977x2651+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F53%2F7d%2Fcb77c1c56ec9da89838366dbcd4c%2F2cf3a0952aa34a75ac462a081eb69baa","text":"<h1>Colorado Court Orders New Trials for Paramers Convicted in Elijah McClain’s Killing</h1>\n<p>In late 2023 a jury found Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics <b>C. J. Cichuniec</b> and <b>Mike Cooper</b> guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the death of 23‑year‑old Martin Elijah McClain. Nine years after McClain was pinned down by police and injected with a fatal dose of ketamine, a Colorado Court of Appeals has reversed the convictions, ordering new trials on the homicide counts.</p>\n<h2>What happened at the crime scene</h2>\n<p>McClain was walking home from a convenience store in Denver’s Aurora suburb when a 911 call described him as “suspicious, waving his arms.” Three police officers approached him, placed him in a neckhold, and called paramedics. The paramedics injected him with ketamine—only 7.5 mg, a dose deemed too large for a 140‑pound man—without checking his pulse or vital signs. He suffered cardiac arrest during transportation and died three days later after being taken off life support.</p>\n<h2>What happened at the paramedics’ trial</h2>\n<p>The trial, lasting several weeks, highlighted the paramedics’ failure to follow basic medical procedures. Experts testified the ketamine dose was excessive for McClain’s weight, and the paramedics did not monitor him immediately after the injection. Cichuniec received a five‑year prison sentence that was later reduced to four years of probation; Cooper was sentenced to 14 months in jail with work release and probation.</p>\n<h2>A wound that has been ‘never allowed to heal’</h2>\n<p>McClain’s 2019 death foreshadowed the 2020 killing of George Floyd, which sparked international protests. The recent appellate ruling is seen by activists as reopening an unresolved wound in the Colorado Black community. Epitome of Black Excellence, a local activist group, said, “We who believe in freedom cannot rest until the killing of a black man, the son of a black mother, is treated the same as that of a white man.”</p>\n<h2>What does this mean for first responders?</h2>\n<p>The trial has touched on largely uncharted legal territory. It’s rare for emergency medical services (EMS) providers to face criminal charges while performing care. The ruling could discourage firefighters from becoming paramedics, reduce emergency personnel numbers, and cause first responders to hesitate in split‑second decisions involving sedatives. University of Miami criminologist Alex Piquero noted there is no evidence that paramedics’ behavior has changed, but new trials could lead to second‑guessing in the field.</p>\n<p>Attorney General Phil Weiser has pledged to appeal the reversal to the state Supreme Court, which could postpone any upcoming trials. Until that appeal is decided, the appellate judges’ ruling sends the case back to a lower court for a new trial on criminally negligent homicide.</p>\n<p>Reporters: Brown from Billings, Montana and Gruver from Fort Collins, Colorado. </p>

Scott Pelley’s Public Blow‑Up Sparks Debate Over Workplace Boundaries

Charges Dropped Against Budapest Mayor for 2025 Pride March

Arizona Supreme Court Denies Appeal in Fake Elector Case","description":"The state’s fake elector case involving Trump aides remains against being sent back to grand jury.","summary":"In a latest blow to Democratic efforts, the Arizona Supreme Court rejected a prosecutor’s request to send the fake elector case—targeting Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani and others—to a grand jury. The decision keeps the case alive in Arizona and reflects a broader pattern of court dismissals in similar cases across the country.","image":"","text":"<p>PHOENIX — The Arizona Supreme Court has denied a prosecutor’s appeal of an order that the state’s fake elector case against President Donald Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and others over the 2020 presidential election be sent back to a grand jury.</p><p>The decision marks another setback for Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes as she struggles to push the sprawling case through the courts. Mayes’ office said it will again present the case in its entirety to a grand jury rather than end the prosecution.</p><p>The ruling came after similar cases in Michigan and Georgia were dismissed by the courts and a special prosecutor dropped a federal case in late 2024 that charged Trump with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. Cases related to the fake elector scheme remain in Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin.</p>

