On New Year’s Day, four suspects opened fire on a crowd of 15 outside a Queens concert hall, injuring ten teenagers attending a vigil for a recently deceased 16-year-old. The suspects, who police believe are gang-affiliated, fled in a light-colored sedan with New Jersey plates. All victims are expected to recover from non-life-threatening injuries, and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. The incident, while seemingly isolated to the venue, has prompted renewed calls for stricter gun control measures.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine activism significantly contributed to Samoa’s devastating 2019 measles outbreak, which resulted in 83 deaths and thousands of infections. His organization spread misinformation following a vaccine-related incident, further fueled by the temporary suspension of Samoa’s immunization program, leading to drastically reduced vaccination rates. Kennedy’s visit to Samoa, where he questioned vaccine safety with health officials, amplified existing anti-vaccine sentiment. This ultimately exacerbated the crisis, highlighting the potential dangers of his appointment as U.S. Health Secretary given his history of disseminating false information about vaccines and other public health issues.
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Matthew Livelsberger, a highly decorated Green Beret, died in a Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside a Las Vegas Trump hotel on New Year’s Day. While initially believed to be a bombing, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill concluded it was a suicide with a subsequent explosion, as a gunshot wound to the head was discovered. The investigation is ongoing, but the relatively unsophisticated explosive device used raises questions given Livelsberger’s extensive military experience. Despite his patriotic public persona and love for the country, the motive remains unclear.
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Tesla’s fourth-quarter 2024 deliveries totaled 495,570 vehicles, falling short of analyst expectations and marking the company’s first annual decline in deliveries with 1,789,226 total vehicles delivered in 2024. Production for the quarter reached 459,445 vehicles. This news caused a significant drop in Tesla’s stock price. The lower-than-expected results follow a strong year for Tesla stock, which saw a 63% increase in 2024, but contrasts with CEO Elon Musk’s prediction of continued, albeit slower, sales growth.
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Following a shooting in New Orleans, former President Trump asserted his claims about the incident were accurate, despite inaccurately linking the crime to immigration. His statements directly contradicted law enforcement reports. The incident highlighted a recurring pattern of Trump making unsubstantiated connections between crime and immigration. This instance further fueled ongoing debates surrounding his rhetoric and its impact on public discourse.
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Following a shooting in New Orleans, Donald Trump asserted his claims about the incident were accurate, despite inaccurately linking the crime to immigration. His statements disregard the actual details of the case. This incident highlights a pattern of the former president making unsubstantiated connections between crime and immigration. The lack of factual basis in Trump’s pronouncements underscores the importance of verifying information before dissemination.
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Federal agents, alongside the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, executed search warrants at multiple locations, including the home of former NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, as part of a joint investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and extortion. Maddrey, who resigned after being accused of demanding sexual favors from a subordinate in exchange for overtime opportunities, denies any wrongdoing, claiming a consensual relationship. These actions follow similar investigations into other high-ranking NYPD officials and are part of a broader inquiry into alleged misconduct within the department. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office is also involved in investigating these serious allegations.
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A Russian drone strike on Kyiv on January 1, 2024, tragically killed prominent neurobiologist Ihor Zyma and his wife, biologist Olesia Sokur, both affiliated with Taras Shevchenko National University. The attack, which also resulted in injuries and further civilian deaths in other regions, underscores the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian authorities reported numerous casualties across the country following a barrage of Russian drone attacks. The deaths of Zyma and Sokur represent a significant loss to the Ukrainian scientific community.
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An America without democracy might initially manifest as a gradual erosion of established norms and traditions. We’ve already witnessed a blatant disregard for established rules and precedents, a willingness to prioritize personal loyalty over constitutional principles, and the normalization of misinformation campaigns. This isn’t a sudden shift, but a slow creep toward something drastically different from the representative republic we once knew.
The current trajectory suggests a potential future where the voices of ordinary citizens are systematically marginalized. The influence of wealthy donors and special interests continues to grow, further eroding the ability of voters to shape policy outcomes. This creates a system where the interests of the few consistently outweigh the needs of the many, leaving a growing segment of the population feeling alienated and disenfranchised.… Continue reading
The names of approximately 425,000 individuals suspected of collaborating with the Nazis during the German occupation of the Netherlands have been published online, for the first time, by the Dutch National Archives. This database, stemming from investigations by the Special Jurisdiction (1944), includes suspects’ names, birthdates, and locations, but omits details of guilt or the nature of alleged collaboration; access to those specifics requires visiting the physical archives. While concerns regarding privacy and potential negative reactions were considered, the government believes this increased accessibility is crucial for confronting the nation’s difficult past.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood