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Faith Hedgepeth’s Roommate Recalls Finding UNC Student’s Body

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Karena Rosario recalled the devastating moment she discovered the body of her murdered UNC roommate, Faith Hedgepeth.

Prosecutors called 34-year-old Rosario to the witness stand after opening statements concluded Wednesday morning, where she gave an emotional account of the events.

Her testimony came as Miguel Enrique Salguero-Olivares, 33, faced the first day of his trial in connection with Hedgepeth’s murder and rape.

Hedgepeth, a 19-year-old junior, was found naked and beaten to death by Rosario at their off-campus apartment on the morning of September 7, 2012.

Beside her body, investigators found a taunting message etched onto a fast-food bag. It read: ‘I’m not stupid b***h jealous.’

The case remained unsolved for nine years before Salguero-Olivares was arrested on September 16, 2021.

More than a decade after Hedgepeth’s death, Rosario described in court the horrifying moment she found her friend inside their apartment.

‘I walked in. The comforter was off of the bed. It looked like it was pushed over to the left side on the floor. I just saw a couple spots of blood,’ Rosario said.

Karena Rosario, the roommate of a murdered UNC student, Faith Hedgepeth, recalled the earth-shattering moment she found her dead body, while speaking on the witness stand

Karena Rosario, the roommate of murdered UNC student Faith Hedgepeth, recalled the devastating moment she found her friend’s body while testifying in court

Hedgepeth, a 19-year-old junior, was found by her roommate, naked and beaten to death in their off-campus apartment on the morning of September 7, 2012

Hedgepeth, a 19-year-old junior, was found naked and beaten to death by her roommate at their off-campus apartment on the morning of September 7, 2012

‘I walked around the bed and saw her hair. I pulled the comforter down, and I saw that she had a black eye. She wasn’t wearing anything from the waist down and her shirt was pulled all the way up,’ she testified.

Rosario also recounted the hours before Hedgepeth’s death, including their final night together at The Thrill nightclub in Chapel Hill.

Describing Hedgepeth as a sister, Rosario said: ‘She just had this way about making you feel comfortable with her.’

Rosario said she became upset during the night, prompting Hedgepeth to drive them from the nightclub back to their apartment at about 3 a.m.

‘I just remember her holding my hands and telling me everything’s going to be okay,’ Rosario told the court.

The roommate became tearful as she recounted the events, appearing visibly overwhelmed while testifying.

Rosario told jurors that the amount of alcohol she had consumed left parts of her memory unclear. She did remember sitting in the apartment bathroom while calling and texting several people.

She said her friend Jordan McCrary picked her up from the apartment at about 4:30 a.m. and took her back to his home.

Miguel Enrique Salguero-Olivares, 33, appeared in court in North Carolina for the first day of his trial in connection to the murder and rape of UNC student Faith Hedgepeth

Miguel Enrique Salguero-Olivares, 33, appeared in a North Carolina courtroom for the first day of his trial over the murder and rape of UNC student Faith Hedgepeth

Hedgepeth's killer left a note to next to her body, reading: 'I'm not stupid b***h jealous'

A note left beside Hedgepeth’s body allegedly by her killer read: ‘I’m not stupid b***h jealous’

She testified she did not remember Hedgepeth responding to her when she announced she was leaving the apartment. Rosario said she did not take the door key with her. 

Rosario confirmed that she and Hedgepeth shared one key to their apartment, with the last person leaving held responsible to lock the door. 

On the morning Rosario found Hedgepeth, she said she attempted to call her to pick her up from McCrary’s house. She received no answer and said she called multiple times out of worry that Hedgepeth had taken their shared apartment key with her to class.    

Rosario was eventually picked up by Marisol Rangel, another friend, before arriving back to their apartment. Rangel also testified in court on Thursday morning and explained details about that night. 

When Rangel and Rosario arrived, they noticed the bathroom light was on. They found Hedgepeth’s body drenched in blood along with the walls and bed. 

‘We’re walking through, we get to the bedroom and all you could see was just blood everywhere. Faith was wrapped in a comforter. And so, we just froze and we had to call for 911,’ Rangel said. 

Rosario said when she touched Hedgepeth she felt cold. 

When The Chapel Hill Police arrived at the apartment, Rosario said she asked them if they were going to call an ambulance, but that Hedgepeth was already pronounced dead. 

 ‘I felt like I was going crazy. I felt like I was living in a nightmare. It felt like one day I was a normal college student and the next my whole life was flipped upside down, and the one person I wanted to be there with me was not,’ Rosario said. 

