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Newly Installed Panels at George Washington’s Philadelphia Home Confront Slavery History

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In keeping with a prior commitment, the Trump administration has unveiled revamped displays concerning slavery at the historical site of President George Washington’s residence in Philadelphia.

The new panels, installed on Wednesday, have drawn criticism, with some arguing they dilute the harsh realities of slavery. These panels are located in the same historic area that witnessed the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

“In an overnight maneuver cloaked in secrecy, federal authorities replaced panels at the President’s House that previously offered a comprehensive history of Philadelphia,” remarked Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Wednesday. “Although the federal court sanctioned this removal, the cover of night under which it occurred suggests an awareness of its shameful nature and a breach of community confidence.”

Originally erected in 2010, the panels detailed the lives of nine enslaved people who, alongside George and Martha Washington, resided at the house in the 1790s when Philadelphia served as the nation’s temporary capital.

The revision of these panels came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2025 mandating that federally owned or administered historic sites avoid presenting information that “disparages Americans past or living,” highlighting instead the “achievements and progress of the American people.”

A lower court forced the federal government in February to remove the new panels after they already had been installed earlier this year. A three-judge panel of the U.S. 3rd Circuit of Appeals reversed that and ruled July 3 that the work could continue.

A government website with images of the new panels showed they would still have information on enslaved people who lived in the home. It would also include details on the abolitionist movement, how the Constitution treated slavery, the end of slavery in Pennsylvania and how Washington and his successor, John Adams, viewed and treated slavery, as well as information about the 20th century Civil Rights movement.

However, the replacement panels do not include some of detail in the earlier ones, such as a map of slave trade routes and a timeline on slavery. They also avoid critical headlines such as “The Dirty Business of Slavery.”

The city of Philadelphia had sued the federal government over the removal of information previously included in the panels. It argued that the federal government must consult with the city before making changes to the President’s House Site. Justice Department lawyers argued the administration alone can decide what stories are told at National Park Service properties.

Parker said the city intends to seek a rehearing “on serious legal issues” presented in the appeals court decision.

Michael Coard, an attorney and founder of Avenging The Ancestors Coalition (ATAC), said the Philadelphia-based history preservation group continues to work on legal strategies opposing the Trump administration’s changing of the panels.

ATAC joined the city’s lawsuit.

Trump is attempting to rewrite history, Coard told reporters Wednesday near the site.

“What if there’s a president next time who doesn’t like the Liberty Bell because the Liberty Bell was used by abolitionists to support the end of slavery?” he said. “What if there’s a president who doesn’t like the Statue of Liberty because too many immigrants come in? Do we remove the Statue of Liberty?”

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Williams reported from Detroit.

Alabama Sheriff Reveals Details of Gruesome Double Murder of Veteran and Wife at Home

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Tragedy struck in Alabama as a military veteran and his wife fell victim to a horrific burglary, officials revealed.

Authorities have arrested a 46-year-old man accused of murdering a couple, Justin and Lena Elrod, in their home in Reform, Alabama. The couple was found deceased at around 12:15 a.m. on Sunday, following a burglary report. The suspect, George Birmingham, now faces charges in connection with their deaths, according to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.

Birmingham has been charged with one count of capital murder, two counts of murder, burglary, and additional drug-related offenses.

Split image of two selfies showing Justin and Lena Elrod smiling together, one near a waterfront pier and one inside a distillery barrel room.

Military veteran Justin Elrod and his wife, Lena, were discovered deceased inside their home in Reform, Alabama, on Sunday. (Lena Elrod/Facebook)

Court documents suggest Birmingham allegedly used an electric saw to kill Lena Elrod, while Justin Elrod was fatally injured by a blow to the head with a metallic object.

Booking photo of George Birmingham, a bearded man in an orange jail uniform, standing in front of a height-measurement wall.

George Birmingham, 46, faces capital murder and additional charges in the deaths of Justin and Lena Elrod, according to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. (Pickens County Sheriff’s Office)

The sheriff’s office said Birmingham was accused of killing the husband and wife before the burglary inside their home.

According to WBRC, a motive hasn’t been established, but authorities said Birmingham was an “acquaintance” of the Elrods.

Justin and Lena Elrod smiling closely together while holding paper cups printed with a mustache and lips design.

Friends described Justin Elrod as a hard worker who survived his military service only to be killed in the alleged burglary. (Lena Elrod/Facebook)

Aliceville Mayor Terrence Windham described Justin Elrod as a hard worker who was humble.

