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North Carolina Woman Vanishes After Grenada Beach Visit

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A woman from North Carolina has mysteriously disappeared while vacationing in the Caribbean island nation of Grenada. Her husband has issued a heartfelt plea for her safe return.

Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell, 44, was last seen at the stunning Grand Anse beachfront area in Grenada’s capital, St. George’s. This disappearance was confirmed by the Royal Grenada Police Force on Thursday.

Waddell, married to Cailen Waddell—an operations manager overseeing parks, recreation, and cultural resources in Cary, North Carolina—was reported missing after she was last spotted on Grand Anse Beach around 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening.

In response to Waddell’s disappearance, local authorities have launched an intensive search mission. They are appealing to fishermen, boat operators, and residents along the southern coast to remain vigilant and report any potential sightings.

The missing persons notice included a photo of Waddell with short pink hair. Police, however, have since clarified her description, noting that she has short blonde hair and a medium build.

She is said to be about 5 feet tall despite the official press release stating she was 5-foot-5, WTVD reported.

Cailen Waddell shared a desperate plea for his wife Friday morning.

“Facebook Friends. My wife Liz is missing in Grenada. If any of you have connections to the island – can you please share the following with your contacts there?” he wrote on Facebook.

“Liz went missing in the afternoon on Wednesday. I am on my way there now to help search. I expect nothing less than Liz’s safe return – so please sent your love, light, thoughts, and prayers our way,” he said.

Waddell graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy before opening the Art of Movement Physical Therapy in Cary, where she combined her decade of physical therapy experience and over two decades of experience in fitness and dance. 

Her bio states she enjoys staying active, including pole dancing, CrossFit, hiking, traveling, and taking walks with her husband around their hometown of Cary.

Waddell’s Facebook account was filled with photos from various international trips, including to Mexico and Thailand, spending time with her husband, Cailen, and their adopted adult daughter, Suwan.

Her last post, on May 22, gave a “Liz health update” where she shared she was being treated for “long-COVID/post-viral and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with a root cause of endometriosis & perimenopause insanity.”

Waddell said her symptoms, which she began experiencing last September, forced her to stop working and going to the gym, and spending a majority of her days sleeping.

Her latest update said she was improving and slowly getting back to a more consistent work schedule.

Grenada officials did not provide any additional information on her disappearance.

Find Missing North Carolina Woman in Caribbean Paradise

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A North Carolina park manager’s spouse has mysteriously disappeared during a trip to the Caribbean, leaving loved ones searching for answers.

Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Waddell, 44, was last spotted at the picturesque Grand Anse Beach in Saint George’s, the bustling capital of Grenada, according to statements from the Royal Grenada Police Force.

The police have yet to disclose details about what might have led to her sudden disappearance.

In their effort to find her, authorities are urging local fishermen, boaters, and residents along Grenada’s shores to come forward with any information or sightings that might provide clues to her location.

According to a missing person notice released by the police, Waddell is described as being 5’5″ with short blonde hair, though the poster includes a photo showing her with pink-dyed tresses.

Her husband, Cailen Waddell, shared the photograph on Facebook, writing: ‘I expect nothing less than Liz’s safe return – so please send your love, light, thoughts, and prayers our way.’

It is unclear why Waddell, who was traveling without her husband, made the trip to Grenada.

Her husband, who currently serves as the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources manager in the city of Cary, North Carolina, flew to the island on Friday to aid in the search efforts, according to his post. 

Physical therapist Elizabeth 'Liz' Waddell, 44, has vanished without a trace during a trip to the Caribbean island of Grenada

Physical therapist Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Waddell, 44, has vanished without a trace during a trip to the Caribbean island of Grenada

She and her husband, Cailen Waddell, live in North Carolina but appear to be avid travelers

She and her husband, Cailen Waddell, live in North Carolina but appear to be avid travelers

Waddell was last seen at Grand Anse Beach in Saint George's, the capital of Grenada, on Wednesday. Police have not released any information about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance

Waddell was last seen at Grand Anse Beach in Saint George’s, the capital of Grenada, on Wednesday. Police have not released any information about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance

Elizabeth Waddell is the founder of Art of Movement Physical Therapy center in Cary.

She has a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, her website said.

The business website has not been updated since January and it appears that Waddell may have ceased taking on clients.

In December, she shared made an Instagram post detailing that she stopped working in mid-November due to a myriad of health conditions, including perimenopause and a worsening symptoms from a pre-existing Vagus nerve injury.