Karen Read Sues Canton Police and Massachusetts State Police Over Investigation Into Officer Dan O’Keefe’s Death","description":"Read claims the investigation into her former boyfriend’s death was marred by bias, negligence and systemic failures.","summary":"After a sworn acquittal in June, Karen Read filed a lawsuit against Canton police and the Massachusetts State Police, alleging misconduct and negligence in the investigation that led to her prosecution for the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe. The complaint accuses the town and the police department of failures in hiring, training and supervision, and highlights alleged racist, sexist and defamatory conduct by key investigators.","image":"","text":"<p>BOSTON (AP) — Karen Read filed a lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and the town of Canton, asserting misconduct and negligence in the investigation that led to her prosecution for the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend.</p><p>The suit, filed Thursday in Bristol County Superior Court, alleges that Read’s acquittal last June exposed “an embedded culture of bigotry, misogyny, systemic failures, and institutional rot at the very core of both organizations.” It claims the town and the police department were negligent in hiring, training and supervising officers.</p><p>The town of Canton and the Canton Police Department did not immediately respond to email requests for comment.</p><p>Read walked out of court a free woman about a year ago after more than three years and two trials over the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, who was found on the suburban lawn of a fellow officer’s home after a night of heavy drinking during a snowstorm.</p><p>Read faced charges of second‑degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene. The jury convicted her of a lesser charge, drunken driving.</p><p>Prosecutors said Read hit O’Keefe with her SUV on January 2022 night of the party, leaving him to die in a blizzard.</p><p>Her lawyers successfully defended her, painting a sinister picture of police misconduct and theorizing that O’Keefe was actually killed by colleagues who then covered it up.</p><p>The trial focused in part on lead investigator Michael Proctor, whom defense attorneys described as biased against Read from the beginning. The Massachusetts State Police trial board found Proctor guilty of sending crude and defamatory text messages about Read while leading the investigation. He was fired, drawing the ire of Read supporters who believe he played a key role in an alleged cover‑up to frame her.</p><p>The complaint devotes dozens of pages to Proctor and former Canton police Sergeant Sean Goode, citing texts, recordings and other communications that it says demonstrate racist, sexist and other derogatory remarks. Read argues that those materials show both men were unfit to participate in the investigation and that their conduct reflected broader failures in oversight by state and local law enforcement officials.</p><p>Goode was placed on leave in November 2025 when the town was notified about allegations of misconduct. He resigned earlier this week, according to news outlets.</p>

Senate Begins Vote on $70 B Immigration Enforcement Funding Bill, Faces Democratic Amendments","description":"The Senate kicked off a series of votes Thursday on a $70 billion bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol. Republicans are pushing to pass it without Democrats, while amendments aim to eliminate Trump’s settlement fund.","summary":"On Thursday, the Senate launched the process to approve a three‑year funding bill for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol, worth $70 billion. The measure could resolve a stalemate after Democrats blocked the agencies’ funding for months following deadly shootings involving federal agents. Republicans intend to move the bill forward in a single vote, but Democrats plan to introduce amendments that would outlaw Trump’s $1.776 billion settlement fund. The outcome will determine whether the agencies receive continuous funding through the end of Trump’s term.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/2b5ec9f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5884x3923+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F00%2F95%2F665adbf0609b1cca4648d0fe512e%2F419aaebd4c6b4a3aac98e9eadce2f0da","text":"<p><strong>WASHINGTON (AP)</strong> – The Senate began a long series of votes Thursday on a $70‑billion bill to fund the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol (CBP), moving toward a three‑year fix that Democrats have blocked for months after the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents in January.</p>\n<p>The bill would provide continuous funding for the agencies through the end of President Donald Trump’s term. However, Republicans must first prevent a range of Democratic amendments, including one that would permanently eliminate Trump’s $1.776‑billion settlement fund created for allies who the former president allegedly believes have been politically persecuted.</p>\n<p>Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Wednesday evening that the focus is on keeping the bill narrow and clean: \"This was narrow and targeted from the very beginning and clean, and we’re trying to maintain it that way.\"</p>\n<h2>Revolving Amends and Filibuster Avoidance</h2>\n<p>Republicans are using a procedural maneuver to pass the budget legislation without Democratic votes, a strategy that took weeks to realize amid obstacles from Trump and additional bipartisan backlash over the settlement fund.</p>\n<h2>Republican Vote Strategy</h2>\n<p>To survive the reconciliation process, Republicans must secure a simple majority. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the settlement fund would not move forward, as many GOP senators accepted his remarks. Senator Thom Tillis, R‑NC, said he would offer an amendment to block any attempt to revive the fund, underscoring Republicans’ desire to prevent Democratic influence on the bill.