“He was a very humble guy, and he was the last person that I would think that something like this would happen to,” Windham said. “He survived the military, survived working in the prison, and now, this situation, it just makes it even worse.”

Jason Burns, who worked with Justin Elrod at a federal prison, said he’s still at a loss that his friend was killed.

Justin Elrod and his wife, Lena Elrod, embracing while posing for a photo on an outdoor overlook with a steel truss bridge in the background.

Justin and Lena Elrod were remembered by friends and coworkers as a devoted couple. (Lena Elrod/Facebook)

“About every five minutes,” Burns said. “About every five minutes, I’m having that moment.”

“We ask everyone to continue keeping the victims’ families, those affected by this tragedy, and the responding first responders in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” the sheriff’s office said.

Whitney Fransway Shares Heartfelt Support Received from Paige DeSorbo

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Whitney Fransway is no stranger to the spotlight of reality TV. Having previously appeared on Season 21 of The Bachelor and Season 6 of Bachelor In Paradise, Fransway was prepared for a different kind of challenge when she joined In The City. “I definitely felt more anxious about starting In The City compared to The Bachelor because Bravo is famous for embracing drama,” she explained. As expected, her relationship with Kenny Martin soon became a hot topic within her new social circle. “I moved across the country for him without a ring, which seemed normal to me. Living together before getting engaged is pretty common,” Fransway shared, acknowledging her surprise at how closely their romance was scrutinized.

Throughout her first Bravo season, much of Fransway’s time was spent defending her relationship with Martin. However, she found herself embroiled in controversy with Lindsay Hubbard during a cast trip to Connecticut. The situation arose when Hubbard refused to relinquish the primary suite to Yvonne Najor, despite her behavior at Najor’s wedding dinner being the subject of criticism. Fransway commented that Hubbard used the “single mom card” as a reason not to give up her room. Clarifying her remark, Fransway emphasized there was “no malicious intention.” “I used it as an example to suggest she should prioritize her friendship with Yvonne over her own needs,” Fransway explained.

Unfortunately, Hubbard didn’t perceive it that way. Although the two managed to reconcile by the season’s end, Hubbard seemed unsettled by Fransway’s comments during the In The City reunion. Fransway expressed her surprise, saying, “I was shocked. I made it clear what my intent was, but she interpreted it in a completely different way.”

In a Zoom interview with DECIDER, Fransway reflected on her journey on the reality series, discussed how she and Martin stayed united through the turbulence, and disclosed which unexpected Bravolebrity reached out with a supporting hand.

DECIDER: Did your past experience on The Bachelor make you feel more prepared to film In The City, or did it not factor in at all?

WHITNEY FRANSWAY: In some ways, I did feel better because I had been around cameras before. You find that the cameras just melt away and you forget that they’re there. However, I did feel more nervous starting In The City than The Bachelor just because Bravo is known to love the drama. So, I felt a bit protective over my relationship with Kenny.

'In The City'

Photo: Bravo

You are not the first Bachelor Nation alum to cross over to Bravo. Did you reach out or hear from Jasmine Goode, Salley Carson or Ashley Iaconetti before starting filming?

I actually just met Salley. Jasmine was on my season of The Bachelor so I had talked to her just briefly, I talked to Ashley more recently. She was in a similar situation as me as she also entered into a new friend group. It was nice to connect with her and relate on that level. The girls have a lot of concerns about yours and Kenny’s relationship.

Did you ever imagine you two would be a focal point of group conversation?

I didn’t think our relationship would be under such a microscope. I know I moved across the country for him without a ring, but it’s pretty normal to live with someone before you get engaged.

I agree. How did you and Kenny handle all the chatter surround your relationship?

We just made sure to communicate. We knew we had to be a united front with people questioning this and that. We knew where we stood with each other, which was the most important thing. Other people’s opinions don’t really matter when they’re not asked for.

Let’s get into last week’s episode. You said Lindsay “plays the single mom card” with the room situation with Yvonne. Did you think Lexi Sundin was going to immediately go and tell the other woman what you said?

I didn’t think that she would immediately do it [laughs]. I thought I had built this safe space with Lexi, but at the end of the day, I’m not surprised. She’s known Lindsay for longer and she is really close to her. Of course, she would relay that information.