‘I’ve learned to give up control and live in the moment. I listen to my body as much as possible and give myself grace when I can’t do the things I want to do,’ she wrote at the time.

‘I have no regrets. I think I’m supposed to be learning the hard lessons and taking this time to heal and grow.’

Waddell and Cailen appear to be avid travelers. Photos shared on their social media accounts show the couple visited the Mexican island of Isla Holbox in May.

They also apparently spent several months in Thailand last year.

Royal Grenada Police released this missing persons flyer. They urged anyone with information about Waddell's whereabouts to reach out

Royal Grenada Police released this missing persons flyer. They urged anyone with information about Waddell’s whereabouts to reach out

Waddell is the founder of Art of Movement Physical Therapy center in Cary. She has a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Waddell is the founder of Art of Movement Physical Therapy center in Cary. She has a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

It is unclear why Waddell, who was traveling without Cailen, made the trip to Grenada

It is unclear why Waddell, who was traveling without Cailen, made the trip to Grenada

The couple officially became parents in 2024 after they adopted their adult daughter, Suwan, their profiles showed.

Hundreds of people have issued their support to Cailen as he searches for his wife.

‘Barely slept last night after getting the news. Liz is an amazing person, one of the best. Praying to the universe for her safe return,’ one friend wrote on his Facebook post. 

‘Oh my god, Cailen. Holding you both in my heart and putting all the good energy into the universe for her safety,’ another said.

One added: ‘My heart aches for what you are going through. Sending so much love, many prayers and positivity your way. Safe travels and peace to you….’

Anyone with information about Waddell’s whereabouts is urged to contact Royal Grenada Police. 

Boomers Face Harsh Reality: Millennials Refuse to be Caretakers, Reveals Viral Reddit Conversation

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(NEXSTAR) — Are Millennials seeking retribution against Baby Boomers? That’s the question at the heart of a Reddit thread from three years ago that is once again gaining traction. This viral discussion points to a growing sentiment among Millennials who feel no obligation to care for their Baby Boomer elders.

But why is that the case?

The resurgence of this conversation was sparked by a Vox article addressing the financial challenges Millennials face as they enter midlife. One of these challenges is the potential burden of caring for aging parents, a new crisis looming on the horizon for this generation.

Interestingly, the conversation unfolds in the subreddit r/BoomersBeingFools, a space often dedicated to highlighting instances of Baby Boomers behaving in ways perceived as “obnoxious and entitled” online. Though the responses on this platform might be seen as tongue-in-cheek, the underlying sentiment is a stark critique of the Baby Boomer generation. This critique reflects a long-standing grievance — many Millennials feel that Boomers have “ruined America” or significantly impacted their lives negatively, a sentiment echoed in countless articles over the past decade.

The roots of this generational discord are complex and multifaceted, often attributed to the economic prosperity Boomers are believed to have monopolized. Millennials argue that Boomers have blocked pathways to career success and homeownership that were readily available to previous generations. Publications like Business Insider have discussed this tension, with a March 2023 article bluntly titled “Boomer greed ruined the economy for Gen Z, Millennials,” highlighting these grievances.

Now, as Millennials enter middle age worse off financially than their parents and grandparents, the concept of now having to pay for care for the very people who saddled them with debt has many in upset.

“Hey boomers, remember that social safety net you dismantled and those homes and cars you got before you pulled up the ladder behind you? Yeah, you need to sell that stuff to take care of yourself. Because f–k you. That’s why,” one Redditor replied.

Another user replied, “Most didn’t help their kids, why would their kids help them?” This received a reply reading, “My Boomer parents had me paying for 90% of my own things by age 16. Moved out at 17. Worked through and assumed 100% of loans and cost for my education, wedding, children, housing. Meanwhile they are spending money on their own luxuries and not saving for retirement.”

The latter comment, among the most upvoted, received many replies, including one person who added, “Yep, it’s how many Boomer parents were… Many Boomers could help, like your parents and my in-laws, and chose not to. Now, they’re going to get nothing. Have fun, Boomers!”

The thread received over 700 replies and has since been archived.

A Yahoo! Finance article published Wednesday delved deeper into this ongoing conversation, explaining that the U.S. is facing a shortage of around 355,000 professional caregivers by 2040, meaning that elderly Americans may increasingly be depending on family to take care of them.

