Desmond Milligan

(The Center Square) − Gov. Jeff Landry said Monday he has approved the deployment of approximately 135 Louisiana National Guard soldiers to Washington, D.C., to assist President Donald Trump’s effort “to restore safety and peace” in the nation’s capital. “We are a nation of law and order. We cannot allow our cities to be overcome by violence and lawlessness,” Landry wrote on social media. He added he was “proud to support this mission” and linked it to similar priorities in Louisiana. Landry’s announcement follows an Aug. 11 presidential memorandum directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to mobilize the D.C. National Guard and to coordinate with governors to order additional Guard units to active service “as he deems necessary.” The memorandum says the deployment will continue until the president determines “law and order have been restored.” The Pentagon last week said about 800 guardsmen were activated for the capital’s new “Safe and Beautiful Task Force,” a structure that keeps Guard members under their governors’ control while the federal government covers costs. Troops have been rotating on street support missions alongside federal and D.C. police agencies. Louisiana’s deployment would come as several states with Republican governors have begun sending contingents. As of Monday, Mississippi, South Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia had announced deployments at the Pentagon’s request or in support of the federal operation. Landry’s post did not specify dates, unit designations, or mission assignments for the Louisiana soldiers. The governor’s office had not issued a formal press release as of publication. The Louisiana National Guard has previously supported federal security missions in Washington for discrete events, such as presidential inaugurations. Under the Aug. 11 directive, Guard mobilizations in D.C. remain open-ended, subject to presidential determination that “conditions of law and order” have been restored. For Louisiana, Title 32 status means the deployment would be federally funded while soldiers remain under the governor’s command. View the full article

(The Center Square) – A trucking industry leader says more businesses may leave Illinois after the signing of Senate Bill 328. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the signing of 267 bills last Friday afternoon, including one which expands Illinois’ jurisdiction for illness and injury claims. SB 328 was sponsored by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and supported by the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. From 2022 to 2025, Harmon received $75,000 in campaign donations from the ITLA’s political-action committee. Sixteen business groups released a joint statement shortly after the governor signed the new law into effect. “We are disappointed that Gov. J.B. Pritzker did not take this opportunity to protect the citizens, business community and economy of Illinois by vetoing SB 328. By failing to reject this disastrous proposal, businesses and taxpayers will now be vulnerable to predatory lawsuits that will clog up our legal system and stymie our economic growth,” the statement said. The groups added that many businesses will avoid moving to Illinois. “This measure, brought forth by trial lawyers in the final hours of the legislative session, creates a significant and concerning expansion of liability for out-of-state businesses operating in Illinois. Under this law, any company simply registered to do business in Illinois is subject to lawsuits, even when the underlying claims and parties have no connection to the state,” the statement added. Matthew Hart, executive director of the Illinois Trucking Association, said the new law makes businesses targets for lawsuits. “Take an industry like ours where most trucking companies who operate, especially in the Midwest and honestly a lot of trucking companies across the country, they do operate at some point in Illinois, and now, every single one of those companies is now exposed, and now every one of them could find themselves the target of another frivolous lawsuit,” Hart told The Center Square. The American Tort Reform Association labeled Illinois a “Lawsuit Inferno” when the General Assembly passed SB 328 in late May. Hart said trucking companies were already being sued under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act laws. “In the trucking industry, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of lawsuits filed against trucking companies for various different things, BIPA being another one,” Hart explained. Hart said more trucking companies may leave or avoid Illinois. “We fight every day to keep trucking companies in the state, but laws like this make it harder and harder for those trucking companies to make the decision to stay here and do business here,” Hart said. Lou Sandoval of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce called Senate Bill 328 “the toxic tort bill.” Other groups expressing their disappointment included the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Illinois Restaurant Association, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, Illinois Railroad Association, Illinois Movers and Warehousemen’s Association, and the Illinois Coalition for Legal Reform. Illinois state Sen. Craig Wilcox, R-Woodstock, said SB 328 would result in higher costs, fewer jobs and fewer opportunities for Illinois families. “SB 328 cleared the General Assembly in the final hours of the spring legislative session after Democrats used a “gut and replace” tactic to bypass public scrutiny, a move Republican leaders argue violated the Illinois Constitution’s Three Readings Rule,” Wilcox said in an email to constituents Monday. Senate and House Republicans filed a lawsuit in June to challenge the law’s passage. View the full article

Texas House Democrats returned to their state Monday after spending two weeks in the Chicago area and other parts of the country to prevent the Republican majority in their legislature from passing a new gerrymandered congressional map aimed at eliminating five Democratic seats. The Democratic lawmakers left the Lone Star State on Aug. 3 to avoid a vote on the remap during a special legislative session called by Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott ostensibly to provide relief measures following the deadly July Fourth floods that killed more than 100 people in Texas’ Hill Country. But when it became clear the remap efforts were also on the Republican agenda, Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives sought refuge in blue states such as Illinois, New York and Massachusetts to deny the GOP the quorum needed to enact the unusual mid-decade redrawing of Texas’ congressional districts. The special session ended Friday, though Abbott has called a second special session to pass the GOP-favored map. “We killed the corrupt special session, withstood unprecedented surveillance and intimidation, and rallied Democrats nationwide to join this existential fight for fair representation — reshaping the entire 2026 landscape,” Texas state Rep. Gene Wu, leader of that state’s House Democratic Caucus, said in a news release. “We’re returning to Texas more dangerous to Republicans’ plans than when we left.” Though Wu and the other Democrats have declared their walkout a success, there was also an inherent acknowledgment Republicans will ultimately succeed in passing the remap. The Texas Democrats said the quorum-break spurred action in other blue states and drew national attention to their cause. “Our return allows us to build the legal record necessary to defeat this racist map in court, take our message to communities across the state and country, and inspire legislators across the country how to fight these undemocratic redistricting schemes in their own statehouses,” Wu said. The Republican remap efforts are being done at the behest of President Donald Trump, whose administration is encouraging similar actions in other Republican-led states as a means of holding the GOP’s slim majority in Congress following next year’s midterm elections and for the remainder of Trump’s second term. In a news release Monday, the Texas Democrats noted how California, New York, and other blue-leaning states are moving forward with their own plans “to block manipulated gains Trump may seek.” After a meeting with Texas House Democrats, California Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced legislation that would move a mid-decade redistricting effort in California to flip five congressional seats Democratic in hopes of offsetting the Texas Republicans’ efforts. Typically, political maps are redrawn only once per decade following the federal census, and Texas Democrats have called out Republicans for trying to change the rules and disenfranchise Texas citizens for purely political reasons. After the Texas Democrats’ return was announced Monday morning, protesters in Austin praised the Democrats’ efforts before Republican Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows declared that “a quorum is present” and the body could get down to business. The 150-member Texas House has 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats, with at least 100 members required to be present for a quorum call to conduct legislative business. “Restoring a quorum was my first responsibility as speaker and has been accomplished,” Burrows said. “My responsibility now is to keep this quorum intact and to maintain an atmosphere of order and respect until the job is finished. “No one here needs a reminder that the last few weeks have been contentious. But from this point forward, the rules of engagement are clear: Debate is welcome but personal attacks and name-calling will not be tolerated,” he continued. “Members, the House has been through a tumultuous two weeks. But this institution long predates us. It will long outlast each of us. Representatives come and go, issues rise and fall, but this body has endured wars, economic depressions and quorum breaks dating back to the very first session.” The Texas House adjourned Monday without taking a vote on the remap effort. But a bill was read into the record “relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Texas” and referred to the Texas House’s Committee on Congressional Redistricting. Among the sponsors of the bill is GOP state Rep. Katrina Pierson, who once served as the national spokesperson for Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The special session will resume at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Following the walkout, Burrows issued civil warrants nearly two weeks ago demanding the Democrats return to Texas. But because they were civil and not criminal and issued by a legislator and not a judge, the civil warrants were mostly symbolic. That, however, didn’t stop Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from trying to get an Illinois judge to compel law enforcement here to find the Democratic lawmakers. That effort failed. On Monday, Burrows said the civil warrants remained in effect for any legislators still absent from the session. For those with warrants issued against them who had returned by Monday, those lawmakers “will be granted written permission to leave only after agreeing to be released into the custody of a designated (Texas Department of Public Safety) officer appointment under the rules of the House, who will ensure your return Wednesday at 10 a.m.,” Burrows said. Democratic state Rep. John Bucy of the Austin area said in a statement Monday he had not returned to the Texas Capitol because he’s “focused on ensuring California passes its own maps, which they must do by this coming Friday to ensure they nullify Trump and Abbott’s power grab in Texas.” “The spark we lit in Texas has become a fire across the country. I could not be prouder of the House Democratic Caucus for taking this bold step to defend our democracy. As we take this fight back to Texas, I remain committed to doing whatever I can to stop these extreme, racist maps,” Bucy said. “The fight for democracy does not end here — we have only just begun.” While Gov. JB Pritzker has said there are no current plans for Illinois’ Democratic legislative majority to call for remapping Illinois’ congressional map, he hasn’t completely ruled out the option. He’s also defended hosting the Texas Democrats over their last two weeks in suburban Chicago, noting how he has been talking to them since late June about how he’d support them if they chose to leave Texas to prevent a Republican-majority vote on new maps. Pritzker reiterated that support on social media Saturday evening. “For the past few weeks, the fight has been here in Illinois, as we provided safe haven for members enduring threats of violence and arrest. Thanks to them, the world knows what’s happening in Texas and Democrats have a plan to push back,” Pritzker said on X. “I am ready, just as I was during that first conversation, to stand with them and with every American fighting to preserve this country that I love.” View the full article

FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — A deadly street drug is making its way through Kentucky, and officials are working to stop it before more lives are lost. Bromazolam, also known as “designer Xanax,” is reportedly being sold online and on the streets and often passed off as a prescription pill. Attorney General Russell Coleman called on the Drug Enforcement Administration to schedule bromazolam at the federal level at the beginning of August. RELATED | ‘Designer Xanax’ linked to 47 deaths in Kentucky, AG warns Until federal officials take action, Gov. Andy Beshear stepped in to schedule the drug at the state level, banning bromazolam usage in the Commonwealth. “Team Kentucky has made important progress in our fight against addiction, with three straight years of declines in overdose deaths, and we’re committed to ensuring that work continues,” the governor said in a Monday, Aug. 18, news release. “This deadly drug has no place in our communities, and now we have the tools needed to get it off the streets and protect more lives.” The governor’s office reports that 48 people have died due to bromazolam since 2024. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:Kentucky State University prioritizing safety after campus shooting Kentucky lawmakers hear takeaways, ask questions on KDE audit Gov. Beshear answers call to ban deadly ‘Designer Xanax’ in Kentucky “By answering our call to take emergency action on bromazolam, we have given Kentucky law enforcement new tools to keep this dangerous drug off our streets,” Coleman said. “I’m proud of the zealous collaboration with the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force to sound the alarm and save lives. We live in a moment when as little as one pill can kill—and is killing—our kids. I’m glad we could work together to tackle this grave threat.” Kentucky is among five other states that have designated bromazolam as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. View the full article

OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine, EE.UU. (AP) — Un policía de Maine que fue arrestado por las autoridades de inmigración acordó salir voluntariamente del país, informó el lunes el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos (ICE por sus iniciales en inglés). Elementos del ICE detuvieron el 25 de julio a Jon Luke Evans, agente de reserva del Departamento de Policía de Old Orchard Beach, como parte de las labores de la agencia para redoblar los controles de inmigración. Funcionarios del poblado y del departamento de policía han dicho que las autoridades federales les habían informado previamente que Evans, originario de Jamaica, tenía autorización legal para trabajar en Estados Unidos. Un representante del ICE dijo el lunes por teléfono a The Associated Press que un juez le concedió a Evans la oportunidad de salir voluntariamente del país, lo cual podría ocurrir el mismo día. El representante no proporcionó más detalles sobre el caso de Evans. El arresto de Evans desató una disputa entre los funcionarios de Old Orchard Beach y el ICE. La jefa de policía Elise Chard ha dicho que funcionarios federales le notificaron al departamento que Evans tenía autorización legal para trabajar en el país, y que la localidad presentó información a través del programa E-Verify del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional antes de contratar a Evans. La subsecretaria de Seguridad Nacional Tricia McLaughlin acusó posteriormente a la localidad de "dependencia imprudente" en el programa E-Verify. PUBLICIDADE-Verify es un sistema en línea que permite a los empleadores verificar si los potenciales empleados pueden trabajar legalmente en Estados Unidos. La localidad está al tanto de los reportes de que Evans planea salir del país voluntariamente, dijo Chard el lunes. “La localidad reitera su compromiso continuo de cumplir con todas las leyes estatales y federales relacionadas con el empleo”, dijo Chard en un comunicado. “Continuaremos confiando en el formulario I-9 de Verificación de Elegibilidad de Empleo y en la base de datos E-Verify para confirmar la elegibilidad de empleo”. El sitio web de búsqueda de detenidos de ICE indicaba el lunes que Evans estaba en el Centro de Detención Donald W. Wyatt en Central Falls, Rhode Island. Sin embargo, un representante de Wyatt afirmó que Evans había sido trasladado a una instalación del ICE en Burlington, Massachusetts. Funcionarios del ICE no respondieron a las solicitudes de comentarios sobre la discrepancia. De momento se desconoce si Evans cuenta con un abogado y nadie respondió a un mensaje para Evans en el centro de detención. Los funcionarios del ICE dijeron en julio que Evans permaneció en el país después de que su visa había expirado y que intentó comprar un arma de fuego ilegalmente. La televisora WMTW-TV informó el lunes que el acuerdo con Evans le permitirá salir de Estados Unidos por su propia cuenta para evitar ser deportado. ___ View the full article

