Amber Swain, a devoted mother and educator, recently shared a heartwarming moment with her six children and three dogs while hiking through the picturesque landscapes of rural Washington state. Her joyful demeanor and nurturing presence painted a picture of maternal perfection.

At 35, Swain resides in Pend Oreille and has built a commendable career as a schoolteacher. Her passion for helping others is evident in her previous role as the executive director of Spokane Angels, an organization dedicated to uplifting children and caregivers within the foster care system.

Separated from her husband Daniel, Swain has found solace and inspiration in sharing soothing adoption videos. These messages, often filmed in a room adorned with motivational wooden signs reading ‘inspire’ and ‘dream,’ reflect her commitment to fostering hope and growth.

Her dedication to the foster community is profound. In 2017, she encountered a young boy in her third-grade class and was so moved by him that she chose to foster and then adopt him. This act of compassion extended to his brother and another boy she met, further expanding her loving family.

Swain later adopted his brother and a third boy she encountered. 

But nine years on, the activist’s world has come crashing down after she was accused of incestuously abusing two teenage boys, whose identities the Daily Mail is not disclosing. 

She was arrested on Tuesday after an investigation by the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office revealed that she allegedly had sexual encounters with the youngsters, who are aged 17 and 18. 

The age of consent in Washington is 16, but adults in a position of authority over teens up to the age of 19 can still be charged with sexually abusing them. 

Amber Swain looked every inch the perfect mother as she smiled alongside her six children and three dogs during a hike in rural Washington state

Swain and her husband, Daniel, whom she is now separated from, became foster parents in 2017 and went on to adopt three boys who had been placed in their care

Cops launched an investigation into the teacher in May after police were shown text messages between Swain and one of the boys, according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by KREM.

The teenagers were called in for a forensic interview, during which one admitted to having a sexual relationship with her, the affidavit said.

He claimed that the pair started having sex in December, while he was still underage. 

He alleged they had slept together several times, with the most recent encounter having occurred just two days before the interview was conducted.

Swain initially denied the boy’s allegations, but later admitted to having sex with him, the affidavit alleged.

She told investigators that they were first intimate in February, after the boy’s 18th birthday, but added that she ‘could have her timeline messed up,’ the filing said.

The other alleged victim claimed that he touched Swain multiple times while they were in bed together, but said she stopped him a few minutes later.

She also told police that the boy put his hands on her, but claims she ‘pushed’ him away, prosecutors said in the affidavit.

The 35-year-old teacher’s foster care work saw her become executive director at Spokane Angels, a nonprofit that supports children and caregivers in the foster care community

In sharp contrast to the charges she faces, Swain posted calming videos about adoption in a room filled with wooden signs emblazoned with words like ‘inspire’ and ‘dream’ to her Facebook page

The claims have rocked Swain’s quiet rural community, where locals, including Swain herself, enjoy the stunning Alpine scenery and wealth of outdoor pursuits on offer.

They present a terrible contrast to the image she has sought to portray of herself. 

Swain told a heartwarming story about how the third grader she met in 2017, whom she later adopted, came from a ‘struggling’ home, which impacted his academic performance.  

‘Throughout the year, I just grew to love him,’ she said in a Facebook video five years ago in which she urged others to consider adoption. 

‘I saw his resilience, his potential and just grew to love him. He really inspired my husband and I to start fostering.’

Swain and Daniel applied to be foster parents and in January 2018 became carers for that boy and his little brother. 

The following year, the couple started fostering a third boy and in November 2019 legally adopted all three children. The couple also have biological children.

Happy-looking photos showed the family hiking and walking through their local forests – but those images have now been tainted by the allegations against Swain.  

Deputies arrested her on Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree incest and second-degree incest. During Swain’s first court appearance on Wednesday, the judge said she also faces first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor. Formal charges have not yet been filed

The claims against Swain, above in a pro-foster care campaign, present a terrible contrast to the image she has sought to portray of herself 

Deputies arrested her on Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree incest and second-degree incest, the sheriff’s office said.

