Judge Dugan’s Sentencing Deferred as Court Considers Appeals Decision","description":"A former Milwaukee judge convicted of obstructing ICE agents has her sentencing postponed while a federal judge reviews arguments to reverse the conviction, underscoring tensions over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement.","summary":"Federal Judge Lynn Adelman postponed the sentencing of former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan to hear arguments about overturning her conviction for obstructing ICE agents. Dugan’s attorneys argue that the case lacks a pending proceeding, while prosecutors maintain the opposite. The case reflects the broader legal battles spawned by the Trump-era immigration crackdown.","image":"","text":"<p>Milwaukee County circuit judge Hannah Dugan, who was convicted of felony obstruction for helping an immigrant evade federal officers, has had her sentencing postponed to allow a federal judge to hear arguments seeking to overturn the conviction.</p><p>On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman delayed Dugan’s sentencing, which had been scheduled to take place a few days earlier. Adelman did not issue a ruling on the conviction but said he would consider new arguments brought by Dugan’s lawyers.</p><p>Dugan’s conviction came as part of the Trump administration’s broad immigration crackdown that targeted state judges who were perceived as too lenient on ICE. She was the first state judge in Wisconsin to be tried and convicted for obstructing immigration officers, after a 2025 incident in which she guided ICE agents to an area outside her courtroom and was later arrested herself.</p><h2>Legal Arguments Over the “Pending Proceeding” Requirement</h2><p>Dugan’s attorney Steven Biskupic argues that the conviction was invalid because ICE had only filed a warrant for the immigrant’s arrest, which does not meet the definition of a “pending proceeding” required under the federal obstruction statute.</p><p>The argument hinges on a 4th Circuit ruling that a warrant filing alone does not constitute a proceeding for the purposes of obstruction law. Biskupic says the judge was “improperly convicted” under the faulting law because the case did not meet that procedural threshold.</p><h2>Prosecution’s Counterpoint</h2><p>Prosecutors insist that the Virginia case cited by the defense is distinguishable because ICE had actively pursued the immigrant after the warrant was filed. They also cite additional cases to support Dugan’s conviction.</p><p>Richard Frohling, the acting U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Wisconsin, told the judge that the appellate court’s decision to overturn the Virginia case was wrong, and that a proceeding can last from minutes to years, depending on context.</p><h2>Sentencing Considerations</h2><p>Dugan faces up to five years in federal prison, but it is highly unlikely she will receive a prison term. Federal sentencing guidelines of the nature of the crime generally recommend probation for defendants without a criminal history for nonviolent offenses.</p><p>She resigned from her position as a Milwaukee County circuit judge two weeks after her conviction amid threats of impeachment from Republican state lawmakers. She had served as a judge for nine years.</p><h2>Background of the 2025 Incident</h2><p>On April 18, 2025, ICE agents entered the Milwaukee County courthouse after learning that Eduardo Flores‑Ruiz had reentered the United States illegally and was scheduled to appear before Dugan in a state battery case. Dugan confronted the agents outside her courtroom and redirected them to the chief judge’s office, arguing that an administrative warrant was insufficient grounds for arrest.</p><p>Soon after the agents left, Dugan guided Flores‑Ruiz and his attorney out a private jury door. The agents found Flores‑Ruiz in a corridor and later arrested him after a foot chase. A week later, FBI agents arrested Dugan in the courthouse, leading to her removal in handcuffs.</p><p>Flores‑Ruiz was deported in November 2025. Dugan remains accused of obstructing immigration officers, a charge that reflects the current legal clashes over immigration enforcement policies instituted by the Trump administration.</p>

