A seasoned ex-detective from Chicago is suggesting that his city might benefit from following the lead of a southern metropolis where a significant decrease in murders followed the arrival of National Guard troops. This could offer Chicago insights into solving its ongoing crime challenges.

According to statistics from the Major Cities Chiefs Association, Memphis saw a dramatic 43.7% drop in homicides during the first half of 2026 compared to the same stretch in the previous year. This came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in September 2025, which led to the arrival of the National Guard in Memphis that autumn.

Monday night proved to be a harsh reminder of Chicago’s struggle with violence, as nine individuals were shot, including three fatalities. One particularly severe episode involved two men suffering critical injuries in a shooting in the Near North Side area of the city.

“We were relaxing in our living room, mistaking the noise for another random rainstorm hitting the city,” one resident shared with FOX 32. “Then, as we peeked outside through our windows, we witnessed police lights illuminating the entire street.”

Retired Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy told News Media that Chicago officials aren’t utilizing federal resources to clean up the city’s crime problem amid a shortage of officers.

“Chicago has just 2,500 fewer police officers than it did just two or three years ago. You can’t keep doing more with less. It’s got to come down,” Roy said. “As far as cooperation in preventative levels, which involves street-level policing, there’s very little cooperation, if any, between Chicago and the federal authorities.”

The city’s police officer shortage has been exacerbated by a November 2025 decision to pause classes at its training academy and slow hiring to roughly 50 recruits per month, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The cut in training and hiring was made to address a $1.2 billion budget shortfall that the city faced.

Roy pointed to Memphis in particular as a “success story” on what happens when local and state governments effectively partner with the federal government, as the National Guard and federal law enforcement agencies surged into the city.

“Memphis is a success story on how this can work out. From the material I’ve looked at, they had cooperation from the governor on down, some reluctance at the city level, but they’ve done the right things the right way and it results in the, it’s produced the results,” Roy said.

“The mere presence of police serves as a disincentive to commit crime. You want people to say, ‘hey, people are going out to do something, a robbery, a burglary or whatever. Man, it’s hot out here. The police are everywhere. Let’s forget about it. Let’s do it a different time, a different place. Let’s move on.’ That’s how you prevent crime.”

“Done right, done properly, it is a godsend,” he said.

Memphis recorded 67 homicides in the first six months of 2026, down from 119 during the same period in 2025, according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

If done properly in Chicago, Roy said bringing in the National Guard to help would “mirror those in Memphis and other locations where there’s been a truly cooperative effort between the federal and local government.”

Roy said it’s not entirely unprecedented for a Democratic governor to deploy its National Guard to deter crime.

New York Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul deployed at least 1,000 National Guard members to New York City’s subway system in March 2024 following a series of high-profile crimes, saying it creates a deterrent effect.

“For people who are thinking about bringing a gun or knife on the subway, at least this creates a deterrent effect. They might be thinking, ‘You know what, it just may just not be worth it because I listened to the mayor and I listened to the governor and they have a lot more people who are going to be checking my bags,'” Hochul said.

News Media reached out to the Chicago Police Department and the Illinois governor’s office for comment.

Jenna Ortega’s sister, Aliyah Ortega, has addressed the swirling fan concerns over the actress’s recent appearance in a straightforward manner.

The younger sibling of the “Wednesday” star delivered her response via Instagram on Wednesday. She supported a post urging social media enthusiasts to “mind [their] business and leave @jennaortega alone.”

In a show of agreement, the 22-year-old punctuated her endorsement with three emphatic exclamation points, underscoring her support for the post’s strong message.

The passionate caption hinted at the rising “assumptions about [Jenna’s] health,” which have emerged in the aftermath of an interview with Esquire made public on Tuesday.

“She has every right to make whatever decisions she feels are best for herself without being judged, discriminated against, or subjected to unnecessary speculation,” the post continued. “Sometimes the most respectful thing we can do is simply give someone privacy, support them, and let them be.”

The post also referenced Jenna’s recent statement that she would “go all day” without eating or drinking on set as a child star in order to not “be in the way.”

The caption read, “We don’t know what she may be going through, and we shouldn’t assume anything based on appearances or a few comments from an interview.

“Stop concerning yourselves with her personal life and asking intrusive, unnecessary, and random questions. … Just leave Jenna alone and allow her to live her life on her own terms.”

The “You” alum, notably, has yet to address online chatter — which comes on the heels of Ariana Grande announcing a step back from the spotlight amid concern about her health as well.

Jenna’s rep has yet to respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

The Golden Globe nominee, who has four siblings, said during her Esquire sitdown that she told her parents about her acting dreams at age 7 — and they laughed.