She testified that after Hedgepeth’s death she had left UNC but returned a year later to finish her degree and now lives out of state. 

According to WRAL, Rosario’s testimony continued on Thursday morning alongside McCrary, Ervin Mitchell, a security worker at The Thrill nightclub, and other witnesses at the stand. 

Since being arrested and charged in 2021, Salguero-Olivares has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, first-degree rape, first-degree sexual offense and first-degree burglary. 

Robert Wagner Shares Rare Photo With Natasha Gregson Wagner, Natalie Wood’s Lookalike Daughter

Robert Wagner has shared a rare photo with Natasha Gregson Wagner, the eldest daughter of his late wife, Natalie Wood—a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the legendary actress.

Wagner, 96, posted the image on Instagram to celebrate Natasha’s 56th birthday on Sept. 29. In the restaurant snapshot, Natasha smiles beside him in a brunette bob with bangs.

The “Austin Powers” actor appears equally cheerful in the picture, dressed in a black suit jacket over a black shirt.

“Please join me in wishing a very Happy Birthday to my wonderful daughter, Natasha,” Wagner wrote. “Jill [Wagner’s wife] and I are so proud of the woman you are and the joy, laughter, and love you bring into our lives. We love you and wish you the happiest of birthdays.”

Wood welcomed Natasha in 1970 with her former husband, British producer Richard Gregson. Wagner later legally adopted her.

Wagner and Wood first married in 1957 before divorcing in 1962. The pair reconciled and walked down the aisle again in 1972.

Together, they had daughter Courtney, now 52. Wagner also has a daughter, Katie, 62, from his second marriage to actress Marion Marshall.

Following Wood’s death in 1981, Wagner married actress Jill St. John in 1990.

Wood died tragically at 43 after drowning while aboard Wagner’s yacht with her husband and actor Christopher Walken.

The “West Side Story” star’s death was initially classified as an accident. In 2012, however, her death certificate was amended, changing the cause from drowning to “drowning and other undetermined factors.”

In 2018, Detective Ralph Hernandez named Wagner a person of interest after speaking with witnesses who said Wood had been arguing with her husband near the edge of the yacht shortly before she vanished.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department later cleared Wagner in May 2022 after reopening its investigation into Wood’s death.

“All leads in the Natalie Wood case have been exhausted, and the case remains an open, unsolved case,” Lt. Hugo Reynaga told Page Six at the time.

“If additional leads surface in the future, which have not already been investigated, the case will be reassigned to a detective to investigate the new leads,” his statement added.

Despite the sheriff’s department’s findings, Wood’s sister, Lana Wood, told The Post in 2021 that she has always believed Wagner was responsible for the actress’s death.

“I don’t believe it was premeditated,” Lana said. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t think he did it. Of course he did!”

Natasha was only 11 when her mother died. In an interview with the Daily Mail last month, she said both her biological father and stepfather supported her through the difficult period.

“Luckily I had these two men, Daddy Gregson and Daddy Wagner, who came together and rose to the occasion and completely put me first,” she recalled.

“They got me into therapy right away and I had that same amazing therapist here in Beverly Hills until my 20s,” she added.

Massachusetts Mother Andria Hanafin Found Shot Dead at Home; Son Ryan Hanafin Arrested in Vermont

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A Massachusetts mother was fatally shot inside her home as police carried out an hours-long manhunt for her adult son, who had fled to Vermont.

Andria Hanafin was found with an apparent gunshot wound in the kitchen of her Reading home at approximately 12:38 a.m. Thursday, according to the Reading Police Department.

Her husband, Matthew Hanafin, discovered the 49-year-old woman after returning from work and called 911.

Hanafin, a mother of three, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The couple’s youngest son, 13, was home when the shooting occurred. He told investigators that he last saw his mother alive at about 5 p.m., before leaving to spend time with friends. He returned around 9 p.m. and went directly to his room, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said during a news conference.

Hanafin’s 22-year-old son, Ryan Hanafin, was missing from the home, and his vehicle was gone as well.

Authorities began searching for Ryan Hanafin and his 2010 black Dodge Charger as part of the homicide investigation into his mother’s death.

The district attorney said Ryan Hanafin had no known history of contact with police before the fatal shooting.

Investigators also learned that he had access to several firearms he legally owned.

“We do know Ryan Hanafin has a license to carry, that was suspended this morning,” District Attorney Ryan said.

Officials have not disclosed a possible motive. They also said Ryan Hanafin had no known mental health issues.

Authorities said he was known to have ties to the Warren, Vermont, area.

