On Sunday, a helicopter from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department carried out a crucial evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees from Santa Rosa Island. This emergency response came as a wildfire, ignited by human activity, rapidly spread over 10,000 acres, posing a significant threat to the employee housing on the island.

In a statement shared on social media platform X, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department detailed the operation: “Helicopter 964 was instrumental in evacuating 11 National Park Service employees from Santa Rosa Island today, amidst the ongoing vegetation fire. The crew efficiently transported all personnel from housing areas at risk of being isolated by the fire to Oxnard Airport. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.”

This prompt response underscores the commitment to safeguarding the park staff as they face the challenges posed by the wildfire.

The incident unfolded as firefighting teams continued their efforts against the wind-driven blaze on the isolated Channel Islands National Park. According to reports, the fire destroyed two structures and was not yet under control as of Sunday evening, as covered by the Los Angeles Times.

Accompanying this report, images from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department capture the helicopter crew’s critical efforts to safely evacuate National Park Service employees from the endangered areas. This operation highlights the ongoing risks faced by those living and working in such vulnerable environments.

The fire, burning on the south side of Santa Rosa Island between Ford Point and South Point, had been mapped at 10,025 acres by Sunday afternoon, according to Cal Fire. The National Park Service, which has jurisdiction over the incident, has described the fire as human-caused and under investigation.

The smoke from the island fire blew east to the California coast and will be impacting air quality early this week, the National Weather Service in San Diego reported.

“If you’ve smelled smoke today, you’re not imagining things,” NWS San Diego wrote Sunday on X. “Smoke from the Santa Rosa Islands Fire has been drifting towards our region. The HRRR model shows near-surface smoke through at least Tuesday, assuming the fire continues.”

The agency advised the public to monitor air quality at http://airnow.gov.

The blaze also poses an ecological threat on Santa Rosa Island, the second-largest of the Channel Islands and home to rare plants and animals. Park officials said the fire is threatening six plant species native to the island that are found nowhere else in the world, while the island also supports wildlife including island foxes, spotted skunks and elephant seals.

About 70 firefighters and park rangers were battling the fire Sunday night, according to the Times.

The island, located about 26 miles off Santa Barbara, has been closed to visitors at least through this week as crews continue suppression efforts.

In a significant move, President Trump has opted to withdraw his hefty $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after reaching an agreement that includes a formal apology and the creation of a substantial compensation fund. This newly established fund, amounting to $1,776,000,000 billion, is designed to support individuals who feel they have been victims of federal government overreach.

The Justice Department’s Anti-Weaponization Fund will be accessible to anyone who believes they have been unfairly targeted by any administration. This includes individuals involved in the events of January 6, 2021, at the Capitol, as well as figures like Hunter Biden, who has faced public scrutiny, according to information shared by a senior administration official with The Post.

The official emphasized that the fund’s purpose is not to create wealth for those involved in the January 6 incident. Rather, it aims to provide rightful compensation, helping individuals reclaim their dignity and cover expenses such as legal fees that arose from their experiences.

While President Trump, along with his sons Don Jr. and Eric, and the Trump Organization, were part of the initial lawsuit against the IRS, they will not receive any financial compensation from this fund. However, they will be granted a formal apology.

This settlement specifically addresses the IRS lawsuit and does not impact President Trump’s other legal pursuits, including claims regarding the FBI’s raid on his Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022 or the investigation into alleged collusion during his 2016 presidential campaign with the Russian government.

Upon Trump’s return to office in January 2025, he vowed to end the weaponization of the government, saying in his second inaugural addres: “Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents — something I know something about.”

The settlement comes as Trump and the Justice Department faced a deadline this week to justify why the case should proceed.

Among the considerations for restitution from the fund are the strength of the claim, the actions of the claimant, the attorney fees incurred, and to what extent the claimant has already obtained any form of relief.

Hunter Biden was convicted of federal tax and gun charges and later pardoned by his father President Joe Biden. However, the younger Biden accumulated millions in legal fees and the law firm representing him is still seeking payment.

“I potentially expect it,” the official said when asked if Hunter Biden could file a claim. “Whether the commissioners will agree with that, and feel like he needs to be compensated, is something that, I think we’ll have to see.”

The official notes the settlement doesn’t specify that a claimant has to be a Republican or a target of a certain administration. Both individual and entities can apply.

