US news summaries
Essential facts and source links for recent us stories.
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Kevin Curry convicted over $26 million in false Tricare claims
Texas counselor Kevin Curry was convicted last week of defrauding Tricare with more than $26 million in false claims for TMS services beneficiaries never received or were ineligible to receive; the program paid him $17 million, the Justice Department said. -
Utah judge permits Micah Smith to speak with his children under supervision
Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills allowed Micah Smith, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts each of child torture and child abuse, to speak with his three children under supervision by their court-appointed guardian ad litem; he cannot discuss the case with them. -
After Nadiya Santiago’s suicide, mother says she learned of months of bullying
Nadiya Santiago, 11, died by suicide the day after accidentally posting a TikTok dance video, her mother says. After her death, her mother says she learned classmates had bullied her for months; a school district investigation is ongoing. -
5th Circuit lets couple pursue Fourth Amendment claims over alleged false stop
The 5th Circuit upheld denial of qualified immunity to Officers Samuel Terrell and Jim Lewis on Mario Rosales and Gracie Lasyone’s Fourth Amendment claims, finding the couple plausibly alleged a fabricated traffic stop and unlawful searches at this stage. -
"Safe Ground" follows Ryan Hendrickson’s Ukraine mine-clearance mission
Retired Green Beret Ryan Hendrickson survived an IED in Afghanistan and founded a nonprofit supporting Ukraine’s mine-clearance teams in 2022. He has returned 13 times; “Safe Ground,” a documentary about his work, debuted Sept. 12 and is streaming on Prime Video. -
Jurors watch Caleb Flynn deny touching wife in police interview
At Caleb Flynn’s Ohio murder trial Monday, jurors watched a video of his police questioning; he denied touching his wife, Ashley. Prosecutors cited his missing 9mm handgun and phone activity they say conflicts with his claim he was asleep. Flynn pleaded not guilty to murder. -
UPMC agrees to halt gender-affirming care for patients under 19 for 10 years
UPMC agreed to stop gender-affirming care for patients under 19 for 10 years and pay $950,000 to resolve a federal investigation into alleged billing practices tied to that care. It denied wrongdoing. About 20 people protested outside its Pittsburgh children's hospital Sunday. -
In-laws arrested on murder charges in New York Times Games head’s killing
Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen were arrested on murder charges in the killing of their son-in-law, Jonathan McKinsey, head of engineering at New York Times Games. He was found with gunshot wounds in a Dublin, California, parking lot on Saturday and pronounced dead there. -
Oregon drops advance LGBTQ+ affirmation rule for foster and adoptive parents
Oregon no longer requires prospective foster and adoptive parents to agree in advance to affirm a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity, after settling a lawsuit with Jessica Bates; the state says it can still weigh each child’s needs in placement decisions. -
Cornell district attorney reopens probe into 2024 assault claims against 7 Chi Phi members
Former Cornell student Jane Doe's Sept. 16 civil suit accuses seven Chi Phi members of sexually assaulting her for seven hours in 2024 and says she was drugged. Two defendants deny the claims; prosecutors reopened the criminal probe on Sept. 28, after no charges were filed. -
Army specialist pleads not guilty in infant son's shooting death
Army Spc. Peyton D. Creel pleaded not guilty last week to murder and involuntary manslaughter charges over the April 28 shooting death of his infant son at Creel's Fort Leavenworth residence. He is due before a court-martial in January 2027. -
Zoo Atlanta’s new pandas arrive, with public debut still unannounced
Ping Ping and Fu Shuang arrived at Zoo Atlanta from China on Sept. 27, but visitors cannot see them yet. The zoo says the pandas will undergo around a month of routine quarantine and has not announced when public viewing will begin. -
Brooke Hanlon case has no arrests as officials offer no updates
More than 100 days after Brooke Hanlon was stabbed to death at her Chester, N.J., home on June 5, no arrests have been made. Officials have offered no updates beyond identifying her as the victim; former prosecutor John W. Day says silence can protect an investigation. -
Cornell DA reopens 2024 assault probe, will seek charges against seven Chi Phi members
Tompkins County DA Matthew Van Houten reopened Cornell's 2024 assault probe, saying he will seek charges against seven Chi Phi members and present the case to a grand jury. A civil suit alleges a student was given ketamine and sexually assaulted for hours. -