Massachusetts police alerted Vermont State Police Thursday afternoon, asking them to watch for Hanafin in the area, located about 170 miles northwest of Reading, a Boston suburb.

Vermont State Police later spotted the Dodge Charger and stopped it at approximately 2:30 p.m., taking Hanafin into custody.

He was charged with being a fugitive from justice and held without bail at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility, Vermont police said.

Hanafin is scheduled to be arraigned Friday afternoon.

Friends remembered Andria Hanafin as a loving mother who genuinely cared for the people around her.

“There are truly no words to describe the heartbreak of losing someone so suddenly and tragically. Our beautiful friend Andria was taken from this world far too soon, leaving behind her loving husband, family, and friends who loved her dearly,” family friend Heather Gagliardi wrote on a GiveSendGo fundraiser.

“She had a heart of gold. She was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off her back without a second thought. She never wanted anyone to go without and was always looking for ways to help others, whether they were family, friends, or someone she had just met. Her kindness, and love for those around her were simply who she was,” Gagliardi added.

Police said Hanafin’s third child, a daughter, was away at college when the shooting took place.

Asian Shares Mixed, Oil Prices Fall After Choppy Day on Wall Street

Asian shares traded unevenly Friday in thin holiday-season markets, while oil prices retreated after recent advances.

U.S. stock futures edged upward.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.8% to 68,512.30 in Tokyo.

The Shanghai Composite fell 1.4% to 3,758.47, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index advanced 1.1% to 24,046.79.

China is scheduled to publish its latest economic growth data next week.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.6%.

Stock markets in South Korea and Taiwan were closed.

U.S. stocks struggled for direction Thursday as oil prices climbed and bond yields surged before easing later in the session.

“Equities remain within striking distance of record highs, but the backdrop has turned considerably less hospitable,” Steven Innes of SPI Asset Management wrote in a commentary.

The S&P 500 lost 0.5%, extending its decline to a second consecutive session after reaching a record high the previous day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1%, while the Nasdaq composite dropped 1.3% as technology shares came under particularly heavy pressure.

Stocks were pressured by a 4.1% jump in Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, to $104.28 a barrel. Brent has swung between $96 and almost $110 over the past month as investors weigh how long the war with Iran could disrupt the global energy industry.

Brent briefly approached $106 in morning trading before President Donald Trump sent prices lower by saying that “productive discussions” were taking place with Iran. He also said the U.S. military would not attack Iran before the U.S. elections in November.

By early Friday, Brent was down 1% at $103.28 a barrel. U.S. benchmark crude also fell 0.9% to $90.23.

In bond markets, yields remain near their highest levels in years, and in some cases decades, raising concerns that elevated borrowing costs could weigh on economic growth.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note initially climbed to 5.35% early Thursday before retreating to 5.23%.

Yields moved lower after the U.S. government sold $22 billion in 30-year Treasury bonds at an auction with a high yield below 5.62%. The result pushed the 30-year Treasury yield down to 5.60% from 5.73% earlier in the morning, a significant move in the bond market.

Investors are also watching high debt levels after the U.S. federal deficit reached nearly $2 trillion in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

Among individual stocks, PepsiCo advanced 3.7% after reporting quarterly profit and revenue that exceeded analysts’ expectations. Gains in the consumer-goods company, however, were outweighed by declines in several major technology stocks.

Nvidia, the chipmaker at the center of the artificial-intelligence boom, fell 2.9%. As Wall Street’s largest company by market value, Nvidia exerted the biggest drag on the S&P 500 despite steeper percentage declines elsewhere.

Other AI-linked stocks also retreated. Broadcom dropped 4.3%, while Micron Technology slumped 4.8%.

AI stocks are under heavy pressure to report big growth to justify how expensive their shares have gotten due to the AI frenzy.

“What was once a broad, buy-anything-with-an-AI-label momentum trade is becoming a much tougher contest between balance-sheet strength and ambition,” Innes said.

In other dealings early Friday, the U.S. dollar rose to 158.01 Japanese yen from 157.89 yen. The euro was trading at $1.1225, up from $1.1211.

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AP Business Writer Stan Choe in New York contributed to this report.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Mamdani Demands Trump Release Undocumented Immigrant Shot by ICE

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on President Donald Trump to suspend all Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in New York after an ICE agent shot and wounded an illegal immigrant in the Bronx on Thursday, triggering protests and clashes with police.

Speaking at a late-night news conference, Mamdani denounced the shooting and said he had spoken with Trump for roughly two hours after the incident.

The mayor said he asked Trump to release the wounded man, but that request was denied. Mamdani also reiterated the city’s demand that ICE agents leave New York.