College‑Sports Legislation Sparks SEC, Big Ten Opposition","description":"Reform bill aimed at regulating athlete payments and transfer rules faces hurdles from powerful conferences.","summary":"The Senate Commerce Committee’s hearing featured notable coaches and sports figures as they backed a bill set to overhaul how college athletes are compensated and transferred. The proposal, led by Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Maria Cantwell, has drawn support from some influential coaches but faces strong opposition from the SEC and Big Ten, who argue the bill leaves critical issues open.","image":"https://metaworld.media/files/image-placeholder.jpg","text":"<p>WASHINGTON — Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban and other college sports luminaries testified Wednesday in support of a bipartisan bill that seeks to overhaul how players earn money and move between schools.\n</p><p>The bill, introduced by Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, aims to regulate payments to athletes, limit them to one free transfer during their careers and create a rule preventing coaches from resigning mid‑season. Cruz called the measure \"the last, best hope we have to save college sports.\"\n</p><p>Saban opened the hearing by saying: “If you have the biggest, baddest Ferrari and it’s going 150 miles an hour toward the Grand Canyon, somebody needs to tap the brakes. And that’s what we all need to do here.”\n</p><p>Representatives from Notre Dame’s athletic department and the PAC‑12 commissioner were present, but no delegate from the SEC (the conference boasting Saban’s seven national championships) spoke. The SEC and the Big Ten, two of the most powerful conferences in college sports, contest the bill, arguing it \"leaves critical issues unresolved.\"\n</p><p>Cantwell said the legislation is designed to restore competition by ensuring that success in college athletics is determined by how well a university builds a team, not by how much money a single player can command. She further warned that the conferences are concerned that the bill could \"rearrange the deck chairs of those conferences, steal the eye‑ball schools, and leave everyone else with nothing.\"</p>

Bakersfield Hostage Standoff Resolved as FBI Kills Suspect After 12 Hours

Ukrainian drones hit St Petersburg as Putin’s flagship economic forum opens

Metaverse Meets the 60 Minutes Saga: Scott Pelley Fired as CBS News Sparks Virtual Debate","description":"In a virtual press room, journalists witness the termination of famed 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley amid renewed calls for editorial integrity.","summary":"On a Thursday, CBS News announced the firing of long‑time 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley—an action that followed a heated staff meeting where Pelley accused new head Bari Weiss of \"murdering the show.\" The decision, coming a day after the former correspondent lambasted Weiss’s management and called his qualifications \"slender,\" deepened the tumult at America’s most influential news program. In the derailed meeting, Pelley also alleged that CBS’s new executive producer, Nick Bilton—who lacks traditional broadcast experience—had orchestrated a hostile environment for him. Bilton’s written notice characterised Pelley’s conduct as a “performative display of hostility” that undermined the program’s success. The firing follows Weiss’s appointment last October and a preceding memo that called for a “new approach” at the flagship newsmagazine, aiming to expand beyond the 60‑minute format. CBS’s CEO David Ellison, an ally of former President Trump, faced criticism for allegedly shedding the show’s reputation to curry favor. This move, now being discussed in a metaverse‑integrated news platform, underscores the ongoing struggle with editorial independence versus corporate influence in modern journalism. Metaverse participants can now log in, attend the virtual press conference, and explore the 60 Minutes studio as avatars, immersing themselves in the unfolding drama.","image":"https://assets.apnews.com/6c/e7/b553edb5b6448206b538498b3370/8c9c8f390853414fbe6839e426ea0b66","text":"<p style=\"margin-bottom:1rem;\">On Thursday, CBS News announced the termination of veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, a move that came after a heated staff meeting where Pelley slammed new head Bari Weiss for \"murdering the show\" and criticized his new executive producer Nick Bilton for having \"slender qualifications.