united states news

Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Iowa's largest school district with 30,000 students, was placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials who claim he is in the country illegally. The Des Moines school board voted unanimously for this action during a special meeting, with board president Jackie Norris stating they were unaware of any citizenship or immigration issues regarding Roberts. According to ICE, Roberts entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999, lacks work authorization, and is subject to a final removal order issued in 2024. Background checks conducted before Roberts' hiring in 2023 did not reveal any citizenship issues, despite his signed affirmation of U.S. citizenship on district documents and administrator license applications.

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed military leaders at Quantico, proposing controversial changes to military roles and culture. Trump suggested using dangerous American cities as military training grounds and characterized domestic unrest as an "invasion from within," while Hegseth announced the end of "woke" policies including a return to "male-level" physical fitness standards. The hastily called meeting focused heavily on culture war issues rather than global security concerns, with Hegseth telling military leaders who disagreed with his approach to resign. This approach has raised concerns about politicizing the military and potentially violating the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in domestic law enforcement.

Apple has removed several apps, including ICEBlock and ICE Immigration Alerts, from its App Store following pressure from law enforcement about safety risks to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The apps, which allowed users to report sightings of ICE officers, were developed in response to President Trump's immigration crackdown and had been downloaded over a million times. US Attorney General Pam Bondi "demanded" ICEBlock's removal, claiming it endangered ICE agents, while the FBI linked similar apps to a deadly attack on an ICE facility in Dallas that killed two detainees. The apps' creators have defended their products as protected free speech, comparing them to crowd-sourced speed trap alerts.

A significant fire erupted at Chevron's El Segundo refinery near Los Angeles when a jet fuel production unit exploded Thursday evening, creating visible flames and smoke. Firefighters have successfully contained the blaze, with no injuries reported among refinery personnel and contractors. City officials have confirmed there are no current evacuation orders or public threats, while the cause of the explosion remains under investigation. The refinery, Chevron's second-largest in the US, normally produces 285,000 barrels of crude oil daily and supplies 20% of motor vehicle fuels and 40% of jet fuel consumed in southern California.

Balin Miller, a 23-year-old Alaskan climbing influencer, died after falling from El Capitan in Yosemite National Park while being live-streamed on TikTok. According to his brother, Miller had completed climbing the 2,400-foot "Sea of Dreams" route and was hauling equipment when he likely rappelled off the end of his rope. Miller was an accomplished alpinist known for impressive achievements, including the first solo ascent of Mount McKinley's Slovak Direct and completing Reality Bath, a difficult ice climb unrepeated for 37 years. The National Park Service has stated they are investigating the incident, which occurred on the first day of the federal government shutdown when parks remained open with limited operations.

Robert Morris, the 64-year-old founder of Gateway Church, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing Cindy Clemishere when she was 12 years old in Oklahoma during the 1980s. As part of his plea agreement, Morris received a 10-year sentence but will only serve six months in jail followed by probation, must register as a sex offender, and pay $250,000 in restitution. The victim, now 55, stated in court that Morris's abuse had impacted every aspect of her life and clarified she was a child, not a "young lady" in an "inappropriate relationship" as Morris had previously characterized the situation. Gateway Church, which at its peak had 100,000 attendees across nine locations, announced Morris was stepping down after Clemishere publicly accused him in 2024, despite her having initially reported the abuse to church leaders in 1987.

Sean "Diddy" Combs has written a four-page letter to Judge Arun Subramanian seeking leniency ahead of his sentencing hearing on Friday for prostitution charges, for which he faces up to 20 years in prison. In the letter, Combs apologizes for his past behavior including the assault of ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, blaming his actions on drug addiction and claiming he has reformed during his 13 months in jail. His accusers have also written to the judge, with Ventura expressing fear of retaliation and arguing that Combs deserves a long sentence, while prosecutors are seeking at least 11 years imprisonment despite his lawyers requesting release later this month. Combs was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution in July, though he was acquitted of more serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

President Trump signed an executive order this week declaring that the United States will defend Qatar against armed attacks using diplomatic, economic, and if necessary, military measures. This significant security pact elevates Qatar's status dramatically, coming just years after it faced a regional boycott and now serves as a key Middle Eastern diplomatic hub, particularly in Israel-Hamas negotiations. The executive order follows Qatar's anger over Israeli airstrikes that targeted Hamas leaders on Qatari soil, as well as Iranian attacks earlier this year. Critics question the timing and motivation behind this extraordinary security commitment, with some suggesting it may be aimed at pressuring Qatar to secure Hamas's agreement to Trump's 20-point Gaza peace proposal.

