We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
A Kansas City bride-to-be has captured the internet’s attention after a jury duty summons arrived with an almost unbelievable conflict: it required her to report on the very day she was set to get married in Rome.
Katrina Badowski, 35, said she received the notice last month informing her that she was expected to serve for one week beginning Monday — the same day she was scheduled to marry her fiancé, 42-year-old Billie Rodriguez, more than 5,000 miles away.
“My jaw physically dropped like a cartoon,” Badowski told KSHB outside the Wyandotte County District Court, where she appeared in a white dress as she recounted getting the summons on Aug. 14.
“I was so shocked to see that date,” she said.
Later that week, Badowski posted the notice on TikTok, joking in the caption: “The odds of you getting summoned for jury duty on your wedding day are low, but never zero.”
“The government wants to be involved in my marriage SO BAD,” she captioned the video, which has amassed 1.4 million views.
Badowski was warned of the potential penalties if she skipped jury duty without informing the court.
Those who skip jury duty in Kansas could be slapped with a fine of $100 for each day they miss and it can lead to a contempt of court charge.
Badowski was caught between a rock and a hard place. She wanted to serve but it clashed with her nuptials.
“I find it deeply ironic that I haven’t been summoned for jury duty in over a decade, as I would genuinely welcome the opportunity,” she told People.
“I’ve always thought it would be fascinating to experience that civic responsibility, particularly for a complex or high-profile case.
“[But] Because of the nature of our destination wedding, with all flights, venues, and vendors booked and paid for, it is entirely impossible for me to attend.”
Badowski emailed court officials and the situation was resolved. She also received a heartwarming message from the court.
“Received and excused you from jury duty,” the message said. “Thank you and congratulations.”
Social media users claimed they had a similar experience where jury duty clashed with a major milestone.
“Got called for jury duty on my 18th birthday,” one TikTokker said. “Told em [sic] I had a snowboarding trip and they let me off.”
“I got jury duty for the day I gave birth,” an Instagram user penned.
Others rushed to quip that the notice was “poetic,” while one suggested the jury should be invited to her foreign nuptials.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson kept a blank expression when pressed over the now-collapsed campaign to remove her from office.
The 44-year-old Democrat secured a legal win this week after organizers behind a recall push pulled their petition from King County Elections in Washington. The filing had accused Wilson of “malfeasance” and claimed she violated her oath of office.
Wilson was later questioned about the failed Seattle mayor recall effort on Saturday by Jonathan Choe, a senior journalism fellow at the Discovery Institute.
The tense exchange began politely, with Choe asking the mayor how she was doing. Wilson responded warmly: “I’m doing great, Jonathan.”
But the tone shifted once Choe brought up the recall petition. At that point, Wilson stopped answering his questions.
‘Mayor, I was just going to say congrats on surviving the recall attempt,’ Choe began. ‘What have you learned from this process and what are you going to do differently as mayor?’
When Wilson then continued walking silently with her head down, Choe decided to reframe his question.
‘Are there any lessons you learned from this recall process?’ he asked.
Still, Wilson continued walking away silently as she playfully swung her child around.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson scored a legal victory this week when the organizers of a recall effort withdrew their petition
The now-defunct recall petition cited the mayor’s inadequate handling of the Bite of Seattle shooting last month in which three people were killed
In the now-defunct recall petition, Melinda Jacobson and her husband, Dale Osterud, cited the mayor’s inadequate handling of the Bite of Seattle shooting last month that saw three gunned down at a food festival.
They also addressed the persistent crime rate in the downtown area of Aurora Avenue and Chinatown International District and questioned Wilson’s decision to turn off CCTV cameras after the World Cup.
But the couple missed a filing deadline last Wednesday, only to show up in court the next day saying they were out of town due to family matters.
Judge Patrick Oishi, who was assigned to the case, then said their behavior was ‘absolutely inappropriate,’ according to the Seattle Times.
He said he had been in the dark about their arrival as he struggled to figure out what was going on as Wilson’s attorneys, Dmitri Iglitzin and Abby Lawlor, blasted the charges as ‘frivolous.’
