MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – The iconic Sunshine Skyway Bridge, a crucial artery for the Tampa Bay area, sees tens of thousands of commuters daily.
As the year progresses, engineers from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) are gearing up for a thorough inspection of this landmark structure.
Hosts of Today, Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones, recently addressed comments made by Khloé Kardashian regarding her former husband, Lamar Odom, and his recent interview on Today With Jenna & Sheinelle.
Kardashian criticized Odom during an episode of her podcast, Khloé in Wonder Land, accusing him of implying she was dishonest about events depicted in the Netflix documentary, Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom. In response, Bush Hager and Jones expressed admiration for Kardashian’s care and support for Odom during his difficult times.
“In the moment, I remember thinking, ‘Will he give her the recognition she deserves?’” Jones remarked during their show, reflecting on Odom’s interview.
Bush Hager shared similar sentiments, noting, “He didn’t give her due credit,” and emphasized that the documentary highlighted Kardashian as “a wonderful human being.”
Odom joined the NBC talk show on April 6 to talk about his candid documentary, which explores his 14-year NBA career and battles with addiction that led to severe health crises, including multiple strokes, heart attacks, and a near-fatal overdose. The documentary features insights from Kardashian, who was married to Odom from 2009 to 2016. She revealed that during Odom’s coma, his father considered taking him off life support.
On Today, Odom pointedly disagreed with Kardashian’s claim about his father and seemingly refused to admit that she saved his life, instead calling his recovery “a medical miracle.”
“You know, I was knocked out and asleep at that time,” Odom said on Today. “If you know [my father] Joe Odom, I don’t think that’s something that would ever come out of his mouth. He was my biggest fan and I don’t know where that got mistranslated.”
Bush Hager then asked Odom if he was saying that he feels like Kardashian’s claim is “not the truth” or if he would rather “believe that’s not the truth.” Odom did not confirm, but he stated, “I just can’t see him ever, ever doing that.”
At another point, when asked if he thought Kardashian saved his life, Odom replied, “She took care of me. God took care of me the most. What I came back from was like a medical miracle.”
On her podcast, Kardashian complained of how Odom has been discussing her in the press since the Netflix documentary premiered March 31.
“I think what’s pissing me off is, we did this, all good. I was done with this. I’m like, I’m never going to do another Lamar thing again, ‘cause I’m all good. But now Lamar is doing press,” she said. She added that Odom is “annoyed with me. Claiming or insinuating that I’m a liar, all these things, discrediting me, saying that I wasn’t the one that helped him.”
“All I did was tell the story that I was asked by you to tell, but now to, like, play in my face and now to act like I didn’t do any of the things I did and insinuate I’m a liar is crazy,” she said. “I feel played.”
On Today With Jenna & Friends, Jones said she is an “eternal optimist” and had hoped Odom would “give [Kardashian] her flowers” on the show. “And he didn’t,” she said.
Bush Hager also told Kardashian she’s “incredible,” adding, “Our big headlines are: She’s an amazing woman, and when someone shows you who they are you gotta believe it.”
Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom is streaming now on Netflix.
President Donald Trump has been updated on an unsettling series of incidents involving scientists who have either gone missing or been found dead, with the count now reaching ten.
Upon his arrival at the White House on Thursday, the president addressed the concerning matter. Reporters, including those from FOX News, pressed him on whether these cases were isolated incidents or perhaps linked in some way.
“I hope it’s random, but we should have more clarity in about a week and a half,” Trump remarked. “I just attended a briefing on the issue, and it’s quite serious. Hopefully, it’s just a coincidence… but some of those involved were key figures, and we’ll be investigating further.”
The scientists in question, associated with NASA, nuclear research, aerospace, and classified initiatives, have drawn scrutiny since 2023.
Among them were researchers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory, who had access to sensitive data concerning space exploration, nuclear advancements, and sophisticated defense systems, fueling theories about potential ties between the incidents.
The president’s statements follow a Wednesday briefing at the White House, where Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was also asked about the ten people linked to space or nuclear secrets who have mysteriously died or vanished without a trace.
‘I haven’t spoken to our relevant agencies about it. I will certainly do that and will get you an answer,’ said Leavitt.
