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Outrage as Autistic Student Faces Suspension Over “Weaponized” Sandwich Bite

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Outrage as Autistic Student Faces Suspension Over “Weaponized” Sandwich Bite

In a peculiar incident in Georgia, a six-year-old boy with autism found himself suspended from school for shaping his sandwich into a gun and pretending to aim it at a peer, according to his family.

John Medina, who attends first grade at Sara Harp Minter Elementary in Fayette County, was expelled last March when school staff witnessed the lunchtime scene, his parents and school documentation confirm. The story was reported by Atlanta News First.

Recalling the day, Kristin Medina, the boy’s mother, remembered receiving a call from the school informing her that her son could no longer return following the playful incident with his lunch.

“It’s just baffling,” Kristin expressed to the news outlet, adding her concerns that the school may not have fully taken into account her son’s autism before reaching a decision to suspend him.

Despite the incident being over a year old, Kristin is determined to bring it back into the spotlight, hoping it might encourage school administrators to develop a more nuanced understanding of the behaviors of children with disabilities.

According to school records obtained by the outlet, more than two dozen disciplinary actions have been issued to John, including some that involved him kicking and punching other students during recess. 

The school disciplined John at least 33 times, including 14 suspensions, since 2023, the records stated. 

John was previously suspended for pointing a water bottle at someone else while making gun noises, and he was reprimanded for drawing a pilgrim shooting a turkey, records showed. 

John Medina, a first grader with autism, was kicked out of Sara Harp Minter Elementary School in Fayette County last March, according to his parents and school records

John Medina, a first grader with autism, was kicked out of Sara Harp Minter Elementary School in Fayette County last March, according to his parents and school records

Administrators said they found him pointing a sandwich he bit into the shape of a gun during lunchtime at the school

Administrators said they found him pointing a sandwich he bit into the shape of a gun during lunchtime at the school 

Kristin said her son became fascinated with guns after meeting a police officer, she told the outlet. 

She and her husband have continued to fight for their son, and went on to hire Donna Reynolds, a former special education director who worked in a different school district in the state, to represent them during meetings with the Fayette County School District. 

Local parents spoke directly to Fayette County Schools Superintendent Jonathan Patterson during a recent school board meeting where they expressed their concerns for their disable children

Local parents spoke directly to Fayette County Schools Superintendent Jonathan Patterson during a recent school board meeting where they expressed their concerns for their disable children

According to Reynolds, John’s most recent incident could have happened even if he weren’t autistic. 

‘I don’t think a six-year-old without autism would understand that that’s not appropriate. 

‘They make their fingers into a gun. They pick up sticks and make them into guns,’ she told the publication. 

She strongly believes that school districts everywhere need to fully understand students before they make decisions. 

‘They need to look at the whole picture. You need to look at his age. You need to look at his disability,’ she said. 

‘You need to look at past behavior, and you need to determine whether this is more of a teaching moment or is this something that really needs discipline, and is that discipline then going to change the behavior?’ 

During a recent board of education meeting, several local parents took to the podium to share their frustrations about how they think their disabled children are not being treated fairly by district administrators. 

They spoke directly to Fayette County Schools Superintendent Jonathan Patterson and his colleagues before the meeting ended. 

After they did so, an Atlanta News First reporter approached Patterson, but a law enforcement officer stepped in and said that he needed to make an appointment to speak with him. 

Before that, the journalist reached out several times to Patterson but never got a response, the outlet stated. 

Eventually, Patterson shared a brief statement that read: ‘We’re committed to meeting parents to try to work through these challenging situations that maybe we agree on, that maybe we don’t agree on, but we’re committed to keep coming back to the table and trying to resolve those things.’ 

Meanwhile, since the suspension, Kristin said her young son has been struggling. 

‘I think he feels like he’s a bad kid. There were definitely times when he would come home and say “I’m a bad kid” and that’s really hard to hear as a mom,’ the worried mother said. 

Although the incident occurred more than a year ago, Kristin (pictured with her son and husband) said she wanted to bring renewed attention to it in hopes that administrators could have a better understanding of what it's like to be and raise a child on the spectrum

Although the incident occurred more than a year ago, Kristin (pictured with her son and husband) said she wanted to bring renewed attention to it in hopes that administrators could have a better understanding of what it’s like to be and raise a child on the spectrum

When contacted by the Daily Mail, a spokesperson for Fayette County Public Schools made a statement on behalf of Paterson. 

