Responding to a 911 call about a home invasion, Officer Alexander Bookman fatally shot homeowner Brandon Durham during a struggle with an intruder. Body camera footage shows the officer yelling to drop the knife before firing six shots, killing Durham and injuring the intruder, who was later arrested and charged. While the police union defends Officer Bookman’s actions, Durham’s family is demanding his termination and prosecution, and the District Attorney’s investigation is ongoing. Officer Bookman is currently on paid administrative leave.
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Criminals are increasingly leveraging AI’s accessibility for malicious purposes, including sophisticated fraud schemes like deepfake heists costing millions. A significant portion of this criminal AI activity involves the creation and distribution of child sexual abuse material, numbering in the thousands of images. Furthermore, AI facilitates sextortion and enhances hacking capabilities by identifying software vulnerabilities. Law enforcement agencies must urgently adapt to these evolving threats to prevent a dramatic rise in AI-enabled crime in the coming years.
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Jeffrey Moynihan, 56, was arrested in Bradenton, Florida, for grand theft after allegedly defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of $600,000. Posing as Elon Musk on Facebook, Moynihan convinced the victim to invest in fraudulent businesses, promising a substantial return. The victim, fearing financial insecurity, sent Moynihan the money over several months. This case highlights the concerning rise in elder fraud, with Bradenton Police reporting nearly $3 million in losses from such crimes this year alone.
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A three-day climate protest at the Port of Newcastle resulted in the arrest of nearly 200 individuals for disrupting the world’s largest coal port. Protesters, aiming to halt new coal and gas mines and impose a 78% tax on exports, faced charges including disruption of a major facility and non-compliance with safety directives. The protest, deemed “irresponsible theatrics” by the NSW police minister, temporarily halted shipping operations, leading to safety concerns and a police officer injury. Despite legal attempts to prevent the protest, organizers claimed it was peaceful and effective in highlighting climate change concerns.
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Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has advised all local governments to cease fluoridating their water supplies, citing potential neurological risks to children from chronic fluoride exposure, despite widespread support for fluoridation’s effectiveness in preventing cavities. This decision contradicts the consensus of major health organizations, including the CDC and ADA, who highlight fluoridation’s significant positive impact on dental health, particularly among low-income populations. Ladapo points to studies suggesting a link between high fluoride levels and lower IQ scores in children, although these studies primarily involve exposure exceeding recommended U.S. levels. The Florida Department of Health’s new guidance advocates for alternative fluoride access methods and improved dental care access.
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The lack of transparency surrounding the Independence police shooting that killed Maria Pike and her infant daughter, Destinii, contrasts sharply with the timely release of information in other recent Missouri police shootings. While police Chief Adam Dustman confirmed an officer-involved shooting following a 911 call reporting domestic violence, details regarding the events leading to the fatalities remain undisclosed. The investigation, led by the Eastern Jackson County Police Involved Investigation Team, is ongoing, but the delayed information release is raising concerns among the public and media. This contrasts with other cases where basic information, including the officer’s use of force, was released within hours or days of the incident.
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KFC has abandoned its 2026 pledge to source slower-growing chicken breeds in the UK, citing insufficient market supply. Despite initial commitments to the Better Chicken Commitment, only 1% of KFC’s UK chicken currently comes from these breeds. The company maintains its dedication to improving welfare standards through other means, but animal welfare groups are protesting this reversal. This decision comes despite pressure from animal welfare organizations and the availability of alternative suppliers.
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The University of Texas System will expand its Promise Plus program, offering free tuition and fees to undergraduate students from families earning $100,000 or less annually, starting fall 2025. This expansion builds upon a previous endowment, resulting in a significant decrease in student debt across the system. The move positions UT as a leader in affordability among U.S. universities, mirroring a similar initiative announced by MIT. This initiative aims to make higher education more accessible to a wider range of students.
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Thousands of customers using fintech savings apps like Yotta lost access to hundreds of millions of dollars after a dispute between the fintech middleman Synapse and its banking partner, Evolve Bank. A bankruptcy trustee discovered up to $96 million in missing funds, leaving customers with minimal returns despite FDIC-insured accounts. This highlights the risks of relying on third-party fintechs that don’t provide direct bank relationships, resulting in significant financial losses for ordinary individuals. The situation exposed failures in the regulatory oversight of these systems, leaving affected individuals with little recourse to recover their savings.
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Six foreign tourists, including two Australians and a British woman, have died in Vang Vieng, Laos, from suspected methanol poisoning. The victims, who were among a larger group of those who fell ill, had reportedly consumed free shots at a local hostel before becoming unwell. A transnational police investigation is underway, focusing on the hostel despite the manager’s claim that many others consumed the same drinks without incident. While the risk of methanol poisoning is known to some, many travelers remain unaware of the danger.
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John Q. Hosedrinker