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Former Hartford Police Officer Charged in Death of Black Man During Mental Health Crisis","description":"A former Hartford police officer faces a manslaughter charge after fatally shooting Steven Jones, a Black man in a mental health crisis, despite other officers attempting to de‑escalate the situation.","summary":"The wrongful shooting of Steven Jones on February 27, 2026, in Hartford, Connecticut, led to the firing of former officer Joseph Magnano and his first court appearance on a manslaughter indictment. Jones, 55, was holding a large knife when Officers James Prignano and Joseph Magnano confronted him. While Prignano repeatedly tried to calm Jones, Magnano moved in and fired nine shots after he claimed Jones posed an imminent threat. Video footage shows Magnano’s sudden aggression and the lack of attempts to de‑escalate or use non-lethal tactics, leading the state inspector general to find he failed to make reasonable attempts to control the situation. The case highlights growing scrutiny over police response to mental health crises and sparked a contentious debate between civil‑rights advocates, who view the shooting as excessive, and pro‑law‑enforcement groups that defend the officer’s actions.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/4335643/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2516x1883+0+0/resize/599x448!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F31%2F19%2F5a0054362a603f0084a9e46a760f%2Ff90569b71cdd4fe69f34f050ca07e5b0","text":"<p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif; line-height:1.6; margin-bottom:12px;\"><b>Hartford, Conn. (AP)</b>— A former Hartford police officer, Joseph Magnano, has been indicted on a manslaughter charge after shooting and killing 55‑year‑old Steven Jones during a mental‑health crisis. The incident, which occurred on February 27, 2026, left Jones dead after nine gunshots fired by Magnano, despite other officers trying to intervene.</p><p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif; line-height:1.6; margin-bottom:12px;\"><b>Police body‑camera footage</b> shows that Officers James Prignano and two other officers repeatedly urged Jones to drop a large knife and calm down, offering assistance. Over several minutes, Prignano calmly spoke to Jones, saying, \"Steve, you’re OK. We’re going to make sure you’re OK…Just drop the knife. We’re going to go talk to somebody, OK?\" Meanwhile, Magnano advanced toward Jones and shouted, \"You’re going to get shot,\" before drawing his pistol.</p><p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif; line-height:1.6; margin-bottom:12px;\"><b>State investigation</b> found that Magnano failed to use non‑lethal force or move bystanders out of potential danger. State inspector general Eliot Prescott’s report noted that Magnano did not attempt to control the scene and that Jones was not an imminent threat. Mr. Magnano’s incident report cited fear that \"Jones was going to lunge toward either an officer or citizen,\" but the fatal shooting shows a failure to de‑escalate.</p><p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif; line-height:1.6; margin-bottom:12px;\"><b>Court appearance</b> – Magnano, who was fired by the Hartford mayor following Jones’s death, made his first appearance in Superior Court on Friday without speaking. He was later seen hugging officers present at the hearing as a sign of support. The incident has drawn criticism from civil‑rights attorneys and the Hartfield Police Union. Ben Crump, representing Jones’s family, called the shooting \"excessive,\" while James Rutkauski of the police union defended the officer’s actions as justified. </p><p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif; line-height:1.6; margin-bottom:12px;\"><b>Community reaction</b> – More than 60 police officers gathered outside the courthouse to back Magnano, while supporters of Jones—including local NAACP leaders—joined to show solidarity. Jones’s relatives did not attend the hearing. The case has intensified the debate over police protocols when responding to individuals in mental health distress.</p><p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif; line-height:1.6; margin-bottom:12px;\"><img src=\"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/4335643/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2516x1883+0+0/resize/599x448!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F31%2F19%2F5a0054362a603f0084a9e46a760f%2Ff90569b71cdd4fe69f34f050ca07e5b0\" alt=\"Steven Jones seen by Hartford Police body camera video on Feb. 27, 2026\" style=\"max-width:100%; height:auto; display:block; margin:0 auto;\"> </p>

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ICE Removes Death Reporting After Release: A Shift That Masks Trump Era Cost","description":"The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has scrapped reporting for deaths that occur in the 30 days after detainees are released, potentially hiding the full toll of Trump's mass detention policies.","summary":"ICE will no longer report deaths occurring soon after detainees are freed, undermining transparency and raising concerns about medical care and accountability. Experts warn that this change could lower reported death rates without real improvements, as many deaths arise from untreated conditions. The policy shift follows rising death counts, including a record number of suicides. The move raises questions about the efficacy of current detention health protocols and the true human cost of U.S. immigration enforcement.