This week, the Trump administration took the rare action of deploying a government aircraft to Cuba to bring back a 10-year-old child from Utah. The child has become the focal point of a heated custody battle intertwined with issues of gender identity.

At the heart of this complex situation is Rose Inessa-Ethington, a transgender woman accused of taking the child to Cuba without the biological mother’s consent. Concerns were raised by a family member who feared that Inessa-Ethington had traveled to Havana with the intention of arranging gender transition surgery for the child.

Inessa-Ethington, known for her influential Utah political blog during the 2010s, was apprehended in Cuba alongside her partner, Blue Inessa-Ethington. Both are now facing charges in the United States for international parental kidnapping.

The pair initially set off with the child and Blue’s 3-year-old for what they described as a camping trip in Canada in late March. However, communication ceased once they informed the child’s mother of their arrival in Canada. According to a federal court complaint filed in Utah, the couple subsequently traveled from Vancouver to Mexico and then onward to Cuba by April 1.

While the charges do not specifically confirm any plans for gender-affirming surgery, the feasibility of such a procedure in Cuba for minors remains legally questionable. The situation continues to unfold as legal proceedings advance, spotlighting the ongoing debate around parental rights and gender identity issues.

The FBI said that Blue Inessa-Ethington withdrew $10,000 from her checking account before leaving. Agents also found at their home a note with instructions from a mental health therapist in Washington, D.C., “to send the therapist the $10,000.00 and instructions on gender affirming medical care for children.” That note didn’t mention Cuba.

The use of the Department of Justice plane in a parental kidnapping investigation comes after the Trump administration sought to block access to gender-affirming care for minors and pressured health care providers over the issue.

Search began after child wasn’t returned as scheduled

The search for the child began on April 3 when they were not returned to the mother in Utah as scheduled, court documents show.

The 10-year-old’s mother, who was divorced from Rose Inessa-Ethington and had shared custody of the child, filed a missing-person report with police in Logan, Utah, a college and dairy farming town about 70 miles (115 kilometers) north of Salt Lake City.

Logan City Police Chief Jeff Simmons said his department’s initial focus was on the custodial interference allegations in the case, and he said investigators did not learn until later about concerns over gender-affirming surgery.

Logan police spokesperson Sgt. Brandon Bevan said those concerns were raised by one family member. He declined to say who.

“They just had the concern about it, no actual physical evidence” Bevan said.

A Utah state judge ordered the return of the 10-year-old to the child’s mother on April 13. Three days later, a federal magistrate judge issued an arrest warrant for the Inessa-Ethingtons. On the same day, Cuban law enforcement located the group. They were deported to the U.S. aboard the government plane Monday and arraigned in federal court in Richmond, Virginia.

The 10-year-old was returned to the child’s biological mother, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak in Utah indicated in a statement. Representatives of the FBI and U.S. attorneys office in Utah declined to say what happened to the 3-year-old child who had been with the group.

Parents engaged in custody dispute

The custody dispute between the parents does not appear to be a new development. An online fundraiser created five years go by Blue Inessa-Ethington titled “Help a Trans Mother Keep Custody of Her Child” raised $9,766.

“Last week, Rose’s ex relocated several counties away, negatively impacting Rose’s parent-time with the child,” she wrote on the fundraising page. She said the money would be used to seek a court order that would keep the child “safe and stable throughout this process.”

Anyone who has spent time with Rose knows “how much care and thought she puts into parenting her gender open child,” she wrote.

Family members said the child was assigned male at birth but identifies as a girl because of what they believed to be “manipulation” by Rose Inessa-Ethington, according to an April 16 affidavit from FBI Special Agent Jennifer Waterfield.

Gender-affirming care for minors has been limited

The Trump administration moved in December to cut off gender-affirming care for minors, prompting a third of states to sue.

It was the latest in a series of clashes between an administration that says transgender health care can be harmful to children and advocates who say it’s medically necessary.

Gender-affirming surgery is rare among U.S. children, research shows. Guidance from several major medical organizations calls for caution around surgery for minors and says decisions about treatments are case-by-case. Fewer than 1 in 1,000 U.S. adolescents receive gender-affirming medications, such as hormones or puberty blockers.

