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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is urging law enforcement officials in North Carolina to hand over Rebeca Fratila-Ilies, a Romanian national residing illegally in the United States. Fratila-Ilies, who has been convicted of child sex offenses, is facing deportation after being involved in a fraudulent asylum claim and receiving an early prison release.
The charges against Fratila-Ilies include two counts of carnal knowledge of a child and statutory rape, following her abuse of a middle-school-aged boy. Originally sentenced to a decade behind bars in a Staunton, Virginia facility, she has since been granted early release, prompting ICE’s renewed interest in her deportation.
ICE’s appeal comes after Fratila-Ilies was apprehended in North Carolina on March 12, 2025, due to a probation violation. It was the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office that alerted ICE’s Charlotte division about her detention, setting the stage for potential deportation proceedings.
ICE wants police in North Carolina to turn over Rebeca Fratila.(ICE)
Fratila-Ilies was arrested in North Carolina on March 12, 2025, for a probation violation, according to ICE, and the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office notified ICE Charlotte that it had her in custody.
“ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Fratila-Ilies with Guilford County April 17, asking them not to release this child predator back into the community,” ICE Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement. “Fratila-Ilies is a lawful permanent resident, but she’s been convicted of sex crimes against a child, which means she’s amenable to removal. She’s currently in removal proceedings and ICE is standing by to deport her upon a Department of Justice immigration judge’s order.”
An ICE investigation uncovered that she was granted a green card in 2006 when she came into the United States as a child.
Rebeca Fratila is a convicted child sex predator(ICE)
ICE said that was granted after Fratila-Ilies’ mother filed a fake asylum benefits case, though.
Convicted child sex predator Rebeca Fratila is currently being held in North Carolina.(iStock; ICE)
An immigration judge ordered her to be deported back in 2017 after she was a no-show at her immigration hearing. She ultimately appealed, and was granted relief five years later.
She remains in jail in North Carolina while her probation violation case is pending, ICE said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office.
A senior Iranian official has indicated that hostilities between the United States and Iran could reignite soon. This prediction follows remarks by President Trump, suggesting that the U.S. might benefit from dissolving its current agreement with Iran.
Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a prominent officer in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that a “renewed conflict between Iran and the United States is likely.”
According to details shared with intermediaries in Pakistan, Iran’s leadership, significantly weakened by U.S. strikes, is determined to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the U.S. blockade before considering the resumption of nuclear negotiations.
A senior Tehran official predicted that the war between US and Iran is “likely” to restart. AFP via Getty Images
President Trump, speaking on Friday, expressed dissatisfaction with Iran’s proposal.
“Frankly, maybe we’re better off not making a deal at all,” Trump remarked during an event in West Palm Beach, Florida. “Do you want to know the truth? Because we can’t let this thing go on,” he added, underscoring his stance on the matter.
The conflict, which began Feb. 28, had “been going on too long,” the president added. A temporary ceasefire agreement was reached on April 8.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, a Yemeni tanker was hijacked as it sailed toward the Gulf of Aden, Yemen’s coast guard said.
At an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, President Trump commented that the US might be “better off” without an agreement REUTERS
Efforts were underway to track the M/T Eureka, which was seized by unidentified armed men as it made its way toward Somali waters.
Tankers have been utilizing the Red Sea to get oil and gas resources out of the region in response to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a US blockade.
The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control warned shipping companies Friday that they could face sanctions for paying off Iranian authorities who have been charging hefty fees to allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Surprising effects of consuming coffee on an empty stomach, revealed by specialists.
According to the latest National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) report from the National Coffee Association (NCA), a significant 66% of American adults indulge in coffee every day. For a large portion of these individuals, their morning routine begins with a cup of coffee even before they have breakfast. But is this habit beneficial? “Coffee is more than just caffeine; it’s a complex mix of various chemicals, and its health impacts vary,” explains Dr. Brunilda Nazario, Chief Physician Editor at WebMD, in a conversation with Eat This, Not That! Let’s delve into the lesser-known effects of sipping coffee without food.
The composition of your coffee is influenced by the origin of the beans and the brewing method. “Yet, caffeine is the primary active component that delivers that essential morning jolt,” Dr. Nazario notes. “It stimulates the brain, making it an ideal pick-me-up to kickstart your day, and it’s the aspect most researched. However, caffeine also has an impact beyond the brain, affecting other bodily organs.”