‘If true, of course, that’s definitely something I think this government and administration would deem worth looking into. So let me do that for you,’ Leavitt continued.
William Neil McCasland, 68, and Monica Reza, 60, were connected through the Air Force Research Laboratory and projects involving advanced missile and rocket technology
This disturbing pattern started when retired Air Force General William Neil McCasland vanished on February 27.
He was last seen leaving his New Mexico home without his phone, wearable devices or glasses less than two months ago. He was only carrying a pistol and his wife told 911 dispatchers that it appeared he was trying ‘not to be found.’
The strange circumstances surrounding the general’s disappearance were almost identical to four other missing person cases taking place between May and August 2025 in the Southwest.
Concerningly, all four have been tied to McCasland through his work overseeing the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which has been rumored to study extraterrestrial technology since the 1947 Roswell UFO crash.
While at Wright-Patterson, McCasland oversaw and reportedly approved the funding for scientist Monica Jacinto Reza’s work on a space-age metal for rocket engines called Mondaloy.
Reza, 60, disappeared while hiking with friends in California on June 22, 2025. She had just become the director of the Materials Processing Group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The three other disappearances all involved workers at some of America’s most important nuclear facilities, and all three were last seen walking out of their homes without their phones or keys, just like McCasland.
Steven Garcia, 48, vanished without a trace on August 28, 2025. He was last seen leaving his Albuquerque, New Mexico home on foot, carrying only a handgun.
The president addressed the alarming situation after landing at the White House on Thursday, where he was met by reporters and questioned by FOX News about whether the disappearances and deaths were random or potentially connected
Steven Garcia (Pictured) was last seen on August 28, 2025. A source has revealed to the Daily Mail that Garcia worked as a government contractor at a key nuclear weapons facility
Monica Jacinto Reza, 60, was last seen hiking in the rugged San Gabriel Wilderness area within the Angeles National Forest on the trail to Waterman Mountain summit on June 22 last year
An anonymous source told the Daily Mail that Garcia was a government contractor working for the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), a major facility in Albuquerque that manufactures more than 80 percent of all the non-nuclear components that go into building the military’s nuclear weapons.
Anthony Chavez and Melissa Casias both worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), one of the nation’s most important nuclear research sites.
Chavez, 79, worked at the lab until his retirement in 2017, although his role there has not been made clear. Casias, 54, was an active administrative assistant at the facility and is believed to have had top security clearance.
Anthony Chavez (Left) and Melissa Casias (Right) were both employees at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Both disappeared within weeks of each other in 2025
All three were last seen leaving their homes in New Mexico on foot, leaving behind their cars, keys, wallets and phones before disappearing without a trace. Police have not had any updates in the cases since last year.
In addition to the string of disappearances, five scientists in key areas of research have died over the last three years, including two who were murdered in their own homes.
Nuclear physicist Nuno Loureiro and Astrophysicist Carl Grillmair were both shot to death in their homes in recent months.
Independent investigators have noted that Loureiro’s revolutionary work in nuclear fusion may have made him a target of a greater conspiracy against US scientists, as his work may one day upend the energy industry.
Scientists Nuno Loureiro (left) and Carl Grillmair (right) were both murdered in their own homes after making significant progress in the fields of nuclear fusion and astrophysics
Jason Thomas was found dead after being pulled from a Massachusetts lake on March 17. He had been missing since December 12
Grillmair’s work with NASA’s NEOWISE and NEO Surveyor has also been linked to the Air Force, as the telescopes used the same systems the military relies on to track satellites and missiles.
Meanwhile, NASA scientists Michael David Hicks and Frank Maiwald, who also worked at the Jet Propulsion Lab, died from unknown circumstances at an early age.
Maiwald, 61, was the lead researcher on a breakthrough that could help future space missions detect clear signs of life on other worlds just 13 months before he died in 2024.
Hicks, who passed away just a year after leaving JPL at age 59, had been involved with the DART Project, NASA’s test to see if humans could deflect dangerous asteroids away from Earth.
NASA’s JPL has not commented on the deaths of Maiwald or Hicks, and did not reply to the Daily Mail’s inquiries into the nature of the scientists’ work before their deaths.
