Amidst growing media frenzy, Mangione’s legal team is challenging the current media access policies. In a recent court document, they contend that these restrictions infringe upon his constitutional rights, specifically his right to a transparent and public trial. This claim comes as the courtroom prepares to host the proceedings of the charged executive’s fate.

Karen Friedman Agnifilo, representing Mangione, highlighted concerns specifically regarding the trial’s media restrictions in a filing submitted on Friday. Her argument touches on fears that the court or district attorney might selectively permit only certain journalists to attend, which she claims could skew public perception and limit fairness.

The defense points to three crucial concerns within their latest court filing. They argue that these issues together represent a breach of constitutional law, potentially impacting Mangione’s right to a fair trial.

• That the court is partially closing his trial by declining to use an available overflow courtroom.
• That the court and district attorney are hand-selecting which reporters can attend.
• They were given no chance to be heard before those decisions were made.

Agnifilo claimed that her team wasn’t consulted on media access for the upcoming September trial, and only became aware of a document titled “Media Access: PSNY v. Mangione” from an independent journalist on X.

“These guidelines were created without any consultation with or input from the defense. The guidelines provide that no overflow room will be made available for the duration of the trial, and that only six journalists will be permitted to cover jury selection, in a dramatic break from customary practice,” she wrote.

Agnifilo called the process “unabashedly arbitrary and insufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Constitution.”

Mangione’s attorney is requesting a public hearing on the matter and wants the court to turn over a list of six journalists apparently picked to cover jury selection, the list of 68 journalists granted permission to cover the trial proceedings, as well as an explanation of the criteria and who made the selection.

Mangione’s attorneys are also seeking details on what efforts were made to secure an overflow courtroom and are requesting that the proceedings be broadcast live, as there isn’t currently an overflow room.

Mangione’s federal trial won’t begin until January.

News Media reached out to Agnifilo’s office for comment.

A woman in North Carolina foreshadowed a tragic crime on social media, posting ominously about her home becoming “a murder scene” before she allegedly took her father’s life.

Twenty-year-old Maleigha Allen stands accused of fatally stabbing her father, Michael Allen, inside their Lexington residence on April 17. Just a day prior, she had alarmed acquaintances by sharing a haunting Facebook post that read, “THIS WILL BE A MURDER SCENE STOP MY DADDY’S VOIECES (sic),” as reported by the Daily Mail.

Facing charges of premeditated murder, Maleigha reportedly arrived bleeding and injured at a family friend’s doorstep, claiming she had only completed what her abusive father had initiated.

“She was covered in blood, with stab wounds on her stomach, neck, heart area, and legs,” Jennifer Lanning recounted to the publication, describing Maleigha’s unexpected and unsettling appearance on her porch at approximately 7:20 a.m. that day.

Once Lanning alerted authorities by dialing 911, responding officers questioned Maleigha about the origins of her injuries.

She responded: “‘My dad, and I’m sorry, I had to kill him,’” Lanning said. 

“And I was like, what the heck? And the cop looked at me and said, ‘You heard that too?’ I said, ‘Yeah, but I hate that I did,’” she continued. 

Lanning – who described the father-daughter duo having an overly-cozy relationship that resembled “dating” – recalled a disturbing statement that Maleigh had made while the pair were leaving a hangout at their house the night before. 

“That night before they left, Maleigha whispered to me that she didn’t want sexy time with her dad,” she said, adding that Maleigha – who was allegedly using meth at the time – seemed to be struggling mentally during their visit. 

Before they left at around 2 a.m., a boozed-up Michael had also shown off three new knives, including a switchblade, Lanning said. 

Maleigha was taken to a local hospital while cops searched the remote, heavily-wooded home where she and her father had been living together – and found Michael dead from stab wounds inside, a Davidson County Sheriff’s Office deputy said during an April news conference. 

Maleigha was arrested for murder after getting released from the hospital four days later, but she walked free after a grand jury declined to indict her on the basis that there was not enough evidence to bring the case. 

Earlier this month, however, she was re-arrested after a separate panel returned an indictment on the first-degree murder charge. 

She is currently being held without bond while awaiting trial. She had not yet entered a plea. 

