A report found that Turning Point USA insisted that Charlie Kirk speak outdoors at Utah Valley University despite security concerns. Kirk was assassinated at the outdoor event, and the report says the university should have kept control over key security decisions but allowed Turning Point USA to manage them.
Key Facts
Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University (UVU).
UVU and its police chief raised security concerns about holding the event outdoors weeks before it happened.
Turning Point USA insisted on the outdoor location, creating challenges for security.
A planned face-to-face security briefing between UVU police and Turning Point USA’s security team did not happen.
UVU asked for expected attendance numbers, but Turning Point USA did not provide them.
The university report says no UVU employee acted in bad faith but says UVU gave Turning Point USA control over important security decisions.
UVU’s president says the university is learning from the report and has improved campus safety.
Kirk’s family plans to sue UVU, saying the event setup endangered him.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spent millions of taxpayer dollars wastefully while quickly trying to increase detention space. The report highlights financial mismanagement during this rapid expansion.
Key Facts
ICE tried to quickly increase the number of detention beds.
This rapid expansion led to wasted spending of millions of taxpayer dollars.
The Government Accountability Office investigated and released the report.
The wasted funds were linked to poor planning and rushed decisions.
The report aims to improve future spending and operations in ICE.
ICE is a U.S. government agency responsible for immigration enforcement.
Taxpayer dollars fund ICE operations, including detention centers.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Sheri Mecklenburg, a federal prosecutor, resigned from the Department of Justice after conflicts over a case involving six protesters charged near an ICE facility. She criticized U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros for directing the case and mishandling allegations of misconduct in the grand jury process, which led to the charges being dropped.
Key Facts
Sheri Mecklenburg was the lead prosecutor for felony charges against six protesters at the Broadview ICE facility near Chicago.
The protesters faced felony conspiracy and misdemeanor obstruction charges; the felony charges were dismissed first.
Before the misdemeanor trial started, allegations of misconduct during grand jury proceedings caused those charges to be dismissed as well.
Boutros said he only learned about some misconduct in late April and confirmed improper actions like a prosecutor vouching for the case with grand jurors.
Mecklenburg accused Boutros of blaming her unfairly and hiding information from her about the misconduct investigation and court hearings.
She claims Boutros threatened to fire her if she defended herself against accusations made by defense attorneys.
Mecklenburg resigned to protect her healthcare benefits earned from government service and said Boutros personally directed the felony prosecution despite her objections.
Boutros announced reforms for how grand jury materials are handled and plans to review over 1,000 previous cases involving Mecklenburg and others.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new report revealed that Utah Valley University faced several security problems on the day political commentator Charlie Kirk was assassinated on its campus. The report said university staff and security relied too much on the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) team and did not create a formal security plan.
Key Facts
The report covers security issues during the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
It is an independent review consisting of 158 pages.
University staff and security let the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) team make important security decisions.
There was no formal, written security plan for the event.
The report suggests this poor planning led to security gaps on campus that day.
The report was released on a Friday.
Charlie Kirk is a political commentator.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal judge appointed by President Trump held the administration in contempt for deporting a young asylum seeker to El Salvador despite court orders to stop. The judge ordered the government to return the man to the U.S. and to follow legal rules before deporting him again.
Key Facts
The judge is U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher, appointed by President Trump.
The administration deported a 19-year-old asylum seeker named E.L.A. to El Salvador, violating three court orders.
The court orders were issued in November 2024, April 2025, and July 2026 in a class-action lawsuit.
The lawsuit began in 2019 and involves young asylum seekers challenging policies that limited their asylum applications during removal proceedings.
This is the second time the government deported E.L.A. despite legal protections.
The judge ordered the government to return E.L.A., give back his property and documents, and not finalize deportation until his asylum case is decided or the case ends.
The government acknowledged a communication error led to E.L.A.’s wrongful removal and said it is considering steps to fix this.
The judge asked for an update by October 2 on whether E.L.A. wants to come back and the plan for his return.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Police in Mississippi said that Tasia Fortune, a Black woman found hanging from a tree, was already dead before her body was placed there. They believe she was killed in a dispute involving drugs, and multiple arrests have been made in connection with her death.
