CHICAGO (WLS) — Amid a growing concern over escalating crime rates, community members convened at the Bold Mongol restaurant in Bridgeport. Their goal was to urge federal intervention and request more resources to combat the rising wave of violence, particularly gun-related incidents, affecting neighborhoods throughout Chicago.

This call to action came shortly after a series of shootings were reported across the city.

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“When is this going to stop?” questioned Raul Montes Jr., a fervent community activist, voicing the exasperation felt by many.

As he addressed those gathered, Montes highlighted the prevailing frustration among residents over the unrelenting violence.

“The trail of destruction continues unabated throughout Chicago, and we have had enough,” Montes declared.

Police are investigating at least seven separate shootings across the city that authorities said are not believed to be connected. Several people were injured, and at least three people were killed.

Among the incidents, police said a man was fatally shot near 45th Street and Honore Street around midnight. About two hours later, police said a 32-year-old man was shot and killed in the temple in West Garfield Park.

Roughly 30 minutes later, police said a 29-year-old man standing outside a vehicle near 28th Street and Kedzie Avenue was killed in a drive-by shooting.

Later in the morning, gunfire erupted shortly before 8:30 a.m. 400 block of North Leclaire Avenue in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, leaving three people shot and another also wounded. They were listed in fair condition.

SEE ALSO | Woman found stabbed to death in Albany Park, Chicago police say

The escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine has taken a perilous new turn, as high-profile figures in the drone industry find themselves under attack. According to industry experts, operatives allegedly linked to intelligence services are increasingly targeting key executives and engineers, whose cutting-edge developments in drone technology are proving pivotal on the battlefield.

In one of the latest incidents, a car bomb detonated on August 4 near Yekaterinburg, severely injuring Vladimir Tkachuk, CEO of Russian drone maker Uraldronzavod, while also claiming the life of his driver. This information comes via Russian state news agency TASS, as reported by The Associated Press.

Uraldronzavod is renowned for producing the “Upyr,” or “Ghoul,” a sophisticated first-person-view attack drone actively deployed by Russian forces in Ukraine, marking it as a critical component of their military capabilities.

Adding to the tension, just days prior, another alarming incident unfolded when Andrei Cherezov, leader of a separate Russian drone firm, was shot three times in an overnight shooting on July 28-29 in Tula. This attempted assassination has yet to be publicly attributed to any specific party, as reported by the Ukrainian news outlet Pravda. The lack of definitive blame only adds to the tension and uncertainty surrounding these events.

Draganfly CEO Cameron Chell told News Media that the rise in attacks comes as Russia and Ukraine race for an edge in drone warfare, making the relatively small number of people responsible for developing new technology increasingly important targets.

“When you can’t take out all the distributed infrastructure, drone manufacturing leadership becomes the primary target,” Chell said.

“These strikes in Russia and Ukraine and Germany on founders, leaders, engineers of defense and, in particular, drone-type companies are down to drones and these companies having such an impact themselves.”

“Because drone technology evolves rapidly — often with significant iterations occurring every 10 to 30 days — targeting a key engineer, founder, or product lead creates immediate operational disruptions on the battlefield.”

“Taking out a particular engineer or taking out a particular leader can set a very important weapons program back quite some time and disrupt shipments to the front line,” Chell added.

German authorities have also arrested two suspected operatives accused of spying on a Bavarian drone manufacturer for Russian intelligence, while reports this month said the alleged operation included preparations to target company executive Stefan Thumann, according to Germany’s Die Zeit.

The case follows a reported 2024 plot disrupted by U.S. and German intelligence to target Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger.

Chell said as Ukraine and Russia push toward artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons systems, engineers developing those technologies are more strategically important.

“What we see in the Ukraine-Russia conflict is nobody in the loop — total autonomy is the direction things are going because it moves with more speed and precision,” Chell said.

“AI and total autonomy are the big innovations for the next 18 months, so a potential reason we could see more targeted activity against leaders is because Ukrainians have that technology advantage.”

“Targeting small drone companies is a relatively easy operation compared to targeting individuals in state-run weapons programs,” he said.

“It is a fairly inexpensive, low-risk tactic for intelligence agencies that yields an immediate impact on the battlefield, and that’s why we’ve seen this tactic.”

“It is a very interesting turn or tactic that’s being played by both sides here.”

Chell highlighted how Russia and Ukraine approach such plots differently.

“I wouldn’t suggest one side has an advantage over the other in terms of tactics, but psychologically, it has a deeper effect on the Russian side,” Chell said.

