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Heart-Wrenching: Jury Overwhelmed by Emotional Video of Athena Strand Confronting Her FedEx Attacker

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Heart-Wrenching: Jury Overwhelmed by Emotional Video of Athena Strand Confronting Her FedEx Attacker

In a heart-wrenching courtroom scene, jurors were visibly emotional after witnessing distressing footage involving a seven-year-old girl, Athena Strand, moments before she was tragically killed. The video, presented during a trial in Fort Worth, captured the young girl’s voice as she asked FedEx driver Tanner Horner, aged 34, if he was a kidnapper.

The chilling exchange, captured on a dash camera, showed Athena conversing with Horner about her school and teacher on the fateful day in November 2022 when the horrific incident occurred. The tension in the recording escalated as Athena’s fear became palpable when the delivery truck came to a stop, according to a report by Fox4.

The emotional weight of the footage proved overwhelming, leading to tears among several jurors during Thursday’s proceedings. The distress was so profound that some family members, unable to bear the impact of the video, chose to exit the courtroom.

She grew increasingly frightened when the truck stopped, Fox4 reported.

Multiple jurors sobbed during Thursday’s hearing, while family members were so traumatized by the footage that they left the courtroom. 

A horrific photograph displayed last week showed Athena kneeling close to Horner in the truck as he drove her to her death.

He snatched the youngster from her home in Paradise, Texas, while delivering a parcel of Barbies her father and stepmother had bought for her Christmas present.

Horner admitted capital murder hours before his trial was due to start, and a jury is now tasked with deciding whether he should be executed.

Athena Strand with FedEx driver Tanner Horner after her abduction. On Thursday, jurors were played video of the frightened youngster's final moments

Athena Strand with FedEx driver Tanner Horner after her abduction. On Thursday, jurors were played video of the frightened youngster’s final moments 

Athena was abducted from her family's home in Paradise, Texas, on November 30, 2022

Athena was abducted from her family’s home in Paradise, Texas, on November 30, 2022

Ahead of the footage being shown in court, Judge George Gallagher warned people in the courtroom to leave if they did not wish to see it. 

‘If you think you cannot watch it or listen to it, leave now. Now’s your time to get out,’ Gallagher said. 

Athena’s parents, Jacob Strand and Maitlyn Gandy, have both testified in the trial but they did not sit in the courtroom while the video was played. 

The full footage showed Horner arriving at Athena’s house. He walked past the driver’s side window to deliver parcels and Athena walked behind him. 

He opened the truck while the child stood close by, and he then picked her up and placed her inside the truck before closing the door. 

Horner can be heard whispering something and moving Athena from the back of the vehicle to the front. 

The terrified child then asked him: ‘Are you a kidnapper?’ She repeated the question several times later in the footage. 

Horner told her to sit down and threatened to hurt her if she screamed. As this was shown in the courtroom, several of the little girl’s relatives left. 

Athena enjoyed living out on their land in the country, where she got to 'run wild and free', her stepmother said

Athena enjoyed living out on their land in the country, where she got to ‘run wild and free’, her stepmother said

Horner admitted capital murder hours before his trial was due to start, and a jury is now tasked with deciding whether he should be executed

Horner admitted capital murder hours before his trial was due to start, and a jury is now tasked with deciding whether he should be executed

Athena asked the trucker where they were going, and he told her to sit down before covering the camera in the truck, meaning only audio could be heard from that point. 

Horner can be heard making small talk with the child by asking her age, where she goes to school, her teacher’s name, and whether her teacher was nice. 

She answered the questions, then told him she had a sister. Horner then told Athena, ‘You’re really pretty. You know that?’

The truck can be heard halting, before Athena asked: ‘Is this your house?’ Horner replied: ‘No, I don’t live around here’. 

When the little girl asked where he lived, he said: ‘Far away’. 

After a few moments, the truck appeared to start then brake again, as the child asked: ‘What are we doing?’ to which Horner told her to ‘hang out for a minute’. 

Horner then asked the child to remove her shirt, and she said ‘no’ before asking for her mom. 

The following moments are harrowing, as the child could be heard crying and screaming while a banging noise rang out. 

Some of the jurors began sobbing at this point, and the audio recording stopped as the court paused for lunch. 

Horner, an independent contractor working with FedEx, killed Athena on November 30, 2022. 

Athena talked to Horner about her teacher and her school in footage shot on a dash camera on the day of the November 2022 murder in the back of his FedEx van

Athena talked to Horner about her teacher and her school in footage shot on a dash camera on the day of the November 2022 murder in the back of his FedEx van 

Horner abruptly pleaded guilty to capital murder last week

Horner abruptly pleaded guilty to capital murder last week

According to an arrest warrant, Horner told authorities that he strangled Athena after accidentally hitting her with his van while making a delivery. 

Horner said that Athena wasn’t seriously hurt after he hit her while backing up, but he panicked and put her in his van. 

He then strangled her to death in his truck, and her tortured final moments were captured by a microphone in his vehicle after he covered a camera inside. 

Horner told police he tried to calm Athena down, but when he was unsuccessful, a sort of alter ego of his, called Zero, ‘kind of took over.’

‘He [Zero] told her, “Just get in the back of the van, we’re going to go to the hospital,”‘ Horner said.

Horner said Zero killed Athena. 

‘I didn’t do it, but he did, and that’s what f***s with me… I’m wondering who the hell’s been in my head this whole time,’ he said. 

‘Part of me is in denial because I didn’t pull the trigger,’ Horner said.

