The maternal grandmother of an 11-year-old girl who gave birth was charged with six counts of felony child neglect after prosecutors alleged she knew about the pregnancy and failed to report it, along with failing to provide adequate care for the girl and five other children in the home. Michelle Justus, the children’s “caretaker,” is accused of allowing the children to live in deplorable conditions and failing to provide medical care and supervision. The girl’s mother and stepfather were previously arrested and charged, with the stepfather revealed to be the baby’s father. The other children were removed from the home.
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The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project (FIRRP) filed an amendment to an existing lawsuit to prevent the potential deportation of Honduran children, citing credible information of imminent removal plans. The amendment follows a temporary block on the deportation of Guatemalan children, as the government attempted to deport them over Labor Day weekend despite pending asylum claims. The government’s actions involved deporting children, and this led to a judge ordering them to stay in the U.S. for at least two weeks. The amendment seeks to ensure the children’s legal rights, including access to counsel and the opportunity to present their cases to an immigration judge.
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Pope Leo XIV presided over the canonization Mass of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati in St. Peter’s Square on September 7, 2025, declaring Acutis the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint. Acutis, who died at age 15, was known for his computer skills and used technology to spread the faith, earning him the nickname “God’s Influencer”. The Mass, attended by approximately 80,000 people, also saw the canonization of Frassati, who was known for his devotion to serving the poor. The Pope emphasized that both saints demonstrated how to make one’s life a masterpiece by dedicating it to God.
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Following Donald Trump’s re-election, Rainbow Railroad, a charity aiding LGBTQ+ individuals, has experienced a dramatic 760% surge in calls from the US, reflecting anxieties about the country’s political climate. Callers express fear stemming from anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, executive orders, and the hundreds of state-level bills targeting their rights. Two recent immigration cases in Canada, involving a non-binary artist and a transgender woman seeking asylum, offer potential precedents for considering the current conditions for LGBTQ+ individuals in the US as grounds for refuge. These cases, though uncertain, have sparked hope and inspired others to seek similar support.
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President Trump directed the immediate removal of the longstanding blue tent in Lafayette Park, a structure that has served as a peace vigil across from the White House for decades. The order came during an Oval Office meeting, with Trump stating he was previously unaware of its existence. The tent, established in 1981, was erected as part of an anti-nuclear and peace protest and was considered the longest-running protest vigil in American history. This decision followed a query from a reporter who described the tent as visually unappealing.
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In October 2022, Russian soldiers abducted 16-year-old Vladislav Rudenko from his home in Kherson as part of a systematic effort to relocate and re-educate Ukrainian children. He was held in multiple camps, where he was subjected to re-education and mistreatment before being reunited with his mother after an arduous journey facilitated by the organization Save Ukraine. Vlad’s case reflects a broader issue, as thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly relocated across various locations by Russia, a practice for which the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants. Experts emphasize the urgent need to rescue these children as Russia continues its military actions.
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In a significant move, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has revealed a €1.6 billion reform of the income tax system. This reform aims to strengthen the middle class through substantial cuts in income tax rates. Notably, families with four or more children will be exempt from income taxes on the first €20,000 of annual income. The policy is designed to combat Greece’s low birthrate.
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Following a ban due to an earlier break-in at an RAF base, a protest in Parliament Square saw an estimated 1,500 participants. Police arrested 857 individuals for supporting Palestine Action, a proscribed group, with an additional 33 arrests for other offenses, including assaults on officers. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, during a visit to the Met’s control room, expressed support for the arrests, emphasizing that support for Palestine is distinct from support for a proscribed terrorist group. Deputy assistant commissioner Claire Smart noted the coordinated and violent nature of the operation.
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President Trump’s decision to order a U.S. military strike that resulted in the death of 11 individuals on a Venezuelan boat in the Caribbean has ignited a dispute between Vice President JD Vance and Senator Rand Paul. The Navy claimed the boat was carrying members of the Tren de Aragua crime gang and was involved in drug smuggling, a claim that Trump used to justify the strike as a means of preventing drugs from entering the U.S. While Vance defended the action, Paul criticized the strike, questioning the justification of killing individuals without due process or trial, calling the stance “despicable.” The Pentagon has not yet released information publicly justifying the destruction of the boat.
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In August, Ukrainian forces in the Pokrovsk sector of Donetsk Oblast lost five square kilometers but regained control of 26, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Russian forces have focused their offensive efforts on the Pokrovsk axis, attempting to break through Ukrainian defenses. These counterattacks are led by units of Ukraine’s Assault Forces, which have been reported to have cleared several villages around Pokrovsk of Russian forces. The ongoing conflict in the region and Russia’s advances strengthen Moscow’s position in potential peace negotiations, which could involve Ukraine ceding all of Donetsk Oblast.
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John Q. Hosedrinker