A chorus of voices rose in Brooklyn on Sunday as residents gathered to demand that the city finally convert a downtown parking lot, currently serving judges, into its intended purpose: parkland.

Brooklynites have long awaited the transformation of the parking spots that cloak Columbus Park in concrete, providing convenience to judges and their staff at the cost of community green space, according to City Councilman Lincoln Restler.

“Generations of judges have consistently chosen their own convenience over the community’s needs,” Restler said during the protest. “This has been to the detriment of our neighborhood’s best interests.”

Restler emphasized the urgency of the situation, pointing out the surge of new developments in the area in recent years. Despite this growth, the promised park space has yet to materialize.

“In recent years, we’ve seen this explosion of new development across our community without the required park space that should have come with it.

“This is our opportunity to fix that.”

Downtown Brooklyn’s judges already have access to 250 free parking spots in the immediate area, including 170 reserved on-street spots and 80 more spaces in a city-built parking garage two blocks away, Restler said.

At the same time, more than 25,000 housing units have been built in downtown Brooklyn in recent years, leaving new neighbors scrambling for more coveted green space, locals said.

“Every summer when I walk by and it’s incredibly hot, I find myself wishing there was the shade of more trees here with some grass to cool off,” said Cobble Hill resident Kate Blumm.

“It just makes sense to me that this [park] can serve more members of the community. … It seems like a win-win for pretty much everyone.”

It’s no surprise the judges have already made a legal case out of the mess.

In July, the judges took the city and then-Mayor Eric Adams to court over claims his administration violated a 2008 agreement requiring the city seek the judges’ approval before planning to remove the parking spaces.

Restler said the alternative on-street and private parking options he has pitched — including at Brooklyn Law School, a Marriott hotel and a residential co-op building nearby — are more than adequate.

He said a change in the city’s mayoral administration has made him “hopeful” the project will come to fruition at last.

“I think [the judges] are very powerful,” he said. “And I think many elected officials in previous administrations have been fearful of taking them on, because who’s to know the next time that any of us might end up in a courtroom in downtown Brooklyn … and maybe it might not be looked upon as favorably.”

The councilman said that if the judges remain standoffish, he plans to pitch a citywide review of all of the judges’ parking spots to determine which spaces are truly necessary.

“Our community desperately needs green space … we can do this nicely, or we can do this the hard way,” he told the crowd at the rally. 

“It’s time for us to evict the judges,” he said. “Many of these judges live [within] walking distance. 

“They can damn well take the subway.”

Downtown Brooklyn and its surrounding neighborhoods are only composed of about 6% parkland compared to a 23% citywide average, said Kathy Park-Price of the New Yorkers for Parks advocacy group at the rally.

Columbus Park “would serve thousands [if converted to green space] versus the few dozens that it serves by being a parking lot,” she said.

“This is an emergency. … We can’t have more development without maintaining, expanding [and] improving our existing parks.”

Under an $80 million proposal, Columbus Park would be transformed into a 8-acre park with a lawn, pavilion and garden.

So far, Restler has secured $21 million of the funding — but whether the judges will agree to the plan remains up in the air.

“No alternatives have yet been proposed that would provide adequate security for our judges,” said Al Baker, a rep from the New York Office of Court Administration, told the New York Times earlier this year.

The article listed increased threats made against judges as the prime reason to hold onto the parking lot.

A Post request for comment from the office was not returned.

In a separate case in Minnesota, a man who allegedly threatened his coworkers with the words “no one’s going home today” before a fatal workplace incident has been sentenced to over a decade behind bars. The confrontation ended in the death of a fellow employee.

Mohamed A. Hared, aged 26, received a 128-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree unintentional murder while committing a felony. This plea came in connection to the shooting of 22-year-old Ahmed Ibrahim Cariif, as reported by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.

The shooting occurred on June 29, 2024, in the parking lot of an Amazon fulfillment center located in Lakeville, Minnesota. Hared, Cariif, and another coworker had traveled together for an overnight shift at the center.

The criminal complaint reveals that the altercation started during a work break when Hared discovered a flashlight attachment was missing from his handgun. This firearm had been left inside the car they used to commute to work.

Mohamed A. Hared was sentenced to 128 months in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree unintentional murder while committing a felony in the 2024 shooting death of coworker Ahmed Ibrahim Cariif. (Dakota County Sheriff’s Office)

Hared accused Cariif and another coworker of taking the attachment, but both men denied any involvement, court records show.

The three returned to the vehicle during another break several hours later to continue searching for the missing item. According to the complaint, a coworker suggested getting security involved.

