Six people were killed in a small plane crash in Murrieta, California early Saturday morning. The Cessna C550 business jet crashed near the French Valley Airport and all six passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation and the tragedy has left the community in shock.
News Mash
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Snake Island in the Black Sea to commemorate the 500th day of the war and honor the Ukrainian soldiers who fought for the island. He laid flowers at a memorial and released wreaths onto the water, and said that reclaiming control of the island is a sign that Ukraine will regain its territory. The video serves as a reminder of the 500 days of full-scale war that Ukraine has endured, and of the bravery of its soldiers in the face of the Russian invasion.
After 119 years, a long-lost book has finally been returned to its rightful home at the New Bedford Free Public Library. Discovered by the curator of rare books at West Virginia University Libraries, the book had not been stamped "Withdrawn", indicating it had not been discarded. Now available for public viewing in the library's special collections, the book serves as a reminder of the power of libraries to preserve our shared cultural heritage and the importance of returning overdue books.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that he will not appeal a lower court ruling that Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten should be released from prison after serving 53 years for two infamous murders. The victims' families still feel the impact of the Manson cult's brutal killings more than 50 years later, but Van Houten is expected to be released in the coming months due to her age at the time of the crime, her remorse, and her exemplary behavior in prison.
Rashad Maleek Trice has been charged with federal counts of kidnapping a minor and kidnapping resulting in death in connection with the death of 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith. Wynter's body was found in an alley in Detroit on Wednesday evening, and it is believed that the ex-boyfriend of Wynter's mother is responsible. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Wynter's death.
A three-lawyer panel from the Washington, D.C. Bar Association has recommended that former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani be disbarred for his handling of litigation challenging the 2020 election on behalf of then-President Donald Trump. The panel noted that Giuliani had "claimed massive election fraud but had no evidence," and that he and other Trump lawyers repeatedly pressed claims of election fraud that were almost uniformly rejected by federal and state courts. The recommendation now goes to the D.C. Court of Appeals, which will make the final decision on whether Giuliani will be disbarred.
The White House has defended the decision, arguing that the munitions will only be used in a limited capacity and will not be used in populated areas, and that the U.S. is not alone in providing Ukraine with military aid. Human rights groups have criticized the decision, citing the weapons' potential for causing significant civilian casualties.
Speculation has been rife about former President Donald Trump's potential 2024 presidential campaign, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has weighed in, saying he plans to participate in the first GOP presidential debate in August regardless of Trump's attendance. DeSantis has blamed the media and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador for his low poll numbers, and the Republican National Committee has imposed requirements for potential candidates. DeSantis is preparing for a potential campaign, suggesting that Trump's decision is still up in the air.