Yet Jacobson doubled down – claiming she had found new information related to the charges and wanted to investigate further.
She did not describe what the new details were. Instead, she explained that she retained a lawyer to help restart the process and did not reveal their identity.
Jacobson said she had contacted multiple lawyers to take her case but that ‘too many attorneys in this city don’t want to handle a political situation.’
When the couple then requested to rescind their petition, Judge Oishi signed the order without prejudice.
Wilson’s lawyers have also warned that the mayor could seek sanctions against Jacobson if the recall petition is restarted
If the couple now seeks to restart the recall petition, they would need nearly 70,000 verified signatures from other supporters.
But Wilson’s lawyers have also warned that the mayor could seek sanctions against Jacobson if the recall petition is restarted.
Outside of the courthouse on Thursday, Jacobson defended her actions.
‘She’s had nothing but a series of rash decisions and people are angry,’ she said of the mayor, according to KIRO.
‘I may appear angry right now but I represent a lot of citizens of Seattle, and this is not going to go unsaid. It’s not over.’
Wilson has become increasingly unpopular in liberal Seattle after she mocked wealthy entrepreneurs who announced plans to move out of the city over a new wealth tax and called for a boycott of Starbucks, which was founded there in 1971 and remains headquartered there.
Wilson has since sought to backtrack after multiple CEOs blasted her policies and said they were leaving, with Starbucks gradually shifting staff to its Nashville offices, amid growing rumors it will ultimately quit its home city altogether.
Cody Gakpo is expected to stay at Liverpool after a proposed deadline-day switch to Manchester City collapsed before Tuesday’s transfer window closed.
City had struck an agreement with Liverpool on a package worth roughly £80 million, with £75m of that figure guaranteed, but the deal was always contingent on the Reds bringing in another forward.
Liverpool refused to approve Gakpo’s exit until a suitable replacement was secured, even after finalising the £123m signing of Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola on Monday.
Liverpool fail to land attacking target
The Premier League champions also pursued Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr, but their efforts ultimately failed to produce an agreement.
After seeing an opening £50m bid turned down, Liverpool returned with an improved offer on Monday. Palace, though, held firm on their stance and were unwilling to sell the Senegal international unless their asking price was met.
The Reds also failed in their pursuit of Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh after a reported £60m bid was rejected.
With neither deal progressing, Liverpool decided against allowing Gakpo to leave.
The 27-year-old had attracted interest from both City and Tottenham, with the Dutchman reportedly agreeing personal terms with both clubs.
However, Gakpo was also comfortable remaining at Anfield after joining Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in 2023.
Gakpo could switch to right wing
Barcola’s arrival has strengthened Liverpool’s options on the left, potentially allowing manager Andoni Iraola to use Gakpo on the opposite flank.
The Dutchman has already demonstrated his ability to operate from the right, providing the assist for Alexander Isak’s equaliser in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.
Gakpo could therefore help fill the attacking void created by Mohamed Salah’s departure, while young winger Rio Ngumoha has struggled to make the same impact from the right as he has on his preferred left side.
City have now turned their attention elsewhere, with Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye emerging as a possible target.
The Manchester club are also monitoring Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, although Chelsea are reportedly demanding around £120m for the Argentina international.
For now, Gakpo’s expected departure has been shelved, with Liverpool retaining a versatile forward who could take on a different role following Barcola’s arrival.
Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom, who says he has declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft, has offered a conciliatory message to the league, calling for a “peace summit” as controversy continues to swirl around his stance on transgender athlete participation.
Freedom ignited a fresh backlash when he announced his plan to enter the WNBA Draft, framing the move as a challenge to the league’s transgender athlete policy, which had already come under renewed scrutiny following remarks by Sophie Cunningham.
The situation escalated further at a recent Fever-Sky matchup, where Freedom appeared in the crowd and became involved in a heated exchange with one of the players on the floor.
He was quickly removed from the arena, then later appeared on Fox News to give his side of the incident, while several WNBA figures publicly criticized his conduct.