May research from University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics found tens of millions of unpaid caregivers are spending $80,000 per year to care for others. Reasons for this include Medicaid/Medicare limitations and cuts, in addition to outdated and unsteady governmental support for family caregivers.

The study also found that unpaid caregivers may face job advancement loss, depression, isolation and an overall decline in life quality as a result of their responsibilities.

LDI Executive Director Rachel M. Werner added: “Relying on unpaid caregivers to hold together our long-term care system is not sustainable. And it is wrong.”

Bravo Star Reveals Shocking US Deportation Experience

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Natalya Scudder, known for her role on “Below Deck: Mediterranean,” shared a distressing incident where she was detained and deported from the United States.

The Australian stewardess, recognized from Seasons 7 and 8 of the Bravo hit, described spending a day in unpleasant conditions after she landed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

“I was pulled aside from the main waiting area and taken behind the scenes at the airport,” Scudder revealed to TMZ. This occurred after noticing unusual delays during her immigration process.

Officials allegedly told her she had taken photos on American soil and profited from them in 2024, thus violating the terms of her visa by working illegally.

In the holding room, Scudder encountered “dirty blankets on the floor” and observed “stains all over the walls,” highlighting the facility’s poor conditions.

The reality star remembered being the “only girl” there and a shower consisting of a “shared loofah” and no towels — with officers telling her to dry herself off with her dirty clothes and put them back on.

Scudder said she also asked for a blanket because she was “freezing” and was told, “This isn’t the Beverly Hills Hotel.”

This was to be her home for “one to five days,” she claimed.

What’s more, the OnlyFans creator said when she was detained officers took her iPhone and “went through absolutely everything.”

“Whatever you think’s deleted on your iPhone, it’s not deleted,” she said, alleging officials looked through her ChatGPT history, text messages, notes and “every single thing you’ve ever screenshotted, taken a picture of, Googled.”

“It’s really embarrassing just having everyone kind of stare at you and laugh when they come out of this room and gaze over,” she said.

After she was finally “dead-ass asleep” around 3 a.m., Scudder said she was shaken awake and told to wake up for her “official interview” — where she claimed officials had “already decided” to deport her back to Australia.

“17-hour flight there, 30 to 40 hours between when I landed to the whole lock-up situation and then 17 hours back,” she said of her travel nightmare.

While Scudder said she still “love[s] America,” she issued a stern warning to other content creators to be wary of following the rules for whatever visa they are issued.

Colossal 20-Foot Great White Shark Spotted Off North America Stirs Awe and Concern

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A group of seasoned shark researchers embarked on an expedition to a secluded island near Nova Scotia, drawn by rumors of a mysterious assemblage of colossal great whites, some reportedly reaching an astounding 20 feet in length.

The pivotal figure in their quest is ‘Big Rose,’ a formidable three-ton female shark considered one of the North Atlantic’s largest great whites observed to date.

Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, a shark expert, initially caught sight of this massive predator last year. His eagerness to track and tag her brings him back for the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week special, “Invasion of the Mega Sharks,” airing Sunday at 10 p.m. ET.

This expedition is particularly timely as sightings of great whites between Cape Cod and Nova Scotia have soared by an incredible 1,000 percent over the last ten years. Scientists have noted a trend of encounters with what Hammerschlag describes as ‘very large, massive great whites.’

Mud Island, known for its shark activity and Big Rose’s last known location, set the stage for the search. This site is swiftly becoming a hotspot for sightings of sharks significantly exceeding the typical eight- to 10-foot great whites usually documented in North America.

Researchers suspended a cage beside their boat and dropped bait into the water, hoping to lure the predators close enough to identify, measure and tag them.

Several giants soon emerged from the depths, including three measuring more than 14 feet and a 16-foot female the team named Sweetheart.

But as darkness closed in, there was still no sign of the 20-foot monster they had traveled hundreds of miles to find.

A team of shark experts ventured to a remote island off Nova Scotia in search of a mysterious population of enormous great whites measuring up to 20 feet long

A team of shark experts ventured to a remote island off Nova Scotia in search of a mysterious population of enormous great whites measuring up to 20 feet long

Their ultimate target was ‘Big Rose,’ an elusive three-ton female believed to be one of the largest great white sharks ever encountered in the North Atlantic. The sharked earned the name for a rose-like pattern on its fin

Their ultimate target was ‘Big Rose,’ an elusive three-ton female believed to be one of the largest great white sharks ever encountered in the North Atlantic. The sharked earned the name for a rose-like pattern on its fin

Hammerschlag climbed into a tiny inflatable boat and maneuvered dangerously close to the circling predators, armed with an air-powered veterinary gun designed to fire tracking tags into their sides.