Instead, Hared reportedly continued accusing the two men of taking the attachment.

Packages on a conveyor belt at an Amazon fulfillment center on Cyber Monday on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“No. You guys took my flashlight. I want my flashlight back. No one’s going home today,” Hared told the men, according to the criminal complaint.

According to the complaint, surveillance video reviewed by investigators showed the two men had separated before a second confrontation erupted.

During the second fight, Hared pulled out a handgun, according to investigators.

A witness told police that Cariif attempted to grab the weapon after it was drawn. The first shot struck a nearby vehicle, the complaint states.

After the initial gunshot, both Cariif and the witness yelled, “Don’t shoot,” according to investigators.

A Minnesota man was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison in the fatal shooting of a coworker following a dispute over a missing firearm accessory. (iStock)

Authorities said Hared then fired a second shot, striking Cariif in the chest.

Cariif died at the scene and an autopsy later determined the gunshot struck his heart, lung and aorta.

Investigators said surveillance video showed Hared had opportunities to retreat from the confrontation but instead continued engaging in the fight before the fatal shooting occurred.

Hared was initially charged with second-degree intentional murder. In January, he pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder while committing a felony.

Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena called the killing senseless.

“It’s so senseless the victim was shot to death over such a trivial matter,” Keena said when charges were announced in July 2024. “Deadly gun violence has no place in our communities, neighborhoods or at our places of work.”

Hared received credit for 700 days already served and remains in custody pending transfer to the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

<!–>

A new initiative to introduce a $250 bill featuring President Trump’s likeness is gaining traction, with Treasury officials expressing their support.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has endorsed the proposal, describing it as a “fitting” tribute as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary.

During an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Bessent remarked, “I think it’s fitting. President Trump is the president during our 250th anniversary.”

However, for this plan to proceed, Congress would need to amend an existing 159-year-old federal law that prohibits living individuals from being depicted on U.S. currency.

At a recent press briefing, Bessent noted that Treasury officials are ready to move forward with the production of the $250 bill, pending the necessary legislative approval.

‘It’s all up on Capitol Hill. At Treasury, we prepare things in advance. So we have prepared, in advance, that if the legislation is passed, but we will stick to the law,’ Bessent said at the briefing.

In the interview with Fox News, Bessent pointed to a historical precedent, noting that a commemorative coin was issued during Calvin Coolidge’s presidency.

‘Calvin Coolidge was president during the 150th anniversary. And there was a coin printed for him,’ Bessent said to the outlet.

‘And I think it’s a great celebratory note for a great president,’ he added.  

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly praised the prposal, calling it ‘fitting’ as the nation approaches its 250th birthday 

A mock-up design of a proposed $250 bill featuring the president’s face and signature that administration officials provided to Bureau of Engraving and Printing staff in August

Treasury Department officials, US Treasurer Brandon Beach and his senior adviser, Mike Brown, have repeatedly urged staff at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to produce prototypes, four current and former employees told the Washington Post. 

Beach handed mock-ups to bureau staff in August and September showing Trump’s portrait in the center, his signature on the left side and Bessent’s autograph on the other.

British painter Iain Alexander, who designed the mockup, said it was endorsed by the President.

‘He likes to call me his favorite British artist,’ Alexander told the Washington Post.

A bill allowing Trump’s portrait on bank notes to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary was introduced in Congress last year, but it has stalled.

Bureau director Patricia ‘Patty’ Solimene was abruptly reassigned on April 27 after warning Beach and Brown about the legal complications.

‘She had told them we’re not authorized to do this. We can’t progress any further, and all the stakeholders have not even met to discuss the next steps,’ an employee told WaPo.

‘Currency often takes six to eight years to produce a new bill, particularly one of such high value.’ 

In an email to colleagues, Solimene wrote that it was with a ‘heavy heart’ that she was leaving and that it was ‘not my choice.’

Republican Rep. Joe Wilson (S.C.) said he is drafting a bill that would put President Donald Trump on a new $250 bill back in 2025

The mockup bill would show Trump’s portrait in the center, his signature on the left side and Bessent’s autograph on the other

She added that she had ‘never sacrificed the values or character of myself or the organization and always prioritized the US Currency Program and the value each employee brings to the mission.’

Designing and printing a new note requires coordination with the Federal Reserve, Secret Service and private companies even with congressional authorization, said Larry Felix, a former bureau director. 

It took more than a decade to produce a $100 note with anti-counterfeiting security features, he told the Post. 

‘These guys think you can just print something overnight and it’s going to work in an ATM. It’s just crazy,’ a bureau employee told the Post. ‘It takes years and years and years to produce these notes so they are reliable for the public.’ 