The Ingredients and Chemicals in Coffee Vary
Dr. Nazario points out that regular coffee consumption might offer health benefits. “Research indicates that coffee drinkers may have a reduced risk of developing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, and possibly fatty liver disease, compared to non-coffee drinkers,” she observes.
What’s in your coffee depends on where the beans originate, and also how you brew them. “But the most active ingredient is what gives us that much-needed morning boost! That’s caffeine,” says Dr. Nazario. “It stimulates the brain. It’s the perfect way to wake up and get energized for the day ahead, and what’s studied most. Caffeine also affects other organs.”
There Are Health Benefits
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Dr. Nazario explains that drinking coffee daily may improve your health. “A few studies have suggested that enjoying coffee might lower the risk of certain conditions like diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, and possibly fatty liver disease when compared to those who don’t drink coffee,’ she says.
However, There Can Be Negative Side Effects
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“However, if you enjoy a delicious cup of unfiltered stuff, like Turkish or French press, it’s good to know that these brews have compounds that can raise bad cholesterol levels. Moderation can help keep things balanced,” says Dr. Nazario. “Since we still have more to learn about the connection between drinking coffee and these health benefits, it’s a bit too soon to start recommending coffee as a way to improve your health.”
Here Is What Happens If You Drink Coffee on an Empty Stomach
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What happens if you drink it on an empty stomach? “When it comes to caffeine, it really depends on how much you’re having. Typically, enjoying less than 1-2 cups a day is perfectly fine and shouldn’t cause any issues. But caffeine is quickly and completely absorbed by your stomach, and if you drink it on an empty stomach, you might feel its effects more intensely,” explains Dr. Nazario. “Some people might experience side effects like a fast heart rate, jitters, headaches, stomach discomfort, or nausea.”
Listen to Your Body
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The bottom line? “Enjoy your coffee, but listen to your body!” she says. There are also some great alternatives to coffee, “that have less caffeine but can still give you that energy boost you’re looking for,” she says. “Consider trying black tea, green tea, yerba mate, or matcha. Each one offers its own unique flavors and benefits.”
In a move that aligns with its reputation for unpredictability, Spirit Airlines has abruptly shut down after 33 years of service. Effective immediately, all flights have been canceled, leaving passengers without alternative travel options.
In an early morning announcement on Saturday, Spirit revealed its decision to “wind down its global operations” with immediate effect, marking the end of an era for the budget airline.
The airline has informed its customers that not only are all flights canceled, but also that customer service will no longer be operational. Passengers will be unable to rebook with other airlines, although automatic refunds are promised.
Spirit expressed pride in its 33-year history, stating, “We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry and had hoped to serve our guests for many years to come.”
In response to the sudden shutdown, several other airlines have stepped forward, offering assistance to passengers who had booked flights with Spirit.
Frontier said on Friday that they were preparing to help impacted passengers ‘with a focus on helping people continue their travel plans with low-fare options.’
JetBlue, which sought to purchase Spirit in 2024 but was blocked by a court ruling, also announced on Friday that it would help passengers who were affected by the news.
Spirit’s update has not only caused a headache for customers scrambling for other accommodations, but has also left thousands without jobs.
Spirit Airlines canceled all flights in the middle of the night on Saturday. Pictured above is a departure board at Orlando International Airport
Passengers scheduled to fly on Spirit have been forced to scramble for other accommodations. Travelers are pictured above at the Spirit check-in at Orlando International Airport
Spirit announced that all flights were canceled and its customer service was shutting down. An employee is pictured above posting the notice at Orlando International Airport
About an hour before the official announcement, the Association of Flight Attendants notified its members that the airline would cease operations at 3am EST, CNN reported.
Spirit’s staff, including flight attendants and pilots, who are in need of a way home, are set to receive travel pass benefits and spare jump seats from most major US carriers, according to the Department of Transportation.
American Airlines and United are also creating microsites for Spirit employees seeking new positions.
The AFA has set up a resource page for Spirit flight attendants who are now out of a job.
Since stranded passengers may be forced to book with higher-budget airlines, however, the DOT has said that ticket prices will be capped for Spirit customers for flights on United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest.
The fares will only be available for a limited time. JetBlue and Southwest are offering reduced costs for the next 72 hours.
Customers looking to book with Southwest will have to purchase their new ticket in person at an airport.