“All they do is terrorize this city,” Mamdani said of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a news conference after an ICE-involved shooting in the Bronx on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a news conference after an ICE-involved shooting on Thursday. (WNYW)

Mamdani accused ICE of operating “with impunity” and said the agency was fueling “chaos and terror” nationwide. He further alleged that ICE had killed more people than it had saved.

“Today’s shooting is only further devastating confirmation of what we have long known,” the mayor said.

“ICE is rotten to its core,” he added.

Mamdani also confirmed that ICE agents had removed the wounded man from the hospital.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she, too, had spoken with Trump as well as Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

“Tonight, I spoke with President Trump and DHS Secretary Mullin about the shooting in Marble Hill,” Hochul wrote on X. “I expressed outrage on behalf of New Yorkers and urged them to halt ICE enforcement operations in New York. I also asked that any body camera footage of the shooting be released to the public so we can establish the facts and get to the truth.”

Protesters and law enforcement officers clash after a man was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in New York on October 8, 2026. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)

According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE agents were trying to arrest a wanted man from the Dominican Republic at about 4 p.m. Thursday when one agent opened fire, striking and wounding him. DHS did not say what prompted the shooting.

“ICE officers immediately rendered aid. The individual is alive and at a local hospital. The FBI and HSI are on the scene. The incident remains under investigation. More information will be shared as it becomes available,” DHS said in a statement.

DHS described the wounded man as an illegal immigrant with a prior grand larceny conviction and arrests connected to assault, robbery, drug possession and weapons possession. The agency also claimed he had links to the Trinitarios gang.

Later Thursday, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the man was 28 years old. She also said a 5-year-old boy believed to be his son was inside the vehicle when the shooting occurred.

“Based on evidence collected at the scene, we know that at least one ICE agent discharged the seven rounds, striking the driver in the neck below his left ear,” Tisch said. The child was not hurt and was placed in the care of a family member, she added.

Anti-ICE protests following shooting

Protesters and law enforcement officers shove one another near where a man was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in New York on October 8, 2026. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)

The agency said New York City police arrested the man on Dec. 7, 2023, but released him days later. DHS attributed that release to New York City’s sanctuary policies.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, where the wounded man was receiving treatment. Demonstrators chanted “ICE off our streets” and “No justice, no peace.” As police put up barricades, officers and protesters shoved one another, and some demonstrators threw water bottles at law enforcement.

“From Palestine to Mexico, all these walls have got to go,” the group chanted.

Police made some arrests during the demonstration.

Smiling sister released on bail after allegedly stabbing mother to death

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A 19-year-old Texas woman accused of fatally stabbing a mother of five in broad daylight has been released from jail after a $2 million bond was posted in her case.

Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, 19, is charged alongside her sister, Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and their friend, Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, in the June 25 killing of 32-year-old Caroline “Caro” Peña.

The three women were arrested soon after Peña’s death. Amaya, who investigators allege was carrying the knife, walked out of the Val Verde County Correctional Facility in Del Rio on Tuesday after securing her release.

The Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office and the correctional facility confirmed to the New York Post that the Diaz family paid $200,000 toward the $2 million bond. Kitty remains in custody.

Bail bond agencies commonly charge about 10% of a defendant’s total bond as the fee for arranging release.

An employee with El Amigo Bonding told the Post that the precise arrangement used in Amaya’s case was private and known only to the family that requested the bond.

The representative also indicated that tensions had already emerged in connection with the case.

Amaya 'Cookie' Diaz, 19, along with her sister, Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and their friend, Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, were accused of killing 32-year-old Caroline 'Caro' Peña (Pictured)

Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, 19, her sister Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and their friend Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, are accused in the killing of 32-year-old Caroline “Caro” Peña, pictured here.

Cookie was released from the Val Verde County Correctional Facility in Del Rio on Tuesday. She is pictured smirking and giggling as she was led in handcuffs to a police SUV

Amaya was released from the Val Verde County Correctional Facility in Del Rio on Tuesday. Images show her smiling and laughing while handcuffed and being escorted to a police SUV.

“We know that when someone gets killed, problems will happen. And it’s already happening, so [the Diaz family] has to lie low,” the bonding company employee said.

“But we know that justice will prevail. Justice always prevails,” he added.

The Diaz sisters have not yet entered pleas to charges of murder and tampering with evidence. Faz has pleaded not guilty.

All three suspects were taken into custody on the day Peña was killed. Police said, however, that Kitty and Amaya showered before officers formally placed them in handcuffs.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators noticed that the sisters were no longer wearing the clothing seen in earlier video footage. Their hair was also wet, leading police to conclude they had recently showered.

