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.
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.
A former Harvard professor has been unveiled in the Epstein documents for sending an effusive email celebrating the release of the convicted sex offender from prison.
Stephen Kosslyn, who led the university’s psychology department in the late 1990s and later served as the dean of social sciences, is at the center of the controversy.
The 77-year-old was identified in Harvard’s 2020 report investigating its connections with Epstein. He was noted for strengthening the university’s ties with Epstein by endorsing him for a Visiting Fellow position, which was awarded to Epstein in 2005.
Upon Epstein’s release from Palm Beach County jail in July 2009, after serving a 13-month sentence for solicitation and prostitution involving a minor, he emailed Kosslyn with the message, “Home and free.”
In response, Professor Emeritus Kosslyn expressed his enthusiasm despite Epstein’s criminal background, replying, “HI Jeffrey!!!!! THIS IS FABULOUS!”
‘I’m currently in San Francisco, about to go to San Diego today. I’ll give you a quick call at some point just to check in,’ he added, before signing off as ‘S’.
Kosslyn often discussed science with Epstein and described him as the ‘only collaborator’ on one of his sociology theories, according to a letter of recommendation he wrote for the financier, seen by the New York Times.
‘I wish I could have even a single student who asks such good questions,’ the professor wrote.
Longtime former Harvard professor Stephen Kosslyn has been exposed in the Epstein files for celebrating the prison release of the convicted sex offender in a simpering email
Kosslyn has been named and shamed in Harvard’s report into its close ties with Epstein as the professor who deepened the relationship by recommending him as a Visiting Fellow
When Epstein was released from Palm Beach County jail in July 2009 after serving 13 months for solicitation and prostitution with a minor, he wrote to Kosslyn saying: ‘Home and free’. Despite Epstein’s conviction, Kosslyn celebrated his release in the email shown above
When Harvard began investigating its professors’ ties to Epstein, Kosslyn admitted that Epstein was not qualified to conduct the research involved in his coveted fellowship role.
Despite his lack of qualifications and the fact that Epstein contributed little to the school beyond his monetary donations, he was approved for a second year in 2006.
Kosslyn stayed in close contact with Epstein even after his conviction on child sex crimes, and visited him in jail, according to prison house logs.
When Kosslyn published a book in 2013, he told Epstein he would email and autograph a copy for him, and even unashamedly listed the sex offender in the author’s notes.
The Daily Mail has contacted Kosslyn for comment.
Harvard spokesman Jason Newton told the NYT the probe into Kosslyn and others’ connections to Epstein is ongoing.
‘The university will continue to evaluate, based on its ongoing review, what additional actions may be warranted considering information that has come to light in these documents,’ he said.
Epstein began donating to the elite school in 1998, and by the time of his 2006 arrest in Florida, he had sent 22 gifts to the college, worth a total of $8.4 million.
The gifts included $200,000 to support Kosslyn’s research.
When Harvard began investigating its professors’ ties to Epstein, Kosslyn admitted that Epstein was not qualified to conduct the research involved in his coveted fellowship role
Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008 and indicted in 2019 for sex trafficking minors throughout the 2000s. Above, with Donald Trump in 1997
Epstein provided tax and estate services to billionaires, making connections with the rich and famous over decades.
He was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008 and indicted in 2019 for sex trafficking minors throughout the 2000s.
Epstein died in custody awaiting his trial. His death was ruled a suicide.
The US government has been releasing files related to his correspondence, including the emails he shared with Kosslyn.
Pam Bondi, 60, was recently fired from her role as attorney general after months of scandal over her handling of the Epstein files.
Australia has secured 20 per cent of the urea it needs for this current farming season.
However, some experts say the country’s reliance on chemical imports leaves it exposed in an increasingly volatile world.
Despite the government’s successful acquisition of a significant fertiliser shipment and the tentative reopening of the Strait of Hormuz last Friday, concerns about Australia’s food security persist. The situation highlights the ongoing vulnerability of the nation’s food supply chain.
Following the February 28th attack by the US and Israel on Iran, which reignited conflict in the Middle East, experts have sounded alarms about potential fertiliser supply disruptions. These disruptions could lead to reduced crop yields, escalating food prices, and possible shortages, creating a ripple effect across the agriculture sector.