佐藤清さんの墓前で日章旗を広げる稔さん、美惠子さん夫妻と小倉さん（右から）＝栃木市西方町で2025年8月7日午前11時1分、太田穣撮影 写真一覧 　太平洋戦争末期の学童集団疎開に詳しい旧都賀町（現栃木市）の元教育長、小倉久吾さん（88）＝栃木市片柳町＝は講演の際、古い日章旗をパネルに掲示する。旗には、茶褐色の染みに銃弾の貫通孔らしき穴があった。小倉さんは「無謀な戦いを強いられ、若い命が散った。戦争の実相を物語る証拠だ」と語る。それは19歳で戦死した若者の遺品だった。 　日章旗の持ち主は、旧西方町（同）金崎出身の佐藤清さん。姪（めい）の美惠子さん（83）によると、鹿沼農商学校（現鹿沼商工高）を出て、鹿沼税務署に勤めていた。1943年4月に応召。陸軍33師団歩兵第214連隊に配属された。44年3月7日、「最も無謀」とされるインパール作戦の開始前日、最前線だったビルマ（現ミャンマー）山岳地帯のティディム周辺で戦死した。 Advertisement 　清さんは2人姉弟。姉のイチさんは南方戦線で夫を亡くし、娘の美惠子さんを連れて川崎市から西方町の実家に戻り、両親と暮らしていた。姉弟の両親が亡くなった後の79年2月、清さんの農商学校時代の同級生が突然訪ねてきた。 出征前に日章旗を手に家族と一緒に写真に納まる佐藤清さん。後列の女性がイチさんで抱かれているのが惠美子さん＝惠美子さん提供 写真一覧 　「戦場から日章旗を持ち帰った英軍将校の家族が返還したいという話だった」と美惠子さんの夫で元同町職員、稔さん（82）が振り返る。家族はオーストラリア在住で、国際NGOの関係者に旗を託し、日本の持ち主を探していた。寄せ書きにあった「鹿沼税務署長」の署名を手掛かりに、清さんにたどり着き、同級生に連絡があったのだ。間もなくNGOの日本協会代表らが訪れ、日章旗をイチさんに手渡した。 　縦約70センチ、横約1メートル。「武運長久」と大書され、日の丸の周囲に上司だった税務署長など26人が記名していた。2カ所に小さな穴が開き、左側の穴の近くには血液なのか、茶褐色の染みが残っていた。 　「母は感無量のようだった」と美惠子さん。「お墓は立派だが、遺骨も遺品もなかった。私自身は血や弾の痕が残る日章旗を見て、叔父が本当に戦死したのだと感じた」と続けた。 　稔さんから事情を聞いた小倉さんも長兄・一英さんをインパール作戦で亡くしていた。清さんと同期入隊で同じ214連隊所属。作戦突入直後の3月16日、ティディムから東へ約350キロ離れた拠点都市・マンダレーで戦死した。清さんより1歳上の20歳だった。 　「日章旗を肩からたすき掛けした兄の姿を覚えている。武運長久を祈ったが、兄の軍隊生活は11カ月で終わってしまった。兄や清さんばかりではない。214連隊の生還者がまとめた戦記の巻末には中隊別に戦死者を列挙しているが、同じ日に同じ場所で亡くなった方々の名前がずらっと並んでいる」と小倉さんは指摘する。 パネルに日章旗を掲げながら講演する小倉さん＝栃木市旭町の栃木文化会館で2025年7月10日、太田穣撮影 写真一覧 　学校や公民館などから、学童疎開など戦時教育の講義や講演を依頼される機会が多い小倉さんは、10年ほど前から日章旗を借りて受講者に紹介するようになった。 　「清さんが身につけていた日章旗は、戦争の悲惨さを雄弁に語っている。一方で、かつての敵兵の家族を探し出し、返してくれたエピソードを踏まえると平和を象徴しているようにも思える。戦争と平和を考える教材として使わせてもらっている」と話した。【太田穣】 View the full article

Rebels backed by ISIL (ISIS) have killed at least 52 civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo this month, according to the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) in the country, as both the DRC army and Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group accuse each other of violating a recently reached US-mediated ceasefire deal. Attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) targeted the Beni and Lubero territories of the eastern North Kivu province between August 9 and 16, MONUSCO said on Monday, warning that the death toll could rise further. The renewed violence comes as a separate conflict between the DRC army and the M23 group continues to simmer in the east of the country, despite a series of peace treaties signed in recent months. The government and M23 had agreed to sign a permanent peace deal by August 18, but no agreement was announced on Monday. The latest ADF “violence was accompanied by kidnappings, looting, the burning of houses, vehicles, and motorcycles, as well as the destruction of property belonging to populations already facing a precarious humanitarian situation,” MONUSCO said. It condemned the attacks “in the strongest possible terms”, the mission’s spokesperson said. The ADF is among several militias wrangling over land and resources in the DRC’s mineral-rich east. Lieutenant Elongo Kyondwa Marc, a regional Congolese army spokesperson, said the ADF was taking revenge on civilians after suffering defeats by Congolese forces. “When they arrived, they first woke the residents, gathered them in one place, tied them up with ropes, and then began to massacre them with machetes and hoes,” Macaire Sivikunula, chief of Lubero’s Bapere sector, told the Reuters news agency over the weekend. After a relative lull in recent months, authorities said the group killed nearly 40 people in Komanda city, Ituri province, last month, when it stormed a Catholic church during a vigil and fired on worshippers, including many women and children. The ADF, an armed group formed by former Ugandan rebels in the 1990s after discontent with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has killed thousands of civilians and increased looting and killings in the northeastern DRC. In 2002, following military assaults by Ugandan forces, the group moved its activities to neighbouring DRC. In 2019, it pledged allegiance to ISIL. Among the 52 victims so far this month, at least nine were killed overnight from Saturday to Sunday in an attack on the town of Oicha, in North Kivu, the AFP news agency learned from security and local sources. A few days earlier, the ADF had already killed at least 40 people in several towns in the Bapere sector, also in North Kivu province, according to local and security sources. In response to the renewed attacks, MONUSCO said it had strengthened its military presence in several sectors and allowed several hundred civilians to take refuge in its base. At the end of 2021, Kampala and Kinshasa launched a joint military operation against the ADF, dubbed “Shujaa”, so far without succeeding in putting an end to their attacks. View the full article

By Kanishka Singh and Raphael Satter WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. State Department said Monday the American government played no role in the release of an Israeli official charged with soliciting sex electronically from a minor. Tom Artiom Alexandrovich was one of eight people charged last week following an undercover operation "targeting child sex predators," the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said in a statement issued last week. Alexandrovich faces a felony charge of luring or attempting to lure a child or mentally ill person to commit a sex act "with use of computer technology," according to Nevada State records reviewed by Reuters. Israeli media said Alexandrovich, who they described as a senior department head in Israel's National Cyber Directorate, was released by U.S. authorities and is back in Israel. Reuters could not establish why Alexandrovich was in the Las Vegas area, but at the time Las Vegas was hosting Black Hat, one of the cybersecurity industry's most prominent conferences. The report that an Israeli official accused of a felony sex crime was allowed to return home drew a storm of speculation online. Alexandrovich "did not claim diplomatic immunity and was released by a state judge pending a court date. Any claims that the U.S. government intervened are false," the State Department said Monday on the social media site X. The court records show a $10,000 bond was posted at the Henderson Detention Center, southeast of Las Vegas, on August 7. Reuters could not immediately confirm his whereabouts and could not immediately locate contact information for Alexandrovich. The records indicate he is due back in court on August 27. The Israeli Embassy in Washington and the Israeli Prime Minister's Office did not immediately return messages. Israeli media quoted the office as denying that Alexandrovich was arrested, saying only that a "state employee" was "questioned by American authorities during his stay" and he had "returned to Israel as scheduled." Reuters could not immediately ascertain the circumstances around Alexandrovich's arrest. The Las Vegas police statement credited the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Henderson Police Department, the North Las Vegas Police, and the Department of Homeland Security with organizing the undercover operation. None of those agencies immediately replied to messages seeking comment on Alexandrovich arrest or release. The Nevada District Attorney's office referred questions back to the Henderson Police Department. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Raphael Satter in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates) View the full article

