The mayor of Oxford, Mississippi, has issued a stark warning about kratom as the college town mourns the unexplained deaths of two University of Mississippi students, saying anyone who takes the controversial substance is “rolling the dice on death.”

Mayor Robyn Tannehill spoke out after investigators recovered packaged kratom while examining the deaths of Ole Miss students Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20.

The students were found dead in different locations earlier this week. Their deaths have shaken the tight-knit university community and prompted an urgent investigation involving narcotics detectives.

Investigators have not yet identified what caused either death. Tannehill emphasized that autopsy and toxicology findings must be completed before authorities can determine whether kratom—or another substance—was involved.

Even so, the mayor said the tragedy should prompt renewed scrutiny of substances that can be found in smoke shops, convenience stores and gas stations, where some products may pose serious risks.

“To take kratom is really rolling the dice on death,” Tannehill told Fox News on Saturday. “That sounds dramatic, but it’s the truth. And so our challenge right now is to make our young people understand the dangers of these drugs.”

Tannehill said Oxford officials have been focused on kratom for years. The city moved to limit its availability after the police chief raised concerns about the substance.

“Our city board passed a law seven years ago prohibiting kratom from being sold in gas stations across our community,” she said. “This is a substance that our police chief identified as dangerous in 2019, and we immediately took action.”

The mayor also said authorities are continuing to pursue individuals suspected of illegally supplying potentially dangerous substances to young people.

“We are always trying to find the bad actors in our community that are choosing to sell these things to kids,” she said.

Her comments followed a police raid at a smoke shop about a mile from the Ole Miss campus, where two employees were arrested on drug-related charges.

Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18, were booked on allegations of possessing Schedule I drugs with the intent to distribute them.

According to Oxford police, agents seized more than 500 units of kratom during the operation, as well as THC cartridges, gummies and other suspected drugs.

Police also said the store’s owner, 40-year-old Amer Alowdi, had previously been indicted on drug-trafficking charges and had since left the country.

Authorities have not connected the arrests or the smoke shop to the deaths of Hamilton and Strang. The investigation into the students’ deaths remains ongoing.

The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit said “packaged kratom” was found during both death investigations.

Kratom is derived from a Southeast Asian tree and can produce stimulant-like effects at lower doses and opioid-like effects at higher doses. 

It is sometimes marketed for energy, pain relief or managing opioid withdrawal.

‘We are awaiting autopsy and toxicology reports, and until those tests are in, it is just, you know, speculation at this point,’ Tannehill said.

Hamilton, a freshman from Colorado, was found inside Stewart Hall on campus. Emergency responders attempted CPR but were unable to save him.

Strang, a junior from Georgia, was discovered at an off-campus house on Van Buren Avenue.

Tannehill said the entire Oxford community was now mourning with them.

‘This tragic loss of these two young men has deeply impacted our community, and my heart is broken for these parents, family and friends and classmates of Robert and Aidan,’ she said.

‘As a mom and a mayor, I take seriously our responsibility to provide a safe place for the students who we’re entrusted with for four to five to six years. Every student on that Ole Miss campus is important to us.’

Tannehill looked to reassure frightened students and parents that the two deaths did not mean Oxford had suddenly become unsafe.

‘Oxford is an extremely safe town,’ she said. ‘It’s a place where, as you walk down the street, people still speak to you. It’s a place that takes care of each other.’

She added that substance abuse and dangerous drugs are problems confronting college communities nationwide.

‘The issues we’re dealing with right now are issues that every college campus across the nation is dealing with. It’s not unique to Oxford,’ she said. 

‘Unfortunately, the spotlight is on Oxford now because of these two tragic deaths, and if that spotlight can help us save other kids then, you know, that is my prayer.’

Tannehill urged students to look after one another.

‘I just encourage students to take care of each other,’ Tannehill said. ‘Know that our community is rallying around you.’

And she delivered an equally blunt message to anyone illegally supplying drugs in the city.

‘To the bad actors in our community, know that we are looking for you every single day, that we are not going to leave any stone unturned to make sure that we protect our community.’

Bill Gates nervously chuckled while denying that he had ever visited Jeffrey Epstein’s notorious private island, despite maintaining a relationship with the disgraced financier.

The Microsoft co-founder discussed Epstein, artificial intelligence and other subjects during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press that aired Sunday.