</p>\n<h2>Trump’s Position on the Settlement Fund</h2>\n<p>Trump clarified that the settlement remains \"very important\" and he was uncertain whether it was dead or on hold, telling reporters that he would consult lawyers for an answer.</p>\n<h2>Democrats’ Push to Ban the Settlement</h2>\n<p>Democrats are using the budget process to force votes that would legally ban the settlement fund while simultaneously killing the immigration spending bill. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer even posted on X that “this is EXACTLY why” Democrats would force votes to ban it.</p>\n<h2>ICE and Border Patrol Funding Challenges</h2>\n<p>Since the winter shootings in Minneapolis involving ICE agents Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Democrats have insisted that any funding for the Homeland Security Department include restraints on federal immigration authorities, such as better identification for officers and greater reliance on judicial warrants.</p>\n<p>Although Trump agreed to separate the Homeland Security bill from a larger spending measure, bipartisan negotiations failed and the DHS budget lapsed in February. Congress eventually funded the rest of DHS in April, but ICE and Border Patrol remained unfunded, prompting Republicans to push for a new bill covering these agencies for three years.</p>\n<h2>Removal of White‑House Security Funding</h2>\n<p>Work on the bill was also delayed by Republican opposition to $1 billion in security funding for the White House, specifically for Trump’s new ballroom. Democrats and some Republicans questioned taxpayer money for the project, and the final bill omitted it after the Senate version was released on Wednesday.</p>\n<p>Thune emphasized that he would work with his conference to fend off amendments and maintain a majority of 50 votes to pass the bill. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said the House would clear the legislation before week’s end if the Senate could finish it, stressing the need for unanimous support.</p>\n<p>Full details of the vote, amendments, and the prospects for ICE and Border Patrol funding are still unfolding in Washington, as the Senate and House work toward a resolution that could set the trajectory for the next presidential administration.\n<p>For live coverage and updates, keep an eye on our real‑time stream and interactive timeline to follow the unfolding story as it happens.</p>

New World Screwworm Fly Strikes Texas, USDA Quarantines 12‑mile Zone","description":"The flesh‑eating parasite that once devastated American cattle crops back in southern Texas after a decade of absence, prompting broad quarantine and a call for vigilance among ranchers and pet owners.","summary":"A 3‑week‑old calf near LaPryor, Texas, was confirmed infected with the New World Screwworm fly. USDA officials enclose a 12‑mile quarantine, assure food safety, and outline large‑scale sterile fly release, traps and cross‑border controls to safeguard livestock.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/2fc44e6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=','text":"<p><b>The New World Screwworm fly</b> has reached south Texas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed on Wednesday, marking the first appearance in the nation in decades and only the third U.S. sighting in recent years. The parasite’s flesh‑eating larvae pose a significant threat to livestock, though officials emphasize it does not penetrate into food supply.</p><p>Secretary Brooke Rollins identified the case as a 3‑week‑old calf in LaPryor, Texas, approximately 50 miles from the Mexico border. State Veterinarian Bud Dinges has instituted a 12‑mile quarantine zone, prohibiting the movement of any warm‑blooded animal—including pets—outside that area without inspection.</p><p>“There is no reason to believe this incursion will result in establishment of the pest in our country,” Rollins said, noting that the care of the infected calf is expected to be successful once properly treated.</p><p>Rollins and industry leaders have alarmed the public for over a year about the fly’s movement across the border, recalling losses that once ran into billions before the fly’s eradication in the 1970s. The USDA has drawn on the successful sterile‑fly release strategy, having dropped millions of sterile flies earlier this year in efforts to mate with any wild females.</p><p>This marks the first confirmed case in Texas since 1966. The USDA reports confidence in preventing a mass infestation and reaffirms that no other cases have been detected in the U.S. Thus far, 58,000 fly samples and 19,000 wild animals have been tested.</p><p>New measures include a $21 million investment to convert a fruit‑fly breeding facility in southern Mexico into a sterile screwworm factory, which will disperse sterile flies in southern Texas and is slated to begin operation next month. Alongside this, 8,000 fly traps are deployed along the U.S.‑Mexico border.</p><p>The fly, a tropical species, lays eggs in wounds or mucous membranes of warm‑blooded animals. Its larvae feed on flesh, making it unique among flies. While recent cases have been contained, people and pets remain potential travelers if the fly is introduced. Rolling has defended a livestock import ban from Mexico and highlighted that the fly does not travel far unaided.</p>

