Author: Andrew Rogers

Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents fired their weapons during the fatal shooting of Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti, according to a preliminary report sent to Congress on Tuesday. The report provides the most detailed official account yet of the incident, which has sparked bipartisan outrage. The report, compiled by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, details that agents encountered Pretti while responding to a group of civilians blowing whistles in the roadway on Saturday morning. One officer ordered the women to move, but they resisted. Pretti then approached the group, leading to a confrontation. “Pretti resisted CBP personnel’s efforts…

Israelis marked the end of a long hostage crisis Tuesday night as the clock in Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square” was officially stopped, 843 days after Hamas kidnapped 251 citizens on October 7, 2023. Hundreds attended a solemn ceremony to commemorate the return of the last captive from Gaza. The final remains, those of young police officer Ran Gvili, were recovered by Israeli soldiers, closing the chapter on the hostage crisis and signaling a fragile continuation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that has lasted nearly four months. “We are here on a day we prayed for since Oct. 7…

Top White House aide Stephen Miller said Tuesday that federal agents involved in the Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti “may not have been following” proper protocol. The admission marks a notable shift from previous statements by Trump administration officials defending the actions. “The White House provided clear guidance to DHS that the extra personnel sent to Minnesota for force protection should be used for conducting fugitive operations to create a physical barrier between the arrest teams and the disruptors,” Miller said in a statement to CNN. “We are evaluating why the CBP team may not have been following that protocol.”…

A Virginia circuit court judge has struck down a General Assembly-approved redistricting amendment, ruling lawmakers overstepped their authority and violated constitutional requirements for elections and voter notice. The ruling, issued Tuesday by Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack S. Hurley Jr., blocks the proposed constitutional amendment from moving forward and bars it from being submitted to voters. The decision comes after a lawsuit questioned whether the General Assembly could introduce a redistricting amendment during a 2024 special session called primarily for budget matters. “Certainly, both houses of the Commonwealth’s legislature are required to follow their own rules and resolutions,” Hurley…

Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar was targeted by an attack at a Minneapolis town hall on Tuesday, when a man sprayed her with an unknown substance. Omar refused to leave the event immediately and continued speaking to attendees. The alleged assailant, 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, was quickly detained by security and booked into Hennepin County Jail on third-degree assault charges, according to Minneapolis police. Officials confirmed that Omar was not physically injured in the incident. Omar was discussing her calls to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign when the man rushed the…

President Donald Trump took his midterm campaign messaging to Clive, Iowa, Monday, promoting trade deals and tariffs under the slogan “Lower prices, bigger paychecks.” The Iowa visit came amid national outrage over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Speaking to supporters, Trump emphasized his administration’s economic policies and pledged to continue his trade and tariff strategies regardless of pending Supreme Court rulings. “One way or the other, we’re going to do it. If we have to do it a different way, we’ll do it,” Trump said, signaling his commitment to import taxes. During the…

Illinois’ Democratic primary for retiring Senator Dick Durbin’s seat intensified Monday as candidates focused on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and President Trump’s immigration policies. The first live debate, hosted by the Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ, and the University of Chicago, came amid heightened national attention after two deadly shootings involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. These incidents echoed last fall’s ICE enforcement efforts in the Chicago area, sparking widespread concern. The three leading candidates—Rep. Robin Kelly of Lynwood, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton—each expressed support for dismantling ICE, though they differed on how far to…

Georgia lawmakers are entering the new legislative session with education funding high on the agenda. State leaders and school advocates say public schools across Georgia are facing growing pressure as costs rise and student needs increase. During his State of the State address, Governor Brian Kemp announced a one-time stipend of $2,000 for teachers and state employees. Education groups welcomed the payment as a short-term relief measure. However, many leaders say it does not solve deeper funding problems affecting classrooms statewide. The Georgia Department of Education is now asking lawmakers to approve a larger and longer-term investment. The department is…

The United States government is taking its first formal step toward possible seafloor mining off the coast of Alaska. A federal agency under the Interior Department announced it will soon seek public and industry input on mineral exploration in offshore waters. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said it plans to release a call for information related to future mineral lease sales in federal waters near Alaska. This move will open a 30-day public comment period. During that time, companies and other groups can share their interest and views on offshore mineral development. Federal officials say the effort is meant…

US President Donald Trump has praised recent developments in Syria following a military offensive by Syrian government forces against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The comments mark a clear shift in tone from Washington after years of US support for the SDF. Trump spoke after holding a phone call with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The call took place shortly before al-Sharaa left Damascus for Moscow, where he is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Trump, the situation in Syria is moving in a positive direction. Speaking to reporters, the US president said he was pleased with how…