‘After careful consideration, we have decided that we will not be providing a statement or responding to questions regarding this matter,’ they said.  

The Daily Mail contacted Sara Harp Minter Elementary School Principal Stacie Coppola for comment. 

Literary Giants Marlon James, Douglas Stuart, Elizabeth Strout Vie for Prestigious Booker Prize

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Literary Giants Marlon James, Douglas Stuart, Elizabeth Strout Vie for Prestigious Booker Prize

LONDON – Esteemed past Booker Prize laureates, Marlon James and Douglas Stuart, find themselves contenders once more for the celebrated fiction prize. They’re joined by narratives of Dublin street life, futuristic sci-fi, and characters sprung from New England’s heart, crafted by Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout.

After pouring over 163 novels, judges have distilled their choice down to 13 semifinalists for this year’s Booker Prize—worth £50,000 ($66,000). Mary Beard, the panel’s historian leader, illustrates this list as being packed with literary “dynamite.”

Featured contenders include James’ “The Disappearers,” set in an unfriendly 1980s Jamaica where a group of gay men struggles, Stuart’s “John of John,” exploring hidden truths between a father and son on a secluded Scottish isle, and Strout’s poignant “The Things We Never Say,” rooted in small-town life.

James previously captured the Booker Prize in 2015 with “A Brief History of Seven Killings,” while Stuart was lauded in 2020 for his novel “Shuggie Bain.” Strout, whose “Oh William!” was a finalist last year, took home the Pulitzer Prize in 2009 with her unforgettable “Olive Kitteridge.”

These literary heavyweights stand alongside newer voices from a diverse Booker longlist, featuring talent from across Britain, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Turkey, and the United States, each vying for the prestigious honor.

Three of those on the list are debut authors: Turkish-American writer Kenan Orhan for family history story “The Renovation,” British author Rebecca Perry for Medieval-to-modern tale “May We Feed the King” and Ireland’s Djamel White for “All Them Dogs,” a thriller set in the Dublin underworld.

White, at 28, is the youngest author in the running. The oldest is 81-year-old M. John Harrison, whose postapocalyptic tale “The End of Everything” is a rare science fiction novel to make the Booker list.

The other contenders are “The Shadow of the Object” by Chloe Aridjis, “Black Bag” by Luke Kennard, “The Vivisectors” by Missouri Williams, “Switzy” by Emma Cline, “Helen of Nowhere” by Makenna Goodman and Gwendoline Riley’s “The Palm House.”

Beard said the five jurors, who include Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker and American novelist Patricia Lockwood, tried to look beyond the idea of a typical Booker winner – “slightly serious, about to be classic.” Instead they chose novels that are “trying to expand the boundaries of how we can think about ourselves in completely different ways,”

“Sometimes they’re using humor, sometimes it’s pathos, sometimes there’s shock value,” Beard said. “They’re risk-takers. They are dynamite. They say ‘Come on, try seeing it a different way.’”

Founded in 1969, the Booker Prize has a reputation for transforming writers’ careers and is open to novels from any country published in the U.K. and Ireland. Last year’s winner was “Flesh” by Hungarian-British writer David Szalay.

The judges will announce six finalists on Sept. 22, and the winner will be revealed Nov. 9 at a ceremony in London.

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

Bald Eagle Jackie Shows Improvement After Setback, Remains Critical at Ojai Raptor Center

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Bald Eagle Jackie Shows Improvement After Setback, Remains Critical at Ojai Raptor Center

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. — The cherished bald eagle Jackie, a famed resident of Big Bear Lake, clings to life in critical yet stable condition at the Ojai Raptor Center. On Monday, veterinary teams provided an update on her meticulous treatment in the center’s intensive care unit.

Jackie, one member of Big Bear’s iconic eagle duo, was admitted after being found grounded near the lake. A brutal encounter with two younger eagles left her anemic and suffering from kidney inflammation, making her susceptible to such attacks, as per the initial assessments by the rescue teams.