Now, Freedom appears to be trying to lower the temperature. In a social media post Monday, he addressed WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert directly and called for dialogue.
On X, he wrote: ‘WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the @WNBA task force, I am now speaking directly to you.
Ex-NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom – who has declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft – has extended an olive branch to the league and called for a ‘peace summit’ amid the ongoing drama
Freedom was recently ejected from a WNBA game after clashing with Chicago Sky star Natasha Cloud while he was sat courtside wearing a t-shirt that defined what a woman is
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has been under growing pressure amid the saga
‘I’m going to keep this short and sweet, so open your ears and listen carefully. I would like to offer you a peace summit, moderated by my friend @Caitlyn_Jenner. I’ve already spoken with her, and she’s in.
‘I’m not a troublemaker. I’m more of a peacemaker. Listen, the whole world is laughing at you. You have turned the #WNBA into a laughingstock.
‘It’s time to stop hiding behind closed-door meetings, excuses, and delays and finally give the public a clear answer.
‘Let’s have the peace summit. No shouting. No hiding. No carefully scripted statements.
‘Let’s sit across the table from each other, have an open and respectful conversation, and address the questions millions of people are asking.
‘Let’s put everything on the table and let the public hear both sides. If you truly believe in your position, you should have no problem defending it publicly.
‘So, Commissioner Engelbert and the WNBA task force, the invitation is officially on the table. Name the time. Name the place. Let’s talk. Are you in?’.
Jenner, a former men’s Olympic gold medalist and transgender woman, recently waded in by taking aim at the WNBA’s ‘hypocrisy’ over trans controversy.
Freedom took to social media on Monday to call for a ‘peace summit’ with WNBA chiefs
Freedom claims that Caitlyn Jenner – who recently weighed in on the transgender athlete controversy engulfing the WNBA – has already agreed to take part in the ‘peace summit’
‘XX are in, XY are out. It’s that simple,’ Jenner told Fox News this month. ‘And I think they’re doing a good job just to show the WNBA how…the hypocrisy is going on here.
‘We have to protect women’s sports. I’ve been coming on this show for years and years. I want to protect women’s sports.’
Jenner gained fame as a US sporting hero when, then as Bruce Jenner, she won the gold medal in decathlon at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
She came out as transgender and transitioned in 2015, yet has since supported calls to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports.
The WNBA has been engulfed by controversy over transgender athletes in recent weeks, after Indiana Fever star Cunningham said she wants to ‘protect young girls’ from ‘biological men.’
Since those comments, Freedom and fellow former NBA star Royce White have both claimed that they have formally declared for next year’s WNBA Draft.
5 at-home core exercises a CSCS trainer recommends for building a stronger midsection after 60.
1788249229 –>
Building a firmer, stronger-looking midsection after 60 usually comes down to two key habits working in tandem: training your abdominal muscles and eating in a way that helps reveal them. While fitness trends often make the process seem more complex than it needs to be, the fundamentals remain reliable. Prioritize protein-rich meals, manage portions consistently, walk regularly, and choose core exercises that challenge your abs to brace, rotate, and stabilize.
When working with clients over 60, I focus first on core movements they can actually feel and use. Traditional crunches may deliver that familiar abdominal burn, but true core strength shows up in everyday activities like standing tall, walking, carrying groceries, and reaching overhead. In those moments, your midsection helps protect your posture and supports smoother movement throughout the body.
A 21-day window is long enough to create real momentum. During that time, you can sharpen your routine, increase your daily steps, improve the quality of your meals, and consistently practice core exercises that build a more resilient midsection. Visible abs will always depend on body fat levels, consistency, and your starting point, but three focused weeks can put you on a noticeably better path.
Think of this as a simple home plan for stronger abs and better body composition habits. You’ll rotate with med ball chops, hold strong positions with incline planks, carry weight on one side, walk with purpose, and use the Pallof press to train your core against resistance.
Med Ball Chops
Rotational core work belongs in a smart ab plan. Med ball chops train your obliques as your hips and shoulders turn together, which feels much closer to real movement than lying on the floor and crunching forward. Keep the ball light enough to guide the path with control. Your waist should feel active, but your lower back should feel calm.
