The White House has mounted a forceful defense of ICE’s arrest of a well-known California legislative staffer from Hong Kong, while condemning the state lawmaker’s decision to employ him.

Ho-Yin Mo, a field representative for Democratic California Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani and a former anchor at a San Francisco Chinese-language television station, now faces possible deportation. He was detained last week during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

White House spokesperson Lauren Bis called the situation “outrageous” in an exclusive statement to the Daily Mail on Wednesday, referring to Mo as an “illegal alien” employed by a member of the California State Assembly.

“This takes sanctuary city to a whole new level,” Bis said. “Radical Democrats continue to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens — even employing illegal aliens to work in their political offices.”

Before the arrest became national news, Stefani’s office and Mo’s attorney had reportedly been working through private channels to seek his release. Those efforts changed after the Daily Mail first reported his detention on Tuesday.

Stefani, a vocal critic of ICE who represents California’s 19th District, including parts of San Francisco and San Mateo County, subsequently adopted a more public approach and issued what she described as a respectful plea for leniency.

“My message today is simple: I am respectfully calling for Ho Yin Mo’s release as soon as possible,” Stefani said.

“Ho Yin is a selfless public servant and a valued, legal employee of the California State Legislature serving our San Francisco and Bay Area communities.”

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors also appealed for Mo’s release, saying he has served as “an especially important point of contact for San Francisco’s Chinese American communities.”

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to the Daily Mail early Tuesday that ICE had detained Mo, identifying him as an “illegal alien from Hong Kong” arrested during a targeted enforcement action.

According to Homeland Security, Mo entered the United States legally on January 13, 2020, but remained after his temporary permission expired. The agency said he failed to leave by the May 15, 2020 deadline.

“Work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States,” the agency said.

DHS also said it had reversed what it characterized as a “horrendous Biden-era policy” that permitted people in the country unlawfully to travel by air within the United States.

“Under President Trump, DHS will no longer tolerate this,” the department said. “This administration is working diligently to ensure that aliens in our country illegally can no longer fly unless it is out of our country to self-deport.”

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Frankie Falzon, Stefani’s district director, initially declined to discuss the case when contacted by the Daily Mail early Tuesday. He said the team had been advised by legal counsel that speaking publicly would not be in Mo’s best interest.

“We’re trying to work through as many channels as possible now,” Falzon said, adding that Mo’s attorney was meeting him for the first time at the Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump, west of Las Vegas.

Once the arrest became public, the situation shifted dramatically, prompting Stefani to make a direct public appeal for support.

‘When Ho Yin and I meet our Chinese-American constituents, he brings a unique sense of belonging to so many who watched him as a TV reporter,’ she stated. ‘And his work goes far beyond presence.

‘Ho Yin helps people access affordable health care coverage, child care, and food support,’ she added. ‘Our whole community eagerly awaits Ho Yin’s return to his home and his job where he is loved and adored.’

Mo is a former news anchor and reporter for KTSF Channel 26 in San Francisco.

He also served on London Breed’s failed mayoral re-election campaign in 2024 as an Asian American and Pacific Islander outreach organizer.

‘When we heard that Mo was available, we jumped at the opportunity to hire him, because we know that his profile on KTSF really resonates with a lot of individuals, and his background and his experience,’ Breed spokesperson Joe Arellano said at the time of Mo’s hiring.

Mo has worked for Stefani since January 2025, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Stefani, meanwhile, has been an outspoken critic of ICE’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

In an article in the San Francisco Chronicle last October, the Democrat gave a statement ridiculing an ICE crackdown in the Bay Area, calling it an abuse of power and direct threat to the community.

‘It is about fear and control,’ Stefani was quoted as saying.

‘We must remain peaceful, united and vigilant. This administration wants chaos. We will answer with strength, solidarity and resolve.’

Mo is expected to remain in custody pending the outcome of removal proceedings.

A 911 caller urged comedian Carrot Top to “stay awake” during an apparent suicide attempt at his Las Vegas home last week.

“Stay awake. Stay awake. Stay awake,” the caller told the actor, whose birth name is Scott Christopher Thompson, while speaking with a dispatcher on Sept. 18, according to TMZ.

“He’s passing out now,” the unidentified woman said, adding that Thompson’s feet were in the pool and she was unable to move him.

The caller told police she discovered the 61-year-old comedian unconscious after one of his employees asked her to check on him.

She said Thompson was losing consciousness and that his face had begun turning blue after he tried to “commit suicide.”

The dispatcher instructed the caller to place Thompson on his back and monitor his breathing in case CPR became necessary.

TMZ previously reported that Thompson allegedly overdosed on prescription medication.

On Sunday, Thompson’s representative told Page Six that he “remains hospitalized and under close medical care.”