There was no malicious intention behind that comment. It was the example I used when I felt like she should have put herself and her needs aside for her friendship with Yvonne. That was what I meant. Maybe I could have picked better way to express that, but I just felt like she should’ve started mending the friendship with Yvonne. That small gesture would have meant a lot. That’s what I would have done as a friend. That was the point I was trying to make.

In the reunion trailer, Lindsay seemingly tells you that she cried for six months about what you said, even though you already apologized in the season finale. Do you feel like you got to tell your side at the reunion?

I was shocked by her comment. In this week’s episode, people saw that I was very clear with my what my intent was. She took it down a whole different lane that it wasn’t even about. I was really caught by surprise with that.

'In The City'

Photo: Bravo

Kenny has that mic drop line in the reunion trailer where he says to Lindsay, “you collect apologies like you collect souls.” While he may have been a tad harsh, did it feel good that he had your back?

Of course. He did step in and stand up for me, which was nice. Again, my comment was not meant to an attack against her as a mom, which is how I guess she took it. I see how her and Georgina show up as parents. They’re incredible mothers, and I totally respect them. The whole thing is a little confusing to me.

I know you’ve done a “Women Tell All” before for The Bachelor, but what was your experience like at your first In The City reunion?

It was terrifying [laughs]. It was a lot more intense than I thought. I felt like I knew what I was walking into with the “Women Tell All.” I was definitely a little more naive with my first In The City reunion. I thought we were going to address things there and move forward. I didn’t expect, you know, screaming matches. [Laughs] But I should have expected it. It’s Bravo.

And you’re now a part of the Bravo family forever! Outside of your own cast, who has reached out to you and made you feel the most welcomed?

Surprisingly, Paige DeSorbo reached out to me. She sent me a really sweet message last week, just saying that she’s here if I need any advice. She knows this experience can be a lot. It was nice to feel the support from her.

In The City airs Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.

Trump Eyes New Iran Nuclear Site Amid Persistent Tensions

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In a surprising turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump has turned his attention to Pickaxe Mountain, a nuclear site previously untouched during conflicts with Iran. This shift in focus raises questions and speculation about its newfound importance.

Trump, on Monday, issued a stark warning directed at the site near Natanz in Iran, where Western intelligence suggests undisclosed enrichment activities might be underway. “Pickaxe Mountain will be dismantled. The Iranians should brace themselves,” he asserted.

“We’re going after Pickaxe Mountain,” Trump announced, doubling down on his stance and underlining the heightened scrutiny being applied to the site.

“We maintain a vigilant watch on Pickaxe Mountain. While current activity seems lifeless, Iran’s nuclear ambitions don’t sit well with us, and every hint of progress is swiftly destroyed, much to their displeasure,” he elaborated.

This latest development follows Trump’s recent declaration that Iran would “never possess a nuclear weapon,” asserting that any uranium enrichment efforts were deeply buried, only accessible to the U.S.’s reach, highlighting America’s strategic advantage.

That follows comments last June, where Trump declared “all” nuclear sites in Iran had been “obliterated”, raising a key question: If Iran’s nuclear sites were obliterated last year, why is a previously untouched one now a key target?

What is Pickaxe Mountain?

Pickaxe Mountain is a heavily fortified site near Iran’s already-damaged Natanz facility, housing two deeply buried tunnel complexes suspected of containing uranium enrichment capabilities and stockpiles.

Experts have assessed its depth at about 600m below granite, meaning it’s beyond the reach of even the most powerful ‘bunker-buster’ bombs in the US arsenal.

The site was not among the three sites — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — targeted by US airstrikes last June, which were believed to house Iranian nuclear facilities.

“Monumental damage was done to all nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images,” Trump said on 25 June 2025. “Obliteration is an accurate term!”

A satellite image of tunnel construction.

Construction at Pickaxe Mountain began in 2020 and has sped up since June last year — with the Iranian government describing the site as a centrifuge assembly plant.

As of June 2025, the facility was not assessed as operational — something the Institute of Science and International Security says could have been a “key reason why the site was not attacked by airstrikes in the June war”.

The institute said satellite analysis and monitoring have raised questions about the “the nuclear activities Iran has planned for the site, specifically whether it includes plans for an enrichment plant”.

What survived the ‘obliteration’?

Pickaxe Mountain isn’t the only thing to have survived the alleged “obliteration”.

Deakin University professor of global Islamic politics Greg Barton said that, despite Trump’s claim, it’s believed 440kg of enriched uranium remains buried underground and is “relatively accessible”.