Pritzker signs crypto regulations Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed two laws to regulate cryptocurrency. Senate Bill 1797 requires cryptocurrency companies to register with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and comply with state policies and procedures. Senate Bill 2319 regulates digital asset kiosks. Both laws took effect Monday with the governor’s signature. AG joins lawsuits against Trump administration Attorney General Kwame Raoul has joined several attorneys general in filing two lawsuits against the Trump administration. One lawsuit seeks to block the U.S. Department of Energy from imposing a funding cap on state-run energy programs. The other lawsuit claims that states will be unable to access funds to support crime victims unless they support the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. Gun brought to school on first day of CPS classes On the first day of classes for students in Chicago Public Schools, officials at Whitney Young High School notified parents that a gun was identified and secured during entry screening Monday morning. The message said no threats were made and no injuries were reported. View the full article

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -German Chancellor Friedrich Merz credited U.S. President Donald Trump with persuading Russia's President to agree to a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart. This meeting, to which Vladimir Putin agreed during a phone call with Trump, would take place at a yet-to-be-determined location, the German chancellor said. "We don't know whether the Russian president will have the courage to attend such a summit. Therefore, persuasion is needed," said Merz, who was part of a delegation of European leaders who travelled to Washington on Monday to lend support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. During a break in the meeting, "the American president spoke with the Russian president on the phone and agreed that there would be a meeting between the Russian president and the Ukrainian president within the next two weeks," he told reporters. Trump had agreed to extend another invitation to a three-way meeting afterward, so that negotiations could "truly begin", added Merz. The German chancellor said Trump was impressed that the Europeans had come with a unified front, and their discussions with the U.S. administration would now turn to details on security guarantees for Ukraine. "It is absolutely clear that the whole of Europe should participate," said Merz, praising Trump's announcement that the United States is also prepared to provide them. (Reporting by Thomas Escritt and Andreas Rinke, Writing by Miranda Murray) View the full article

On Aug. 12, three Americans died after a semitruck collided with a minivan on a freeway in Florida. The semitruck driver was attempting to take an illegal U-turn when the fatal accident occurred, according to official report. The collision is garnering national attention because the man driving the semitruck was identified as an immigrant from India in the country illegally. The Trump administration questioned California’s sanctuary policies that allowed the migrant to apply for and receive a commercial driver’s license. The driver, Harjinder Singh, 28, was arrested for vehicular homicide in California on Saturday. He will most likely face deportation proceedings. “How many more innocent people have to die before Gavin Newsom stops playing games with the safety of the American public?” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement, published by the White House. “We pray for the victims and their families. Secretary (Kristi) Noem and DHS are working around the clock to protect the public and get these criminal illegal aliens out of America.” According to Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, Singh crossed the border in September 2018, during President Donald Trump’s first term. At the time, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processed him for expedited deportation. But Singh claimed he was afraid of going home and his case has been in processing ever since. DHS said Singh does not suffer from any physical or mental conditions. Neither is he the primary caretaker for someone, he is unmarried and does not have any children. Singh is not a victim of domestic violence. All these are factors that could have prevented a deportation, Melugin reported. The White House accused California Gov. Gavin Newsom of doubling down on his state’s policies, referring to a recent post from the governor’s office. In the post, Newsom attempts to shift blame to Trump by asking a pointed question; “who was president in 2018?” This was accompanied by a graphic that states that under California law, consistent with federal regulation, a person must be lawfully present in the U.S. to obtain a commercial driver’s license or permit. “Research also consistently shows that issuing driver’s licenses for undocumented people improves public safety,” the post added. View the full article

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) — State law makers are keeping an eye on potential cuts to SNAP benefits that could impact over 457,000 New Mexicans. The Senate budget reconciliation bill included major cuts to the program and on Monday, lawmakers heard from state officials on how they’re preparing. Story continues below Sports Office: The foundation and legacy of UNM baseball with Ray Birmingham Trending: New Mexico Game and Fish says viral ‘horned rabbits’ possible in the state New Mexico Crime Files: A trail of loose change leads police right to the thief’s door Don’t Miss: EPA approves more storage at WIPP, causing capacity concern A spokesperson for the health care authority says the bill could affect who’s eligible for SNAP, therefore they’re looking to hire more staff to process applicant information and reduce errors. They’re also looking at redesigning their customer notifications to make applying clear and easy. Departments say they’re giving people options in case cuts are made. “Getting them connected to local food banks, to local providers in their area to see that that gap is filled,” said Aging and Long-Term Services Department Director Denise King. The state has previously said there have not been any changed made yet and will keep their customers informed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. View the full article

Hardware company Home Depot put the kibosh on Republicans’ using the company’s brand to promote a new facility to hold imprisoned immigrants. With their attempts to market an immigrant detention center in the Florida Everglades as “Alligator Alcatraz,” Republicans have shown they’re invested in grooming Americans to accept — or even to playfully partake in — the cruelty of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant crackdown. Florida Republicans were attempting something similar with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ announcement of a new facility they are trying to market as “Deportation Depot.” And Home Depot evidently isn’t too keen on the use of a riff on its well-known logo on merchandise. “We don’t allow any organization to use our branding or logo for their commercial purposes, and we did not approve this use. We have reached out to the RPOF to try to resolve this issue,” a spokesperson for the company told WPLG Local 10 News in Florida, referring to the Republican Party of Florida. The merchandise was no longer available on the party’s website as of Monday. Florida Republicans told The Washington Post that their “limited-run products here were not affiliated with The Home Depot,” and that the “designs ... are parodic, artistic, and non-commercial speech protected by RPOF’s First Amendment right to engage in political speech.” Home Depot’s objection wasn’t so much a forceful statement in defense of immigrants as it was a dispute over its trademark. But it’s also true that Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda has become widely unpopular, according to recent polling data. And Home Depot joins a growing list of brands and artists that don’t seem to want their names associated with this effort. At least, not in the grotesque ways MAGA world has sought to conscript them. Much has been written about the Trump administration’s efforts to market its anti-immigrant crusade online with pop culture-infused propaganda, including white supremacist memes being promoted by the Department of Homeland Security. That public relations campaign seems to be making a number of creatives and companies unhappy. Just last week, a DHS recruitment video for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers was hit with a copyright notice for featuring a song by rapper Jay-Z; the posts on Facebook and Instagram have had their audio disabled. Prior to that, travel company Jet2 and British singer Jess Glynne denounced DHS for using a meme that included the brand to promote immigrant deportations. Several other music and visual artists (or their estates) — including the estates of Tom Petty and Woody Guthrie, the estate of painter Thomas Kinkade, and contemporary artist Morgan Weistling — have objected to their works being co-opted to promote the administration’s immigration enforcement, as ABC News reported. Reactions like these suggest that conservatives’ efforts to indoctrinate the public to accept an anti-immigrant crackdown that’s been cited by judges for its racism and inhumanity are facing headwinds. And those may worsen as the crackdown ramps up. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com View the full article