Video from the arrests appeared to show the three women smiling after changing into different clothes.

Amaya was also seen grinning and smirking as officers escorted her away.

Authorities have not explained why Peña went to a home in the 800 block of East 10th Street to meet the women. Her uncle, however, said the victim and the suspects were acquainted.

Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, remains behind bars

Another woman, Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, was also arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing

Kitty Diaz, left, and Kyandra Renee Faz, right, both 21, are charged with murder and tampering with evidence.

Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, appeared to smile for a moment as she looked at the ground while walking to the patrol car

Kitty also appeared to smile as officers placed her in a police vehicle.

“It’s a small town. I knew one of their uncles. Their family, everyone has a connection, so it’s even harder,” Peña’s unnamed uncle told the Daily Mail by phone from Del Rio. “I worked with him for 30 years. They were close to us. What can you do?”

The uncle did not speculate on the motive behind the attack, however, police revealed the whole confrontation and killing was captured on video from cameras at Faz’s house. 

‘Carolina was observed arriving at Kyandra’s residence and exiting a black Dodge pickup truck,’ the criminal complaint stated.

‘Shortly after, a black Chrysler 300 arrives on scene, to which Amaya and Kitty exit and confront Carolina. Within the video footage, Amaya is observed exiting the front passenger seat of the vehicle and approaching Carolina.’

Amaya allegedly arrived with a knife in her hand.

‘Within the video footage, Amaya is observed with an object believed to be a knife in her right hand. Amaya and Carolina get into an altercation, and Amaya is observed striking Carolina in the back, where blood can be observed on the back of her shirt,’ the complaint reads.

Cookie allegedly wielded the knife on the day of the slaying

Cookie allegedly wielded the knife on the day of the slaying  

A photo appears to show Pena's (pictured right) last moments after she was attacked by two sisters, with blood seeping through her shirt

A photo appears to show Pena’s (pictured right) last moments after she was attacked by two sisters, with blood seeping through her shirt 

Kitty and Faz then allegedly joined in the assault before all four women separated and left.

Peña was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a hospital in San Antonio due to the severity of her wounds.

She died hours later, leaving behind five children, ages three to 16.

Two of Peña’s children are autistic and are being cared for by relatives following their mother’s death.

A photograph taken of the women after the attack was posted on a local Facebook page before later being removed.

The image shows Pena’s white top covered in blood.

Zelina Ochoa, the victim’s friend, said the image was especially difficult to process because she believes it illustrated the imbalance between the alleged attackers and the victim.

‘It’s a very powerful picture because it shows, you know, these three girls showed up with their weapons and Caro showed up with nothing but her hands,’ Ochoa said.

Cookie’s arraignment is scheduled for November 4 after previously appearing in court to have her bond lowered from $5 million to $2 million. Her sister’s bail was lowered as well and has not had her next court date scheduled yet. 

Faz is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on December 11 and remains in custody on $5.2 million bond.

Travel experts reveal how to find cheaper holiday flights

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For years, travelers have chased a supposed formula for finding cheap flights: browse in incognito mode, delete your cookies and book on a Tuesday.

These days, that advice is about as current as printing directions before setting off on a road trip.

Airfares now shift constantly in response to real-time demand and search data. As a result, no single day of the week is guaranteed to deliver the lowest price.

The more reliable strategy is to stay flexible about travel dates, track fares regularly and learn when prices are typically at their lowest.

New Google Flights data for 2026 shows that domestic tickets have recently reached their lowest prices about 39 days before departure, while international travel generally favors booking further in advance.

Travel specialists Cory Miller and Erika Kullberg told the Daily Mail that passengers should avoid both panic-buying and holding out until the final moment for an unlikely bargain.

Because the price of the same flight can swing by hundreds of dollars, patience and regular monitoring may save far more than repeatedly refreshing a booking site on Tuesday morning.

Here are the flight-booking strategies that may leave travelers with more money to spend once they reach their destination.

Travel experts Cory Miller and Erika Kullberg told the Daily Mail shoppers should resist the temptation to panic-book flights - or wait until the very last minute in the hope of a miracle fare

Travel experts Cory Miller and Erika Kullberg told the Daily Mail that passengers should avoid panic-booking flights or waiting until the last minute in search of a miracle fare

Forget the Tuesday booking myth

There is no reason to set an alarm for Tuesday and rush to search for airfare.

Cory Miller, founder of The Flight Expert, says the long-standing belief that airlines release their cheapest tickets on a specific day no longer reflects how fares are priced.