The latest update from the Ojai Raptor Center outlines ongoing efforts to pinpoint the root cause of Jackie’s health issues. Meanwhile, the dedicated team is administering various preventative treatments to bolster her recovery.

Jackie’s condition had shown promising improvement following a recent blood transfusion, according to the veterinary team. However, a setback occurred on Saturday as her blood values unexpectedly dropped.

Despite this challenge, Jackie is on the mend once more, showing signs of recovery as the days progress.

In a new video posted to social media, the Ojai Raptor Center showed how Jackie has improved from being fed while restrained to eating on her own with more energy and alertness.

They noted that she has become much more feisty during her feedings.

The video also features footage from Jackie’s blood transfusion and her later perking up and vocalising.

The team said one of the most encouraging signs of recovery is her packed cell volume (PCV), which measures the percentage of red blood cells in her bloodstream.

“Her PCV has increased from 8% before the weekend to 16% today (7/27). While this remains below normal, it is an encouraging improvement, and we will continue to monitor her bloodwork daily as we keep a close eye on her progress,” the vet team wrote.

Despite the around-the-clock work, the experienced wildlife veterinarians still do not have a definite diagnosis.

Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Kash Patel’s Lawsuit May Unveil Crucial DOJ and FBI Documents on ‘Absences and Unreachability

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Kash Patel’s Lawsuit May Unveil Crucial DOJ and FBI Documents on ‘Absences and Unreachability

FBI Director Kash Patel listens intently during the inaugural event of the Great American State Fair, held on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin).

Several months have passed since FBI Director Kash Patel initiated a substantial $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic. Patel has strongly dismissed allegations of “excessive drinking” and episodes of being “inaccessible behind locked doors,” labeling them as “pure fantasy.” In response, The Atlantic has moved to dismiss the case, while also demanding discovery to rigorously challenge Patel’s denials.

In a memorandum submitted on Monday, The Atlantic requested that Senior U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan dismiss Patel’s complaint with “prejudice,” which would prevent the possibility of refiling the suit in the future.

The attorneys representing The Atlantic, from Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, contend that Patel’s defamation lawsuit lacks merit, drawing parallels to his previous unsuccessful suits against media giants like the New York Times, CNN, Politico, and MSNBC analyst Frank Figliuzzi. Specifically, they defended staff writer Sarah Fitzpatrick amidst the legal proceedings.

“Director Patel’s latest legal action marks his fifth attempt to sue the media in recent years, and it’s his second since becoming FBI Director. With none of these prior cases achieving success, this current lawsuit appears equally unfounded,” stated the memo. Furthermore, it emphasizes the broader implications of Patel’s actions, suggesting that these suits serve as a warning to the press about the high stakes of reporting on topics he disfavors, labeling Patel a “powerful public official who is and should be the subject of public discussion—positive and negative.”

One prominent legal expert told Law&Crime at the outset that Patel’s suit faces “daunting” odds of success because he has to show the defendants “knew or suspected that what it said about him was false.” Rather than looking for a way to settle, the Atlantic is defending its work and declining to give Patel “a veritable veto power over their reporting.”

Though looking to halt discovery until Sullivan rules on the motion to dismiss, the Atlantic makes an exception for discovery of “purported internal DOJ and FBI information” that the director’s complaint “repeatedly relies on […] to attempt to refute the Article’s reporting[.]”

“[A]s the records are already within DOJ and FBI’s possession, there is no prejudice to Director Patel in letting the Touhy requests proceed,” a separate memo said, describing the procedure for document demands of a government agency when it isn’t a party to a case; Patel has sued in his individual capacity. “[I]f DOJ, FBI, and Director Patel resist producing these records, that may require early dismissal of this action.”

In a statement to Law&Crime, the Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg reaffirmed that the lawsuit is “politically motivated retaliation” and a “meritless” action that “should be dismissed as a matter of law.”

“We are simultaneously asking the court to permit us to begin seeking factual discovery from the FBI and the Department of Justice – including documents and depositions of key individuals – that is appropriate given the allegations in this matter,” Goldberg explained. “If Director Patel did not want to face this process, he should not have filed this suit.”