“I was disappointed to see they’re seeking an indictment for the first degree murder instead of a lesser included, or taking feedback from the first grand jury’s decision,” Maleigha’s defense lawyer, Karen Gerber, told The Post.

“We are asserting [Maleigha’s] innocence at this point and will continue to do so,” the attorney lawyer said, and noted that Michael’s history of abuse, including a 2019 arrest, “spells everything out pretty well.”

Back in 2019, Michael was reportedly arrested on six incest and child rape charges involving his daughter, but the charges were dropped after Maleigha, then 13, recanted. 

In a jailhouse interview with the Daily Mail this week, Maleigha claimed that the stabbing was in self-defense – because her father had “been molesting me again,” she said. 

She was seen with a black eye in her mugshot, as well as in many photos posted on Facebook before her latest arrest.

The pair have always had a toxic and sometimes violent relationship, made worse by their individual substance addictions and alcoholism, Maleigh’s biological mother and half-sister told the outlet. 

“Maleigha never had a chance living with her dad. He just messed with her and messed with her mind too,” said her mother, Amy Simerson. 

Regardless of the circumstances, “I still miss him,” Maleigha admitted this week from her jail cell. 

Gerber and the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to inquiries. 

The charges against a former Olympian, once blamed for vandalizing the refurbished Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, have been officially dismissed.

Investigations linked David Hearn’s involvement to a larger issue uncovered during the review—where a ‘flawed installation by the contractor’ coupled with ‘a rushed timeline for completion’ ahead of Trump’s America 250 celebration were primarily at fault for the damage.

Following these findings, government attorneys, including DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, acknowledged the situation in a comprehensive 20-page document released on Friday, prompting the decision to retract all charges against Hearn.

“Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt,” the filing articulates clearly.

Hearn’s defense team expressed their relief and perspective, asserting that the case should never have reached this point, maintaining his innocence from the onset.

‘Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong. The government´s approach was ready, fire, aim. The administration owes Mr Hearn an apology,’ the lawyers said.

The Daily Mail has reached out to both the White House and the Department of the Interior, which manages the pool, for comment.  

Hearn told the Daily Mail last month his arrest and the charges were a farce intended to boost a false narrative as he shared an image of the pool’s damaged facade. 

‘It’s a completely unfounded accusation. It’s a lie,’ Hearn said over the phone. ‘I didn’t rip, tear, destruct, destroy, or harm in any way, any part of the reflecting pool.’ 

Hearn admitted to touching a ‘loose flap of coating,’ but claimed he did so purely because he was ‘curious as a concerned citizen.’ 

The 67-year-old from Bethesda, Maryland, was indicted last earlier this month on a single felony count of property destruction.

Before the country’s 250th independence celebrations, President Donald Trump launched a multimillion dollar renovation project for the Reflecting Pool, which was plagued by problems, including damage to its new coating. 

Trump, without providing evidence, has alleged the damage was caused by vandals.

Hearn has said he reached inside the pool to examine the peeled sealant and let go of a chunk when he was told to by a park worker. He is accused of causing more than $1,000 in damage.

‘Every American should be alarmed about this prosecution,’ defense attorney Norm Eisen said after the hearing. ‘It is not a crime to touch the Reflecting Pool.’

President Trump championed the $16 million renovation as part of his goal to beautify Washington DC ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. 

But less than two weeks after the project was completed, the newly refinished paint job began peeling, and algae blooms turned the water green. Trump admitted over the weekend that the pool may need to be drained for repairs. 

‘They clearly wanted a news story that they could promote that was centered around vandals damaging the reflecting pool,’ Hearn said, adamant he did nothing wrong. 

‘Officers were ready to arrest me and other people they found who they could have some contrived basis of charges on to accuse them of vandalism,’ Hearn said. 

Hearn pleaded not guilty earlier this month to one felony count of property destruction and has a trial scheduled to start September 28 in DC Superior Court. 

The charge, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years upon conviction, accuses Hearn of causing at least $1,000 in damage to the pool.

Hearn competed in three Summer Olympics, earning his best finish, ninth, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee says on its website.

He and his supporters have said the prosecution is a politically motivated attempt by the Trump administration to deflect blame and scapegoat others.