In Cuba, gender-affirming surgeries are banned for minors and only performed for adults through the public health system under strict supervision in designated public hospitals for Cuban citizens. They must be authorized by a medical commission after a comprehensive review of the patient’s file. That process often takes years because it requires a wide range of medical and psychological evaluations.

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A Florida inmate, convicted of murdering his cellmate with a pen, was observed grinning and chuckling as a judge handed him a life sentence on Tuesday.

Marcus Terry, aged 43, was found guilty of second-degree murder in December 2025. The crime occurred in 2021 at the Dade Correctional Institution in Homestead, where Terry fatally attacked his cellmate by stabbing him in the head with a pen, as reported by NBC Miami.

In a court session on Tuesday, Terry’s attorney, Steven Yermish, sought a new trial for his client. He argued before Judge Ellen Sue Venzer that inadmissible evidence had been introduced during the trial held at the end of the previous year, according to the news outlet.

Despite Yermish’s plea, Judge Venzer denied the motion for a retrial and sentenced Terry to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. She recounted the brutal incident where Terry forcefully drove a pen into the brain of his 64-year-old cellmate, Ray Matos.

Venzer rejected Yermish’s motion for a new trial and sentenced his client to life behind bars without the possibility of parole, as she described how Terry fatally pushed a pen into the brain of his cellmate, 64-year-old Ray Matos.

“He shoved a pillowcase into his mouth. When the guards came in to find out what was going on, he was standing on top of this man, and his hand was bloodied,” Venzer said.

As the judge was detailing the murder, Terry began smiling and laughing.

“I’m not sure why you’re laughing,” Venzer said to him.

Marcus Terry was found guilty of second-degree murder in December for killing his cellmate in 2021. (Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department)

“You are amusing,” Terry responded.

The judge replied that she “found nothing amusing about your behavior or the death of this gentleman.”

“God have mercy on your soul,” Venzer said while handing down his sentence.

Terry may now appeal his sentence, according to NBC Miami.

Ray Matos was killed by Marcus Terry inside the Dade Correctional Institute in Homestead. (Florida Department of Corrections)

Terry was already serving a life sentence for armed burglary and armed robbery when he killed Matos, who was his cellmate for less than a week, court records showed.

Matos was found on the ground in the cell, lying in a pool of blood as Terry sat on the lower bunk, according to an arrest warrant.

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Their motto may promise to “stand for something good,” yet customers are raising eyebrows over the ownership of this cherished burger chain.

For those who relish the experience of dunking crinkle-cut fries into a luscious strawberry milkshake or savoring a flawless smash burger, Shake Shack is the ultimate destination.

However, the chain hasn’t been spared from escalating costs, leaving disgruntled patrons pointing fingers at the company’s major shareholder for the price increases.

BlackRock, the globe’s largest asset management firm, holds about 14.3 percent of Shake Shack’s shares. In response to the online backlash, the firm clarified its role by asserting that they are merely an investment entity, not the operators of a burger restaurant.

“We do not and cannot set prices at Shake Shack,” BlackRock tweeted, addressing the confusion.

The controversy began with a viral video that showed an absolutely shocked Shake Shack customer reviewing the eye-watering prices on a drive-thru menu. 

They were ‘insane,’ said the customer, highlighting that their go-to meal now costs almost $20. 

Shake Shack started as a hot dog stand in New York City and has since become one of America’s favorite fast casual burger chains

Shake Shack released their ‘Good Fit’ menu with protein-focused updates to already existing menu items

A hot dog meal, including fries and a drink, was around $12. 

Customers shared their outrage online, with many claiming that they can’t dine out as often due to rising prices.

One X user who called the chain’s menu ‘outrageously priced’ placed the blame squarely on the company’s biggest shareholders.

‘Shake Shack’s largest shareholders are BlackRock and Vanguard,’ they wrote. ‘Shake Shack’s menu prices have risen 60 percent just since 2019 on average. Basic items have increased around 40 percent.’

‘When giant private equity companies own or are the largest shareholders prices go up because all they care about is profit and they want more and more profit,’ another social media user added.

Vanguard was a Shake Shack shareholder in late 2025, now reports zero ownership in the company.

Shake Shack first opened in 2001 as a hot dog cart in New York City. It’s since grown into one of the country’s most beloved burger chains with over 425 US locations. 

Hot dogs are a welcome addition the the Shake Shack menu – and it has also expanded its menu to include chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese, chicken bites and other fast-casual staples. 