That discovery could entail details about his travel, any “membership or attendance at private clubs, social spaces, and recreational facilities,” “retaliatory firings,” and witnesses “likely to have information related to Director Patel’s alcohol consumption, absences and unreachability, retaliatory firings, concerns about his job security, and focus on image,” court documents indicated.

Patel attorney Jesse Binnall did not respond to Law&Crime’s request for comment.

The post Kash Patel’s own lawsuit could force him to cough up ‘internal DOJ and FBI’ docs in discovery about any ‘absences and unreachability’ first appeared on Law & Crime.

Heartbroken New York Family Faces Tragedy as Mistaken Cremation Shatters Trust

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Heartbroken New York Family Faces Tragedy as Mistaken Cremation Shatters Trust

QUEENS, N.Y. (WPIX) — A family in Queens, New York, is seeking explanations after alleging that their 93-year-old mother was cremated against her plans for burial. They are looking to hold the responsible funeral home accountable for what they describe as a heartbreaking mistake.

Euvy Rodney’s loved ones, faced with her death on July 8, had engaged the J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home in St. Albans, Queens, to ensure her wishes for a traditional burial were maintained.

However, the family suspects that a tragic error resulted in her body being cremated, ultimately returning them a box of ashes contrary to her explicit desires.

“We feel as though our mother has been taken from us twice,” expressed her daughter, Christine Weever. “Once in her passing and once again in losing her remains.”

Amid their grief, the family gathered outside the funeral home, preparing to honor her memory with a service later this week, while they seek accountability and answers.

Relatives said Rodney’s final wish was to be buried in Guyana, where she was born. They provided a death certificate that appeared to show burial was the next step, as a box for cremation was not checked. 

“Our mother was so much more than this tragedy,” said daughter Ramona Rodney Park. Rodney’s youngest daughter broke down while speaking with reporters.

The Rev. Kevin McCall, who is supporting the family, said Rodney’s wishes were clearly documented.

“It says clearly burial in Guyana,” McCall said. “They knew it was not supposed to be cremation.”

J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home, founded in 1929, declined to comment when asked about the family’s allegations. According to New York State, the business is a licensed funeral home.

The family’s attorneys are calling for a state investigation and say they are preparing their own. They also plan to follow up with the crematory. 

The family says it had a follow-up meeting with the funeral home but has not had further communication. 

Attorney John Elefterakis said one of Rodney’s daughters asked a question he could not answer:

“How do we know if the ashes are even my mother’s?” Elefterakis said. “I can’t comfort her with an answer to that question.”

In 2017, the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Funeral Directing encouraged all funeral homes, hospitals and crematories in the state to review policies and procedures for handling and properly identifying human remains. 

“Human remains mix-ups occur infrequently, but are highly emotional for all involved when they occur, often triggering litigation,” the state wrote after some reports in 2017 in New York. 

Decatur Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Shocking Human Trafficking and Burglary Crimes

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Decatur Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Shocking Human Trafficking and Burglary Crimes

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — A second individual implicated in forcing a woman into prostitution and burglarizing her former spouse’s residence has been handed a four-year prison term following a guilty plea on Monday.

Jacob Miller, aged 32, faced the Macon County court during a disposition hearing related to his dual charges. According to court documentation, Miller admitted guilt to three charges: residential burglary, which is classified as a Class 1 felony, unlawful possession of a weapon as a felon, a Class 2 felony, and promoting prostitution, designated as a Class 4 felony.

In accordance with a plea agreement, other allegations against Miller were dismissed, including a severe Class X charge of involuntary servitude with threat of harm and additional charges of involuntary servitude and labor trafficking.

Following the delivery of a victim impact statement and an examination of Miller’s prior criminal record, Judge Thomas Griffith issued the mutually agreed-upon sentence of four years in incarceration.

The crimes Miller pleaded guilty to happened in October of 2025. Sworn statements filed in the case by the Decatur Police Department explained that Miller and co-defendant Bryan Slater met a newly divorced woman and convinced her to move into their Decatur apartment. Once she was moved in, the two men took her captive and forced her to solicit sex on a site known by police for human trafficking and prostitution.

The victim told police that over the course of two weeks, over a dozen men showed up at the apartment and paid for sex with her. After the men left, Miller and Slater took virtually all of the money the victim was paid.