“That kind of was the root of everything. The motivation,” Jenna, 23, said. “I never really stopped, because I’m very stubborn. And then I never questioned it.”

The former Disney Channel star nearly quit acting altogether at the thought of transitioning her roles on “Stuck in the Middle” and “Jane the Virgin” into more mature parts.

“It just felt like a good time to call it quits if I was going to,” Jenna explained on Kid Cudi’s “Big Bro” podcast in April. “I was starting high school, and, ‘it was a good run’ sort of thing. We had talked about it for a few months with my team.”

However, she recalled, “I booked that show ‘You,’ and then I went on that set, and I loved it and had the best time. I thought, ‘Yeah, there’s no way I could let this go.’”

A luxurious £6.8 million superyacht took an unexpected plunge into the Mediterranean, mere days after it was handed over to its new owner.

Known as the Angiola II, the yacht foundered on Tuesday evening near Porto Cervo, a picturesque site in Sardinia, Italy, situated between Cappuccini Island and Capo Ferro.

Stunning footage has emerged, showing the opulent boat keeling over and gradually immersing beneath the waves, as onlookers from nearby vessels watched the drama unfold.

The 98-foot craft had been in the hands of its Italian proprietor for a scant four days, having recently undergone a comprehensive refurbishment.

Thanks to nearly three hours of meticulous effort, the La Maddalena Coast Guard managed to secure the vessel, allowing it to sink safely.

The yacht has been lying on the seabed, seven metres (23ft) below the surface, since Tuesday, where she will remain until she can be pulled from the sea.

The yacht is believed to have lost buoyancy after an engine failure caused a fire in the seals, allowing water to flow into the yacht.  

However, the exact cause of the flooding and sinking has yet to be officially confirmed.

The owner, who remains unknown, was among the 14 people on board the yacht when it started to sink.   

Twelve were rescued by another vessel sailing nearby, while the owner and a friend remained on the sinking yacht as they waited for a patrol boat, which transported them to Poltu Quatu.

No injuries were reported.

Ship brokerage Agenzia Marittima De Felice announced the purchase of the yacht in July, describing the owner as ‘a client of the agency for many years’.  

Italian media have estimated the yacht’s value at more than €8million (£6.8million).

The Angiola II was launched by the Italian shipyard Permare under the Amer Yachts brand in July 2020. It was the sixth hull in the Amer F100 series. 

The Amer F100 had accommodation for up to ten guests across five cabins.

A pontoon weighing approximately 200 tons will reportedly be used to remove the wreck.

La Maddalena Port Authority is also reportedly taking measures to prevent any environmental damage.

This comes after a brand new £700,000 ($940,000) luxury yacht turned over and sank last September. 

The incident happened about 200m offshore in the Eregli district of Zonguldak in northern Turkey on Tuesday.

Footage shows the yacht tipping onto its side and sinking into the sea as those on board jump overboard in panic.

A man, believed to be the owner, can be seen standing on the side of the vessel as it begins to sink, before he plunged into the sea and began to hurriedly swim to shore.

The boat’s captain and two crew members are also understood to have jumped overboard.

No injuries were reported.

The vessel, named Dolce Vento, was between 24 and 30m long and had been completed at the Med Yilmaz Shipyard in about five months before being delivered to its owner from Istanbul.

Coast Guard and port teams were dispatched and established a security perimeter.

Rescue teams with technical equipment have been sent to the scene to begin recovery work.

Shipyard officials said a detailed investigation will be carried out and the cause of the sinking will be determined following technical inspections.

Experts have noted that stability problems, such as errors in metacentric height calculations, are among the most significant factors that can cause vessels to capsize or sink.

Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York and lawyers representing Luigi Mangione, the alleged assassin, have requested a U.S. judge to arrange a conference this Friday morning. This request has sparked speculation that the 28-year-old might accept a plea deal in his federal case, mere days before his state murder trial begins.

The timing of this potential plea deal is significant for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s state prosecution. Due to New York’s double-jeopardy laws, courts in the city had previously dismissed charges against Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman, following his federal convictions.

In light of similar plea deal possibilities earlier this year, Manhattan prosecutors suggested they would “advise” the federal judge if a plea agreement might compromise the “just outcome” of Mangione’s state proceedings.

“If Luigi Mangione agrees to a federal plea, the key issue will be whether this triggers the state’s double jeopardy law,” stated Donna Rotunno, a Chicago-based defense lawyer, Fox News contributor, and host of “Crime & Justice.”