The Trump administration effort coincides with other patriotic announcements to commemorate America’s founding, including a 250ft triumphal arch, dubbed the Arc de Trump, planned for Arlington National Cemetery.

In Waukegan and North Chicago, concerning signs have been mysteriously appearing on light poles and trees since last Monday, sparking unease among residents.

As quickly as locals remove these signs, new ones seem to replace them. The police in both areas have now been alerted to the ongoing issue.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Among the various signs, one features a shark with “ICE” written across it, while another displays a roughly drawn alien figure over target practice images, accompanied by the term “MAGA.” These alarming visuals began surfacing over a week ago.

Pastor Julie Contreras of United Giving Hope commented, “This is a direct threat to the undocumented. This person would be telling us right here that he is ready to shoot someone.”

Resident Aurora Flores recounted her efforts, stating she has personally removed approximately a dozen of these signs.

“When I saw one, we decided to investigate and ended up finding a bunch of them in front of different homes. It’s in front of high-traffic areas,” Flores said.

Surveillance video from the area near Ridgeland and Jackson appears to show someone with a ladder putting up one of the signs in the middle of the night. The time stamp partially blocks the footage.

“I recognized immediately the shark imagery that they tend to use. It shows birthday balloons so that children take notice and then can be frightened by the words written on it,” Flores said.

Residents gathered in Waukegan on Sunday to speak out against what they view as a clear threat to the immigrant community. The first reports started coming in from North Chicago, where new ones appeared overnight, drawing the attention of police there.

“I happened to look out the window and saw one car, police sitting right there. And then, another pulled up,” said North Chicago resident Cordell Wise.

Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham spoke out against the signs and whomever is behind them.

“This is not acceptable for anybody, regardless of what side you want to be on, freedom of speech. This is pure hatred,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham encouraged anyone who comes across the signs to call police to report them. He told residents not to try to take them down themselves, saying instead to wait for the authorities to do so.

In an unusual twist during Sunday’s game against the Orioles, Blue Jays outfielder Jesús Sánchez found himself sidelined due to a fan’s unexpected throw from the stands.

The incident unfolded in the sixth inning as Sánchez was engaging with a spectator in the outfield. At one point, he raised his glove, which apparently signaled to the fan that he was ready to catch a ball.

However, the 28-year-old MLB player had already lowered his glove when the ball was tossed towards him, resulting in an unfortunate hit to his hand.

Medical personnel promptly attended to Sánchez, and he eventually exited the field, visibly holding his injured hand.

Sánchez was attended to by medical staff and ultimately left the field holding his hand.

He shared after the game through an interpreter that the situation with the fan was a “misunderstanding.”

“I wasn’t trying to play catch right there with them,” Sánchez told reporters.

“I just looked at them and they thought maybe that I wanted them to throw the ball back to me.”

The Blue Jays, who lost the game 9-5, said Sánchez had suffered a right wrist contusion, but that X-rays for a fracture had come back negative.

The Orioles also released a statement to reporters, which said that the fan had been identified and removed from Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Sánchez is slashing a .287/.324/.461 line this season with 28 RBIs — and the Blue Jays will hope he doesn’t miss much time.

The manhunt for a suspect labeled as “armed and extremely dangerous,” linked to the fatal shooting of a Virginia deputy, intensified this past Sunday. Authorities revealed that the suspect, Michael Puckett, was caught on a wildlife game camera in Surry County, North Carolina. In response, the reward for his apprehension has surged sixfold.

The Wytheville Police Department reported that Puckett was captured on the camera at 6:56 a.m. along Greenhill Road, north of Mount Airy. The department released a haunting image showing Puckett in a baseball cap and some type of face covering.

Puckett is accused of ambushing two deputies during a Friday night welfare check, which resulted in the death of deputy Logan Utt, a 31-year-old military veteran, and injuries to another officer. Carroll County Sheriff Kevin Kemp confirmed these tragic details.

The FBI has escalated their efforts to locate Puckett by offering a reward of up to $50,000 for any information leading to his capture. Additionally, the U.S. Marshals Service has pledged $10,000, bringing the total reward to $60,000.

Michael Timothy Puckett was spotted on a wildlife game camera in Surry County, North Carolina at 6:56 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Wytheville Police Department. (Wytheville Police Department)

Puckett is facing an aggravated murder charge in Virginia, according to police. The FBI’s Richmond Field Office is assisting the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Virginia State Police and numerous local and state agencies in the ongoing manhunt for Puckett.

The deadly encounter unfolded just before 9:30 p.m. local time, when the two Carroll County deputies were dispatched to a home after a family member requested a welfare check. 