At one point during her captivity, Slater showed the victim several items that she recognized as belonging to her ex-husband. The victim said she believed that Miller and Slater overheard her talking on the phone as she was trying to “sneak around” and speak with her ex-husband. From that conversation, Miller and Slater learned when he wouldn’t be home, and they learned his address from documents they took from the victim.

The victim was able to get out of Miller and Slater’s captivity and made contact with police, informing them of her sexual servitude and the burglary at her ex-husband’s home. Police said that when shown doorbell camera footage of the burglary suspects, the victim identified them as Miller and Slater.

For his role in the human trafficking and burglary, Slater received concurrent 12-year sentences for counts of involuntary servitude and residential burglary, both Class 1 felonies. He received another concurrent sentence of one year in prison for unlawful restraint, a Class 4 felony.

Jules Neale Unveils Elegant New Home Following Split from AFL Star Lachie

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Jules Neale Unveils Elegant New Home Following Split from AFL Star Lachie

Jules Neale has embraced a new beginning, leaving behind one of the most challenging periods of her life.

The 36-year-old influencer and former AFL WAG announced on Tuesday evening that she has acquired a new home in Perth. She shared a touching peek inside her new abode, marking this significant moment in her life.

By posting two images on Instagram, Jules offered her followers a sneak preview of the house that will define the next chapter for her and her two children.

In one of the photos, a spacious, light-filled living room is showcased, featuring polished timber floors and a sophisticated chandelier dangling from the ceiling.

The other image portrays the main entrance adorned with a decorative ribbon. The door stands open, with boxes piled up outside, indicating that moving day has finally arrived.

Sharing her excitement, Jules wrote: ‘New chapter starts now. This deserves a permanent spot in the feed. Hello new home, I can’t wait to see what memories we create here x.’

Jules Neale has officially turned the page on one of the toughest chapters of her life. The influencer and former AFL WAG revealed on Tuesday night that she has purchased a new home in Perth, sharing a heartwarming glimpse inside the property

Jules Neale has officially turned the page on one of the toughest chapters of her life. The influencer and former AFL WAG revealed on Tuesday night that she has purchased a new home in Perth, sharing a heartwarming glimpse inside the property 

Posting two photos to Instagram, Jules gave fans their first look at the house that will mark the next phase of life for herself and her two young children. One image captured a spacious, light-filled living room complete with polished timber floors and an elegant chandelier

Posting two photos to Instagram, Jules gave fans their first look at the house that will mark the next phase of life for herself and her two young children. One image captured a spacious, light-filled living room complete with polished timber floors and an elegant chandelier

The post was quickly flooded with congratulatory messages from friends and followers, many celebrating the fresh start after a difficult year. 

‘I can feel that sigh of relief from here,’ Married At First Sight star Lauren Dunn wrote. 

‘Proud of you beautiful! This is so exciting,’ a second person added and a third chipped in: ‘Yeah girl!’

The milestone occasion comes after a challenging past few months for Jules. 

In June, she spoke out about what helped her get through her marriage breakdown with her AFL star husband Lachie.

Jules publicly announced her separation from Lachie, 33, in November, after speculation mounted that he had had an affair with their former friend Tess Crosley.

She revealed that her life is back on track after relocating from Brisbane to her hometown of Perth, and says that the outpouring of public support she received meant the world to her.

‘It has meant so much to me. Honestly, it’s been really overwhelming… in the best way,’ Jules told news.com.au.

Meanwhile, another photo showed the front door with a decorative ribbon on it, standing wide open with moving boxes stacked outside, signalling moving day had arrived

Meanwhile, another photo showed the front door with a decorative ribbon on it, standing wide open with moving boxes stacked outside, signalling moving day had arrived

In June, Jules spoke out about what helped her get through her marriage breakdown with her AFL star husband Lachie

In June, Jules spoke out about what helped her get through her marriage breakdown with her AFL star husband Lachie 

She said she had been regularly messaged by people on social media who had shared their own stories with her, which made her feel less alone.

Jules also admitted that her new career as a content creator and influencer was going well, and keeping her in a positive headspace.

‘I really love the creativity of it. I also love that it gives me flexibility around the kids. Being a mum will always come first for me, so having work that allows me to balance both has been amazing,’ she said.