Delta is offering capped ticket prices for the next five days, while travelers can purchase seats with United for the next two weeks.
Spirit released a statement online in the early hours of Saturday, announcing that global operations were winding down
Stranded passengers who have been impacted by the news will be automatically refunded for their flight. Pictured above is an operational update posted at the Orlando International Airport
Spirit’s customer service team has also been disbanded. Pictured above is an empty bag-drop counter at the Orlando International Airport
Spirit’s greatest hits
Spirit broke the mold for air travel, emerging over three decades ago as the first budget airline.
Its existence paved the way for people to book trips who otherwise may not have been able to afford travel.
However, its low-cost prices, infamous yellow branding and the outlandish behavior that often occurred on Spirit flights became synonymous with the brand.
In 2020, Spirit passengers made headlines when three Philadelphia women were caught on camera throwing phones, shoes, water bottles and even fast food at airline staff.
In March of 2025, a video went viral of a female flyer named Rachel being dragged away from the airline’s desk after she was removed from a flight before even boarding.
During the incident, which took place on August 30, 2023, authorities quickly grabbed Rachel as she repeatedly screamed: ‘Take me to jail! Take me to jail!,’ before falling to the floor. Officers then tackled and handcuffed her as she continued to shriek.
Two women named Teresa and Tara told the Daily Mail in 2024 that they were told to ‘cover up’ by a male flight attendant on Spirit Airlines
Another woman went viral that same year for recording a video that appeared to show an employee applying tape to the wing of the aircraft before takeoff.
In 2024, two women made headlines after they claimed they were kicked off their Spirit flight by a male flight attendant for wearing crop tops.
Teresa and Tara told the Daily Mail at the time that they were told to ‘cover up’ after taking off their sweaters on the plane.
The airline also took heat for introducing a dress code last year that banned trashy looks.
The rule dictated that a guest ‘shall not be permitted to board the aircraft’ if they are ‘barefoot or inadequately clothed.’
Among the examples of inappropriate travel outfits included are: see-through clothing, exposed breasts, buttocks, or other private parts; lewd, obscene, or offensive clothing and tattoos.
The regulation came after multiple instances of passengers wearing inappropriate attire.
Another instance of a bizarre interaction on a Spirit flight was in July, when a 16-year-old went viral after he made a ‘bomb’ joke referring to his ‘masculinity,’ prompting a police response on the flight.
Desperate attempts to save Spirit
Spirit’s last flight comes after a long battle to save the budget airline. The company has struggled to churn a profit since the pandemic, when travel restrictions were put in place.
Even after restrictions were lifted, travel took a backseat as many Americans faced financial hardship amid a crumbling economy.
Larger airlines were able to bounce back from the pandemic by cutting flights and increasing costs, but Spirit’s reputation for low-budget travel prevented them from doing the same.
On Tuesday, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk leveled serious accusations against Iran’s government, claiming it has severely escalated its repression of dissent following the conflicts in February. Türk highlighted that Tehran has engaged in executions, mass detentions, and torture, alongside implementing one of the longest internet blackouts globally, all under the pretext of national security.
In a strongly-worded statement from Geneva, Türk revealed that since February 28, at least 21 individuals have faced execution, with over 4,000 arrested on charges linked to national security. This comes amid increasing global criticism of what Türk describes as a broad violation of basic human rights by the regime.
“It is deeply concerning that, in addition to the already profound impacts of the conflict, Iranian authorities continue to strip their citizens of rights in a severe and violent manner,” Türk remarked.
During a demonstration, protesters held signs reading “Stop executions in Iran” and “Free Iran” outside Downing Street. This rally was a stand against the executions in Iran and a call for freedom within the country. (Photo by Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
According to the U.N., in the two months since the conflict began, nine individuals have been executed in relation to the January 2026 protests, ten for alleged ties to opposition factions, and two on charges of espionage. The regime’s crackdown during January’s uprising is believed to have resulted in approximately 40,000 deaths.
Türk warned that Iran’s broad use of vaguely defined national security laws has enabled authorities to fast-track prosecutions, deny legal counsel, and rely on coerced confessions.
“Even where national security is invoked, human rights can only be limited where strictly necessary and proportionate,” he said, calling on Tehran to halt executions, impose a moratorium on capital punishment, and immediately release those arbitrarily detained.
For many Iranian dissidents, the findings reflect an already dire reality.