In another mysterious incident, Jason Thomas, a pharmaceutical researcher testing cancer treatments at Novartis, was found dead in a Massachusetts lake on March 17, 2026, after disappearing without a trace in December 2025. Local police have claimed there was no foul play suspected.
(The Hill) — Tax refunds in 2026 are projected to be larger than previous years, but they still fall short of the lofty expectations set by President Donald Trump following the enactment of his “One Big Beautiful Bill” last year, which promised significant tax relief for Americans.
According to IRS data collected prior to April 3, average refunds have increased by 11 percent to $3,462 compared to 2025’s $3,116. While there’s a 3.1 percent rise in the number of refunds issued, specifics on the total volume remain unclear.
The anticipated increase per refund was around $300, falling short of the $775 projected by the IRS and the over $1,000 that the White House had predicted in January.
The tax reform, signed by Trump last July, introduced deductions that were expected to boost refunds. These include provisions that exempt taxes on tips up to $25,000 and a senior citizen deduction to avoid Social Security taxes for those over 65. However, the actual refund amounts vary depending on individual income levels and eligibility, as reported by Axios.
More than 53 million people have taken advantage of at least one of these tax cuts, with refunds primarily used for essential expenses like rent and bills, according to Treasury Department officials cited by The New York Times. Additionally, a TurboTax survey from February indicated that 70 percent of taxpayers planned to allocate their refunds towards necessities, including rent and other living costs.
Americans who receive larger refunds could help drive the economy, though rising costs as a result of the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran could cancel out any stimulus generated by the president’s tax cuts, the Times reported.
But the law’s passage also left some taxpayers seeing little difference on this year’s return.
The Bipartisan Policy Center’s poll found that 38 percent of taxpayers noticed no difference from their taxes last year. Financial stress is widespread with 43 percent of women telling the think tank that they are “just getting by” or “struggling,” with 27 percent of men saying the same.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also made sweeping cuts to Medicaid and nutrition assistance, with federal spending previously being estimated to decrease by about $1 trillion and resulting in about 16 million low-income Americans losing their health insurance by 2034, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office stated last year.
Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos are currently enjoying an extraordinary vacation experience.
The influential duo was seen in relaxed attire, strolling barefoot along the sandy shores of one of the Galapagos Islands, a volcanic chain located off the Ecuadorian coast.
Sanchez, aged 56, sported a chic white bra top paired with a matching miniskirt, while her 62-year-old partner opted for a black T-shirt and blue swim shorts.
The couple has been residing on their lavish $500 million yacht, which features a helicopter pad and is accompanied by a $100 million support vessel named Abeona.
Vacationing in the Galapagos presents a complex ethical dilemma, as it poses challenges to the fragile ecosystem, despite also providing potential benefits.
That’s because tourism provides essential funds for conservation but having so many people on the islands harms ecosystems due to waste management.
The Galapagos Islands are known for their diversity of plant and animal species, many found nowhere else in the world.
Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos have gone on a vacation of a lifetime this week
The power couple took their $500 million yacht to the Galapagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago off the coast of Ecuador
Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos in 1835, and his observation of the species on the islands later inspired his theory of evolution.
The islands have unique wildlife like swimming iguanas, blue-footed birds called boobies and giant tortoises.
Last week Sanchez made headlines when she said she would have a baby ‘tomorrow’ with Bezos.
She made the surprising admission during a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times that was published on Sunday.
‘I would have a baby tomorrow,’ she declared. Her spokeswoman later had to phone the newspaper to confirm she is not pregnant.
Sanchez, whose husband is one of the richest men in the world, also said she believes she is 20 percent happier than the average person.
But she says her permanent good mood is nothing to do with her extreme wealth.
‘If baseline is here,’ she said, holding her hand at about her chest, ‘I’m up here,’ she said, with her other hand above her head.
The 56-year-old Sanchez wore a white bra top and matching miniskirt as her 62-year-old spouse was dressed in a black T-shirt and blue swim trunks
Vacationing in the Galápagos is a complex ethical issue as it can both hurt and help the delicate environment. That’s because tourism provides essential funds for conservation but having so many people on the islands harms ecosystems due to waste management
The couple had several friends with them as they walked on the brown-sand beach
They have been staying on their $500 million yacht which also has a helicopter pad and a $100 million support vessel, Abeona, pictured
Sanchez has three children from two previous relationships. They are Nikko Gonzalez, 25, Evan Whitesell, 19, and Ella Whitesell, 18. She and Bezos married in a three day extravaganza in Venice, Italy last summer.