“We didn’t limit it in that way, because we really viewed it as, and actually this is what the president has said, which is that the Department of Justice was used as a weapon for reasons that are totally wrong, and if Hunter Biden believes that the Department of Justice was used as a weapon against him, he’s allowed to apply.”

The fund will have five board members — all of whom are appointed by acting AG Todd Blanche — and one who will be picked in consultation with Congressional leaders. The president can remove board members without cause.

“The whole point of why we’re doing this is because weaponization comes in many different forms, and having five commissioners, who kind of bring their own unique perspective to how to remedy it, was really our goal,” the administration official said.

Blanche has not yet decided on his appointments, according to a senior administration official, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to be consulted in the days.

The board can issue apologies and monetary relief or request more information, including from the claimant and any relevant agencies. 

The claims it approves will be subject to FOIA laws and federal audits and must be reported to the attorney general. 

The fund will sunset Dec. 15, 2028, with any remaining money reverting to the federal government. 

There is precedent for the establishment of such a fund. In 2010, the Obama administration settled the Keepseagle v. Vilsack class-action lawsuit brought by Native American farmers by establishing a $680 million compensation fund along with granting up to $80 million in farm loan debt forgiveness.

The Trumps filed the lawsuit against the IRS on Jan. 29, charging the government failed to protect their confidential tax returns, which were leaked to the New York Times in 2019. 

Chaz Littlejohn, an IRS contractor, pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized disclosure and was sentenced to five years in prison in January 2024.

Littlejohn also leaked the tax documents of thousands of other wealthy Americans, some of whom have also sued the federal government, to ProPublica.

The diving expert who guided the group of Italians that tragically met their end in the Maldives’ sea caves was found separately from the other four victims during a search operation conducted on Monday.

This heartbreaking incident occurred on Thursday, claiming the lives of five individuals, including a mother and her daughter, as they attempted to explore underwater caves reaching depths of approximately 165 feet. It marks the deadliest diving accident in the history of this small Indian Ocean nation.

On Friday, the body of Gianluca Benedetti, the group’s instructor, was retrieved from the entrance of the Thinwana Kandu cave, commonly referred to as Shark Cave, at a depth of about 197 feet.

It wasn’t until Monday that three elite divers from Finland were able to locate the remaining members of the group. They were discovered at the end of a tunnel, deep within the second chamber of the cave.

The cave system consists of three expansive chambers linked by narrow passageways. While two chambers were explored on Friday, the initial search efforts were hampered by concerns over oxygen levels and decompression safety.

An initial search operation for the victims ended in tragedy on Saturday when Maldivian military rescue diver Mohamed Mahudhee was admitted to hospital and died from decompression sickness after assisting in the recovery effort.

As well as Benedetti, the other victims of the diving group have been identified as Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa; her daughter, Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri and researcher Muriel Oddenino. 

This photograph, shared by the Maldives President’s Media Division, shows divers preparing to search for the four missing Italian divers near Alimathaa Island, Vaavu Atoll, Maldives, Saturday, May 16, 2026

One of the victims was named as Monica Montefalcone, a professor and researcher at the University of Genoa

Giorgia Sommacal, 22, Montefalcone’s daughter, also died

The Italian tour operator that managed the diving trip has denied authorising or being aware of the deep dive that violated local limits, its lawyer told Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Saturday.

Orietta Stella, representing Albatros Top Boat, said the operator ‘did not know’ the group planned to descend beyond 30 meters. 

That threshold requires special permission from Maldivian maritime authorities, and the tour operator ‘would have never allowed it,’ she said.

The dive far exceeded what was planned for a scientific cruise focused on coral sampling at standard depths, Stella added.

The victims were experienced divers, but the equipment used appeared to be standard recreational gear rather than technical equipment suited for deep cave excursions, she said. 

The Finnish divers – Sami Paakkarinen, Jenni Westerlund and Patrik Grönqvist – worked alongside the MNDF and other officials in the rescue mission.

Following the death of rescue diver Sergeant-major Mahudhee during Saturday’s search operation, the MNDF temporarily suspended the recovery effort, which has been taking place in rough weather and sea conditions.

‘The death goes to show the difficulty of the mission,’ the Maldives’ presidential spokesman, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, said.

