Home Blog Page 17

Marijuana Users May Face Hidden Driving Risks Tests Miss

0

A new study is raising fresh concerns about the risks of getting behind the wheel after consuming cannabis edibles, finding that drivers can be meaningfully impaired even when blood tests show THC levels well under the legal threshold.

Published in JAMA Network Open, the research points to a growing challenge for police and regulators in Canada and in parts of the United States where cannabis-related impaired driving laws rely heavily on blood THC measurements.

Until now, much of the research on cannabis and driving has focused on smoked or inhaled marijuana, which sends THC — tetrahydrocannabinol, the main intoxicating compound in cannabis — into the bloodstream more quickly and at higher short-term levels.

Edibles work differently. Because they are processed through the digestive system, their effects build more slowly and can disrupt driving ability even when measured THC concentrations in the blood appear comparatively low.

In the study, participants who took larger doses of edible THC had more trouble staying in their lane, reacted more slowly and showed wider swings in speed. Despite those signs of impairment, their blood THC levels remained below the legal cutoff commonly used to establish cannabis impairment during roadside enforcement.

To assess how oral cannabis impacts driving, researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto conducted a trial with 40 healthy adult volunteers who regularly use cannabis.

Cannabis edibles seriously impair driving, even when THC blood levels are below the legal limit, a new study finds. ambrozinio – stock.adobe.com

Each participant attended four separate sessions in which they consumed soft-chew gummies containing either 0, 2, 10 or 20 milligrams of THC.

The researchers then tested the drivers using a driving simulator at two, five and 24 hours after consumption, tracking how well drivers stayed in their lane, how quickly they reacted to road events and how consistently they maintained their speed.

Blood samples and self-reported ratings of intoxication were also collected.

Cannabis-infused gummy bears and cannabis buds.

Drivers on 10-20mg THC gummies struggled with lane control and reaction times, according to the study. bukhta79 – stock.adobe.com

The results showed driving impairment at two and five hours after consuming 10- and 20-milligram gummies. Compared with placebo, participants who consumed those doses had greater variability in lane position, while the 20-milligram dose was also linked to slower reaction times and less consistent speed control.

Participants also recognized their own limitations, reporting a lower willingness to drive and reduced confidence in their driving skills after taking the gummies.

The highest blood THC concentrations averaged 1.6 nanograms per milliliter after the 10-milligram dose and 3.4 nanograms per milliliter after the 20-milligram dose. Those levels were below the commonly used 5-ng/mL threshold, although THC limits vary by jurisdiction and some individual samples exceeded 5 ng/mL.

By comparison, participants in the team’s previous smoked-cannabis study showed similar levels of impairment while reaching an average peak blood THC concentration of 30.3 nanograms per milliliter, nearly 10 times higher than the 20-milligram edible group.

The study did have some limitations. Tests were conducted on virtual simulators rather than actual roads, meaning drivers faced no real physical risk during the experiments. It also focused on regular cannabis users, so it is unclear how occasional users might react to similar doses.

Additionally, minimal residual effects were detected after 24 hours. While maximum speed remained slightly higher among participants on the 10-milligram and 20-milligram doses, subjective feelings of intoxication had completely faded.

In an accompanying commentary, Dr. José Ignacio Nazif-Munoz of the Université de Sherbrooke noted that these biological differences pose a challenge for law enforcement.

Because edibles are absorbed slowly through the digestive system, standard blood tests may fail to identify unsafe drivers, leaving policymakers searching for more reliable roadside tools.

“The delayed absorption and prolonged duration of effects of edible cannabis distinguish it from smoked or inhaled cannabis, complicating the interpretation of biological measures,” he wrote.

Jailed ISIS-Supporting Drill Rapper Faces Questions Over Social Media Profits

0

A drill rapper who backed ISIS and was imprisoned after stockpiling chemicals for a planned suicide bombing in London may still be earning money from social media and streaming profiles that remain live, it has been revealed.

Music and video content linked to Al-Arfat Hassan can still be found on major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, where listeners continue to play his tracks and some supporters have called for him to be freed.

Hassan, who performs under the drill rap name Official TS, has previously uploaded videos that attracted more than 13 million views, while his TikTok profile has drawn over 833,000 likes.

The continued online support for Hassan, now 23, comes more than two years after he was sentenced at the Old Bailey in February 2024 to five years in prison, with a further two years on extended licence.

During the case, the court was told that Hassan, from Enfield in North London, had viewed the same Islamic State bomb-making video watched by Manchester Arena attacker Salman Abedi, who killed 22 people after an Ariana Grande concert, and had obtained two of the three chemicals required to build a comparable device.

The extent of Hassan’s followers and millions of views means he could be in line for payments under social media and music streaming giants’ policies on monetarised content. 