In June 2025, US B-2 bombers dropped GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs, or ‘bunker-buster’ bombs, on two Iranian nuclear facilities — Fordow and Natanz — while Isfahan was hit only with Tomahawk missiles.

Barton said intelligence reporting and satellite imagery suggests the U-235 (an isotope of uranium that fuels most nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons) was moved from Fordow to Isfahan days before the strikes — meaning it likely survived.

“There were no bunker bombs dropped at Isfahan, so if it was taken there, as widely speculated, it’s still there and relatively accessible,” Barton said.

Furthermore, enriched uranium and equipment at other facilities may not be totally destroyed.

“Each of these three sites had underground bunkers, underground tunnel complexes. Fordow was thought to be 90 metres deep. The bunker-buster bombs only go down 60 metres,” he said.

“If some of the U-235 was left at Fordow, it would likely be buried but not destroyed because it’s below the level of 90 metres.”

While the 440kg of 60 per cent enriched uranium was “just below weapons grade”, Barton said further enrichment could be possible.

While centrifuges at facilities like Fordow may have been damaged by vibrations, Iran’s ability to refine uranium to nuclear weapons grade would be “set back” but not eliminated.

Could the US reach what lies beneath Pickaxe Mountain?

The challenges that limited last year’s strikes are, if anything, more acute at Pickaxe Mountain.

Fordow’s roughly 90m depth already exceeded the 60m the bunker-buster bombs could reach.

Pickaxe Mountain’s cover, at up to 600m of granite, is assessed as beyond any weapon currently in the US arsenal, including the GBU-57s used in June 2025.

Trump has not said what would be used instead.

He has offered only surveillance claims — that the US is “watching it closely” and has “a lot of eyes” on the site.

“We’ll probably give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon,” Trump said on Monday.

Has the war changed Iran’s calculations?

Barton says there is “no factual basis to take Trump or Netanyahu seriously in terms of [the attacks] degrading a nuclear enrichment program”.

He believes this is partly because “there’s no reason to believe the regime was focused on a nuclear weapons program”, citing intelligence assessments issued in the lead-up to the US mid-2025 strikes.

In March 2025, Trump’s then national intelligence director, Tulsi Gabbard, said the US intelligence community “continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon”, although she also noted that the nation’s “enriched uranium stockpile is at its highest levels and is unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons”.

The issue quickly became a political football, with Trump saying Gabbard was wrong. She later backtracked and said her testimony had been taken “out of context”.

If anything, Barton said the war may have pushed Iran closer to wanting a bomb — reframing it as a “security blanket” against attacks, much as it has functioned for North Korea.

The political case for Iran to pursue nuclear weapons has “gotten stronger, not weaker”, he said, even though he doesn’t believe the regime is likely to move quickly.

While the hundreds of kilograms of enriched uranium “is still at large, and possibly accessible to the regime”, they aren’t likely to use it anytime soon.

“It’s an insurance policy,” he said.

Trump’s ‘bluff and blunder’

A year on from “obliteration”, Barton said Trump’s version of events and the war being a “tremendous success” are “bluff and blunder”.

“Trump is trying to deflect, trying to present himself as having won, when all the evidence suggests that he’s comprehensively lost and he’s ended up worse off,” Barton said.

He said Trump’s rhetoric is driven by a “really frustrating” bind: Iran has shown it’s willing to use its “great leverage” over the Strait of Hormuz.

“He’ll theoretically order military activity, but there’s nothing you can do. This could go on for years.”


Republican Senator’s Fierce Critique Targets Trump’s Choice for Attorney General

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In a tense confrontation, Senator John Cornyn, once a close associate of former President Donald Trump, grilled Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during his confirmation hearing. The heated debate centered around the President’s contentious political ‘slush fund,’ a topic that threatens Blanche’s path to confirmation.

The controversy escalated after Trump nominated Blanche, his former personal lawyer, to head the Department of Justice. This decision followed the dismissal of Pam Bondi, which came in the wake of damaging revelations from the Jeffrey Epstein case files.

At the heart of the hearing’s explosive exchanges was the now-defunct $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund. Criticized across party lines as ‘corrupt,’ this initiative aimed to counteract perceived ‘lawfare’ by the Justice Department against prior administrations, but ultimately faced severe opposition from both Democrats and Republicans.

This fund intended to compensate individuals regarded as victims of political legal battles, including participants in the January 6 Capitol riot and other Trump allies. Under intense scrutiny, the Department of Justice abandoned the proposal in anticipation of its potentially damaging repercussions.