Surrounded by great whites, he successfully tagged four of the animals, allowing the team to monitor their movements around the island.

The following morning, the trackers delivered an unexpected clue: All four sharks had moved to the opposite side of Mud Island.

Suspecting Big Rose might have followed them, the researchers packed up their equipment and raced to the new location.

But when they arrived, the ocean appeared strangely empty.

Hours passed without a single fin breaking the surface, raising fears that something was preventing the sharks from approaching the boat.

Underwater cameras eventually revealed the truth. Shadowy predators were circling far beneath the vessel, refusing to rise from the murky depths.

To reach them, the team deployed a custom lightweight cage capable of descending much farther than its original equipment.

Researchers dropped a 50-pound slab of bluefin tuna into the water and waited.

Researchers dropped a 50-pound slab of bluefin tuna into the water and waited.

Shark Week expert and attack survivor Paul de Gelder climbed inside and dropped 50 feet to the ocean floor for what the program described as the first bottom-cage dive conducted at the island.

Through the gloom, a 13-foot great white suddenly appeared, confirming that the predators had not left; they were simply staying deep.

Then an even larger silhouette materialized beyond the cage.

Poor visibility made it impossible for de Gelder to identify the animal, and with his air supply running low, he was forced to abandon the dive and return to the surface.

The team was now convinced a monster was hiding below, but it needed to draw the shark into daylight to determine whether it was Big Rose.

Researchers dropped a 50-pound slab of bluefin tuna into the water and waited.

Moments later, a gigantic great white emerged from the depths and closed in on the boat, wrapping its jaws around the bait and dragging it through the water.

As the shark passed the cage, the team spotted the distinctive rose-shaped marking on her dorsal fin that had inspired her name. It was Big Rose.

Moments later, a gigantic great white emerged from the depths and closed in on the boat, wrapping its jaws around the bait and dragging it through the water

Moments later, a gigantic great white emerged from the depths and closed in on the boat, wrapping its jaws around the bait and dragging it through the water

The researchers erupted in celebration as the massive shark circled the vessel. Their measurements indicated that she stretched approximately 20 feet from nose to tail, measured six feet across and weighed roughly three tons.

Experts estimated that Big Rose was more than 50 years old, making her not only exceptionally large but also one of the oldest predators patrolling the region.

The team dropped a second piece of tuna into the ocean, hoping to tempt her within range of Hammerschlag’s tagging equipment.

Experts estimated that Big Rose was more than 50 years old, making her not only exceptionally large but also one of the oldest predators patrolling the region

Experts estimated that Big Rose was more than 50 years old, making her not only exceptionally large but also one of the oldest predators patrolling the region

But Big Rose disappeared back into the depths and never returned, denying the researchers the opportunity to track where she traveled next.

Her reappearance at Mud Island nevertheless offered an important clue. Experts said her repeated visits suggested the remote location held ecological significance for great white sharks.

Over the following month, Hammerschlag tagged three additional large sharks as the team documented 109 great whites around the island, including 25 that appeared on multiple occasions.

Tracking data later showed Sweetheart traveling down the entire US Eastern Seaboard, passing Florida and eventually reaching Louisiana.

Although Big Rose escaped without a tag, the researchers said her immense width suggested that she had returned to the area to give birth.

If their suspicions are correct, an undiscovered great white birthing ground may be hidden somewhere nearby, meaning the hunt for Big Rose has uncovered an even greater mystery beneath the North Atlantic.

Israel Detains Palestinians Post-West Bank Shootout Incident

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Israeli forces have apprehended more than a dozen Palestinians across the occupied West Bank this Saturday in the aftermath of a deadly encounter that occurred in a Palestinian village. This confrontation resulted in the tragic deaths of at least four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers after a group of armed Israeli settlers encroached on the area.

The precise details of Friday’s violent encounter remain somewhat murky, yet its impact on political relations has been immediate. In response to the skirmish in Tell, Israel has announced plans to sanction additional settlements within the West Bank, escalating existing tensions.