Key Facts
Tasia Fortune was found hanging from a tree on abandoned property in Jackson, Mississippi, in August.
Police stated the hanging was staged after she was already dead.
Officials suspect her death is related to a drug dispute.
Jackson is a majority-Black city with a history of racial violence and lynching.
The medical examiner ruled Fortune’s death a homicide.
Jarques Ratliff, 51, was arrested, pleaded not guilty, and is held without bond.
Earnest Lloyd Jr., 25, was also arrested, and a third suspect is being sought.
Police have not publicly shared the exact cause of death or detailed reasons for believing the staging of the hanging.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Many candidates in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections are choosing not to participate in debates. This includes races for governor and Senate, with voters often missing the chance to see candidates discuss their views and respond under pressure.
Key Facts
In 2026, 21 out of 36 governor races will have no debate between major party candidates.
The number of governor races without debates has grown from 2 in 2018 to 21 in 2026.
For the Senate, 21 of 35 seats up for election in 2026 have no scheduled debates.
Candidates say they avoid debates for reasons like avoiding false claims, differences being too large, or not responding to debate offers.
Ohio gubernatorial Democrat Amy Acton declined to debate Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, accusing him of spreading lies.
Alabama gubernatorial candidate Sen. Tommy Tuberville said debating was pointless due to large differences.
Texas Republican Ken Paxton has ignored debate offers despite initial commitment, continuing a pattern from previous campaigns.
Experts say skipping debates can hurt voters by limiting their ability to evaluate candidates’ ideas and performance under pressure.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A former church youth group leader in Pennsylvania was convicted of sexually abusing a young boy between 2004 and 2006. The man, Richard Garnett, used his church position to harm children and was previously convicted for abusing two girls in the 1980s.
Key Facts
Richard Garnett was the "games director" at Roaring Brook Baptist Church in Pennsylvania.
Garnett sexually abused a boy in the church basement multiple times when the boy was in first or second grade.
The boy was told not to tell anyone and was told "God would want you to do this."
Garnett was convicted of several crimes including sexual assault and child endangerment.
He was previously sentenced to at least six years in prison for abusing two girls in the early 1980s.
Garnett remains in custody and will be sentenced in December.
The case began after a search warrant was executed at the church in 2017.
Garnett admitted he was attracted to children decades ago but claimed he no longer has those urges.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new study shows that more than 1 in 5 older Americans take combinations of medicines that could cause serious interactions. The use of multiple prescription drugs and dietary supplements by older adults is increasing, raising concerns about health risks and hospital visits.
Key Facts
The study used data from nearly 5,000 U.S. adults aged 62 to 85.
Taking five or more prescription drugs (polypharmacy) rose from 31% in 2015-2016 to 35.7% in 2021-2023.
Use of five or more dietary supplements also increased from 12.6% to 16.7% in the same period.
The rate of potentially harmful drug interactions among older adults slightly decreased from 25.7% to 22.3%, but remains above 20%.
Antidepressants, statins (cholesterol drugs), and antiplatelet therapies (blood thinners) are the medications most involved in risky combinations.
These commonly used medicines are important for heart and mental health but can cause serious side effects when combined.
Experts say managing many medications in older adults is difficult and increases chances of side effects and hospitalizations.
The study highlights the need to improve medication safety and reduce unnecessary drug use in older people.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senator Thom Tillis said Republicans should not be seen as disloyal just for disagreeing with President Donald Trump. He criticized White House officials for expecting strict loyalty and said it is okay to have different opinions on policy within the party.
Key Facts
Senator Thom Tillis is from North Carolina.
Tillis said lawmakers should be allowed to disagree with President Trump without being called disloyal.
He has supported President Trump in over 90% of important votes.
Tillis criticized the White House for demanding a "loyalty test" from Republicans.
He said his main responsibility is to voters in North Carolina, not just to please the president.
Tillis mentioned disagreements about the war with Iran as an example of legitimate policy differences.
Tillis has publicly criticized some Trump administration officials, like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Tillis joined other Republicans supporting a Senate resolution calling for congressional approval to continue the Iran war.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Some Republican candidates running in close U.S. races want to end the war with Iran. At least 17 Republicans in Congress or running for office have called on President Trump to stop the conflict, partly because higher fuel prices and public disapproval are affecting voters.