‘You feel like Zero pulled the trigger?’ Investigators asked, to which Horner replied in the affirmative. 

‘I tried to disarm the gun. I tried to stop all of this from happening,’ he said.

Maitlyn Gandy, Athena's mother, took the stand at Horner's sentencing hearing on Wednesday

Maitlyn Gandy, Athena’s mother, took the stand at Horner’s sentencing hearing on Wednesday

The little girl's father, Jacob Strand, testifies during the capital murder trial on Thursday

The little girl’s father, Jacob Strand, testifies during the capital murder trial on Thursday

The warrant said Horner took investigators to where he had left Athena’s body.

In opening statements, Horner’s attorney Steven Goble told jurors: ‘When someone’s brain is what’s injured, you don’t see it.’

Goble acknowledged that the evidence against Horner was ‘overwhelming’ and ‘terrible’. 

But he also told jurors that Horner’s mother drank while she was pregnant, that he has autism and suffered from ‘various mental illnesses throughout his life’ in addition to being exposed to a ‘massive amount of lead.’

Goble asked jurors to sentence him to life in prison.

Ashley Strand, Athena’s stepmother, told jurors that the package Horner had dropped off was a Christmas present for Athena – a box of ‘You Can Be Anything’ Barbies. 

Ashley, who has since divorced Athena’s father, said the little girl enjoyed living out on their land in the country, where she got to ‘run wild and free.’

The trial was moved from rural Wise County to Fort Worth after Horner’s attorneys argued that he would not have received a fair trial.

Did You Catch the Hidden Post-Credits Gem in The Pitt Season 2 Finale?

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Did You Catch the Hidden Post-Credits Gem in The Pitt Season 2 Finale?



Warning: Spoilers Ahead for “The Pitt” Season 2, Episode 15 — “9:00 P.M.”


Dr. King sitting in the ER

HBO Max

Much like its inaugural season, the conclusion of “The Pitt” Season 2 sees its characters winding down after an exhausting workday. While some narratives find closure, others remain unresolved, paving the way for future storylines. Yet, the grueling July 4th shift finally concludes for the hospital’s dedicated doctors, nurses, and support staff. But don’t switch off just yet; an enchanting post-credits scene awaits those who linger.

As the episode concludes, we witness Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (played by Noah Wyle) discovering tranquility as he tends to Baby Jane Doe in the nursery. Meanwhile, other members of the emergency team gather on the rooftop, enjoying the fireworks display. However, the narrative offers one last glimpse into the lives of two pivotal characters. Following up on an earlier exchange, Dr. Mel King (portrayed by Taylor Dearden) and Dr. Trinity Santos (Isa Briones) venture out to a karaoke bar.

Taking the stage together, the duo passionately performs Alanis Morissette’s hit “You Oughta Know.” Mel even lets her hair down, figuratively and literally, as the typically conflicting doctors find themselves sharing a rare moment of unity. But how did they arrive at this juncture, and what implications does it hold for Season 3? Let’s delve deeper.

The July 4th shift proved to be a taxing day for all, especially for Dr. King and Dr. Santos, who seem unable to catch a break. For Mel, the day marks her debut deposition in a malpractice suit, only to learn by shift’s end that she’ll face another deposition due to insufficient clarity in her previous testimony. Compounding her stress, her sister Becca (played by Tal Anderson) has found herself a boyfriend, leaving Mel without her usual confidante and holiday partner.

Dr. King and Dr. Santos find common ground


Dr. Santos sitting in the ER

HBO Max

The July 4th day shift is stressful for every major character, but it’s especially hard on Dr. King and Dr. Santos, neither of whom seem to be able to catch much of a break. For Mel, the day marked her first-ever deposition in a malpractice lawsuit, and by the end of her shift she learns that she’ll be deposed again because her earlier testimony didn’t clear her well enough. Meanwhile, her sister Becca (Tal Anderson) has gotten herself a boyfriend, leaving Mel without her typical security blanket and holiday companion.

On Trinity’s side of things, her friends with benefits relationship with Dr. Garcia (Alexandra Metz) seems to be crumbling, her former roommate Dr. Whitaker (Gerran Howell) has a new life, and she’s getting warnings from all of her attendings that her residency might be in jeopardy if she can’t keep up with her charting. She’s overwhelmed, and the return of Patrick Ball’s Dr. Langdon months after she accused him of stealing meds from the hospital has only made things worse.

Both doctors go through these things on a day when the ER is busy with gruesome holiday injuries and the digital charting system breaks down, leaving them to catch up on digitizing all of their paperwork. As the night lengthens, Trinity decides to brush off the rest of her work and, in a moment of semi-desperation, asks Mel if she’d like to go sing karaoke together. It’s an unlikely bonding moment between the two, and it seems to work out quite well.

What the karaoke scene means for Season 3


Dr. Robby sitting on his motorcycle

HBO Max

Precious little is known about the third season of “The Pitt.” We don’t know when it will be set, which characters will be major players in the story, or even which cast members are set to return. What we do know is that Mel and Trinity’s bonding experience over karaoke sets an interesting stage for their relationship and beyond.

From the beginning, Mel and Trinity were at odds just in terms of their styles as doctors. Trinity is energetic, confrontational, and cocky, while Mel is precise, gentle, and careful. They’re not natural companions in the trauma rooms, and they’re not exactly fast friends, but their shared residency in the ER has paid dividends. By the end of Season 2, they understand each other better, and they also understand that they need each other (both inside and outside the hospital) to keep surviving in this fast-paced, high-expectation environment.