Since then, she says the pair have transformed into a ‘unit.’
The wide-ranging interview also dealt with Sanchez’s daily life in the upscale private Miami island Indian Creek, which is often referred to as ‘Billionaire Bunker.’
They do everything together, she said, as they start their day at 6am by listing aloud 10 things they are grateful for, then working out with a trainer before going about their business.
From there, Sanchez Bezos said she and her husband drink their morning coffee in a sunroom – hers from a mug that reads ‘Woke Up Sexy As Hell Again,’ and his from a mug she got him that spells ‘HUNK’ in symbols from the periodic table – as they watch the sunrise.
Bezos was barefoot as he held onto his blue sneakers while on a gray tender
The Amazon founder chatted with a male friend who also held onto his sneakers
The Galápagos Islands have unique wildlife like swimming iguanas, blue-footed birds called boobies and giant tortoises, pictured. There are over 160,000 tourists to the region yearly
The couple then go on to play pickleball, and six days a week, they also work out for an hour with a personal trainer.
With everything they do, Sanchez Bezos said, they do it together.
‘I talk about everything with him,’ she said of her husband. ‘Everything! Jeff is my best friend and I don’t say that lightly.’
She relies on his advice for nearly everything, including when she published her second children’s book, The Fly Who Flew Under the Sea, about Flynn, a dyslexic fly whose wrong turn leads to an undersea adventure.
Bezos edited the book, suggesting a change to the illustrated submarine on the cover, advice Sanchez said she decided to take.
They were last photographed together in March when they attended the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party in Beverly Hills following the 2026 awards ceremony
Sanchez and Bezos married last June in a star-studded ceremony held in Venice, Italy
‘He said it should be fantastical, not realistic,’ she said. ‘Sometimes I listen. Sometimes I don’t.’
Sanchez was last seen in Los Angeles with her friends.
The children’s book author was dressed down in a white T-shirt, blue jeans and a $550 Saint Laurent baseball cap with a Chanel purse for dinner at celebrity hotspot Sushi Park.
Missing from the action was Sanchez’s husband Bezos.
They were last photographed together last month when they attended the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party in Beverly Hills following the 2026 awards ceremony.
Over recent years, a troubling pattern of unexplained deaths and disappearances involving prominent scientists has emerged, drawing the attention of internet detectives and even prompting interest from the White House.
Since the start of 2023, at least eight individuals, primarily engaged in space and nuclear science research, have died or gone missing, often under puzzling circumstances. Some of these scientists were also linked to UFO studies.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy inquired about this unsettling trend, prompting White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to indicate that the Trump administration might investigate the issue.
Leavitt commented, “I haven’t yet discussed this with the appropriate agencies, but I will be sure to do so and provide you with an update. Should these reports be accurate, it is certainly a matter that this administration would consider important to explore. I’ll follow up on this for you.”
Among those affected was Hicks, a distinguished scientist who served at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory from 1998 until 2022, according to the Daily Mail. He contributed to the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) project, which aimed to assess the physical characteristics of asteroids and comets to determine if they could be redirected in space.
Maiwald also worked in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He designed a critical instrument for a project called Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) – Visible to Shortwave Infrared (VSWIR), a future NASA mission to launch a satellite into space and map the “living color” of the earth in far greater detail than can be observed by the human eye, according to his obituary.
Just over a year before he died, he was working on a program to help astronauts on space missions identify signs of life on other planets, including Jupiter’s moon, Europa, Saturn’s moon Enceladus, or the dwarf planet Ceres, the Daily Mail reported.
Tanicia Miller captured the pill-shaped object, later identified as a rocket launch, on August 12, 2025. (Tanicia Miller/Facebook)
Monica Reza went missing while hiking in the Mount Waterman of the Angeles National Forest in California. A missing person’s flyer from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said there was concern for Reza’s well-being, and asked tipsters to call 818-248-3464.
Reza also worked for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as an aerospace engineer, reportedly overseeing the lab’s Materials Processing Group, which “focuses on developing new materials and advanced manufacturing technologies for spacecraft, specializing in bulk metallic glass alloys and metal additive manufacturing,” according to NASA.