Conservative MP Sir John Hayes said it was ‘entirely inappropriate’ that Hassan’s material is still available online and that money earned should be handed to those who have suffered from terrorism, such as ‘families whose loved ones have died’.

He said: ‘It’s entirely inappropriate that is material is still online. It’s incitement to terror. 

Al-Arfat Hassan, from Enfield, north London, (pictured) was sentenced to five years in prison at the Old Bailey in 2024 for possessing chemicals for a terrorist purpose

Al-Arfat Hassan, from Enfield, north London, (pictured) was sentenced to five years in prison at the Old Bailey in 2024 for possessing chemicals for a terrorist purpose

‘I shall be writing to the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport saying they need to make contact with these companies because they are responsible for promoting this material online.’

He added that a man convicted of terrorism offences ‘should not be allowed’ to continue spreading his message online.

Sir John said: ‘This also sets a dangerous precedent because if we don’t take action, who’s to say there won’t be other people who are imprisoned who maintain a public profile inciting violence, crime or terrorism?’ 

Hassan’s instagram account continues to describe him simply as a “Musician” and directs visitors towards music streaming services.

His music also remains available on Apple Music and Spotify, including a track called Satan 2.0 and other music released before his arrest.

After Hassan was jailed, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation later described him as a drill rapper who was ‘lyrically inspired by Islamic State’.

Hassan’s music initially contained lyrics about violent street life but shifted towards Islamic extremism in the years before he was jailed.

In 2022 track, Habibti, he included reference to extreme jihadist violence, rapping: ‘I don’t do love – I’m a full-time mujahid.

‘Married to the gun and the sword, I’m charging. If I chop them multiple times with a axe, they’ll fall on their… knees.’

Last week, the track remained publicly available on YouTube, where it has been viewed 79,000 times.

An unreleased track discovered by police referred to Western hostages murdered by ISIS, including British aid worker Alan Henning and American journalist James Foley, and ended with a reference to an explosion in central London.

Hassan even claimed women had been attracted to the “jihadi persona” he cultivated online.

There is no suggestion Hassan is personally operating any social media account from prison or has posted new material since his arrest.

Hassan's drill music - including tracks appearing to glorify Islamic extremism - remains online

Hassan’s drill music – including tracks appearing to glorify Islamic extremism – remains online

The revelations come amid mounting pressure on social media giants over their handling of potentially harmful material and protection of young users.

The continued presence of Hassan’s social media accounts means he still receives supportive messages. 

One Instagram user wrote just 11 weeks ago: ‘Release ts soon. Inshallah’, while another recently insisted: ‘Free bro he’s innocent’.

Other messages include ‘free TS our brother in Islam’, ‘Home soon my brother’ and ‘free TS a thousand times’.

Hassan’s music brought him into contact with a 15-year-old fan who became embroiled in his terror case.

The then-schoolboy, Sameer Anjum, discovered Official TS online in 2020 and became a fan of his drill music, promoting it on social media himself.

Anjum caught Hassan’s attention and the rapper contacted him personally to thank him.

The pair began communicating regularly on social media, with the teenager becoming such a fan that he began calling himself “Young TS”.

Their relationship then took a sinister turn, with their conversations increasingly involving extremist material and terrorism.

Police closed in on Hassan, from Enfield, north London, in March 2022 after he bought hydrogen peroxide.

Prosecutors said he wanted to “kill thousands” and had considered carrying out an attack in central London using either explosives or a bladed weapon.

Investigators found terrorist material containing instructions on bomb-making and how to kill someone with a knife.

Hassan had also filmed himself with weapons, including a samurai sword, and talked about his “final moments”.

Messages revealed he used “cupcake” as a code word for a bomb and “marketplace” for a potential target.

He was initially charged with preparing acts of terrorism, but a jury failed to reach a verdict and a retrial was later discontinued.

Hassan subsequently pleaded guilty to alternative terrorism offences, including possessing hydrogen peroxide for a terrorist purpose and possessing information likely to be useful to a terrorist.

The then 21-year-old was handed a five-year extended sentence, with a two-year licence period, at the Old Bailey in February 2024.

His teenage acolyte Anjum, now 19, was jailed for two and a half years after admitting failing to disclose his knowledge of Hassan’s terrorist activities, and possessing and sharing ISIS videos.

Anjum’s mother Nabeela Anjum was later convicted of failing to disclose information to police and jailed for two years. 

Revelations Hassan’s social media accounts remain online come amid mounting pressure on social media giants over their handling of potentially harmful material and protection of young users.

MPs last week demanded answers from TikTok, Meta, YouTube and Snapchat over videos appearing to glorify dangerous driving.

The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee warned of the danger of copycat behaviour and asked the companies how much UK dangerous-driving content they had removed and what they were doing to identify harmful videos more quickly.

Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage said it was ‘shocking’ that videos glorifying dangerous driving could be so easily accessed online.

The intervention followed the deaths of two police officers and five young men in a head-on crash on the A66 in Teesside.

Hassan has 52,000 TikTok followers, which qualifies him as a content creator. Creators can receive 74p per 1,000 views.

Spotify pays people whose tracks have at least one thousand streams over 12 months. Meanwhile, Apple Music pays artists £7 per thousand streams.

Apple, YouTube, TikTok and Spotify were contacted for comment. 

Trump’s Chip Diplomacy: Leveraging Semiconductors to Prevent Wars

0

The Trump administration used the promise of access to Nvidia’s powerful artificial intelligence chips as a diplomatic bargaining tool in efforts to help end a long-running conflict, according to a new report.

American negotiators reportedly pointed to potential access to Nvidia’s advanced AI hardware as they sought to encourage Armenia to proceed with a peace agreement with neighboring Azerbaijan, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked for decades in a fierce dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, a contested region that has repeatedly drawn the two South Caucasus nations into armed conflict.

Their leaders initialed a US-brokered peace agreement last August after White House involvement, and fresh reporting suggests that what officials described as “chip diplomacy” became a notable factor in the negotiations.

As part of that push, the US was able to leverage the prospect of 70,000 Nvidia AI processors for a proposed Armenian data center project called Firebird, valued at about $5 billion.

AI processor technology is becoming increasingly valuable as countries race to bolster their AI computer structures, offering the US powerful leverage on the global stage. 

‘For this administration, chip diplomacy is front and center,’ senior Nvidia executive Rev Lebaredian, who is of Armenian descent, told the Wall Street Journal. 

‘Our presence in Armenia and our investment in it is a big factor in creating the conditions by which peace can unfold.’ 

The Trump administration dangled access to AI chips made by the US tech company Nvidia to try and broker peace between warring nations

The Trump administration dangled access to AI chips made by the US tech company Nvidia to try and broker peace between warring nations

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, center, flanked by tech and political leaders at the opening of the data center in Hrazdan, Armenia. He credited President Trump's 'chip diplomacy' with ending their war with Azerbaijan and creating deeper economic ties

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, center, flanked by tech and political leaders at the opening of the data center in Hrazdan, Armenia. He credited President Trump’s ‘chip diplomacy’ with ending their war with Azerbaijan and creating deeper economic ties

Amenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan thanked President Donald Trump for making the data center happen, as part of the deal gave his nation deeper economic and tech ties with the US. 

On a February visit to the country, Vice President JD Vance said the deal meant ‘new markets for American workers and for American businesses, but it also means greater prosperity for the people of Armenia.’ 

Washington has also used AI hardware as a benefit for deals with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. 

The deals have become a part of Trump’s increasing ties with Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s CEO and eighth on the Forbes Rich List, who advises the President on artificial intelligence. 

Huang called the data center the start of their work to ‘connect this region to the global AI economy’ in a video message at the ribbon cutting. 

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has proposed building rail lines, pipelines and roads that connect Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan, named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity and set to begin construction next year. 

Trump has often bragged of having ended multiple wars during his second term in the White House. 

But his status as ‘the peace President’ has been tenuous as the fighting in Iran has now surpassed months. 

An aerial view of Firebird's data center in Hrazdan, Armenia

An aerial view of Firebird’s data center in Hrazdan, Armenia

The deals have become a part of Trump's increasing ties with Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO and eighth on the Forbes Rich List, who advises the President on artificial intelligence

The deals have become a part of Trump’s increasing ties with Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s CEO and eighth on the Forbes Rich List, who advises the President on artificial intelligence

However, Trump has claimed to have ended at least ten wars during his second term after a mid-August ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. 

Trump said on Truth Social at the time: ‘It has been my honor to solve nine wars across the world, and this will be my tenth, so let’s GET IT DONE!’

Trump insisted Friday that the US conflict with Iran is not a war, doubling down on his assertion that the deadly, more than six-month military campaign in Iran is ‘small potatoes.’

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump was asked about the war in Iran, and to respond to Vice President JD Vance’s claim, one day earlier, that the ongoing conflict is ‘not a war.’

‘I’ll tell you what,’ Trump said. ‘A lot of people call it a war. I call it a military conflict,  because it’s small potatoes,’ Trump said. 

At least 18 US service members have been killed in the war with Iran since it began in February 2026, according to data from the Department of Defense, and a much higher number – at least 767 US service members – have been injured. 