A billboard depicting Iran’s supreme leaders since 1979: (L to R) Ayatollahs Ruhollah Khomeini (until 1989), Ali Khamenei (until 2026), and Mojtaba Khamenei (incumbent) is displayed above a highway in Tehran on March 10, 2026. Iran marked the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father as its supreme leader on March 9, 2026. (AFP/Via Getty Images)
“It is bad,” Banafsheh Zand, an Iranian-American journalist and editor of the Iran So Far Away Substack, told Fox News Digital. “They’re completely killing off the country.”
On Saturday, it was reported that Iran had executed another athlete, a 21-year-old karate champion. Sassan Azadvar Joonqani was detained in January during the anti-regime protests and was executed by the regime on Thursday, according to a report in Euronews.
Wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi was executed by the regime in March for alleged illegal actions in January’s protests against the authorities. (The Foreign Desk)
In March, Iran executed another athlete, 19-year-old wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi, for protesting against the regime, Fox News Digital reported.
Türk’s office said detainees have reportedly faced enforced disappearances, torture, mock executions, and televised confessions, with ethnic and religious minorities including Bahá’ís, Zoroastrians, Kurds and Baluch Iranians facing particular risk.
Ali and Kiana Rahmani accept the Nobel Peace Prize 2023 on behalf of their mother, imprisoned Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi, at Oslo City Hall in Norway on Dec. 10, 2023.(Javad Parsa/NTB/Reuters)
Among those cited by the U.N. was imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, whose condition sharply worsened Friday after what her family described as a catastrophic health crisis following months of being denied specialized care.
According to a statement from the Narges Foundation that was published Friday, Mohammadi was urgently transferred by ambulance from Zanjan Prison to a hospital after suffering two episodes of complete loss of consciousness in a single day, accompanied by severe cardiac distress. The foundation said prison doctors determined her condition could no longer be managed on-site after what her family called a “last-minute” transfer that may have come dangerously late.
Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, told Fox News Digital earlier this week that her physical condition had already become increasingly dire after what he described as a violent arrest and deteriorating prison treatment. “She has sustained severe trauma and urgently requires medical attention.”
Rahmani previously said Mohammadi’s medical team and outside specialists had pushed for treatment in Tehran due to her history of multiple heart procedures, while authorities allegedly blocked those recommendations until her condition became life-threatening. Despite her physical decline, Rahmani said, “Spiritually and mentally, Narges remains steadfast.”
In this photo obtained by The Associated Press, tear gas is fired during an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (UGC via AP)(UGC via AP)
The U.N. statement, combined with Mohammadi’s emergency hospitalization, has intensified scrutiny of Iran’s prison conditions, which Türk described as marked by overcrowding, medical neglect, and severe human rights abuses.
Türk also cited dire prison conditions, including overcrowding, shortages of food, water and medicine, and denial of medical care.
The U.N. further highlighted reports of lethal violence in detention facilities, including claims that security forces killed at least five detainees in Chabahar Prison after protests over suspended food distribution.
But while dissidents welcomed the U.N.’s unusually forceful language, some also questioned whether condemnation without action can meaningfully alter conditions, especially as Iran this week was elevated to a vice-chair role on a U.N. nuclear nonproliferation committee.
“The reason why Iranians just don’t trust, don’t like and don’t want to know from the U.N.,” Zand said, is what she described as its repeated failure “to rise to the occasion of responding to the regime and holding their feet to the fire at the right time… with the right amount of pressure.”
Iranian diaspora activists gathered in front of the German Federal Foreign Office in Berlin on Jan. 27, 2024, to protest the increase in death sentences by Iran’s Islamic Republic rulers. The demonstration was organized by the Echo Iran group.(Echo Iran/Middle East Images/AFP)
While she said the latest statement itself was important, Zand argued many view such condemnations as hollow when paired with what they see as institutional legitimacy granted to Tehran.
“They’re making a statement… fine,” she said. “But what are they gonna do about it?”
Efrat Lachter is a foreign correspondent for Fox News Digital covering international affairs and the United Nations. Follow her on X @efratlachter. Stories can be sent to efrat.lachter@fox.com.
Anglicare Australia’s latest rental affordability snapshot has warned that the housing crisis could become a permanent feature.
Just a single rental nationwide was affordable for a person receiving JobSeeker payments.
A single room in a shared house in Adelaide, priced at $125 per week, stands as the sole rental option in Australia that someone on JobSeeker can feasibly afford.
