August 19, 2025

Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Sgt. Robert O’Malley

During heavy fighting in the Vietnam War, Marine Corps Sgt. Robert Emmett O’Malley was more concerned about saving the lives of those around him than his own. His actions led him to become the service’s first Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient.

August 19, 2025

Investigations loom for Jan. 6 committee associates without pardons, DOJ says

The Trump administration could soon launch investigations into individuals connected to the Jan. 6 select committee, following presidential pardons issued during the final days of President Joe Biden’s term. Congress members of the committee received pardons, but Ed Martin, director of the Department of Justice’s Weaponization Working Group, says those who were not pardoned can […]

August 19, 2025

Trump admin sued over holding over $1B for sanctuary cities and states

New Jersey is joining 21 other state attorneys general in a lawsuit to recover more than $1 billion in federal funds intended for crime victims and survivors. The coalition says the Trump administration is unlawfully withholding the grants unless states comply with its immigration enforcement requirements. Background on VOCA and its purpose The lawsuit, filed […]

August 19, 2025

76-year-old man dies after trying to meet Kendall Jenner-inspired chatbot

A 76-year-old New Jersey man died after attempting to meet someone he believed was a real woman named Billie, as recently reported by Reuters. In reality, she was an AI chatbot originally developed by Meta in partnership with Kendall Jenner. Thongbue Wongbandue received a flirty text that read, “Should I plan a trip to Jersey […]

August 19, 2025

Ex-DOGE engineer: Elon Musk ‘didn’t learn anything’ during tenure

NEW YORK — Sahil Lavingia put his faith in Elon Musk when he joined the Department of Government Efficiency. He knew about Musk’s successes with Tesla and other businesses and thought the billionaire was the right person to lead an effort to trim and streamline the federal government. By the time Lavingia left the advisory […]

August 19, 2025

‘A crime that shocks the mind’: Iraq exhumes mass grave site left by ISIS

Iraqi officials have exhumed human remains from what they believe is a mass grave that the Islamic State (ISIS) left behind in the Middle Eastern country, The Associated Press reported. The Iraqi Martyrs Foundation confirmed to the state-run Iraqi News Agency that the country’s Forensic Medicine Department will examine all recovered remains. Workers in northern […]

August 19, 2025

Newsmax settles Dominion defamation case for $67 million

Newsmax agreed to pay $67 million to Dominion Voting Systems to settle a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit over false reporting that the company’s voting machines helped rig the 2020 election against President Donald Trump. Despite settling the case, the conservative news outlet criticized the Delaware judge who oversaw the case as biased against the network. […]

August 19, 2025

Entergy Louisiana wants fast approval of gas plants to power Meta data center

Louisiana’s electric utility company wants a fast-tracked approval of three new gas-fired power plants to provide 2.3 gigawatts of power for a Meta data center. The proposed plants would add enough electricity to the grid to power New Orleans twice, and consumer advocates are raising the alarm that a rushed process could leave consumers paying […]

August 19, 2025

‘Protect your children’: US officials warn of dangerous ‘Lafufus’ issue

A plush doll known for its toothy smile has surged in popularity in recent weeks, but U.S. officials are warning parents about counterfeit versions. The knock-offs of Labubu dolls, nicknamed “Lafufus” online, can break apart easily, creating small pieces that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says pose a serious choking hazard and risk […]

August 19, 2025

Rats! Infestation impacting almond growing in California

Rats have infested significant portions of almond orchards in California, where 80% of the world’s supply of the product is grown. The damage from the rats has caused a significant economic loss to growers. Rat infestation A survey from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) found the infestation is impacting more than 100,000 […]