New York has broader double jeopardy laws than the federal government, she said. A federal resolution first could therefore put the state case at risk in a way that a state conviction would not necessarily jeopardize the federal prosecution.

“The prosecutors reached out to Judge Carro via letter back in July when they were talking about which case should be set for trial first and the importance of setting the state case for trial before the federal one,” she told News Media. “So now here we are in a situation where the state is saying wait, wait, why is the government allowing Luigi Mangione to possibly take a plea on the federal side? Because if that’s the case, it could potentially upend our case on the state side.”

Read the July letter from Manhattan prosecutors to Judge Carro:

Shortly after Friday’s pre-trial conference appeared on the docket, speculation swirled that it could involve a potential plea deal. However, neither side has commented, and the purpose of the conference remains unclear.

While Mangione is currently scheduled to go on trial on the state charges next month and see a federal trial next year, his lawyers could potentially make the double jeopardy argument in New York, if the federal case results in a conviction first.

In the 2019 Manafort case, he was charged at the state level for fraud crimes that were similar to those he had already been convicted of federally.

New York Judge Maxwell Wiley agreed to dismiss the state charges.

The factual overlap between the state and federal cases was “extensive — if not total,” Wiley wrote at the time. Then-Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. appealed the ruling unsuccessfully.

An appellate court unanimously upheld Wiley’s decision.

The question in the Manafort case was whether the federal and state laws were “designed to prevent very different kinds of harm or evil.” Both Manafort cases involved the same fraud and the same victims, and the courts found that the laws were not aimed at “very different kinds” of offenses.

In Mangione’s case, should he actually reach a federal plea deal before his state trial, the question might boil down to whether a federal charge of stalking resulting in death is “very different” from New York’s second-degree murder charge.

“There’s a little bit of an argument to be made there, but again, if that was not an issue, then why were the prosecutors so concerned about making sure they go first?” Rotunno asked. “If you look at this law, this law really has to do with the state going first because the feds can prosecute any charges they want, even if they’re based on the same conduct.”

“If the charges were so different, they wouldn’t worry about it,” she added.

Manafort’s lawyer at the time, Todd Blanche, is now the U.S. attorney general. At an unrelated Justice Department news briefing Wednesday, he declined to answer a question about whether Friday’s hearing would be related to a potential plea deal.

WATCH: DOJ questioned on possible Mangione plea deal

The top charge Mangione faces federally, stalking resulting in death, carries a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, without the possibility of parole, if convicted. At the state level, he faces a maximum of 25 years to life if convicted of the second-degree murder charge.

Even if convicted at trial, however, Rotunno said he might not get the maximum sentence based on his lack of a prior criminal history. Any plea deal that leads to less than a life sentence could be considered a win for the defense, she said.

“Odds of him getting life are probably slim even after a trial, given the fact that he had no background, and the maximum is life,” she said. “But either way, he would’ve gotten such a big number that odds of him getting out would be very slim.”

Carro had previously rejected a double jeopardy claim from Mangione’s defense, and Mangione himself in February claimed he was being subject to “the same trial twice” in a courtroom outburst.

“One plus one is two,” he complained, while being escorted out of the courtroom. “Double jeopardy by any common sense.”

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him in both cases.

Back in May, another disparity between state and federal law left a potential impact on the case. Carro ruled that some key evidence recovered from Mangione’s backpack during his arrest at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s would be inadmissible at trial. Judge Margaret Garnett, who is overseeing the federal case, rejected the defense team’s argument that the search was improper.

At the same time, Garnett threw out the potential death penalty when she ruled that the underlying stalking charge didn’t qualify as a “crime of violence.” And that decision could fuel arguments from Manhattan prosecutors against any potential double jeopardy claims, according to Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor.

“The federal judge has already found, thanks to Mangione’s own arguments, that stalking is not a ‘crime of violence,'” he told News Media. “And if that’s the federal position, then you have to ask yourself, is the harm of a nonviolent crime, is the potential harm trying to be prevented by the stalking charge, different enough from what the statute for murder 2 is trying to prevent so that you can say the two statutes are distinct enough that the state case could go forward.”

“But that said,” he added, “the New York state double jeopardy law is very defendant-favorable. So who knows? Maybe Luigi has just decided he prefers federal prison to state prison. Because of generally better conditions.”

Matthew Schaefer’s inaugural season in the league set a remarkably high bar, so much so that finding comparable rookie seasons requires broadening the criteria.

Initially, this newsletter aimed to analyze second-year performances of defensemen with rookie seasons similar to Schaefer’s remarkable debut.