Nick Rose, the executive director of Sustain: The Australian Food Network, shared his insights with SBS News, stating, “We are a highly productive, efficient, large-scale agriculture-producing country, and we produce enough food to feed, apparently, about 90 million people.” However, Rose cautioned that this achievement comes at a considerable cost, and the current crisis is exposing the weaknesses in the system.
Australia’s reliance on imported fertiliser is significant, with approximately 8.7 million tonnes used in 2024 alone. More than 85 percent of this fertiliser is imported, with much of it passing through the strategic and often precarious Strait of Hormuz.
Australia used some 8.7 million tonnes of fertiliser in 2024, with more than 85 per cent of it imported and much of those imports travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.
With the country now experiencing its third major supply chain disruption this decade, some experts are saying now is the time to rethink our food production system.
‘Crunch’ time
Planting for winter crops is currently taking place across most of Australia, with fertiliser needed now to ensure crops reach their maximum potential yields.
The deal facilitated by the Albanese government is for agricultural-grade urea — something Australia imported 3.8 million tonnes of in 2025, and a cheap source of the most essential plant nutrient: nitrogen.
Supplies of fertiliser are typically imported as needed, with the crisis hitting at a particularly challenging time.
According to the government’s figures, the country is still 1.25 million tonnes short of the urea needed for the season, meaning further deals will have to be made if disruption continues.
Crops like canola require around 80 kilograms of nitrogen fertiliser per hectare, although that rate varies by region, soil condition and a farmer’s yield target.
Marit Kragt, professor of agricultural economics at the University of Western Australia, told SBS News that Australia has “all the fertiliser that we need” for now, but added that “our attention is shifting as we need to make sure that June and July are also covered”.
“If those purchases are not filled, that’s when the crunch happens,” she said.
Australia has no domestic means of manufacturing urea after the Gibson Island facility near Brisbane shut down in 2023, with the facility’s owners citing an inability to secure an affordable long-term gas supply as the reason for the closure.
In the past seven weeks, the cost of imported urea has more than doubled — as have the prices of many fertilisers.
After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, fertiliser prices also climbed, but so too did grain prices, meaning farming profit margins weren’t as threatened as they might have been.
This time, the same is not true.
“The current impacts are much more profound,” Kragt said. “We seem to have not learned anything.”
“We just rely on cheap imports.”
How sustainable is Australian agriculture?
Broader questions are being raised about the overall sustainability of the agricultural system in this country and the need to shift towards more regenerative farming practices.
Fertiliser production relies heavily on natural gas and contributes to the 10-12 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions that the agricultural industry releases.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water’s 2021 State of the Environment report found that “the condition of Australian soil is generally poor and deteriorating”.
The report — the next edition of which is due in December 2026 — found that 75 per cent of agricultural land in the country shows some sign of degradation.
Overuse of fertiliser can contribute to a loss of moisture retention in soil. Source: SBS News
This is partially a result of over-reliance on synthetic fertilisers, which increase crop yield in the short term but can lead to degradation over time.
The issue has drawn the focus of the government, which, in 2021, launched a 20-year National Soil Strategy to ensure and maintain soil integrity.
Kragt said most farmers are “well aware of the need to look after soil” and that practices to improve soil health are now widespread.
That said, she argues much more could be done from an infrastructure perspective to improve the industry’s impact on the planet and that the present moment offers the opportunity to change path.
“You need to invest in new facilities here in Australia, which costs millions, if not billions, and take two years to start producing,” Kragt said.
“Or you could invest in technologies that are already in development or have been developed, and the scaling of those, which could be more sustainable.”
Even after the closure of its Gibson Island facility, Australian company Incitec Pivot has remained one of the largest fertiliser producers in the country.
She points to companies like the US-based Nitricity — which produces nitrogen fertiliser using only air, water, solar energy, and almond shells — or the Monash University-based startup Jupiter Ionics, which she said was also innovating in the green ammonia space.
“There are technologies out there; it’s just that the cost and benefits don’t weigh up when imported fertiliser is $700 a tonne.
“Maybe that will be different now that it’s $1,500.”
The government has already launched a national food supply chain assessment, with an interim report due next week, to understand how the country could better ensure food security.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said in March that Australia’s “farmers and producers feed millions of people both here and abroad, but events like the conflict in the Middle East reaffirm why we cannot be complacent”.