The Maldivian military added in an X post: ‘His courage, his sacrifice, and service to the nation will always be remembered.

‘Our deepest condolences to his family and colleagues.’

Shareef said the searchers had prepared a plan based on their progress exploring the cave on Friday.

Shareef said Benedetti’s body was found near the mouth of the cave, and authorities believed the remaining four had entered it.

The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, said everything possible would be done to bring the victims home.

His ministry stated it was coordinating with Divers Alert Network, a specialist diving organisation, to support recovery operations and the repatriation of the bodies.

However, the mystery continues to surround the cause of death. 

Authorities have launched an investigation to understand what happened, while several theories are being considered.

Montefalcone, 51, was a respected marine biologist, TV personality, and professor of Tropical Marine Ecology and Underwater Science at the University of Genoa. Her daughter, Giorgia, was 22 years old.

Montefalcone’s husband and Giorgia’s father, Carlo Sommacal, said on Friday that footage taken on a GoPro camera could reveal the mystery surrounding their deaths.

Speaking to Italian news outlet La Repubblica, a devastated Sommacal said: ‘Monica usually had a GoPro when she went diving.

‘I don’t know if she had one the other day. If they find it, maybe from there we can understand what happened.’

He also insisted that ‘my wife [was] among the best divers on earth,’ and said she wouldn’t have put anyone in the group in danger.

Muriel Oddenino, a victim of the diving incident, was also a researcher at the University of Genoa

Gianluca Benedetti of Padua was named as one of the people who died on the dive

Federico Gualtieri who died in the Maldives diving tragedy 

Elite diver Sami Paakkarinen was flown to the Maldives to help locate the bodies of the Italians

Elite diver also Jenni Westerlund joined the search and recovery operation on Sunday

Patrik Grönqvist was the third Finnish diver to assist in recovery efforts

‘She would never have put our daughter’s life or that of others at risk… something must have happened down there,’ he said.

‘Maybe one of them had trouble, maybe the oxygen tanks, I have no idea.’

Montefalcone had survived the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami when it struck the Maldives. 

Sommacal added that one of the divers on the expedition, Benedetti, was ‘meticulous.’

‘He checked everything: the tanks, the weather conditions. He’s not a fool,’ Sommacal said. ‘It must have been fate; they took every precaution possible.’

The grief-stricken father revealed that his daughter Giorgia was going to graduate from university next month and said he and his wife had been planning a party for her.

Victim Oddenino, a 31-year-old marine biologist and ecologist, was Montefalcone’s colleague.

She was an experienced diver and authored scientific publications. She was described by a loved one as ‘sweet and sensitive’.

Benedetti, 44, was an operations manager, a diving instructor and a boat captain.

After working in banking and finance for several years, he turned his passion for diving into a full-time career and moved to the Maldives in 2017.

He was the operations manager and skipper aboard the luxury Duke of York, the diving yacht that the group used for their expedition.

He was described by Albatros Top Boat, the Duke of York’s operator, as ‘energetic, extremely sporty, and a lover of reading, classic cinema, and chess.’

Speaking about her son’s death, Benedetti’s mother told Italian news outlet Gazzettino: ‘I heard the news from the embassy. I can’t say anything, and you can only imagine the pain.’

Gualtieri, 31, was a scuba diving instructor and had recently graduated from the University of Genoa with a degree in marine biology and ecology.

He had previously praised his professor, Montefalcone, saying: ‘Ever since I met her, she has always been my guide, encouraging me to follow my dreams and passions.’

Sergeant Major Mohammed Mahudhee, a diver for the Maldives coast guard, lost his life as recovery operations continued in the Vaavu Atoll on Saturday

Members of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) take part in a search and recovery operation in the Vaavu Atoll, Maldives, on Saturday

The body of scuba diving instructor Benedetti was recovered from a cave on Friday

Cave diving is a highly technical and dangerous activity that requires specialised training, equipment and strict safety protocols.

Risks increase sharply in environments where divers cannot head straight up and at depth, particularly when conditions are poor.

Experts say it is easy to become disoriented or lost inside caves, particularly as sediment clouds can sharply reduce visibility.

Diving at 50 meters also exceeds the maximum depth recommended for recreational divers by most major established scuba certifying agencies, with depths beyond 40 meters considered technical diving and requiring specialised training and equipment.