However, examining the era following the lockout, it’s clear Schaefer’s rookie campaign stands unparalleled. According to Stathead, when filtering for rookie defensemen who played over 2,000 minutes and scored 50 or more points, Schaefer is the only name to emerge.

This sets Schaefer apart because any comparisons essentially begin with a lesser standard, given his extraordinary first year. While it’s uncertain if his performance will persist or fade given many players’ propensity to either plateau or decline after impressive starts, overlooking the magnitude of his rookie achievements is a common misstep.

Recently, the trend of Disney adults—mature fans who passionately frequent the parks sans children, don elaborate costumes of beloved characters, and ravenously hunt for collectibles—has been stealing the limelight.

However, there’s one enthusiast whose devotion has sparked quite a controversy.

Toni, a crochet artist hailing from Harbor City, California, is a regular face at Disneyland. Her adventures and antics within the magical realm consistently grace her social media feeds.

Spending ample time interacting with characters—Peter Pan being her main interest—Toni’s zeal has been met with mixed reactions online, stirring both admiration and concern.

The fervor surged when a clip showcasing her exchange with a Peter Pan performer gained traction, with many viewers commenting on the actor’s seemingly uneasy demeanor.

A video shared to her TikTok account in late July showed her approaching the character at Disneyland and presenting him with a crocheted duck keychain, which had a Peter Pan hat on.

‘Woah, where’d you get this?’ the character asked, to which she responded with: ‘I made it.’ 

‘This is really nice, but what am I supposed to do with it?’ he said. 

She explained that she wanted him to take a picture with it, to which he obliged. But when he turned back to her, he appeared slightly alarmed as he asked: ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ 

Things turned even more awkward when Peter wrongfully assumed that the duck was a gift for him. Toni explained that she actually wanted it back, but ultimately let him have it.

The two continued to talk about the custom-made keychain for over two minutes before he started to walk away. But things didn’t end there as she followed after him.

The video then included a montage of clips that showed Toni and Peter walking through the park together.

‘Another adventure with the green bean,’ she captioned it. 

It got over 20 million views, and the seemingly innocent interaction sparked a heated conversation about adult Disney fans meeting characters.

Some people cracked jokes about it in the comment section – one person said they bet Peter Pan needed a ‘cigarette break’ afterwards, while another said he probably went home and drank a ‘bottle of whiskey.’

Others analyzed his body language and facial expressions and claimed he looked ‘uncomfortable,’ while some slammed Toni over her behavior.

‘Girl this is an adult. Let him work… with KIDS,’ one user wrote. 

‘The way he kept inching back, body language is so loud,’ another added.

‘Girl leave him ALONE my god he’s not actually Peter Pan,’ someone else penned.

‘Why are you holding him hostage?’ read a fourth comment, while a fifth said: ‘Literally following him around the whole park Jesus this is insane.’

Someone on X even went as far as accusing Toni of ‘basically stalking and low-key harassing’ the actor.

Others defended Toni, however, as one pointed out: ‘Disney isn’t just for kids.’ 

‘She paid to go there, not everything has to be about kids,’ another agreed.

‘I hope you know there are adults that didn’t get a chance to visit Disney when they were kids,’ someone else chimed in. 

‘Now that they have grown up and have decent jobs they visit Disney and try to heal their inner child and that’s totally fine. 

‘They deserve their moment and if they were in line first the parents just have to wait.’

The Daily Mail requested an interview with Toni, but did not hear back. 

In response to the backlash, Toni posted a clip of herself dancing with a text overlay that said: ‘When people ask how I got a five-minute video with a lost boy at Disney.’

‘Just saying, if he didn’t wanna be around me he would literally run away,’ she added in the caption.

Toni often posts videos about her love of Peter Pan and is certainly not shy about it. In fact, she has shared multiple videos of herself meeting the character in the last few months.

In January 2025, she shared a series of snaps of herself with the character in the park over the years, including one of her and Peter from a decade prior in 2015.

’10 years ago I met my lost boy for the first time at Disneyland, little did I know how much he would change my life for the better,’ she wrote in the caption.

‘Thank you Peter for every magical moment you’ve created for me and all those to come. You will forever be my favorite Disney character. Here’s to never growing up.’

When Amber Meade twisted her ankle, fracturing a bone in her foot, she imagined a straightforward path to recovery. Her journey began with a surgery designed to smooth the damaged bone and ensure proper alignment of nerves and tendons.

Initially, the operation seemed to go off without a hitch. Yet, in the following weeks, Meade was plagued by agonizing pain. A subsequent procedure revealed a screw in her foot was pressing on a nerve, causing distress. Although the screw was relocated, and nerve decompression was administered, her discomfort persisted.