‘Buying on Tuesdays is an outdated idea. Algorithms adjust prices 24/7, making the purchase day irrelevant,’ he says. The more important consideration, he adds, is the day you actually travel.

Miller says flying during the middle of the week can often cost less because demand is lower, creating potential savings over weekend departures.

Erika Kullberg, a lawyer and personal finance expert, also says the travel date usually matters much more than the day a ticket is purchased.

‘Fares are driven by demand, and typically mid-week flights have lower demand,’ she says. ‘So, if you have flexibility on dates, it’s better to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday.’

Recent research supports that approach. Expedia’s 2026 Air Hacks report identified Tuesday as the least expensive day for domestic flights, with average fares 14 percent lower than Sunday departures.

Google’s latest 2026 analysis likewise found that shifting the dates of a trip can make a substantially greater difference than changing the day on which the ticket is booked.

Put simply, the key question is not whether you buy on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. It is whether you can travel on a less busy day.

Airfares are constantly changing, meaning there is no magic day of the week guaranteed to produce the lowest fare (stock image)

Airfares change constantly, so no single day of the week is guaranteed to offer the cheapest ticket (stock image)

Start watching well before you’re ready to buy

One of the most common booking mistakes is believing travelers must choose between buying extremely early and waiting until the last possible minute.

The better approach is to start monitoring prices well before the trip. Miller recommends watching domestic flights around three to six months ahead and aiming to buy roughly one to three months before departure.

For international trips, he suggests starting the process six to 12 months out and aiming to book at least three months before takeoff.

‘The one window to avoid is the final 30 to 45 days before departure, when fares usually climb,’ Miller said.

There is an important caveat: There is no universal booking window that works for every route.

Google’s latest flight data found that US domestic fares have recently been cheapest around 39 days before departure, with a broader low-price range of roughly 22 to 57 days.

For international flights, Google found the lowest prices around 89 days before departure, although the low-price range stretched from roughly 50 days onward.

That means travelers should use these numbers as a guide rather than a countdown clock.

Peak periods are another matter. For Christmas, Thanksgiving, spring break and major school holidays, experts recommend being more cautious about leaving things until the last minute because demand can overwhelm the cheaper seats.

Erika Kullberg, a lawyer and money expert, says that the travel date matters more than the date you actually pull out your credit card

Erika Kullberg, a lawyer and money expert, says that the travel date matters more than the date you actually pull out your credit card

Let the price come to you

Rather than checking the same flight every morning and watching the price creep up and down, set an alert and let technology do the stalking for you.

Google Flights has a free ‘track prices’ feature that can send notifications when fares change significantly. Travelers can monitor particular dates or select ‘Any dates’ if they have flexibility. Kullberg says this can make a dramatic difference.

‘I tracked one round trip from Tokyo to New York where the price ranged from $1,643 at its peak to $914 at its lowest,’ she says.

‘That’s a $729 difference for the exact same trip, just from booking at the right moment.’ That is why it can pay to start looking before you actually need to buy.

Google Flights can also warn users when its system predicts that prices are likely to rise, although its forecasts are not guarantees.

The trick is not to wait forever for the mythical rock-bottom fare. If a price already looks unusually good, there is always a risk that waiting for something even cheaper will end with a much more expensive ticket.

Don’t bother with incognito mode

If you have ever frantically opened a private browser window after seeing a fare jump by $100, you are not alone.

But there is little reason to believe that airlines are punishing you for repeatedly searching for the same flight. Miller says airlines do not use cookies or an individual’s search history to raise fares.

‘Fares increase simply because real-time demand fills the cheapest seat buckets,’ he says.

That means a price can genuinely rise while you are searching – but that does not necessarily mean the airline has spotted you personally and decided to charge you more.

As cheaper fare buckets sell out, the next available price can simply be higher. So go ahead and use incognito mode if it makes you feel better, but don’t expect it to magically unlock a cheaper ticket.

The experts say airlines do not use cookies or an individual's search history to raise fares

The experts say airlines do not use cookies or an individual’s search history to raise fares

Be flexible – even by a day

Flexibility is one of the most powerful weapons in the bargain hunter’s arsenal.

If your schedule allows it, check the days immediately before and after your planned departure rather than searching only one fixed date.

Google Flights’ calendar and price-graph tools make it easy to see how fares change across different days.

Kullberg recommends using the calendar view to spot cheaper dates and the ‘Explore’ map to see where you could fly for less.

This can also mean considering a different airport.

A flight from a nearby airport may be considerably cheaper than the most convenient option, although travelers should factor in the cost and time of getting there before declaring victory.