“The volume of drone advantage will remain with the Russians for the foreseeable future, but the innovation of drones, tactics, and technology lies with the Ukrainians right now.”

“Ukraine faces an existential threat, so they are ready for anything. Their tactics tend to be much more blunt — a direct shooter in a hallway or a car bomb,” he added.

“The Russian tactics tend to be much more state-organized, using old Cold War tactics: low-level contacts, extensive intelligence and surveillance ahead of time, and inserting into other countries like Germany,” he said.

“The Russians have a long-standing, well-established intelligence infrastructure dating back to World War II and the Cold War.”

As the drone manufacturing industry takes greater precautions, Chell maintained that threats against companies and individuals in the defense supply chain are receiving increased scrutiny.

“We are very cognizant of it, and we’re in contact with the proper authorities to make sure we’re taking precautions on both a cyber and physical level to ensure we’re at less risk,” he said.

“We certainly don’t take anything for granted.”

“There are training and programs in place to ensure executives have a level of safety, primarily around awareness, cybersecurity, and physical location protection,” Chell added before stating that the attacks and attempted assassinations have “heightened the conversation around it.”

“We as an industry are taking it with a measured amount more seriously,” he said.

Jannik Sinner has been dealt a setback just weeks ahead of the U.S. Open, as a right knee injury has compelled him to pull out of the Cincinnati Open.

Currently the World No. 1, Sinner made the difficult choice to withdraw after seeking advice from his medical team and trusted advisors, as he revealed in a statement distributed by the tournament.

“I’ve been struggling with my right knee, and despite diligent efforts with my medical team, I must acknowledge that I’m not yet fit to compete,” Sinner explained in his announcement. “It’s deeply disappointing not to join the competition in Cincinnati. I extend my best wishes to [tournament director] Bob [Moran] and his team for a fantastic and successful event. I’m eagerly looking forward to returning next year, as my current focus is on preparing for the upcoming U.S. Open.”

Last year at the U.S. Open, Sinner reached the finals but was bested by World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in a gripping four-set match in Queens. In 2024, Sinner clinched his maiden U.S. Open title with a victory over Taylor Fritz.

The eagerly awaited Grand Slam action is set to begin on August 30.

Sinner’s injury forced him out of his second straight major ATP event after he skipped the Canadian Open that was held in Montreal this week in order to “prioritize my health.” 

The Italian has not competed since he captured his sixth major championship in July when he defeated Alexander Zverev in the final at Wimbledon. 

Sinner is not the only one dealing with injury lately. 

Alcaraz hasn’t played since April as he’s recovered from a wrist injury and will also be skipping the Cincinnati Open, he announced last week. 

“We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible,” Moran said in a statement at the time. “We wish him the best with his recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to Cincinnati in the future.”

Jared Padalecki, known for his role in Supernatural, received significant criticism after tweeting his support for Perez Hilton. The actor expressed that Hilton was ‘in my thoughts’ and encouraged him with ‘you got this’ after the notorious gossip blogger’s recent hospitalization due to self-harm.

The 44-year-old actor advised the 48-year-old Hilton to ‘surround yourself’ with ‘love and support’ in light of his ‘severe mental health crisis.’ This crisis, witnessed during a disturbing, blood-filled live stream, led to Hilton’s TikTok account being banned.

Fans of Padalecki quickly reminded him of Hilton’s, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, history of malicious behavior. This includes bullying, forcibly outing LGBTQIA celebrities, and openly speculating about others’ health and pregnancy situations.

The 6-foot-5 Texan – who boasts 14.3 million social media followers – deleted his original X post and tweeted on Sunday morning: ‘I didn’t know. It’s been brought to my attention. I’m sorry.’

‘To give more detail re: my post wishing someone well… I had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA about his past,’ Padalecki continued.

Padalecki explained his stance saying, ‘I had heard of him. Obviously. I had heard that he hadn’t exactly “been kind” to me in the past. So, my thought is always to give grace and forgiveness to those who may have tried to “harm” you. In my experience, it usually works out better than holding a grudge or wishing punishment on someone else.’

The Boys guest star continued: ‘That having been said, I TRULY didn’t know ANYTHING about the extent to what he has done. That’s my bad. On my life, I have never in my life, not once, looked him up or gone to one of his sites. I simply thought he was a “tabloid” type of sensationalist journalist.