\" The decision has left the long‑running investigative program in disarray, highlighting the ongoing clash over editorial independence and corporate governance.\n</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:1rem;\">Pelley, 68, threatened that 60 Minutes had lost its DNA under the new leadership. He said the program was being pressured to “inject falsehoods and bias” without providing any concrete examples. Pelley’s statement echoed former complainants who had criticized Weiss’s earlier memo that called for a \"new approach\" to the prime‑time newsmagazine.\n</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:1rem;\">The termination letter, released by The Associated Press, named Bilton as the key figure who had \"hijacked\" the meeting to disparage Pelley’s intentions. Bilton, a technology journalist with no traditional broadcast experience, accused the seasoned correspondent of launching an ambush against him. He characterized Pelley’s actions as a “performative display of hostility” that made it clear the veteran did not wish to contribute to 60 Minutes’ future success.\n</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:1rem;\">The fallout has magnified since Weiss took over the network’s news operation last October amid a leadership overhaul. The firing came five days after she instructed staff to implement a \"new approach\" that could potentially expand the viewing format beyond the 60‑minute hook.\n</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:1rem;\">The episode affirms the aging power of broadcast journalism’s traditional gatekeepers—both elite editors and senior correspondents—while showing how corporate agendas can override journalistic integrity. CBS President Tom Cibrowski and 60 Minutes lead producer Nick Bilton have both hinted at a future that departs from the show’s legacy structure, which is rooted in the year 1968 birth of the longest running prime‑time program in TV history.\n</p><h2 style=\"font-size:1.5rem;margin-top:1.5rem;\"><b>Virtual Press Conference Opens New Era</b></h2><p style=\"margin-bottom:1rem;\">For the first time, metaverse‑styled journalism is poised to feature a live, fully interactive press conference where participants can attend as avatars. Visitors to the virtual 60 Minutes newsroom can chat with colleagues, view telemetry, and even explore the studio set in 3D. This integration provides a new venue for real‑time public discussion as it unfolds, shedding light on how the newsroom’s hierarchical tensions can multiply in the digital age.\n</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:1rem;\">Metaverse historians note that the virtual platform offers a unique perspective amid the rapid shift to digital media. According to CBS media strategist Jess Wu, the decision to host the event online stresses the importance of transparency and engagement as the company wrestles with the same questions faced by terrestrial competitors: are advertisers or executive expectations becoming a threat to unbiased reporting?\n</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:1rem;\">Pelley’s former colleagues, now beyond the office walls, emphasize that the show’s historic investigative approach—an approach defined by “uncompromising journalism”—can still stay intact while ushering in modern technology. Nonetheless, the debate remains polarized, with some studio members claiming the new direction threatens to erode all investigations, while others hope the changes can pivot the show to reach newer, possibly younger audiences.\n</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:1rem;\">The industry will watch closely as the 60 Minutes staff updates their process through a mandate structured for the 21st‑century viewer while still defending the principles that defined its legacy. As the metaverse platform opens a new chapter for journalism, it will mirror the firefights and advocacy that left a lasting imprint on the network’s history.\n</p>