A UFO is seen in the sky. (Obtained)
Casias worked as an administrative assistant at Los Alamos National Labs in New Mexico, which reportedly developed nuclear weapons for the Manhattan Project.
On the day she disappeared, she dropped off lunch for her daughter and was never seen again.
Chavez also worked at Los Alamos National Labs until he retired in 2017, according to the Daily Mail. He was last seen leaving his house in Los Alamos on foot, with his car locked in his driveway. He did not bring his phone, wallet or keys on his walk.
Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard told a New York Post podcaster that she believes aliens could possibly be real. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
Garcia went missing from his home in Albuquerque after leaving his home on foot carrying only a handgun, according to NewsNation. He worked at the Kansas City National Security Campus, which develops most of the nonnuclear components that go into building nuclear weapons.
He had a top secret security clearance.
Grillmair was a renowned research scientist at Caltech’s Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, which partners with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory providing “science operations, user support, archives and data services, and scientific vision to maximize discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground.”
The Daily Mail reported that he was personally involved in space telescope projects with NASA.
He was shot and killed outside his home. A man named Freddy Snyder, 29, was charged with his murder.
A split image showing missing retired Air Force Major Gen. Neil McCasland in the green, button-up shirt he was last seen wearing and in his military uniform. (Obtained)
McCasland was the former commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, and had connections with the Los Alamos National Labs, like Casias and Garcia. He reportedly possessed stop secret information on UFOs.
He, too, disappeared in New Mexico. He left his home with only a part of boots and a handgun, leading his phone, keys and glasses, the Daily Mail reported.
By Staff
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have apprehended a 32-year-old man, Scotty Lee Oats Jr., following allegations of indecent exposure in two stores and the theft of a fountain drink.
According to a report from the Gainesville Police Department, the incident unfolded at approximately 1:25 p.m. on April 14. Oats allegedly disrobed completely in front of the Circle K located at 1515 North Main Street. He then donned a “cutout shirt” in place of his pants, which inadequately covered his genitals. Once inside the convenience store, he reportedly picked up a fountain drink and approached the counter. Store employees claimed they could clearly see his genitals exposed through the improvised garment and demanded that he cover himself. An argument ensued, and Oats allegedly exited the store without paying for the drink.
Subsequently, Oats is said to have crossed Main Street and proceeded southwards, eventually entering a second store. A witness there informed the officer that Oats’ genitals were visibly exposed when he entered the establishment.
The police officer noted that the incident at the Circle K was recorded on surveillance cameras.
Oats, who is described as homeless in court documents, has been charged with petit theft with two or more prior convictions (a felony) and indecent exposure. He has one felony conviction for possession of child pornography and is a registered sexual offender; he has eight misdemeanor convictions (one violent). He has served one state prison sentence and was released in June 2025. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $50,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Elon Musk in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Evan Vucci).
This week, a federal judge in Maryland granted an extensive discovery request in a protracted legal battle involving labor union plaintiffs, who are challenging the release and use of sensitive public data. The case highlights ongoing concerns over privacy and data access.
The litigation, originally filed in February 2025, involves a coalition of national labor organizations and a grassroots advocacy group. They have accused the Trump administration and employees from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) of having unrestricted access to systems and data of the Social Security Administration (SSA), allegedly violating privacy laws.
Since its inception, the lawsuit has experienced a tumultuous journey through the legal system. The case initially prompted the district court to issue a temporary restraining order. This order prohibited DOGE staff from accessing the contested data and required them to “disgorge and delete” any personally identifying information they obtained. Additionally, the court demanded the removal of any software or code that may have been installed or altered on SSA systems by the group.
Efforts to overturn these orders, issued by U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander, a Barack Obama appointee, have consistently been unsuccessful. In April 2025, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit decided against granting the government a stay. However, they agreed to hear the appeal en banc, involving the full panel of appellate judges. Although the en banc court refused the government’s request for a stay, it scheduled further legal briefings for July 2025, indicating ongoing deliberations on this significant privacy issue.
In April 2025, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit denied a stay and agreed to hear the appeal en banc – before the full appellate court. The en banc court denied the government”s stay request but scheduled additional briefing on the matter for July 2025.