During Swain’s first court appearance on Wednesday afternoon, the judge said she could also face a charge of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor.

Formal charges have not yet been filed. 

The judge on Wednesday set her bail at $20,000, citing her risk to community safety, according to a terms-of-release order obtained by the Daily Mail.

A no-contact order was put in place for the alleged victims, Swain’s husband and their two youngest children, the filing showed, suggesting that Daniel may now be caring for his estranged wife’s alleged victims. 

It is unclear when the couple parted ways, but property records indicate they sold their shared home in the small town of Newport in 2022.

Daniel, who owns and operates a martial arts studio in their community, did not respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment.

Swain was banned from having contact with anyone under the age of 18 or leaving the state, according to the order.

She is due back in court for her arraignment on Monday. 

Swain was put on administrative leave from her job at Pend Oreille River School after her arrest

Swain is a teacher at Pend Oreille River School in Newport School District. 

She was placed on administrative leave after deputies notified the district about her arrest. Police say district officials are cooperating with the investigation.

In a statement to KREM, the district said: ‘While we cannot say much at this time, we can unequivocally and firmly state that we take these matters very seriously. 

‘We are working closely with law enforcement as they continue their investigation into this matter.’

In Lonoke County, Arkansas, a significant legal decision unfolded on Thursday as a judge dismissed a murder charge against Aaron Spencer, a Republican nominee for sheriff. Spencer had been awaiting trial for the fatal shooting of an individual accused of abusing his teenage daughter.

This judicial outcome arrives just weeks ahead of Spencer’s scheduled jury trial for second-degree murder. Spencer, who will appear on the ballot in November, secured a noteworthy victory in the March primary, defeating the incumbent three-term sheriff of Lonoke County—a predominantly Republican region with a population of approximately 76,000.

Spencer’s legal team acknowledges his involvement in the 2024 shooting of Michael Fosler, asserting that the act was a protective measure for his child. Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. sided with Spencer’s defense, dismissing the charge due to the loss of a crucial dash camera memory card by law enforcement, which might have recorded the incident.

Judge Wilson stated, “The court finds that conduct by law enforcement was so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted.”

At the time of his death, Fosler, aged 67, was out on bond, facing numerous sexual offense charges concerning Spencer’s then-13-year-old daughter.

Court documents show on the night of the shooting, Spencer had woken up to find his daughter missing, and later found the girl in the passenger seat of a vehicle Fosler was driving. Spencer forced Fosler’s truck off the road and, after an altercation, called 911 to report he had shot the man.

Prosecutors said Spencer planned the killing and that he could have called police while pursuing Fosler. But Spencer pleaded not guilty and maintained he acted to protect his child from a predator.

Spencer’s attorney, Erin Cassinelli, said she is thankful for the court’s decision.

“No member of this family should ever again be forced to walk into a courtroom and relive this horror,” she said in a statement. “This father should have never been charged for protecting his child.”

Spencer said he is grateful this chapter is over and that his focus is now on his family and returning to normal life.

“There’s still work to do in Lonoke County, and I’m more committed to it than ever,” he said in a statement. “Together we can build a safer and stronger Lonoke County.”

Lonoke County Prosecuting Attorney Chuck Graham did not return messages Thursday seeking comment on the decision.

The Associated Press typically does not identify sex abuse victims, but Spencer has made his daughter’s experience with the criminal justice system a central part of his campaign for sheriff, pledging to establish a dedicated team to combat sex crimes against children.

Spencer’s attorneys filed the motion seeking to have the case dismissed, contending that video and audio of the dash camera from Fosler’s truck may have contained evidence that would have cleared Spencer of any wrongdoing. According to court records, a detective with the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office removed the dash camera from the truck when responding to the scene of the shooting.

But the camera’s internal settings were not preserved and the battery of the camera was allowed to drain, and as a result the camera went back to its default settings. When the camera was sent to the attorney general’s office for a forensic exam, the memory card that was in it when it was collected from the truck was missing. The detective who collected the camera later admitted that it was not logged into evidence right away, but was instead stored in his personal office rather than the evidence room, according to court records.

