A United Airlines flight destined for San Diego faced delays on Thursday when a live bullet was unexpectedly discovered before the plane’s departure from Denver. The incident resulted in all passengers being asked to leave the aircraft while security conducted a thorough sweep.

United Flight 1302 was moments away from taking off at Denver International Airport when this unexpected find was made during standard pre-flight checks. The discovery, reported by FOX31 Denver, which coincidentally had one of its news team members on board, halted preparations just as the aircraft was ready to head to the runway.

“The unfortunate news is that we’ve discovered a live round on board,” stated an airline representative. “This poses a significant security concern, requiring all passengers to leave the aircraft immediately.”

Passengers were instructed to disembark the Boeing 737-900, taking their carry-on luggage with them, as security teams undertook an intensive search of the plane.

“We need everybody to deplane the aircraft with your carry-on bags. We’re going to have to carry out a security sweep of the aircraft after the plane is empty,” the speaker said. “We apologize for this.”

The crew said at the time that it did not know how the bullet got aboard the aircraft or where it came from, according to FOX31.

United Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement to News Media.

“United flight 1302 from Denver to San Diego underwent a security sweep after a bullet was discovered on board prior to the flight’s departure,” a spokesperson wrote. “Security personnel cleared the aircraft, which later departed for San Diego.”

United said the Boeing 737-900 was carrying 178 passengers and six crew members. The airline directed additional questions about the incident to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Flight 1302 had been scheduled to depart Denver at about 1:25 p.m. It took off at about 3:41 p.m., more than two hours after its scheduled departure, according to FOX31.

It was not immediately clear who the bullet belonged to or how it ended up on the aircraft.

News Media reached out to TSA and Denver International Airport for additional information.

California is bracing for potential water scarcity as negotiations among the states reliant on the Colorado River teeter on the edge of failure. A lack of consensus could spell trouble for this vital water source.

This vital river meanders over 1,450 miles from the snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains, slicing through the majestic Grand Canyon before reaching its destination at the Gulf of California. Its waters are siphoned off by seven states to such an extent that it often fails to complete its natural journey to the sea.

In Southern California, the Colorado River is more than just a majestic waterway; it is a lifeblood, supplying roughly one-third of the region’s water needs.

Over the past 25 years, the river basin has endured a prolonged dry spell. Adding to the concern, the water levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead—the river’s two major reservoirs—are plummeting to alarmingly low thresholds.

Given these challenging conditions, it’s crucial for the seven states to forge a new water-sharing agreement soon to ensure sustainable management of this treasured river.

The federal government says it will impose cuts if there’s no deal. 

But it can’t do much to the Upper Basin states — Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. It can only impose cuts on the Lower Basin states — Nevada, Arizona, and California.

The Trump administration recently agreed to a two-year compromise in which the three lower states agreed to small water cuts. California will reduce its take by 12%.

The federal government will come back in two years and see if that is working. It could extend that compromise every two years, for up to ten years.

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But if conditions don’t improve, bigger water cuts are coming for California. And that could affect everyone, especially if there’s another drought.

California is not short of water. But it is short of good water management. 

Start with the basics: California has a Mediterranean climate: warm and dry, with seasonal rainfall and snow in the winter. 

Some parts of the state are lush and green — the west-facing, windward slopes of the coastal range and the interior Sierra Nevada. 

That is where redwoods and towering sequoias grow. It’s also where tourists ski in the winter.

The eastern or leeward side of the mountains are dry almost year-round, There, the only natural water sources are the underground aquifer, which can be tapped with wells; or rivers like the Colorado.

Sometimes California has “too much” water. In years with abundant winter rain and snow, parts of the the narrow, dry plain between the mountain ranges — the Central Valley — can flood. The state 

The history of California since large-scale settlement began has been about managing these erratic supplies of water so there are enough reserves in the dry years, and flood mitigation in wet ones.

Another challenge has been to move water to where the people are. 

San Francisco is surrounded on three sides by the salty Pacific Ocean. LA has has few water sources other than rain, underground aquifers, and rivers that run dry most of the time, then flood during storms.

So, over time, California has built water infrastructure — often at some environmental cost. 

San Francisco relies on the O’Shaughnessy Dam at Hetch Hetchy, which destroyed a majestic ravine near Yosemite, but keeps a city of more than 800,000 people alive.

LA essentially stole its water from the Owens Valley more than a century ago, channeling it into an aqueduct that allowed the city to grow dramatically. 

The project to divert the Colorado River to the farms of the Imperial Valley accidentally broke a levee revived a large, prehistoric inland lake, the Salton Sea.

And the New Deal brought the state and federal water projects, with systems of dams and aqueducts to collect water from wetter Northern California and send it to the dry south, and to farms on the leeward side of the Central Valley.