Anglicare’s 2026 rental affordability report highlights the stark reality that almost no housing options across the nation are accessible to individuals without dependents who rely on the maximum fortnightly JobSeeker payment of $817.50.
To be deemed “affordable,” rent should not exceed 30% of a household’s budget, a threshold recognized internationally to prevent financial strain.
For someone on JobSeeker, even after factoring in the energy supplement and the highest level of Commonwealth Rent Assistance, affordable rent should not surpass $135.75 per week. Yet, such properties are nearly nonexistent in Australia.
Rob Stokes, Anglicare’s Group Executive of Housing, remarked that these figures underscore a significant shift in the living conditions within Australia.
“The great Australian dream used to be having a house to call your own, near family and friends, and close to work. Now people are lucky to find a rental that doesn’t immediately tip them into financial distress”, he said.
The aged care and community services network has been tracking rental affordability for nearly two decades, and Stokes says the group has only seen the issue “escalate and spread”.
He added that “circular debates” over supply and demand need to stop and that the country needs to make significant policy changes to ensure housing security for all Australians, rather than be “filled with dread about how they will afford to keep a roof over their head, if they can find one at all”.
The only affordable house in Australia
The country’s sole affordable rental for someone on JobSeeker is a single bedroom in a share house with multiple tenants in the Fairview Park neighbourhood of Adelaide, South Australia.
The rental space is 9.29 square metres with a shared bathroom, toilet, and laundry, and is listed as not accepting pets.
The listing has been on the market since at least mid March. Credit: Realestate.com
The space is available for $125 per week, which may also include the use of a parking space.
SBS News has contacted the owner for comment.
Built in 1966, the house is listed as a three-bedroom property and appears to have several smaller buildings within its bounds, allowing for private rental accommodation.
For $125 per week, the room comes with its own entrance, making it eligible for “private residence” status. Credit: Realestate.com
It was last sold in 2002 for $117,000 and is now estimated to be worth around $870,000. Data from Domain shows that the entire property could be rented in 2003 for $200 per week.
The suburb is roughly 40 minutes drive, or 45 minutes on public transport, to the city centre.
Supply and demand
Anglicare is calling for an additional 10,000 new social housing dwellings to be built across the country each year, and for affordable housing to be prioritised in housing development.
It is also calling on the government to increase JobSeeker payments to $80 per day, increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance, and strengthen tenants’ rights in a bid to support low-income renters.
In addition, the group also wants to see an expansion of crisis and traditional housing for domestic and family violence victim-survivors and an expansion of homelessness prevention services for older people in NSW.
A federal government spokesperson told SBS News the government is “helping everywhere we can” but that “people are doing it really tough at the moment”.
“We’ve increased Commonwealth Rent Assistance by more than 50 per cent,” the spokesperson said. “We’ve worked with states and territories to limit rent increases and ban rent bidding, and we’re delivering a $10 billion investment to build 55,000 new social and affordable homes.”
The government, through its Housing Australia Future Fund and other programs, is aiming to complete these affordable homes by 2029, but faced criticism earlier this year for having completed just over 2 per cent of its target two years into the project.
The spokesperson also pointed to “big increases to social security payments” made by Labor.
“A single person receiving the maximum rate of the Disability Support Pension is over $5,500 a year better off since Labor came to government,” they said.
South Australia recorded its biggest home building year on record in 2025, with 13,514 homes completed, according the the Department for Housing and Urban Development.
An average of roughly 145,000 new homes are completed in Australia each year, and yet affordability for low-income households continues to decline. This is because, Anglicare’s analysis shows, many households, particularly those on income support or low wages, simply cannot afford market rents.
“Increasing the overall number of homes does not change this if those homes enter the market at prices that remain out of reach,” Anglicare writes.
Policy shifts
For renters in work, the situation is not much better. In previous years, a family of four with two minimum wage incomes could afford more than a quarter of the rental properties on the market across the country.
Now, that figure has fallen to 14.8 per cent. For a single parent, that figure drops to 3 per cent. For a single person on the minimum wage, they can access just 0.56 per cent of the rental market.
The results suggest that the relationship between wages and rents has shifted, reducing the share of the market that is affordable to these households, Anglicare says.
It notes that Australia’s housing system has not “come from nowhere”, but has emerged thanks to policy decisions made over the previous two decades.