In June 2025, however, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a shadow docket ruling, blessed government efforts to turn over the SSA data to DOGE until the litigation fully plays out at the lower court level.
Since then, several additional developments – including admitted government missteps – have changed the landscape considerably.
On Monday, in a five-page order, Hollander noted the plaintiffs’ discovery request was the subject of an August 2025 hearing. The upshot of which, the judge explained, was a wait-and-see approach.
“I don’t know how I can authorize discovery when [the appeal] is pending,” Hollander said. “I’m not sure I would agree to put the Government through [plaintiffs’ discovery] until I know the case survives.”
The judge was concerned about the en banc review before the 4th Circuit. That full court review, however, has since returned something of a double-edged verdict. While the appellate court found merit in the plaintiffs’ case – and the underlying harms they alleged – they decided the plaintiffs had not proved enough “irreparable harm” to justify a preliminary injunction at the present stage of the litigation.
So, the preliminary injunction was finally vacated after over a year, but the ruling contained a silver lining in terms of discovery.
The appeals court ruling came earlier this month. In January of this year, the government filed a notice of corrections to the record, which “disclosed several inaccuracies in regard to information previously provided by defendants to the Court,” Hollander explained.
In March, the plaintiffs filed their own supplemental motion – citing an article in The Washington Post with the more or less self-explanatory title of “Whistleblower claims ex-DOGE member says he took Social Security data to new job.”
The 4th Circuit majority’s early April opinion “characterized the government’s admissions in the supplemental record as ‘alarming’ and stated that they ‘raise serious questions about its earlier conduct before the district court,’” the judge relayed.
The appellate court also commented on the Post article while acknowledging the development was not exactly part of the appeal.
From the Monday order, at length:
With respect to plaintiffs’ filing of March 10, 2026, and the article from the Washington Post, the Court wrote: “The same goes for the even more recent—and even more alarming—allegations that plaintiffs flagged in their March 10 district court filing, which have not been made part of the record on appeal and thus are not properly before us in any sense.”
In light of defendants’ admissions and the allegations of the whistleblower report, the Court majority stated: “‘On remand, however, the parties will be able to introduce further evidence on’ these points, and the district court will be free to consider any future requests for appropriate relief or corrective action.
In other words, the appellate court took note of the government’s own admissions and the allegations raised by the plaintiffs in the Post article and suggested the lower court was in the best position to deal with the shifting legal terrain.
The plaintiffs, of course, quickly agreed.
“Discovery is necessary for—as the Fourth Circuit contemplated—the parties to be able to introduce further evidence, and for the Court to have an adequate record to consider further requests for relief or corrective action,” the unions said in an additional supplemental notice filed last week.
Now, the district court says the next step is clear.
“Defendants have not yet responded,” Hollander writes. “But, the time to do so has not expired. As noted, as a result of the conference call with counsel on August 12, 2025, the Court was persuaded to defer discovery until after disposition of the appeal. The appeal has been decided. The majority opinion makes clear that discovery is appropriate.”
ATLANTA (AP) — A British-born former U.S. Navy sailor has been charged in connection with a series of fatal shootings in the Atlanta suburbs, an incident that swiftly captured the attention of former President Donald Trump’s administration.
Olaolukitan Adon Abel, whose name is listed with various spellings across official documents, faces allegations of murdering two women, one of whom was an employee of the Department of Homeland Security, and seriously injuring a man.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin condemned the attacks as “acts of pure evil” and expressed concerns regarding the fact that Adon Abel, 26, received U.S. citizenship in 2022 under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Here’s what is known about the violent spree:
The shootings sent shockwaves through the Atlanta suburbs of Decatur, Brookhaven, and Panthersville, occurring in the early hours of Monday morning.
The first victim, 31-year-old Prianna Weathers, was found with gunshot wounds near a Decatur-area restaurant around 1 a.m. She was taken to a hospital but died, DeKalb County Police Chief Gregory Padrick said.
Then, around 2 a.m., a 49-year-old homeless man was shot multiple times while sleeping outside a grocery store in Brookhaven, about 12 miles (19 kilometers) northwest of the first attack, Brookhaven Police Chief Brandon Gurley said. The man, whose name hasn’t been released, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
DHS worker Lauren Bullis, who was out walking her dog more than 10 miles (16 kilometers) away in Panthersville, was found around 7 a.m. with gunshot and stab wounds. She died at the scene, Padrick said.