Wilson replaced the original judge handling the murder case in January after the Arkansas Supreme Court removed Judge Barbara Elmore from the case, finding she had issued an overly broad gag order that violated Spencer’s First Amendment rights.

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Boone reported from Boise, Idaho. Associated Press reporter Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed.

On Friday, The California Post unveiled new police video footage depicting the arrest of Zachariah Branch. The incident occurred as Branch appeared to be standing on a sidewalk amidst a crowd of people.

The wide receiver’s encounter with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department took place shortly after midnight on April 19 in Athens, Georgia. This was mere days before Branch was picked by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The body camera footage, which recently came to light, initially lacks audio for the first 28 seconds. During this silent segment, it seems an officer is trying to disperse a large gathering outside a bustling bar, instructing Branch and others to vacate the area.

After what appears to be a brief exchange with the officer, Branch shifts slightly to his left but remains among several other onlookers who are also stationary.

Without warning, the officer suddenly lunges toward Branch, handcuffs him, and informs fellow officers that she’s arresting the 22-year-old for “blocking the sidewalk.”

As Branch was being escorted to a nearby squad car, he was adamant he “didn’t do anything.”

The cop, however, insisted he committed a crime.

“I told you to move from blocking the sidewalk,” she said. “I gave you a legal order and you did not listen.”

“Ma’am,” Branch replied, “I was trying to walk away. What are we doing?”

The cop then went more in depth about why she arrested Branch with someone who had been with the former UGA receiver earlier in the evening.

“He should have moved the first three times I told him to move,” she said. “He looked at me, he smirked at me, and then he did it again. That’s obstruction.”

“I asked him if he wanted to be the example,” she later added. “And he chose to be the example. He made that decision. You cannot undo it for him. He’s going to jail.”

Branch was ultimately taken to a nearby jail and booked on two charges — one count of obstructing public sidewalks/streets and one count of obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

But on Wednesday, Branch’s lawyer announced prosecutors had dropped the case.

“After reviewing all evidence, including videos, and discussing the case with us, the State agreed to dismiss all charges against Mr. Branch yesterday,” attorney Kim Stephens said in a statement statement to media. “Zachariah cooperated fully with law enforcement and did not commit a crime on the night of his arrest, and never should have been arrested. We are glad this matter is over and that Mr. Branch’s excellent reputation and good name have been restored.”

Branch, who was picked by the Falcons on April 24 at No. 79 overall, began his collegiate career at USC before transferring to Georgia for the 2025 season.

He went on to have a huge year for the Bulldogs, recording 811 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 81 catches.

He’s impressed the Falcons so far this offseason, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa telling reporters this week he “kind of reminds me of” Jaylen Waddle.

Authorities have apprehended a suspect in connection with the murder of Brett Scrogham, a 23-year-old Indiana University Business School graduate who was fatally shot in Indianapolis on May 28.

According to investigators, a 14-year-old is accused of shooting Scrogham as he sat in his car within a downtown parking garage. Scrogham was en route to an Indianapolis Indians Minor League baseball game at the time. The suspect’s identity has not been disclosed by police.

There’s a possibility that the young suspect could face charges as an adult, though this would necessitate a jurisdictional waiver under Indiana state law. The arrest took place on Wednesday.

Brett Scrogham was attacked in the Indianapolis parking facility on Thursday, May 28, 2026, and succumbed to his injuries by Saturday, May 30, 2026.

Police officers responding to the incident discovered Scrogham wounded inside his vehicle. He was transported to a hospital, where he unfortunately passed away.

Indianapolis Metro Police Department (IMPD) cruisers secure a crime scene where Brett Scrogham was killed on May 28, 2028. (WXIN)

In a statement IMPD Chief Tanya Terry said, “While today’s [Wednesday] arrest is significant, my heart breaks for everyone impacted by this tragedy. A young man lost his life, and another now faces allegations that will change his life forever.”

