US news summaries — Page 7
Essential facts and source links for recent us stories.
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Second man arrested in Tasia Fortune’s death; warrant issued for third suspect
Jackson police arrested 25-year-old Earnest Lloyd Jr. on Tuesday as the second man arrested in Tasia Fortune’s death; a warrant has been issued for a third suspect. Fortune, 29, was found hanging behind an abandoned home on Aug. 3. -
Spreadsheet tied to ShinyHunters’ claimed FBI hack lists sensitive roles
A 5,000-line spreadsheet ShinyHunters says it stole from the FBI lists employees’ personal data and sensitive assignments, Reuters found. The FBI says it is investigating a claim that its FBIJobs.gov portal was compromised; the cause remains undetermined. -
CDC's 2026 count lists one US measles-related death, subject to updates
The CDC's 2026 count lists one measles-related death in the US, based on a death reported by a state, HHS said. The figure may change as more information arrives and reviews are completed; CDC data showed 3,471 measles cases as of Sept. 17. -
FOX 26 anchors add control-room duties, sparking a TV news debate
At FOX 26 Houston, Caroline Collins is testing a newsroom setup where she anchors and handles production, directing and audio. Some TV journalists warn it could harm quality and mental health; others say it reflects changing viewing habits and limited resources. -
Off-duty Danville officer arrested after shots damage sedan, police say
Jayquan Morton, an off-duty Danville police officer, was arrested without incident after Virginia State Police charged him in a shooting that damaged a sedan carrying two people on Sept. 20. Neither was hit; investigators say shots came from a silver SUV. -
Kansas City court orders Stonegate repairs and $2 million for tenants
A Jackson County court ordered repairs at Kansas City's Stonegate Meadows and $2 million for eligible tenants; class-action settlements now total nearly $4 million. Tenants had said ownership left rodent, roach and plumbing problems unresolved. -
New Jersey fines DataOne $1.07 million over 62 generators it says lacked permits
New Jersey fined DataOne $1.07 million, saying it installed and operated 62 natural-gas generators at its Vineland data center without required permits, violating state air-pollution law. DataOne disputes the state's characterization and has 45 days to get permits or shut down. -
Police say scammer posing as Steelers' Eli Heidenreich took about $1,000 from two women
Pennsylvania State Police say a person posing as Steelers running back Eli Heidenreich defrauded two women from Avella of about $1,000 through multiple financial transactions in July. The women are 20 and 50; police said they had no suspects and asked for tips. -
Zoox halts Atlanta test-car operations amid possible gas exposure reports
Zoox has stopped operating its Atlanta test vehicles after workers reported symptoms and unusual odors in the cars in August; the gases involved remain unclear. OSHA opened an inquiry after a worker complaint and has since closed it. Zoox's all-electric robotaxis are unaffected. -
Filing says Kohberger’s former lawyers raised comprehension concerns before guilty plea
A filing says Bryan Kohberger’s former lawyers raised concerns about his ability to understand the proceedings and make rational decisions five weeks before his guilty plea to four murders. His lawyer cites the concerns in seeking Judge Steven Hippler’s removal from the case. -
LA and Orange County gas averages top $6.24 after 36-day rise
Los Angeles County’s regular-gas average reached $6.258 a gallon Wednesday, its highest since October 2023, while Orange County hit $6.246, its highest since September 2023. Both prices have risen for 36 straight days, gaining 61.6 cents in LA and 67.1 cents in Orange County. -
Philadelphia activist Hannah Gann admits fabricating claims of Black, Palestinian heritage
Philadelphia teacher and activist Hannah Gann said she had lied for years about her background, admitting she is a white Jewish woman with no Palestinian or Tunisian heritage. Two activist groups said she acknowledged the deception after they questioned her for an hour. -
Gabrielle Henry sues Miss Universe over 2025 fall, alleging unsafe stage
Former Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry sued the Miss Universe Organization and two companies in Delaware on Sept. 21, alleging unsafe stage conditions contributed to her November 2025 fall in Thailand and brain injuries. Her claims remain unproven. -
Farm Aid’s Sept. 26 concert spotlights pressures on family farms
Farm Aid’s Sept. 26 Virginia Beach concert comes as U.S. family farmers face rising bankruptcies, fuel and fertilizer costs, pressure on immigrant farm labor and data-center competition for land. Farmer Heath Cutrell says the strain recalls the 1980s crisis. -
Idaho sheriff identifies ‘Unknown Wanderer’ as chemist; Tylenol link unconfirmed