US Acceptance of Same‑Sex Marriage Stalls as GOP Support Declines

Bakersfield Police Negotiate Hostage Situation at Chase Bank Building

Inside the Bet: Kalshi Flags George Santos’ Trading Play Ahead of Trump\u2019s Speech

Trump Seizes Spotlight at America’s 250th Celebration: A New Frontier for Presidential Hosting

DR Congo world‑cup squad cancels Spain friendly amid Ebola concerns

Gov‑Owned Justice: Trump White‑House Slams Race‑Sensitive School Programs as “Illegal DEI”","description":"The Donald Trump administration is re‑interpreting historic civil‑rights laws to target school‑based equity initiatives, threatening federal funds and programs designed to help Black students and other people of color.","summary":"The Trump administration has declared race‑based equity initiatives in schools unconstitutional, labeling them \"illegal DEI.\" Activists warn of a backlash against programs that help Black students, including the BOSS program in Los Angeles. The Justice Department’s actions reverse decades of civil‑rights progress— with funding for teacher diversity and mental‑health worker recruitment withdrawn—including a $20 million pause on Chicago Public Schools’ Black Student Success Program. The Justice and Education Departments are investigating schools that meet racially‑centric enrollment criteria and press districts to abandon “desegregation plans.” In Los Angeles, a lawsuit threatens PHBAO, a longstanding magnet‑school program that favors students of color. Critics say these moves undermine the very reforms that sought to close achievement gaps. The new legal stance could strip essential resources from teachers and students, potentially widening inequalities beyond the classroom.\n","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/0edee3c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5658x3772+0+0/resize/1440x960!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F09%2F55%2Ffbf231d8c1dee9be1d7a88786c77%2Fdac6ee67612244598aa142223e07c899","text":"<p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">WASHINGTON (AP) — For generations, the federal government enforced civil rights laws with the aim of remedying historic, systemic discrimination against Black people and other people of color. The Justice Department pushed schools to desegregate, and the Education Department promoted equal opportunity while holding schools accountable for racial bias.</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">But under the Trump administration, efforts to address deep-rooted inequities for students of color are being framed as discriminatory against white students. Programs that have long survived legal scrutiny are now branded by the White House as “<a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/dei-trump-school-discrimination-federal-funding-7d1025753b9bd924711ace4069fca399\" style=\"color:#00624f;\">illegal DEI</a>,” and schools that do not comply are threatened with loss of federal funding— in some cases, cutting well‑meaning grants entirely.</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">Civil rights attorneys describe the administration’s actions as a complete inversion of legal history.</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\"><strong>Michael Pillera, director of educational equity issues at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said:</strong> “It’s literally flipping the purpose of civil rights law on its head, not just harming Black students and students of color, but entire school communities. It’s unmoored from the actual history of our country and untethered to the reality of life in this country.”</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">The federal government has launched investigations or joined litigation over a wide range of efforts to address <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-department-of-education-closure-civil-rights-4c5f4e8347dd3318d2f23ad8632d7b74\" style=\"color:#00624f;\">racial inequality</a>. The Justice Department is investigating programs aimed at boosting teachers of color in Rhode Island and Iowa, while grants for district mental‑health worker recruitment have been discontinued whenever those grants claimed diversifying the workforce.</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">In Chicago, the administration withheld over $20 million from the district when it refused to end its Black Student Success Program, which was designed to increase advanced coursework access for Black students and reduce harsh discipline.</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">The Education Department’s statement says programs receiving federal funding must comply with federal law—prohibiting race‑based discrimination. “Serving student needs and following the law are not irreconcilable mandates,” said spokesperson Amelia Joy. “Advocates and educators have no reason to stress if they abide by the law.”</p><h2 style=\"margin:0 0 0.5em 0;\">Complaints against equity programs find new traction</h2><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) created the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP) in response to student activism after the 2020 murder of George Floyd. The plan gives schools extra teachers, counselors and curriculum in Black history. Initially, the district used Black‑student enrollment as a metric for deciding receiving schools.</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">In 2023, the conservative group Defending Education filed a complaint with the Education Department, alleging discrimination against non‑Black students. LAUSD said it would no longer base decisions on Black enrollment and would focus on high absenteeism and low test scores, claiming the program is open to all students.</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">The Department’s Office for Civil Rights now investigated again this year. Sarah Parshall Perry, senior legal fellow at Defending Education, said the complaint was refiled after district leaders admitted the program had not changed materially despite the new criteria.</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">LAUSD said the program aligns with state and federal laws and is open to all students. Makeda Walker‑Deen, a junior at Dorsey High School, praised the extra support the BSAP provides, noting counseling and college‑preparation pathways that helped her envision applying to Berkeley and Stanford. “We’ve been discriminated against in school systems for so long,” she said. “The program that’s meant to help Black students and students of color is, in practice, not discriminatory.”</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">Data from recent state testing show Black students in the district outperformed the statewide average for Black students in California. “When you provide teachers and school personnel with knowledge and skills to help your lowest performing students, everyone wins,” said Tyrone Howard, professor of education at UCLA who consulted on the BSAP.</p><h2 style=\"margin:0 0 0.5em 0;\">The Justice Department targets a separate LA program</h2><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">The Justice Department has released districts from court‑ordered desegregation plans dating back to the Civil Rights Movement, citing them as to be “outdated and burdensome.” In addition, the Education Department has stripped funding from certain magnet schools designed to increase diversity.</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">In communications discouraging diversity programs, the Trump administration cited the Supreme Court’s banning of affirmative‑action admissions, claiming that it applies to schools’ use of race in any differential consideration. A federal court struck down that guidance last year, but schools may still preemptively abandon programs to avoid federal scrutiny.</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">The Justice Department’s lawsuit on a Los Angeles school design, PHBAO (“Predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian or Other Non‑Anglo”), which triggers smaller class sizes and additional parent‑teacher conferences in schools where 70 % of students are students of color, threatened to eliminate the program. The 1776 Project Foundation filed a suit against the designation, alleging it discriminated against white students; the Justice Department joined the lawsuit next month.</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">The Department argued the desegregation program has outlived its usefulness. A former desegregation attorney, Mark Rosenbaum, disagreed, stating: “The opponents of desegregation always said—‘Drop desegregation, and we will put resources into these schools.’<br>We are still waiting for that to happen.”</p><p style=\"margin:0 0 1em 0;\">These moves signal a new era in federal civil‑rights enforcement— one that frames historical equity programs as unconstitutional. Critics warn that such shifts could roll back decades of progress toward closing achievement gaps for Black students and other peoples of color, with broad implications for teachers, administrators and students across the country.</p>