Ohio State Pays $2.1M Settlement Over CK Shum’s China Ties

0

The Ohio State University has acknowledged that a former researcher maintained “inappropriate foreign affiliations,” as the school agreed to pay $2.1 million to settle federal claims that it did not fully disclose researchers’ China-related ties while applying for and receiving publicly funded research grants.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Ohio State failed to accurately report affiliations and financial backing connected to Chinese universities and government-run research entities in grant applications and related filings submitted to NASA and the National Science Foundation between 2012 and 2023.

Federal officials said the case also involved a principal investigator’s participation in China’s Thousand Talents Program, a recruitment initiative that has drawn scrutiny from U.S. authorities over research security concerns.

In a statement to Fox News Digital on Friday, Ohio State said it identified and investigated the foreign affiliations involving C.K. Shum on its own and then reported the findings to federal authorities.

Shum is no longer employed by The Ohio State University.

“Ohio State uncovered and investigated C.K. Shum’s inappropriate foreign affiliations and self-reported them to NASA and the National Science Foundation,” Benjamin Johnson, chief communications officer at The Ohio State University, told Fox News Digital in a statement Friday. 

“The university suspended Shum’s principal investigator privileges, halted spending on the relevant federal awards, initiated disciplinary proceedings and repaid the federal grant funds in question. Shum is no longer employed at Ohio State, and the university has cooperated with federal authorities throughout the investigation.

“Ohio State takes national security seriously, and the university has long been recognized for its efforts to promote research integrity and security. Safeguards include dedicated research compliance and secure research offices, mandatory conflict-of-interest and research security disclosure systems and robust security and foreign influence training programs.”

In a press release, the Department of Justice said the grant applications required OSU to share any ties to any foreign government.

“The settlement resolves allegations that OSU failed to disclose the collaboration and affiliation with, or funding received from, the PRC by certain OSU employees working on NASA and NSF grants,” the press release said. 

“Specifically, the settlement resolves allegations that, since 2014, annual Faculty Activity Reports submitted to OSU identified affiliations with PRC universities and state-run research organizations, but OSU did not disclose this information to NASA or NSF.”

The press release also noted that Ohio State became aware in 2019 that a researcher tied to NASA-funded work was involved in China’s Thousand Talents Program but waited until 2023 to inform NASA and the National Science Foundation.

The federal government describes the program as a Beijing-backed effort to attract people with expertise in or access to overseas technology and intellectual property.

The DOJ also said it found other OSU employees connected to the grants who had relationships with Chinese entities or received Chinese funding.

“American universities that benefit from the federal government’s support for scientific research and advancement must fully disclose all foreign funding in their grant applications,” Brett Shumate, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, said in a statement. 

“We will continue to hold accountable any university that fails to comply with disclosure requirements designed to protect research security and federally-funded scientific achievements.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the DOJ for comment.

Argentina Intensifies Pressure Over Falkland Islands Sovereignty Dispute

0

Argentina has escalated its campaign against offshore oil activity near the Falkland Islands, opening sanction proceedings targeting 45 individuals and companies linked to exploration in the disputed South Atlantic territory.

The office of President Javier Milei confirmed the action on Saturday morning in a post on X, coming just a day after he promised a firmer response toward businesses operating in the British overseas territory and again asserted Argentina’s long-standing sovereignty claim.

According to the Argentine government, the potential measures may extend beyond the companies directly involved in Falklands oil projects, with shareholders and service providers also facing possible proceedings.

Officials did not name the people or firms now under scrutiny.

During a national address on Friday, Milei called for what he described as a “consensus solution” to the sovereignty dispute, urging a Hong Kong-style transfer of the Falkland Islands to Argentina.

He reiterated the country’s claim on the islands and said he would introduce sanctions on any oil companies working in the area.

The Argentine president insisted his countrymen ‘do not believe in war’ and would not ‘start yelling like savages’ about the contentious archipelago. 

Renewed tensions over the British overseas territory came after US President Donald Trump hinted the US would not help the UK in a future Falklands conflict.

Following Mr Milei’s address, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in a post on X: ‘The UK’s position on the Falkland Islands is unwavering.

‘The Islands are British and will remain so because that is the overwhelming position of the Islanders.

‘Their right of self-determination is paramount, grounded in international law and we will resolutely uphold it.’

Argentina has moved to enforce a crackdown on oil exploration around the Falkland Islands, launching sanction proceedings against 45 people and companies

Argentina has moved to enforce a crackdown on oil exploration around the Falkland Islands, launching sanction proceedings against 45 people and companies

President Javier Milei's office announced the new move on Saturday morning in a post on X, a day after he vowed tougher action against companies operating in the British overseas territory and reiterated the country's claim on the area

President Javier Milei’s office announced the new move on Saturday morning in a post on X, a day after he vowed tougher action against companies operating in the British overseas territory and reiterated the country’s claim on the area

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the UK’s commitment to the Falklands was ‘absolute and unshakeable’.