And don’t automatically assume a nonstop is the cheapest choice. Google’s latest data found that nonstop tickets can cost around 20 percent more on average than itineraries with a connection.

For a short flight, the extra connection may not be worth the hassle. But on a long-haul trip, it could potentially make a substantial dent in the fare.

Cory Miller, founder of The Flight Expert

Cory Miller, founder of The Flight Expert

If the price drops after you book, don’t panic

Finding out that your flight has dropped in price the day after booking can feel like a personal insult.

But depending on the airline and fare type, you may not necessarily be stuck with the original price.

Miller recommends setting price alerts even after booking, particularly when the ticket allows changes without a fee.

‘If you book Main Cabin on a major U.S. carrier, there are no change fees,’ he says. ‘If the price drops later, you can rebook and get the difference as travel credit.’

The important words here are ‘fare type’ and ‘airline.’

Basic economy tickets often have more restrictions, while policies vary between carriers, so travelers should check the exact conditions attached to their ticket before assuming they can rebook.

If a cheaper fare appears, compare the new ticket price with any cancellation restrictions or fare differences before making a change.

Have a last-minute backup plan

Sometimes life gets in the way and you have no choice but to book late.

That is when Kullberg suggests looking beyond cash fares.

‘Cash fares usually jump close to departure, but award prices often stay flat,’ she says.

‘Last minute is when points and miles give you the most value.’

For travelers with a stash of airline miles or credit-card points, award availability can therefore be worth checking before handing over a large cash payment.

Kullberg recommends Seats.aero as one tool for searching award availability across multiple airline and loyalty programs.

The site allows users to search for flights bookable with points and miles and set alerts for award availability.

But award seats can disappear quickly, and mileage prices can also change, so travelers should always confirm the final availability and terms with the airline or loyalty program before booking.

‘Armed and dangerous’ 22-year-old sought after mother found shot dead

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Massachusetts police have launched an urgent search for a man considered potentially armed and dangerous after his mother was found fatally shot inside the kitchen of her suburban home.

Andria Hanafin, 49, was discovered dead at her residence in Reading, Massachusetts, during the early hours of Thursday.

Authorities believe her 22-year-old son, Ryan Hanafin, may have fled. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan identified him as a person of interest in the shooting.

At a press conference, the district attorney urged residents to exercise “extreme caution” if they see Hanafin, warning that he may be armed and dangerous.

Investigators have not recovered the firearm used in the killing. Officials said Ryan Hanafin held a valid gun license, but it was suspended Thursday morning after the shooting was reported.

Police said Hanafin may be traveling in a black 2010 Dodge Charger bearing Massachusetts license plate 2PSY15.

Officials said Andria was found by her husband, Matthew, shortly after midnight Thursday when he arrived home from a 12-hour work shift.

Andria was pronounced dead at the scene. Ryan said investigators currently believe the case stems from domestic violence, though she noted it does not fit the conventional understanding of a domestic violence incident.

Authorities have launched an urgent search for Ryan Hanafin, 22, as a person of interest after his mother was found shot dead in their home in Reading, Massachusetts on Thursday

Authorities are urgently searching for Ryan Hanafin, 22, after his mother was found shot to death inside their Reading, Massachusetts, home on Thursday

Mother-of-three Andria Hanafin, 49, was found dead in her home the early hours of Thursday following a 'dispute' with her son

Andria Hanafin, 49, a mother of three, was found dead in the early hours of Thursday after an apparent dispute with her son

The district attorney said investigators believe the fatal shooting followed a dispute between Andria Hanafin and her son.

“It is a moment of reflection about the presence of guns in a home,” she said. “It is shocking. It is tragic.”

The Hanafin family has three children. Their youngest, a 13-year-old, was home when the 911 call was placed, according to Ryan. Another child, a daughter, was attending college when the shooting occurred.

Matthew Hanafin told police he had last seen Ryan on Wednesday morning. He later left for his shift and returned home to find his wife fatally wounded.

According to the Boston Globe, Ryan Hanafin was most recently employed about six months ago and had previously attended a nearby university.

Police told residents in the suburb to expect a heavy law enforcement presence as they search for the suspect

Residents should expect a substantial police presence in the Reading suburb as officers search for the suspect

Police said Andria was found dead by her husband Matthew (together) when he returned home from a 12-hour shift. Police say they are searching for their son as a person of interest

Police said Matthew Hanafin found his wife, Andria, dead after returning from a 12-hour shift; their son is being sought as a person of interest

Authorities urged residents to use 'extreme caution' if they encounter Ryan Hanafin, 22, and said he is potentially 'armed and dangerous'

Authorities warned residents to use “extreme caution” around Ryan Hanafin, 22, who may be armed and dangerous

Police said the family had no history of visits from authorities before Thursday evening's shooting

Police said the family had no known history of prior visits from authorities before Thursday evening’s shooting

Reading Police Chief David Clark said the community should prepare for a continued heavy law enforcement presence while investigators process the scene and continue their search for Hanafin.