Shareef said that the cave ‘is so deep that even divers with the best equipment do not try to approach.’

‘There will be a separate investigation into how these divers went below the permitted depth, but our focus right now is on the search and rescue,’ he added.

Authorities have not ruled out several scenarios, with police probing whether bad weather may have affected the divers’ visibility.

According to Italian news outlet La Repubblica, the fact that none of the five divers managed to resurface suggests the group may have become lost within an underwater cave.

With little light and poor visibility due to bad weather, they may have lost their bearings, panicked, and perhaps run out of air while trying to find their way out.

Police also haven’t ruled out the possibility that one of the five may have become stuck while the others ran out of air or panicked trying to free their colleague.

Diving experts have also been speculating on various hypotheses.

According to local media, one of the most widely accepted hypotheses by the coast guard and experts is oxygen toxicity. 

This phenomenon occurs if the tank’s mixture is inadequate, making oxygen toxic at certain depths.

The five Italians had boarded the Duke of York (above), a foreign-operated live-aboard diving vessel, and they disappeared near Alimathaa

‘At 50 meters of depth in the sea, there are several risks; it’s a real tragedy,’ says Alfonso Bolognini, president of the Italian Society of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine.

‘There are several hypotheses we can make right now: an inadequate breathing mix can create a hyperoxic crisis when there’s an increase in the partial pressure of oxygen in the tissues and blood plasma, which can cause neurological problems.

‘Inside a cave at 50 meters of depth, all it takes is a problem for a diver or a panic attack for a diver,’ he adds, saying that ‘the agitation causes the water to become cloudy and can impair visibility.

‘In these cases, the panic component could lead to even fatal errors.’ 

It is also unclear whether the Italians’ dive, being at a depth of over 160ft, was regulated, according to the Maldives National Defence Force.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that there was no local guide to accompany the group into the cave, as required by Maldivian law.

Investigators are also trying to determine whether the group used an ‘Ariadne’s thread’ – a rope used by divers while exploring caves to help them stay close together and find the entrance and exit to the cavities.

The use of the rope is mandatory in certain caves.

The Maldives, a nation of 1,192 tiny coral islands scattered some 500 miles across the equator in the Indian Ocean, is a luxury holiday destination popular with divers, who often stay at secluded resorts or on dive boats.

Local regulations allow dives to a maximum depth of 98 feet, but experienced professionals are known to go deeper.

Diving and water-sport-related accidents are relatively rare in the South Asian nation, although several fatal incidents have been reported in recent years.

This morning, a judge in New York is set to decide whether the contents of Luigi Mangione’s backpack, confiscated during his arrest at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, can be used as evidence in his upcoming trial.

In a separate federal case, another judge has previously dismissed Mangione’s defense team’s claims that the search was conducted improperly. Consequently, the evidence will be included in his federal trial.

The items in question comprise the alleged murder weapon, a 3D-printed silencer, a fake ID used for checking into a Manhattan hostel, and journals that reportedly contain tirades against the health insurance industry.

Mangione, 28, faces charges of shooting Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, from behind as Thompson was en route to a business conference outside a Manhattan Hilton hotel on December 4, 2024.

Luigi Mangione was present in Manhattan’s State Supreme Court on December 16, 2025, for a hearing regarding the suppression of evidence in his murder case. (Photo by Seth Wenig/AP)

He allegedly fled the scene on a bicycle and then went to Altoona, Pennsylvania, where customers and employees recognized him from a wanted poster and called 911 five days later.

Authorities searched the bag multiple times after Mangione’s arrest in the eight hours before obtaining a search warrant, defense lawyers wrote in a letter to the court. They argued the search was improper because once Mangione was arrested, he wasn’t in control of the bag, so police should have obtained a warrant ifrst.

Luigi Mangione shouts as officers restrain him while arriving for his extradition hearing at Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pa., on Dec. 10, 2024. Mangione is the prime suspect in the shooting death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week. (David Dee Delgado/Fox News Digital)

The defense has characterized the search of his bag as a violation of his constitutional rights. They also asked for statements he made between his arrest on Dec. 9 and extradition to New York 10 days later to be thrown out.

Prosecutors asked New York Judge Gregory Carro to deny the motion, arguing Altoona police acted reasonably when they searched Mangione’s bag after arresting him.