It argues that the capital gains tax (CGT) discount and negative gearing changes implemented by the Coalition government under John Howard in 1999 have “shaped the market over time”.
“Rather than rewarding the provision of affordable rental housing, the system rewards capital growth,” it said.
Capital gains tax going?
The government has flagged that it is looking to adjust CGT and negative gearing in the 12 May federal budget.
An emerging theme of the budget is the concept of “intergenerational fairness”, something Treasurer Jim Chalmers mentioned in an interview with Channel Seven’s Sunrise program on Thursday.
Major changes to CGT “appear locked in”, according to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s federal budget preview, which also said that negative gearing could be “scrapped” entirely.
“When we are only less than two weeks from the budget, there’s always a lot of speculation, and I think this time around we haven’t finished the budget yet”, Chalmers said.
“Some of these sorts of deliberations haven’t been concluded yet.”
Anglicare says that changes to the tax system which “leave the underlying incentives in place” are “unlikely to shift behaviour in a meaningful way”.
“The system is supporting asset accumulation among those already well placed, rather than expanding access to housing,” it writes.
The Labor government have argued that housing affordability is primarily a supply-side issue and one that was ignored by the Coalition while it was in power.
Angus Taylor has positioned housing affordability and home ownership as his primary focus since he became leader of the Opposition in February.
Taylor has linked immigration and foreign ownership to unaffordability, arguing that lowering immigration is necessary to reduce demand in the market.
He has also previously claimed that he will fight any changes to negative gearing, arguing that it would be a “tax on houses” and warning “if you put a tax on houses, you’ll get less houses”.
“It’s an assault on the Australian dream. It’s an assault on aspiration,” Taylor said about the potential tax reform.
Liberal Leader Angus Taylor has said that cutting CGT and negative gearing would be “insanity”. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts
“Right at the heart of the Australian dream is owning a home … but if you’ve got supply of housing going in the wrong direction, then that’s never going to be possible.”
Chalmers responded to the remarks by saying that Taylor “had his entire life handed to him on a silver platter” and “wouldn’t know the first thing about the real aspirations of regular Australians”.
According to Anglicare’s analysis, more than half of the benefits of negative gearing flow to the top 25 per cent of earners in the country, who also enjoy over 80 per cent of the CGT discount benefits.
“Tax reform alone will not address the gap between incomes and rents,” it writes.
“But it would change one of the key drivers shaping how the market operates, and influence how housing is valued and used over time”.
Over 450 family farms in the Ohio River Valley, submerged due to a recent dam renovation, are on the verge of receiving much-needed assistance, according to sources close to The Post.
The Olmsted Locks and Dam, revamped at a cost of $3 billion by the US Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 2018, inadvertently led to widespread flooding. This deluge affected 70,000 acres of soybean fields across Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri, transforming some historic farms into unintended reservoirs.
In response, about 450 farmers initiated legal action in 2018 and 2021, seeking compensation for the devastation of their land and crops. However, the Department of Justice under President Biden resisted these claims, causing delays in financial relief.
Insiders have revealed to The Post that an executive order is under consideration in President Trump’s administration to halt the DOJ’s opposition and extend aid to these farmers.
“Our farm, a family legacy for nearly seven decades, has been completely devastated by the Olmsted Dam,” a farmer from Kentucky shared with The Post, choosing to remain anonymous due to concerns about possible backlash.
“We are praying President Trump comes in and saves our farms so we can get repaid for our past crop losses and maybe relocate and keep farming on higher ground,” he said.
“Farmers have had Trump’s back and we have faith he has ours.”
The renovation of the 1929 dam, which is just 17 miles east of the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers on the border of Illinois and Kentucky, began in 1988 and was aimed at relieving a commercial shipping bottleneck on the Ohio River.
The Army Corps of Engineers project took 20 years longer than anticipated and finished $2 billion over budget.
The US Army Corps of Engineers declined to comment on the lawsuit or the alleged miscalculations in the construction of the Olmsted Locks and Dam that resulted in flooding.
A payout for the hundreds of litigant farmers could exceed $1 billion, which would be taken out of the Treasury Department’s Judgment Fund, according to sources.
On May 1, 2026, President Donald Trump lauded King Charles, referring to him as “the greatest King.”
The commendation came as King Charles and Queen Camilla concluded their four-day visit to the United States. The royal couple bid farewell to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during a final meeting at the White House on April 30.