“While Australia is food secure, we recognise the importance of supply chain resilience, including the supply of fuel and fertiliser.”
While Australia is a net exporter of food, some experts say this fact obscures the reality of the nation’s food security.
Kimberley Reis, a food resilience and contingency expert at Griffith University, told SBS News that to argue that Australia is food-secure because we are an exporter would be “a mind-numbingly unenlightened thing to say”.
“We’ve got more Australians than ever who are relying on emergency food relief.”
The 2025 Foodbank Hunger Report found that one in five Australian households often skipped meals or went full days without food.
Kragt says rising food prices as a result of the conflict will be virtually guaranteed.
“It’s not going to be 10 or 15 per cent. We’re talking small increases,” she said. “But for some people, that’s substantial, especially because we’ve already seen those increases in the past 12 months.”
In addition, food production is not simply about caloric manufacture, as most of our agricultural industry focuses on grains and meat, which are insufficient for a complete diet.
Domestically produced dairy, meat, and fruit and vegetables are all expected to rise in cost. Source: AAP / Aaron Chown
If every Australian followed the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables per day, Rose said, “we would not now be producing enough veg for the population”.
“That will get worse over time.”
Green shoots for local food self-sufficiency?
Rose argued that the present disruption could serve as an inflection point, forcing the country to reconsider its centralised food delivery system in order to better weather similar — and greater — challenges in the future.
“I absolutely see this as a massive opportunity and a wake-up call for the country on something as fundamental as food,” he said.
Sustain, which advocates for policy change while empowering local communities to become more self-sufficient, has conducted polling into how the war in the Middle East has impacted its members’ behaviours.
“We’ve had over 400 responses, and over a fifth, about 22 per cent of people are saying that they are growing more food at home,” Rose said.
Sustain encourages people to get involved in local community gardening. Credit: Universal Images Group Editorial
Reis argued that the potential for food disruptions should serve as a reminder that international supply chains are increasingly unreliable in a destabilising world.
“It’s really important that communities come to understand that [the current system is] not sustainable,” she said.
Food supply chains that are more regional rather than global are also more likely to use “more ecologically supportive farming practices,” she said.
She argues that communities organised around such local food supply structures are better able to “bounce back and reshape themselves in a more sustainable way” following significant disruptions.
“It’s been very encouraging for me to see that over the last five years or more,” she added.
Kash Patel, a figure of interest in ongoing political discourse, has stirred attention with claims of imminent arrests related to an alleged conspiracy surrounding the 2020 election. This assertion comes amid a storm of controversy following a critical report of Patel’s conduct. Speaking on Fox News, Patel vowed that those he believes were involved in ‘rigging’ the election for President Joe Biden will face consequences. “I won’t let this go,” he declared, emphasizing his commitment to accountability and hinting at forthcoming arrests. This marks his most assertive public statement yet, amplifying previous suggestions that the FBI has compiled evidence supporting former President Donald Trump’s allegations of a manipulated election.
The Invisible Proof
Despite Patel’s strong declarations, his claims clash with numerous rejections from courts, election officials, and even Trump’s own Justice Department during his presidency. Patel refrained from detailing the purported evidence, citing the sensitive nature of the investigation. He did, however, assert that substantial information exists and is being integrated into a comprehensive conspiracy case in collaboration with Department of Justice prosecutors under Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We have the information backing President Trump’s claims,” Patel reiterated, urging the public to stay alert for potential developments in the coming week.
The Interrogation Failure
These remarkable assertions arise during a period of increased scrutiny on Patel himself. A recent report by The Atlantic has cast doubt on his professional conduct, painting a picture of erratic behavior and potential national security risks. Based on interviews with over two dozen current and former FBI officials, the report describes Patel as prone to jumping to conclusions without sufficient evidence and suspicious of others. Concerns have also been raised about his alleged alcohol consumption affecting his judgment, particularly in high-profile investigations such as the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing. Patel faced criticism after prematurely announcing on social media that a suspect in Kirk’s murder was in custody, only to retract this statement after the individual was released following an interrogation.
