California’s legal landscape is stirring controversy as some of the state’s infamous criminals, including killers, rapists, and child predators, now have a pathway to potential freedom much earlier than initially planned. This shift is a result of the contentious elderly parole law.

Originally, inmates had to be at least 60 years old and have served 25 years to become eligible for parole. However, a new legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2020 slashed this threshold to age 50 and 20 years served. These changes, effective from 2021, were part of efforts to alleviate overcrowding in California’s prisons.

The legislative adjustment has sparked a backlash. Critics argue that it undermines sentences that were intentionally lengthy to keep dangerous criminals off the streets for life.

While this opportunity doesn’t assure immediate release, it does allow inmates to present their cases to a parole board. The board examines various factors, such as the inmate’s current age and potential threat to society, to make their decision.

Among those affected is Gregory Lee Vogelsang, 57, who received a sentence of 355 years to life. This stems from his appalling spree of sex crimes against children in the Sacramento region during the 1990s.

Despite that sentence, a three-person panel granted him parole in November under the elderly parole program.

David Allen Funston, who lured, kidnapped and molested at least eight children, was also granted parole in February at age 64.

The case followed another parole decision that ignited outrage in Sacramento County.

The backlash eventually reached the state Capitol, where Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen introduced AB 2727 to tighten the rules governing elderly parole.

Nguyen initially sought to raise the eligibility age to 75, but the proposal was later watered down to 65, with at least 25 years served.

The revised law has yet to pass following pushback from the Prison Policy Initiative, which cited research claiming to show declining recidivism among offenders over 65.

But critics argue the cases that sparked the legislative fight show why age alone should not determine when a violent offender gets another chance at freedom.

“David Funston was released at 64. Do we all feel safer from this pedophile simply by waiting until he’s 65?” said Schubert.

“Age does not erase predatory behavior.”

The UCLA medical facility, where actor Robert Carradine sadly ended his life in February, has come under scrutiny for breaking safety standards, according to a Department of Health and Human Services report.

This crucial report was presented to the Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, supplementing an earlier lawsuit lodged on August 7 by Carradine’s offspring against the Regents of the University of California, as covered by the Daily Mail.

Carradine’s family accuses UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital of understaffing, which they argue contributed to their father’s passing on February 23. The actor died from complications of an anoxic brain injury related to a suicide attempt during his treatment at the hospital, where he was 71 years old.

Following an April inspection, it was determined that the facility did not comply with Department of Health and Human Services regulations, particularly those concerning patients’ rights and nursing care.

The findings stated the hospital ‘failed to provide a safe environment for care,’ highlighting a specific infringement: the neglect to conduct patient checks every 15 minutes as mandated by the hospital’s protocol and procedures.

The Daily Mail has reached out to attorneys for the family, UC Regents, the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital and the Department of Health and Human Services for further comment on the story.

Another item cited in the report noted the presence of ‘two contraband items’ in the form of ‘a belt and a bedside table’ that Carradine used in his suicide attempt.

The facility’s director of quality management told DHHS officials in April that ‘the nurse failed to confiscate (take or seize with authority) the contraband of a belt, cellphone, and wallet’ when Carradine had been admitted to the facility January 16.

The director said ‘she was not aware whose responsibility it was to remove the bedside table’ in Carradine’s room, according to the DHHS report, adding that she said the table ‘was probably left over from the previous occupant’ in the room.

Earlier this month, Carradine’s daughters Ever and Marika, and son Ian, filed a wrongful death and elder abuse and neglect lawsuit against the regents and various does. 

According to court documents obtained by The Daily Mail, Carradine voluntarily admitted himself into Resnick twice in one month – he was discharged following seven days on January 9 before returning on January 16 due to a ‘manic episode suicidal ideation.’ 

Carradine was ‘relieved to be hospitalized’ and hoped that ‘additional inpatient treatment would reduce his anxiety,’ the documents stated. 