California hasn’t built a major new dam in half a century. In that time, the state’s population has doubled. That means there is less water to go around.

In drought years, farmers are forced to use wells, at great cost. That has caused many farms to go out of business — and has caused the ground to subside, in places.

There are new, innovative ideas about how to increase the water supply.

One is desalination, an energy-intense process of removing the salt from sea water to make it usable and drinkable..

Some municipal water agencies are using similar technology to purify wastewater, returning it to the system cleaner than before.

Environmentalists oppose desalination, partly because it uses so much energy. They would rather see California cut down on water consumption, and focus on long-term climate change solutions

But California’s water needs are only going to grow — and the Colorado River will run dry long before electric vehicles can cool the planet (if they ever do).

We need to invest in the infrastructure to store, and create, more water.

This year, we are facing a “wet” El Niño weather pattern, so people won’t be thinking about it.

But droughts are inevitable. And if the Colorado River stops flowing, it will be too late to make a difference. We need to build more water infrastructure — now, and on a big scale.

Joel Pollak is Opinion editor at the California Post.

The Trump administration has intervened in a critical case concerning a Texas newborn afflicted with a severe heart defect. The administration has taken a firm stance, cautioning two hospitals that they cannot deny necessary medical treatment based on disability.

In a decisive move on Thursday, the Office for Civil Rights within the Department of Health and Human Services communicated to the media its plans to issue a formal letter. This letter will be directed to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center, emphasizing their legal responsibilities under federal disability civil rights legislation as they strategize treatment for baby Gabriel.

This federal involvement follows actions by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who stepped in to ensure that the baby receives the essential medical care he requires. This intervention arose after a conflict initiated by the child’s biological parents, who reportedly requested the surrogate to terminate the pregnancy upon discovering the diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Rejecting the plea from the biological parents, McKenna West moved to Texas, where Gabriel was born on Wednesday. He is currently receiving care in a neonatal intensive care unit, highlighting the ongoing commitment to his well-being.

In its letter, HHS’ civil rights office makes clear that federal law prohibits withholding medical treatment based on a person’s disability, including based on judgments that the life of someone with a disability has less value or that the individual would impose a burden on others.

Those federal protections extend to decisions involving life-sustaining treatment, according to HHS.

The agency said it is monitoring Gabriel’s case and offering technical assistance to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas and UT Southwestern as the hospitals determine his care.

HHS is also urging the hospitals to seek a review by an infant care committee if doctors consider withholding or withdrawing medically indicated treatment. The agency said life-sustaining treatment should continue during that review.

The federal action marks the latest intervention in the dispute over Gabriel’s medical care.

West was around 20 weeks pregnant when Gabriel was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital condition in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped. The diagnosis allegedly prompted the intended parents to ask West to have an abortion, according to Paxton’s office.

West instead traveled to Texas, and Paxton formally notified UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center of Dallas of what his office said were their legal obligations to provide Gabriel with “medically necessary, life-saving care upon birth.”

Paxton later secured a court order aimed at ensuring the baby received care after birth.

“The court has made the right decision in immediately acting to protect baby Gabriel’s life and ensure he receives the care he deserves,” Paxton said.

“My office utilized every tool at our disposal to protect life, and we will not back down in continuing to support baby Gabriel’s well-being,” he added. “Every child in our state deserves to be cared for and protected, and that’s exactly what I’ll fight for.”

The case has drawn an outpouring of support for West from conservative and pro-life advocates, who praised her decision to continue the pregnancy and fight for Gabriel’s care.

Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for Turning Point USA, called West a “hero” on X, writing that she “saved this baby’s life” and saying he hopes she is ultimately able to keep Gabriel.

Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents West, celebrated the court order requiring Gabriel to receive the surgery. ADF Senior Counsel Erik Baptist praised West’s “courageous stand” for Gabriel and said “every child deserves a chance at life.”

Pro-life group Live Action also praised West for resisting pressure to abort Gabriel but said the fight is not over. The group raised concerns that a court order is preventing West from having contact with the newborn, saying Gabriel “needs the comfort of the only mother he’s ever known” and that his needs should remain the priority.

Gabriel was born Wednesday and transported to a neonatal intensive care unit, where doctors could perform surgery to treat his heart condition.

“Baby Gabriel deserves a chance at life, and I will not allow anyone to unlawfully deny him medically necessary care,” Paxton previously said. “My office will use every tool available to protect innocent lives and ensure that every child receives the care required under Texas law.”

News Media reached out to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center for comment.

LSU cornerback DJ Pickett is resolutely holding onto the No. 5 jersey, asserting it is his rightful possession as he prepares for the next football season with the Tigers.

Former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels may be pushing back on this decision, but Pickett remains firm in his choice to don the coveted jersey number next year.