Melinda French Gates Pledges $215 Million to Expand Women’s Health Initiatives

Chef in Michigan Cares for Lebanese Allies Amid War","description":"A Detroit chef pours her earnings into relief for families displaced in Lebanon's latest conflict.","summary":"Mirvet Makki, a Lebanese‑American catering entrepreneur, channels weekly profits to support those fleeing the Israel‑Hezbollah war, while the diaspora rally around their homeland in a climate of crisis.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/b23f089/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4712x3141+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdims.apnews.com%2F22%2Fd7%2F78db043c4285f5d46ec4382fda05%2F0f1d5b0a5038464fbf179aa178a402ac","text":"<div style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.6;color:#333;margin:0;padding:0;\">\n<h1 style=\"margin:0 0 12px 0;font-size:28px;\">Chef in Michigan Cares for Lebanese Allies Amid War</h1>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;\">Every Tuesday, Mirvet Makki, a 47‑year‑old chef and entrepreneur in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, sets aside a portion of her catering profits to send money home to families in Lebanon who have been forced to leave their town by the Israel‑Hezbollah conflict. Her kitchen bakes classic dishes—couscous stews, kibbeh balls, and other Lebanese staples—while her heart remains in Bint Jbeil, a village in southern Lebanon that has become one of the worst hit areas.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;\">When Mirvet immigrated to the United States in 1990, she carried with her the culinary traditions of her village, but never the distance from the trauma that now affects almost a quarter of Lebanon’s population. The recent fighting has displaced more than one million Lebanese people, killing over 3,500, and many of them still depend on the world‑wide Lebanese diaspora for essential aid.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;\">“What can I do for other people?” she reflected. “I’ve decided to use my business to help.” Even with rising costs at home, she has a monthly budget she can spare, which she sends to relatives back in Lebanon.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;\">In cities like metro Detroit, Arabic signs line restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries, indicating a vibrant community that is simultaneously connected and longing for aid from afar. Many Lebanese Americans feel a sense of guilt and helplessness when they cannot return to help loved ones who are still stuck in a country under siege.</p>\n<h2 style=\"margin:0 0 12px 0;font-size:22px;\">The Global Diaspora’s Lifeline</h2>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;\">The Lebanese diaspora in the United States includes roughly 625,000 people, though estimates rise to 1.4 million. Most live in the Midwest, especially Michigan, and many have formed strong community bonds that gather around common causes—whether protesting U.S. support for Israel’s Gaza operations or condemning the recent synagogue attack linked to a Lebanese gunman.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;\">Professor Edward Curtis from Indiana University says a Lebanese homeland without its diaspora is like a city without a seed. The people abroad send back billions in remittances, funding homes, schools, hospitals, and everyday necessities that the local economy can no longer provide.</p>\n<h2 style=\"margin:0 0 12px 0;font-size:22px;\">A Self‑Sufficient Community</h2>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;\">Those who live abroad often choose to help their family members directly rather than seek government aid. As one resident of Troy, Michigan, Nadia Bryant, explains, her sisters receive the remittances and use them to care for orphaned children. “They do not collect the money for themselves,” Bryant says. “They help those in need.”</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;\">This approach reflects a long‑standing tradition in Lebanese society: reliance on the nearest family or community rather than large‑scale public assistance. In a climate where U.S. immigration policies have stopped processing new visas for Lebanese nationals, many are forced to remain abroad.</p>\n<h2 style=\"margin:0 0 12px 0;font-size:22px;\">Hope and Hardship</h2>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;\">Mirvet plans to keep her total overseas donation below $10,000 a year to avoid legal complications. She jokingly admits she might bring the money herself next year. The stakes are high: prices for staples have risen so dramatically that what used to be a $200 car rental and hotel stay is now barely enough for a meal. The Lebanese dollar has lost value to the point where the U.S. dollar dominates daily transactions.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;\">Through phone calls on WhatsApp and shared photos—like a steaming tea pot over a ruined house—Mirvet and community members keep a tangible line open with relatives in Lebanon. A visit to the village of Ayta ash‑Shab, which saw the arrival of Israeli forces, only underscores the fragility of life for those stuck far from home.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px 0;\">Despite the distance, these diaspora cooks and charities keep cooking and sending, ready to act when families need them, showing that even in turmoil, a sense of shared responsibility and care persists. Mirvet’s weekly meal service and her generous contributions exemplify a faithful tradition that proves the heart of Lebanon lives strong in the United States, and the kitchen of a Michigan entrepreneur keeps a small but vital flame burning.\n</div>