Wilmington Riverwalk (Photo: City of Wilmington) With state and federal attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs as a backdrop, the Wilmington City Council recently affirmed its commitment to the Community Relations Advisory Committee, which was established by city and county officials in 2016 to address prejudice and discrimination. Kevin Spears (Photo: City of Wilmington)But the council’s affirmation highlights a growing divide between the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County over government’s role in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion. The conflict is playing out in real time as state and local government officials await a possible veto override of House Bill 171, which targets DEI initiatives in state and local government. The measure prohibits state agencies and local governments from using state funds to “promote, support, fund, implement, or maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or programs.” It passed along party lines with Republicans voting for the bill and Democrats against it. Gov. Josh Stein vetoed the legislation but it could face an override attempt. The legislation came on the heels of President Donald Trump’s executive order terminating diversity, equity, and inclusion offices, positions, and programs in the federal government and equity-related grants and contracts. Wilmington Council member Kevin Spears said city officials must do what they think is right for the citizens of Wilmington. “I couldn’t care less about what the federal government at this moment mandates or what the state government at this moment mandates as it relates to how we work to better this community,” he said during a recent council meeting. However, after a lengthy and spirited discussion last month, the New Hanover Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines to withdraw from the partnership on the community relations committee. The three Republicans argued that the committee overstepped its authority by attempting to become a “quasi forum” for fair housing complaints, unfair hiring practices and complaints about other forms of discrimination. County Manager Chris Coudriet (Photo: New Hanover County)County Manager Chris Coudriet, who recommended ending the county’s participation on the committee, agreed with the three commissioners. “It should have never been contemplated that the CRAC [Community Relations Advisory Committee] was a clearinghouse for housing complaints,” Coudriet said. “The county had made the decision to eliminate the Human Relations Commission for that very reason.” In 2009, New Hanover’s commissioners disbanded the county’s Human Relations Commission, which was created decades earlier to assist residents with discrimination complaints regarding racism, sexual harassment or their sexual orientation. Critics of that decision argued that the Human Relations Commission provided ordinary citizens a chance to be heard when complaints regarding discriminatory practices arose. Similar arguments were made last month in support of the Community Relations Advisory Committee. Rob Zapple (Photo: New Hanover County)“Absent this committee, for the general public, there’s no established platform to be able to come to on a regular basis and bring up issues,” said Commissioner Rob Zapple, one two Democrats who argued in favor of the county continuing to support the Community Relations Advisory Committee.“We pull that away, and we’ve taken a step back 20 or 30 years. I don’t think it’s the best way to serve our citizens.” Concern over civilian review boardFor the three Republican commissioners, the larger issue appeared to be the Community Relations Advisory Committee’s past attempt to create a civilian review board for the Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner Dane Scalise (Photo: New Hanover County)“The sheriff is elected by the people of New Hanover County, that is the civilian review board of the sheriff,” Commissioner Dane Scalise said during a July board meeting. “The sheriff does not need another organization coming in and telling him how to run his office and the fact that that came about is an indication that the committee has misplaced its priorities.” Commissioner LeAnn Pierce, the board’s vice-chair, was equally blunt in her remarks about the nearly decades-old civilian review board discussion. Lee Ann Pierce (Photo: New Hanover County)“The committees that we appoint citizens to, they work at the pleasure of the county commissioners and if we feel like they have gotten off track, this is where it lands,” Pierce said. Zapple noted that the committee’s debate over a civilian review board happened long ago. “We took a look at it and our sheriff weighed in on it and we said ‘No, we don’t think this is a great idea,’” he said. “To use that as justification here in 2025 to disband it [the Community Relations Advisory Committe] was not fair, it wasn’t right.” Coudriet acknowledged that the the civilian review board discussion wasn’t the work of the current Community Relations Advisory Committee. “That is not recent discourse but is very prominent discourse in the nature of that body,” Coudriet said. Antrevonn Tate (Photo submitted)Antrevonn Tate, chairman of the committee, said a civilian review board does not reflect the mindset of current committee members. The city appointee said it’s unfair to hold current committee members responsible for actions of past boards. “If someone had talked to me, we could have sat down and explained to them where we are today,” Tate said. “We are not where we were back in 2016. We’re actually shifting and aligning a lot more with what our bylaws are today and that’s really focused on prejudice and discrimination.” Pushing race relation efforts out of the countyTate said the committee’s mission is clear. “CRAC [Community Relations Advisory Community] wasn’t formed to legislate. It wasn’t formed to force anything, any policy or action from a local perspective. It was really more so to advise our elected body and governing officials.” Tate acknowledged the committee will feel the loss of county appointees, some of who are employed by New Hanover County and brought invaluable insight to the committee “These are people that are with the county, so they have good perspectives,” Tate said. “They’re in the health field, so they’re professionals in the health field, they have their doctorates and a lot of these people have master’s [degrees].” Republican commissioners didn’t push DEI to the forefront of arguments against ending county participation on the Community Relations Advisory Committee. Their critics, however, said the commissioners goal to rid the county of such initiatives has been undeniable. “I think without a doubt, it seems like anything that dealt with race relations in a community or in an official capacity, is getting a spotlight put on it,” Zapple said. “It either being changed or eliminated.” The views of at least one member on the subject are well known. In January, Scalise railed against a request by the New Hanover County Commission on African American History, Heritage and Culture to adopt a National Day of Racial Healing. Scalise criticized the county’s Office of Diversity for bringing the proclamation to commissioners. “The County’s Office of Diversity or DEI department has amply demonstrated that it should not be funded in this year’s or future budgets,” Scalise said in a prepared text he later posted on X. “It is time, as President Donald Trump correctly noted during his inaugural address yesterday (Jan. 20), to ‘end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.’ I will work tirelessly to make that a reality at the local level during our coming budget discussions.” Commissioners approved the proclamation on a 4-1 vote, with Scalise voting against it. But the county’s Office of Diversity disappeared and a new Office of Civic Engagement took its place. That office’s stated mission is to “promote an engaged, fair and equal environment that fosters a strong community and culture where residents and employees are respected, valued, and contribute to the county’s success.” “Commissioner Scalise and the other two Republican Commissioners could not deny the good work that was coming from that office,” Zapple said. “I think what they objected to was the name of the office.” The office did lose three of its five member staff because of deep county budget cuts, Zapple said. Meanwhile, at City Hall, the council discussed whether to continue the Community Relations Advisory Committee without county participation. HB 171 does not prohibit local governments from establishing DEI programs Wilmington City Attorney Meredith Everhart, said. But she warned the council that state lawmakers hold the “purse strings.” “And what they say [state lawmakers] is that the city has to make a report to the state auditor every year [stating] that we do not engage in any DEI programs and the [state] auditor is supposed to check in on those things and if the auditor reports back [that we’re engaged in DEI programs], we could lose state funding,” Everhart said. Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said the Community Relations Advisory Committee has been invaluable in helping Wilmington through civil strife and could continue to play an important role helping to “break through some of the silos” that prevent people from coming together to discuss issues that threaten to disrupt the community. “I think it can play an important role if it’s properly structured and it’s something that we think could help,” Saffo said. Saffo said the city understands the risks that come with HB 171. “We understand the consequences of what’s being held over our heads,” Saffo said. “We get that.” View the full article