‘But Robert’s hopes for successful treatment didn’t match the reality he had stepped into,’ the document claims. ‘Instead of walking into a safe environment, he walked into a locked facility that broke a cardinal rule for a hospitalized psychiatric patient with active suicidal thoughts and a history of suicide attempts.’

Carradine’s children specifically highlighted that he was never stripped of a ‘belt,’ which is outlined as contraband, the complaint alleges. 

‘The belongings form that UCLA generated from Robert’s admission shows the facility failed to confiscate his belt,’ the lawsuit alleged. ‘UCLA also left a rolling bedside table in his room, which was not a standard piece of furniture in the locked psych unit.’

Carradine’s manner of death was ruled suicide in June; the actor endured a long struggle with serious mental illness that his family has spoken about publicly. 

Medical Examiner records state that the actor had a history of bipolar disorder, severe depression with psychotic features, anxiety and prior suicidal ideation.

‘None of this happened because UCLA lacked the knowledge, the policies or the means,’ the family’s lawsuit said. ‘It happened because UCLA took shortcuts with two safeguards that were meant to protect Robert’s life.’

Carradine’s children also claimed ‘no one watched him or checked on him for long periods of time despite orders to watch him every 15 minutes.’

‘The staff member assigned to watch Robert sat in a chair in the hallway and entered observations into an iPad without ever looking at him. 

Carradine’s children said in the filing, ‘The iPad carried forward whatever information had last been entered, so that UCLA staff were allowed to click that they had checked on someone without ever looking at them.’ 

‘On paper, UCLA produced a perfect record, making it look like they were checking on suicidal patients every 15 minutes.’

‘In reality, UCLA allowed staff to cut corners knowing that doing so placed its patients with suicidal ideation, including Robert at risk of suicide and death.’

Additionally, the filing stated UCLA ‘did not investigate reality’ and recorded ‘a version of events’ contradicted by video surveillance.

The plaintiffs are seeking general damages, special and economic damages, and wrongful damages.

According to the medical examiner’s investigative summary, Carradine voluntarily admitted himself to UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital on January 16, 2026 because he was experiencing suicidal thoughts.

The following day, hospital staff found him unresponsive in his room after what investigators described as an apparent hanging involving a leather belt.

Medical personnel were able to restore circulation and Carradine was transferred to intensive care, where he remained hospitalized for more than five weeks.

His condition continued to deteriorate and he was pronounced dead on February 23.

The medical examiner’s report lists the cause of death as ‘sequelae of anoxic brain injury’ due to hanging. The report notes that no foul play was suspected.

Investigators interviewed family members as part of the inquiry into Carradine’s death.

Carradine had battled bipolar disorder, depression and psychosis for roughly two decades and had recently become increasingly depressed.

The records also indicate that Carradine had previously sought treatment for suicidal thoughts at the same facility.

Family members believed he had been discharged too early following an earlier hospitalization before he returned and admitted himself again in January. 

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US at 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.

A California family has taken legal action against Six Flags Magic Mountain, claiming that a flawed ride design led to the tragic death of their 22-year-old son on the X2 roller coaster. The lawsuit alleges that the amusement park’s negligence resulted in fatal head injuries.

The heartbreaking event unfolded in the summer of 2022. Christopher Hawley, a recent San Diego State University graduate, had been enjoying a day at the Los Angeles County theme park with his family. According to a report by Fox 11 Los Angeles, Hawley collapsed soon after experiencing the X2 ride and sadly passed away the following day.

An earlier incident involving the same roller coaster occurred on July 5, 2026, when another rider was found unresponsive, leading to the temporary closure of the X2 for over a month, as reported by KTLA. This added to growing concerns about the ride’s safety record.

Authorities declared Christopher’s death accidental, attributing it to blunt-force head trauma incurred from the ride. His family described their experience on the attraction as exceedingly turbulent, highlighting potential safety issues, according to Fox 11.

His younger brother, Alex, described the ride as intensely violent, saying it jerked passengers around before ending with a jolt that sent their heads slamming into the headrests.