Beyond Mel and Trinity’s own bonding, this scene also means something for Dr. Robby. In the finale, wracked with indecision over what to do with the rest of his life, he laments never having kids — or at least not having kids yet — and wonders if giving his life to the hospital will ever truly be enough for him. While he seems to find his answer with Baby Jane Doe, the show also gives us another answer: Through him, a family has emerged amid the students and residents in the emergency department. Mel and Trinity are, in some ways, his kids, and he’s done a better job with them than he knows.



4 Effective Bed Exercises to Quickly Trim Waist Overhang for Adults Over 60

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4 Effective Bed Exercises to Quickly Trim Waist Overhang for Adults Over 60

Eliminate stubborn belly fat by incorporating these effective bed exercises into your routine.

Two undeniable truths exist about the stubborn fat accumulating around your waistline. First, this bothersome “love handle” area can rapidly expand as you age, thanks to natural muscle loss, hormonal shifts, a slowing metabolism, and decreased physical activity—sigh. Second, without a strategic plan in place, this fat tends to persist and even increase.

It’s important to understand that excess fat is not just a cosmetic concern; it poses significant risks to your health. This type of fat, known as visceral fat, is located deep within the abdomen, enveloping your organs. It is notoriously difficult to shed and is linked to several severe health issues, including high blood pressure, insulin resistance, heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and even certain cancers.

The encouraging news is that you can effectively tackle that waistline bulge and improve your fitness level more swiftly than traditional ab workouts, especially after the age of 60. We’ve compiled five bed exercises to help you embark on this journey.

The good news is you can shred that waist overhang and get into shape faster than ab workouts after 60, and we are here with five bed exercises to help you get started.

Bed exercises can be beneficial additions to your routine because they decrease joint strain while consistently engaging the core and hips, says Karen Ann Canham, CEO and founder of Karen Ann Wellness, Board-Certified Wellness Coach, and Nervous System Specialist who has almost two decades of experience in the wellness space.

As you enter your golden years of life, it’s common to avoid ab workouts due to the discomfort that comes with getting on and off the ground. The bed, however, offers solid support so your muscles can be trained in a successful manner without putting tension on the lower back. Below are five essential exercises to prioritize.

Clamshell

  1. Lie on your side with your knees stacked and bent.
  2. Keep your feet together as you lift your top knee, like a clamshell opening.
  3. Lower.
  4. Avoid rotating through your lower back.
  5. Perform 2 sets of 12 reps.

Heel Slides

  1. Start by lying flat on your back with your legs on the mattress.
  2. Place your arms at your sides and gently press your lower back into the mattress.
  3. Slide one heel back toward your hips before lengthening it back out.
  4. Complete 2 sets of 10 reps on each side to boost joint mobility and the hip flexors.

Glute Bridges

  1. Begin by lying flat on your back with bent knees and feet hip-width apart on the mattress, arms at your sides with palms pressing into the surface.
  2. Press through your heels to lift your hips until your body forms a straight line from head to heels.
  3. Squeeze your buttocks, holding at the top for a moment.
  4. Lower your hips back to the start position.
  5. Perform 2 sets of 12 reps.

Side-Lying Leg Lifts

  1. Begin by lying on one side with your legs stacked, your head resting on your bottom arm, and your top hand placed on your hip.
  2. Lift your top leg upward.
  3. Hold it for a moment.
  4. Slowly lower.
  5. Repeat on the other side.
  6. Perform 2 sets of 15 reps on each side.

FSU Shooting Anniversary: Student Stories and the Urgent Call for Campus Safety Legislation

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FSU Shooting Anniversary: Student Stories and the Urgent Call for Campus Safety Legislation


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Friday, April 17 marks the solemn anniversary of the tragic mass shooting that occurred at Florida State University one year ago.

FSU President Richard McCullough has announced that the university will observe a moment of silence at noon this Friday. This gesture is intended to provide a space for students and staff to pause and remember those who lost their lives in the heartbreaking incident.

Recap of ‘The Pitt’ Season 2 Finale: Episode 15 Delivers Intense Twists and Turns

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Recap of ‘The Pitt’ Season 2 Finale: Episode 15 Delivers Intense Twists and Turns


Victoria Javadi, weary from the grind, turns to Whitaker and muses about the toll this place takes on its people. As they struggle through digital case dictation, she reflects on the state of their colleagues, encapsulating the essence of The Pitt‘s second season. She notes that Langdon is 186 days sober and still clawing his way back, while charge nurse Dana Evans is described as a “time bomb.” Samira Mohan is consumed by work, McKay’s past includes house arrest—a nod to Season 1—and Robby is grappling with PTSD. Meanwhile, Dr. Abbot is spending his spare time in dangerous pursuits.

“The more time I spend here, the more I realize the importance of mental health,” Victoria admits, hinting at a breakthrough. With Whitaker’s guidance, she sees potential in pursuing emergency psychiatric medicine, finding fulfillment at the height of her career. Yet, her seasoned senior attending remains stuck in a relentless cycle of mental, emotional, and physical strain. Abbot echoes Dana’s concerns from Episode 14, uneasy about his risky, helmet-less adventures. He confronts Robby’s deflective behavior, pushing him to face his struggles head-on. “You wanna know why I never killed myself?” Abbot asks, underscoring that they all face their own battles.

Abbot has witnessed and endured much—losing a leg and a marriage—but he continues forward by acknowledging his demons. Robby must come to terms with his own needs, whether through therapy, a relaxing getaway, or a candid moment shared with friends and colleagues. In a vulnerable exchange, Robby asks, “Am I messed up?” and Abbot confirms, “100 percent.” The journey through darkness continues, as it does for many.