‘They clearly wanted a news story that they could promote that was centered around vandals damaging the reflecting pool,’ Hearn said, adamant he did nothing wrong. 

‘Officers were ready to arrest me and other people they found who they could have some contrived basis of charges on to accuse them of vandalism,’ Hearn said. 

This is a developing story.  

Stephen Curry, the celebrated Golden State Warriors guard, is known for his precision on the basketball court, particularly from beyond the arc. Off the court, his choices are just as impeccable. Curry and his wife, Ayesha, marked a milestone as they joyfully celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary on Friday.

Ayesha took to Instagram early Friday to commemorate their special day with a heartfelt post. The collection of images featured the four-time NBA champion and Ayesha in tender moments, showcasing their deep affection for each other.

Her touching caption read, “23 years since we met, 18 years of love, and 15 years of marriage. My love for you grows with every day, even more than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow. You still make my heart flutter. I adore you beyond words! (I find it amusing you’re right beside me as I post this. But I’m claiming this rooftop to shout it aloud) I LOVE YOU!”

In the shared series of images, one particularly adorable photo shows the pair snuggled on a boat, seemingly enjoying a quiet nap together. Other pictures capture Stephen leaning in to kiss Ayesha, while another portrays them posing closely, Stephen’s arm lovingly wrapped around her.

The Curry family has firmly embedded themselves in the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area community. With Stephen continuing his illustrious career with the Warriors, there are no plans for the family to leave any time soon.

Stephen hadn’t commented on Ayesha’s post, nor has he posted about their anniversary on his own social media accounts. But that’s likely to arrive at some point on Friday, as Stephen is likely busy with some offseason venture.

Stephen surely wanted LeBron James by his side during this upcoming season. He’ll have to settle with Ayesha instead, which doesn’t seem to be a bad consolation for him.

In a bold move to win over Trump supporters, Francesca Hong, a Wisconsin Democratic socialist, is seeking to distance herself from several controversial progressive stances she once endorsed, notably the suggestions to defund the police and dismantle the Senate.

Hong, currently a prominent figure in the Democratic gubernatorial race, claims to have undergone a political transformation. Her campaign now centers around prioritizing working-class voters, a shift she emphasized in recent statements.

During an appearance on Fox’s America’s Newsroom last Friday, Hong addressed questions about her allegiance to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and whether she continues to support its platform.

Pressed to identify any DSA-associated ideologies she finds objectionable, Hong revealed a significant divergence from her past views.

“Abolishing the Senate. I believe it’s nonsensical and nonpractical at this time,” Hong declared, marking a clear departure from her previous positions.

Host Dana Perino then pulled up what she described as ‘far left’ posts written by Hong in 2020 and 2021, including repeated calls to defund police departments and abolish the Senate.

Perino pressed Hong on why voters should believe she no longer supports those positions.

‘I believe as a Democratic Socialist what that means is that I would like to put working class people first over mega corporations…’ Hong explained.

Perino interjected, asking, ‘How does defunding the police put working class people first?’

 To which Hong responded, ‘I believe that people can evolve. We need Trump voters from previous elections who now would like to vote for me, who have a sign in their yard.’

She later insisted she would not pursue policies to defund police departments if elected governor.

‘The governor can not defund the police, and I won’t defund the police,’ Hong affirmed.

Instead, she said she would invest in resources that she ‘knows’ would prevent crime, including ‘getting guns off of our streets, making sure that there’s victims for justice.’

CNN’s Dana Bash also questioned Hong about her past social media posts endorsing defunding and abolishing the police.

Hong said she wants to ensure communities receive funding for programs that are proven to improve public safety.

She again stated that the governor ‘cannot defund the police’ and said she wants to be ‘the governor that is most serious about public safety.’

After the Fox interview aired, Hong reiterated her position on X.

‘Once again: I am not running to defund the police. And to be clear, the governor cannot defund the police.

My administration will prioritize public safety & justice for victims. If you want to talk about who’s actually defunding public safety, start with @ScottWalker & @repvos!’

Hong is not nationally endorsed by the DSA but has been endorsed by DSA chapters in Wisconsin, including the Madison Area and Milwaukee Area DSA chapters.