Obama Presidential Center Opens to the Public on Juneteenth","description":"Former President Barack Obama’s new Presidential Center in Chicago opens to visitors on Juneteenth, offering a 20‑acre campus featuring a museum tower, library, basketball court, and community spaces that reflect his personal and political legacy.","summary":"The Obama Presidential Center, built near where Barack Obama began his political career and where Michelle Obama grew up, finally opens its doors on Juneteenth following a dedication ceremony. The 20‑acre campus hosts a high‑tech museum tower that showcases key moments of Obama’s presidential campaigns and life in the White House, a new public library, a professional‑grade basketball court, a garden, grill area, and a plaza named after civil‑rights icon John Lewis. Admission to the museum tower costs $30, but the campus itself offers many free amenities, including the outdoor spaces and the library’s reading room. The center is designed to be a digital, interactive experience that encourages visitors to reflect and consider how they can bring change to their own communities.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/a774634/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdims.apnews.com%2Fassets%2F...","text":"<h1>Obama Presidential Center Opens to the Public on Juneteenth</h1>\n<p>The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago now welcomes the public, following a celebratory dedication on Juneteenth attended by city dignitaries, former President Barack Obama, and the Obama Foundation. The 20‑acre campus, set on Chicago’s South Side where the former president began his political career, hosts a museum tower, library, basketball court, grill area and a plaza named after civil‑rights icon John Lewis. The opening means thousands of schoolchildren, journalists and friends of staff can now explore the new center.\n</p>\n\n<h2>Campus Highlights</h2>\n<p>The centerpiece is a three‑story museum tower where visitors can view high‑tech, hands‑on exhibits on Obama’s campaigns, key moments of his presidency, Affordable Care Act policy briefs, his decision‑making on immigration and more. A life‑size replica of the Oval Office invites guests to sit at the Resolute Desk and take photographs with a copy of a handwritten letter from former President George W. Bush and a BlackBerry that Obama used during his presidency.\n</p>\n<p>In the public spaces, a new Chicago Public Library branch features a 70‑foot mural depicting literary giants such as Walt Whitman, James Baldwin and Toni Morrison, underscoring the Obamas’ love of literature. The library’s reading room houses a collection of books chosen by the Obamas, and two high‑backed, striped chairs in blue, yellow and black echo the reading chairs that Obama uses at home.\n</p>\n<p>A professional‑grade basketball court with glass panels and an outdoor grilling area – both in the spirit of Obama’s love for the sport – are designed for community programs. The garden planted with lettuce and strawberry sprouts is a testament to the founders’ commitment to sustainability.\n</p>\n\n<h2>Visitor Experience</h2>\n<p>Museum visitors encounter interactive screens that map out Obama’s election campaigns and highlight the impact of his decisions on American policy. The center’s design keeps the public engaged with guided tours, virtual reality modules and “search and rescue” style exhibits that invite people to reflect.\n</p>\n\n<h2>Ticketing</h2>\n<p>Admission to the museum tower costs $30, the highest among U.S. presidential museums today. However, the campus offers free access to many of its spaces. Illinois residents receive discounts, and the final floors of the museum tower are free for all citizens.\n</p>\n\n<h2>Community Message</h2>\n<p>“We want to make sure that people from all walks of life have the opportunity to sit behind the Resolute Desk,” said Josh Harris, the Obama Foundation’s Vice President of Public Engagement. “If a young organizer from the South Side of Chicago can be president, you can be president too.”\n</p>\n<p>Louise Bernard, director of the museum, added, “We’re passing that baton and inviting people to bring change home, however change may be defined, both small or large.”\n</p>\n<p>With a design that calls to action, the Obama Presidential Center invites Chicago and visitors worldwide to learn from Obama’s legacy and bring the lessons home to their communities.\n</p>