Gates appeared visibly uneasy and laughed nervously as journalist Kristen Welker questioned him about his dealings with Epstein.

“I really appreciated the chance to go in front of Congress and make it clear, uh, you know, to go through every meeting I have with him—which is about 10 meetings over a couple-year period,” he told Welker.

In June, Gates gave a closed-door deposition to the House Oversight Committee about his connection to Epstein.

He continued to hesitate at points as he said: “I never—there were never any women in those meetings, there’s nothing financially, I never went to the island or anything like that.”

“So if people are curious about that, I encourage them to read. You know, I was there to answer any question that people had,” Gates added.

Gates was referring to Epstein’s secluded Caribbean property, which became known as “pedophile island.”

Federal investigations, civil lawsuits and accounts from multiple victims have described Epstein’s use of the island in the trafficking, abuse and exploitation of underage girls and women.

Epstein, who was found hanging in his federal jail cell in 2019, had connections to numerous prominent people, including Gates.

Gates, 70, remained in contact with Epstein for years, despite Epstein’s status as a registered sex offender at the time.

Following Epstein’s death, Gates repeatedly apologized for the relationship. During his congressional appearance, he also said he wished they had never met.

Before that appearance, reports had emerged alleging that Gates had slept with Russian women, contracted a sexually transmitted infection and planned to secretly give antibiotics to his then-wife, Melinda French Gates.

The claims, made public on January 30, came from emails Epstein wrote and sent to himself on July 18, 2013.

DON’T MISS: Woman Found Dead in Central Park With Unexplained Trauma as NYPD Investigates

After the allegations surfaced, Gates held a private town hall meeting with employees of the Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest private philanthropic organizations. Melinda French Gates resigned as the foundation’s co-chair in 2024.

At the closed-door meeting, known internally as “BG Unplugged,” the Microsoft executive acknowledged having two affairs with the Russian women referenced in Epstein’s correspondence, according to a previous report by The Wall Street Journal.

During his Meet the Press interview, Gates also accused Epstein of using their friendship to build his own reputation. 

‘I was told by Jeffrey after I met him that he could help raise billions of dollars for global health – you know, he wouldn’t be paid, he would have no role. 

‘That proved to be a complete dead end. So my spending time with him, like many other people, kind of helped his reputation. You know, that’s very regrettable,’ he said. 

French Gates has also spoken out about her ex-husband’s ties to Epstein, and shared a chilling encounter she had with the pedophile. 

In a candid interview with The Guardian in June, the billionaire philanthropist opened up about her painful divorce from Gates, her horror after meeting Epstein and her determination to use her vast fortune to transform women’s healthcare.

While discussing Epstein, the 61-year-old became visibly emotional when asked what about him disturbed her so deeply when she met him. 

‘My heart is racing,’ she said, before asking a striking question of her own.

‘Have you ever in your life been around somebody that you just know is evil?

‘There you go. You just have your answer. We need to listen to our feelings about people,’ she told the outlet. 

Amid the fallout from the Epstein Files release, their marriage fell apart following Gates’s extramarital affairs. 

Gates has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and says he never witnessed any criminal activity, but conceded that his friendship with the pedophile was a ‘grave error in judgment.’ 

Some of Britain’s most prominent explorers are calling for a police investigation into the mystery surrounding Sir Ranulph Fiennes’s disappearance, after his family claimed their pleas for help had been ignored. Their message to him was clear: “We are coming!”

The 82-year-old adventurer, who has Parkinson’s disease and has not been seen in public for more than two years, has reportedly been placed under a false name and moved between several care homes by his second wife.

His stepson, Alexander Millington-Cotes, said he had made no progress in persuading two police forces to investigate. Fellow adventurers, including Bear Grylls and Ben Fogle, have now joined calls for authorities to act.

One of the forces has declined to say whether it intends to investigate, while the other has yet to make a public response.

Support for the family has continued to grow, with more than £15,000 raised for a crowdfunded legal campaign launched by Mr Millington-Cotes.

Often hailed as the world’s greatest living explorer, Sir Ranulph has completed extraordinary feats, including running seven marathons across seven continents in seven days. He also climbed Everest at the age of 65, four years after suffering a heart attack.

However, after he married his second wife, Louise Millington-Cotes, in 2005, Mr Millington-Cotes says her behaviour became increasingly “dominating”. Louise, who is 23 years younger than Sir Ranulph, married him just over a year after the death of his first wife. Her stepson describes himself as “estranged” from his mother.

