A devastating mass shooting in Maine has left 22 people dead and over 60 injured, marking the deadliest such incident in the state's history. The gunman, identified as Army Reservist Robert Card, had a known history of mental health issues.
In a video obtained by WMTW-TV 8, taken from a New York State Police body camera, Card is seen being interviewed by officers at Camp Smith in Cortlandt, New York, on July 16, 2023. This footage provides a glimpse into Card’s interactions with law enforcement months before the tragic event.
Army officials are scheduled to testify on March 7, 2024, before a special commission that is investigating the mass shooting. The testimony will address the circumstances surrounding the incident and the mental health challenges faced by Card, offering crucial insights into the factors that led to this horrific event.
In his address, Jason Carter highlighted the enduring legacy of his grandfather, emphasizing the former president’s lifelong commitment to service. He drew a connection between that legacy and Vice President Kamala Harris, stating that she embodies the same dedication to public service. Carter also shared that his grandfather, who is nearing 100 years old, is eager to cast his vote for Harris in the upcoming election.
Who is Jason Carter? Jason Carter is a former Georgia state senator and the grandson of President Jimmy Carter. In 2014, he was the Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia but was defeated by then-Governor Nathan Deal. Today, he serves as a lawyer and the chair of the Carter Center, a human rights organization founded by his grandparents in 1982.
His Role: Jason Carter continues to uphold the values and mission of his grandfather, who spent his life advocating for peace and defending democracy both in the United States and internationally. As an emissary of that legacy, Jason plays a crucial role in continuing the Carter family’s commitment to these ideals.
Key Quote: "My grandfather can’t wait to vote for Kamala Harris. She reminds us all that the promise of America remains unchanged. We are one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, and my grandfather knows that with her as our next president, we will keep that promise."
Senator John Fetterman has decided to skip the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week, opting instead to spend quality time with his three children. In an interview with The Free Press, Fetterman explained, "I’ve got three young kids, and they’re out of school. That’s four days I can spend with my children."
Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, revealed that his decision to forego the convention was made well before the pivotal debate on June 27 that significantly impacted the Democratic primary. That debate led to a series of unexpected events, culminating in President Joe Biden stepping out of the race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, who then secured enough delegate votes to become the Democratic nominee even before the convention.
The decision to stay home has not been without controversy. Fetterman has faced criticism from within his party, particularly from progressive factions, due to his unwavering support for Israel during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. His stance, which has included displaying photos of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas in his office and opposing calls for a cease-fire, has put him at odds with some of his more progressive colleagues. Even his communications director, Carrie Adams, has expressed disagreement with his views on the Middle East conflict.
Fetterman’s position on Israel contrasts sharply with the progressive image he cultivated during his time as mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, and during his 2022 Senate campaign, where he championed issues such as raising the minimum wage and protecting LGBTQ+ rights. His casual appearance, often featuring hoodies and shorts, also contributed to his reputation as a progressive outsider. However, since his Senate race, Fetterman has distanced himself from the progressive label, referring to himself simply as "just a Democrat."
Despite the tension between Fetterman and parts of the Democratic Party, he has continued to support the party’s broader goals. Though he expressed disappointment at Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, Fetterman endorsed Kamala Harris, posting a fundraising link for her on social media and declaring his full support for her presidential bid. He also participated in a Harris-Walz rally in Philadelphia on August 6, further solidifying his commitment to the party’s future.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers are actively searching for Ramone Alston, a 30-year-old convicted murderer, who escaped from custody after being transported to a hospital in North Carolina, according to the state’s Department of Adult Correction.
Alston, who was serving a life sentence, managed to break free from a prison transport vehicle on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred at around 7 a.m. at the U.N.C. Hospitals Hillsborough Campus, where Alston was brought for a medical appointment. According to authorities, Alston freed himself from his leg restraints while still handcuffed and made a dash into nearby woods as soon as the vehicle door was opened.
By midday Wednesday, the search had expanded to cover 1,335 acres, involving 335 law enforcement officers from 19 different agencies, as reported by Keith Acree, the department’s communications director.
Kirby Saunders, the emergency services director for Orange County, assured the public that Alston is no longer believed to be in the immediate area, reducing the imminent threat to the community. However, authorities suspect that Alston may have received assistance in his escape, though they have not provided specific details. A $35,000 reward for information has generated numerous tips, with two considered particularly promising, according to Orange County Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood.