“It was very rough. It just jerked us. It just jerked us all around,” Alex told the local station.

“It just jolted us all the way forward and then our heads just swung all the way back into the end to the head.”

After Christopher stepped off the attraction, he reportedly appeared noticeably unwell, with his face turning very red before suddenly collapsing.

Emergency responders rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries the next day, Fox 11 reported.

The family said a surgeon compared Hawley’s injuries to shaken baby syndrome, a condition in which violent and sudden forces cause the brain to move rapidly within the skull, potentially resulting in swelling, bruising and bleeding.

“The surgeon had said, he likened it to shaken baby syndrome, that the ride hit his head so hard that it had basically ruptured his brain,” Christopher’s father, William, told the local station.

Six Flags declined to comment directly on the litigation to News Media.

However, the amusement park told Fox 11 that the ride remains closed following the separate July 2026 incident involving the unconscious rider.

“The ride remains closed at this time. It has been closed since the evening of July 12th,” Six Flags said.

A jury trial involving Six Flags, the manufacturer of the X2 roller coaster and park employees is scheduled to begin Sept. 8, according to reports.

The lawsuit also alleges that the defendants failed to adequately warn the public about the ride’s risks, the local station said.

X2 has been advertised as one of the theme park’s most intense attractions and features seats that rotate 360 degrees.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner did not immediately respond to a request for comment from News Media.

If there’s ever been a case study in poor mentoring, it’s the Green Lantern duo on HBO’s Lanterns. Hal Jordan’s treatment of John Stewart raises serious eyebrows about the super-powered organization’s Human Resources department. From constant belittling to withholding crucial information, Hal seems committed to making John’s introduction to the Green Lantern Corps as miserable as possible. Tasked with menial and hazardous assignments that stray far from his actual responsibilities, John is consistently given more grief than guidance. Despite his military background making him accustomed to chains of command, it’s clear that the abuse should not be tolerated. Complaint lines are open, even in superhero circles.

The maltreatment doesn’t stop there. Hal rudely awakens John by dousing him with cold water, demonstrating the non-stop barrage of indignities John faces. With no real instructions, John is left to learn to fly on his own. In a surprising turn, he summons an emerald bird that remains at his side despite removing the ring and traveling miles from its origins. Hal’s nonchalant response belies the significance of this achievement, hinting at its underlying importance.

John’s mission this week? Retrieve Hal’s physical Green Lantern from a location within his lavish mansion in Coast City, a fictional setting known to DC fans alongside Gotham and Metropolis. Hal’s peculiarities extend to housing a deadly extraterrestrial plant—deliberately leaving John to discover its vicious nature during feeding time. It seems that Hal’s ability to maintain his charmingly cantankerous persona knows no bounds.

John’s loyalty repeatedly gets tested. In a twist of fate, he’s ambushed by an extraterrestrial gang, identical to the aliens previously involved in a Nebraska football game incident. Their leader, portrayed by the ubiquitous Paul Ben-Victor, informs John they are in pursuit of a Manhunter. Predictably, John is clueless, highlighting the gap in Hal’s mentorship.

An education in terror follows. The aliens clarify that the Manhunters predate the Green Lanterns, notorious for their ruthless brand of “justice.” These synthetic beings, invincible in their duplicity, have decimated numerous alien races, including the leader’s own. To drive the point home, they subject John to a visceral mind implant, offering a firsthand view of their home planet’s annihilation—a visceral reminder of the stakes involved and the monster they face.

The aliens believe the Guardians of the Universe, the Green Lanterns’ bosses, secretly saved and hid the Manhunter that killed their people. Putting two and two together, John concludes that Abin Sur, the Green Lantern who died in a ship crash and passed on his ring, must have been transporting the Manhunter for safekeeping on Earth. Now it’s in Rushville, and it knows the aliens are onto it. Unless John and Hal find it and stop it, the aliens will blow half of Nebraska to kingdom come in order to kill it, lest it cause even more carnage itself. They tell John not to let Hal know about any of this, since it’s possible he’s in on it.