Chicago Prosecutor Confesses to Speaking to Grand Jury in Immigration Protest Case","description":"U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros reveals he personally addressed jurors before an indictment, a rare move that exposed irregularities in Trump‑era DOJ grand‑jury handling.","summary":"In a surprising admission, U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros confirmed he spoke directly to a grand jury while it considered cases against protesters who opposed Trump‑era immigration sweeps. The confession raises questions about the conduct of grand‑jury proceedings and the DOJ’s oversight practices.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/ac3b0a5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4038x2692+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F7b%2Faf%2F5e2193159b829937a1a22ebfa897%2F2434212dec644fda8854c2025f5ec4d6","text":"<p>In the weeks after the Chicago grand jury released its indictment for a group of protesters opposing the former administration’s immigration sweeps, U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros disclosed that he had personally addressed jurors in the room. His statement, released on Tuesday, highlights the unusual nature of a prosecutor’s presence in a grand‑jury setting and points to a pattern of irregularities that the Justice Department has struggled to correct.</p>\n\n<p>Boutros issued a five‑page document that includes excerpts of a transcript in which he says he was there to remind jurors of their duty to be impartial, but also to “draw attention to the fact that a jury who cannot apply the law without prejudice could threaten the administration of the law.” He added that he asked jurors to sign when they could not set aside personal feelings about immigration or any other case before the grand jury returned an indictment on a third try.</p>\n\n<p>Those comments sparked outrage from defense counsel involved in the case. Josh Herman, a defense attorney, called Boutros’s actions “chilling” and warned that the prosecutor’s remarks could compromise the integrity of the proceedings. Herman and other attorneys are now seeking a judge to order the government to pay their legal fees.</p>\n\n<p>**The Role of a Grand Jury**</p>\n<p>A federal grand jury, comprised of 16 to 23 sworn citizens, operates in secrecy. A prosecutor presents evidence, and the jurors decide whether enough evidence exists to issue an indictment. An indictment is an accusation; it does not mean the defendant will be convicted.</p>\n\n<p>Normally, only the prosecutor and investigators communicate with the jury. No defense lawyer enters the room. In most cases, the prosecutor is absent from the courtroom, letting the legal team handle the matter. Boutros’s presence, however, was outside standard practice and raised concerns about “extraordinary measures” being used to protect the office’s interests.</p>\n\n<p>**Patterns of DOJ Missteps**</p>\n<p>Chicago is not an isolated case. In Wyoming, a U.S. attorney once joked that certain defendants were “bad guys” and “murderers,” and handed out personal business cards to jurors, effectively coercing them. In November, a federal magistrate judge criticized a Trump loyalist involved in the indictment of former FBI director James Comey, describing a “disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps.”</p>\n\n<p>The irregularities have flags in several high‑profile investigations. For example, the DOJ’s handling of the case against independent journalist Don Lemon—who was charged over an immigration protest at a Minnesota church—has come under scrutiny. Lawyers involved are calling for access to grand‑jury transcripts, alleging that the DOJ obtained them through improper means.</p>\n\n<p>**Boutros’s Position and Calls for Resignation**</p>\n<p>Boutros was appointed U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois in 2025 and was extended by U.S. District Court judges last year. U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth—both Illinois Democrats—have publicly demanded Boutros resign, citing “chaos and deep internal dysfunction” evident in his office.</p>\n\n<p>As the legal community and the public debate the integrity of grand‑jury proceedings, Boutros’s admission may serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of procedural transparency and the limits of prosecutor influence in a system designed to operate behind closed doors.</p>

Reassessing King George III: The ‘Mad’ Monarch of Revolutionary Stories","description":"A new appraisal of King George III reveals a balanced monarch, challenging the long‑standing American narrative of a tyrannical king during the Revolutionary War.","summary":"Recent archival releases and scholarly research have turned a critical eye on King George III’s life and reign, showing that his behavior during the American Revolution was not the result of mental illness as once argued, but rather a product of constitutional constraints and political realities. The reshaped portrait of George is influencing how America’s founding is taught and celebrated as the nation reaches its 250th anniversary.","image":"https://via.placeholder.com/800x500.png?text=King+George+III","text":"<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em\">For generations, the United States has remembered King George III as a mad, tyrannical monarch who caused the loss of its colonies. The name has been felt most strongly in popular culture – from the musical <a href=\"https://hamiltonmusical.fandom.com/wiki/You%27ll_Be_Back\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hamilton</a> and the film <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Madness_of_King_George\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Madness of King George</a> – to the rush of protest songs written in the 1970s that blamed a broken ruler for the colonies’ grievances. The image of a king literally “mad” has been instrumental in shaping the U.S. founding narrative, suggesting a villain whose loss of sanity drove the need for independence.