Reports from Israeli media, alongside statements from Palestinian authorities in the region, indicate that armed settlers had entered Tell. The presence of these individuals sparked a robust defense from villagers who were concerned about a potential assault. Initially, the Israeli military had depicted the settlers as merely hikers. However, they later conceded to the fact that some were indeed armed, confirming that both settlers and residents exchanged gunfire before military forces stepped in.

Walid Zidan, who presides over the village council in Tell, relayed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) that approximately 20 settlers, equipped with firearms, infiltrated the village on Friday, leading to a violent clash with its inhabitants.

“Their claim of simply following a route or trail is misleading,” Zidan contested, asserting that their true intention was to launch an assault on the village homes.

“People did not go there looking for a confrontation with them; they were simply defending their homes, nothing more and nothing less.”

Palestinian health officials said Israeli soldiers shot and killed four Palestinians in Tell, while the Israeli military reported the deaths of two soldiers, one of them a settler in a local defence squad. Two other Israeli settlers and four more Palestinians were wounded.

Soldiers patrol a street with a house seen in the background

Detainees had ‘numbers written on heads’

Tell is part of the so-called Area A of the West Bank, where Palestinian authorities have administrative control and Israeli civilians are barred under Israeli law from entering. Area A comprises less than a fifth of the West Bank.

Zidan on Sunday said around 70 people from the village had been detained and questioned at a field interrogation centre set up in a house in the village. Around 10 to 12 had been released so far, he told Reuters by telephone.

“House raids are continuing, army patrols are driving through the streets, and there is no movement of people in the streets,” he said.

“Every person who was brought in was assigned a number, which was written on their forehead,” said Saif Hamza, who was released after questioning.

Over 80 Palestinians were arrested across the territory, said Amin Shuman, president of the Palestinian higher commission for the affairs of prisoners, calling them “an attempt to impose collective punitive measures and retaliatory policies” against Palestinian citizens after Friday’s events.

The Israeli military said security forces had questioned 80 people in the area of Tell and arrested 11 of them.

Dozens more were arrested in raids across the West Bank, the Israeli military said, including some whom it described as suspects affiliated with the militant group Hamas.

‘Under what law?’

Zidan said he still struggled to comprehend what had happened in the village.

“I am in my own home, and someone comes and assaults me,” he said.

“Under what law? Under what moral or legal authority? I am in my own home, on my own land. By what right you, as settlers, come here?”

An AFP journalist at the hospital reported the four deceased Palestinians’ bodies were laid on stretchers and wrapped in Palestinian flags while friends and relatives said their goodbyes.

Ismail al-Saifi, another resident of Tell, told AFP the settlers’ presence in the village was not an isolated incident, and that locals had decided to fight back on Friday.

Israel vows to approve more settlements

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that following the deaths of the two Israelis, he would allow the establishment of more settlements in the region.

All Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law.

Netanyahu said Israel would conduct more raids in Palestinian villages and accelerate “the legalisation of farm outposts and establishment of new ones”. Outposts are small illegal settlements usually established without Israeli government approval.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, but in recent years the number of illegal settlements in the Palestinian territory has soared.

Excluding east Jerusalem, more than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, home to around three million Palestinians.

According to an AFP tally based on data from the Palestinian health ministry, Israeli soldiers or settlers have killed at least 1,097 Palestinians since the start of the Gaza war.

Israelis protest against settler violence in Tel Aviv

A day after the attack in Tell, Israelis staged a demonstration in Tel Aviv on Saturday (local time).

Israeli activists carried banners reading “Palestinian Lives Matter,” “Stop the genocide in Gaza,” and “Stop the ongoing Nakba from the West Bank to Gaza,” while calling for an end to settler violence and peace with Palestinians.

People hold up signs at a demonstration

Police intervened in the demonstration and arrested nine protesters, according to Israeli media reports.

Tel Aviv-based The Mothers Against Violence protest group said more than 200 people took part in the demonstration, and accused police of using force against demonstrators.


Urgent: California Searches for 2 Abducted Children, Safety Feared

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California authorities are on a desperate search for two 9-year-olds, amid fears for their safety following an alleged abduction by their father.

The public’s assistance is being sought by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to locate Solomon and Marozhina Sukonick. Investigators report that their father, David Sukonick, allegedly took the children on Thursday.

The last known sighting of the children was around 8 p.m. in the vicinity of the 1000 block of West Avenue J-8 in Lancaster, according to authorities.