Alston was convicted in 2018 for his role in a 2015 shooting that tragically killed a 1-year-old girl on Christmas Day. Although his lawyers argued that Alston did not fire the fatal shot, he was sentenced to life in prison and was being held at Bertie Correctional Institution, over 100 miles from the Hillsborough medical campus.
James D. Williams Jr., a Durham-based lawyer who represented Alston during the 2015 investigation, stated that he had not been in contact with Alston and learned about the escape from news reports.
Questions have been raised about why Alston was taken to a medical facility so far from his prison. Acree explained that the Hillsborough campus was chosen because the appointment was a follow-up with a specific provider at that location, and the transfer was necessary due to medical requirements.
Details about the ongoing search remain limited, as law enforcement is cautious about revealing too much information publicly. Officials acknowledge that Alston may have already left the state.
“The ground search phase is winding down,” Acree stated during a Wednesday press conference, indicating that the focus will now shift to investigating leads and tips. When captured, Alston is expected to be placed in a maximum-security facility, likely Central Prison in Raleigh.
On the August 13 episode of The Ingraham Angle, Fox News host Laura Ingraham, along with Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo, presented misleading narratives regarding U.S. oil production and the fossil fuel industry's impact on the economy. They claimed that the Biden administration had "banned more drilling and exploration on federal lands," suggesting that this was negatively affecting job creation and the economy.
However, these claims are contradicted by the latest data. According to Politico, the United States is producing more oil than any country in history, with an abundance of natural gas driving down prices. Moreover, oil production on federal lands has seen a significant increase during the Biden administration, with an uptick of approximately 530,000 barrels per day since 2020, as reported by E&E News.
Politico also highlighted that U.S. oil production recently set a new record, averaging 13.4 million barrels per day. This represents a 5% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Interestingly, despite this surge in production, employment in the oil and gas extraction sector has dropped by nearly 20% since 2019. This decline isn't due to a lack of drilling or government restrictions, but rather the industry's increasing reliance on efficiency and automation. As Greg Upton, executive director of Louisiana State University's Center for Energy Studies, explained, "You just need fewer workers to produce more oil."
These facts not only challenge but dismantle the narrative pushed by Fox News. The reality is that record-breaking oil production and declining job numbers coexist due to technological advancements, not government policy. Ingraham’s and Bartiromo’s assertions fail to account for the rapidly changing dynamics of the energy workforce.
Furthermore, their narrow focus on expanding fossil fuel production ignores the urgent necessity of transitioning to renewable energy sources, a shift that is crucial for addressing the escalating climate crisis and could pave the way for new, sustainable job opportunities.
Vice President Kamala Harris is set to introduce an ambitious economic plan aimed at easing the financial burden on American families by addressing key expenses such as housing, groceries, and child-rearing costs.
A central feature of the plan is a significant expansion of the child tax credit. Under Harris's proposal, low- and middle-income families could receive up to $6,000 for each new baby, alongside the restoration of the pandemic-era benefit that provided up to $3,600 per child. This move aligns with Republican proposals, including one from Vice Presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, who has suggested a $5,000 child tax credit.
While President Joe Biden has faced challenges in gaining recognition for his economic policies, particularly in reducing prices, polls indicate that Harris fares better in voter confidence on economic issues. During a campaign stop in Las Vegas on August 10, Harris acknowledged the ongoing issue of high grocery prices, stating, "While our economy is doing well by many measures, prices for everyday things like groceries are still too high. You know it and I know it."
Harris's plan also targets housing affordability. In Raleigh, North Carolina, she will deliver her campaign's first major policy address, where she plans to propose tax incentives that could lead to the construction of 3 million new housing units within four years. This exceeds the Biden administration's current proposal of 2 million new and renovated homes. Harris's proposal includes unspecified tax breaks for homebuilders focusing on first-time buyers and affordable rentals, along with a $40 billion fund to support local governments in financing housing developments, doubling the Biden administration's $20 billion proposal.
Additionally, Harris will advocate for a $25,000 down payment assistance program for first-time homeowners, which could benefit over 4 million buyers. This plan is more generous than Biden's State of the Union proposal, which offered a $10,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers.