As the US government shutdown reached its third day, President Trump announced plans to work with his budget director to identify "Democrat Agencies" for funding cuts, while refusing to include healthcare subsidies demanded by Democrats. Congressional Republicans and Democrats continued blaming each other for the shutdown, which has left approximately 750,000 federal employees on unpaid leave and essential workers working without pay. The Office of Management and Budget has already paused billions in funding for Democratic states, including $18 billion in New York infrastructure projects. With both sides appearing unwilling to compromise, the Senate is expected to attempt another vote Friday afternoon to resolve the impasse. # Who is affected - Approximately 750,000 federal workers placed on unpaid furlough - Essential federal employees (including over 200,000 law enforcement officers) working without pay - Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers - Tourists turned away from closed federal museums and monuments - Low-income individuals who receive healthcare insurance subsidies set to expire - Residents of Democratic states where funding has been paused, particularly New York # What action is being taken - President Trump is meeting with Russell Vought, director of the US Office of Management and Budget, to decide which government activities should stop - The White House has moved to pause or cancel billions in funding for Democratic states, including $18 billion in New York infrastructure projects - Essential federal workers are continuing to work without pay - The Senate is expected to vote Friday afternoon on resolving the impasse - Both parties are holding press conferences blaming each other for the shutdown - Some federal attractions like the Statue of Liberty remain open while others have closed # Why it matters - Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are without pay or on furlough - Federal services are beginning to be disrupted, with some museums and monuments closing - Healthcare insurance subsidies for low-income individuals could expire at the end of the year - Billions in infrastructure funding for states is being paused or canceled - The shutdown highlights the deep political divide in Congress, with each party blaming the other - Air travel could eventually be affected if TSA workers and air traffic controllers begin calling in sick # What's next - The Senate is expected to try again on Friday afternoon to resolve the impasse with a vote - Lawmakers from both parties must come together to pass legislation if the government is to reopen - Americans may begin to pressure Congress to end the shutdown once they experience direct impacts

The U.S. government shutdown has sparked a heated dispute with the Trump administration accusing Democrats of demanding healthcare for illegal immigrants, which Democrats firmly deny as false. The core of the disagreement centers on Democratic proposals to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies and reverse restrictions to Medicaid that would affect lawfully present immigrants, not undocumented ones. Republicans claim these changes would benefit illegal immigrants, while Democrats and healthcare experts clarify that undocumented immigrants remain ineligible for federal healthcare programs under existing law. The debate has intensified as Senate Democrats rejected a Republican funding proposal due to concerns over healthcare provisions that would impact millions of Americans.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is urging visitors to avoid U.S. national parks during the current government shutdown due to skeleton staffing and limited facilities. While the National Park Service (NPS) is keeping parks partially open with essential services continuing, more than half its workforce has been placed on furlough. Conservation groups and former rangers are concerned that keeping parks accessible with minimal staff puts both visitors and park resources at significant risk, citing previous shutdowns where vandalism, off-roading, and resource damage occurred. The government shutdown began Wednesday after Congress failed to agree on a new spending plan, with both parties attempting to keep parks open despite disagreements over other budget matters.

Unique On The Go Corp. will pay $166,011 to resolve allegations that it misclassified 84 workers in Washington D.C. as independent contractors rather than employees. The car detailing and rental fleet management company will pay $111,008 in restitution to affected workers for unpaid wages, overtime, and damages, plus $55,003 in civil penalties to the District. Though denying wrongdoing, the company agreed to reclassify its workers as employees and implement compliance measures including quarterly reports for one year. This settlement is part of the Office of the Attorney General's broader effort to address wage theft and worker misclassification, which has recovered over $20 million for workers since Attorney General Brian Schwalb took office in January 2023.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign memoir "107 Days" has achieved remarkable success, selling 350,000 copies across all formats in its first week according to publisher Simon & Schuster. The book chronicles Harris's unexpected 107-day presidential campaign that began after President Biden withdrew following a poor debate performance against Donald Trump in June 2024. Despite internal Democratic Party criticism of the book's content, public interest remains strong as evidenced by robust sales and well-attended author appearances. Simon & Schuster has already ordered a fifth printing that will bring total hardcover copies to 500,000, positioning the memoir to potentially become a historic bestseller, though still far behind Michelle Obama's "Becoming" which sold over 8 million copies globally.