Friends and a business associate gave The Mail on Sunday a similar account. One said Sir Ranulph had complained that he was “only ever being allowed 24 hours at a time away from her”.

Friends and relatives say Louise was reportedly granted lasting power of attorney over Sir Ranulph in 2024. They were initially allowed to visit the couple at a London care home, but only after signing a non-disclosure agreement.

Since then, however, Sir Ranulph has reportedly been moved between a series of care homes under a false name. The Care Inspectorate concluded that he had been unlawfully deprived of his liberty.

For months, Mr Millington-Cotes has been trying to locate him and establish whether he is safe and receiving proper care.

He has approached police in Cheshire, where one of the care homes is located, as well as West Mercia Police, the force covering the area where the couple previously lived. His efforts have so far produced no result.

“I’m trying to establish from the police what they’re doing… I’ve tried to get in touch but no luck so far,” he told the Sunday Telegraph.

Backing his appeal, fellow explorer Bear Grylls said: “We have been desperately trying to connect with Ran for a year now to no avail.

“But truth always wins out.

“These reports of his isolation from his loved ones and treatment in care homes are so deeply disturbing.

“It’s past time for the Office for the Public Guardian and the police to investigate urgently. We owe it to him.”

‘Ran we are coming!’

Ben Fogle, who like Sir Ranulph has walked to the South Pole and summited Everest, has also called on the police to investigate.

‘That such a great man, hero of mine and a national treasure, should be treated in this way, isolated and kept away from family and friends, is very troubling,’ he said on social media.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world, said: ‘The recent news that he is being shuffled from home to home and not allowed to see his friends is the deprivation of a basic human right.’

Other celebrity friends include Gardeners’ World host Monty Don, who said Sir Ranulph should be ‘enjoying the admiration and respect of the whole country after such a remarkable life and not kept hidden away from family and friends’.

Meanwhile veteran BBC journalist John Simpson said: ‘He’s the world’s bravest man, and he’s vulnerable. We must know what’s happening to him.’

And shadow health and care secretary Damian Hinds has called for ‘any potential failings’ at the care watchdog the Office Of The Public Guardian to be ‘looked into’.

Mr Millington-Cotes, 31, is now seeking to raise £55,000 to fund legal action if that becomes necessary.

‘I want to ensure his complete free will, the ability to walk outside, see whoever he wants,’ he told The Mail on Sunday.

Cheshire Police declined to comment, while West Mercia Police have yet to comment.

Mrs Millington-Cotes, 59, has so far not responded to requests for comment.

Mr Millington-Cotes’s GoFundMe page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpingranfiennes

The US government has urged Americans in the UK to “exercise caution” following an alleged attempted terrorist attack near an American-linked air force base.

The US Embassy in Britain said it was aware that five men had been arrested in Fairford after reportedly planning to cause significant damage to US military interests. The warning was issued to American citizens on Sunday.

“The US Embassy is aware of arrests on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near the Royal Air Force base in Fairford, UK,” the embassy said in a statement.

The agency added: “US citizens are encouraged to exercise caution and remain mindful of their personal security. They should also follow the instructions of local authorities to protect their safety and security.”

RAF Fairford, located in Gloucestershire, serves as a US Air Force command hub for European operations. The base has also been used in American strikes against Iranian missile sites accused of targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The installation was previously singled out in a warning issued by Iran‘s Revolutionary Guard in July, when Britain was urged not to permit US bombers to operate from the base.

The US President praised the British police response and indicated that authorities had been monitoring the suspects before making the arrests.

“It was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job. We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great,” he told reporters in Illinois.

“It may have been Scotland Yard, I don’t know. We worked with a lot of them. We had them under view for a long time, and we got them. Thank you.”

The arrests are not thought to have followed a pre-arranged police operation, suggesting officers may not have previously known about the alleged plot.

A local farmer reportedly alerted police after encountering five masked men described as having a Middle Eastern appearance while returning home from a party. The group was allegedly linked to a suspected car bomb plot.

“I just thought, what the hell are they doing? I saw a group of Middle Eastern-looking young guys running off through the trees. Some of them had masks or balaclavas on, and they all scattered ahead of us as we drove back past,” she told the Telegraph.

“Some ran into the fields, while others turned towards the air base. We realised this was something pretty serious,” she said.

