In a significant development, the FBI has arrested a suspect connected to the pipe bombs placed at the Republican and Democratic party headquarters in Washington, D.C. on January 5, 2021. The arrest concludes a lengthy investigation into the incidents which occurred hours before the Capitol riot on January 6th. The suspect, whose motive is still under investigation, has been linked to statements suggesting support for an anarchist ideology. The FBI had previously offered a substantial reward for information leading to the suspect’s identification.
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In a Los Angeles federal court, Dr. Salvador Plasencia received a 2 1/2-year prison sentence, along with probation and a fine, for providing ketamine to Matthew Perry, ultimately contributing to the actor’s fatal overdose. The judge emphasized that while Plasencia did not directly cause Perry’s death, he exploited the actor’s addiction for profit, leading to the outcome. During the emotional hearing, Perry’s family gave victim impact statements, expressing their grief and highlighting the profound loss. Plasencia, who pleaded guilty to distributing ketamine, apologized to Perry’s family, as the judge pushed back against the defense that Perry was his patient, viewing him instead as a drug dealer.
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A safety volunteer has been charged with manslaughter after fatally shooting a man during a “No Kings” protest in Salt Lake City. The volunteer, Matthew Alder, fired three shots, one hitting a man assembling an AR-15 rifle and another killing rally participant Arthur Folasa Ah Loo. Despite having the right to use lethal force, prosecutors determined the third shot, fired over people’s heads, was reckless. The man with the rifle, Arturo Roberto Gamboa, will not be charged, while the widow of the deceased has called the decision “moral and just”.
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Newly released images and video footage from the House Oversight Committee offer a disturbing glimpse into Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, revealing bedrooms, a room with masks, and a dental chair. The images, taken in 2020, also show a chalkboard with redacted words and a phone with speed-dial names, furthering public scrutiny of Epstein’s activities. Committee Democrats stated the release aims to ensure transparency regarding the investigation into Epstein and his co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. As the Trump administration faces pressure to release further documents, including those from JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank, the committee seeks to uncover the full extent of Epstein’s crimes.
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Former Florissant police officer Julian Alcala has pleaded guilty to 20 felony counts for stealing intimate photos and videos from women’s phones during traffic stops. Alcala, who resigned from the police department in June 2024, admitted to searching the victims’ phones under the guise of checking for insurance or registration. The FBI launched an investigation after one victim discovered a transferred video, leading to Alcala’s guilty plea in federal court, with sentencing scheduled for March 11. He faces a maximum of three years in prison, and the plea will be used as evidence in the nearly two dozen pending civil rights lawsuits filed against him and the city of Florissant.
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Victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell have urged judges to unseal records from their federal sex trafficking cases. This request follows the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates the release of government files related to the cases. The Justice Department has asked judges to lift secrecy orders on various records. Lawyers for Maxwell, however, are preparing a habeas petition in a bid to overturn her conviction and stated that unsealing the records would create undue prejudice.
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The Department of Homeland Security initiated an immigration crackdown in New Orleans, focusing on arresting violent criminals. According to Homeland Security officials, the operation targets immigrants previously released after arrests for serious crimes like home invasion and armed robbery. The agency did not disclose the number of agents deployed. This action follows similar crackdowns in other cities, and Louisiana, under the leadership of Governor Jeff Landry, has been preparing for this type of operation.
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According to a new lawsuit, a fatal UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky resulted from corporate decisions prioritizing profit over safety, specifically by continuing to operate older aircraft without enhancing maintenance protocols. The crash, which occurred during takeoff due to engine detachment and subsequent wing cracks, claimed the lives of three pilots and eleven people on the ground. The lawsuit, naming UPS, General Electric, Boeing, and VT San Antonio Aerospace, alleges that the nearly 30-year-old MD-11 jets were unsafe, with inadequate inspections potentially failing to identify the cracks. Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all remaining MD-11s, with potential for costly repairs or replacements, while legal proceedings continue.
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Derek Chauvin, convicted in the murder of George Floyd, is seeking a new trial after serving five years of his sentence. His attorney argues the initial trial was unfair, citing prosecutorial misconduct and false expert witness testimony, hoping to overturn his murder conviction and the related federal civil rights charges. Previously, Chauvin appealed the verdict due to excessive publicity and procedural errors, including a juror’s undisclosed participation in a civil rights event. Despite these efforts, an appeals court upheld the initial trial’s handling of the case, and separately, Chauvin also received a federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights.
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A recall has been issued for over 260,000 cases of shredded cheese sold across 31 states and Puerto Rico due to potential metal fragment contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Great Lakes Cheese Co. initiated the recall, impacting various store-brand labels at retailers like Target, Walmart, and Aldi. Affected cheeses include mozzarella, Italian style, pizza style, and blends. The FDA classifies this as a Class II recall, indicating a potential for temporary or reversible health issues, such as dental damage or lacerations, if ingested.
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John Q. Hosedrinker