It also claimed that staffers at one point struggled to reach Patel due to his alleged drinking, and that concerns within the bureau have intensified as his behavior grew more unpredictable. On one occasion, staffers allegedly requested ‘breaching equipment’ used in SWAT raids and hostage situations to try and break down his door, according to The Atlantic. Patel is known to enjoy alcohol and has frequently appeared visibly intoxicated at clubs in Washington and in his home city of Las Vegas . He reportedly also enraged the president after he was filmed chugging beer with the US men’s hockey team following their Olympic victory . Fearing he was about to be fired by the Trump administration, he allegedly called aides and allies in panic – a reaction that, according to the report, quickly reached the White House . Officials told the outlet they are increasingly alarmed about whether the FBI could respond to a national crisis like a terror attack with Patel at the helm. ‘That’s what keeps me up at night,’ an unnamed official told the publication.
Patel has categorically denied the allegations and is now preparing to take legal action. ‘You want to attack my character? Come at me. Bring it on. I’ll see you in court,’ he said on Sunday, confirming that a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic is expected to be filed. Patel dismissed the report as part of a broader media campaign against him, calling it the work of a ‘fake news mafia’ and arguing that such attacks are evidence the FBI is effectively doing its job. ‘If the fake news mafia isn’t hitting you personally with baseless information in Washington, D.C., then you’re not doing your job,’ Patel said. In response to The Atlantic’s recent bombshell claims, Patel’s advisor Erica Knight released a pointed statement on X , calling it a story ‘that every real DC reporter chased, couldn’t verify, and passed on.’ ‘Here’s reality. Since being sworn in, Director Patel has taken a grand total of 17 days off – half as much time off as Comey and Wray – and he spends twice as much time in the office as either of them ever did,’ Knight wrote. ‘The so-called ‘intoxication incidents’ The Atlantic breathlessly reports have happened exactly ZERO times,’ she added.
She went on to list statistics she said were achieved under Patel’s tenure, including 67,000 arrests nationwide and ‘2,200+ kilos of fentanyl seized – enough to kill 178 million Americans.’ Such claims have not been independently verified. The clash between Patel and The Atlantic has rapidly escalated into a high-stakes confrontation, with both sides digging in. The magazine’s reporter, Sarah Fitzpatrick, has publicly stood by her reporting, stating in an interview that she ‘stand[s] by every word of this reporting’ and emphasizing that it was based on extensive sourcing, including current and former FBI personnel. Meanwhile, Patel’s legal team has accused the outlet of publishing ‘false, unsourced and facially defamatory’ claims, arguing that the reporting relied on vague and unattributed allegations.
Authorities in Pennsylvania are reaching out to the public for assistance in identifying a group of teenagers accused of violently pursuing and attacking a college student at Temple University over the weekend. The incident, which occurred on April 19, 2026, has left the community on edge as the search for the suspects continues.
The incident unfolded around 2:50 a.m. Sunday, when a group of juveniles allegedly chased a Temple University student into the lobby of Morgan Hall South, according to the Temple University Police Department.
The alarming episode took place when a mob of teens chased the student into a university residence hall. Once inside, the assailants reportedly assaulted the student and caused damage to university property. The Temple University Police Department is currently seeking nine individuals believed to be responsible for the attack.
This unsettling event has sparked concern among students, highlighting the unexpected dangers they face on campus. Emanuel Turner, a sophomore at Temple University, expressed his apprehensions to ABC 6, stating, “It puts the threat actually into perspective because, especially knowing as a college student, your main priority is education, not really safety, but this happening is a little bit more in the forefront.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information on the incident or the suspects to come forward as they work diligently to ensure the safety and security of the university community. The assault has raised pressing questions about campus security and the measures necessary to protect students from similar threats in the future.
Authorities are searching for nine suspects accused of chasing and attacking a Temple University student in a campus residential hall lobby in Philadelphia, Pa., on April 19, 2026.(Temple University Police Department)
The student sustained minor injuries and declined medical treatment at the scene.
Campus authorities have since released images of the suspects in hopes of tracking down those responsible for the alleged assault.
Authorities are searching for nine suspects accused of chasing and attacking a Temple University student in a residential hall lobby on campus in Philadelphia, Pa., on April 19, 2026.(Temple University Police Department)
The surveillance images show a group of nine individuals – some wearing hoodies and facial coverings – walking on a sidewalk, with some of the suspects’ faces visible to the camera.