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“He is now awake, breathing on his own and continuing to improve, surrounded by his family and those closest to him,” the spokesperson added.

Court documents filed Sunday confirmed the suicide attempt as part of an ongoing legal dispute involving Thompson and his former opening act, Brian Evans.

In the filing, Thompson’s attorney sought “immediate protective relief” to prevent Evans from “exposing [Thompson] to ill repute, false allegations, and salacious materials.”

The lawyer alleged that Evans tried to extort Thompson over a sex tape and had threatened to release the recording unless he received $500,000.

Evans denied those claims in a statement to Page Six, saying he “never threatened — ever — to post any video anywhere in exchange for a settlement.”

Evans also said the video “was deleted a long time ago.”

Thompson’s longtime residency at Las Vegas’ Luxor Hotel and Casino has been canceled while he continues his recovery.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741

A Utah truck driver had a close call earlier this week when lightning struck the freeway during severe weather.

Video appears to capture the lightning bolt hitting Interstate 84 near the mouth of Weber Canyon on Tuesday night, just feet from a moving truck, ABC4.com reported.

Motorist Tucker Ralphs recorded the dramatic moment on his dashcam while driving home.

“Lightning struck the edge of the freeway feet from a truck just ahead of me,” Ralphs told Storyful. He described the sound as “louder than you can imagine,” with a sharp “crack” followed by a “boom.” The flash was “super bright, then gone in an instant.”

The National Weather Service confirmed to the news outlet that a thunderstorm moved through the area. Agency data indicated that lightning struck the side of the freeway at approximately 9 p.m. local time.

Lightning strikes can be fatal.

Earlier this month, a Michigan man who had moved to Florida only days before died after he was apparently struck by lightning while walking on a path.

Witnesses attempted to perform CPR on Matthew Eric Jenkins, 20, who had relocated to Central Florida to begin an internship program at Walt Disney World.

A new investigative report has revealed disturbing details surrounding Hayden Panettiere’s accidental death from a drug overdose.

Panettiere was 36 when she died on August 16 at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. Her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach, were both present when she was pronounced dead.

The Greenville County Medical Examiner later determined that the actress died from the “toxic effects” of multiple substances, including fentanyl. Investigators said pressed pills containing fentanyl were found on a table near her body.

According to a report obtained by TMZ, Panettiere was found face down on a sofa bed, sitting with her legs crossed, at the Airbnb where she had been staying. The report said she had turned “deep purple” as the brothers attempted unsuccessfully to rouse her.

A senior deputy coroner was dispatched to the Greenville property after the emergency was reported.

One of the brothers, whose identity was redacted in the report, told investigators he had seen Panettiere putting on makeup at around 10:30 a.m. on the day she died.

The brother said he “went back to bed and was later awakened by a knock at the door.” Soon afterward, the brothers found Panettiere unresponsive.

The investigator reported finding “blue pressed pills that tested positive for fentanyl,” as well as a straw on a table. White powder was also discovered inside a sunglasses case in Panettiere’s suitcase.

Brian administered two doses of Narcan, an emergency medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, before calling 911, the report stated.

The deputy coroner also recorded that one of the brothers “was unsure whether Hayden had consumed illicit drugs in the last two days because she was very good at hiding them.”

Panettiere’s father, Skip, was interviewed as part of the investigation. He told officials that his daughter had planned to celebrate her 37th birthday in Greenville on August 21 before traveling to Ukraine to visit her daughter.

The Daily Mail has contacted the Greenville County Medical Examiner’s Office for additional comment.

A spokesperson for the Greenville County Coroner’s Office previously confirmed to The Daily Mail that Panettiere died from the “toxic effects” of several drugs, including fentanyl.

Fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid—approximately 50 times stronger than heroin—and even a few grains can prove fatal.

A spokesperson said: “An autopsy was completed by a Board Certified Forensic Pathologist. At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.

“The cause of death has been ruled as toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine. The manner of death has been ruled accident.

“This case is administratively closed by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.”

Methocarbamol is a prescription muscle relaxant used to treat short-term muscle pain, while Quetiapine, commonly known by the brand name Seroquel, is an antipsychotic prescription medication used to treat conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.

Alprazolam, known as Xanax, is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders and 4-ANPP is a chemical used as a main building block to make illegal fentanyl.

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Last week, insiders told TMZ authorities believed Panettiere had fatally consumed a single oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl. 

Panettiere had a ‘long time drug dealer’ in Los Angeles who she obtained narcotics from illegally, with oxycodone among them, sources told the outlet.

Authorities said that the day prior to her passing, Panettiere had taken multiple drugs she bought in Los Angeles before flying to South Carolina, where she was found dead the next day.