Downing Street suggested there would be no UK diplomatic response to Mr Milei’s threats, with the UK seeking to bolster ties with the country.

In a 2013 referendum, the Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory, with 99.8% voting in favour and just three votes against.

Although the US is formally neutral, Washington provided support for Britain’s campaign to retake the islands after the Argentinian invasion in 1982.

It sparked the Falklands War which saw 255 British service deaths in just over 70 bloody days. It also led to the deaths of 655 Argentinians and three Falkland Islanders.

In his speech, Mr Milei said: ‘Our role and relevance as a country in the world has changed dramatically.

‘The Falklands are our future – we need to recover these islands which are nationally relevant. There is no other path forward.’

He said he would sign decrees to introduce sanctions against any companies working on oil production in the area.

And he declared the Sea Lion oilfield, owned by an Israeli and a British firm where production is expected to begin in 2028, a ‘clear and present danger’ to the country’s claims.

‘If we do not act swiftly in a few months, they will have the material capacity to access the oil that lies underneath our sea. Something that has never happened before,’ he said.

British-based oil exploration company Rockhopper, which is working with Navitas on the oilfield near the islands, said it did not expect developments by the Argentinian government to have a ‘material effect’ on the project.

A No 10 spokeswoman said the UK supports the right of the Falkland Islanders to develop their natural resources for their own economic benefit, and ‘this is an integral part of their right to self-determination’.

The Argentinian leader announced plans to boost its defence resources with a new naval base in Tierre del Fuego in the south of the country.

Mr Milei said the US was ‘assessing their historical position in regard to the Falklands’.

Asked whether there would be a diplomatic response to his threats, the Downing Street spokeswoman said the UK continues ‘to have a diplomatic relationship with Argentina, and from our perspective we want to continue to strengthen that’.

The US president on Thursday suggested he would not back the UK in a fight over the territory, pointing to the lack of support for his war in Iran.

No 10 declined to comment on Mr Trump’s remarks, saying they were ‘a matter for the US president’.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow. 

Olympian Maritza McClendon Joins Chicago River Swim for ALS

0

ATLANTA (WLS) — Long before Maritza McClendon stood on an Olympic podium, her path to swimming began as a child in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Diagnosed with scoliosis at age 6, she was encouraged by doctors to try swimming as therapy. What started as a medical recommendation quickly became a passion that would ultimately help her make history as the first Black woman to qualify for a U.S. Olympic swim team.

Under the guidance of Olympic coach Peter Banks, McClendon spent more than 15 years training, racing and rising through the sport. Her breakthrough came in 2004, when she earned a spot on Team USA and went on to win a silver medal at the Athens Olympic Games. Today, she continues to use that achievement as a platform, speaking with children and families nationwide about water safety, swim education and the need to dismantle racial barriers in aquatics.

McClendon is now bringing that mission to Chicago as part of the Chicago River Swim on September 20. The event will draw hundreds of athletes to the city’s riverfront, with participants taking to the water to raise money for ALS research.

“I’m super excited to join the Chicago River Swim,” McClendon said. “I hope people will take away the power of how a community can come together for a great cause.”

Learn more about the Chicago River Swim by visiting: https://www.chicagoriverswim.org/

Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Woman Arrested for Allegedly Rear-Ending Vehicle 5 Times

0

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Aaronnette Jermeshal Lee, 35, of Williston, was arrested Wednesday after authorities said she deliberately rammed a vehicle from behind five times during a confrontation on the road.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy was called around 6:30 p.m. on September 3 to the 2500 block of SW Williston Road, where both vehicles had come to a stop. According to the investigation, Lee was driving a gold Toyota when she spotted her blue Charger on Archer Road. Deputies said a former boyfriend was in the front passenger seat, a woman was behind the wheel, and two children, ages 1 and 4, were riding in the back seat.

Investigators said Lee turned the Toyota around and began following the Charger. When the victims stopped at a traffic light at Tower Road, Lee allegedly struck the rear of the Charger, then backed up and hit it four more times. The male passenger got out and argued with Lee until the light changed, after which both vehicles continued eastbound until deputies made contact with them on SW Williston Road.

A deputy noted that the Charger had what appeared to be fresh damage on the rear driver’s side, while the Toyota showed fresh front-end damage that matched the impact area on the Charger.

Lee reportedly told deputies that her sister had been driving the Charger and had left it in a parking lot unlocked and running, where she claimed the victims stole it. She said a relative alerted her that the Charger had been taken, and she later saw it on Archer Road. Lee also reportedly stated that she did not know the people inside the Charger.

However, the deputy’s investigation found that Lee and the male victim have children in common, although those children were not in the vehicle. The deputy also concluded that Lee falsely claimed that the Charger was stolen and that she intentionally drove the Toyota into the Charger five times, with intent to cause bodily harm to the occupants.