Whitaker, holding the keys to Robby’s place, vows to keep an eye on it. But when Amy (Bailey Gavulic) arrives in her muddy truck with Baby Theo, Whitaker joins her, turns up the Brothers Johnson’s “Ain’t We Funkin’ Now,” and drives off, embodying a laid-back family man. In the ambulance bay, Samira Mohan and Robby bid farewell, acknowledging the tension of their shifts while looking ahead. “Be safe,” Samira tells him. “We need you here, even if you can be a bit difficult at times.”

Meanwhile, Mel turns away from a FaceTime call with her sister Becca, accepting her sibling’s growing independence but feeling disheartened. The hospital attorney’s return signals another chapter in the ongoing deposition saga. Weighed down by these developments, Santos, fed up with the tedium of digital dictation and endless legal hoops, proposes a break. She suggests karaoke, what Trinity calls primal scream therapy, to blow off steam. Mel, free for the night with Becca occupied, eagerly agrees. Santos, her cynicism tempered with camaraderie, adds, “You and me both, sister.”

So we’re getting some nice bits of closure with this Pitt Season 2 finale. Which also includes Langdon flipping the script on his rift with Robby. He was on egg shells for this whole return shift, worrying over perceptions and the senior attending’s judgement. But after 15 hours, he understands how it all emanates from Robby’s misaligned internal compass. The guys he saw in rehab were the same, but for the crucial difference of having sought help. Langdon’s words are harder than Abbot’s; it’s safe to say their professional falling out still stands. But his message is the same. The expectation of care around here needs to include themselves. “How can any of us lie up to your standards if you can’t even do it?” Frank implores Robby to be as honest with himself as he was.  

There were times during this finale when Robby could have skated. But whether it was his conversation with Dr. Al-Hashimi about her seizures getting perpetually interrupted, or his stepping in to assist the night shift with an emergency C-section to save both baby and mother, he kept finding a scalpel in his hand instead of a throttle. It turns testy between the attendings. While Dr. Al says she’s neurologically cleared to work, Robby demands she address her miniature mental seizures with the hospital board by Monday, “Or I will.” And he derives an incredible amount of satisfaction from the Above Patient Scrum, where it’s not just the nightshifters but a full-team lifesaving effort. In both instances he is integrally involved in “The It” of the Pitt’s everyday. From the terrible to the challenging to the rewarding, it does need him. Maybe he knows it needs him, too.

Look what this place does to you. Shifting nurse coverage means Baby Jane Doe has no one to look after her, so now Robby’s got an infant in hand, too. He calls up some music on his phone, Rosie Carney’s “Thousand,” and wraps the blankets tight. “I wish somebody would swaddle me,” he says softly. “I got abandoned, too, when I was 8.” That won’t happen here, though. He assures this unknown baby girl that life, in all its messiness and joy, will be waiting for her. We’ll be waiting for Robby and The Pitt to be back, too. It’s gonna be OK.   

Nurse’s Desk for Season 2 Episode 15 of The Pitt (“9:00PM”): 

  • Could it have been any other jam than “You Oughta Know”? The Pitt Season 3 finale includes Santos and Mel’s bonding mid-credits karaoke break to Alanis. Mel working to get the mic out of the stand, Trinity pulling her hairclip out so they can headbang together, the little touches here are perfect. It’s just as cathartic for the audience.      
  • Our imagined PTMC Series Universe (PTMCSU) already includes a Pitt: Roots prequel, and hearing Dr. Abbot fire up his team – “We are the nightcrawlers, we deal with the weirdest and the wildest, because [in unison] we are the weirdest and wildest of them all” – gave us a new idea. The Pitt: Nightcrawlers, which we will develop in our heads while we wait for Season 3 of the real show to drop.
  • And with The Pitt Season 3, we know the typical ED time jump will likely be less. (Bring on the cold weather cases.) We know Dr. Al-Hashimi’s fitness is in question. Mel’s deposition will continue, and we know Ayesha Harris, as Dr. Parker Ellis, has been upped to series regular. Beyond that? Well, grab an Iron City. There will always be fireworks.

Johnny Loftus (@johnnyloftus.bsky.social) is a Chicago-based writer. A veteran of the alternative weekly trenches, his work has also appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The All Music Guide, and The Village Voice. 

Trump Addresses the Disappearance of Ten Scientists: What You Need to Know

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Trump Addresses the Disappearance of Ten Scientists: What You Need to Know
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the mysterious string of missing and dead scientists, a growing list that has now reached ten cases. The president addressed the alarming situation after landing at the White House on Thursday, where he was met by reporters and questioned by FOX News about whether the disappearances and deaths were random or potentially connected. 'Well, I hope it is random, but we are going to know in the next week and a half,' said Trump. 'I just left a meeting on that subject, so pretty serious stuff. Hopefully, coincidence... but some of them were very important people, and we are going to look at it.' These scientists, who had ties to NASA , nuclear research, aerospace programs and classified projects, have raised alarms since 2023.

President Donald Trump has been briefed on an unsettling trend involving a series of missing and deceased scientists, with the tally now reaching ten. Upon his arrival at the White House on Thursday, Trump addressed the situation with reporters, responding to questions from FOX News about whether these incidents were random or potentially linked. “Well, I hope it is random, but we are going to know in the next week and a half,” Trump remarked. “I just left a meeting on that subject, so pretty serious stuff. Hopefully, coincidence… but some of them were very important people, and we are going to look at it.” The scientists in question, associated with NASA, nuclear research, and aerospace programs, have been a cause for concern since 2023.