LM Manufacturing in Southwest Detroit hosted its fourth annual Manufacturing Day, where over 200 students from six Detroit schools toured the facility and learned about career opportunities in manufacturing. During the event, students like 15-year-old Isaiah Clay were introduced to automotive manufacturing processes and expressed interest in future internships. Representatives from major companies including GM, Comerica Bank, and Henry Ford Health were present to connect with students and discuss career paths. LM Manufacturing, a joint venture between Magna and Lan Manufacturing that produces automotive seating for Ford, emphasizes its "C Power" values and operates an Expose 2 Inspire program partnering with 18 Detroit schools to provide job shadowing and internship opportunities.

A recent article in the Houston Defender outlines ten beneficial habits people can incorporate into their daily routines to improve overall wellbeing and success. The habits range from simple morning practices like making your bed to organizational strategies such as creating goal-oriented to-do lists, as well as health-focused behaviors including eating more leafy greens and increasing physical movement throughout the day. Additional recommendations include reading regularly, improving posture, setting clear boundaries, curating social media consumption, and prioritizing adequate sleep. The article emphasizes that conscious choices can lead to automatic habits that significantly impact one's quality of life.

Multiple Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have recently faced a wave of bomb threats, with Morgan State University and Towson University being the latest targets on Tuesday. Despite all threats being confirmed as hoaxes by law enforcement, each incident is treated as credible until thoroughly investigated. According to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), more than 75 HBCUs have experienced similar threats since 2022, disrupting classes across 18 states and DC, with HBCUs being targeted at higher rates than other higher education institutions. The Congressional Black Caucus has requested the Justice Department and FBI conduct a full investigation into these incidents of intimidation against Black educational communities.

of African Leaders at the UN General Assembly African leaders addressed the United Nations General Assembly on global issues including climate change, inequality, and international conflicts like the Gaza situation, but gave minimal attention to significant African conflicts. Despite wars in Sudan and Congo having killed thousands and created humanitarian crises, these conflicts received little substantive attention in African leaders' speeches. Analysts note this reflects limitations in African institutions and a reluctance to prioritize African issues on the global stage. Meanwhile, external powers including the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are leading peace negotiations for these African conflicts, highlighting the limited leverage of African institutions in regional conflict resolution.

Carl Wesley Coleman (1942-2025) was a Navy veteran who served in Japan and Vietnam before receiving an honorable discharge in 1965 and moving his family to San Diego. Following military service, he worked at Solar Turbines for 38 years as a Quality Control Inspector, retiring in 2003, and later worked as a Primerica insurance representative. Coleman was deeply involved in his community, serving at Bayview Church, promoting education through his own academic achievements, and helping establish the Jacob Center's Market Creek Square. His life was characterized by family devotion, community leadership, educational pursuits, and various sporting activities before he passed away on August 25, 2025, survived by his wife Dorothy, four children, siblings, grandchildren, and other relatives.

Josephine Randolph, born in 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee, lived a full life of 88 years before passing away on September 16, 2025, in California surrounded by family. She was married to Theodore Randolph for 70 years, raising eight children together plus welcoming a stepdaughter. Beyond being a devoted mother and wife who maintained an immaculate home, she worked as a housekeeper, volunteered at polling stations, and was employed at Popeye's, where her biscuits became renowned. For 24 years, she served as an ordained mother at Zion Temple Apostolic Church in Gary, Indiana, where she participated in the choir and kitchen service.

William L. Gibbs, Jr., a Navy veteran who served as an aircraft mechanic from 1975 to 1981, passed away on August 29, 2025, at age 67 after battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Born in San Francisco in 1957 and a graduate of Escondido High School, Bill was known for his remarkable ability to create and maintain lifelong friendships. He is survived by his wife Venus, his mother Betty, his brother Dr. John Gibbs, and his sisters Juanita and Tina Gibbs, while his son William N. Gibbs preceded him in death in 2005. Bill's family suggests planting a tree as a memorial to honor his enduring spirit and the connections he fostered throughout his life.

Joseph Jesse Boroquez, Jr., born on September 7, 2003, in San Diego, California, passed away on September 11, 2025. During his life, he was known for his journey toward Christianity, joyful personality, and strong friendships. Joseph was a father to two children, Ezekiel and Kayleah, whom he deeply loved. He is survived by numerous family members including his parents, eleven siblings, and his grandfather, while being preceded in death by his grandmother and four aunts.