“I’ve worn the number my entire life, starting at just 4 years old,” Pickett told reporters on Thursday, according to ESPN. “LSU promised me this number. While I wish Jayden all the best, he’s a strong player with impressive accomplishments at LSU, that’s where my opinion stands.”

Pickett’s remarks were made in the wake of Daniels sending a cease-and-desist letter to LSU, demanding the university cease using his name, image, and likeness (NIL) after handing over his No. 5 jersey to the sophomore standout in defense.

A spokesperson for the Daniels family expressed their profound disappointment with LSU’s decision, as noted by ESPN. “The Daniels family feels deeply disrespected by LSU giving Jayden’s number to another player. They believed it would remain a key part of his legacy at LSU, recognizing his significant contributions to the university,” the statement read.

Daniels, 25, spent two seasons at LSU, winning the 2023 Heisman Trophy after racking up 3,812 passing yards with 40 touchdowns, helping lead the Tigers to a 10-3 record.

Now entering his third NFL season with the Commanders, Daniels insisted that all of his focus is on training camp with Washington, saying in a statement that he hopes everything can “be resolved.”

“I have been locked in on training camp and that’s been my number one focus,” Daniels said. “I have a lot of gratitude for my time at LSU and I’m proud of what my teammates and I accomplished there. Obviously there are issues to be worked out between my team and LSU and my hope is that it will get done privately.

“My sole personal focus is on Commanders’ football. I realize the business of football is unique and I trust this can all be resolved.”

As he recovers in the hospital from severe injuries sustained during a harrowing self-harm episode broadcast live to his audience, Perez Hilton is struggling with a profound sense of shame.

“From what I gather, he is deeply embarrassed,” a close acquaintance of Hilton’s for nearly two decades shared with the Daily Mail.

Despite his feelings of disgrace, the infamous celebrity blogger is determined to confront the disturbing moment that swept across the internet.

“He feels the need to view it to understand what the public witnessed, but his family believes that it’s not advisable for him right now,” the insider revealed, noting that Hilton remains shielded from the 15-minute video by his protective relatives.

“His family is working hard to safeguard him,” the source explained. “He doesn’t need to relive one of the darkest moments of his life, especially so soon after it occurred.”

Hilton, 48, was hospitalized last week under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows for the temporary involuntary detention of individuals in mental crisis, after horrified TikTok users watched him repeatedly slash at his body with a knife.

He currently does not have access to the Internet, his phone or other electronic devices, but has ‘asked about’ the video and is said to be ‘worried’ about the content.

‘As I understand it, he asked what people are saying,’ the insider said. 

‘Right now, everyone is telling him that the world is very supportive of him. We don’t want him to see any negative commentary, or what happened. That would be the worst thing possible. What Perez needs is to feel like there are people in his corner. That will give him the strength to go on.’

In truth, if Hilton were to look online, he would find a mixed bag of reactions. 

Some, like America’s Next Top Model alum Adrianne Curry, have shown compassion for the father of three despite him allegedly targeting and harassing her ‘for years.’

Others callously believe there should be no empathy for Hilton because of his past ruthlessness toward several struggling pop stars like Britney Spears in the early aughts.

After Heath Ledger died from an accidental overdose in 2008, Hilton memorably sold custom T-shirts that featured a photo of the Brokeback Mountain actor and a cruel slogan that read: ‘Why couldn’t it be Britney?’ 

Hilton has since tried to make amends with Spears.

‘If he sees the comments that he brought it on himself, or people who wish him harm, that will do more harm than good with him,’ the source said. ‘He really needs support right now.’

Hilton has historically struggled with nasty comments, finding himself the victim of cruel bullies as a child.

Jorge Perez Jr., his longtime friend, recalled the ‘evil’ incidents Hilton was subjected to, telling the Daily Mail that the celebrity blogger’s infamous takedowns may have been him repeating a cycle of bullying that he was subjected to at an early age. 

‘It’s not about condoning or justifying, but understanding that, a lot of time, we repeat the trauma that we had,’ the Shut The F**k Up Method author explained. ‘People were just really evil to him growing up.’

Perez Jr., who was raised in Miami and shares mutual childhood friends with the blogger, said Hilton would deal with ‘non-stop’ nitpicking from other kids.

He claimed it got to a ‘really abusive’ level at points, and some of the digs were because quirky Hilton, real name Mario Lavandeira, did not fit in.

‘I think when you talk about those schools that are religious-based, if your social conditioning is just a little off, you get it even harder,’ Perez Jr. said. ‘He was probably just really flamboyant.’

Hilton, who is now openly gay, was closeted as a child. In a 2010 interview, he revealed that he did not come out until his freshman year of college at New York University. 