Lee has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of knowingly giving false information to law enforcement about an alleged crime. She has one felony conviction (non-violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); Judge Joy Danne set bail at $105,000.

Lindsay Clancy Fundraiser Tops $1M as New Goal Comes Into View

0

Donations to a fundraiser for Lindsay Clancy’s parents have now topped $1 million, with supporters continuing to contribute at a rapid pace as organizers push toward a newly raised fundraising goal.

The campaign posted an update on Friday, shortly after Clancy’s trial came to an abrupt halt, announcing that the target had been increased to $3 million.

The development followed the end of Clancy’s intense six-week trial, which resulted in a mistrial after the 12-member jury could not reach a unanimous decision, with one juror reportedly preventing a full acquittal.

Clancy, a former nurse and mother, had been facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the deaths of her three young children: five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson and eight-month-old Callan.

Prosecutors alleged that she killed the children at the family’s home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in 2023 before attempting to end her own life.

Clancy’s defense argued that the shocking triple-killing was a result of postpartum psychosis and a failure in maternal healthcare. 

While the prosecution argued that she was a killer, hundreds of supporters who never met Clancy have begged to differ, offering financial support to her parents Michael, 70, and Paula Musgrove, 73, during the  trial. 

However, the GoFundMe, launched by total stranger to the family Brandee Mulligan, is replete with messages of support for Lindsay directly, despite its existence also sparking backlash.

Amid speculation that the fundraiser is being investigated, a GoFundMe spokesman confirmed to the Daily Mail that it is ‘verified’ and reports it is being disabled are ‘not accurate.’

A fundraiser has already raised over $1 million for Lindsay Clancy's parents

A fundraiser has already raised over $1 million for Lindsay Clancy’s parents

Lindsay Clancy's multi-week murder trial ended in a mistrial on Friday. She has returned to a psychiatric hospital until prosecutors decide how to proceed

Lindsay Clancy’s multi-week murder trial ended in a mistrial on Friday. She has returned to a psychiatric hospital until prosecutors decide how to proceed 

Lindsay Clancy was on trial for the murder of her three children, Cora, Dawson, and baby Callan, pictured above with their father, Patrick

Lindsay Clancy was on trial for the murder of her three children, Cora, Dawson, and baby Callan, pictured above with their father, Patrick 

‘This fundraiser for the Musgrove family remains verified at this time,’ the spokesman said.

Donations have poured in every few minutes, ranging anywhere from $5 to thousands. 

The top donation came from an anonymous donor who contributed $5,000. Another woman, Nicole Klaucens, also donated $5,000 to Clancy’s parents. 

Janet Pescio donated $5,000, while Luisa Espinosa Davilla donated $2,500. Multiple donors contributed over $2,000 to the fundraiser, while at least 11 people donated over $1,000.

Mulligan wrote in the fundraiser’s description that the funds are intended to help Clancy’s parents with travel costs while attending her court proceedings. 

‘Their lives have largely been put on hold while they have continued doing what parents do: showing up for their child during the unimaginable. That has come at an enormous financial cost,’ Mulligan wrote. 

She added that the fundraiser’s organizers understand there are mixed emotions about Clancy’s trial, but clarified that the money was meant to help two parents, regardless of how people feel about the case. 

‘The money belongs to Mike and Paula. The purpose of this fundraiser is to give them back some of the financial stability they have lost over the last three years and allow them to decide what they need as they eventually begin figuring out what life looks like after this trial,’ the description continued. 

‘At some point, the court proceedings will end. Mike and Paula will still have a life to return to. There will still be bills, a home, lost savings, and years of putting their own lives on hold while they stood beside their daughter.’

The fundraiser is to help Clancy's parents, Paula and Mike Musgrove, pictured above in court on September 1

The fundraiser is to help Clancy’s parents, Paula and Mike Musgrove, pictured above in court on September 1 

Paula and Mike Musgrove have continued to support their daughter in court. The couple is seen emotionally listening to testimony on August 13

Paula and Mike Musgrove have continued to support their daughter in court. The couple is seen emotionally listening to testimony on August 13 

The Wisconsin woman who launched the fundraiser said all the money will directly benefit Paula and Mike

The Wisconsin woman who launched the fundraiser said all the money will directly benefit Paula and Mike 

The fundraiser’s goal was initially set at $2 million, but has been pushed to $3 million after the mistrial. 

Mulligan explained in an update that the goal was raised after the legal process was extended, forcing Clancy’s parents to stay in Plymouth County. 

Mulligan, a 42-year-old mother of three from the Wisconsin town of Oconomowoc,  previously told the Daily Mail that she was motivated to launch the fundraiser because she felt helpless not doing anything. 