Many of the individuals, including researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory, had access to sensitive information on space missions, nuclear technology or advanced defense systems, prompting speculation about possible connections. The president's statements follow a Wednesday briefing at the White House, where Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was also asked about the ten people linked to space or nuclear secrets who have mysteriously died or vanished without a trace. 'I haven't spoken to our relevant agencies about it. I will certainly do that and will get you an answer,' said Leavitt .

The individuals, including experts from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory, had access to sensitive information spanning space missions, nuclear technology, and advanced defense systems. This has fueled speculation about potential connections between the cases. The president’s comments came after a briefing at the White House on Wednesday, where Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was queried about the enigmatic deaths and disappearances of ten individuals linked to space or nuclear secrets. “I haven’t spoken to our relevant agencies about it. I will certainly do that and will get you an answer,” Leavitt stated.

'If true, of course, that's definitely something I think this government and administration would deem worth looking into. So let me do that for you,' Leavitt continued. This disturbing pattern started when retired Air Force General William Neil McCasland (pictured) vanished on February 27. He was last seen leaving his New Mexico home without his phone, wearable devices or glasses less than two months ago. He was only carrying a pistol and his wife told 911 dispatchers that it appeared he was trying 'not to be found.' The strange circumstances surrounding the general's disappearance were almost identical to four other missing person cases taking place between May and August 2025 in the Southwest. Concerningly, all four have been tied to McCasland through his work overseeing the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which has been rumored to study extraterrestrial technology since the 1947 Roswell UFO crash.

Leavitt further commented, “If true, of course, that’s definitely something I think this government and administration would deem worth looking into. So let me do that for you.” The troubling pattern emerged when retired Air Force General William Neil McCasland disappeared on February 27. He was last seen leaving his New Mexico home without his phone, wearable devices, or glasses, carrying only a pistol. His wife reported to 911 that he seemed to be trying “not to be found.” The peculiar circumstances of McCasland’s disappearance mirror four other cases of missing persons reported between May and August 2025 in the Southwest. Alarmingly, all four cases are linked to McCasland through his role overseeing the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which has long been rumored to study extraterrestrial technology since the infamous 1947 Roswell UFO incident.

While at Wright-Patterson, McCasland oversaw and reportedly approved the funding for scientist Monica Jacinto Reza's work on a space-age metal for rocket engines called Mondaloy. Reza (pictured), 60, disappeared while hiking with friends in California on June 22, 2025. She had just become the director of the Materials Processing Group at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The three other disappearances all involved workers at some of America's most important nuclear facilities, and all three were last seen walking out of their homes without their phones or keys, just like McCasland. Steven Garcia, 48, vanished without a trace on August 28, 2025. He was last seen leaving his Albuquerque, New Mexico home on foot, carrying only a handgun. An anonymous source told the Daily Mail that Garcia was a government contractor working for the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), a major facility in Albuquerque that manufactures more than 80 percent of all the non-nuclear components that go into building the military's nuclear weapons.

While at Wright-Patterson, McCasland oversaw and reportedly approved the funding for scientist Monica Jacinto Reza’s work on a space-age metal for rocket engines called Mondaloy. Reza (pictured), 60, disappeared while hiking with friends in California on June 22, 2025. She had just become the director of the Materials Processing Group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The three other disappearances all involved workers at some of America’s most important nuclear facilities, and all three were last seen walking out of their homes without their phones or keys, just like McCasland. Steven Garcia, 48, vanished without a trace on August 28, 2025. He was last seen leaving his Albuquerque, New Mexico home on foot, carrying only a handgun. An anonymous source told the Daily Mail that Garcia was a government contractor working for the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), a major facility in Albuquerque that manufactures more than 80 percent of all the non-nuclear components that go into building the military’s nuclear weapons.

Anthony Chavez (pictured) and Melissa Casias both worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), one of the nation's most important nuclear research sites. Chavez, 79, worked at the lab until his retirement in 2017, although his role there has not been made clear. Casias, 54, was an active administrative assistant at the facility and is believed to have had top security clearance. All three were last seen leaving their homes in New Mexico on foot, leaving behind their cars, keys, wallets and phones before disappearing without a trace. Police have not had any updates in the cases since last year. In addition to the string of disappearances, five scientists in key areas of research have died over the last three years, including two who were murdered in their own homes. Nuclear physicist Nuno Loureiro and Astrophysicist Carl Grillmair were both shot to death in their homes in recent months.

Anthony Chavez (pictured) and Melissa Casias both worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), one of the nation’s most important nuclear research sites. Chavez, 79, worked at the lab until his retirement in 2017, although his role there has not been made clear. Casias, 54, was an active administrative assistant at the facility and is believed to have had top security clearance. All three were last seen leaving their homes in New Mexico on foot, leaving behind their cars, keys, wallets and phones before disappearing without a trace. Police have not had any updates in the cases since last year. In addition to the string of disappearances, five scientists in key areas of research have died over the last three years, including two who were murdered in their own homes. Nuclear physicist Nuno Loureiro and Astrophysicist Carl Grillmair were both shot to death in their homes in recent months.