Hong’s walk-back follows similar moves by other DSA politicians who previously supported the ‘Defund the Police’ movement but later shifted their messaging.

In 2020, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani made at least a dozen X posts calling to defund the police.

He publicly supported the ‘Defund the NYPD’ movement and made statements calling for reducing the role and funding of the NYPD.

However, during his mayoral campaign, Mamdani said, ‘I am not defunding the police’ and ‘I am not running to defund the police.’

He instead emphasized shifting some public-safety responsibilities toward non-police services while maintaining a police force.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supported the ‘defund’ movement in 2020 and argued for reallocating some police funding.

She later emphasized police accountability, mental health response, and community investments rather than eliminating police departments.

Representative Ilhan Omar supported defunding proposals in 2020. She later shifted messaging toward police reform, accountability and improving public safety while continuing to criticize excessive police spending and misconduct.

The Democratic nomination currently appears to be trending toward Francesca Hong, while Republican Representative Tom Tiffany is the clear Republican frontrunner.

A recent Marquette Law School poll found that in a hypothetical 2026 Wisconsin governor matchup, Republican Tom Tiffany led Hong 43 percent to 40 percent, with 17 percent of registered voters undecided.

Wisconsin’s primary election is Tuesday, August 11.

CHICAGO (WLS) — In a robust response to the unsettling discovery of a woman’s body in a trash bin three weeks ago, Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood saw a large-scale cleanup initiative orchestrated by the city through Operation Clean.

On Friday, the Chicago Police Department united with multiple city departments to tackle the community’s service requests and launch enhancement projects near the junction of 54th Street and Union Avenue.

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Throughout the day, officials reported extensive collaboration among various agencies as they worked diligently to address residents’ problems and carry out essential maintenance tasks.

“It’s very good to see the group out here,” said Cmdr. Joseph Mark of the Chicago Police Department’s 9th District. “The day is positive, the weather is great, and it just shows the collaboration with the community and all the city services.”

Debbie DeLopez, the deputy commissioner of the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, emphasized that the collaborative effort’s main goal was to uplift living conditions across the neighborhood.

“I’m very prideful when we can make a difference in a community and leave it better than we found it,” DeLopez said.

Craig Turner, first deputy commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation, said the work provides an opportunity for both city employees and residents to engage with one another.

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Over 40 years since a University of Colorado student was brutally murdered in his Boulder apartment, the FBI is enlisting public assistance by circulating new age-progressed images of the suspect in the case.

On Thursday, investigators revealed updated images of Thayne Alan Smika. Authorities allege that Smika has successfully eluded capture for decades following the fatal shooting of his former roommate, 22-year-old Sidney Lee Wells, on August 1, 1983.

Responding to a call at a Boulder apartment complex that day, police discovered Wells lifeless on the living room floor, shot in the head. At the time of his death, Wells was a senior journalism student at the University of Colorado Boulder and an active member of the Navy ROTC program.

Smika, then 24, was suspected early on in the investigation, yet charges were not filed immediately. Authorities later found his vehicle abandoned in October 1986, in Beverly Hills, California, bearing a stolen license plate. Smika has been a fugitive ever since.

A Boulder County judge issued a state warrant charging Smika with first-degree murder in December 2010. Days later, federal authorities charged him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and obtained a federal arrest warrant.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Smika’s arrest and conviction.

“It is never too late to hold a murder suspect accountable,” FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski said. “The FBI is unwavering in our determination to deliver justice for victims’ families. We will work with Boulder Police to pursue this fugitive until he is found and brought into custody to face the consequences of his actions.”

Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said investigators hope the newly released images generate fresh leads in the decades-old homicide investigation.

“We are hopeful these images generate actionable tips that our detectives can investigate to find Smika and bring justice in this case,” Redfearn said. “No matter how much time has passed, we will never stop searching. We are grateful for our FBI partners for their help in creating these images and publicizing this crime.”

Authorities said Smika would now be 67 years old. He may be clean-shaven or have a beard or mustache and may wear glasses. Investigators also said he does not have a valid U.S. passport and may have lived in Yelapa, Mexico, for years before 2007.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Boulder Police tip line at 303-441-1974, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Anonymous tips can also be made through Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.