<br><br>However, historians have long argued that the story is oversimplified. In Parliament, the monarch’s role was primarily constitutional; he could assent to laws but had no direct authority over colonial legislation. The reality of the era was that legislative acts such as the Stamp Act of 1765, pushed through by elected representatives, were perceived in America as one of the major transgressions, leading to famous slogans like “no taxation without representation.” George’s support of these acts was not a whim or irrationality; it was an executive within the bounds of a balanced government structure.<br><br>In 2015, Queen Elizabeth II opened the Georgian Papers – 280,000 unsealed documents from Windsor Castle – to the public. The 21st‑century digitization project revealed a king actively engaged with his administration, compiling exhaustive records on everything from crop yields and botanical collections to his own medical conditions. This trove, made available online in 2023, also detailed treatments and observations during George’s episodes of illness. The new body of evidence says the conventional theory that George suffered from the metabolic disorder porphyria is incorrect. In his 2021 biography <i>The Last King of America</i>, historian Andrew Roberts concluded that the king’s episodes best fit a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type 1, a condition with distinctly manic phases.\n<br><br>As America turns 250, the narrative of George is slowly being rewritten. The Library of Congress exhibit “The Two Georges” positions the monarch and George Washington side‑by‑side, showing that in history, George was simply an individual with complex motives, not a demonic tyrant. Museums such as the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia now display artifacts that illustrate the affection Americans once held for the king before the war, demonstrating that “the king of liberty” was a term of endearment rather than an affront.\n<br><br>King Charles III has publicly acknowledged his ancestor’s nuanced legacy. In a speech to Congress on April 29, he referenced George twice, highlighting their shared ancestry while noting that George never set foot in America. On a White House dinner celebrating the 250th anniversary of the nation, Charles reminded guests that, as a direct descendant, he has inherited a legacy of resilience rather than villainy.\n<br><br>So while the myth persists in some corners of American memory, the emerging consensus is that King George III’s story is far richer and less monolithic than the once‑prominent caricature of madness and tyranny. This new understanding invites Americans to reconsider their founding narrative not as a tale of a tyrant betrayed, but as the unfolding of a complex constitutional monarchy.</p>

Judge Facing Possible Reversal of Conviction for Aiding Immigrant","description":"A federal judge considers overturning a jury’s guilty verdict against former Wisconsin judge who helped an immigrant evade U.S. immigration officers. The case highlights the legal complexities of ICE operations and the reach of federal obstruction law.","summary":"Former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, convicted of felony obstruction for assisting an immigrant, is awaiting sentencing amid arguments that her conviction should be invalidated. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman postponed her sentencing to hear the case, citing a federal appeals court decision that clarified what constitutes a “pending proceeding.” Dugan’s attorney, Steven Biskupic, argues that ICE's action against the immigrant was not a pending proceeding and thus the conviction violates federal law. Prosecutors counter that the Virginia case differed and other cases support the conviction. The decision is being weighed under the broader context of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.\", \"image\":\"<img src=\\\"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/cb23c08/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F19%2Ffc%2Fc7a1f99c76bfb55442b068f12e4d%2Fa207d3f8c09848c794442ad4d70338f4\\\" style=\\\"width:100%;height:auto;\\\" alt=\\\"Image of a director on a film set\\\">\",\"text\":\"<p>Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, 67, was convicted December 19 of felony obstruction after she helped an immigrant evade federal immigration officers, and was scheduled for sentencing last Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman postponed the proceedings to hear arguments that the conviction should be overturned, citing a recent federal appeals court decision that clarified what constitutes a \"pending proceeding\" under the law.