Cornyn stands among two Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voicing doubts about Blanche’s appointment. His skepticism adds a layer of uncertainty to the confirmation process, casting doubt over Blanche’s potential ascent to the top DOJ position.

The Senator has been at odds with the President for months following Trump’s decision to endorse his opponent, MAGA warrior Ken Paxton, in the Texas Senate primary race this year. Cornyn ultimately lost his reelection bid. 

The outgoing Texas Senator is in an especially powerful position following the sudden death of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, as even one ‘no’ vote on the panel could scuttle Blanche’s confirmation hopes. 

‘It is a moot issue, meaning there is no weaponization fund,’ Blanche told Cornyn in response to his questioning about the so-called ‘slush fund.’

President Donald Trump's nominee for Attorney General Todd Blanche meets with Senator Chuck Grassley at his Senate office

President Donald Trump’s nominee for Attorney General Todd Blanche meets with Senator Chuck Grassley at his Senate office

John Cornyn, Republican from Texas, points to a sign displayed behind him during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche

‘The weaponization fund is dead. It’s not moving forward.’

That did little to assuage Cornyn’s concerns, who noted that the administration has not provided a written statement saying as much; and said Trump has not agreed in writing not to move forward with the fund – a point to which Blanche ultimately agreed.

The fund is ‘just not moving forward,’ Blanche said. ‘There’s no modification,’ he said. ‘It just never started.’

Again, Cornyn seemed unconvinced. 

‘Just to be clear, the president of the United States, who was a plaintiff in this lawsuit, has not agreed in writing to delete the weaponization fund,’ Cornyn asked Blanche, somewhat tersely.

‘And there is no guarantee that he, or one of the other plaintiffs, might raise that issue by way of a lawsuit, a recent contract lawsuit in the future,’ he said. 

The exchange comes as Blanche faces his own Texas-sized obstacles to confirmation. This is due in no small part to Cornyn, an outgoing Texas lawmaker who has not yet committed publicly to supporting Blanche.

Cornyn revisited the issue shortly before the end of his time. This pertains to ‘lawfare or weaponization,’ he said. ‘Those aren’t legal terms of art, are they?

‘I think they are,’ Blanche responded.

‘Have they been defined in any case or any statute?’ Cornyn pressed.

‘No,’ Blanche responded. 

‘So they’re not a legal term of art,’ Cornyn clarified. ‘We don’t know what that covers.’

Cornyn told reporters previously he would hold out on supporting Blanche until after he heard from him directly on several issues he said he had concerns with – including the slush fund, and Trump’s IRS lawsuit.

Trump tapped his ex-personal attorney Blanche to lead the DOJ after firing Pam Bondi following negative fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein files release

Trump tapped his ex-personal attorney Blanche to lead the DOJ after firing Pam Bondi following negative fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein files release

Blanche represented Trump in his high-stakes hush money case in May 2024

Blanche represented Trump in his high-stakes hush money case in May 2024

Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island presses Blanche during his confirmation hearing

Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island presses Blanche during his confirmation hearing

President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the Oval Office

President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the Oval Office 

Cornyn is not the only senator who expressed serious concerns about the fund during Wednesday’s hearing, and their exchange is unlikely to be the last time Blanche will be confronted with the issue before the chamber vote is expected towards the end of July.

Already, Blanche’s path to confirmation is expected to be less smooth than that of his predecessor, Pam Bondi. 

That’s in part due to the timing of his nomination: Unlike Bondi, who served from early 2025 through early April, Blanche will be forced to answer for nearly two years of actions the Justice Department has taken during Trump’s second presidential term, including some of its most contentious lawsuits, court cases, and personnel decisions. 

Blanche also served as Trump’s personal lawyer after his first presidential term— a role that was put on stark display during one back-and-forth with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island.

‘Are you and president Trump friends?’ Whitehouse asked Blanche.

‘I’m his lawyer,’ Blanche said, before correcting himself. ‘I was his lawyer,’ Blanche added to quickly clarify. 

Canadian Woman Slaps Teen Over Political Clothing, Faces ICE Detention Consequences

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A Canadian woman residing in New Jersey finds herself in legal hot water after allegedly launching an assault on a teenager over their choice of attire. The incident took place on a boardwalk where the young person was dressed in pants emblazoned with “Trump” and “ICE.”