“It would just turn black and blue, swell up really big, and I just was unable to put any weight on it,” the 41-year-old shared, recounting her experience.

The relentless pain turned her life upside down. Meade had to resign from her job as a surgical assistant because standing for extended periods became unbearable. Her involvement with her two young sons dwindled, as even a soft breeze triggered sensations of excruciating pain. The mere thought of resting under a blanket was tormenting, with nights offering little reprieve. Meade graphically described the pain as akin to “walking on a hot bed of Legos constantly, while getting stabbed with a pencil.”

In pursuit of relief, Meade embarked on a long quest, consulting numerous specialists. Nearly a year into her ordeal, a doctor finally suggested she might be suffering from complex regional pain syndrome, a term unfamiliar to her until then. It took even more time before she could discover a treatment that eased her pain.

What is complex regional pain syndrome? 

Complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS, is a chronic disorder with no cure, said Dr. Rohan Jotwani, an interventional pain specialist and anesthesiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. Jotwani was not involved in Meade’s care. CRPS can occur after surgery, like Meade’s, or from other injuries to the nerve. 

“For some patients, they’ll have an injury to a nerve and it will get better with time. For some patients, that injury will actually develop into its own chronic pain disorder,” Jotwani said. 

Diagnosing the condition is difficult, Jotwani said. No test or scan can definitively identify it, and because it is a rare condition, many doctors may not be familiar with it, he added.

Physicians have to rely on clinical criteria. Telltale hallmarks for the condition are extreme levels of pain at the source, even when nothing should be causing it – like when a bedsheet causes pain, as Meade experienced. CRPS patients may also experience swelling, changes in temperature and skin color or texture changes. They may even begin to lose function in the affected area. 

Diagnosing complex regional pain syndrome is only the start, Jotwani said. Actually treating the condition requires a “multi-pronged approach” that can vary from person to person. Treatment typically starts with physical therapy. Patients may also take medication to decrease nerve signals in the area, so they feel less pain, or try interventional techniques like a nerve block. Meade tried multiple options, but nothing was improving her pain. 

“Doing regular therapies was not working. I even heard, at 33, that I was getting older and that ‘sometimes we just hurt more.’ I thought that was comical,” Meade said.  

Treating complex regional pain syndrome 

In 2022, long after Meade’s pain started, a doctor suggested she see physical therapist Dr. Anita Davis, who specializes in treating the condition and leads the comprehensive pain rehabilitation program at Brooks Rehabilitation in Florida. The pair worked to develop a physical therapy routine that would work for Meade. 

“Before me, she had all of the traditional exercises … and those things were just not possible with that much pain in her foot,” Davis said. “As healthcare providers, we ask patients to rate the pain from zero to 10. These folks are typically going to be at the top of the scale, even on a good day. When I ask her to do something that’s painful on top of her existing pain, it’s just crazy to think about doing that.” 

They also worked on relaxation and emotional exercises to cope with the mental load of the constant pain. 

“Pain management for Amber … isn’t just the physical aspects,” Davis explained. “Anything that enhances relaxing the nervous system is valuable.” 

The protocol led to some improvements for Meade, but while CRPS patients can have “symptoms subside for a length of time,” it is “a lifelong condition,” Davis said. 

“There’s not a cure for it,” Davis said. 

Working towards a less painful future  

Meade said she still feels pain and discomfort, and is at risk of flare-ups when the weather changes or if she steps the wrong way. In addition to working with Davis, she is taking medication and receiving ketamine infusions every few months. She said the combination of ketamine treatment and physical therapy allows her to “do a lot more than I have been able to.” The effects of the infusion usually last around four weeks. Meade uses that period to work on strengthening her body.

“I try to make some headway in my physical health before that starts going down, because I know it’s going to,” Meade said. “The pain is a lot less when my physical health is better.” 

Meade said even without the effects of the infusions, she is dealing with less pain than before her diagnosis and treatment. She can focus on her day-to-day activities. She sleeps better and can walk on the beach, one of her favorite activities. She can’t do too much running around with her kids, but she can play catch and help with homework most days. Meade said she hopes to improve her functionality and eventually go back to work and be more active, but for now, she is grateful for what she has gained.  

“I want to try to get to that point where I have less and less flares, and get up to doing what everybody enjoys doing: Working, coming home, having something to work towards, going on vacations,” Meade said. “Every time I have a good day, we work a little bit harder.” 

Edited by

Lucia I Suarez Sang