Democrats Slam DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin Over Airport Threats and Immigration Policies","description":"Senators question DHS chief on proposed CBP officer cuts at airports in ‘sanctuary cities’ and the agency’s stance on rule‑of‑law enforcement.","summary":"During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Democrats criticized DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s remarks about withdrawing U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in states considered sanctuary cities. They also challenged his approach to detainee treatment and questioned the politicization of disaster aid approvals. Mullin defended his positions and said he had not yet finalized concrete proposals.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/708a0f8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8226x5484+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F93%2Fe1%2Fcbf7b20ce15f4ded1a3bedae41c3%2F7af58e637d6b44a984a9a0aea145d238","text":"<p>WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Senate Democrats pressed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin during a heated hearing, accusing him of “outside the line” rhetoric and warning that his proposals to pull Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so‑called sanctuary cities were “insane.”</p><p>Sen. Patty Murray voiced her concerns, noting that the plan would harm both blue and red states economically and that it sparked a wave of criticism among airlines and transportation leaders. “Your plan to withdraw CBP officers from airports in cities that don’t roll over for Trump, that is insane,” Murray said. “It would also spell economic crisis for blue and red states.”</p><p>Although Mullin’s remarks were aired in his confirmation hearing earlier in the year, he had not yet laid out a detailed policy. He acknowledged considering the idea rhetorically, saying he was weighing it publicly. He defended his agency’s rule‑of‑law stance and claimed his comments were misunderstood by critics.</p><p>Other issues at the hearing included a debate over the treatment of detainees at an ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey. Democratic senator Chris Murphy highlighted complaints of unsanitary food, delayed medical care, and “undue pressure to sign deportation paperwork.” Mullin denied any abuse, citing recent health inspections that found “zero violations.” He also countered accusations that protests were targeting DHS officers, saying the complaints were “flat wrong.”</p><p>Taking the floor, Peters from Michigan challenged the politicization of disaster aid, questioning whether President Trump approved federal assistance based on state political alignment rather than damage. Mullin defended the president’s impartialness, noting approvals for both red and blue states. Republicans praised Mullin for maintaining the rule of law, while some, like Senator Susan Collins, expressed reservations about potential high fees and work visa quotas.</p><p>The hearing marked Mullin’s first Senate appearance since his March confirmation. He confirmed he was set to testify in the House on DHS budget Wednesday. The scrutiny from both sides of the aisle suggests that Mullin’s future actions will be closely watched as he navigates policy changes tied to immigration enforcement and federal‑agency finances. "</p>

NASA Explains the Double Boom Heard in New England – A Meteor Splits Over Cape Cod Bay

Iowa Shooting Claims Six Lives, Suspected Relative Found Dead

Whole of Ukraine in Grief as Kyiv Endures Another Bombardment

Arrests Made as Minivan Fire Claims Four Migrant Farm Workers in Italy

Trump Signs AI Executive Order After Canceling White House AI Event","description":"President Trump’s new executive order gives the federal government a 30‑day window to assess national‑security risks of frontier AI models before public release, while encouraging secure innovation through collaboration with trusted U.S. tech firms.","summary":"<p><strong>Key takeaways:</strong></p><p>• The order grants the federal government a 30‑day window to assess national‑security risks of the most advanced AI systems before they go live.</p><p>• It encourages collaboration with trustworthy U.S. tech firms such as Anthropic, OpenAI and Google to ensure secure innovation.</p><p>• Trump pulled his prior White House AI event after unfavorable draft text, insisting the U.S. remains ‘’ahead’’ of China.</p>","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1514995661172-3861063d4b9d?auto=format&fit=crop&w=800&q=80","text":"<p>President Donald Trump signed an executive order on artificial intelligence Tuesday, less than two weeks after he postponed a White House ceremony over concerns that a similar policy might blunt America’s edge on AI technology.</p><p>The new order establishes a framework giving the federal government up to a month to vet the national security risks of the most advanced AI systems before their public release. It also allows collaboration with trusted partners that will have early access to frontier models to promote secure innovation and strengthen the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure.</p><p>It remains unclear how this directive differs from the one Trump declined to sign on May 21.</p><p>Trump canceled an event in the Oval Office last month because he was dissatisfied with the earlier draft text and stated, &#8220;We’re leading China, we’re leading everybody, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to get in the way of that lead.&#8221;</p><p>The directive is described as a voluntary collaboration with U.S.-based tech companies, including Anthropic, OpenAI and Google.</p>

Former North Carolina Police Officer Charged After Video Shows Punching Woman

British couple lose Iran jail sentence appeal, family says

China Battles Ghost Kitchens: Fresh Rules, Transparent Kitchens and AI Enforcement