The altercation has drawn attention due to a report from NJ.com, which details the accusations against Kaitlyn E. Tracey, aged 33. According to the report, Tracey is alleged to have “slapped the victim across her face and body.”

The confrontation reportedly began when Tracey, using her phone to record, approached a group of teenagers at the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk. The situation escalated from there, police say.

photo shows beach with boardwalk

Following the incident, Kaitlyn Tracey was taken into custody on charges of assault and child endangerment. Authorities claim she reacted strongly against the teen’s patriotic and political apparel, which was worn at this bustling beachside venue in New Jersey. (Getty Images: DenisTangneyJr)

According to police reports, Tracey was particularly provoked by the group’s “patriotic colored sweatpants with political wording.” How this impromptu interaction turned into an alleged physical assault is now a matter of legal scrutiny.

The Point Pleasant Beach Police Department said it happened Friday night, July 3, during the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend; surveillance video captured her allegedly “striking the juvenile female, once to the body and once to the face, with an open hand.”

She then ran off from the scene. Days later, Tracey was arrested on charges following an investigation into the case.

photo shows boardwalk with people and the beach nearby

Kaitlyn Tracey, 33, was arrested on assault and child endangerment charges after police say she slapped a teen for wearing patriotic and political clothing on the boardwalk at a popular beach resort town in New Jersey. (Getty: Bloomberg)

Police confirm Tracey is facing charges of endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault, harassment, and obstruction.

Tracey, who is a Canadian citizen, came to the U.S. in 2024 with a passport, the report says.

On Tuesday, a man claiming to be Tracey’s husband posted a tearful plea on social media regarding the incident.

In the video he said, “Yesterday July 13, my wife was detained by ICE and brought to Delaney Hall in North New Jersey.”

Protestors, politicians and ICE agents gathered outside Delaney Hall immigration facility in Newark, N.J.

Delaney Hall, an immigration facility in Newark, N.J., on May 27, 2026. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for News Media)

A search of the ICE detainee locator confirms Tracey is in ICE custody at the Delaney Hall facility.

News Media has reached out to ICE for comment.

When reached by News Media, Tracey’s attorney, Francis Hodgsen, declined to comment.

Lakers’ Unexpected Strategy for Bronny James Post-LeBron Era Unveiled

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In a surprising turn of events, LeBron James has decided to leave the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the storied franchise seems committed to charting a different path for his son, Bronny James.

According to a report from The Athletic, the Lakers don’t view the pairing of LeBron and Bronny as an inseparable package, even after their groundbreaking time together in the City of Angels has concluded.

Despite LeBron’s departure after an eight-year tenure, the Lakers’ approach to Bronny remains unchanged, underscoring their steadfast commitment to nurturing his talent.

This delineation is notable, particularly after two seasons where discussions about Bronny were often intertwined with his father’s legacy. The Lakers made history by drafting Bronny at the No. 55 spot in 2024, enabling the duo to play together in an official NBA game—a first for a father-son pair. This decision had led to speculation that LeBron was the pivotal influence behind the draft choice.

With LeBron stepping away, Bronny now faces the opportunity to shape his own legacy in Los Angeles, based entirely on his abilities and potential.

The Athletic reported that the 21-year-old is well-liked inside the locker room, respected for his work habits and viewed as a player who has made meaningful progress. He attended the Lakers’ Summer League victory in Las Vegas and joined the veteran minicamp that began Monday, hardly signs of someone disconnected from the team’s plans.

The Lakers also guaranteed his $2.3 million salary for next season before LeBron’s decision became public.

Bronny’s production remains modest at the NBA level. He averaged 2.9 points and 1.2 assists across 42 games last season, but his development became more noticeable late in the year.

Injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves pushed him into the rotation, and he averaged 6.6 points over the final five regular-season games before receiving meaningful playoff minutes against Houston.

His G League numbers offered another encouraging sign. Bronny averaged 15.6 points in 14 games with South Bay while shooting 45.6% from 3-point range and cutting down his turnovers.

Teams pursuing LeBron have reportedly discussed the possibility of acquiring Bronny, but that does not mean the Lakers feel compelled to cooperate. Los Angeles has already invested two years in his development and controls his contract beyond next season.

Bronny will now face a more crowded backcourt featuring Doncic, Reaves, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Jaden Hardy and rookie Cameron Carr.

But the Lakers’ stance appears straightforward: LeBron’s next destination will not automatically determine Bronny’s.