Independent investigators have noted that Loureiro's (pictured) revolutionary work in nuclear fusion may have made him a target of a greater conspiracy against US scientists, as his work may one day upend the energy industry. Grillmair's work with NASA's NEOWISE and NEO Surveyor has also been linked to the Air Force, as the telescopes used the same systems the military relies on to track satellites and missiles. Meanwhile, NASA scientists Michael David Hicks and Frank Maiwald, who also worked at the Jet Propulsion Lab, died from unknown circumstances at an early age. Maiwald, 61, was the lead researcher on a breakthrough that could help future space missions detect clear signs of life on other worlds just 13 months before he died in 2024.

Independent investigators have noted that Loureiro’s (pictured) revolutionary work in nuclear fusion may have made him a target of a greater conspiracy against US scientists, as his work may one day upend the energy industry. Grillmair’s work with NASA’s NEOWISE and NEO Surveyor has also been linked to the Air Force, as the telescopes used the same systems the military relies on to track satellites and missiles. Meanwhile, NASA scientists Michael David Hicks and Frank Maiwald, who also worked at the Jet Propulsion Lab, died from unknown circumstances at an early age. Maiwald, 61, was the lead researcher on a breakthrough that could help future space missions detect clear signs of life on other worlds just 13 months before he died in 2024.

Hicks, who passed away just a year after leaving JPL at age 59, had been involved with the DART Project, NASA’s test to see if humans could deflect dangerous asteroids away from Earth. NASA's JPL has not commented on the deaths of Maiwald or Hicks, and did not reply to the Daily Mail's inquiries into the nature of the scientists' work before their deaths. In another mysterious incident, Jason Thomas (pictured), a pharmaceutical researcher testing cancer treatments at Novartis, was found dead in a Massachusetts lake on March 17, 2026, after disappearing without a trace in December 2025. Local police have claimed there was no foul play suspected.

Hicks, who passed away just a year after leaving JPL at age 59, had been involved with the DART Project, NASA’s test to see if humans could deflect dangerous asteroids away from Earth. NASA’s JPL has not commented on the deaths of Maiwald or Hicks, and did not reply to the Daily Mail’s inquiries into the nature of the scientists’ work before their deaths. In another mysterious incident, Jason Thomas (pictured), a pharmaceutical researcher testing cancer treatments at Novartis, was found dead in a Massachusetts lake on March 17, 2026, after disappearing without a trace in December 2025. Local police have claimed there was no foul play suspected.

Australia’s Shift: From Eight Oil Refineries to Just Two

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IN BRIEF

  • Just over two decades ago, Australia had eight oil refineries capable of meeting most of the nation’s fuel demand.
  • So, why have six of them closed since then, and how should Australia respond to ongoing supply challenges?

As flames engulfed one of Australia’s two oil refineries during an ongoing energy crisis, it prompted an urgent inquiry into how such a situation arose.

A significant fire erupted at the Viva Energy oil refinery in Geelong, Victoria, late on Wednesday night, continuing to blaze into the early hours of Thursday before being extinguished, as reported by emergency services.

The blaze was triggered by an equipment malfunction that resulted in a leak, according to Fire Rescue Victoria Deputy Commissioner Michelle Cowling in an interview with ABC Radio Melbourne.

Both Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Viva CEO Scott Wyatt acknowledged that this incident would affect gasoline production.

Wyatt noted that while the refinery was still producing fuel, it was functioning at a minimal capacity, with the full extent of the damage yet to be determined.

The facility has been operating since 1954, and supplies 10 per cent of the nation’s fuel, according to Viva Energy’s website. It can process 120,000 barrels of oil daily, generating fuel types including petrol, diesel, LPG and jet fuel.

Australia consumes roughly 1.15 million barrels of oil per day.

The other remaining oil refinery, Ampol’s Lytton facility, is located in Brisbane. The two facilities account for roughly 10 to 20 per cent of the country’s fuel supply.

Just over two decades ago, Australia had eight oil refineries capable of meeting most of the nation’s fuel demand.

So what happened?

From eight refineries to two

Most of Australia’s oil refineries were built in the 1950s and 60s, amid surging use of road vehicles and thus demand for fuel.

While the country was not entirely self-sufficient, the majority of supply came from domestically extracted and refined oil.

But from the 1990s, the rise of mega-refineries across Asia — combined with a range of other pressures — eroded the viability of the more costly domestic facilities.

A timeline showing the dates six of eight Australian oil refineries shut in the last twenty years.

“There’s the economics of scale, plus we weren’t producing so much oil,” Kevin Morrison, energy analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, told SBS News.

“Also, the type of oil product we were consuming was changing. We were becoming much more of a diesel-driving nation than petrol.

“We would have to invest in a lot to change that, so it was just sort of economically unsustainable.”

The sector shrank dramatically from 2003, when ExxonMobil closed its Port Stanvac refinery in Adelaide.

That was followed by the closures of five more refineries between 2013 and 2021, when BP shuttered the nation’s largest oil refinery, Kwinana, in Perth.

What role do domestic refineries play?

The Geelong refinery supplies more than 50 per cent of Victoria’s fuel, according to Viva Energy’s website, with Morrison saying that was where the impact of the fire was “going to be felt the most acute”.

Peter Anderson, director of APCO, which operates dozens of service stations across Victoria, told ABC Radio Melbourne that Viva Energy provides about 60 per cent of his supplies.

However, he said that, during previous supply disruptions due to maintenance issues, “they’ve always been able to come through with other suppliers from elsewhere, just bring it in by ship”.

Victoria’s energy minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, said the fire had not impacted diesel or jet fuel, and noted that petrol is easier to source replacements for than diesel.