In one sense, the decisions of the governors of Ohio, Mississippi, South Carolina and West Virginia to send National Guard troops from their states to aid President Donald Trump’s authoritarian takeover of Washington, D.C., should not have surprised anyone. Like their GOP colleagues in Congress, these red-state executives are eager to show their fealty to the MAGA leader. But in another sense, it is a truly stunning development coming from politicians who love nothing more than to tout their allegiance to the Constitution and the Second Amendment. Just five months ago, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey proclaimed such allegiance when he signed three pieces of legislation that his office said were “meant to protect the 2nd Amendment rights of West Virginians.” Morrisey said at the time: “As Governor, I will always support and defend West Virginians’ God-given constitutional rights. The bills I signed today further enshrine West Virginia’s strong support for the Second Amendment.” But let’s compare the decisions of Morrissey, South Carolina’s Henry McMaster, Mississippi's Tate Reeves and Ohio’s Mike DeWine to deploy their states’ National Guard with the language of the Second Amendment. It reads, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Note why the militia is needed: for the “security of a free State” [emphasis added]. That is hardly what Donald Trump’s use of the National Guard is designed to secure. The GOP governors likely know that. But Trump carried all but seven of Ohio’s eighty-eight counties and won 55% of the popular vote. He received 58% of the vote in South Carolina and 70% in West Virginia, where he also carried every county. The governors were eager to make clear that they, as McMaster explained, stand "with President Trump as he works to restore law and order to our nation’s capital.” Or take Morrisey, who said, “West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation’s capital.” This is not the first time that Trump has tested the loyalty of red-state governors in this way. In June 2020, during the nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd, he asked state chief executives from across the country to send National Guard to Washington, D.C. As The Washington Post reported at the time: “The request had the effect of cleaving state militias along partisan lines, according to interviews and internal Guard documents. While red states jumped to answer the president’s call, governors and Guard commanders in blue states were incredulous.” “The result,” the Post continues, “was a deployment to the nation’s capital that military historians say appears to have been without precedent: Over 98 percent of the 3,800 troops that arrived in the District came from states with Republican governors.” Five years later, the deployment of troops from Trump-loving states in the District of Columbia, where every one of Trump’s Democratic opponents has received over 90% of the vote and where Blacks make up almost 45% of the population, is no less disturbing. It looks like another effort to achieve “total domination” — as Trump put it in 2020 — in the least Trump friendly place in the country. “Total domination” by the federal government was hardly the rallying cry for the people who wrote the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Quite to the contrary. They had seen firsthand the British use military forces to subdue and oppress people in the colonies. And they feared “that the president would use standing armies to oppress the citizens, as the British had done, and turn us into a garrison state," as Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., then serving in the House, wrote in 2020. The drafters of the Declaration of Independence included among the British monarchy’s “repeated injuries and usurpations” the following: “He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures; He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power;” and kept “large bodies of armed troops among us.” That’s why people like Alexander Hamilton thought it was important that states have their own military force. They thought state militias would resist, not aid, the federal government, should it want to follow the British example. Hamilton made this clear in 1788, before the ratification of the Constitution or the Second Amendment. “If standing armies,” he wrote, “are dangerous to liberty, an efficacious power over the militia, in the body to whose care the protection of the State is committed, ought, as far as possible, to take away the inducement and the pretext to such unfriendly institutions.” Hamilton hoped that militias controlled by the states would be all that would be necessary to assure peace in the new Republic and did not think that they ever would threaten liberty. They would, after all, be composed of “our sons, our brothers, our neighbors, our fellow-citizens.” The National Guard had its origins in the militias about which Hamilton wrote. The Guard traces its start to 1636, when the Massachusetts Bay Colony established the first colonial militia. Whatever their views on whether the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms, historians generally agree that one of the key purposes of the amendment was to ensure that states had the resources needed to resist encroachments on liberty perpetrated by the federal government. As Supreme Court Justice James McReynolds put it in 1939, “In a militia, the character of the labourer, artificer, or tradesman, predominates over that of the soldier.” Troops from Ohio, South Carolina, Mississippi and West Virginia deployed in Washington are being asked to display the character of soldiers, not that of the “neighbors” that Hamilton envisioned. Hamilton thought that there would be no danger “from men who are daily mingling with the rest of their countrymen and who participate with them in the same feelings, sentiments, habits, and interests.” Sending members of state National Guards to a place different in “feelings, sentiments, habits and interests” from the District of Columbia may please the president. But it should not please Americans eager to preserve freedom and honor the legacy of the Founding generation. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com View the full article

WASHINGTON (AP) — Louisiana becomes sixth GOP-led state to authorize troop deployment to DC as part of Trump show of force. View the full article

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump says he has begun arrangements for face-to-face meeting between Russia's Putin and Ukraine's Zelenskyy. View the full article

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies pressed Donald Trump on security guarantees for Kyiv as part of a peace deal with Russia. Monday’s landmark gathering at the White House was far warmer than the last time Zelenskyy visited Washington and clashed with Trump. Both men expressed hope for three-way talks with Putin aimed at ending the war, though fraught issues like territorial lines and the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine could pose hurdles to peace. Even as the European leaders heaped praise on Trump and advocated for longterm support from Washington, the US president offered only vague signals over ensuring US guarantees for Kyiv’s security, and dodged questions about what exactly a deal might look like. — J.D. Capelouto View the full article

The NewsThe Trump administration is tapping Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as co-deputy director of the FBI, according to two people familiar with the situation. The new hire comes after the FBI and the Justice Department landed in the center of a conservative firestorm over the Jeffrey Epstein case last month. Sources told Semafor at the time that the current deputy FBI director, Dan Bongino, and FBI Director Kash Patel were frustrated with the DOJ’s handling of documents related to Epstein and wanted more information released to the public. At one point, a fight broke out between Bongino and Bondi over the Epstein case, with Bongino taking time off from work following the incident. Bongino considered resigning, Semafor reported at the time, though he has since returned to work and remains in his position. It’s unclear whether Bongino plans to remain at the FBI once Bailey is formally tapped as co-deputy director, a position that doesn’t require Senate confirmation. There’s already some speculation that Bongino won’t want to remain at the No. 2 post if he’s sharing it. “He’s not doing that,” one person familiar with the situation predicted. Bailey’s name was floated during the Trump transition as a potential attorney general pick. His name resurfaced for that role after former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s first choice, bowed out amid allegations of sexual misconduct and an uphill battle in the Senate confirmation process. Trump ultimately selected current Attorney General Pam Bondi. The FBI did not respond to a request for comment, and the White House referred Semafor to the FBI for personnel matters. The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NotableAxios, which first reported the Bongino-Bondi dustup, has a helpful primer with more on the backstory. View the full article