For the first time in his professional career, the younger James has a chance to make the Lakers’ decision about him entirely about basketball.

Trump’s Spy Chief Nominee Takes Responsibility for Epstein Leak

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Donald Trump’s pick for the director of national intelligence publicly shouldered responsibility for the inadequate redaction of sensitive documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims during a congressional session held on Wednesday.

Jay Clayton conceded that he bore ultimate accountability for the mishandled release of files in January, attributing the lapse to a ‘technical review error.’

Among the mishandled information were home addresses and even nude photographs of alleged Epstein victims, an oversight that attorneys representing the victims said has caused further trauma and upheaval in their lives.

Clayton holds the position of US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, an area where part of the Epstein investigation was conducted.

In his role as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Clayton was responsible for ensuring that unsealed grand jury documents did not reveal personal details about the victims.

The judge added this requirement so that a clearly identifiable DOJ official would ‘take ownership’ of reviewing sensitive discovery.

Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico invoked Harry Truman’s saying, ‘The buck stops here,’ and asked where the buck stops in this case, to which Clayton answered, ‘For the Southern District documents, it was me.’ 

Clayton finally took his seat before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, roughly a month after President Trump torpedoed his own nominee’s confirmation hearing in a pre-dawn Truth Social post that threw Capitol Hill into chaos.

Jay Clayton, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill on Wednesday

Jay Clayton, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill on Wednesday 

In the hearing, Clayton admitted mistakes in the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein

In the hearing, Clayton admitted mistakes in the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein

The irony: Clayton had been sailing toward an easy, bipartisan confirmation, with senators in both parties eager to replace acting spy chief Bill Pulte, who has no intelligence background. Then Trump pulled the plug himself.

In June, the President abruptly canceled the hearing and vowed to keep Pulte in place, refusing to let the nomination advance until a string of separate demands were met, among them the confirmation of Jamie McDonald as US Attorney and passage of the SAVE America Act, his voter-ID bill.

‘We are canceling the Senate Hearing RE: DNI today, and will not be going forward until Jamie McDonald is approved to be U.S. Attorney,’ Trump wrote at the time. ‘In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence.’

The stunt drew a pointed rebuke from the committee’s ranking member, Mark Warner, who used his opening statement to needle the President. 

Warner said he could not recall another nominee senators had agreed, on a bipartisan basis, to ‘move heaven and earth’ to confirm quickly, only for the president to yank the hearing and, in the process, blow up the critical FISA authorization. ‘I know you had nothing to do with that,’ Warner told Clayton. ‘So I guess congratulations about getting finally in front of this committee.’

The urgency is real. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a key spy power, has been expired for over a month since it lapsed in the middle of June, and lawmakers in both parties want a confirmed, credentialed DNI in place.

Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia and Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, at the nomination hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday

Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia and Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, at the nomination hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday

Clayton is Donald Trump's nominee for director of intelligence

Clayton is Donald Trump’s nominee for director of intelligence 

Clayton’s chief vulnerability is that he has never held a formal national security role. Committee chairman Tom Cotton moved to inoculate him, casting Clayton’s day job as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York as perhaps ‘the number one national security-related US Attorney’s office in the country.’ 

That office prosecuted the case against captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Clayton also chaired the SEC from 2017 through the COVID pandemic, a stretch Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota called ‘a period of significant uncertainty for financial markets.’ 

‘National security and economic security are synonymous,’ Clayton told the committee. Rounds added that Clayton already has a working relationship with CIA director John Ratcliffe to build on.

Clayton was Trump’s second choice. 

His first pick, Federal Housing Finance Agency head Bill Pulte, drew swift blowback over his lack of intelligence experience. 

The vacancy opened when Tulsi Gabbard resigned to support her husband, Abraham, through cancer treatment.

Asked Wednesday whether he had been told why his hearing was delayed, Clayton declined to reveal the internal discussions.

Cotton noted Wednesday that he intends for the Intelligence Committee to vote to pass along Clayton’s nomination to the full chamber early next week.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling Steps Down: What His Departure Means for the City

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CHICAGO (WLS) — Wednesday marks the final day at work for Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling.

City Council members gathered Wednesday morning to express their admiration for the departing police chief.

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Snelling, who took on the superintendent role in 2023, had carved out a commendable path within the ranks of the Chicago police.

During his leadership, he managed the department during a time when violent crime rates were at an all-time low and directed security efforts at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

The city experienced a yearly decline in crime rates throughout his tenure, a trend that many credit to his effective leadership.