</p><p>The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in April overturned a Virginia immigration case that had been used by prosecutors in Dugan’s case. In that case, an immigrant was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and later escaped. ICE filed a warrant and later indicted him for obstructing a pending immigration proceeding. Biskupic, Dugan’s attorney, argued that the ICE action was not a pending proceeding because it was only a warrant, not a proceeding per the federal statute.</p><p>Prosecutors countered that the Virginia case was different and that other cases uphold the conviction. Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling said the court should stick with its ruling, and questioned whether the appeals court was right to overturn the Virginia case.</p><p>Judge Adelman did not issue a ruling on the merits, but postponed Dugan’s sentencing to hear the arguments and to decide whether the conviction was invalid. She had faced impeachment threats and had resigned two weeks after her conviction.</p><p>In the original incident, ICE agents came to the courthouse on April 18, 2025, to arrest budget-eligible immigrant Eduardo Flores‑Ruiz, who had reentered the U.S. illegally. Dugan confronted agents outside her courtroom and directed them to the chief judge’s office because she argued that the administrative warrant wasn’t sufficient grounds for arrest. She escorted Flores‑Ruiz and his counsel out a private jury door, where ICE agents followed him into the hallway, staged a brief foot chase, and arrested him. The following week, FBI agents arrested Dugan in the courthouse and led her outside handcuffed. Flores‑Ruiz was deported in November.</p><p>Courts are now determining whether the conviction should remain. While Dugan could face up to five years in prison, federal guidelines often recommend probation for defendants with no criminal history and nonviolent convictions. The decision hinges on whether ICE’s actions are considered a pending proceeding under federal law. The outcome could influence how courts interpret obstruction charges in immigration contexts amid President Trump’s immigration crackdown.\

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Trump Signs AI Executive Order, Promises Faster Vetting of Advanced Models

Muhammad Ali’s Legacy of Compassion Celebrated a Decade After His Death","description":"Lonnie Ali and the Muhammad Ali Center honor the fighter’s humanitarian spirit with a 10th‑anniversary Day of Compassion.","summary":"On the tenth anniversary of the former champion’s death, Muhammad Ali’s wife Lonnie Ali spoke at The Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville. She described his lifelong commitment to service, encouraging the community to emulate his compassion amid growing polarization. The center plans to host a yearly “Day of Compassion” to promote volunteering and empathy. Ali’s life, fights and activism continue to inspire worldwide, evidenced by a post‑humous USPS stamp and an international livestreamed funeral procession.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/66cd961b5cdf430983fceed947896c6b","text":"<p>Louisville, Ky.—Muhammad Ali’s legacy is remembered not only for the boxing ring but for the compassion he showed long after leaving the sport, said his wife Lonnie Ali.</p><p>During an interview with The Associated Press this week, ahead of the 10‑year anniversary of his death on June 3, 2016, Lonnie described the former champion’s mantra: service to others is the rent we pay for our room on earth. He “showed up every day with a heart of kindness and empathy for people in need,” she said, recounting that Ali’s generosity extended far beyond the glitz of the boxing world.</p><p>Ali, famously nicknamed the “Louisville Lip” in his hometown, rose to fame in the 1960s as a fearless trash‑talking champion. By the time his star was soaring, he began speaking out on civil‑rights issues, and won the heavyweight title three times.</p><p>The Muhammad Ali Center is hosting a “Day of Compassion” on Wednesday, the day marking his passing. Lonnie, the center’s lifetime director, hopes the event will grow into a yearly celebration that highlights volunteer work and community service.</p><p>She said the day will focus on one of “the core values that made up Muhammad Ali” in an increasingly divided country. “Today, we are losing touch with our humanity and with each other,” she said. “It’s causing rifts, not just in families and communities, but in this nation. We’re becoming increasingly polarized and separated,” she added.</p><p>Lonnie challenged political leaders to lead with compassion amid recent Supreme Court decisions that weakened the 1965 Voting Rights Act, urging that equal representation requires protecting voting rights and uplifting all communities.</p><p>She also pointed to hope, recalling Louisville’s 2016 week‑long celebration of Ali’s life that culminated in a funeral procession through the city and past his childhood home. The funeral, which included speeches by former President Bill Clinton, actor Billy Crystal, and a pallbearer from the film that made Will Smith famous, was livestreamed to millions worldwide.</p><p>Ten years later, Ali’s face graced a U.S. Postal Service stamp for the first time, marking his lasting influence. In the funeral tribute, he attracted figures from “kings, princes, presidents, heads of state, celebrities, sports figures” who travelled thousands of miles to pay their respects.\n</p>