Author: Andrew Rogers

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and other top officials could see a significant pay boost under a proposed 16% salary increase. The City Council is preparing to introduce legislation that would raise salaries for council members, the mayor, public advocate, comptroller, and borough presidents. The bill, introduced by Councilwoman Nantasha Williams of Queens, would raise council members’ pay from $148,500 to $172,500. If approved, Mamdani’s salary would rise from $258,000 to nearly $300,000, while other city officials would see similar increases. The legislation is scheduled for a hearing by the end of the year, aiming for a City Council…

Outgoing New York City Fire Department Commissioner Robert Tucker said ideological differences with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani influenced his decision to step down. Tucker, who was appointed in August 2024, announced his resignation the day after Mamdani won the mayoral election. In his first interview since leaving the post, Tucker described the decision as the right moment to depart despite leaving some unfinished work. “I don’t want to leave as much unfinished business as I am leaving, but I thought it was the right time to depart,” Tucker told CBS News. He added, “Ideologically, there’s no doubt that the mayor and…

Boeing announced on Tuesday that it has won a $2.47 billion contract from the U.S. Air Force to supply 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tankers. This award follows a similar deal last year, when Boeing received a $2.38 billion contract for another 15 KC-46A tankers. The new order reflects the Air Force’s ongoing effort to expand and modernize its aerial refueling fleet. The KC-46A program has faced challenges in the past. The aircraft experienced issues such as foreign object debris, supplier quality problems, and other defects. Despite these setbacks, Boeing has delivered a total of 98 KC-46As to the…

New York prosecutors announced on Tuesday that they are prepared to retry Pedro Hernandez, a former Manhattan delicatessen worker, in the 1979 murder of 6-year-old Etan Patz. Hernandez’s conviction for kidnapping and murder was overturned four months ago by a federal appeals court. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office stated that “available, admissible evidence supports” a renewed prosecution on the same charges. The decision effectively restores the case to pretrial status, allowing new court proceedings and legal filings. Hernandez, now in his mid-60s, was first found guilty in 2017 for Patz’s kidnapping and murder. Patz disappeared on May 25, 1979, while…

In a tense meeting in Kyiv last week, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll warned Ukrainian officials that their troops face a serious threat on the battlefield. He said Ukrainian forces could soon suffer a defeat against Russian troops, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Driscoll highlighted that Russia is increasing both the scale and speed of its air attacks and could maintain its offensive indefinitely. He advised Ukraine that the situation would worsen over time, and it might be better to negotiate a peace settlement now rather than face harsher conditions later. The U.S. delegation also cautioned that America’s…

The Pentagon has opened an investigation into Arizona Senator Mark Kelly over a video in which he urged U.S. troops to refuse illegal orders. This marks a rare move against a sitting member of Congress and has sparked a political debate. Kelly, a retired Navy captain and former astronaut, appeared in the video last Tuesday with five other lawmakers who have military or intelligence backgrounds. In the footage, Kelly told service members, “You can refuse illegal orders.” Other participants called for troops to “stand up for our laws … our constitution.” The Pentagon’s statement on Monday cited a federal law…

James Fishback, 30, officially filed paperwork Monday to run for governor of Florida. He aims to challenge Republican frontrunner Rep. Byron Donalds. Fishback announced his candidacy with a mix of social media posts and traditional campaign events. Fishback highlighted Florida’s growth challenges and criticized Donalds for promoting AI data centers that could raise electricity costs. He said the state should focus on controlled development and local priorities rather than appealing to outside investors. Fishback plans to campaign using both digital tools and in-person events. During a recent trip from Jacksonville to Tallahassee, he used a Tesla’s autopilot to post campaign…

President Donald Trump announced Monday that he will travel to Beijing in April and host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a U.S. state visit later in the year. Trump announced a phone call with Xi, weeks after their in-person meeting in South Korea in late October. He called the relationship “extremely strong” on Truth Social, adding that the visits aim to focus on the “big picture” of U.S.-China relations. “President Xi invited me to visit Beijing in April, which I accepted, and I reciprocated, where he will be my guest for a State Visit in the U.S. later in the…

Former Senator Doug Jones has officially filed to run for governor of Alabama, launching a Democratic campaign in the deeply Republican state. Jones shared the announcement in a video on social media Monday, saying he will formally kick off his campaign after Thanksgiving. He emphasized that Alabama voters want a governor who “lives here, works here, listens to the people of this state, and understands the people of this state.” The Republican governor, Kay Ivey, is term-limited and cannot seek re-election, opening the field for both parties. Jones also made a subtle reference to Republican candidate Tommy Tuberville, highlighting the…

A federal judge on Monday dismissed prosecutions against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The cases were brought by President Donald Trump’s team and represented early attempts at legal retribution against his political rivals. US District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled the cases invalid because interim US attorney Lindsey Halligan had been unlawfully appointed. The decision highlights the rushed and controversial nature of the prosecutions. Halligan was installed after Trump removed the existing US attorney, who resisted pursuing these cases. Trump also reportedly asked then-Attorney General Pam Bondi to authorize the prosecutions. The rulings…