‘I DO NOT stand for, or support, ANY of the actions I just now found out that he has committed. Full stop. I’m sorry if my words caused any harm. And, I hope you ALL are well out there, and taking care of yourselves.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to Padalecki’s rep for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Two years ago, The Rookie guest star revealed he used to suffer from dramatic suicidal ideation so badly it prompted him to check himself into a mental health clinic in 2015.

‘I called my wife and she said, “Get home,”‘ Padalecki told the I’ve Never Said This Before podcast.

‘And so, I got home, went to a clinic for a couple weeks and looked into it and haven’t been suicidal since – not for a moment.’

The Gilmore Girls alum went on to launch his Always Keep Fighting campaign through Represent.com – which used to support people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.

Padalecki also probably related to Hilton as a father-of-three – having welcomed son Thomas, 14, son Austin, 12, and daughter Odette, nine – during his 16-year marriage to his Supernatural and Walker co-star, Genevieve Cortese.

The PHP co-host’s three children – son Mario, 13, daughter Mia, 11, and daughter Mayte, eight – by surrogate, niece and sister were all inside his Miami-area home the night he used a knife to slash himself on social media.

Hilton’s family confirmed Saturday on his website that he remains hospitalized under Florida’s Baker Act.

‘Perez’s condition remains serious but stable,’ the official statement read.

‘He experienced significant blood loss and sustained additional injuries that will require surgery in the coming days. His treatment and recovery will be a long process. We are grateful that Perez was able to spend time with his mother and sister yesterday.’

The Patreon streamer – who boasts 9.3 million social media followers – has also received well wishes from the Jackson family, Adrianne Curry and Ireland Baldwin – all of whom were previously victimized by his words.

Padalecki is next scheduled to appear at Fan Expo Chicago happening August 14-16 at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois where he charges $160 for photos and $140 for autographs.

He will next portray Leighton Meester’s onscreen bodyguard Jack Stapleton in the upcoming Netflix holiday rom-com, Guarding Stars.

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

On Sunday, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled its F-16 fighter jets to intercept a number of general aviation aircraft that ventured into restricted airspace over Bedminster, New Jersey. These planes reportedly breached temporary flight restrictions enforced in the region.

Officials from the 1st Air Force’s Air Forces Northern division confirmed that two aircraft were at the center of this airspace violation incident.

Thankfully, NORAD’s swift response enabled their aircraft to safely escort the trespassing planes out of the restricted zone, ensuring air safety, authorities reported.

These temporary flight restrictions over Bedminster were instituted as President Donald Trump was anticipated to spend the weekend at his golf club. Notably, the club was hosting the four-day LIV Golf New York tournament during this time.

The interception was captured on video, showing the dramatic moment an F-16 fighter jet closed in on what appeared to be a small Cessna aircraft near Jefferson Township, outside Bedminster.

Ahead of Trump landing in New Jersey, NORAD previously said that it would enforce multiple FAA-established temporary flight restrictions over the region this weekend. 

Pilots and the public were also told that U.S. Army ground-based defense assets may be present in the area, operating under the Continental U.S. NORAD Region as part of the command’s routine, layered defense. 

“These systems are operating under NORAD authorities, constitute a routine component of the command’s layered defense posture and work in tandem with the command’s airborne assets to monitor and protect the airspace,” information published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service said. 

Officials used the incident to remind general aviation pilots to check Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) before every flight for the latest information on airspace restrictions and other flight procedures, as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

“Check NOTAMs before EVERY flight!” 1st AF/AFNORTH said in a post on X. 

If a pilot becomes intercepted by NORAD aircraft, the pilot should immediately adjust their radio frequency to 121.5 or 243.0, according to information published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. 

They should then “turn around to reverse course until receiving additional instructions on one of those frequencies.”

Temporary flight restrictions are often issued to limit aircraft operations in designated areas for presidential movements, major sporting events, national security concerns and other special events. 

NORAD often employs a network of radars, satellites, fighter aircraft and other capabilities to identify and respond to potential threats in the North American airspace. 

With the new school year just around the corner, the Los Angeles Unified School District is unveiling an exciting array of menu options for students. The updated offerings are set to greet returning students next week.

Many of these culinary additions have been crafted with guidance from student chefs, highlighting a commitment to using farm-fresh ingredients, according to LA Unified.

Among the enticing new dishes are chicken pozole, butter chicken accompanied by kachumber salad, lasagna rolls, pork katsu sandwiches, and vegan blueberry muffins.

This past Saturday, West Adams Preparatory High School buzzed with excitement as students, parents, and LAUSD officials gathered for a preview of the new menu.