‘I just was one of the millions of people watching the case, and I was like, what can we do? And so, I put it together and the response has been overwhelming. There’s so many people that want to support it and it’s been incredible,’ she said. 

Mulligan told the Daily Mail that she initially wanted to help pay for the lawyer directly but later learned that GoFundMe’s terms prohibit ‘the legal defense of financial and violent crimes, including those related to money laundering, murder, robbery, assault, battery, sex crimes or crimes against minors.’ 

Instead of helping with Clancy’s legal fees, she decided to help the Musgroves with their expenses.

‘I’m an impulsive person and I use TikTok and I’m like, here’s my idea, OK, I’ll just do it,’ she said. ‘I don’t have any contact with them. I did it without even asking permission and it was just kind of an, “Oh my God, I hope this works out,” kind of thing,’ Mulligan said. 

Immediately after the killings, the Musgroves relocated 150 miles from their Wallingford, Connecticut, home to their daughter’s coastal hometown of Duxbury, Massachusetts. Paula testified in court that they had been staying in a series of hotels.

The Musgroves were not wealthy before the tragedy – they bought the three-bedroom home where they raised Lindsay and her social worker sister Allison, 38, for $172,000 in 1996. 

‘Her parents have had literally their whole lives uprooted,’ said Mulligan. ‘The support is to Paula and Mike, but in some ways it’s because they’re supporting Lindsay.’

She added that she does not mind what the money is spent on, and trusts it will be used wisely, for whatever need is most pressing.

However, not everyone feels compelled to help Clancy’s family. Another fundraiser on GoFundMe has been titled ‘Lindsay Clancy is an awful person!’ 

‘My name is Tony and if and if Lindsay Clancy GoFundMe is successful because she *illed kids then a single father of two should be able to be successfully obtain a house and some extra funds,’ the description read. 

‘I’m an active father who would do anything for the two greatest things I have ever been involved with.’ 

The prosecution expressed a similar sentiment during the grueling and emotional trial. Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz told reporters after the trial wrapped that the case was: ‘About getting justice for those three little babies. We’re here at this courthouse today because those children are not.’

A fundraiser titled 'Lindsay Clancy is an awful person!' was launched after one benefiting her parents gained traction

A fundraiser titled ‘Lindsay Clancy is an awful person!’ was launched after one benefiting her parents gained traction 

Clancy killed her children with exercise bands in 2023. Her lawyers argued that her actions were a result of significant mental illness and postpartum psychosis

Clancy killed her children with exercise bands in 2023. Her lawyers argued that her actions were a result of significant mental illness and postpartum psychosis 

Cruz argued that the case was not about gaps in the healthcare system. 

‘This case, however, was about Lindsay Clancy and the cruel, calculated killing of three innocents,’ he contested.

Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague said in her closing argument that Clancy was a ‘functioning mom’ who planned the killings, not someone who had been suffering from postpartum psychosis and was unaware of her actions. 

Despite the prosecution’s painting of the killings, 11 out of 12 jurors reportedly sided with the defense’s depiction of Clancy. 

The case has now reached a state of limbo until a status hearing on September 29.

Prosecutors can retry the case with a new jury or offer a plea deal. Clancy’s defense team may also push to drop the charges altogether. 

Robert Pattinson and Oasis Ignite Venice Film Festival Buzz

0

VENICE – A surge of Hollywood glamour and rock ’n’ roll nostalgia is set to hit the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, with Robert Pattinson and Oasis brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher all making their way to the Lido for major world premieres.

Pattinson is arriving with “Primetime,” a film centered on the cultural phenomenon of “To Catch a Predator” and its host Chris Hansen during the Dateline NBC series’ peak. The Gallagher brothers, meanwhile, are expected for a new documentary chronicling Oasis’ much-anticipated 2025 reunion tour. Both titles are scheduled to reach U.S. cinemas in September.

This year’s Venice lineup has already delivered its share of star-driven highlights, including George Clooney receiving a lifetime achievement honor and John Malkovich earning a moving ovation for his work in “Wild Horse Nine.” But the same-day arrival of Pattinson and Oasis may give the festival one of its brightest, most buzzworthy moments yet.

Robert Pattinson steps into the role of Chris Hansen

“Primetime,” directed by Lance Oppenheim from a script by Ajon Singh, has already stirred conversation thanks to its provocative trailer and real-life subject matter. The film draws from journalist Luke Dittrich’s Esquire story, “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die,” which examined the 2006 sting involving Texas assistant district attorney Bill Conradt. Conradt died by suicide as police approached his home while television cameras connected to the program waited outside.

Oppenheim, in his director’s statement, said that he “wanted to trace the disparate ambitions of people who existed inside this apparatus — a journalistic crusader, a mercenary TV producer and a wide-eyed Hollywood dreamer — converging into a moment of crisis.”