Considering the Hal we know, that’s unlikely. He spends the episode disrupting town meetings and generally making a nuisance of himself for Sheriff Kerry, for whom he has an obvious thing, even if it’s not quite obvious to Hal himself yet. He also becomes something of a grave-robber, hauling the alien corpses out of the morgue dicks-to-the-wind to test a theory. Sure enough, the “metal detectors” installed at the football stadium by Kerry’s father-in-law, William Macon, were designed to detect aliens, not metal. That’s how they ID’d their targets. 

This makes Hal even more curious about William Macon himself. But when he walks onto the big man’s property demanding answers about this incredibly sophisticated technology (Hal says he’s never seen it anywhere else in the galaxy) and Macon’s mysterious benefactor, he gets shot through the shoulder for his efforts.

In the hospital, he and Kerry apologize to one another for stomping all over each other’s respective jurisdictions. Kerry reveals she’s originally from Gotham City (Kelly Macdonald is gonna have to explain that Midwestern accent, then)…and Hal wonders why he’s literally the only patient in a hospital brimming with brand-new equipment. 

John returns to find his reluctant mentor banged up but out of the hospital. He delivers not only the ring-recharging Lantern that Hal asked for, but the uniform he expressly did not.

Surprisingly, considering their rapport, John immediately comes clean about his erstwhile alien abduction, how they’re searching for a Manhunter and believe it’s in Rushville. (I believe it’s Zoe, Macon’s incongruously cool and not-blonde wife; that would explain his defensiveness about aliens.) He also mentions that the aliens said his seemingly permanent bird construct was so sophisticated it was practically impossible…then crushes it into pixie dust in his hands. I guess he’s a guy who doesn’t get too attached.

Afterwards, Hal suits up (hooray!) and travels to a remote pocket-dimension prison. There, he finds Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen), the rogue Green Lantern who attempted a coup, killed a Guardian, and was taken down by Jordan himself. (Kerry tells Hal he talked about Sinestro in his sleep.) When he demands to hear everything Sinestro knows about Manhunters, the prisoner calls them the second-greatest threat Hal is facing…then asks about John Stewart.

As someone who’s read a fair number of Green Lantern comics, it’s difficult for me to say whether a great big introduction for SINESTRO!!! means anything to anyone not familiar with the character and mythos already. But his presentation as “Hannibal Lecktor” to Hal Jordan’s Will Graham in (appropriately) Michael Mann’s Manhunter — the imprisoned killer whose capture both made this lawman’s reputation and broke his spirit — creates an instantly recognizable and compelling dynamic regardless. It’s not terribly original (neither is the Spider-Man 2 powers-on-the-fritz flying attempt by John) but it gets the job done.

Meanwhile, the core cast continues to exude charisma from every pore. Does it help that Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald, and Poorna Jagannathan are all really, really, really, ridiculously good-looking? Yes, but they also all have an easy, convincing chemistry. This is true even of Chandler and Pierre as Jordan and Stewart, whose relationship feels like the former finding out just how far he can push things before the latter finally snaps. As always, I’m hoping a giant green fist is involved.

Sean T. Collins (@seantcollins.com on Bluesky and theseantcollins on Patreon) has written about television for The New York Times, Vulture, Rolling Stone, and elsewhere. He is the author of Pain Don’t Hurt: Meditations on Road House. He lives with his family on Long Island.

Dutch authorities have confirmed that a man discovered unconscious on an Amsterdam street three years ago is not the Canadian who went missing in British Columbia back in the 1990s.

This unidentified individual, known only as ‘Lucky,’ was found collapsed on May 10, 2023, and quickly transported to a nearby hospital, according to police reports.

Currently, he remains unable to reveal any details about his identity or history, having been diagnosed with Aphasia. Medical professionals suspect a brain hemorrhage or stroke as the cause of his condition.

The intriguing possibility that this mystery man might be John Russell Kenny, who vanished without a trace in 1993, fascinated amateur detectives and captivated investigator Anton Van Straten for days.

