US news summaries — Page 9
Essential facts and source links for recent us stories.
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Deleted affair texts and missing gun shape Caleb Flynn murder trial
Caleb Flynn has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder in the fatal shooting of his wife, Ashley. Prosecutors cite his affair, deleted texts fantasizing about killing her and evidence challenging his intruder account; the gun he said was in his truck was never found. -
Lufthansa apologizes after sarcastic X reply tops 15 million views
Lufthansa apologized within 24 hours after its sarcastic X reply to a customer’s payment complaint drew more than 15 million views and 30,000 likes in two days. The customer welcomed the apology but said the payment issue remained unresolved and emails unanswered. -
Aileen Wuornos’ son was put up for adoption; her marriage to Lewis Fell lasted nine weeks
Aileen Wuornos gave birth to a son in 1971, when she was about 14; he was put up for adoption. At 20, she married 69-year-old yachtsman Lewis Gratz Fell in May 1976, but their marriage was annulled after nine weeks. -
Treloar memorial honors 122 haemophilia pupils in infected-blood scandal
A memorial at Lord Mayor Treloar College in Hampshire honors 122 boys with haemophilia who attended from 1970 to 1987. The 2024 inquiry said very few escaped infection after receiving experimental blood products and found pupils were used in research without their knowledge. -
The Atlantic says Egypt's intelligence chief warned Israel 11 days before Oct. 7
An Atlantic investigation says Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel secretly visited Israel on Sept. 26, 2023, 11 days before the Oct. 7 attack, and warned that Hamas appeared to be preparing a major assault; he gave no date, targets or concrete details. -
ICE departures topped prior yearly totals with 2,900-plus exits by June
More than 2,900 workers left ICE in the first half of 2026, exceeding departures in any previous full calendar year, while about 4,400 were hired. Terminations and quits outweighed retirements, a USA TODAY analysis of federal workforce data found. -
Colorado, Florida and Georgia schools sign up for shooter-response drone pilot
Schools in Colorado, Florida and Georgia joined a Mithril Defense drone pilot intended to deter or incapacitate shooters with sirens, strobes and pepper gel. The system is not yet operational on at least five campuses and has never been used in a school shooting. -
Trump's strikes on suspected drug boats killed 227 as cocaine routes shifted
By late August 2026, U.S. forces had used missiles against suspected drug boats 68 times under Trump, killing 227 people. A DEA assessment cited by Reason said the strikes did not affect U.S. cocaine supply or prices and led traffickers to change routes. -
Dewayne Rose booked after deputies find rifle, meth and saw palmetto berries
Authorities identified Dewayne Rose as a six-time convicted felon; he was booked into DeSoto County Jail after deputies said they found an AR-15, 77 grams of methamphetamine and about 11 pounds of saw palmetto berries in his van. He faces multiple charges. -
Leo XIV calls on French Catholics to persevere ahead of Paris Mass
Pope Leo XIV urged French Catholics to persevere Saturday as road closures shut central Paris for a Mass at Place de la Concorde, with over 600,000 registered to attend. Adult baptisms tripled since 2016 to 13,000 this year, despite wider declines in French Catholic practice. -
Broward cruiser reported stolen, found nearly 100 miles away; Shannon Marie Dillon arrested
Shannon Marie Dillon, 42, was arrested after a Broward Sheriff's Office cruiser, reported stolen, was found nearly 100 miles from its Fort Lauderdale-area headquarters in St. Lucie County. It reportedly reached speeds of up to 100 mph; no crashes or injuries were reported. -
Anonymous donor pledges University of Richmond a record $150 million
An anonymous donor pledged the University of Richmond a record $150 million, its largest gift commitment in nearly 200 years. $50 million will match gifts for endowed scholarships. The university’s $600 million campaign enters its public phase with over $425 million raised. -
A Los Angeles map estimates $20 of gas covers 29 fewer miles than in February
A Reddit user's map estimates that $20 of gas now gets a driver 29 fewer miles in Los Angeles than it did on Feb. 27, using gas prices, the road network and assumed fuel economy of 28 mpg. That's roughly the distance from downtown Los Angeles to Long Beach. -
Georgetown County plans new surveys for Murrells Inlet dredging
Georgetown County is updating oyster and sediment surveys in Murrells Inlet before state and federal agencies decide on a dredging permit. The project would cover 16.5 miles and remove over 750,000 cubic yards, amid concerns about potential habitat harm. -