A map of Australia showing the locations of the open and closed oil refineries.
Six domestic oil refineries have ceased operations since 2003. Source: SBS News

Together with Brisbane’s Ampol refinery, the domestic facilities account for roughly a third of Australia’s petrol consumption, with the rest imported.

“They’re very small by world standards, and they’re very old,” said Alison Reeve, energy and climate change program director at the Grattan Institute.

“The government has underwritten [the refineries] in order to get them to stay open,” she told SBS News.

“Part of that was so that they could produce fuel that can be used in modern cars, because the fuel quality that we use has changed over the years, and part of it was for fuel-security reasons.”

Almost 90 per cent of Australia’s daily fuel consumption is imported, much of it brought in as refined product from South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Hussein Dia, professor of future urban mobility at Swinburne University of Technology, said that while supply would continue through international markets, the incident “adds pressure to an already tight and globally exposed fuel system”.

“This doesn’t mean people will run out of fuel tomorrow, but it does narrow the buffer we have to absorb shocks.”

‘A structural issue’

The war in the Middle East has driven unprecedented global oil shocks due to Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the subsequent US blockade of the critical shipping lane.

It’s also renewed scrutiny of Australia’s dependence on imported fuel and international supply chains.

“From a broader perspective, this highlights a structural issue,” Dia said of the fire.

“Australia has significantly reduced its refining capacity over recent decades, increasing reliance on long international supply chains,” he added.

“While those systems are generally reliable, events like this show how limited redundancy exists when something goes wrong locally.”

Morrison said Australia needs to accelerate its shift away from liquid fuels, with electrification of transport offering a pathway to greater energy security.

However, Reeve noted, much of electric vehicle and solar panel manufacturing also occurs overseas.

“Everyone’s energy systems are linked to each other,” she said, adding that the key challenge will be how to build stronger buffers into Australia’s energy system.

For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.

NETN Association of Realtors Reports Regional Median Home Price at $282K

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NETN Association of Realtors Reports Regional Median Home Price at $282K


JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Northeast Tennessee Association of Realtors (NETAR) has reported a notable rise in home sales across the Tri-Cities, with figures jumping over 10% in March.

Leading this impressive surge are Mountain City and Erwin. Mountain City experienced a remarkable 200% increase, with 12 homes sold, while Erwin saw a rise of over 166%, totaling 16 sales.

“The gains in the region’s volume markets are even more significant,” NETAR stated in a release. “These results, which span a variety of price ranges and locations, indicate a strong and persistent demand.”

In Johnson City, there was a 34% increase, with 98 homes sold, whereas Kingsport experienced a 5% rise, reaching 100 sales. The median price in Johnson City decreased by 5.4% to $353,325, and Kingsport’s median dropped 12.8% to $278,000.

Elizabethton and Blountville each recorded 25 sales, with increases of 19% and 13.6%, respectively. Blountville also boasted the highest year-over-year median price increase at 30.5%, bringing it to $399,755.

Bristol, TN, reported 34 sales, showing a 54.5% increase.

“The demand is there,” Amy Mitchell, President of NETAR, said. “Our market is working more toward being very balanced this year than it has in previous years. We do still have a shortage of homes, but we’re working on having more availability and buyers are still buying.”

The median price for homes in the region was $282,000.

“Up 4.4% from a year ago – a signal that pricing fundamentals remain intact even as individual markets diverge,” the release from NETAR said.

NETAR also reported small market declines.

Gray fell 56.2% on seven reported sales, and Rogersville dropped 52.2% with 11 reported sales.

Venezuelan Doctor’s Detention at U.S. Airport Disrupts Family’s Asylum Journey

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Venezuelan Doctor’s Detention at U.S. Airport Disrupts Family’s Asylum Journey


A Venezuelan man made a plea for asylum to U.S. officials on Thursday, during an interview that he had hoped would include his wife, a prominent doctor from South Texas. However, she was detained at the airport alongside their 5-year-old daughter.

Milenko Faria attended the interview at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office near Los Angeles. Meanwhile, his wife, Dr. Rubeliz Bolivar, remained in immigration detention in Texas, marking her sixth day in custody and preventing her from being present at the much-anticipated appointment, which the couple had awaited for over a decade.

Dr. Bolivar, known for her work in a medically underserved region, was apprehended by Border Patrol agents at McAllen International Airport on Saturday. At the time, she was with their daughter, who was born in the United States, and they were about to board a flight to join Faria for the asylum interview.

Bolivar’s detention marks the second arrest of a Venezuelan doctor in the area within a week. Just days earlier, on April 6, Dr. Ezequiel Veliz was taken into custody by Border Patrol at a checkpoint in South Texas. After spending around ten days in detention, Veliz’s attorney, Victor Badell, successfully arranged a bond hearing, leading to his release on Thursday after posting an $8,000 bond.

These arrests are linked to President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies. The Department of Homeland Security has shifted its focus to less conspicuous arrests following a January enforcement sweep in Minnesota that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens.

Bolívar worked in the emergency room of a hospital in McAllen, city of about 150,000 in the Rio Grande Valley near the Mexican border, starting in June 2025, when she was accepted into her medical residency program.

The husband said that she arrived at the U.S. with a tourist visa in 2016, after graduating from medical school in her native Venezuela.

Before her authorized period of stay expired, she was included in the asylum application filed by her husband, he said. Both are also seeking a green card through an application for skilled workers, processed by Faria’s employer, a California company where he has worked as an information systems technician since 2019.