Panettiere’s rep said in a statement earlier this month: ‘As reported yesterday by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, Hayden’s death remains under investigation pending the completion of toxicology results, despite reports from some outlets stating otherwise.

‘Recent reports attributed to unnamed sources are unverified hearsay and have attributed to conflicting information that continues to circulate.’

The statement continued: ‘While we are all eager to find closure and better understand the circumstances surrounding her passing, we must remain patient and allow the investigative process to unfold.’

The late Heroes star’s rep concluded in saying that ‘the answers we are all seeking will come.’

On the day she died, first responders arrived at a Greenville, South Carolina, condo where attempts were made to resuscitate the actress, before she had been pronounced dead.

Hickerson’s lawyer Sloan Ellis said in a statement August 20 that ‘Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed.

‘As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.’

Panettiere began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas, then gained wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans with Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.

Panettiere later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before starring as country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on Nashville.

She earned two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress on the show, while her singing produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Panettiere’s film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All or Nothing, the comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.

She had an 11-year-old daughter called Kaya following a life-threatening birth, and later gave full custody of the child to her former fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

Panettiere’s passing was announced by her father Skip Panettiere, who said in a statement: ‘It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.

‘She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her – and to the millions who watched her onscreen. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.’

Authorities in Greenville, South Carolina, subsequently said that officials responded to an apartment in the area after receiving a report of an ‘unresponsive female’ via a possible ‘drug overdose,’ subsequently determined to be Panettiere.

With quarterback Jaxson Dart sidelined for the remainder of the NFL season because of a knee injury, the New York Giants could explore adding another quarterback through a trade or free agency.

Former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has emerged as one name linked to the Giants. Carr retired in 2025 after spending 11 seasons in the NFL.

On Wednesday, Carr responded to the speculation in a post on X.

An X account had attracted widespread attention after sharing a fabricated image of Carr wearing a Giants jersey. The post asked, “SHOULD THE NEW YORK #GIANTS GET DEREK CARR TO COME OUT OF RETIREMENT AND PLAY QUARTERBACK FOR THEM THIS SEASON…?”

Carr replied with a joke of his own: “Beautiful picture but I’m too busy trying to find a level 40 crew to join.”

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His comment referred to NBA 2K27, where a “level 40 crew” represents the highest tier in the game’s multiplayer system. Reaching that level requires a significant investment of time in the basketball video game.

Put simply, Carr suggested that he is more focused on playing video games than returning to the NFL to help the Giants.

Carr, a four-time Pro Bowler who spent nine of his 11 seasons with the Raiders, was almost certainly speaking tongue-in-cheek. Still, his response is notable given reports earlier this year that he was seriously weighing a return to professional football.

That may no longer be under consideration. It is also possible Carr simply has no interest in joining the Giants.

Chris Spatola, a college basketball analyst and the son-in-law of legendary former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, died Tuesday night at age 47.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Chris Spatola,” Duke men’s basketball said in a statement Wednesday. “Chris was a beloved Army veteran, coach, broadcaster, and true friend to the Duke Basketball family.”

The program added, “We send our love and condolences to his wife Jamie and three children, the Spatola and Krzyzewski families, and everyone who loved him.”

A cause of death was not disclosed.

Spatola was a two-time All-Patriot League selection during his four seasons at Army from 1998 through 2002. He later received commendation medals for his service as a captain, including for his deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom. From 2007 to 2012, he served on Krzyzewski’s Duke staff, a tenure that included the Blue Devils’ 2010 NCAA championship, when current head coach Jon Scheyer was the team’s leading scorer.

Spatola was married to Krzyzewski’s daughter, Jamie, an author who collaborated with her father on several books.

“There are no words to adequately express our heartbreak over the loss of our beloved Chris Spatola,” the Krzyzewski family said. “Chris served our country, was a devoted husband and father, and was such an important part of our family.”

The family continued, “We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, thoughts, and prayers we have received during this incredibly difficult time. We respectfully ask for privacy as our entire family, particularly Jamie and her three beautiful children, grieve and process this unimaginable loss.”

After departing Duke’s coaching staff, Spatola moved into broadcasting, working as a color commentator for ESPN and TNT. He also contributed to SiriusXM radio.

Jay Bilas, the ESPN commentator and former Duke player under Krzyzewski, said he was “devastated” by the death of his friend.

“Chris was a wonderful human being. A point guard at West Point, Chris was an Army combat veteran, and a man of great humility and unusually high character,” Bilas said in a statement. “A great family man that was devoted to his wife Jamie and their wonderful family. Chris was selfless … a fabulous colleague and knowledgeable basketball man. With Chris, it was never about him, it was only about the game, the players, the coaches, and the fans. Heartbroken beyond words to lose such a great friend, yet grateful beyond words to have known him.”