CHICAGO (WLS) — A man facing charges for shooting two Chicago police officers, resulting in one’s death, was ordered to remain in custody as he awaits trial, following a court session on Thursday.

Appearing before the court was Alphanso Talley, accompanied by his family and the widow of Officer John Bartholomew, the officer whose life was tragically claimed in the incident. Talley stood accused of the fatal act.

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Throughout the proceedings, Talley was repeatedly admonished for interrupting and speaking out of turn.

The case has sparked inquiries into why a person with a history of violent felonies was not previously incarcerated, especially after allegedly committing additional offenses.

This situation has also intensified scrutiny over Cook County’s electronic monitoring system, prompting calls for revisions to the Illinois SAFE-T Act to enhance its efficacy.

Court records show Talley had an arrest warrant pending for committing a carjacking and armed robbery before Saturday’s shooting at Swedish Hospital.

That’s where he’s accused of killing Bartholomew and wounding his partner.

This happened after Talley had been arrested for an armed robbery just hours earlier that day.

RELATED: Republican leaders call for changes to electronic monitoring after Chicago police officer killed

A judge had released the seven-time felon on electronic monitoring for his prior crimes which he violated when he failed to show up to court in March to face those charges.

The 26-year-old has been charged with more than a half-dozen felonies since 2017.

While the tragedy has some Republican state lawmakers calling for changes to the SAFE-T Act, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker criticized Judge John Lyke, who released Talley on electronic monitoring before last Saturday’s shooting.

“And you saw that the judge, you know, wants to blame everybody else, but it was right before the judge,” Gov. Pritzker said. “Judge could have made the decision, didn’t make the decision.”

Supporters of pre-trial release say that 94% of those released pending trial – never commit another crime.

Meanwhile, questions remain over how Talley got the gun into Swedish Hospital that day.

Sources told ABC7 that Talley was likely searched three times without a weapon being detected.

At last check, Officer Bartholomew’s partner is still in the hospital but improving.

Funeral arrangements announced

The visitation for Bartholomew is set for 2 to 8 p.m. May 7 at St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church, located at 5649 N. Sheridan Road in Chicago.

The funeral is planned for 10 a.m. May 8 at the same location.

Perched on the edge of both the South and the Midwest, Louisville’s unique position might explain why its residents are known for their initial reserve towards newcomers.

Despite this cautious demeanor, Kentucky’s largest city is witnessing a surge in its population, attracting a wave of new settlers.

Data from the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors reveals a significant rise in luxury home sales, with 287 single-family homes being sold for over $1 million in the past year, a notable jump from just 43 in 2010, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Statewide, Kentucky has also seen growth, with its population reaching 4,606,864 by July 2025, marking an increase of 18,492 people in just one year.

While traditionally classified as a southern state, Louisville’s geographical closeness to Indiana places it right at the country’s heart, amplifying its appeal.

Tom Owen, a local historian, told the Journal the city’s location makes the locals ‘ambiguous in terms of our regional loyalty.’

Louisvillians can seem cold during first introductions and don’t display the hospitality for which southern states are known, the Journal reports.

Louisville, Kentucky, is booming with industry and newcomers. Offering vibrant downtown and beautiful historic homes  

According to the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors, 287 single-family homes sold for more than $1million in the past year, a sharp increase from just 43 in 2010

The city is best known for the Kentucky Derby, the star-studded horse racing event that happens every year in May.

But Louisville has lots to offer all year round, with lively and walkable downtown neighborhoods one of many factors enticing new people to move there, according to experts.

Sean Matthew Leary, who moved to Louisville from Austin, Texas, in 2022, told the outlet that Louisville ‘felt like a very up-and-coming city with a lot of interesting creatives, really cool restaurants, bars, and other concepts that were creating really nice spaces.’

In addition to the social scene, the city’s architecture has an authentic feel.

Downtown never experienced widespread redevelopment, leaving many of the stunning original Victorian-style homes and buildings intact.

The vintage touch gives the city a one-of-a-kind feel that many cities across the country just cannot replicate.

‘Louisville is a hidden gem—plenty of green space/parks, restaurants, arts and festivals, and most importantly a sense of community,’ said Emily Yao, who moved to the city over 15 years ago, to the outlet.

The city is known for the Kentucky Derby, the star-studded horse racing event that traditionally happens every year in May

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is the world’s largest express-cargo hub, where UPS employs over 25,000 workers

Clarksville, Indiana, which sits just across the Ohio river from Louisville, is known for its many beautiful historic properties

The city has also seen a boom in industries such as healthcare, as well as becoming a major hub for UPS’s global air branch.

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is the world’s largest express-cargo hub, attracting a growing number of life-science companies to the area, according to the Journal.