On the corporate front, Harris will emphasize her commitment to challenging corporations that profit excessively from consumers. Drawing from her experience as California's attorney general, she will pledge to fight corporate price gouging, particularly by landlords and pharmaceutical companies. Harris plans to propose an extension of the $35 insulin price cap to all Americans, not just seniors, and a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.
Harris's campaign also indicates she will support legislation restricting tax breaks for corporate investors purchasing homes and banning the use of algorithmic data by rental property owners to increase rent prices. Regarding grocery prices, Harris will advocate for a federal ban on price gouging in the food sector, with a particular focus on meat prices. She will argue that the concentrated meat processing industry is a significant factor driving up grocery costs and commit to more aggressive investigations and prosecutions of price-fixing in the meat supply chain.
The plan also proposes empowering the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general with the authority to investigate and penalize corporations that keep grocery prices high instead of passing savings to consumers. Additionally, Harris's administration would scrutinize mergers in the food sector to ensure they do not lead to higher grocery prices.
A staggering number of Social Security numbers and other sensitive information belonging to millions of people may now be in the hands of a hacking group following a significant data breach. The Los Angeles Times reported this week that the compromised data might have been sold on an online marketplace.
The hacking group, known as USDoD, allegedly stole personal records of 2.9 billion individuals from National Public Data, according to a class-action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as reported by Bloomberg Law. The breach is believed to have occurred around April 2024, according to the lawsuit.
The law firm Schubert, Jonckheer & Kolbe, which filed the class-action suit, stated in a press release that the stolen data file is 277.1 gigabytes in size and contains names, address histories, family connections, and Social Security numbers dating back at least three decades.
According to a cybersecurity expert’s post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the group USDoD claims to be selling the 2.9 billion records of U.S., U.K., and Canadian citizens on the dark web for $3.5 million.
Since the data was put up for sale in April, other versions of the data have surfaced, according to the cybersecurity and technology website Bleeping Computer.
In August, a hacker known as "Fenice" reportedly released the most comprehensive version of the data for free on an online forum, Bleeping Computer reported.
While National Public Data has not publicly confirmed the breach, The Los Angeles Times reported that the company has been responding to inquiries via email, stating, "We are aware of certain third-party claims about consumer data and are investigating these issues."
Several individuals have been charged in connection with the accidental overdose death of actor Matthew Perry, according to law enforcement sources who spoke with NBC News on Thursday.
Perry, 54, was discovered unresponsive in the heated section of his pool at his Pacific Palisades residence on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that his death was due to the acute effects of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties.
Sources reported that at least one arrest was made in Southern California early Thursday. Federal prosecutors are expected to unseal an indictment later today, detailing the charges against this individual and others involved.
The family of Keith Morrison, a “Dateline” correspondent and Perry’s stepfather, expressed their relief at the recent developments.
“We were and continue to be devastated by Matthew’s passing, but it brings some solace knowing that law enforcement has treated his case with the seriousness it deserves,” the family stated. “We look forward to seeing justice served.”
In May, the Los Angeles police confirmed their collaboration with federal authorities to investigate the source of the ketamine found in Perry’s system.
Ketamine, long popular as a recreational drug, has recently gained attention for its potential in treating depression. An increasing number of clinics offer ketamine infusions or injections for various mental health conditions.
Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety, though his last session occurred over a week before his death. The medical examiner noted that the ketamine detected in Perry’s body “could not be from that infusion therapy” due to its short half-life.
The ketamine levels in his system were significantly high, comparable to those used for general anesthesia in surgical procedures, according to the medical examiner’s findings.
Ultimately, Perry’s death was ruled accidental, with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the presence of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid dependence.
Perry, beloved for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit TV show “Friends,” had been candid about his struggles with opioid addiction and alcoholism, which he detailed in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” The medical examiner’s report noted that Perry had been sober for 19 months at the time of his death.
It’s not unusual for law enforcement to investigate and, in some cases, charge those responsible for supplying drugs that lead to high-profile fatalities.
For example, after Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for administering a fatal dose of potent drugs. More recently, federal prosecutors in New York charged four individuals who provided actor Michael K. Williams with the fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted in his 2021 death.