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/22eefdf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7952x5304+0+0/resize/599x400!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F0c%2F5c%2F6c4c9fa44933e8827518a58c3d9a%2F841c7bdc7e67435681cc8b1f968aad5f","text":"<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will no longer report deaths of detainees who have recently been released from its custody, a change that could obscure the full human cost of the Trump administration’s mass detention policies.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">The move rescinds a 2021 policy implemented by the Biden administration that required ICE to report to Congress and investigate deaths of detainees that occur within 30 days of their release.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">The goal of the 2021 policy was to ensure that ICE could not avoid accountability for deaths by releasing severely ill people from custody. Detainees who were brain‑dead or suffering from infection, for instance, have died shortly after ICE released them in the past.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">Two health experts who have investigated ICE custody deaths criticized the change Friday.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\"><strong>“Tracking deaths immediately after custody is a standard approach that allows health systems in jails, prisons and immigration detention to learn about <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/ice-immigration-detention-medical-neglect-dhs-32c3fbeef0c44dfb02fcab890b2c9a96\" style=\"color:#0066cc;text-decoration:none;\">gaps in care</a> that may occur before a person leaves a facility,”</strong> said Dr. Homer Venters, former chief medical officer of the New York City jail system. <strong>“Eliminating reporting of these deaths represents a willful act of ignoring the most serious health outcome that can reflect inadequacies in care or help track outbreaks.”</strong></p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">ICE detainees also routinely die at hospitals when they are taken for treatment after their conditions deteriorate inside detention facilities, records show. Those detainees, however, have generally been considered to remain in ICE custody.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">“Under this updated policy, when an individual is no longer in ICE custody then ICE will no longer be responsible for monitoring or reviewing deaths that may occur,” the statement said.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">The statement said ICE remained committed to transparency and that the revised policy includes procedures for “timely notification, review and reporting of deaths occurring in ICE custody.” ICE did not immediately release its full updated policy.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">The decision to limit death reporting comes as a greater number of ICE detainees have been dying. At least 18 detainees have died since Jan. 1, which is on pace to surpass last year’s death toll, which was the highest in two decades. Detainees <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/ice-suicide-deaths-detention-custody-takeaways-791ac441678f91f061ccd729f6285bc8\" style=\"color:#0066cc;text-decoration:none;\">are dying by suicide</a> at an unprecedented pace, and experts say many other deaths from natural causes likely would have been preventable with timely medical care.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">Dr. Sanjay Basu, a University of California‑San Francisco epidemiologist who recently published an analysis of more than 270 ICE custody deaths, said the policy change will “make the mortality statistics appear lower without any actual improvement in care.”</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">“The period immediately following release is when deaths attributable to inadequate care during confinement become apparent,” he said. “Missed diagnoses, interrupted medications, untreated infections, and decompensating chronic conditions don’t always kill someone while they’re still in the building.”</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">As of early April, ICE was holding more than 60,000 detainees across its national network of detention facilities, up from around 40,000 at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. ICE denies allegations that detainees suffer from medical neglect, saying they receive comprehensive health care services.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">Before announcing Thursday’s policy change, DHS acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis told the AP on Tuesday that no detainees died in its custody in May. That was the first month without a detainee death since November. At the time, Bis did not address AP questions about whether any death reporting policies had changed.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">“As we have repeatedly stated, deaths in ICE custody are exceedingly rare,” she said then.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\"><em>___</em></p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;margin:0 0 10px 0;\">Associated Press reporter Michael Biesecker in Washington, D.C., contributed.</p>