In a social post, Seth Davis, a man who described himself as a friend of Scrogham’s, said:

“My friend, Brett Scrogham, was murdered this past week in a parking garage in broad daylight in downtown Indianapolis while meeting up with his family for an Indians game in a random act of violence. He had graduated as a top 100 student at the IU Kelley School of Business just weeks ago, was well spoken, smart, loved Christ, incredibly kind, and had just started his new job as a property development analyst. He was exactly the kind of person the world needs more of.”

Police say a teen suspect shot and killed 23-year-old Brett Scrogham. The 14-year-old suspect was arrested in connection to the crime on Wednesday. (Google Maps)

WTHR reported Marion County Indiana Prosecutor Ryan Mears will be providing a possible update in the case Friday morning.

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More than a million residents across the American Southwest have been advised to keep their windows closed and limit outdoor activities due to a hazardous dust cloud sweeping through the region.

Air quality alerts have been issued in Texas, New Mexico, and parts of Arizona, as monitoring stations report a significant increase in harmful and potentially toxic particle levels following Friday morning’s dust storms.

El Paso, Texas, a major city with nearly 900,000 inhabitants located on the U.S.-Mexico border, finds itself at the heart of this air quality crisis.

The affected area stretches about 200 miles along the Texas and New Mexico border, enveloping a large portion of the region in potentially dangerous air.

The culprit behind these concerning conditions is fine particulate matter—tiny particles that can infiltrate the lungs, leading to inflammation, respiratory issues, and other health problems.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified the air in the entire El Paso metropolitan area ‘unhealthy’ while a large patch near the US Army’s Fort Bliss has been deemed ‘very unhealthy.’

According to the World Air Quality Index project, a nonprofit providing real-time air pollution data for hundreds of countries, the air quality index (AQI) reached 411 in the northern part of El Paso.

Typically, air quality levels are only measured on a scale from 0 to 500. When outdoor air quality reaches 300 to 500, the EPA warns that everyone should avoid all physical activity outside.

A major plume of hazardous air has been detected over Texas, New Mexico and Arizona on Friday, June 5

The source of the air quality alert in El Paso, Texas (Pictured) is believed to be major dust storms being blown north from Mexico (Stock Image)

The main driver of the air pollution in the Southwest has been PM10, a type of fine particulate matter made up of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets floating in the air that are less than 10 micrometers in diameter, thinner than a human hair.

This form of air pollution is noticeably larger than the more common PM2.5, which is typically composed of toxins or heavy metals produced by factories and car exhaust.

However, PM10 can still damage the lungs, worsen respiratory issues such as asthma and contribute to heart attacks and strokes that cause premature death when inhaled consistently.

In an air quality notice, AccuWeather warned: ‘Exposure can result in eye and throat irritation, coughing or difficulty breathing, and aggravated asthma. More frequent and excessive exposure can result in more serious health effects.’

Air quality website IQAir revealed in their live tracking data that the conditions were being fueled by steady winds moving north from Mexico.

The severe conditions that have developed around El Paso have been largely blamed on the natural geography along the US southern border, including regular dust storms from the Chihuahuan Desert.

Severe smog from cars, trucks and factories has also flowed across the border from the Mexican city of Juárez, which has a rapidly growing population of more than 1.6 million people.

This has led the American Lung Association to give El Paso an ‘F’ grade for ozone pollution in 2025.

Pictured: A mother and child walk in an El Paso dust storm. Breathing in the particles carried by these storms can result in serious respiratory issues (Stock Image)

Air quality monitors in Texas have declared the conditions in El Paso, Texas ‘hazardous’ due to skyrocketing levels of fine particulate matter

In New Mexico, multiple cities have been warned that the air quality has reached levels which are harmful to ‘sensitive groups.’

These include people with lung or heart disease, older adults, pregnant women, children and those who spend most of their day working outdoors.

New Mexico’s Las Cruces, Silver City, Deming and Lordsburg are all in the affected area on Friday, impacting roughly 250,000 people.

The EPA said smaller patches of ‘unhealthy’ air also emerged in Arizona, mainly over the Maricopa Indian Reservation south of Phoenix.