Authorities have not revealed what led up to the alleged incident and no arrests have been made.
Temple University, located in Philadelphia, has an enrollment of about 30,000 students, according to the school’s website.(iStock)
Additionally, the Philadelphia Police Department and the School District of Philadelphia are assisting Temple University authorities with the search for the suspects, officials said.
Temple University boasts an enrollment of roughly 30,000 students and is located in the heart of Philadelphia, according to the school’s website. Morgan Hall houses approximately 1,200 students and serves as a key residential hall for the school.
Temple University did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Authorities are asking anyone who believes they may have information regarding the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department by calling (215)-686-TIPS.
Julia Bonavita is a U.S. Writer for Fox News Digital and a Fox Flight Team drone pilot. You can follow her at @juliabonavita13 on all platforms and send story tips to julia.bonavita@fox.com.
Inset: Matthew Lee Pasco (Lake County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The 1900 block of Griffin Road in Leesburg, Florida, where Pasco allegedly shot a dog owner dead (WFTV/YouTube).
In Florida, a tragic incident unfolded when a man allegedly shot a dog owner dead during a chaotic scene where the dogs were attacking a woman. The shooter reportedly declared, “you think I won’t shoot you too?” after being questioned about his intent to fire.
Matthew Lee Pasco, aged 43, is charged with first-degree murder following the fatal shooting of Shawn Cyriacks in Leesburg, near Orlando. As detailed in an arrest affidavit from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement officials arrived on the scene Friday at a homeless encampment located on the 1900 block of Griffin Road.
The deputies were initially dispatched to assist a woman who had suffered multiple dog bites. During the emergency call, the 911 operator was gathering details when loud screams erupted in the background.
“What’s happening?” the dispatcher urgently inquired, as documented in the call accessed by Law&Crime.
“There’s a gunshot wound now,” the caller responded, marking a dramatic turn in the situation.
Cops rushed to the scene and found Cyriacks suffering from a gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead.
Detectives spoke with a woman who had been staying in Pasco’s tent. She said they were awoken by one of their friends being attacked by dogs. The woman said Pasco went outside to investigate and then returned, saying he was going to kill the dogs. She said this led to an argument between the two.
Per the affidavit, Cyriacks, the owner of the dogs, tried to prevent Pasco from interfering.
“If Shawn wants to get in the way, he can die too,” Pasco allegedly said.
Pasco was allegedly armed with a gun with a laser affixed to it. Cyriacks reportedly confronted him.
“You’re not going to shoot the dogs,” the victim allegedly said.
Pasco allegedly responded: “You think I won’t shoot you too?”
That’s when Pasco shot Cyriacks in the chest, cops say.
The defendant is also allegedly heard on the 911 call saying “I am gonna kill it.”
Deputies say that the victim made no threats toward Pasco, who “deliberately and intentionally shot” Cyriacks during a “heated verbal argument.”
After the shooting, Pasco fled the scene but was arrested on Sunday. He’s now in the Lake County Jail without bond. His next court date is set for May 18.
Singer D4vd is facing serious charges, including the murder of a 14-year-old girl, a crime that could lead to the death penalty if he is found guilty.
The tragic discovery of Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s body was made last September when her remains were found in the front trunk of a Tesla at a tow yard in Hollywood.
Authorities revealed that the Tesla was registered to D4vd’s Texas address. Known in real life as David Anthony Burke, D4vd was identified as a suspect in February and subsequently arrested on April 16.
The 21-year-old artist now faces charges that include first-degree murder with special circumstances, engaging in continuous lewd acts with someone under 14, and mutilating human remains.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office cited several aggravating factors for the murder charge, including elements of ‘lying in wait,’ committing the crime for financial gain, or killing a witness to an investigation.
The charges, filed in California, carry a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole and the death penalty.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J Hochman told a press conference on Monday that a determination on the death penalty will be made at a later date.
Burke is being held in a Los Angeles prison with no bail.
D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, was officially named as a suspect in the killing in February. He was arrested on April 16 and was formally charged with first-degree murder on April 20
The 21-year-old’s mugshot was released during a press conference on Monday
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, was found dead inside a Tesla in Los Angeles last year
‘Let us be clear – the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death,’ lawyers for D4vd said after his arrest.