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Arkansas Judge Dismisses Murder Charge Against Sheriff Candidate Aaron Spencer","description":"Special Circuit Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismisses a second‑degree murder charge in a case that hinged on lost dash‑cam footage, clearing sheriff‑candidate Aaron Spencer of criminal liability ahead of the November election.","summary":"A judge in Arkansas has thrown out a murder case that had kept sheriff‑candidate Aaron Spencer on trial. The decision came after police mishandled footage that could prove Spencer's actions were justified. The ruling clears Spencer’s name ahead of a GOP primary in which he defeated the incumbent sheriff.","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Arkansas_Courtroom.jpg","text":"<p>A judge in Arkansas dismissed a murder charge against a sheriff‑candidate earlier this week after a court review of evidence mishandling. The ruling meant that Aaron Spencer, who won the Republican nomination for Lonoke County sheriff, will no longer face a jury on the second‑degree murder indictment that had followed the shooting death of a man accused of sexually abusing his daughter.</p>\n\n<p>Spencer’s attorneys argued that the dash‑cam footage from the truck used by the deceased, Michael Fosler, was key evidence that showed Spencer acted in defense of his child. However, the camera’s memory card was lost before it could be tested, and the detective who collected it admitted that it was not logged into evidence immediately but was stored in his personal office instead.</p>\n\n<p>Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. concluded that the mishandling of the evidence was so egregious that the case should be dismissed. In a decision that also targeted the prior judge’s gag order, Wilson wrote, “The conduct by law enforcement was so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted.”</p>\n\n<p>According to court records, after a wounding incident that night, Spencer woke to find his 13‑year‑old daughter missing. He later discovered her in a vehicle driven by Fosler. Spencer allegedly forced the truck off the road, had an altercation, and then called 911 to report that he had shot Fosler.</p>\n\n<p>Spencer’s prosecutor said he had planned the killing and could have called police while pursuing Fosler. Nevertheless, Spencer pleaded not guilty and maintained his defense was to protect his child from a predator. His attorney, Erin Cassinelli, said, “No member of this family should ever again be forced to walk into a courtroom and relive this horror.”</p>\n\n<p>The decision came days before the November ballot, in which Spencer faces a heavy‑weight challenge in Lonoke County, a largely Republican area of about 76,000 residents. The judicial change also followed the Arkansas Supreme Court’s removal of Judge Barbara Elmore from the case due to a gag order that violated Spencer’s First Amendment rights.</p>\n\n<p>Spencer expressed gratitude that the case was dismissed and said his focus is now on family and community work. He added, “There’s still work to do in Lonoke County, and I’m more committed to it than ever.”</p>\n\n<p>The prosecutor’s office has not responded to requests for comment on the ruling. The Associated Press note that it will typically not identify the abuse victim, but Spencer has made his daughter’s experience a centerpiece of his sheriff campaign, pledging to create a unit dedicated to fighting child sexual crimes.</p>

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Scott Pelley’s Public Attacks Stir Workplace Rebellion","description":"Former 60 Minutes reporter Scott Pelley publicly questioned CBS executives at a staff meeting, sparking a debate about authority and accountability in the newsroom.","summary":"In a Monday staff meeting, Scott Pelley loudly rebuked the new executive producer Nick Bilton and editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss, accusing them of “murdering” 60 Minutes and lacking credentials. The outburst ignited a wider discussion about workplace dynamics, encouraging others to question authority and defend the role of investigative journalism.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/cd33d6d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fbe%2F20%2Fd597546a398cec00097b9f90484b%2F6ebe7e77206340d6979c568b5e69c9ba","text":"<img src=\"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/cd33d6d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fbe%2F20%2Fd597546a398cec00097b9f90484b%2F6ebe7e77206340d6979c568b5e69c9ba\" alt=\"Scott Pelley, anchor of \\'CBS Evening News\\', at the CBS Upfront in New York, May 15, 2013\" style=\"width:599px;height:399px;display:block;margin:0 auto;\">"+<h2>Staff Meeting That Went Deeply Awry</h2><p>During a Monday staff meeting, 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley pulled a daring stand‑up against executive producer Nick Bilton and editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss. Pelley publicly accused the CBS leadership of “murdering” a show that has been a cornerstone of American journalism for six decades.</p>"+<p>He alleged that Weiss—who had been named CBS News editor‑in‑chief in October—was unqualified for the job and that Bilton had recently fired key personnel, including former executive producer Tanya Simon and reporters Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega.</p>"+<p>Bilton called Pelley’s remarks “an ambush” of “remarkable incivility and contempt.” Yet, the incident reverberated beyond CBS, invigorating a chorus of voices that champion truth‑to‑power and question managerial authority in media.