Donald Trump is a big fan of King Charles
While standing beside King Charles, President Trump expressed his admiration, stating, “He’s a great king. The greatest king in my book.”
As the monarchs departed from the White House, Trump commented to reporters, “Truly remarkable individuals. We could use more people like them in our country.”
As the royal couple’s car pulled away from the White House, Trump added to reporters: “Really great people. We need more people like that in our country.”
After concluding the trip, King Charles and Queen Camilla shared their thanks in a statement posted on social media which read: “Farewell and thank you for the warmth of your welcome and the kind support you gave us throughout our first visit to the US as King and Queen, in this, your special anniversary year.
“We leave a piece of our [heart] behind and take a little of yours back home with us. Until the next time … God Bless America.”
The state visit – which included trips to New York and Virginia – ended with a major boost as President Trump announced he had decided to end tariffs on scotch whisky – which had been subject to a 10 per cent levy since 2025 – in honour of the royal couple.
In a post on Truth Social, Donald trump wrote: “In Honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful Country, I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon.
“People have wanted to do this for a long time, in that there had been great Inter-Country Trade, especially having to do with the Wooden Barrels used.
“The King and Queen got me to do something nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking! A wonderful Honor to have them both in the U.S.A.”
A response from Buckingham Palace read: “The King has been informed of President Trump’s warm gesture and sends his sincere gratitude for a decision that will make an important difference to the British whisky industry and the livelihoods it supports.
“His Majesty will be raising a dram to the president’s thoughtfulness and generous hospitality as he departs the US after a most enjoyable state visit for both their majesties in this special anniversary year.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla spent their final day of the tour in Virginia, where they attended a block party and a community parade. The King later flew out of the US and landed in Bermuda, marking his first visit to the island as monarch, while Queen Camilla is believed to have remained in the US.
Tragedy struck in the Texas Hill Country as a small aircraft, carrying a group of pickleball enthusiasts, crashed into a wooded area, resulting in the loss of all five individuals on board, officials revealed on Friday.
The fatal incident occurred on Thursday night at approximately 11 PM in Wimberley, a town situated about 40 miles southwest of Austin, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“The pilot and four passengers on board were pronounced deceased on scene,” reported Sgt. Billy Ray to the gathered media.
The Amarillo Pickleball Club from Amarillo, Texas, confirmed that the victims were club members en route to a tournament. The deceased were identified as Seren Wilson, Brooke Skypala, Stacy Hedrick, Glen Appling, and Hayden Dillard.
“Please keep their precious families in your thoughts and prayers,” the club expressed in a heartfelt statement. “While many knew them as friends through the sport, this loss is most devastating for their families. They may need our support during this difficult time.”
The plane, a Cessna 421C, took off from Amarillo and was headed to New Braunfels National Airport, according to the flight history. Aerial photos posted online by the Austin American-Statesman showed the aircraft destroyed in a wooded area.
A small plane carrying pickleball players crashed in trees in Texas Hill Country on Thursday
Brooke Skypala, right, was one of the five people killed in the crash on Thursday night
Glen Appling (left) and Hayden Dillard (right) had won tournaments togethers in the past
Promising young tennis and pickleball player Seren Wilson was also tragically killed
A preliminary investigation revealed the aircraft ‘was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact’ and ‘there is no indication of a mid-air collision’.
Stacey Rohr, who lives nearby, said she was in bed when she heard a crash and ‘felt everything vibrate.’
‘It was so close I felt like it was the back of my place up in flames,’ said Rohr, who immediately called her landlord.
The players were heading to a pickleball tournament at the Cranky Pickle in New Braunfels, about 30 miles northeast of San Antonio, said Martin Robertson, head pro at the venue.
He said they canceled the tournament Friday and plan to say a prayer before they start Saturday and honor the players who died.
‘We’re very heavy hearted, heartbroken from this,’ he said. ‘The pickleball community is very tight knit. Everybody knows everybody.’
Dan Dyer, president of the Amarillo Pickleball Club, said he’d played many games with four of the five people who were killed.
‘I’ve handed them medals. They were excellent players. They were out to win some games,’ Dyer said. ‘Every weekend there are dozens of tournaments. Some people get the bug; others don’t. But once they do, they’ll travel for a tournament.’