Snelling served more than 30 years with CPD, before becoming top cop.

He was also the prior chief of the Bureau of Counterterrorism and served as commander of the 7th District in his native Englewood.

He’s well-liked across the city, from peers and community members alike.

In a statement, Snelling said he’s closing this chapter, “with a heart full of gratitude.”

Aldermen said there’s a lot to celebrate about the work he’s done and more to improve on and look for in the next leader.

“I do think the reduction of violent crime in the city is something that must be acknowledged,” Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez said. “Often times we don’t hear those things. The reduction of violent crime and homicides I think is a reflection of the partnership that we could have when we work together. Also, I think the work we need to do to prevent young people to be out there doing these team takeovers. This is a national issue and I think we need to do more to get to the root causes of that.”

“He was a great leader,,” Alderman William Hall said. “A man I could call a true role model. He modeled humility, empathy, compassion, and that’s why the numbers are down because he led from his heart. He’s used his hands to build neighborhoods and so we have a gap to fill. One in which again he set a standard that will never be repeated in the history of Chicago.”

Speaking one-on-one with the I-Team this past December, Snelling described his successful approach to leadership, working across different bureaus.

“It’s a combination of this: my philosophy of top-down effect, not bottom-up, that the leadership has to be held accountable, and then the message coming from the top is now spread across the entirety of the city of Chicago with our Chicago police officers, that this is our focus to make sure that we’re protecting people in the city, and this is how we do it,” Snelling said. “And we train our officers to do it, and make sure that they’re following the rules. They’re policing constitutionally, which now helps us build trust in the community.”

Now, the nationwide search is on for CPD’s next superintendent. Fred Waller will serve as interim superintendent in the meantime.

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Weightlifter Caught Flexing $100K Disability Claim with Online Gym Videos

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In New York, a Long Island resident finds himself under scrutiny as Attorney General Letitia James accuses him of double-dealing—collecting disability payments while actively participating in weightlifting events and sharing his fitness endeavors on social media.

Raymond Phillips, aged 40, faced arrest earlier this month following a probe that revealed he had allegedly secured over $100,000 in disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) between 2021 and 2024, the attorney general’s office stated in a recent announcement.

The attorney general’s office, through a press release unveiling the charges, shared three revealing photographs from 2023 depicting Phillips engaged in bench pressing and squatting exercises, casting doubt on his disability claims.

According to the attorney general’s office, Phillips had managed to obtain disability funds by asserting that a weightlifting injury rendered him incapable of working, a narrative that now faces legal challenge in light of contradicting evidence.

Raymond Phillips squat

Raymond Phillips appears to perform a squat at a 2023 weightlifting competition in a photo provided by the New York Attorney General’s Office. (New York Attorney General’s Office)

“Raymond Phillips shamelessly collected benefits meant for disabled New Yorkers while boasting his weightlifting achievements on social media,” James said in a statement. “My office has no tolerance for fraudsters who cheat the system and steal from programs that are a lifeline for New Yorkers in need.”

According to the attorney general’s office, Phillips filed paperwork with the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) in August 2018 claiming he injured his dominant arm that June from weightlifting.

Letita James

New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a church service as part of the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators 55th annual legislative conference at the Albany Capital Center on Feb. 15, 2026. (Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)

In that paperwork, Phillips said he had undergone surgery, could not perform rudimentary tasks without help and was dealing with extreme pain, the attorney general’s office said.

In May 2021, Phillips’ claim was approved by the federal government and for the next three years, he received payments, according to prosecutors.

During that time, Phillips allegedly posted several videos and photos of himself weightlifting on Facebook and Instagram. His social media accounts have since been deleted.

Raymond Phillips bench

An image appears to show Raymond Phillips performing a bench press at a 2023 weightlifting competition. (New York Attorney General’s Office)

FBI ADDS 2 FUGITIVES TO ‘MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS’ LIST AMID HISTORIC $6.5B HEALTHCARE TAKEDOWN: PATEL

Conor Washington, special agent in charge at the SSA Office of Inspector General, also accused Phillips of continuing to work as a personal trainer while collecting disability payments.

Phillips was charged in a three-count indictment, charging him with second degree grand larceny and two counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree.

If he is convicted of grand larceny, he’ll face a maximum of 15 years in prison.

News Media reached out to Phillips’ defense attorney for comment.