His striking resemblance to Kenny spurred an international probe and led to collaborative efforts between authorities in the Netherlands and Canada.

But after analyzing Lucky’s fingerprints, the Dutch and Canadian police have now delivered a definitive answer to City News – he is not Kenny. 

Efforts to ascertain the man’s identity through DNA databases and with facial recognition technologies have also reached a dead end as strict privacy rules hinder the police’s ability to access larger data sources where a match could be found, a spokesperson for the department told DutchNews.

Yet the extraordinary case is far from over.

Instead investigators are now following a series of fresh leads after more than 500 tips poured in following a public appeal to identify the man.

Police say at least nine of those tips have developed into specific possible identities, as per City News.

However police have warned that photographs can be deceptive and urged people not to assume that physical resemblance proves an identity.

Amsterdam police say two retired officers who are now volunteers with the department’s cold case team took over the case and have discovered Lucky had been a member of an Amsterdam Buddhist community. 

Members there told the cops he went by the name ‘Lucky,’ but they did not have any information about his actual identity.

The man had also been known to frequent a public square, at which he would buy items from shops and market stalls.

He was known by a variety of names at the square, police said, including Lucky, Louis, Lee, John, Ponytail and Sonny.

Authorities were further told stories that the man was extremely wealthy, but also that he had been seen wandering the streets of Amsterdam.

A breakthrough may have finally come when officers learned that the man would occasionally have a drink at the Soupenzo cafe on Waterlooplein, where workers identified him as ‘Chris the Canadian.’

An employee at the cafe told DutchNews how the mystery man would frequently visit the shop, often looking shabby and seemingly mentally unwell.

He always carried a suitcase with him and would ask for very particular variations of soup, which the employees would always accommodate – noting that the man always had money on him despite his appearance.

Investigators were also told that he spoke English with an accent they believed to be American or Canadian.

The man is said to use English words to deny or confirm things, but cops said he is unable to communicate much beyond that.

It is now believed that the man has spent some time in North America and Nepal, but it remains unclear how long he has been in Amsterdam.

He is now being held at a care facility where police say he spends his days lying in bed as experts involved in his care say he lacks the capacity to make decisions for himself.

As authorities continue their investigation into the man’s identity, members of the cold case team have been left wondering whether his family members may be worried about him, not knowing where he ended up.

‘I simply cannot believe that nobody knows who this man really is,’ retired cop Nel said in the initial news release.

Ruud added that: ‘Every person has the right to an identity, and that includes this man.’

Anyone with any ideas of who the man could be are encouraged to reach out to the Amsterdam police.

In a surprising turn of events, Spanish forward Esther González’s exit from Gotham FC late last month unfolded further on Sunday with an unexpected announcement of her joining a new team.

González has inked a deal with Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Women’s Premier League. This comes after Gotham FC’s July announcement, stating that she was leaving the NWSL club to “attend to personal matters in Spain.”

The revelation that the 2025 NWSL MVP finalist swiftly signed with another team, mere weeks following her departure, has certainly caught many off guard.

Back when Gotham FC announced the “mutual contract termination,” the club expressed warm wishes for González and her family, noting her return to Spain.

A well-informed source disclosed to The Post that the goodbye messages from Gotham were underlined with an understanding that González would be taking a break from the pitch, not signing with a new team just a month later.

González arrived to Gotham in 2023 shortly after she helped Spain win the 2023 World Cup, and during her time with the club, she won two NWSL titles. She had been signed through the 2027 NWSL season at the time of her departure. 

She scored the winning goal in the NWSL final in 2023 and scored 13 goals during the 2025 regular season en route to Gotham’s second league title. González was also part of the squad that won the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup in 2025. 

Gotham’s president of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West said in a statement last month when González left that she was “a model professional on and off the field.” 

González said at the time that Gotham would “always hold a very special place in my heart.” 

Gotham has not publicly addressed the news, though the club was in action on Sunday in Los Angeles.