K-Shack Spicy Caramel, Tiramisu and Chocolate Blackout Pudding shakes recently joined the Shake Shack menu

The chain also has limited-time treats like the recently-introduced K-Shack Spicy Caramel, Tiramisu and Chocolate Blackout Pudding shakes.

Shake Shack still offers discounts and promotions to its customers, including free chicken sandwiches with a minimum spend and discounted sodas through their app.

Shake Shake said last year’s total profits were up almost 22 percent compared to 2024. 

That’s mostly thanks to ‘more efficient operations’ in their restaurant locations, as well as better optimized kitchen designs. 

Meanwhile, as food and gas prices increase across the board, other chains are responding with lower price points to lure in cost-conscious diners. 

McDonalds’ improved value menu, launched in April 2026, aims to ‘offers more choice, more flexibility and more ways to build a meal that fits their day and budget‘ to customers.

Morning options will include the $1.50 Sausage McMuffin. For lunch and dinner, the Under $3 Menu will offer a McChicken, McDouble, 4-piece Chicken McNuggets, small fries and a small drink.

The Daily Mail has reached out to BlackRock for comment. 

Jurgen Klopp, renowned for his strategic acumen in football, delivered a straightforward message to the young prospects of Red Bull New York during the inauguration of the club’s cutting-edge training facility in Morristown, New Jersey. His words were clear and instructive: “Use it the right way.”

Klopp, who holds the position of Red Bull’s head of global soccer, emphasized the significance of the newly launched RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center. This ambitious project represents a substantial financial commitment from Red Bull GmbH, the parent company, signaling their intense focus on nurturing future soccer talent within the club.

Klopp’s address highlighted not only the impressive scale of the facility but also the expectation that accompanies such an investment. “I think we all have eyes and can see how impressive this building is, how big the statement is,” he remarked. He stressed the responsibility that comes with a new training center, urging young athletes to harness its potential effectively. “We want you to be ambitious. We want you to be full of greed, in a good way. We want you to be really competitive,” Klopp encouraged, underscoring the importance of using the facility to foster competitive spirit and ambition.

He concluded with a powerful reminder that the new center eliminates excuses, providing everything needed for success. “Because, now this is a place of no excuses. Everything is provided, no pressure. A little bit, but everything is here,” he noted, setting the stage for a new era of opportunity and accountability at Red Bull New York.

“Because, now this is a place of no excuses. Everything is provided, no pressure. A little bit, but everything is here.”

The new facility boasts eight fields — five of which are heated and one turf — hydrotherapy areas, a 4,635-square-foot pro gym, a full-service kitchen area and a teaching kitchen for team chefs and nutritionists to provide meal prep education for academy and pro players. 

The building also includes dedicated academy spaces that feature educational classrooms, study spaces and coaching clinics, along with advanced training technology that will help the club’s analytics and player development.

All of that to say, the feeling inside the facility is that the tools are now there to develop top talent, and Red Bull New York head of sport Julian de Guzman agreed “totally” that the pressure was now on for the club to win as well. 

“We want to be competitive, and we want to win trophies, and that’s going to always be a big part of our philosophy at Red Bull,” de Guzman told The Post after the ceremony. “But then you also want to have that with young players, and that’s never an easy thing to pull off. But to help sustain that pressure, you want to have the right settings for the players to develop and achieve high-level performance.” 

Plenty of talk Wednesday centered on the future, which included that of the sport. The new 80-acre facility would certainly fit into that category as the World Cup quickly approaches this summer. 

The Red Bulls’ training facility will be used as the home base for the Brazilian national team during their run in the tournament, which Klopp said didn’t take any convincing once Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti saw it. 

And MLS commissioner Don Garber called the grounds part of the “foundations” that the league is “building” for American soccer. 

“Whether it be development centers or whether it be stadiums, it really is about the generation of players that we’re trying to provide an opportunity to,” he said. 

And speaking of pressure, the commissioner wasn’t shy about adding his own. 

“This is for you and we expect you to win trophies, to represent our country and your countries if you’re not from Major League Soccer,” he said. “Then when you leave the game, either sitting on this stage [working in MLS] or to be sitting here as legends of the game.”

Illinois lawmakers took a significant step on Wednesday, moving forward with a bill aimed at facilitating “megaprojects” like the Chicago Bears stadium. The bill passed through the Illinois House and now awaits a vote in the Illinois Senate.