UPS has over 25,000 employees that work in the area, the most in the region. 

Jefferson County, which Louisville is a part of, is a hotspot for newcomers to Kentucky.

Jefferson County, founded in 1780 and named for the future president Thomas Jefferson, is widely considered one of the best places to live in the state, with 783,022 residents, according to Niche.

Median home values in Jefferson County are $248,400 – far below the national average of $332,700 – with 62 percent of residents owning their own homes.

Movers were just as likely to settle in Fayette County, a consolidated county centered around the city of Lexington and home to the University of Kentucky.

Like Jefferson County, the area functions as a major urban center in the largely rural state, while also acting as an economic and educational hub.

In a shocking incident at Foss High School in Tacoma, Washington, a stabbing spree left at least five individuals injured, triggering a significant emergency response. The wounded were swiftly taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

According to Tacoma police, four of the injured are students, while a security guard was also hurt and hospitalized. Authorities have confirmed that a suspect has been apprehended and is receiving medical attention as well.

As the investigation continues, officials have yet to provide further information about the suspect or the current status of those who were attacked.

The chaotic scene saw police and emergency personnel rushing to the school, where they quickly secured the premises and initiated a lockdown to ensure the safety of students and staff, as reported by FOX 13 news.

The incident unfolded at Foss High School in Tacoma, Washington, on a Thursday, with imagery from Google Maps capturing the location.

The incident remains under investigation, with officials expected to provide updates as more information becomes available.

This is a developing story; check back later for updates.

WASHINGTON — In a heated Senate hearing on Thursday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth clashed with Democrats over a range of contentious issues, including his controversial military purges, allegations of insider trading, and the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Accompanying the outspoken Pentagon leader was the composed Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as they discussed President Trump’s ambitious $1.5 trillion defense budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal year.

The Senate Armed Services Committee session swiftly transformed into a battleground for Democrats to voice their extensive criticisms.

“Mr. Secretary, this marks your first public appearance before this committee in nearly a year,” remarked ranking member Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI). “Since your last testimony, you and President Trump have led the United States into an unnecessary conflict with Iran.”

He continued, “You’ve authorized an attack on Venezuela and orchestrated an ongoing, unlawful maritime strike campaign. Our military has conducted bombings in Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, and Ecuador. Domestically, you’ve stationed thousands of troops in cities such as Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland.”

“These actions will have significant and long-term consequences.”

Hegseth remained defiant, at one point sniping that “the biggest adversary we face at this point is the reckless naysayers and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans” who “seek to undermine” the war in Iran.

Democrats on the panel prioritize different grievances to whack him with in their limited time.

“In just the space of minutes, it looks like insiders have been making out like bandits, using secret information about the war,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) groused.

Warren peppered Hegseth with questions about conspicuously well-timed trades on Polymarket and oil-related purchases, which the war secretary argued wasn’t his lane. She also pressed him about whether his broker was told to purchase defense stocks.

“I’ll give it to you as a big fat negative,” Hegseth shot back.

Of particular concern for many Democrats was Hegseth’s purging of dozens of senior U.S. military officers throughout his tenure as Pentagon honcho.

Reed noted that “60% are black or female” and argued they were “fired for reasons unrelated to performance.” But Hegseth insisted his “only metric is merit” and declined to talk about the nature of why they were asked to step down.

Even one Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), raised concerns about the firings, harping on firing former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Gen. James “Jim” Mingus as Vice Chief of Staff, in particular. She read through a list of their achievements.

“I was disappointed to see that their retirements were hastened, over what I believed had been set out by you and the administration,” she said.

Hegseth also fielded concerns from Democrats about the Pentagon’s use of artificial intelligence to conduct military operations, given the row between Hegseth and Anthropic.

“AI is not making lethal decisions,” the secretary of war assured senators.

Hegseth was testifying before the panel to make the case for a close to 50% increase in the Pentagon’s budget request, something Trump championed.

The secretary of war underscored how the military industrial base has eroded over time and framed the bigger budget as a generational investment in national security.

“President Trump inherited a defense industrial base that had been hollowed out by years of America’s last policies, resulting in diminished capacity to project strength,” Hegseth said. “We are reversing this systemic decay and putting our defense industrial base back on a war footing.”

The war in Iran was also top of mind for senators, ahead of the supposed Friday deadline for Trump to seek congressional reauthorization in keeping with the War Powers Act of 1973, which requires presidents to get approval after 60 days.

But Hegseth suggested that it won’t be necessary due to the ongoing cease-fire with Iran.

“I would defer to the White House and White House Counsel on that,” Hegseth told Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) when asked if the president would ask Congress for reauthorization.

“However, we are in a ceasefire right now,” he added. “The 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire…that’s our understanding, just so you know.”