Bring the ball toward the outside of your right hip.
Rotate your torso as you lift the ball across your body.
Finish with the ball near your left shoulder.
Return with control and complete your reps before switching sides.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps per side.
Best Variations: Bodyweight chop, dumbbell chop, slower med ball chop.
Form Tip: Turn your hips and shoulders together to keep the movement smooth.
6 Standing Exercises That Strengthen Your Midsection Faster Than Crunches After 60
Incline Plank
A good plank teaches the abs to hold position, and the incline version makes that easier to control after 60. Place your hands on a counter, couch, bench, or sturdy chair so your body forms a strong line. The higher angle helps you focus on bracing instead of fighting the floor. Breathe steadily and keep your hips from dropping.
Form Tip: Move your feet closer to the surface if your hips start to drop.
Suitcase Carry
Carry weight on one side, and your midsection has to fight the lean right away. The suitcase carry trains your obliques, grip, shoulders, and posture at the same time. I like this exercise because it feels practical from the first step. Hold the weight at your side, walk tall, and keep your ribs stacked over your hips.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Stand tall with one dumbbell, kettlebell, or loaded bag at your side.
Keep your shoulders level.
Brace your core.
Walk forward with slow, controlled steps.
Keep the weight from pulling you to one side.
Switch hands and repeat on the other side.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 2 to 3 carries of 20 to 40 seconds per side.
Best Variations: Lighter suitcase carry, march-in-place suitcase carry, shorter carry.
Form Tip: Walk tall and keep the weight from bumping into your leg.
If You Can Walk This Many Steps in 90 Seconds, You’re in Great Shape
Walking
Walking supports the nutrition side of a 21-day ab plan. It helps raise daily calorie burn, improves consistency, and gives you a low-stress way to move more without turning every session into a hard workout. A brisk morning walk or a few shorter walks during the day can make a big difference. Keep the pace purposeful and let the steps stack up.
A Georgia police officer fatally shot a family’s cherished pet donkey during an overnight search of the animal’s pasture for a missing child, who was later located at a nearby church.
Hannah Israel, 30, said officers came onto her family’s property in Rockmart, Polk County, without notice around 12:45 a.m. Sunday as they searched for the child. While on the property, she said, they encountered the family’s baby donkey, HeeHaw.
“They claimed he ran up to them braying and they thought they were in danger and shot and killed him after trying to Taze him,” Israel wrote on Facebook. “HeeHaw was shot and killed in his OWN pasture for doing what donkeys do. Alerting to a stranger. There is no way this is legal!”
Israel said she plans to pursue legal action and is calling for justice for HeeHaw following the shooting.
A photo taken after the shooting showed Hannah Israel crying over her dead pet donkey.(GoFundMe)
“We are heart broken. He was my SON!!” she wrote.
“We miss him so much where is safe?? When my own baby was shot in his own home?” she added in another post.
A photo taken after the shooting showed Israel crying over her pet donkey, as the animal’s eyes remained wide open as it lay lifeless on the ground.
“He would normally be standing right over there talking while I’m talking because he thought he could talk like a person could talk,” Israel told 11Alive.
“Every time he saw somebody, he would run up and bray,” Israel said. “And then do a really goofy sound, and because he loved people, and he thought he was a person. He slept in my bed for the first three months of his life,” she added.
The Cedartown Police Department said the officer who shot the beloved baby donkey has been placed on paid administrative leave.
The Cedartown Police Department said the officer who shot the beloved baby donkey has been placed on leave.(GoFundMe)
“The Cedartown Police Department has turned over the investigation of the animal shooting to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division for investigation and placed the officer involved on paid administrative leave while this investigation is ongoing,” the department said in a statement.
Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsom said body camera footage exists and he has viewed it, according to 11Alive.
“That search took them to the incident location where this very unfortunate and heartbreaking event occurred,” Newsom said, according to the outlet.
Newsom said he understands the heartbreak that the family and the community is facing after the donkey’s death.