Below are updates and insights from earlier developments.

State legislators in Illinois are debating potential tax incentives for large-scale construction initiatives, with hopes of attracting the Chicago Bears to establish a stadium in Arlington Heights.

Behind-the-scenes negotiations were in full swing on Wednesday as Democrats dedicated hours to revising the “megaprojects” bill. These amendments are crucial to securing broader legislative backing, potentially allowing the bill to advance out of committee and reach a floor vote by Wednesday night or Thursday.

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State Representative Kam Buckner highlighted the urgency of these efforts, sharing that he worked late into the night, leaving the Capitol at 3 a.m. and returning by 6:30 a.m., all in a bid to push the bill through before the legislative session concludes on May 31.

Buckner said he was optimistic the “megaprojects” bill would go to the house committee for a vote Wednesday.

“We are in a decent spot,” Buckner said. “The conversations were good. We had a lot of positive feedback from my colleagues and we’ll see what today has in store for us.”

Delegations continue Wednesday as Illinois lawmakers race to get this deal across the finish line and determine the fate of the Chicago Bears.

The latest changes to the “megaprojects” bill are aimed at winning over lawmakers concerned about the long-term impact on regular taxpayers.

Sources said the Illinois Federation of Teachers is lobbying for language in the bill that would guarantee big developments won’t drain school funds.

“We know that we have seen a tremendous rise in property tax rates for people who live in this state,” Rep. Buckner said. “So what I said is, if let’s find ways to create some property tax certainty for corporations and developers, then we should do the same for the people who live in the state. And so this bill is an attempt to do that.”

After productive conversations Tuesday, Buckner said they would be filing an amendment Wednesday based on feedback. Then, it will be sent to committee, hopefully for a vote.

The Bears have owned the former home of the Arlington race track for more than three years now, but they have yet to put a shovel in the ground while they wait for a deal that allows them to negotiate potentially lower property taxes.

The Bears have said Chicago is no longer in the running, but they are still considering moving to Indiana where lawmakers there already approved an incentive deal for the team.

The Bears and the NFL are apparently willing to spend several billion dollars to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights. But without a firm commitment on the amount they’ll pay in property taxes, experts say they would be unable to get the financing they need. Arlington Park racetrack, the previous owner of the property, paid about $3 million a year in property taxes, according to stadium financing expert Marc Ganis with Sportscorp LTD.

“The Bears have said we will pay more than Arlington Park, but we need that amount to be capped in some mater so we can finance the project,” Ganis said.

Some state lawmakers are apparently on board with providing the Bears a deal to negotiate a plot or payment in lieu of taxes arrangement with the community and school districts. Rep. Buckner has been leading the proposed legislation through the Illinois House. He says the latest amendments help make sure the bill protects taxpayers.

“If we’re going to find ways to create some property tax certainty for developers we should do the same for the people who live in the state,” Buckner said. This bill is an attempt to do that.”

Specifically, updates to the bill would direct 50% of pilot funds go to property tax relief. The bill would also specifically prohibit pilot deals for data centers, which bring increased energy costs. The program and it’s incentives are reevaluated after five years. There are also additional incentives aimed at helping redevelopment of the South Loop rail yard that is under consideration for a new White Sox stadium, as well as other large scale projects in the state.

“We took our time to make sure we develop our twin obligations of getting this done and getting this right,” Rep. Buckner said. “And I think we’re there.”

Ganis says the Bears clearly favor Arlington Heights, but Hammond, Indiana’s deal comes with significant government support and no property taxes.

“The owners want to know what in the world is holding this up?” Ganis said. “And if things just don’t look right in Illinois, you know what here’s our nod, go ahead and finish it up in Indiana if you need to.”

In a poll conducted by Suffolk University in Boston, 56% of people said they’d rather see the team move to Arlington Heights, compared to 10% who prefer Indiana. Another 26% said they didn’t care either way.

If the Illinois House does approve the bill, there is still a long way to go. The Illinois Senate and Governor JB Pritzker have been working on the legislation for months, and they have not had a chance to review the latest changes to the House version of the bill.

The Bears are expected to meet with NFL leadership next week to share an update on their stadium search, adding more pressure for Illinois lawmakers to get a bill passed.