Investigators in Brookhaven determined that the three attacks were connected, Gurley said.
Authorities have said they believe at least one victim was targeted at random.
Bullis, 40, served in multiple roles at DHS Office of Inspector General, including as an auditor and an innovation team leader. DHS posted on social media that she brought “a genuine sense of care to her colleagues each day.”
Her family said in a statement that she loved running, reading and traveling, and “her warmth and generosity touched everyone surrounding her.”
Fellow DHS auditor Ashley Toillion of Denver described Bullis as “the nicest, sweetest, most encouraging person I’ve ever met.”
Military records show the defendant enlisted in the Navy in 2020, last serving in the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron in Coronado, California, and as a petty officer received a Navy “E” Ribbon for superior performance for battle readiness.
Adon Abel pleaded guilty in October 2024 to assaulting two police officers with a deadly weapon and attacking another person when he was stationed in Coronado, according to California court records.
He faces malice murder, aggravated assault and firearms charges in Monday’s attacks, court records show. He waived an initial court appearance Tuesday, and a public defender listed as his attorney did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Mullin said Adon Abel has a criminal record that includes a sexual battery conviction. Online court records show that someone listed with a similar name and the same birth date pleaded guilty last June in Chatham County, Georgia, to four misdemeanor counts of sexual battery.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Adon Abel had a criminal record that predated him becoming a U.S. citizen in 2022. The U.S. has long barred people convicted of most violent crimes from attaining citizenship.
Clemmie Adams stands as a testament to unwavering dedication, having served the city of Jackson, Georgia, for more than five decades, with no intentions of stepping back.
In the heart of Jackson, Georgia, Clemmie Adams’ commitment is palpable in every street and square. At the age of 90, Adams continues to bring vitality and diligence to his role as a custodian, marking 54 years of service. According to WXIA, his presence is unfaltering as he arrives daily, ready to fulfill his duties with the same enthusiasm as ever.
“During the weekend, I like to pass by and check if everything looks good, ensuring the paper is picked up and the place is tidy,” Adams remarked, reflecting on his routine supervision of the city’s square. “The importance of my job is clear to me. Each morning, I wake up with anticipation, eager to come to work and fulfill my responsibilities.”
The mayor of Jackson has praised Adams, noting that his work ethic sets a benchmark that is hard to match.
Jackson’s mayor said Adams’ work ethic is unmatched.
“Just showing up every day to do the job and giving a great effort,” said Mayor Carlos Duffey. “Understanding the value of commitment, you’re hired to do a thing, and you do it to the best of your ability. And just that commitment to excellence. He is committed to that place of excellence. If you walk around that square, you’ll see it. His handprints are all over the cleanliness of our city.”
Adams started with the city on March 1, 1972.
“You think about that, that’s the year before I was born. So the year before I was born, he started working at the city of Jackson,” Duffey said.
Over the years, Adams has held many jobs, and he is currently a custodian. He has taken pride in each one.
Even at 90, he has no plans to retire.
“I would get lonely, if I didn’t come to work,” he said. “Well, we get along good, and people like me good.”
The mayor said Adams can keep working as long as he wants.
“When I was elected four years ago, he said, ‘Please don’t get rid of me,’ and I said, ‘Oh, I am not jumping on that sword. You’ll be here as long as you want to work for the city of Jackson,’” Duffey said.
The mayor describes Adams as a local legend.
“It’s just amazing that at 90, he’s still getting around, still committed to work, still committed to the city after all of these years and wanting to be here. Just showing up every day to do the job and giving a great effort,” Duffey said.
Adams said the secret is simple:
“A job is what you make out of it. You can make ’em good, you can make ’em bad, and I always try to make mine good. My job is important to me. When I wake up in the morning, I get up, looking forward to coming to work and do my job.”
For Adams, work is more than a responsibility; it’s a way of life.
“Jackson’s been my town all my life. I love it,” he said.
For the city, his dedication is more than just cleaning streets; it’s a symbol of pride, commitment and a lifetime of service.
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