The couple was beneficiary of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela that shielded more than 600,000 Venezuelans from deportation. Trump terminated the protections for Venezuela, Haiti, Syria, Afghanistan, Nicaragua and other countries, a decision that has been challenged in federal court.

The Department of Homeland Security said that Bolivar was arrested because she was in the country illegally.

“She has overstayed her visa since 2017, nearly a decade, and had no legal status,” said DHS spokeswoman Lauren Bis.

Jodi Goodwin, an immigration attorney in South Texas, noted that around September or October 2025, she observed a change in policy regarding travel of individuals with pending applications before USCIS.

”It just became a very apparent trend where anyone that had some kind of application pending with USCIS, whether it was an adjustment of status or asylum, anything like that, they were going to be arrested,” said Goodwin.

Faria and Bolivar lived together in Santa Maria, California, until she moved to Texas in the summer of 2025 for her medical residency. He said he traveled every two months to visit his wife and daughter. The day of her arrest was the first time Bolívar had traveled since moving to Texas.

Bolivar was arrested by Customs and Border Protection officers before passing through transportation security screening, where she was asked to show her identification. She showed her driver’s license — bearing the “Real ID” endorsement required to domestic flights — and a work authorization valid until 2030.

She told them that she was adjusting status to a green card and was traveling to California for an asylum interview but the officer detained her after asking for her nationality and demanding that she provide proof of legal permanent residency, said Faria. He received text messages from his wife at the time she was being arrested.

Their 5-year-old daughter, a U.S. citizen, was also arrested and handed over to her grandfather 19 hours later. The girl is currently in California with her father.

The doctor was transferred to ICE custody on Sunday and is being held at El Valle Detention Facility in Texas.

She has asked several times why she was detained but has not received any response yet, Faria said.

Ezequiel Veliz, the other Venezuelan physician, came to the United States to become a doctor in 2018 under a tourist visa. His friend, Hector Ruiz, described him as a kind-hearted doctor who loves his pet cats and is devoted to his work.

Veliz adjusted his immigration status as a student and later as a doctor at a South Texas hospital in the Rio Grande Valley working under TPS. The pause in the protection status had immediate consequences on his two-year residency.

“He was one year and four months into that. He couldn’t continue working legally. He had to stop,” said Badell, his attorney.

He was waiting for a visa requested by the hospital when he was detained at a Border Patrol checkpoint traveling to Houston with his husband on April 6.

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Copycat Concerns Amplify as Altman Attacker Cites Luigi Mangione

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Copycat Concerns Amplify as Altman Attacker Cites Luigi Mangione

A man from Texas has been charged with firebombing the residence of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Before the incident, he made online references to alleged murderer Luigi Mangione, raising concerns about potential imitation crimes, according to authorities.

Daniel Moreno-Gama, aged 20, mentioned “Luigi’ing some tech CEOs” during an online conversation with the creators of “The Last Invention” podcast. This information comes from The Wall Street Journal, which reviewed the message screenshots. Luigi Mangione stands accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan in December 2024.

In an interview recorded in January, Moreno-Gama spoke about his transformation from an online enthusiast to an activist deeply worried about the dangers of artificial intelligence, as reported by the outlet.

However, he later minimized his comments about Mangione and expressed his opposition to violence.

Daniel Moreno-Gama's attorney speaks to him in court

Daniel Moreno-Gama is shown in court alongside public defender Diamond Ward on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, Pool)

“I understand the frustration with a person who might advocate for that, but it’s not practical,” Moreno-Gama said, according to the outlet. “It’s not worth it,” he added.

Moreno-Gama is accused of traveling from Texas to San Francisco in a planned attempt to kill Altman. Early Friday morning, he allegedly hurled a Molotov cocktail at Altman’s home, setting an exterior gate on fire before fleeing. No injuries were reported, and officials have not said whether Altman was home at the time.

Less than an hour later, investigators said Moreno-Gama arrived at OpenAI’s headquarters about three miles away, where he allegedly threatened to burn the building down and kill anyone inside. Surveillance video captured him throwing a chair at the glass doors, police said.

Split of Moreno-Gama and Luigi Mangione.

Left: Daniel Moreno-Gama is seen outside the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in a surveillance image released by the Justice Department. Right: Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is seen in court. Moreno-Gama reportedly referenced Mangione. (DOJ; Photo by Curtis Means-Pool/Getty Images)

Authorities arrested him outside the building, where he was allegedly carrying a jug of kerosene, a lighter and writings expressing hostility toward artificial intelligence.

Sources familiar with the investigation previously told Fox News Digital the suspect had what they described as a manifesto, a multi-part document that included a list of AI executives and investors along with their names and addresses.

Moreno-Gama appeared in a San Francisco courtroom but did not enter a plea on multiple charges, including attempted murder. A judge granted a delay in his arraignment, and he is due back in court on May 5.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson wearing a suit and orange tie and suspect Luigi Mangione in court

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, left, pictured in a corporate headshot. He was killed on Dec. 4, 2024, outside a Manhattan hotel while on his way to a shareholder conference. The suspect, Luigi Mangione, is pictured in court on the right. (Steven Hirsch for New York Post via Pool)

The reference comes amid growing fears of copycat incidents tied to Mangione.

In a separate case, a California man is accused of deliberately setting an April 7 fire that destroyed a 1.2 million-square-foot Kimberly-Clark distribution center in Ontario.

Prosecutors said the suspect, Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, of Highland, invoked Mangione while filming the fire and complaining about wages. Abdulkarim has pleaded not guilty.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This report has been updated to remove a photo from an unrelated court case.

Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.

You can send tips to michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.
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