Jules has quickly built a strong following with her beauty, lifestyle and wellness content, with her profile surging as more Australians discover her approach to health and her daily rituals.

The social media star moved back to Perth following the couple’s split, taking their two young children, Piper, four, and Freddie, one, with her.

She and Lachie split in November after she posted to Instagram that the Brisbane Lions star had ‘betrayed [her] in the most unimaginable way’.

Lachie later admitted their split was a result of his actions, after rumours swirled about an affair.

The footy player did not go into specifics, but confirmed the couple had separated.

Unleash Your Inner Fury: Emmy Rossum’s Power-Packed New Show

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Emmy Rossum and Liz Meriwether’s latest Hulu collaboration, Furious, portrays women who aren’t just fed up—they’re taking action.

In the drama, Rossum takes on the role of FBI Agent Alice Black, a former NYPD officer on the trail of a female serial killer, played by Lola Petticrew, who targets influential men. Petticrew’s character is fueled by deep-seated rage that sparks her killing spree, while Rossum’s Alice is driven by her own past trauma, allowing her to channel her anger into the pursuit of the suspect. Essentially, these characters are done with mere frustration—they are making decisive moves.

Rossum explained to DECIDER about portraying such intense emotion, noting, “Rage is complex; while often seen as destructive in society—and especially unsuitable for Alice’s profession—it’s also a powerful motivator. Alice isn’t initially conscious of her own fury until she starts accepting how it drives her. Rage might be misunderstood, but it carries potent energy that can unify and inspire collective action.”

Rage may seem an intuitive basis for dramatic storytelling, yet it’s an unexpected theme for Meriwether, celebrated for her comedic successes in series like New Girl and Single Parents. Though she hadn’t delved deeply into anger in her previous work, she found crafting these intense emotions to be both freeing and challenging, capturing a new facet of human nature.

Meriwether reflected, “As a comedy writer, deflecting emotion with humor has been my usual go-to. Writing Furious called for me to confront anger more directly on the page, which was a refreshing and somewhat uneasy shift. While it felt strange, embracing the discomfort allowed me to explore and express anger creatively in a way I hadn’t before.”

Scoot McNairy and Emmy Rossum in 'Furious'

Photo: HULU/Disney

Meriwether said that it did help while writing the show to remember, however, that anger and rage cannot exist in a vacuum, and that every character has to experience the full breadth of humanity. It also allows the project to transition from a black-widow cat-and-mouse game to a narrative about trauma and the wide array of things that can happen to any person who lets their physical, emotional, and psychological wounds go untreated.

“I think there is a lot of rage in the show, but it’s not the only thing in this show. If the answer was just, ‘Let’s all get angry together,’ it wouldn’t make for a good television. It sort of explores the feeling of anger and then also explores how it can trap you, how it can feel so good, but then ultimately not feel good in the end. It’s hopefully digging into the experience of being a victim and just how complicated and messy that can be and lead to a lot of different roads that someone can go down,” Merriweather said.

For Rossum, it also allows for her own character to see Petticrew’s as much more than just a scorned woman on a path for vengeance or some heartless killer. Seeing one woman who has been harmed and taken advantage of go after justice — the DIY karmic kind, that is — might even allow for her to explore how she, too, can find a sense of retribution for a crime that has gone unpunished.

“The connection between these women and the kind of like invisible thread between them of sisterhood, how we realize that they’re more similar than they are different, it’s very powerful,” Rossum said. “In fact, Alice will start to wonder if the quest for vengeance that this killer is on is not stirring something within her and the justice that she quietly seeks for herself.”

The first three episodes of Furious are now streaming on Hulu. New episodes release Mondays.

Teen E-Bike Takeover Sparks Chaos in Downtown Streets: Traffic Blocked, Charges Filed

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Teen E-Bike Takeover Sparks Chaos in Downtown Streets: Traffic Blocked, Charges Filed

A swarm of teenagers on e-bikes unleashed mayhem across a bustling part of Orlando, Florida, prompting police to file several charges, declare authorities.

This downtown disruption took place earlier this month, with law enforcement stating that the unruly crowd significantly endangered public safety and caused traffic jams affecting local inhabitants.