All five people on board were killed as they traveled for a tournament near San Antonio
A pilot in the area confirmed the plane’s locator emergency device emitted a distress signal
Dyer said a second plane was traveling to the event from Amarillo at the same time. Authorities said it landed safely at the airport in New Braunfels.
‘I haven’t heard anything from him,’ the pilot of the second plane said, according to Air Traffic Control audio.
A controller responded: ‘He started to move erratically and now his track is disappeared from the scope. So we want to make sure everything’s all right with him.’
At least one pilot in the area confirmed the troubled plane’s locator emergency device had emitted a distress signal. The controller called 911.
It was mostly cloudy in the New Braunfels area shortly before the crash and there was a thunderstorm two hours later, the National Weather Service said.
In December 2022, a Pennsylvania State Police SWAT team executed a raid on Maryann Kohberger’s residence in the Poconos, leading to her expressing disbelief to investigators that her son was involved in any crime. She described him as an “angel,” suggesting they had made a grave error.
Her son, Bryan Kohberger, had just been apprehended, charged with the fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students in Moscow, Idaho. The tragic incident occurred while three of the victims were reportedly still asleep.
“He’s my angel,” Maryann Kohberger conveyed to the FBI agents during an interview, as detailed in Christopher Whitcomb’s book, “Broken Plea.” This partial transcript sheds light on her perspective during the investigation.
The interview took place at the Pennsylvania State Police Fern Ridge Barracks in Blakeslee, not far from the family home in Albrightsville. Authorities had taken Kohberger’s parents there while executing a search warrant on their property.
Maryann Kohberger and her daughter Amanda were later seen leaving the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on July 23, 2025, following Bryan Kohberger’s sentencing for the November 2022 murders of the four University of Idaho students.
“My son would not do this,” Maryann Kohberger insisted, in response to a question from FBI Special Agent Matthew Phillips. “I will stake my life on that. There’s a mistake, something is wrong somewhere. And that’s what I believe. And that’s what I know in my heart.”
Special Agent Jessica Mahoney was also involved in the interview.
Bryan Kohberger appears at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on July 23, 2025, for his sentencing hearing for the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students nearly three years earlier.(Kyle Green/AP Photo)
“You say that he’s uh, an angel. He’s kind. He’s your baby,” she told Maryann Kohberger. “Does he have any anger issues ever?”
The book does not directly quote her response, but Whitcomb wrote that she denied her son had anger issues or had shown confrontational behavior. This appears to contradict allegations against him from fellow students at Washington State University, where he was a Ph.D. student in criminology who also worked as a teacher’s aide.
Mahoney asked if Kohberger had a girlfriend or boyfriends. His mother said he wasn’t dating anyone at the time, and had only had “a couple” of prior girlfriends.
University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and two other housemates pose in the final photo shared by Goncalves on Instagram before four students were fatally stabbed in November 2022.(Kaylee Goncalves/Instagram)
She admitted her son had few friends and said she was thankful that he’d overcome a past heroin addiction. However, she claimed he was “making friends” at WSU. She could only name one — described in the book only as an international student and one of his classmates in the criminology program.
She also told the agents Kohberger’s semester in Pullman, Washington, was the first time he’d lived alone. He had few hobbies, stayed up late and was organized when it came to work but not always tidying up his room, she told them.
“What’s going through my mind right now is that this is a really, really bad mistake, what’s going on, like what’s happening here,” she told the agents.
Bryan Kohberger appears at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on July 23, 2025, for his sentencing hearing for the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students nearly three years earlier.(Kyle Green/AP)
Phillips later warned her, “there is a lot of evidence” — enough probable cause to authorize the warrant served on her home that landed her son in handcuffs.
“This is a nightmare,” she said at another point.
Years later, she would sit in the front row as her son confessed to the murders of four innocent college students — Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.
Maryann Kohberger exits Monroe County Court House in Stroudsburg, Pa., on Jan. 3, 2023, after her son Bryan Kohberger’s extradition hearing. He was charged with the murder of four University of Idaho students in November 2022.(The Image Direct for Fox News Digital)
There is no known motive in the case after he took a plea deal to avoid the risk of the potential death penalty at trial.
He is serving four consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole, one for each of the murders, plus another 10 years for breaking into the home.
Pennsylvania authorities previously declined to divulge the full interview transcript and other records requested by Fox News Digital surrounding Kohberger’s arrest, citing an exemption under state law.
Attempts to reach Kohberger’s parents were unsuccessful.