Clancy holdout juror’s lawyer plans bar complaint against defense counsel
Paltzik, lawyer for holdout juror Michael Péguy Desronvil, says he plans to file a bar complaint against Kevin Reddington, Lindsay Clancy’s defense attorney, alleging unprofessional conduct. Clancy’s case returns to court Sept. 29; Reddington’s motions may be addressed. -
NYT Games engineering director Jonathan McKinsey killed; in-laws arrested on suspicion of murder
Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen were arrested on suspicion of murder after New York Times Games engineering director Jonathan McKinsey was shot dead Saturday at a Dublin sports complex. Police said there are no outstanding suspects or known threat to the public. -
Pennsylvania reports 903 measles cases after 68 new infections
Pennsylvania reported 68 new measles infections since Sept. 23, bringing its outbreak total to 903 on Monday, Sept. 28. The state said 176 patients had been hospitalized, up from 164 on Sept. 23; Lancaster County remains the hardest-hit area. -
Former Cornell student's suit prompts DA to reopen alleged 2024 gang-rape probe
Tompkins County prosecutors have reopened their review of potential charges over a former Cornell student's alleged 2024 gang rape, after she filed a civil suit accusing seven current and former Chi Phi members. The DA says evidence gathered then did not support charges. -
Microsoft has not committed to Indiana coalition's 1% data-center fund proposal
Indiana groups asked Microsoft in May to put 1% of project costs into a legally binding community fund for its planned 900-acre Granger data center. Microsoft has not committed; We Make Indiana estimates the fund could generate $30 million–$40 million a year. -
Yue Cao sentenced to 10 years over scheme prosecutors say moved about $2 million
Former bank analyst Yue Cao received 10 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release after a jury convicted him on 15 counts. Prosecutors said he secretly enrolled elderly customers in online banking and moved about $2 million without authorization. -
Arizona fraternity chapter restricted in probe over alleged live-goldfish hazing
The University of Arizona has restricted its Sigma Tau Gamma chapter to essential business meetings while investigating allegations that new members were forced to consume large amounts of alcohol and live goldfish, and faced degradation and threats, in fall 2025. -
Miami-Dade had Florida's lowest county unemployment rate in August: 2.7%
Miami-Dade County had Florida's lowest unemployment rate in August at 2.7%, according to Florida Commerce; county figures were not seasonally adjusted. Florida's seasonally adjusted rate fell to 4.5%, its third monthly decline, but remained 0.5 percentage points above a year ago. -
Some Polk County Flock cameras reportedly move to private land yet scan the same road
Florida ordered cameras removed from state highway rights-of-way by Sept. 30. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said he'd comply; The Ledger reported some Flock units moved to private land but still scanned vehicles on the same road; exact placements remain unverified. -
Experts say Resnicks do not own most of California's water
Claims that Lynda and Stewart Resnick own 60–75% of California’s water are false. Through a subsidiary, the family has a stake in the Kern Water Bank, whose operations account for less than 1% of the state’s water, a UC Davis expert told AFP. -
Pennsylvania reports 890 measles cases, 173 hospitalizations and 4 deaths
Pennsylvania health officials reported 890 measles cases across 39 counties this year as of Sept. 25, including 173 hospitalizations and four deaths. Fewer than 1% of cases involved vaccinated people, and 31% were among patients under 18. -
Vanessa Maria Graber links journalism policy and Puerto Rican diaspora organizing
South Jersey native Vanessa Maria Graber, Free Press’s senior director of journalism and media education, works on journalism policy and First Amendment issues. She also co-founded Philly Boricuas, which organizes to educate and empower the Puerto Rican diaspora. -
Cornell DA reopens 2024 case over alleged fraternity sexual assault
Tompkins County's DA is reopening a case over a woman's allegation that seven Chi Phi fraternity members at Cornell drugged and sexually assaulted her in October 2024. No charges were filed then; Matthew Van Houten says a prosecutor is preparing it for a grand jury. -
Arizona I-40 driver arrested after saying he drove wrong-way for a game
Arizona troopers arrested an SUV driver for endangerment and reckless driving after stopping him westbound in I-40's eastbound lanes near Winslow on Sept. 20. DPS said he told troopers his wrong-way driving was part of a game called “Lunatic”; no one was hurt.