Solomon Sukonick, left, and Marozhina Sukonick

Both Solomon and Marozhina Sukonick, aged 9, are reportedly missing following their father’s alleged abduction in Lancaster, California, as stated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)

The sheriff’s department has expressed serious concerns for the children’s well-being and has released a statement urging anyone who may have information to assist in their search.

Investigators said the children were last seen traveling in a black 2011 Lincoln Town Car with California license plate SOLOYST.

Marozhina is described as a 9-year-old White girl who stands 4 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs about 90 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing pink shorts and a white shirt.

David Sukonick, center, is accused of abducting his two 9-year-old children, Solomon and Marozhina Sukonick.

David Sukonick, center, is accused of abducting his two 9-year-old children, Solomon and Marozhina Sukonick, authorities said. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)

Solomon, also 9, is described as a white boy who stands 4 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs about 90 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing blue shorts and an unknown-colored shirt.

David Sukonick is described as a 71-year-old white man who stands 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighs about 135 pounds and has brown hair and green eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at 661-940-3855.

2011 Lincoln Town Car with California license plate SOLOYST

Authorities say Solomon and Marozhina Sukonick were last seen traveling in this black 2011 Lincoln Town Car with California license plate SOLOYST. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)

Anonymous tips can also be submitted through L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), using the P3 Tips mobile app or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.

According to the New York Post, David Sukonick shared a photo of the children on Facebook on July 13. One commenter questioned whether the children were OK, writing that they looked “miserable.”

LAPD Chief Reveals Challenges Amid Rising Police Shortages in Los Angeles

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The Los Angeles Police Department is facing an escalating crisis of manpower, as the city’s leading law enforcement official reveals a significant loss in officer numbers. Despite striving to strengthen the force with 4,000 additional officers, the department is grappling with a dwindling roster.

In an exclusive interview with The California Post, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell disclosed that their current force comprises roughly 8,550 officers. This marks a decline from the 8,700 officers recorded in February, reflecting a reduction of about 200 personnel.

Chief McDonnell further highlighted the department’s pressing need for approximately 12,500 officers to adequately secure the city. This updated figure surpasses the previous estimate of 12,000 he mentioned earlier this year in February.

“With 12,500 officers, we could ensure optimal coverage,” McDonnell stated. “Our current situation is far from this target, with only 8,551 officers actively serving today.”

He added, “New lateral hires often express disbelief at our operational achievements given our limited manpower, highlighting the significant challenges we face daily.”

California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton called the revelation “shocking and scandalous.”

“It is totally unacceptable for America’s second city to be starved of law enforcement in this way,” he told The California Post. “This is what happens with years of a far left ideology that tries to systematically undermine law enforcement in the name of ‘criminal justice reform’ — defund the police, close the prisons, catch and release. It all adds up to massive demoralization of the brave men and women who put themselves at risk to keep us safe.”

In February, McDonnell said LA needed 12,000 officers just to function safely — a staggering 38% increase, or roughly 3,300 more cops from staffing levels at the time. The new 12,500 figure represents an ideal level, he said, enabling the department to achieve the best possible results with major events like the 2028 Summer Olympics expected to bring millions of people to the city.

Instead, the City Council approved funding to hire up just to 410 officers this fiscal year, a move one senior department source described as “a drop in the bucket.”

A bloc of Democratic Socialists of America councilmembers have been openly hostile to the LAPD, with member and now mayoral candidate Nithya Raman opposed to any increases to the department’s budget and pushing to shrink its role.

“We are thankful that we are not dealing with a Mayor Raman, who has repeatedly voted to cut funding to hire police officers and has no real plan to keep Angelenos safe,” Tom Saggau, spokesman for the city’s largest police union, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, told the California Post.


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In April, Mayor Karen Bass announced that she was dialing back her once-ambitious plan to rebuild the LAPD and is now aiming to simply to stop the bleeding.

“My goal changed, unfortunately,” Bass said of her intention to bring police headcount to 9,500 officers.
“I do hope that one day we get to the expansion, but we are not there now.”

The LAPD had just 26 graduates in its June 2026 class, not nearly enough to offset the 500 to 600 officers LAPD officials have said the department loses per year through attrition.

“People don’t want to be police officers because the profession has been relentlessly criticized,” said George Francisco, longtime member of LAPD Pacific Community-Police Advisory Board. “Organized and well-funded anti-law enforcement campaigns, coupled with years of negative media coverage, have created a stigma around policing that discourages many young people from considering it as a career.”