Key Facts
At least 17 Republican members of Congress or candidates have spoken out for ending the war with Iran.
These Republicans want Congress to limit President Trump’s power to continue the war.
Diesel fuel prices have risen nearly 60% since the war began in late February 2026.
A CNN poll shows 67% of Americans disapprove of President Trump's job overall, and 73% disapprove of how he is handling Iran.
73% of Americans say the war with Iran hurts their finances, including 59% of Republicans.
Some Republican candidates, like Mike Rogers in Michigan and Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin, are publicly urging an end to the war.
Rogers says ending the war will lower energy costs but wants any deal to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
Some Republicans have voted with Democrats on war powers resolutions, but these do not force the president to act.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump promised to campaign in 35 key competitive districts before the November midterm elections, but he is starting his rallies in Alabama and Oklahoma, which are strongly Republican states. These rallies will attract loyal supporters but highlight challenges the Republican Party faces in less favorable areas.
Key Facts
President Trump pledged to campaign in 35 important battleground districts before the midterms.
He is starting his rallies in Alabama and Oklahoma, two solidly Republican states.
The rallies are expected to have large, enthusiastic crowds of Trump supporters.
Campaign organizers say these locations help reach wider media markets across state lines.
Republicans are investing money in safe red states to support candidates facing voter challenges.
Some Republicans are distancing themselves from President Trump to appeal to a broader group of voters.
Trump’s events aim to energize the Republican base and increase voter turnout in the midterms.
There is concern about Trump’s low popularity in many parts of the country during this campaign season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
U.S. consumer confidence fell in September to its lowest point in four months. Rising prices and worries about the cost of living contributed to this drop, based on a University of Michigan survey.
Key Facts
Consumer confidence dropped to a reading of 48.1 in September.
This is a 7% decrease compared to August.
Confidence is 15% lower than earlier measurements (specific time not given).
The University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers conducted the survey.
Rising inflation and higher living costs are the main reasons for the decline.
The data was released on a Friday (exact date not specified).
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
In Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed leads Republican Mike Rogers, partly due to voter concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) and AI data centers. A recent poll shows many Michigan voters distrust AI data centers and prefer El-Sayed’s approach over Rogers’.
Key Facts
A New York Times/Siena poll found 46% of Michigan voters trust El-Sayed on AI data center issues, compared to 35% for Rogers.
66% of Michigan voters oppose building AI data centers, while 29% support them.
El-Sayed leads Rogers 49% to 44% among likely Michigan voters overall.
Poll surveyed 605 likely voters between September 15-22 with a margin of error of ±4.9%.
El-Sayed leads by large margins among younger voters (ages 18-29 and 30-44), while Rogers leads older voters.
Rogers is seen as less extreme by voters, but El-Sayed is viewed as the more effective candidate for the Senate.
Sabato’s Crystal Ball upgraded the race to “Leans Democratic,” calling El-Sayed a “soft favorite.”
Spending on the Senate race is increasing, nearing $222 million.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Mary Peltola is Alaska’s first Alaska Native elected to Congress and is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026. Her husband, Eugene "Buzzy" Peltola Jr., a respected Alaska Native leader and public servant, died in a plane crash in 2023, and she has faced recent allegations about her behavior toward staff, which her campaign attributes to her grief.
Key Facts
Mary Peltola was sworn in as the first Alaska Native member of Congress in 2022.
Her husband, Eugene "Buzzy" Peltola Jr., died in a plane crash on September 12, 2023.
Buzzy Peltola worked in wildlife management, tribal leadership, and as a public servant in Alaska.
He served as Regional Director for Alaska in the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 2018 until his death.
Mary Peltola lost both her husband and mother within a few months in 2023.
She is running for the U.S. Senate against Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in 2026.
Allegations of harsh behavior toward her staff recently surfaced, but her campaign said this was related to her grief.
Peltola’s campaign emphasizes her deep connection to Alaska and issues like fish depletion and high living costs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tasia Fortune was found dead hanging from a tree in Jackson, Mississippi, in what police say was a "staged" lynching. Investigators believe she was killed in a drug-related dispute and have arrested two men on murder charges, with a third suspect wanted.