At age 15, he also dealt with a major loss when his father, Mario Lavandeira Sr., died from a brain aneurysm. In a post on Instagram last year, Hilton described his late dad as a ‘sweet, gentle’ soul.

According to Perez Jr., the celebrity blogger found ‘refuge’ in TV and media, which helped him to not feel ‘so alone’ during times when he was the outcast.

‘He became obsessed with TV shows and pop culture; that’s the only place where he found peace because he wasn’t getting it on a social level from his peers,’ Perez Jr. said. 

But something that had been his saving grace soon became the thing people despised him for. Perez Jr. says it was all an act.

‘He would always say, “Hey, I’m just putting on a persona. It’s just a character that I put on,” and I don’t know if that was his way of doing it so that he could metabolize life a little simpler for himself,’ the mindset mentor said.

For years, Hilton has been trying to rehabilitate his public image by scaling back how aggressively he covered troubled stars.

The inner turmoil even amounted to the blogger considering a move away from tabloid gossip – and delving into a more uplifting lifestyle genre.

‘He just wasn’t sure that his business team was going to go for it, but he did have an inclination that he wanted to broaden his sensibilities,’ Perez Jr. said.

‘He opened up about his desire about writing less about gossip. People change. He’s getting older. I’m sure he’s refining what his interests are, and I think it’s a healthy thing to contemplate on changing direction.’

The issue was that the gossip industry proved to be very ‘lucrative’ for Hilton for years and, at the end of the day, he would ‘opt for putting money on the table before anything – for his kids,’ according to Perez Jr.

Then, earlier this year, Hilton was forced to confront his demons when he faced a lengthy health battle. He allegedly consumed flu medications on an empty stomach that spiraled into an almost month-long hospitalization and near-fatal sepsis. 

‘I think everything really became kind of self-evident for him when he had sepsis a few months ago. He started making these videos and reading the bible, and he started apologizing and saying he was carrying so much guilt,’ Perez Jr. said.

Determined to make big changes in his life, Hilton also made the drastic and seemingly abrupt decision to move his family across the country from Las Vegas back to his native Miami.

‘I think he really wanted to do something nice for his mom and for his kids to grow up in Miami and be near the Latino culture that that they’re from,’ Perez Jr. said.

However, as Daily Mail has previously reported, insiders have said that Hilton was quietly struggling with the financial pressures of mounting medical bills that clearly had taken a toll, and his multimillion dollar Sin City mansion is still on the market.

According to Perez Jr., Hilton also had to face unexpected ‘baggage’ from his past when relocating to South Florida.

‘You’re in Miami, you run into Miami people … memories, places,’ he said. ‘When you grow up somewhere where you get picked on and then you have to come back years later, I’m sure your body remembers.’

It seemingly all came to a head on the evening of August 4 when Hilton suffered a mental health crisis and cut himself with a knife repeatedly while on a TikTok livestream. His family has since revealed that his three young children – Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, eight – were inside the home just minutes prior.

Alarmed viewers called the authorities, who rushed to the residence. According to dispatch records, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office described the incident as a ‘suicide attempt.’

Hilton was transported to a nearby hospital, where he is still recovering.  

In a statement posted to Hilton’s website, his loved ones shared that the blogger suffered ‘significant blood loss’ and additional injuries that would require surgery.

A source previously told us that Hilton has since admitted to his mother: ‘I need help.’

‘Perez knows what happened at least on some level,’ said our insider. ‘He knows something bad happened, he knows he’s in physical pain, and he doesn’t remember the incident, but he knows that he did it to himself. He knows it was public, and everybody saw it.’

Hilton ‘is smart enough’ to know ‘how horrible the video must be’ in part due to the gravity of his injuries, the source added.

‘Right now is the time for him to process getting better,.’

Perhaps a bigger source of concern for Hilton at the moment is his young three children.

‘He did ask if the kids have seen the video, and they have not, and hopefully never will. He is relieved that they have not seen him at his worst,’ the insider said.

Earlier this week, Hilton’s 72-year-old mother filed for temporary custody of Mario, Mia and Mayte with the ‘voluntary consent’ of their father, per court documents.

‘She was always the matriarch. I think she’s an incredible woman and I think she knows what she’s doing,’ said Perez Jr., who has spent some time with Hilton, Teresita and the three kids in Los Angeles.

The children have not seen their father since the incident. 

‘Right now, only the adults are seeing him,’ our source said. ‘He is talking on the phone to the kids. He wants to get better, but this is gonna take a long time.’

‘This is not a quick fix,’ they continued. ‘But as it sinks in what he did to himself, there will be a lot of trauma and baggage for him to unpack. Everyone close to him has been warned that he will be very fragile for a long time.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Hilton’s representative for comment. 

If you or someone you know needs help in the US, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on 988. If you are in the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123 for free. If you are in Australia, call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.