Based on testimony from her friends and family, it is believed Rivas was in a romantic relationship with the 21-year-old singer at the time of her death.
Her family said she was last seen in spring 2024, when she left her Lake Elsinore home aged 13. They said, however, that this was not the first time she had run away.
Rivas Hernandez’s remains were discovered last September after the Tesla that allegedly belonged to D4vd was left on a public street for more than 72 hours, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
It was then impounded and taken to Hollywood Tow.
Employees at the tow yard began to notice a stench coming from the vehicle and called police on September 8 last year.
Investigators said the girl had been dismembered and found her decomposed head and torso in a cadaver bag.
She was found days after what would have been her 15th birthday, but police believe she likely died much earlier, with the county medical examiner saying the remains were ‘severely decomposed.’
Rivas and D4vd were believed to have been in a romantic relationship
The Tesla SUV where police say Rivas’s body was discovered on September 8, 2025
Police raided a $4.1 million home in the Hollywood Hills where Burke had been staying last year
Rivas’s mother, who reported her missing three different times throughout 2024, has said her daughter was dating a guy she never met named ‘David’. It’s also been reported that the two shared matching ‘Sshhh’ tattoos on their right index fingers.
Friends of D4vd told TMZ that the two were ‘frequently’ seen together.
The grand jury investigation into D4vd began in mid-November. Jurors were presented evidence by prosecutors and relevant individuals were called to testify, including D4vd’s managers and friend, Neo Langston.
And in September, police obtained a search warrant for a $4.1 million home in the Hollywood Hills where Burke had been staying. Officers seized a computer, according to ABC News.
Police have not disclosed details about what they may have found on the computer.
The residence’s owner, Mladen Trifunovic, hired private investigator Steve Fischer after the search to look into whether the teenage girl had ever stayed at the home.
Fischer said that a ‘burn cage’ with enough power to turn a dead person’s body to ashes had been found at the ritzy Los Angeles spot once occupied by Burke.
‘Given that Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s remains were ultimately found in the Tesla [trunk], the presence of an incinerator at the same residence associated with that vehicle necessarily raises questions about intent,’ he said on X.
After Rivas’s death, the lyrics of D4vd’s songs were the subject of much scrutiny due to their violent nature.
In one of his most popular singles, ‘Romantic Homicide’, he sings about a love interest of his no longer being around.
‘In the back of my mind, I killed you… And I didn’t even regret it… I can’t believe I said it… But it’s true… I hate you,’ were the final words of the 2022 song.
D4vd rose to fame that same year after a string of viral TikTok hits.
His popularity led to collaborations with stars such as SZA and Kali Uchis. When Rivas’s body was discovered, D4vd was on a tour, which was later canceled.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In the early hours of this morning, Andrew Jonathan Heise, a 19-year-old resident of Newberry, was taken into custody following an incident on the University of Florida campus. A mother and her daughter reported that an intoxicated individual assaulted them and attempted to forcefully enter their car.
The University of Florida Police Department received a call around 12:15 a.m. on April 19, directing them to 125 Buckman Drive near Fletcher Hall. The callers, a mother and daughter, were fending off a man who was aggressively trying to get inside their vehicle.
Upon arrival, the officers swiftly detained Heise and proceeded to gather statements from the two victims.
According to the mother, she was in the process of dropping off her daughter when an unknown man, later identified as Heise, began shouting profanities and charged at their car, attempting to open the doors. An onlooker intervened, pulling the man away temporarily. However, Heise managed to break free and resumed his aggressive approach towards the vehicle, leaving the mother and daughter in fear for their safety.
The first victim said she hit the man once in self-defense, but he tried again to get into their vehicle, trying to open doors on both sides of the vehicle. The first victim said she believed the man was trying to steal the vehicle.
The second victim reportedly corroborated the first victim’s story and said she was in fear for her safety when the man charged her and her mother.
An officer reported that surveillance video corroborated the victims’ accounts of the incident, and the video reportedly shows Heise being restrained multiple times but making his way back to the victims every time.
Post Miranda, Heise reportedly said he didn’t remember anything about the incident. An officer reported that he appeared to be very intoxicated and smelled strongly of alcohol. Heise reportedly admitted that he had been drinking.