“They’re members of the human family, and I am too, and heartbroken,” he said.
Hannah Israel vowed to take legal action as she demanded justice for HeeHaw.(GoFundMe)
The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Law Enforcement Division was at Elsberry Farm on Monday investigating HeeHaw’s death.
Israel created a GoFundMe to help cover legal costs related to HeeHaw’s death. She said any donations left over would go toward the farm, care of the animals and a future HeeHaw foundation. She has raised more than $113,000 as of Tuesday morning.
“My bottle baby donkey ‘HeeHaw’ was killed in his own pasture on Saturday night by trespassing cops,” she wrote on the fundraiser. “He was a loved member of our family and did many petting zoos and made many people smile.”
She said she hired a lawyer but stressed that donations left over after legal costs would not be used for personal needs.
A Utah father known for putting others first died after he was struck by lightning while trying to help stranded boaters off Florida’s coast, his family said.
Steve Matheson, 47, was riding a jet ski with a friend near Fort De Soto shortly before 6:35 p.m. Saturday when they came across a boat that had broken down, according to ABC affiliate KTVX.
The father of four had been heading back toward shore as storm clouds gathered, but he stopped when he realized the people aboard the disabled vessel were in trouble and needed assistance.
As Matheson tried to help, the storm quickly moved in, closing the distance until it was nearly directly over him, his cousin, Marianne Matheson Shuman, told the station.
“The lightning took him pretty quickly,” she said.
“Even in his last moments he was helping and serving strangers,” she added, paying tribute to her late relative.
“He would have it no other way.”
Matheson died of his injuries after being rushed to a local hospital.
He leaves behind his wife, Abbie, and their four children. Tributes have been paid to the “devoted husband and loving father,” who was also a diehard Brigham Young University Cougars football fan.
“His family was his greatest joy, and he cherished every moment he was able to spend with them,” his friend, April Beck, said.
“He was the kind of husband and father who loved deeply, showed up fully, and made his family the center of his world.
“Steve also had a strong and unwavering faith in his Heavenly Father and his Savior, Jesus Christ.
“As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his faith was an important part of who he was and how he lived his life. His love for his family and his faith were evident in the way he treated others and the life he chose to live.”
Matheson was someone who wouldn’t hesitate to help those in need.
His friend, Mitch Faas, recalled how Matheson was the first person to respond when he needed help moving fireworks ahead of the Pioneer Day holiday – a celebration marking the arrival of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers that settled in the Salt Lake Valley region.
“He showed up with his oldest son and jumped right in, just like he had for our shows over the last several years,” Faas said.
Faas revealed the last text he sent to Matheson was, “Thanks for always being someone I can count on bud.”
“Always brotha,” Matheson replied. “We appreciate you and are always willing to help.”
Aaron Boone, another one of Matheson’s pals left devastated by the tragedy, said the pair were supposed to play flag football together before recalling a heartwarming memory of the selfless dad.
“We shared a love for competition and football, but more importantly, a strong faith, a love for our families, and a soft spot for kids,” he wrote Monday.
“One thing I’ll always remember about Steve says a lot about the kind of guy he was.
“His dad used to come watch him play flag football all the time. After his dad passed away a couple of years ago, Steve kind of took my father under his wing at the games, almost as if he were his own dad.
“He always made a point to sit with him, make sure he was comfortable, talk with him, and visit before, during, and after the games.”
Matheson’s death marks the 13th lightning strike fatality in the US this year, according to the Lightning Safety Council.
His death came six days after Kennedi Glasgow, 2, and her 31-year-old mom, Kenya Glasgow, were killed in a freak lightning strike in Margate, Fla, in front of their family.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have been seen in public for the first time since details emerged about the legal-fee award linked to her dispute with Justin Baldoni.
The 39-year-old actress stepped out in New York on Friday with Reynolds, 49, and her older half-sister, Robyn Lively, 54, for a low-key family outing.