Key Facts
Tasia Fortune’s body was found hanging from a tree on August 3 in Jackson, Mississippi.
Police say the hanging was staged and not an actual lynching.
Fortune was killed in a drug dispute, according to the detective’s testimony.
Two men, both Black, have been arrested and charged with murder; a third suspect is wanted.
One arrested man, Jarques Ratliff, has pleaded not guilty and is held without bond.
The exact cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, but authorities ruled it a homicide.
Fortune had four children and faced homelessness in recent years.
Police continue investigating and the hearing will resume on September 30.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Black woman named Tasia Fortune was found hanging from a tree in Jackson, Mississippi. Police say her death was a staged lynching connected to a drug dispute, not a hate crime. Two men have been charged with her murder, and another suspect is wanted.
Key Facts
Tasia Fortune’s body was found hanging from a tree in Jackson, Mississippi, in August.
Police believe she was killed first, and then her body was hung to look like a lynching.
Detective Samuel Dukes said the hanging was connected to a drug dispute.
The state medical examiner provided evidence that the death was staged.
Two men have been charged with murder in this case.
A third suspect is still being sought by police.
The case attracted national attention because it resembled a lynching, a form of racial violence in Mississippi history.
Authorities say this was not a hate crime related to race.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
New Jersey's lieutenant governor, Dale Caldwell, resigned after accusations of inappropriate behavior toward women and ethics violations. Governor Mikie Sherrill demanded his resignation to address long-standing problems with sexual harassment in the state government.
Key Facts
Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned following sexual harassment and ethics complaints.
Governor Mikie Sherrill called for a culture change to stop ignoring such issues in government.
Caldwell faced allegations of making inappropriate advances and violating state ethics rules.
An anonymous complaint about Caldwell's behavior was investigated by a law firm hired by Sherrill.
Caldwell denied some allegations, including a controversial comment and improper promotion requests.
The governor cannot fire the lieutenant governor, but Caldwell could be impeached by the state Legislature.
Until a new lieutenant governor is chosen, State Senate President Nicholas Scutari will act as governor when needed.
Caldwell was also New Jersey's secretary of state, overseeing elections, adding importance to the timing before midterm elections.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Caleb Flynn, a former American Idol contestant and ex-pastor, is on trial in Ohio for the death of his wife, Ashley Flynn. Prosecutors presented AI-generated love songs and over 100,000 messages as evidence to show Flynn’s affair with Alleigha Botner, which they say was a motive for the murder. Flynn has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Key Facts
Caleb Flynn is accused of killing his wife, Ashley Flynn, in February and staging the scene to look like a home invasion.
He faces charges including one count of aggravated murder, three counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, and three counts of tampering with evidence.
Prosecutors used AI-generated love songs made for Flynn’s former mistress, Alleigha Botner, as evidence in court.
Flynn and Botner had an affair lasting about 1.5 years, which prosecutors say was a motive for the murder.
Over 100,000 messages between Flynn and Botner were also presented to the jury.
Botner testified that the songs referenced secret meetings and moments important in their relationship.
Flynn has pleaded not guilty and denies wanting to harm his wife despite wanting to end the marriage.
Ashley Flynn was the mother of Caleb Flynn’s two children and family members testified about the impact of her death.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new study shows that Americans are dying younger than people in other wealthy countries not just because of drug overdoses, suicide, and homicide, but also due to many chronic diseases like high blood pressure and liver disease. Problems with health care access, cost, and prevention are likely making this trend worse.
Key Facts
U.S. life expectancy in 2023 ranks 38th among countries with over 1 million people.
Americans aged 25 to 44 saw a 71% rise in death rates from all causes between 2010 and 2021.
Rising deaths come from hypertensive disease, endocrine and metabolic disorders, alcoholic liver disease, neurologic diseases, and genitourinary diseases.
Drug overdoses, suicide, and homicide remain major causes but do not fully explain the U.S. mortality gap.
The mortality gap widened due to circulatory, respiratory, nervous system diseases, and external causes.
COVID-19 added to deaths but non-COVID causes stayed high even after the pandemic peak.
Experts say health care issues like high costs and poor access keep people from getting timely treatment.
In some states, life expectancy differences can be as much as 30 years, linked to these factors.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
