A case before the Supreme Court challenges the U.S. Postal Service’s exemption from lawsuits regarding lost or mishandled mail, stemming from a Texas landlord’s claim of deliberate mail withholding. The Postal Service argues a ruling against them could trigger a flood of litigation, particularly impacting the already busy holiday season. The central question is whether the postal exemption to the Federal Tort Claims Act applies when postal employees intentionally fail to deliver mail, with the lower court previously disagreeing with the exemption. A decision in the case is expected to be issued next year.
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OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has responded to a lawsuit filed by the family of a teenager who died by suicide after extensive conversations with the chatbot. The company asserts that the death was a result of the user’s “misuse” of the technology, not caused by ChatGPT itself. OpenAI’s legal filing claims the user violated terms of service and points to limitations of liability. The company expressed sympathy for the family and stated a commitment to improving the technology’s safety, acknowledging existing challenges in long-form conversations. The company is currently facing other lawsuits related to ChatGPT.
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A Peruvian court has sentenced former President Martín Vizcarra to 14 years in prison for accepting bribes while governor of a southern state. The court also imposed a nine-year ban from public office, though Vizcarra has stated his intention to appeal the decision, claiming the sentence is retribution for his political clashes. The conviction stems from illegal payments received from companies in exchange for awarding contracts for construction projects during his tenure as governor of Moquegua. Vizcarra is one of several former Peruvian presidents either in prison or who have served time.
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In Marion County, Florida, four Fire and Rescue employees have been arrested following a violent hazing incident involving a 19-year-old co-worker. The incident, which took place at Fire Station 21, included alleged waterboarding of the victim, as well as physical assault and robbery. The four employees were charged with kidnapping, robbery, and battery, and have since been fired. The Sheriff’s office initiated an investigation after being contacted by fire and rescue supervisors, and the victim has returned to his post after the incident.
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In a recent development, Campbell’s Co. announced the termination of Martin Bally, a vice president in the information security department, following a lawsuit filed by a former employee, Robert Garza. The lawsuit alleges Bally made racist remarks, disparaged the company’s products and customers, and admitted to working under the influence. Campbell’s confirmed Bally’s firing after reviewing a recording of the statements. Garza is seeking monetary damages from Campbell’s, Bally, and his former manager.
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A Chicago man, Lawrence Reed, has been arrested and charged with setting a train passenger on fire, resulting in severe burns. The White House has revealed Reed’s extensive criminal history, citing 72 prior arrests, including felony convictions. Following the attack, President Trump has targeted Democratic policies in Chicago and Illinois, including the elimination of cash bail, which the White House claims allowed Reed to be free. Mayor Johnson has responded, calling the incident a failure of the criminal justice and mental health systems and acknowledging Reed’s mental health challenges.
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HP Inc. announced a global workforce reduction of 4,000 to 6,000 employees by fiscal 2028, primarily impacting product development, internal operations, and customer support teams, with the goal of streamlining operations and leveraging AI. This initiative is expected to generate $1 billion in gross run rate savings over three years. The company is also navigating challenges from rising memory chip prices, driven by increased demand from data centers, anticipating the impact in the second half of fiscal 2026. While Q4 revenue exceeded expectations, HP anticipates adjusted profit per share for fiscal 2026 to be slightly below analyst estimates.
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The National Guard, with units in all US states and territories, serves diverse roles including disaster response, border security, and overseas deployments. While reporting to the Department of Defense, their support is typically requested at the state level, though they can be federalized under presidential authority. Notably, Guard members do not have law enforcement powers. Recently, the National Guard was deployed in Washington D.C., as part of an initiative.
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A devastating fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has claimed at least 44 lives, with 279 reported missing as of Thursday morning. The blaze, which began on Wednesday afternoon in a high-rise housing complex undergoing renovation, quickly spread across multiple buildings, prompting mass evacuations. Authorities suspect the fire’s rapid spread may be due to the flammability of exterior materials, and three men have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Emergency responders, including hundreds of firefighters, are battling the intense flames, which started on exterior scaffolding, while also struggling with high temperatures and falling debris.
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Sources have reported that an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University was fired after drinking alcohol with undergraduate students during a class presentation. An internal investigation, along with a police investigation, was launched after reports that one student passed out and required EMS assistance. The incident involved students in a 400-level course, with the instructor allegedly encouraging students to bring alcohol. The university confirmed the faculty member’s termination, citing policy violations, and is reaching out to all students taught by the instructor this semester while investigating further reports of inappropriate behavior.
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John Q. Hosedrinker