Idaho’s Ada County sheriff’s office identified “The Unknown Wanderer,” who died by suicide in a Boise church in 1982, as organic chemist Mathew Francis Betkouski. Officials said he may be connected to the unsolved Tylenol poisonings but are not naming him a suspect. -
Epstein’s estate executors reportedly face a Manhattan federal probe
Jeffrey Epstein’s executors Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn reportedly face a federal probe in Manhattan, but its focus is unclear. Prosecutors are reviewing potential witnesses’ emails and financial records and interviewing them, The Wall Street Journal reports. -
Five defendants face felony cases in Wisconsin jury-duty scam probe
Virginia C. Rios was arrested Sept. 16; warrants name Derrick M. Posey, Kimberly R. Jones, Katrinia Y. Wyche and Allissa N. Walls. All five face felony cases over an alleged jury-duty scam. Delafield police report at least 315 potential victims and estimate losses near $500,000. -
FBI probes apparent jobs-site breach after ShinyHunters data claim
The FBI is investigating unauthorized activity on FBIjobs.gov after ShinyHunters claimed it accessed sensitive data on nearly all agents and job applicants. The claim has not been verified, and the careers site was offline Wednesday morning. -
Police identify mother of five found dead in Brooklyn trash can
Tanaya Campbell Ortiz, 38, a mother of five, was found dead inside a trash can near Plumb Beach in Brooklyn on Sept. 16, police said. Her cause of death has not been determined; police said no arrests have been made as the investigation continues. -
Central Appalachian black lung rate reaches a high unseen since 1978 as Virginia miner's appeal drags on
Josh Armes, 74, a former Virginia miner, has been in appeals limbo since a coal operator challenged his federal black-lung payments in 2014. August research found black lung in 32.5% of veteran Central Appalachian underground miners, the highest rate since 1978. -
Police arrest Shamika Brown over alleged false-SSN use for 16 casino jackpots
Shamika Brown, 43, was arrested Sept. 21, 2026, and booked on 18 counts involving bank fraud and identity theft. State police allege she used false Social Security numbers to collect 16 jackpots totaling more than $41,000 in 2020 to avoid overdue child-support intercepts. -
Tennessee prosecutor invokes divine justice after inmate dies in cell
Tennessee inmate Reginald Steed, charged with Pedigo’s first-degree murder, was found lifeless in his cell and pronounced dead at 12:40 a.m. Prosecutor Russell Johnson said the death showed God was the ultimate arbiter of justice; an investigation is ongoing. -
Morning Joe hosts fault Trump administration after Austin ICE shooting
MS NOW’s “Morning Joe” hosts criticized the Trump administration after ICE shot Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, 28, in Austin on Sunday. DHS said he was in the U.S. illegally, a claim his lawyer disputes; host Willie Geist said the known facts offered no justifiable explanation. -
Three lawsuits accuse Six Flags’ X2 ride of causing riders’ brain injuries
Three lawsuits allege Six Flags Magic Mountain’s X2 caused serious brain injuries to riders Pamela Guillen, Naomi Greer-Wilkinson and Michael Wilk. The ride has been closed since the evening of July 12; the park says it does not comment on pending litigation. -
Thomas Gigler went overboard from Carnival Panorama off Puerto Vallarta
Thomas Gigler, 56, went overboard from the Carnival Panorama on Sept. 18 off Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, while sailing to Long Beach. His wife and three sons were aboard; U.S. and Mexican Coast Guards joined the search after the ship confirmed the incident. -
Envoy says South African rules keep billions in US capital sidelined
US Ambassador L. Brent Bozell III said South Africa’s Black empowerment rules leave billions in US capital sidelined, citing mandatory local equity transfers in mining and telecoms. He said Washington questions Pretoria’s viability as a partner. -
Weinstein gets 15-year sentence after retrial conviction in Haley’s 2006 assault case
Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 15 years Wednesday after a jury again convicted him of sexually assaulting Mimi Haley, a former “Project Runway” production assistant, in 2006. Haley said the attack devastated her life; Weinstein denied her allegations. -
Mark Jensen challenges computer evidence in bid for a third trial
Twice convicted of murdering his wife Julie with antifreeze, Mark Jensen is serving life without parole and seeking a third trial. His new lawyer says the 2023 defense mishandled computer evidence that may support the claim Julie made poison searches. -
Authorities probe two Ole Miss student deaths after kratom packages found
Authorities are investigating the deaths of two Ole Miss students after kratom packages from a retail store were found at both scenes. Neither student has been identified, and narcotics investigators have not confirmed whether the deaths are connected.