“Students also had the chance to savor locally-grown California fruits and vegetables through our Farm to School Farmer’s Harvest program,” shared the Los Angeles Unified on their Instagram page.

Daniel Sandoval led the amateur culinary team behind the winning dish: Butter chicken and kachumber salad. “We just want to represent everybody in our culture and make delicious food,” he said.

He told ABC News that the dish stood out because of “traditional Indian spices such as turmeric and curry spice.”

Bringing star power to the menu, celebrity chefs helped craft a range of new offerings, from a chorizo breakfast bowl and pork katsu sandwich to an LA cheesesteak and lasagna rolls.

LAUSD Superintendent Andres E. Chait said that school meals of decades ago are a distant memory thanks to the district’s work with local growers, which now brings fresh fruits and vegetables straight to students’ plates.

“Our second brain is our gut, so if we’re feeding our kids well they can learn better and they’ll be in school more often,” he said.

He was also pleasantly surprised to see some traditional dishes on the school menu. “If you had told me 30 years ago that we would have pozole on the menu, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Chait told the news outlet.

The LAUSD serves more than half a million meals every school day.

“By listening to our students and partnering with California farmers, we’re bringing fresh ingredients and nutritious meals to schools,” Los Angeles Unified said.

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Royce White, a former NBA player, is stirring up conversation by donning a wig and playfully embracing what he calls his ‘feminine era.’ This comes just days after he announced his intention to enter the WNBA Draft.

Now 35, White played a mere three games with the Sacramento Kings during his short NBA career. He joins Enes Kanter Freedom as the second ex-NBA athlete to enter next year’s WNBA Draft amidst the ongoing debates on transgender inclusivity in sports.

White, following in the footsteps of Kanter Freedom, faced criticism for expressing his desire to identify as transgender during an interview with Fox News Digital. His aim? To compete with stars like Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham in the upcoming season.

A candidate for the Republican Senate nomination representing Minnesota, White has intensified his actions by sharing a photo on social media, where he sports a wig.

Accompanying the image, he humorously teased his detractors with the caption, ‘It came y’all… my first wig!’ hinting at future court appearances in his new look.

‘This is my feminine era glow up, did I slay? If y’all don’t “yassss queen” you’re transphobic. I really don’t understand all the hatred, I just want to play some hoops with my fellow ladies.’

The WNBA has been engulfed in controversy over transgender athletes in recent weeks, after Indiana Fever star Cunningham said she wants to ‘protect young girls’ from ‘biological men.’ 

Cunningham’s comments have sparked protests and messages of support from the likes of Vice President JD Vance.

Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams claimed she would happily welcome a transgender player to her team, while Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wore a ‘Trans Kids Belong’ t-shirt on the sidelines of their game against the Fever.

Royce also shared some of the abuse he has received since declaring for the WNBA Draft, which included apparent death threats and insults such as ‘stupid motherf***er.’

Earlier on Sunday, the 35-year-old appeared on Fox News to discuss the viral photo and his WNBA plans.

‘I’m just having a blast in my feminine era,’ he said. ‘I never thought that I was a woman. I’ve always trusted the science and thought I was a man my entire life. 

‘But after further review… it would appear that I am indeed sometimes identifying as a transgender woman and I think it’s only fair I get a chance to play with some of my queens here in the twilight of my career, my athletic prime.’

The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement says that ‘only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,’ but it does not include any more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth.

White, a former first-round draft pick, insisted that only the WNBA releasing ‘a definitive statement about guys with a pair of b**** playing in the Women’s Association’ could stop him.

He also vowed to wear a wig while he’s playing and said WNBA players will have ‘nightmares… and they should’ about him potentially competing against them.

‘I am 260 pounds, 6ft 8, can palm a men’s basketball probably as easily as any player in history,’ White, 35, continued. ‘I think I had the third biggest hands in the history of the modern NBA Draft combine. I really feel like I’m going to be dominant.’

When asked if he would use the women’s locker room in the WNBA, he replied: ‘Of course. I don’t want to be discriminated against. Why wouldn’t I use the women’s locker room?

‘I have great respect for the skill of women’s basketball. They have to play a much more skilled game because they don’t have some of the physical God-given abilities as the men.

‘So I have great respect for the women’s game but there is a significant difference between biological men and women and we’ve blurred that line, like we’ve blurred many other lines unnecessarily, and I plan to exploit that for my economic and athletic benefit.’ 

Freedom, meanwhile, stands at 6ft 10ins and played in the NBA for 11 seasons. He also announced his intention to join the WNBA on Friday afternoon.