Johnnie Cochran, born October 2, 1937, in Shreveport, Louisiana, was a celebrated attorney known for defending O.J. Simpson and fighting for civil rights causes, including freeing wrongfully imprisoned Geronimo Pratt. Thurgood Marshall, a pioneering civil rights lawyer who won 29 of 32 Supreme Court cases including the landmark Brown v. Board of Education, became the first Black Supreme Court Justice on October 2, 1967. August Wilson, one of America's greatest playwrights who created the ten-play American Century Cycle documenting African-American life throughout the 20th century, won two Pulitzer Prizes before passing away on October 2, 2005, after which Broadway's Virginia Theatre was renamed in his honor.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education has adopted a streamlined process to fill the upcoming vacancy created by Board Member Sherry Gay-Dagnogo's appointment as Detroit's Ombudsman. Rather than conducting a new public search, the board voted to offer the position to the runner-up from their July 2025 vacancy selection process, who was later identified as Bessie Harris, a retired special education teacher. The decision passed despite objections from some board members who preferred following the district's standard vacancy policy requiring public applications and interviews. If the runner-up accepts, they will serve through December 2026 and will need to run in the next scheduled board election to continue serving.

Sean "Diddy" Combs, the music mogul convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, faces sentencing with prosecutors requesting at least 11 years imprisonment while his defense team argues for a much lighter 14-month sentence. Although acquitted of more serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges, Combs could receive up to 20 years as each count carries a maximum 10-year sentence. Federal Judge Arun Subramanian must weigh multiple factors in determining the final sentence, including victim impact, Combs' personal history, and the probation office's recommendation of 5-7 years. Combs' lawyers are also challenging the application of the Mann Act in his case, arguing for acquittal or a new trial on grounds that the encounters were consensual and didn't constitute prostitution.

The U.S. government shutdown has entered its second day with the White House warning that mass layoffs of federal workers are "imminent" and could result in permanent job losses within days. President Trump has suggested using the shutdown as an "opportunity" to make lasting cuts to programs, while Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked over spending priorities with Democrats seeking healthcare funding guarantees and Republicans pushing for a temporary funding measure. The shutdown, which began Wednesday after Congress failed to agree on a spending plan, may affect approximately 750,000 federal workers (40% of the federal workforce) who face unpaid furloughs, with essential workers required to work without immediate pay. Despite the mounting crisis, negotiations appear stalled with little progress toward resolution before the next scheduled vote on Friday.

The US government and law enforcement agencies have strongly criticized apps like ICEBlock that track Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, claiming they endanger officers' lives following a deadly attack on an ICE facility in Dallas. Developed in response to President Trump's immigration crackdown, these apps allow users to report ICE agent sightings on maps and have been downloaded over a million times despite government criticism. Creator Joshua Aaron remains committed to maintaining ICEBlock despite accusations from US Attorney General Pam Bondi that he is threatening officers' safety, while legal experts argue the government has limited power to ban such apps as they are protected under the First Amendment.

The article warns that America is experiencing internal destruction similar to Rome's downfall. It points to concerning actions including the Secretary of Defense's meeting with military leaders, Trump's comments about deploying military to cities, the government shutdown over budget disagreements, and the undermining of federal agencies. The author argues these developments are part of a deliberate plan to dismantle American democracy from within. As a response, the article urges readers to pray, register voters during protests, support redistricting proposals like California's Proposition 50, and actively vote to regain Democratic control of the House of Representatives.

The new Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park, an $80 million development spanning 22 acres along Detroit's Southwest riverfront, is set to open on October 25th. The park features numerous attractions including a four-acre playground, water garden, sports pavilion, and distinctive animal-shaped structures like a 20-foot bear slide. Matt Cullen, CEO of the Riverfront Conservancy, described it as potentially "the most iconic park in the United States," comparing it to Chicago's popular Millennium Park. The development includes several sponsored zones such as the Delta Dental Play Garden, Clinton-Huron MetroParks Water Garden, William Davidson Sports House, and DTE Foundation Summit, with grand opening celebrations featuring The Jacksons performing during Detroit Harvest Fest.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans to "return to the highest male standard" for combat roles in the U.S. military, claiming standards were lowered to accommodate women. Female veterans strongly disagree with this characterization, asserting that combat role standards have always been gender-neutral and equally high for all service members. While Hegseth maintains women won't be excluded from the armed forces entirely, his directive has sparked significant controversy, with many female veterans arguing they've never received special treatment. The announcement comes amidst broader changes Hegseth claims will "fix decades of decay" in the military, including his criticism of promotions based on race, gender, or "historic so-called firsts."

The US government has shut down due to a standoff between MAGA Republicans and Democrats over healthcare funding, specifically regarding Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies. Approximately 750,000 federal employees are being furloughed daily, with many facing potential permanent layoffs as directed by the Office of Management and Budget. Without extending enhanced tax credits, nearly 24 million Americans could see their health insurance premiums double or triple, with low and moderate-income households facing devastating financial consequences, according to KFF research. The shutdown is also impacting multiple federal agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, NIH, and FDA, while economists warn that each week of shutdown will reduce GDP by 0.15 percentage points.