現年45歲「御用變態」尹子維雖然長着一張渣男臉孔，可是真人卻情深義重，對「內地第一美乳」藝人徐冬冬一往情深。經歷過分手復合，尹子維終於抱得美人歸，今年初有雜誌爆出兩人到香港辦理婚姻登記，遞交擬結婚通知書並自爆備孕中。尹子維與徐冬冬結婚不足一年竟爆出隔空鬧交，主因是尹子維不滿徐冬冬不讓發有關她的帖文。日前尹子維直播教英文，竟與徐冬冬在鏡頭前公開打交！ 尹子維和徐冬冬。（微博@徐冬冬）徐冬冬有「中國第一美胸」之稱。（微博圖片）尹子維近來不時拍片教徐冬冬英文，可惜徐冬冬濃濃東北口音時常激到尹子維「紮紮跳」；徐冬冬亦不遑多讓，愈學愈忟憎，演變成「暴躁英語教室」。日前尹子維一身廚師Look，教徐冬冬有關食物的英文。當教到「Cabbage」時，尹子維全情投入，情緒激動揮動湯勺，火氣十足的徐冬冬彈起身想搶走尹子維手中的湯勺，教英文演變成兩公婆郁手郁腳，尹子維揮動湯勺，作狀想敲徐冬冬頭，相當搞笑。尹子維臉帶笑容與徐冬冬打情罵俏，有網民讚尹子維個樣後生了不少，果然有愛情滋潤外貌大回春。 尹子維教英文教到同徐冬冬打交！（小紅書）徐冬冬跳起想搶走尹子維手中湯勺。（小紅書）郁手郁腳！（小紅書）打情罵俏。（小紅書）暴躁。（小紅書）搞笑。（小紅書）徐冬冬（微博@徐冬冬） View the full article

A dealer dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" has agreed to plead guilty to supplying the drugs that killed "Friends" actor Matthew Perry, the US Department of Justice said Monday. Jasveen Sangha, 42, will admit several charges, including one of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury in relation to the late star. A dual citizen of the United States and Britain, she is expected to formally enter her pleas in the coming weeks. She has been in federal custody since August 2024. Sangha will become the fifth person to admit playing a part in the death of the beloved actor, who had openly struggled for decades with substance addiction. Perry, 54, was found dead in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home in October 2023. A criminal investigation was launched soon after an autopsy discovered he had high levels of ketamine -- an anesthetic -- in his system. Last month, Dr Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine in the weeks before Perry's death. Another doctor, Mark Chavez, admitted last year to conspiring to distribute ketamine to Perry. Plasencia allegedly bought ketamine off Chavez and sold it to the American-Canadian actor at hugely inflated prices. "I wonder how much this moron will pay," Plasencia wrote in one text message. According to her plea agreement, Sangha worked with a middleman, Erik Fleming, to sell 51 vials of ketamine to Perry's live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. Iwamasa repeatedly injected Perry with the ketamine that Sangha supplied, including on October 28, 2023, when he administered at least three shots of Sangha's ketamine, which killed the actor. The Justice Department said when Sangha heard news reports about Perry's sudden death, she tried to cover her tracks. "Delete all our messages," she instructed Fleming. When investigators raided Sangha's home they found methamphetamine, ketamine, ecstasy, cocaine, and counterfeit Xanax pills, as well as a money counting machine, a scale, and devices to detect wireless signals and hidden cameras, according to the Justice Department. - 'Mostly sober' - Sangha is expected to plead guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury. "She's taking responsibility for her actions," her lawyer Mark Geragos told AFP. Sangha could face decades in prison when sentenced. The other people involved in the supply of drugs to Perry are expected to appear in court over the coming months to learn their fates. Perry had been taking ketamine as part of supervised therapy for depression. But prosecutors say that before his death he became addicted to the substance, which also has psychedelic properties and is a popular party drug. "Friends," which followed the lives of six New Yorkers navigating adulthood, dating and careers, drew a massive following and made megastars of previously unknown actors. Perry's role as the sarcastic man-child Chandler brought him fabulous wealth, but hid a dark struggle with addiction to painkillers and alcohol. In 2018, he suffered a drug-related burst colon and underwent multiple surgeries. In his 2022 memoir "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing," Perry described going through detox dozens of times. "I have mostly been sober since 2001," he wrote, "save for about sixty or seventy little mishaps." hg/des View the full article

By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United Nations Security Council started negotiations on Monday on a French-drafted resolution to extend a long-running peacekeeping mission in Lebanon and signal an intention to work on an eventual withdrawal of the U.N. troops. The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), established in 1978, patrols Lebanon's southern border with Israel. The mandate for the operation is renewed annually, and its current authorization expires on August 31. The French draft text, seen by Reuters, would see the council indicate “its intention to work on a withdrawal of UNIFIL with the aim of making the Lebanese Government the sole provider of security in southern Lebanon, provided that the Government of Lebanon fully controls all Lebanese territory … and that the parties agree on a comprehensive political arrangement." The United States - a veto-wielding council member - told a closed-door council meeting on Monday that the mission should only be extended for one final year, said diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity. When asked for comment on whether the U.S. wanted to wind down UNIFIL, a State Department spokesperson said: “We don't comment on ongoing U.N. Security Council negotiations." UNIFIL's mandate was expanded in 2006, following a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah, to allow peacekeepers to help the Lebanese army keep parts of the south free of weapons or armed personnel other than those of the Lebanese state. That has sparked friction with Hezbollah, which effectively controls southern Lebanon despite the presence of the Lebanese army. Hezbollah is a heavily armed party that is Lebanon's most powerful political force. The draft Security Council text "urges the international community to intensify its support, including equipment, material and financial" to the Lebanese army. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Stephen Coates) View the full article