Police ‘are looking to find out what happened at that home last night,’ Clark said, adding that the family had no history of visits from the police before Thursday evening.  

‘We have two children now that have lost their mother. We have another child who’s at least a person of interest at this point,’ Ryan continued. 

‘So this is a first and foremost a terrible tragedy… We certainly don’t want a tragedy to be compounded by anything else.’

Arizona man arrested after allegedly emailing Tucson TV station about White House bombing plans

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Federal officials said an Arizona man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly emailing a threat to bomb the White House and other sites in Washington, D.C.

Jacob Aaron Hicks, 46, of Tucson, faces a federal charge of transmitting an interstate threat to cause injury, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

The criminal complaint alleges that Hicks contacted a Tucson television station on Sept. 23 and warned of an “imminent bomb strike against the White House and other locations in Washington, D.C.”

The station reported the message to law enforcement, setting off an investigation into the alleged threat.

Investigators eventually determined that Hicks was allegedly behind the email, authorities said.

“We must take threats of violence like this one seriously,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said in a statement.

Jacob Aaron Hicks, 46, was arrested Wednesday after allegedly sending an email threatening to bomb the White House. AFP via Getty Images

Courchaine thanked the Tucson news station for promptly notifying authorities and praised the FBI for responding “quickly, professionally and with the level of commitment it required.”

During the investigation, officials said they found more email drafts in an account associated with Hicks.

The drafts were also dated Sept. 23 and had reportedly been prepared for other news organizations. Authorities said they included similar threats against the White House and other Washington, D.C., locations.

Secret Service agents stand outside the White House after a lockdown.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Hicks was charged with making an interstate threat. AFP via Getty Images

The FBI is handling the case with support from the U.S. Secret Service.

Rebecca Day, the FBI’s special agent in charge in Phoenix, credited the station for helping bring the alleged threat to investigators’ attention.

“We appreciate the community partner who reported the threat to law enforcement. Cooperation and partnership are essential to protecting the American people,” Day said.

Hicks made his first appearance in federal court Thursday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The MCU After Avengers: Endgame: What Happened Next Explained

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Keeping up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe was once fairly straightforward, especially during its first three phases. But following the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” the franchise expanded in almost every direction. With “Avengers: Doomsday” on the horizon, even longtime MCU viewers may need a quick refresher. Looper’s video above provides a useful guide to where the Marvel universe currently stands.

The MCU’s earlier storyline moved along a clear path: some heroes headlined solo films, others appeared in supporting roles, and the Avengers reunited for major crossover events. Today, that structure is far more complicated. The universe still includes several original Phase 1 Avengers, survivors and key figures from “Avengers: Endgame,” and a growing lineup of characters who could eventually become the next generation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. With Robert Downey Jr. returning as a possible Tony Stark variant in the role of Doctor Doom, a massive reset of the Multiverse might even feel like a welcome development.

Beginning with Phase 4, Marvel Studios introduced a steady stream of new heroes and potential Avengers. Yet some have appeared only sporadically in live-action projects. At the same time, the Disney+ series have become increasingly important to the larger MCU narrative, with storylines from the shows beginning to influence the films. That would make the franchise difficult to follow even on one timeline—except the MCU now spans several.

The increasingly complex MCU timelines have made things difficult to follow

Alternate realities were already central to “Avengers: Endgame,” and the ending of “Avengers: Endgame Encore” suggests that the consequences of those events will play a major role in “Avengers: Doomsday.”

In the long gap between the two films, Marvel has used movies and television series to explore branching timelines, alternate versions of familiar characters, parallel universes, and time travel. The result is an MCU larger—and more complicated—than ever. The multiversal storyline now includes the Fox-era X-Men, while Marvel’s own upcoming X-Men film has already begun assembling a new cast.

Projects such as “Spider-Man: No Way Home” have made effective use of the Multiverse, while the two-season Disney+ series “Loki” established key ideas surrounding the Time Variance Authority and the MCU’s timeline system. For viewers who haven’t had time to watch every Marvel release since 2019, Looper’s recap offers a concise overview of the major developments since “Avengers: Endgame”—and a helpful way to prepare for “Avengers: Doomsday,” scheduled to arrive on December 18.