When the deputies met with Puckett, he allegedly opened fire, killing Utt and wounding the second officer — whose life was saved by his ballistic vest, according to authorities. 

The deputies returned fire, but Puckett fled the scene and remains at large.

Authorities are searching for Michael Puckett (L), who is wanted for allegedly shooting two deputies, killing Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy Logan Utt (R), in Carroll County, Va. (Wytheville Police Department/Carroll County Sheriff’s Office)

The sheriff’s office warned the public not to approach him and call 911 immediately if he is spotted. 

Utt joined the force in 2023 after serving the nation as a military veteran.

“Becoming a deputy sheriff was a lifelong dream, and he worked every day to make Carroll County a safer place,” Kemp wrote in a statement Saturday. “Today, Carroll County has lost a hero, and a family has suffered an unimaginable loss.”

Utt leaves behind a wife and children. The wounded deputy is recovering in stable condition.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger confirmed her office is closely monitoring the situation, urging anyone with information on Puckett’s whereabouts to come forward.

“Deputy Logan Utt’s sacrifice is a testament to his bravery and dedication to his community,” Spanberger wrote in a statement on X. “Adam and I are praying for Deputy Utt’s family, the injured officer during his recovery, and for the safety of all of our courageous men and women in law enforcement.”

<!–>

Mike Pence issued a sharp caution to his former commander-in-chief on Sunday, seizing the opportunity to highlight his latest book while appearing on America’s prominent television networks.

During an interview with Kristen Welker, the host of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the former Vice President explained his motivation for penning the book. He revealed his concern over “a new threat to that historic conservatism in the Republican Party… from the populist right.”

Pence openly criticized the right-wing priorities that have gained traction within the GOP during Trump’s tenure. He expressed dismay over the party’s acceptance of policies like “broad-based tariffs, nationalization of businesses, and price controls.”

In another Sunday appearance, this time on CBS’s “Face the Nation” with Margaret Brennan, Pence emphasized that Trump has “said himself he’s not a conservative, he’s never really claimed to be.”

When questioned about Trump’s current Vice President, JD Vance, Pence admitted he is “less clear” about Vance’s stance on these issues.

‘But I’m very clear, as I wrote in my book, that there is this new tension within the Republican party that will take those pieces of the agenda, the populist right agenda that President Trump has embraced, and try and make that the new direction of the Republican party,’ Pence explained. 

‘I think that’d be bad for the Republican party. I think it’d be worse for the country that needs a vigorous, strong conservative party committed to freedom, committed to free markets, committed to traditional values,’ Pence added.

The former vice president also criticized the current Trump administration for not ending the nationwide access to the abortion pill which was made possible by the Biden administration. 

Mike Pence delivers remarks at the Faith and Freedom Road to Majority conference at the Washington Hilton on June 23, 2023 in Washington, DC

Donald Trump and Mike Pence attend a campaign rally at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Michigan, on November 2, 2020

Abortion opponents have previously said they have no plans to let Trump avoid the issue for the remainder of his term. 

Marc Wheat, general counsel at former Pence´s political advocacy group Advancing American Freedom, has said that his group will increase pressure on the administration. 

Those efforts will include urging the FDA to speedily release documents about mifepristone that it owes the group through a lawsuit.

‘President Trump thinks that pro-life is a loser,’ Wheat said earlier this month. 

‘He might see that the pro-lifers may not turn out in the numbers that he needs.’

Even as Trump and the Republican-led Congress face mounting pressure from the right to restrict access to medication abortion, Republicans around the country are far from united in taking that position.

Donald Trump stands with Mike Pence on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016

Advancing American Freedom has grown significantly in recent months in part as conservative thinkers and scholars work to create a place to advocate for traditional conservative values in the Trump era.

Pence’s feud with Trump started after the then-vice president voted to certify Trump’s 2020 electoral loss on January 6th, 2021.

During his Sunday press rounds, Pence was also questioned on whether or not he would be supportive of Texas’ GOP nominee for the US Senate seat Ken Paxton, who ousted incumbent Senator John Cornyn in a primary contest last week.

Pence stopped short of endorsing Paxton but stated that he could never back Democrat James Talarico ‘who is a radical left,’ and a major proponent of abortion,  before admitting that ‘in many respects Republicans have lost our way. But Democrats have lost their mind.’

Pence also offered a bold midterm prediction, in which he sees Republicans keeping the US Senate in their control, as well as having ‘a real shot to hold the House.’

Pence’s book, What Conservatives Believe: Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience, is set to be released on Tuesday.