Lively opted for a head-to-toe brown look, pairing overalls with boots and a chunky gold necklace. Robyn followed close behind in double denim as Blake spoke with Reynolds, who appeared more reserved while his wife was seen smiling at points during the walk.
Their appearance came just days after the Daily Mail reported that the Gossip Girl alum was set to receive only a small portion of the legal fees she had sought from Baldoni following their contentious court battle.
Blake Lively, 39, was seen with her husband Ryan Reynolds, 49, and her older half-sister Robyn Lively, 54, in New York on Friday
The actress wore a brown ensemble consisting of overalls, boots and a chunky gold necklace
On Wednesday a judge in New York ruled she will be awarded just five percent ($400,000) of the amount she sought to recoup ($8 million) for defending herself against Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit.
The judge said hours Lively had billed for her lawyers were ‘unreasonable’ and criticized the ‘discrepancies’ in the expenses she was trying to claim.
The court ruling comes months after the same judge threw out most of the claims in Lively’s sexual harassment case against her It Ends With Us co-star and they agreed to settle the case with no money changing hands.
Judge Lewis Liman had previously dismissed Baldoni’s defamation countersuit against Lively, but he did allow her to seek legal fees solely related to defending that action.
In an order obtained by the Daily Mail, Judge Liman ruled: ‘The clerk of court is respectfully directed to enter judgment for Lively in the amount of $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206.35 in costs’.
Lively sued Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios production company in December 2024 for alleged sexual harassment on the set of the movie, and defamation.
Baldoni responded the following month with the $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and the New York Times, which was first to publish her claims.
In October last year, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s case and in May this year, after a judge dismissed most of Lively’s claims, she agreed to settle her claim. But the legal battle didn’t end there.
While Lively cracked a smile at times, Reynolds’ expression remained more stoic
On Wednesday, a judge ruled that Lively will be awarded just five percent of the amount she sought to recoup for defending herself against Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit
Lively and Baldoni finally agreed to a settlement in the two-year legal battle in May – just two weeks before the case was set to go to trial. Above, on the set of It Ends With Us in 2024
It Ends with Us earned $148 million in domestic box office and $350 million globally, but whatever goodwill the film garnered was overshadowed by the allegations made by its stars
Weeks later, Lively filed court documents seeking to recoup her legal expenses from the drawn-out lawsuit.
Last month, Lively revealed in court filings just how much she was demanding: $4,544,094 from Wilkie, Farr & Gallagher and $2,951,432 from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, two high-profile law firms.
However, the final bill will be $300,000 higher because of costs related to a recent hearing on June 1, bringing it to $8.3 million.
The news she’d receive a measly $400,000 after demanding an eye-watering $8 million following their bombshell settlement, coincided with her birthday, when her husband shared a gushing post calling her a ‘courageous and deeply kind genius.’
Lively and Reynolds first met in 2010 on the set of Green Lantern. They started dating the following year, in October 2011.
They tied the knot on September 9, 2012 in South Carolina and share daughters James, 11, Inez, nine, Betty, six, and son Olin, three.
PROVO, Utah — Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is due back in a Utah courtroom Tuesday for a pivotal hearing that could determine whether the high-profile case moves toward trial or takes a major turn. Judge Tony Graf Jr. is expected to consider whether prosecutors have presented sufficient probable cause to keep an aggravated murder charge in place — a count that makes Robinson eligible for the death penalty — and the defendant could be called on to enter a plea nearly a year after the killing.
Robinson, 23, of Washington, Utah, is charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Sept. 10, 2025. Authorities say a single gunshot killed Kirk as the event was underway.
Defense attorneys have maintained that the state has not met the threshold needed to proceed with aggravated murder, the most serious charge in the case and the one that keeps capital punishment in play. Still, legal observers told News Media they would be surprised if Graf removes the death penalty possibility at this stage.
“We’re at a preliminary hearing stage, so we’re at a very low burden,” said Skye Lazaro, a Salt Lake City defense attorney who is not involved in the case. “It’s probable cause, and everything is taken in a light most favorable to the state.”