The farmer is understood to have called 999 at around 12.45am to report people behaving suspiciously near three white vans. Police later said viable incendiary devices and chemicals had been discovered inside one of the vehicles.

She said the vehicles had been “blocking the road” before she noticed a large group of hooded men wearing balaclavas while driving home.

About 85 homes in the nearby Cotswolds countryside were evacuated as armed officers and the SAS moved into the area. The Army’s specialist bomb disposal unit also searched for any additional devices.

Maggie Blyth, Temporary Chief Constable for Gloucestershire Police, said the incident was now believed to have been ‘contained’.

‘These arrests will no doubt have caused some shock and anxiety and we want those living locally to RAF Fairford and across Gloucestershire to be sure and to know that, as agencies, we are working closely together to support them,’ she said.

‘You will appreciate this is a fast-moving situation and all agencies across Gloucestershire are actively working to respond to our communities’ needs and continue to provide information to our communities on a regular basis, we will also continue to assist counter-terrorism policing with their investigation and liaise with other national partners.

‘I can give reassurance that we believe the matter to be contained and as a set of agencies working together across Gloucestershire, we are gathering and responding to local intelligence all the time.’

A bomb disposal robot from the Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team was seen on Sunday moving between the three parked vans. Two vans’ rear doors were open and what appeared to be large black barrels could be seen outside.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the Government will ‘always take every step necessary’ to protect the country following the major incident. 

He wrote on X: ‘I know today’s incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country.

RELATED: Who is Monica Sementilli, and What Allegations Does She Face? – NewsFinale

‘My thanks go to Gloucestershire Police, Counter Terrorism Policing, our Armed Forces and all those working to keep the public safe. 

‘I am especially grateful to those residents who have been asked to leave their homes while precautionary checks are carried out. The safety and security of the public is our first priority, and I want people to know that we will always take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep our country safe. 

‘The investigation remains ongoing, and I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.’ 

RAF Fairford has been put on Delta alert, the highest threat level used by Washington’s Department of Defense.

Meanwhile security has been tightened at other US bases in the UK, with reports that RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk has been placed on Charlie alert, the second-highest threat level.

A spokesman for the 48th Fighter Wing told the Daily Mail: ‘We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures are implemented or modified. 

‘Please be assured that the Tri-Base area (RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell) remains vigilant and will take appropriate action to ensure the safety and security of US service members, US and UK civilians, contractors, and their families.’

The resident who pictured the group’s arrest told this newspaper: ‘I was asleep and was woken up by shouting coming from outside.

‘I couldn’t tell what was being shouted but as I got nearer the window, I could see the road was being lit up by blue flashing lights from police vehicles. On one side of the road, officers had five men lined up. They all had their shirts removed.

‘They were instructed to sit down. They were patted down by the officers and then had their shoes and socks removed.

‘I think they must have been there for about half an hour. The suspects were then told to get up and were walked round the corner.

‘I lost sight of them after that but I presumed they were put in police vans and led away. This all happened just outside the perimeter of RAF Fairford.

‘The police are investigating three work vans parked a few hundred yards from my house. We’ve not been told much, we were just asked to evacuate our homes early this morning.’

Police were alerted to the incident in the early hours by a hero resident who reported men ‘acting suspiciously’ to police.

Julian Tudsbery, who has lived in Whelford for 30 years, said a local had reported three ‘suspicious vans’ in the village. 

‘Evidently, they phoned the airbase police, who didn’t answer the phone,’ he said. ‘It just rang out so she dialled 999.’

In June, the US government said it would spend around $500million (£377million) on ‘expansion and military infrastructure’ at the base, understood to include a new hangar complex.

A month earlier the Royal International Air Tattoo, set to be held at the base in July, was cancelled after the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE) said the ‘escalating geopolitical situation in the Middle East’ had required a ‘significant increase in real-world operational missions’ from RAF Fairford.

RAFCTE said both the Royal and US air forces needed to ‘maintain unrestricted, 24/7 operational readiness at the base’.

Shortly after the US and Israel began the war with Iran on February 28, roads surrounding RAF Fairford were closed in a bid to ‘address safety and access issues’.

Protective screens were mounted on the base’s perimeter fences in March to stop filming after it became popular with plane spotters when US bombers began arriving.

That month US military personnel at the base were pictured preparing explosives at the base as Washington intensified strikes on Iran.

The Daily Mail reached out to The White House for comment.