An American Orthodox archbishop's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, in which they exchanged warm greetings and gifts of holy icons — is drawing a denunciation by Ukrainian Orthodox bishops in the U.S. They called it a “betrayal of Christian witness” in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war. Archbishop Alexei — the bishop of Alaska for the Orthodox Church in America, the now-independent offspring of the Russian Orthodox Church — met Friday with Putin at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery in Anchorage following Putin's summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Putin also placed flowers at the graves of Soviet-era airmen killed during World War II. “Russia has given us what’s most precious of all, which is the Orthodox faith, and we are forever grateful,” Alexei told Putin, alluding to Russian missionaries who brought the faith to Alaska when it was a czarist territory. He added that he visits Russia regularly and that when his priests and seminarians go there, they report back, “I’ve been home.” Putin told him: “Please feel at home whenever you come.” But critics said the meeting conferred legitimacy on Putin, on top of his being hosted by Trump on U.S. soil despite an arrest warrant issued in 2023 from the International Criminal Court, accusing Putin of war crimes in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Severe criticism from one church's leaders Leaders of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA blasted the meeting between the archbishop and Putin. “Such gestures are not merely unfortunate — they are a betrayal of the Gospel of Christ and scandalous to the faithful,” the statement said, signed by the New Jersey-based church's top two leaders, Metropolitan Antony and Archbishop Daniel. The Russian regime “is responsible for the invasion of the independent and peaceful nation of Ukraine and for the death of hundreds of thousands, for the disappearance of countless innocents, for the tearing of families apart, and for the deliberate destruction of Ukraine,” the statement said. “To extend warm words of welcome and admiration to this ‘leader’ is nothing less than an endorsement of his actions.” The statement said that while the church preaches love and forgiveness, it “can never excuse or whitewash evil.” The meeting between the archbishop and Putin is notable in how American churches are embroiled in controversies involving Orthodoxy in Ukraine, which arose even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and have worsened since. Orthodox Christianity is the majority religion in Russia and Ukraine. There are multiple Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions in the United States, rooted in various immigrant communities of different nationalities. That includes Russia with the OCA and Ukraine with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. They generally share communion and cooperate in some areas but have separate hierarchies. Putin gave Alexei icons of St. Herman — an early Russian missionary to Alaska — and of the Mother of God, which the archbishop received making the sign of the cross and kissing each icon. Alexei gave the Russian president an icon he had previously received as a gift upon becoming bishop. The two did not discuss the war during the brief conversation, according to a video recording. Alaska archbishop explains himself In a follow-up message emailed to Alaska priests, defending the visit, Alexei noted he had overseen three days of special services in Orthodox parishes across Alaska, in which worshippers offered prayers for peace in the name of Alaska saints and the Mother of God. “When I expressed gratitude in that public moment, it was not praise for present politics, but a remembrance of the missionaries of earlier generations … who brought us the Orthodox faith at great cost,” Alexei said. He also defended the icon exchange. “I must be clear: the veneration we give to holy icons is directed not to the one who gives them, but to the saint or feast they represent,” he said. “Even if the greatest sinner were beside me, the honor passes not to him but to heaven itself.” He added: “I know that sacred gestures can be misunderstood, and I grieve if this has caused confusion or scandal.” He said it's important “to open whatever small door may be given for a pastoral word of peace.” Moscow Patriarch Kirill has strongly supported the war, saying Russian soldiers who die in the line of duty in Ukraine have all of their sins forgiven and presiding over a council that declared the Russian invasion a “holy war.” Putin himself regularly displays Orthodox piety — reflected in his making the sign of the cross at the Soviet graves and kissing the icons he gave to Alexei. Putin recently asserted without elaboration that one of the conditions for peace would have to be “providing an adequate environment for the Orthodox Church and the Christian faith in Ukraine.” How Orthodox factions in Ukraine are affected Ukraine's Orthodox population has been torn by schism. There are currently two main Orthodox groups with similar-sounding names there. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has historically been under the Moscow Patriarchate, which claims jurisdiction in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the breakaway Orthodox Church in Ukraine received recognition as an independent church by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Both churches have denounced the Russian invasion, but the UOC has remained under suspicion even though it has tried to assert it is also independent of Moscow's control. (Neither should be confused with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, which operates on American soil.) Ukraine’s parliament last year passed a law banning religious groups tied to the Russian Orthodox Church or any other faith group supporting Russia’s invasion. The measure was widely seen as targeting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the Ukrainian government has insisted that church take various steps to show its independence, which its leader has refused to do, asserting the government's process is flawed and citing the church's proclamation of its independence in 2022. The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations — a coalition that includes the Orthodox Church of Ukraine — issued a statement supporting the government's insistence that the UOC comply with its demands. It said Russia has broadly violated religious liberties in occupied Ukrainian territories. It contended that Ukraine honors religious freedom and pluralism while maintaining the right to make sure religion isn't being used to abet the invasion. “It is widely known that the Russian Federation uses religion, particularly the Russian Orthodox Church, as a weapon to pursue its neo-imperial goals in various countries,” the statement said. ___ AP reporter Illia Novikov contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. View the full article

A federal appeals court Monday blocked West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler from enforcing a campus drag show ban, ruling that the performances are likely protected under the First Amendment. The 2-1 ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reverses a lower court’s decision upholding Wendler’s 2023 cancellation of a drag show, which he argued was demeaning to women and compared to blackface. The decision means Spectrum WT, the student group that brought the lawsuit, can produce drag shows on campus while its lawsuit continues in a lower court. Judge Leslie H. Southwick, who wrote for the majority, said the context of the students’ event made its message of supporting the queer community clear. “The viewers of the drag show would have been ticketed audience members attending a performance sponsored by LGBT+ student organizations and designed to raise funds for LGBT+ suicide-prevention charity, “ wrote Southwick, who was appointed by George W. Bush. “Against this backdrop, the message sent by parading on a theater stage in attire of the opposite sex would have been unmistakable.” The court concluded that Legacy Hall, where the drag show was scheduled to take place, was a designated public forum open to a variety of groups, including churches and political candidates. That meant banning drag shows targeted the content of the event, something the Constitution allows only in the rarest cases. Finally, the court found that students faced ongoing irreparable harm to their speech rights, noting Wendler had cancelled another drag show planned for 2024 and declared that no drag shows would ever be allowed on campus. That conclusion gave the judges another reason to block the ban for now, since courts only grant such relief when plaintiffs have a strong case and risk being harmed without it. The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Disclosure: West Texas A&M University has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. More all-star speakers confirmed for The Texas Tribune Festival, Nov. 13–15! This year’s lineup just got even more exciting with the addition of State Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo; former United States Attorney General Eric Holder; Abby Phillip, anchor of “CNN NewsNight”; Aaron Reitz, 2026 Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General; and State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin. Get your tickets today! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. View the full article

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO, agosto 17 (EL UNIVERSAL).- Patricia Navidad reacciona y celebra la orden judicial que recibió Penguin Random House, editorial que lanzó el libro de Anabel Hernández, "Las señoras del narco: amar en el infierno", libro en el que se asevera que fue una de las actrices que se prostituyó con el narcotraficante Arturo Beltrán Leyva. La resolución se dio a conocer el 11 de julio, en una sesión pública en la que el tribunal colegiado de apelación del vigésimo sexto circuito, con sede en La Paz, Baja California Sur, dio a conocer en qué consistiría el fallo, así como su motivo. En la obra "Las señoras del narco: amar en el infierno", Hernández -periodista de investigación-, narra, específicamente, en las páginas 242 y 243, que actrices de la televisora habrían sostenido encuentros, de índole sexual, con Beltrán Leyva, entre las mencionadas, se encontraba Paty. Y, si bien, cuando el libro se publicó, la actriz reconoció que acudió al encuentro del narcotraficante, explicó que acudió a base de engaños, ya que le habían expresado que, si Beltrán Leyva quería encontrarse con ella, era porque era un gran admirador suyo y su salud estaba en descenso. PUBLICIDAD"Me dijeron que era mi fan, que estaba muy enfermo; resultó que fue un engaño, eso sí lo escribe Anabel, (...) y (cuando) ya llegué, me enteré de qué se trataba, obviamente, hubo una propuesta indecorosa, que no acepté y que, nunca, he aceptado en mi vida porque, si algo no vendo, es esa, mi integridad", dijo en su momento la actriz, quien ha confrontado a Hernández, llamándola "mentirosa". Ahora, la editorial que publicó el texto, en septiembre de 2023, tendrá que pagar una multa, ofrecer una disculpa pública y publicar la réplica de Televisa, por las partes de la obra que carecen de pruebas suficientes para ser descritas como hechos fehacientes. Al enterarse del fallo, Patricia Navidad no dudó en pronunciarse y, a través de sus redes sociales, mostró la satisfacción que le produce la resolución. A cada capillita le llega su fiestecita, esto apenas comienza Anabel Hernández, la verdad y la justicia, a veces, tardan, pero siempre llegan, no más difamaciones de pseudoperiodistas que lucran con la mentira, dañando la integridad y dignidad de personas, a través de sus escritos de ficción e historias sin fundamento Además, reiteró su deseo de que Anabel le demuestre las pruebas que sustentarían sus afirmaciones. PUBLICIDAD¿Quiénes han sido tus fuentes y tus contactos, Anabel?, en mi caso, me quedas a 'deber' las pruebas, que no existen; espero las explicaciones, además de las disculpas correspondientes", mencionó y concluyó su mensaje con la frase "nada es personal Síguenos en WhatsAppTAMBIÉN TE PUEDE INTERESAR | EN VIDEO Los 'problemas de imagen corporal' de Victoria Beckham serán tema de su próximo documental View the full article