Following a terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, the family of suspect Mohammed Soliman—who is himself facing multiple charges including attempted murder and hate crimes—is in ICE custody. The family’s asylum application has been withdrawn, and they are being processed for expedited removal, potentially as early as Tuesday night. This rapid deportation process leaves limited legal recourse for the family, particularly given the terrorism connection. Soliman, who entered the U.S. illegally, allegedly used Molotov cocktails against demonstrators, resulting in twelve victims.
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The Florida Board of Governors rejected Santa Ono’s nomination as University of Florida president despite the university’s Board of Trustees’ unanimous approval. Ono faced intense scrutiny and criticism from Republican lawmakers regarding his past support of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, prompting concerns about his alignment with the state’s recently enacted anti-DEI legislation. His extensive questioning by the Board of Governors focused on his previous actions and statements related to DEI and handling of campus protests. Ultimately, the governors’ decision overturned Ono’s selection, preventing him from assuming the presidency and a lucrative five-year contract.
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A decades-long study in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste conservation area reveals a dramatic decline in insect populations, particularly moths, as evidenced by significantly reduced numbers in light trap surveys conducted over the same period and location. This alarming trend, also observed globally, affects even protected areas, suggesting a “new era” of ecological collapse driven by factors beyond localized human impact. Scientists attribute these declines, in part, to climate change disrupting the finely tuned synchronicity of the forest ecosystem, impacting insect life cycles and causing widespread desynchronization among species. The resulting loss of insects has cascading effects throughout the food web, impacting insectivorous birds and other animals, and highlighting climate change as an increasingly dominant force in biodiversity loss.
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South Koreans elected a new president in a snap election following the impeachment of conservative Yoon Suk Yeol for imposing martial law. Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung, predicted to win easily based on pre-election polls, campaigned on addressing economic inequality and national division. His conservative opponent, Kim Moon Soo, struggled amidst party infighting over Yoon’s actions. The new president faces immediate challenges including a slowing economy, President Trump’s protectionist policies, and North Korea’s nuclear program.
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Tulsa, Oklahoma, is allocating $105 million in reparations for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a sum raised by a private trust. The “Road to Repair” plan, spearheaded by Tulsa’s first Black mayor, focuses on community redevelopment, including housing and cultural preservation, rather than direct payments to descendants. Funding will be managed by the Greenwood Trust, named after the destroyed Black Wall Street. This initiative marks a significant step toward addressing the lasting economic and social harms of the massacre, a largely hidden chapter of American history.
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Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, erupted on Monday, producing a significant plume of ash, gas, and rock from a pyroclastic flow originating from the south-east crater’s collapse. While the eruption initially involved a lava fountain and a substantial ash cloud reaching 6.5 kilometers, authorities reported no immediate danger to the public. Although a red alert was issued for aviation, Catania airport remained open, and officials continue to monitor the situation. Tourists are advised to avoid the area.
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Approximately 250 of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens’ 800 peony plants were vandalized, with most blossoms cut and discarded. The incident, discovered Wednesday, occurred at the peak bloom time of the century-old garden. A note referencing the war in Gaza was left at the scene, suggesting a possible motive. While the roots remain intact, allowing for future blooms, the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security is investigating and seeking information from the public.
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New legislation in Texas grants university governing boards expanded authority over curriculum, allowing them to revise general education requirements and eliminate low-enrollment programs. This follows similar actions in states like Ohio and Florida, reflecting a broader conservative effort to reshape higher education. Critics argue these measures infringe upon academic freedom and represent an overreach of state control into university affairs, while proponents frame them as necessary to ensure curricula align with workforce needs and avoid liberal bias. The trend is fueled by national political pressures and mirrors past efforts to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
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The Supreme Court will hear an appeal from GEO Group, a private prison company, regarding a lawsuit alleging that immigration detainees in Colorado were compelled to work for a daily wage of $1. GEO Group contends that the lawsuit is an indirect challenge to federal immigration policy and that its compensation aligns with ICE regulations, further arguing that it is immune from such lawsuits as a government contractor. A lower court allowed the suit to proceed, rejecting GEO Group’s claim of immunity. The case focuses on whether government contractors can immediately appeal immunity claims and the legality of the extremely low wages paid to the detainees. The outcome could significantly impact future lawsuits against private prison companies managing immigration detention centers.
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Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court ruled that nonbinary and gender-nonconforming individuals can now select an ‘X’ gender marker on their birth certificates, following a lawsuit filed by six affected individuals. This decision marks a significant victory for LGBTQ+ rights in the country, overturning previous limitations. The ruling builds upon a 2015 federal court order allowing transgender individuals to change their gender marker, expanding legal recognition to a broader spectrum of gender identities. Governor Jenniffer González Colón is reviewing the ruling with the Justice Department.
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John Q. Hosedrinker