Evidence including Luigi Mangione’s gun was presented by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office during a suppression hearing in the investigation of the murder of UNC CEO Brian Thompson. (DOJ)

The court already held several days of hearings on the matter and heard testimony from 17 witnesses.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all state and federal charges.

In New York, the top charge is second-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. He faces six more weapons related charges and one for allegedly possessing a fake ID.

Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, is shown in an undated portrait provided by UnitedHealth. He was shot and killed on his way to an investor conference in New York City in what prosecutors described as a politically motivated assassination. (AP Photo/UnitedHealth Group via AP)

The judge previously dismissed terrorism-related charges that could have put Mangione in prison for life without parole if convicted.

The state trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 8.

In Mangione’s federal case, which is a separate legal proceeding, U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett ruled that the backpack evidence could stand in his federal trial in a Jan. 30 order, while also dealing a blow to the prosecution and taking the death penalty off the table.

Luigi Mangione talks with a police officer in Altoona, Pa. (DOJ)

Thompson, a father of two from Minnesota, had come to New York City to meet with Wall Street investors. Surveillance video shows the last moments of his life — when a gunman approached him from behind on the sidewalk and opened fire.

<!–>

When it comes to finding the perfect gift for the woman who seemingly has it all, Travis Kelce appears to have found the answer in a stunning suite of jewelry with a storied past. This exquisite collection, once belonging to the legendary Elizabeth Taylor, has recently found its way into the spotlight once more, thanks to Taylor Swift.

In recent weeks, Swift has been seen gracing various events adorned with these opulent opal jewels, previously owned by the iconic movie star. Her first public appearance in the collection was marked by a ring and a round-cut bracelet, which she wore during an April outing in New York City. Following that, she donned a similar marquise-shaped bracelet for her New York Times Magazine interview.

The Grammy-winning artist then made headlines again when she was spotted in Brooklyn on a Saturday night, showcasing the entire set. This included both bracelets, the ring, and an eye-catching pair of chandelier earrings. This dazzling display prompted Adam Fox of Fox Estate Jewelry to share an Instagram Reel, hinting that Kelce might have acquired this unique collection as a gift for Swift.

Crafted by designer Darlene de Sedle, the complete jewelry suite was initially sold at a Christie’s auction in 2011 for a modest $6,000, as confirmed by Page Six Style. Later, Fox’s company sold it through 1stDibs in 2025 for an impressive $125,000.

According to Fox, the transaction occurred “during Christmas time,” and the purchaser was a sports agent—a client profile rather unusual for his business.

“On the majority of these online platforms, for higher-ticket items, somebody will reach out, ask questions. Sometimes they will try to negotiate, sometimes they won’t. This just randomly sold,” the third-generation estate jeweler told Page Six Style.

A tragic incident unfolded in Michigan City, Indiana, on Friday, leaving a community in mourning after a 14-year-old boy was fatally shot, according to police reports.

The family of the young victim, Devin Porter, is grappling with the heartbreaking loss, which is compounded by the fact that his siblings witnessed the aftermath as he sought their help inside the house.

Devin’s mother expressed her devastation, stating that her son did not deserve such a fate and emphasized the need for justice in the wake of this senseless act.

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

The shooting occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. in the 300 block of West 11th Street. Responding officers discovered Devin inside a residence, suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he was later pronounced dead.

Officer responded to the scene, where they found 14-year-old Devin Porter inside a home with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

India Harrington says the last time spoke with her son he asked if he could go play basketball.

“He was 14. We were just talking about his birthday on the 24th. Now I gotta talk about burying my son,” Harrington said. “He was going the Y[MCA] out here, play ball… Next thing, I’m getting a phone call, my son gone.”

Porter’s sister says the shooting happened in broad daylight. She says she heard multiple gun shots before her 14-year-old brother ran into her room and collapsed as his young siblings took cover.

“His blood was on my hand,” she said. “We tried to turn him over. He was still trying to gasp for air, but his eyes was gone in the back of his head by the time they came, he was gone.”

Porter was a freshman at Michigan City High School. His mother said he was an honor roll student, beloved by his teachers. One of his true passions was basketball.

SEE ALSO | Mother of teen girl shot, killed at unincorporated Glenview apartment speaks out as no charges filed