Ports board ratifies Melvin’s nearly $1M severance as lawsuit continues
The S.C. State Ports Authority board unanimously ratified former CEO Barbara Melvin’s severance on Sept. 22, 13 months after agreeing to it. The vote came as it faces a lawsuit alleging the nearly $1 million deal violated state transparency laws. -
River Development ends Liberty Steel deal amid Georgetown moratorium debate
River Development Equities ended its deal for Georgetown’s 66-acre Liberty Steel site after it and Liberty Steel failed to agree on an extension. It said it needed more time for environmental review and zoning approvals, and the moratorium slowed but did not kill the project. -
Jersey City tenants withhold rent at five buildings over rats and leaks
Tenants at five Jersey City apartment buildings are withholding rent, citing rats, leaks, neglected repairs and no on-site superintendent. The buildings, on Bergen, Belmont and Kensington avenues, are reportedly owned by Amir Ben-Yohanon and Optimum Properties. -
New York Legal Aid team aims for 24-hour response in eviction cases
New York's Legal Aid Society formally launched its Emergency Response Team Sept. 21; the unit aims to respond within 24 hours to tenants already evicted or facing imminent eviction. Legal Aid says it has helped prevent or reverse housing loss in 111 cases, with 59 still pending. -
Why #MeToo's goals went beyond Harvey Weinstein's prison sentence
A New York court sentenced Harvey Weinstein to 15 years on Sept. 23 for sexually assaulting Miriam Haley. He was already serving a 16-year California sentence for rape. The column argues #MeToo also focused on survivor healing and calls for survivor-centered restorative justice. -
Microwaving squishy toys can cause burns, CPSC warns; US blocks 355,683 fakes
The CPSC says children and teens should never microwave squishy toys: heated toys can burst and spill sticky filling that keeps transferring heat and can cause severe burns. By September 2026, it had identified 55 counterfeit-toy shipments at U.S. ports and blocked 355,683 units. -
Wasatch County says state road funds won’t be cut after housing dispute
Wasatch County officials say the governor’s office confirmed state road funds will not be affected after Gov. Spencer Cox’s housing adviser warned those funds could be at risk over local development decisions. The dispute followed rejection of a 144-lot housing proposal. -
Jacksonville resident launches JEA rate petition after roughly $500 bill
Jacksonville resident Jason Goodrich launched a petition for lower JEA rates after receiving a roughly $500 bill, which he said reflected normal use. It had more than 3,500 signatures by Sept. 21; JEA's new electric, water and sewer rates are due Oct. 1. -
Alabama deal sets TikTok teen limits and payment of up to $300 million
TikTok agreed to cap Alabama teens’ use at two hours a day, restrict access from midnight to 6 a.m. and bar cosmetic filters, and pay up to $300 million to avoid a trial next week over allegations it deliberately designed its app to be addictive to children. -
Automatic enrollment for Pennsylvania utility discounts remains unresolved
Pennsylvania debates automatic sign-ups for utility discounts: only about 22% of eligible gas customers and 23% of eligible electric customers received aid in a typical year from 2014 through 2024. Income-data sharing does not automatically enroll customers. -
Quechan Tribe opposes Ironwood line route through land it considers sacred
California regulators opened environmental review of the 500-kilovolt Ironwood line between Arizona and California. The Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe opposes its preferred route through the Cargo Muchacho Mountains, citing their cultural and spiritual significance. -
Lior ground cinnamon recalled after Maryland test finds elevated lead
Galil Importing is recalling Lior Cinnamon Ground Seasoning after a Maryland health department sample showed elevated lead. The 90-gram product was distributed in six states. The FDA advises consumers to discard it or return it to the store for a refund. -
Roxbury mayor says state is probing claim ICE defied court order
Roxbury Mayor Shawn Potillo says the township is concerned about claims ICE defied a court order barring use of a planned detention center, and that its attorney alerted New Jersey’s attorney general, whose office is investigating. ICE declined comment, citing litigation. -
Cincinnati-area League urges yes vote on Hamilton County child services levy
The League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area urges a yes vote on Hamilton County’s four-year, 5.61-mill Children’s Services levy on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot. The op-ed puts the cost at about $121 per $100,000 of home value, $39 more than in recent years.