Hansen was not involved in the making of the movie and has made several public comments about it, including that he had always thought Denis Leary should have played him and questioning the motives of the filmmakers. He was invited to see the movie before the festival, but took issue with the NDA he was asked to sign beforehand.

Last year, the series was also the subject of an acclaimed documentary, “Predators,” from filmmaker David Osit. It’s currently streaming on Paramount+.

For Pattinson, “Primetime,” in theaters Sept. 25, is one more buzzy performance in a banner year that’s already included memorable performances in hit films from “The Drama” to “The Odyssey” and with “Dune: Part Three” still to come.

Inside the Oasis reunion tour

The Oasis documentary, subtitled “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” is part concert film and part exploration of the contentious relationship between the Gallagher brothers, whose long-held feud led to Oasis disbanding in 2009. It includes never-before-seen rehearsals and what was then their first joint interview in 25 years.

“We set out to make a film about the reconciliation of two brothers, infamous for their volatile relationship, but we also wanted to make a film about the power of music and the way Oasis’ songs have continued to have a life of their own, as the band lay dormant for fifteen years,” co-directors Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace said in their directors’ statement. “The documentary, like the reunion and the tour, took on a life of its own.”

It’ll be in theaters shortly after the festival. Disney is giving “Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger” an IMAX release on Sept. 11, and it’s expected to arrive on the Disney+ streaming service later this year.

___

For coverage of the 2026 Venice Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/venice-film-festival

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Police Release Bodycam Footage From Discovery of Pennsylvania College Student Karoline Heintz

0

Police bodycam video released Thursday shows the moment authorities found the body of a Pennsylvania college student, a discovery that later led investigators to charge her boyfriend after he allegedly claimed a “demon” told him to stab her, according to court records.

State police also say the suspect’s mother played a role after the killing, accusing her of helping her son conceal the crime.

Royce Moser, 18, of North Strabane Township, has been charged with homicide in the death of Karoline Heintz, a PennWest California University student. Her body was discovered Aug. 20 after she did not return to the southwestern Pennsylvania campus, according to a criminal complaint.

In a police affidavit, Moser allegedly said he grew angry while talking with Heintz inside her vehicle in his driveway, then claimed a “demon” took control and instructed him to stab her.

A preliminary hearing in the case was held Tuesday for Moser and his mother, Rachel Moser, as proceedings continue in connection with Heintz’s death.

An attorney for Royce Moser declined to comment on the charges against him, and a message left for a public defender representing Rachel Moser was not immediately returned.

The 37-minute video released Thursday is from an officer’s body-worn camera. It shows the California, Pennsylvania, police officer walking up to Karoline Heintz’s Jeep in the dark.

The officer points a flashlight inside the back window, yells toward another officer nearby, then gets on his radio.

“Control, I need EMS here right now,” the officer said. “I’ve got an unconscious female in the back of this car right now. Any additional units, any in the available area, please.”

An operator radios back, “Is she breathing?”

“Negative,” the officer responds as sirens are heard in the background. “I’ve got blood everywhere.”

The officer then breaks two windows to gain access inside the vehicle.

“Get someone here now,” he said.

According to the affidavit, Moser said he told Heintz, “wait, I have something for you” before retrieving a knife from his home.

The victim fell out of her vehicle after being stabbed and Moser put her in the back hatch before getting into the driver’s seat.

Moser then asked his mother to follow him to PennWest California University in southwestern Pennsylvania to drop off the vehicle, the affidavit said.

Heintz’s father had asked police to look for his daughter’s vehicle after she failed to return to campus, and indicated an AirTag in the vehicle showed she was in a parking lot, according to a criminal complaint.

Police found Karoline Heintz’s body in the vehicle.

The AirTag also indicated Heintz had been at Moser’s home earlier.

Royce and Rachel Moser were later located at Rachel Moser’s residence in Beallsville.

According to the affidavit, Rachel Moser told her son to bathe and change his clothes, which she placed in a washing machine.

She then took the knife and put it in a garbage bag to dispose of in the trash outside her home, according to the affidavit.

The knife was retrieved after investigators obtained a search warrant.

Royce and Rachel Moser both were charged with tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse and obstruction of justice.

Rachel Moser, 56, also was charged with hindering the apprehension of a fugitive and criminal use of a communication device.

Their next court appearance is a formal arraignment scheduled for Oct. 13.

Mother and son are being held without bail in the Washington County jail.

Heintz’s family issued a statement asking the public to respect their wishes for privacy.

“This is a parent’s worst nightmare,” the statement said. “It has been devastating for family, friends, and the whole community. Karoline was loved by all. She was a kind, smart, beautiful girl. We want justice for our “sweet” Karoline.”