Through a social media post, the Orlando Police Department shared footage revealing bicyclists converging on intersections, halting cars, and blocking an ambulance with its lights flashing.

image shows e-bikers in an intersection

Authorities report that earlier this month, a group of teenagers commandeered the streets of downtown Orlando with their e-bikes, and several individuals may face charges as a result. (Courtesy of Orlando Police Department)

The same clip shows officers detaining some members of the group, documented through body camera and surveillance footage.

In the post, the police department said in part, “Reckless riding, running red lights, blocking traffic, and blocking an ambulance and other emergency vehicles from responding puts everyone at risk, including the riders themselves.”

photo shows still shot from bodycam of teen in cuffs

Orlando Police detained a teen accused of participating in an e-bike takeover in the city’s downtown area. (Orlando Police Department)

The post went on to say, “This type of dangerous behavior will not be tolerated. Orlando Police officers will continue enforcing the law to help keep Downtown safe for everyone.”

Orlando police said to FOX 35 Orlando in a statement: “Because of the size and mobility of the group, not every rider was immediately apprehended. However, officers took enforcement action when it could be done safely.

photo shows e-bike on back wheel in front of ambulance

During the alleged teen takeover, one e-biker appears to do a stunt in the middle of an intersection in front of an ambulance. (Orlando Police Department)

It was not immediately clear how many teens were charged during the incident.

Optimize Brain Health with Timely Eating Habits: The Key to Aging Smarter

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Optimize Brain Health with Timely Eating Habits: The Key to Aging Smarter

It’s not just a question of what you eat—it’s also about the timing of your meals.

Groundbreaking research has unveiled a potential correlation between the timing of meals and brain health, highlighting that confining eating to certain hours each day may enhance cognitive function as we grow older.

A blue alarm clock set for 7:00 with a woman eating salad and drinking juice in the background, representing healthy eating and timed diets.

New research has found that sticking to a daily window of time for eating may affect cognitive health in older adults. SASITHORN – stock.adobe.com

Unveiled at the American Society for Nutrition’s Nutrition 2026 meeting, the study indicates that restricting meal intake to an 8- or 9-hour timeframe daily—and ceasing consumption at least four hours before bedtime—might bolster mental acuity in aging individuals.

During the investigation, 47 overweight and obese women aged between 50 and 79 embarked on a six-month weight loss regimen to analyze the effects of meal timing.

All participants in the study were directed to reduce their calorie consumption by 500 calories daily. However, 26 of these women were further instructed to consume all their meals within a nine-hour window, unlike the remaining participants who kept their eating habits over the more conventional 12-hour span.

The time-restricted group generally ate between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. for around eight hours a day, compared to an average of 12 hours in the standard eating group.

After six months, weight loss was similar in both groups, each losing around 15 pounds.

But those who stuck to the 8-hour window performed significantly better on tests measuring spatial planning and problem solving.

The time-restricted group also made fewer mistakes on tests involving memory and learning.

A close-up of a person's hands holding a crossword puzzle book.

Older women who only ate for an 8-hour window of time lost weight and showed modest improvements in cognitive skills. Richard Johnson – stock.adobe.com

Obesity is a risk factor for cognitive decline, since excess fat tissue contributes to inflammation that can damage the brain — so dropping pounds can already help you on your way to better brain health.

“Losing weight alone will ward off some of the aging-related cognitive decline,” Sue Shapses, principal investigator of a new study, said in a press release.

But the two groups of women lost the same amount of weight yet had different cognitive test results, suggesting that the restricted eating window — a type of intermittent fasting — made the big difference.

“These outcomes suggest a better ability to remember information during everyday tasks and reducing mistakes related to memory, attention and problem-solving,” Shapses said.

While this study was small, future research can determine whether cognitive improvements apply to larger populations, as well as explain why meal timing might affect the brain.

The researchers believe several explanations could account for the modest brain boost, including interactions among circadian rhythm, inflammation, metabolic health and biological pathways that help the body sense and respond to nutrients.

Previous research that found the best times for eating to slim down your waistline were similar to the results of this study.

Eating between 6 a.m. and concluding activity by 10 p.m. aligned with the body’s natural circadian rhythms, which could enhance the body’s ability to burn fat.
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