The largest size the Los Angeles Police Department ever reached was approximately 10,023 sworn officers in 2013.

Bass has moved to address the current shortage by reducing the amount of time to conduct background checks on new hires and increasing the starting pay for rookie officers.

Under Bass’s union contract with the LAPD, the starting annual base pay for new police recruits is $86,192, an increase of about 13% from previous rates.

The mayor has also provided incentives for senior officers to stay on the force, Saggau said.

“We support Mayor Bass’s initiatives to grow the ranks of the LAPD,” he told The Post.

“Public safety is the most important service that the City of Los Angeles provides to its residents, businesses, and visitors — especially ahead of major sporting events,” the mayor’s office said in a statement to The Post. “Even in light of the City’s financial environment, Mayor Bass has fought to prioritize public safety and streamline the hiring process for LAPD officers through executive action. Mayor Bass’ long-term goal is to continue to rebuild the ranks of the LAPD.”

McDonnell said the LAPD’s dwindling size has forced the department to find new ways of boosting efficiencies while continuing to grapple with a shrinking staff.

He cited the use of drones as an important tool for boosting the impact of the department, calling the new technology “a force multiplier.”  

Drones have already saved police from responding to hundreds of unneeded calls for service, department officials said. Last year, the small, unmanned aircraft responded to more than 3,000 calls.

McDonnell said the drones provide police with information that prompts stations to cancel dispatches of officers about 11% of the time, because the officers aren’t really needed.

“We can do a video downlink and we can see that what was reported is not there,” he said.  “And so that saves us time for the units, tying up a unit on a call that’s not a real call.”

With the World Cup in now the rearview mirror and the Olympics on the horizon, McDonnell said the LAPD has become a model of efficiency for police in other U.S. cities.

“Because of the way we police, we’re extremely efficient,” he said. “We’re able to do a lot more with fewer people, and we’ve been doing it for so long that that has become the way we do business.”

Despite the LAPD’s shrinking size, the department has continued to see crime levels drop. The most recent figures show that personal and property crimes in LA are down about 8% year-over-year.

“When you compare LA with New York or Chicago, they have four to four and a half officers per thousand population. We have 2.2,” McDonnell said. “So we are exceptionally lean.”

Katie Holmes and Jason Bard Yarmosky Debut as a Couple in Public Appearance

Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun Strengthen Bond on New Zealand Getaway

Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun took an exhilarating leap in New Zealand, diving into adventure with a bungee-jumping date.

The “Euphoria” actress shared snapshots and videos on Saturday of her thrilling escapade with Braun in Queenstown. The duo, geared up for the adventure, supported each other on several adrenaline-pumping jumps from dizzying heights.

In one video, they sat facing each other, swinging into the vastness while Sweeney let out a scream. Another dramatic clip captured them diving headfirst into the night, seemingly coming to a halt just above the water’s surface.

In more shared moments, the pair stepped into the snowy outdoors to try their hand at archery. Another heartwarming photo featured Sweeney, 28, leaning in for a cheek kiss with Braun, 45.

Sweeney also showcased her skills by hitting a golf ball from a snowy mountaintop, accentuating their adventurous trip.

The American Eagle model also shared footage and photos from a helicopter ride, practiced shooting a rifle and enjoyed a cozy fireside breakfast of pancakes, orange juice and eggs.

Sweeney and Braun spent time with her “Gundam” co-star Noah Centineo — the actors have reportedly been filming on location in Australia for several months and, per Complex, the Netflix project recently wrapped.

“jumped over to queenstown,” Sweeney captioned the carousel, which she also shared to her Instagram Stories.

In the comments, fans cheered on the couple’s high-adrenaline getaway.

“aawwhhhhh what a duo,” one follower gushed, while another wrote, “queen in queenstown 👑.”

“Omg!!!!! You guys are crazyyyyy 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈,” a third exclaimed, with a fourth chiming in, “Adrenaline junkies! 🔥.”

Yet another wrote, “Love how adventurous you are. Your life is epic. Keep living it up.”

Sweeney and Braun were spotted earlier this week in additional social media photos living it up in Australia.

“a little aussie dump,” she captioned the pics, which included photos of the couple in front of a helicopter, enjoying an outdoor adventure course and taking a boat ride together.

The couple met at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s lavish Italian nuptials last June and subsequently began dating.

Page Six reported last month on how the pair’s relationship has become serious.

“They’re very happy together,” a source told us in June. “They’re really enjoying each other.”