Heise has been charged with two counts of assault, attempted burglary of a vehicle, and disorderly intoxication. He has no adult criminal history, and Judge Denise Ferrero ordered him released on his own recognizance.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
EVANS, Ga. () – A young man, aged 22, has been arrested on charges of allegedly abusing his elderly relatives.
According to the police report, Austin Blake Pidgeon became involved in a heated dispute with his grandmother concerning her plans for her upcoming 78th birthday. The argument reportedly stemmed from her decision to evict him.
Authorities claim that during the altercation, Pidgeon forcibly took a stuffed toy from his grandmother and struck her with it. He is also accused of punching her in the back of the head, forcibly cornering her, and spitting in her face.
Despite attempts from Pidgeon’s mother, who was present in the house, to de-escalate the situation, her efforts were reportedly unsuccessful.
The grandmother’s 83-year-old boyfriend, upon hearing the disturbance, attempted to intervene from another room.
It’s at that time Pidgeon let go of his grandmother, grabbed her boyfriend and threw him to the floor, and left the home.
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Deputies saw the suspect walking near the home and detained him for questioning; he was later arrested.
Austin Pidgeon remains in the Columbia County Jail charged with:
Simple Battery
Family Violence
2 Counts of Exploitation and Intimidation of Elderly Persons
COLES COUNTY, Ill. — In response to a concerning wave of suicide attempts at the county jail, the Coles County Sheriff’s Office has implemented crucial improvements. Last month, four inmates attempted to take their own lives, prompting swift action from the sheriff and his team.
Sheriff Kent Martin, speaking with WCIA, emphasized that the diligent efforts of his staff prevented any fatalities during these distressing incidents. This, he noted, underscores the urgent need to address mental health issues within the jail environment more effectively.
The sheriff’s office has now shed more light on the mental health challenges faced within the facility, aiming to foster a better understanding of the complexities involved in managing such cases.
During the weekend of April 17 to April 19, authorities on Tybee Island were kept busy with 26 arrests made in connection with the annual Orange Crush event. This information was provided by the Tybee Island Police Department and Georgia State Patrol to Fox News Digital.
The Orange Crush weekend, often a subject of debate due to its large gatherings, concluded with not only these arrests but also the seizure of five firearms. Alarmingly, one of the confiscated weapons had been modified into a makeshift machine gun, capable of fully automatic firing, according to police reports.
Breaking down the numbers, Tybee Island police were responsible for 19 of the arrests, while the Georgia State Patrol accounted for the remaining seven. This year’s total of 26 arrests shows an increase from last year’s count of 22. In comparison, there were significantly more arrests in 2024, totaling 54, while the number in 2023 was the same as this year.
At this time, further specifics regarding the nature of the arrests have not been disclosed.
No other details on the arrests were immediately available.
Known as Crush Reloaded this year, the main event is scheduled for Saturday with a music festival at the Tybee Island beach pier and pavilion.(Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Police also handed out 100 traffic citations over the three-day span, with 49 issued by Tybee Island officers and 51 by state troopers.
During the same period, the island’s 911 center handled 297 calls for service, Randolph said.
The annual event branded this year as “Crush Reloaded,” returned to Tybee Island over the weekend with organizers promoting it online as “THE BIGGEST HBCU BEACH BASH IS BACK” and saying more than 50,000 people were expected.
WATCH: Tybee Island mayor says Orange Crush Reloaded is no longer ‘destructive’
Tybee Island Mayor Brian West told Fox News Digital the city’s security approach closely mirrored what authorities have used in recent years.
“It’s pretty similar to what we did last year. It looks like we might have more people this year, but we put in a safety protocol three years ago that seems to be pretty effective. And it’s pretty much what we’ve seen for the past three years now,” West told Fox News Digital.
West said authorities brought in help from agencies across the region and the state, including the Georgia State Patrol, Department of Natural Resources, Motor Carrier Division, Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Chatham County Police Department and Tybee Island’s own police force.
Law enforcement officers watch from the pavilion as DNR rides through the crowd on ATVs during Crush Reloaded, formerly known as Orange Crush at Tybee Island, Ga on Saturday, April 18, 2026.(Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
West said the stepped-up safety measures followed problems in 2023, when he said people who were not college students came to the event and brought “drugs and guns.”