</p>"+<h2>Voices of Resistance</h2><p>Parry Headrick, a Boston‑based PR firm owner, recalled a past newsroom conflict that echoed Pelley’s courage. He’d once confronted a chief editor who misrepresented a “toxic boy” story, ultimately resigning in protest—an act he felt resonated deeply with Pelley’s recent stance.</p>"+<p>“The desire for truth exists in most Americans,” Headrick told the camera, drawing parallels between his experience and Pelley’s public period. The broader conversation spotlights how vulnerability to corporate power shape professional behavior.</p>"+<h2>When Workplace Culture Blends With Journalism</h2><p>Journalists are trained to hold power to account, and public confrontations at staff meetings are not uncommon. Yet, the line between acceptability and disqualification can vary dramatically from one workplace to another.</p>"+<p>Clare Haynes, now a coaching consultant, shared an early career warning sign: a manager dismissing her suggestions as lacking credibility, ultimately branding her a “maverick.” The experience taught her the cost of challenging hierarchy.</p>"+<p>Johan Konst, who had been pressured into pushing an advertising campaign he didn’t believe in, finally aired his frustration in a blunt, profanity‑filled message. He was promptly let go—an outcome he deemed “the best thing that ever happened to me.”</p>"+<p>These stories illustrate the split between enforcement and empowerment in corporate settings.</p>"+<h2>Where Does the Line Fall?</h2><p>There is no universal threshold for rejection—slight ruffles are tolerated in some workplaces, while a “remarkable incivility” may trigger dismissal. The culture of media, however, affords journalists a freer venue to critique and hold power front–and-center.</p>"+<p>With a rising expectation for transparency, the Pelley incident signals a new era: robust workplace dialogues that mix accountability with advocacy for truth.</p>"+<p>For more updates on this story, follow Matt Sedensky at <a href=\"mailto:[email protected]\">[email protected]</a> and on X at https://x.com/sedensky</p>

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Trump Rejects Bill Pulte as Permanent National Intelligence Director","description":"President Donald Trump has clarified that Bill Pulte will only serve as acting director of national intelligence, not a permanent appointment.","summary":"In a Thursday Oval Office briefing, President Trump announced that Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte would not be a full‑time director of national intelligence, citing concerns over Pulte’s lack of security experience and Senate confirmation hurdles. Trump floated that alternative candidates were in play and described Pulte as a “very smart guy.” The move follows bipartisan Senate criticism of Pulte’s qualifications and the resignation of former director Tulsi Gabbard.","image":"https://images.apnews.com/dc/50/5b9895944c60ba2d5e42975dc95b/ap26153489828637.jpg","text":"<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that Bill Pulte, the federal housing finance regulator, would not be his “permanent” choice for the acting director of national intelligence role.</p><p>Trump’s statement came after bipartisan pushback on Capitol Hill regarding Pulte’s lack of national security experience. The position requires Senate confirmation, and lawmakers indicated it would be unlikely if Pulte was the nominee.</p><p>“He’s not going to be permanent because, you know, I don’t think he’d want to be permanent,” Trump said while taking questions in the Oval Office after a coal‑related event. He called Pulte a “very smart guy” and said he may look at past elections that Trump claims were “rigged” against him.</p><p>Trump said other candidates were under consideration for nomination to the post. “We’re interviewing people right now,” he added.</p><p>Bill Pulte, a grandson of the founder of PulteGroup, has been a source of controversy inside the administration. In his role as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and his oversight of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, he has pursued Trump’s perceived political rivals for alleged mortgage fraud and publicly criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for not cutting rates.</p><p>Pulte also pitched a 50‑year mortgage idea that backfired, slowing wealth building through home ownership.</p><p>Both Republican and Democratic senators expressed concerns about Pulte’s lack of national security credentials. His potential to coordinate 18 federal agencies involved in domestic and foreign security issues raised questions. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s initial director of national intelligence, resigned last month after her husband’s cancer diagnosis.</p><p>Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said the national intelligence director job shouldn’t be “weaponized” and should be led by “professionals.”</p><p>Republican Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and John Cornyn of Texas, who are each leaving the chamber after this year’s elections, also voiced concerns about Pulte.</p><p>At a hearing on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed reports that he had threatened to fight Pulte in September 2025, highlighting the friction Pulte generated inside the administration.</p><p>Despite the tension, Pulte’s close relationship with Trump remains evident; Trump called him a “person who’s got high integrity.”</p><img src='https://images.apnews.com/dc/50/5b9895944c60ba2d5e42975dc95b/ap26153489828637.jpg' style='width:100%;height:auto;' alt='Bill Pulte at the White House'>

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