The decision follows a weeklong hearing held in early July, after which the judge allowed prosecutors and defense lawyers several weeks to submit written arguments. Graf is now expected to rule Tuesday on whether the case against Robinson can proceed as charged.
She said she expects the entire case to be bound over for trial, including the sole aggravating factor that makes the aggravated murder charge eligible for the potential death penalty — that Robinson allegedly put other people at great risk of death by shooting Kirk in a crowded place.
Greg Rogers, a former FBI agent and SWAT sniper who now teaches at Utah Valley University, said the alleged risk to the crowd should be enough to preserve the aggravating factor at this stage.
A photo of the vehicle authorities allege was being driven by Tyler Robinson the day of Charlie Kirk’s shooting.(Matthew Finn/ Fox News)
“Shooting into a crowd is always dangerous because you don’t know if someone moves, someone walks behind him,” Rogers told News Media. “There are all sorts of things that could happen in the very instant you pull that trigger.”
Rogers said even highly trained law-enforcement snipers would consider such a shot dangerous.
“When you have a rank amateur that is shooting, it’s clearly, clearly very dangerous,” he said.
An image of shooting targets is displayed during a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah, Thursday, July 9, 2026.(AP Photo/Spenser Heaps, Pool)
Potential plea:
Separately, a court spokeswoman said last week that Graf may or may not hold an arraignment after deciding whether there’s enough probable cause to bind the case over for trial.
If he does, it would be the first time that Robinson is asked to enter a plea.
A still image from video shows Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attending a preliminary hearing presided over by District Court Judge Tony Graf at the Fourth District Court in Provo, Utah, U.S., July 6, 2026.(Reuters TV/Pool via REUTERS.)
“I would expect that they would enter not guilty pleas and move forward,” Lazaro said.
Lazaro said a different plea would likely require an agreement taking the death penalty off the table.
Bullet fragments are shown on a screen during a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah, Thursday, July 9, 2026.(Spenser Heaps/AP via Pool)
“I think the state has been so assertive on their position about the death penalty in this case that I don’t see them doing that right now,” Lazaro said.
To attack the aggravator, Robinson’s defense argued that only a single shot was fired, from an elevated position. It traveled over the crowd, rather than through it, and it only struck Kirk.
Lance Twiggs, Tyler Robinson’s roommate and reported romantic partner, is shown during a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah, Thursday, July 9, 2026.(Spenser Heaps/AP via Pool)
Prosecutors countered that Robinson was a bad shot, one who “seldom hit the bullseye and sometimes misses the target completely” when practicing shooting with the suspected murder weapon.
Other evidence against Robinson includes the suspected murder weapon, a .30-06 Mauser rifle that prosecutors have said belonged to his grandfather and had his DNA on it. Robinson allegedly confessed to multiple people, including his roommate and lover, Lance Twiggs, according to court documents.
An image of a rifle that prosecutors say was recovered by investigators near Utah Valley University is displayed during a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah, Thursday, July 9, 2026.(Spenser Heaps/AP via Pool)
“This is likely as straightforward a bindover decision as this Court will ever see,” prosecutors wrote. “After admitting to several friends, including his roommate and romantic partner, that he assassinated Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in front of approximately 3,000 eyewitnesses, Defendant surrendered to law enforcement for that crime.”
Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, listens as Defense attorney Michael Burt speaks during a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, the Utah man accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, at the 4th District Court in Provo on Friday, July 10, 2026.(Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via Pool)
Prosecutors also presented surveillance video, ballistic evidence, an alleged handwritten confession and witness statements.
In one message to Twiggs, Robinson allegedly wrote that, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it.”
A source close to the Kirk family said last week that Kirk’s widow Erika, and his parents, Rob and Kathy, all plan to attend the Sept. 1 hearing together as they did during the July hearing.
Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf attends a hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in 4th District Court, on Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah..(Laura Seitz/Deseret News via Pool)
But even if the case moves forward, Lazaro said the pretrial sparring won’t end any time soon.
“I do think we’re going to see a lot more litigation come down the road in terms of 1102 and expert-witness designations, forensic testimony on the ballistics and things like that,” Lazaro said.