“We had a really bad situation in 2023. And what happened was we had a lot of people that came to this event that weren’t college students. They were older people that were trying to take advantage of the group, and they were bringing drugs and guns,” West said. “And with the security that we put in place, we’ve been able to filter those people out. And so now we have college students that are here, and it’s more of a spring break type group than it is a destructive type group.”
Spring breakers pose for a photo during Crush Reloaded, formerly known as Orange Crush at Tybee Island, Ga on Saturday, April 18, 2026.(Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
He also said city leaders have found the event runs more smoothly when students have organized entertainment.
“It really works much better when we work together and have some type of activity for the students to do. In the past, when they just showed up, they kinda had to make their own fun. And sometimes that fun really wasn’t the best thing to be doing,” West said. “So when there’s an activity, when there is a band, when there are things to keep their attention, it works much better.”
WATCH: CEO of Orange Crush says event is ‘rebranded’ with collaboration with police, city
Orange Crush Reloaded CEO Steven Smalls similarly told Fox News Digital the event is intended to give college students a place to celebrate safely.
“It’s about the college students more than anything to come out and have a good time and focus on the graduation that’s coming up in May. It’s a college-based thing and hopefully in the future I’m able to give back to some student debt relief and hopefully one day help one of SSU (Savannah State University) students. Give one of these kids a scholarship if I do good out here, you know, just put back towards the college community,” Smalls said.
Smalls said the rebranded event and cooperation with city officials helped create a better environment for attendees.
“This is the rebrand. I think that’s probably the best thing that happened. I love the way the relationship is built, and I understand what they got going on, and they understand what I have going on. And working together, it became just right here what you see today,” Smalls said.
He also argued that the organized festival helps channel the crowds.
“If I wasn’t doing this, then they would just be popping out here. There wouldn’t be no sound, no entertainment. It wouldn’t nothing for them to do, it’d just be them being so pushed out. So me bringing the entertainment and me being here, they come out here to have fun. The police presence, that helps you be safe,” Smalls said.
Performers interact with dancers during Crush Reloaded, formerly known as Orange Crush at Tybee Island, Ga on Saturday, April 18, 2026.(Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Known for drawing massive crowds to the small Georgia beach town, Orange Crush has long stirred controversy among residents and law enforcement because of past violence, arrests and trash left behind in its wake.
Ahead of this year’s festivities, Tybee Island officials said they were heightening enforcement and preparing for an influx of visitors, as local concerns grew over public safety and so-called “teen takeovers” that have been reported around the country and in the region.
“Rest assured that we have heard you and that public safety will always be our top priority,” Randolph previously told Fox News Digital when asked about residents’ concerns over the event.
Beginning Thursday before the festival weekend, residents and visitors saw an increased law enforcement presence from various local and state agencies across the island. Authorities also launched a road safety checkpoint on Highway 80, carved out emergency lanes on main roads and closed the 14th and 16th Street parking lots in an effort to maintain order.
WATCH: Teen takeover in Georgia caught on camera
On April 4, police said an unpermitted pop-up event near the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion was interrupted by gunfire after hundreds of teens gathered in the area.
Officers said they heard a single gunshot around 6:30 p.m., sending the crowd running.
Orange Crush dates back decades and earned a reputation in the early 1990s as a rowdy, crime-filled weekend.
The festival later moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 2021, citing issues including limited parking, lack of resources and alleged civil rights concerns, before returning to Tybee Island in 2023 for the first time since 2020.
![She went on to list statistics she said were achieved under Patel's tenure, including 67,000 arrests nationwide and '2,200+ kilos of fentanyl seized - enough to kill 178 million Americans.' Such claims have not been independently verified. The clash between Patel and The Atlantic has rapidly escalated into a high-stakes confrontation, with both sides digging in. The magazine's reporter, Sarah Fitzpatrick, has publicly stood by her reporting, stating in an interview that she 'stand[s] by every word of this reporting' and emphasizing that it was based on extensive sourcing, including current and former FBI personnel. Meanwhile, Patel's legal team has accused the outlet of publishing 'false, unsourced and facially defamatory' claims, arguing that the reporting relied on vague and unattributed allegations.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/04/20/07/108008499-0-image-a-32_1776667021755.jpg)
