In Louisiana, a substitute teacher’s actions led to panic across five schools after she allegedly triggered false active shooter alerts, causing district-wide security responses, authorities reported.

Lytonja Barfield, aged 58, faces charges on five counts of menacing following an investigation into the incidents that unfolded on Wednesday, as disclosed by Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr.

The investigation by the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office commenced after the Caddo Parish School Board raised concerns about potential threats stemming from emergency alerts issued at multiple schools.

Don Gibbs, head of security for the school board, informed investigators that Barfield, serving as a substitute teacher, allegedly exploited the district’s emergency management system to falsely report active shooter situations at five schools, according to the details from the sheriff’s office.

School officials responded to the alerts by implementing security measures to protect students and staff while they worked to determine whether the reported threats were legitimate.

Officials determined the alerts were false and identified Barfield as the person responsible for sending them, the sheriff’s office said.

Caddo Parish Public Schools told News Media Barfield is no longer employed by the district and was not assigned to work at any district location at the time of the incident.

“We are cooperating fully with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office as they continue their investigation into the matter. Ms. Barfield is no longer employed by the district, and, at the time of the incident, she was not assigned to work at any district site,” the district’s statement said. 

“While we will not speak to the individual details of the investigation, as that is under the purview of the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, I can say that, in response to the mobile alerts, the district followed our established security protocols to ensure student and staff safety at all locations.”

The sheriff’s office did not identify the five schools in its announcement or say what specific security measures were implemented.

A Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office detective later located Barfield and questioned her about the incident.

Based on evidence and information gathered during the investigation, authorities arrested Barfield and transported her to the Caddo Correctional Center, according to the sheriff’s office.

Barfield was booked on five counts of menacing.

The sheriff’s office said false reports of active threats can disrupt schools, trigger emergency responses and cause fear among students, parents, employees and the surrounding community.

Authorities did not disclose a possible motive for the alleged false alerts.

The investigation remains ongoing.

On the brink of their season opener, USC’s head coach Lincoln Riley and collegiate football coaches across the nation might face an unexpected dilemma:

Should they welcome back players who had once graduated to the professional ranks?

A recent court decision has opened the possibility for former college athletes, who signed with NFL teams this past summer, to return to collegiate play with renewed eligibility.

This development presents a unique scenario, as these athletes have been training with NFL teams and presumably turned to the next chapter of their careers.

However, reports indicate that some of these players might be keen on terminating their NFL contracts to rejoin college football teams.

So, where does Riley stand on the possibility of bringing back a player who was thought to have played his final game as a Trojan?

“Ultimately, at the end of the day, you’ve got to feel like bringing in somebody is in the best interest of the team, right?” Riley said Thursday.

“Addition doesn’t always mean necessarily making you better, right? And we feel very strongly about the group that we’ve put together, we feel very strongly about the kind of culture and attitude and vibe of this team right now, and so first and foremost, we’re going to protect that, and if at some point someone comes up that we feel like can add to the roster and add to the intangible part of this, then we would certainly look at it.”

While they were not among the group of players granted a temporary restraining order as part of the lawsuit against the NCAA, there are a couple of former USC players whose returns could make sense — at least in theory — should they decide to go down a similar path.

Detroit Lions rookie edge rusher Anthony Lucas and Pittsburgh Steelers rookie tight end Lake McRee both signed with their respective teams as undrafted free agents, meaning they face long odds to make the roster, much less contribute significantly in their first NFL seasons.

But there’s no certainty they even want to return, and the Trojans are at a strange juncture to be adding players — even ones they know and love. They are about to enter game-week mode ahead of their season opener against San Jose State on Aug. 29 at the Coliseum after having collectively endured the strain of training camp.

How would someone who won a starting job feel about being displaced by another player who wasn’t part of that process? How might the addition of players at this point change the locker room bonding that’s been going on since spring practice?

Those are tough questions without easy answers. Riley said general manager Chad Bowden, coaches and other staffers were continuing to monitor the seemingly daily rule changes and how they might impact the team.

“I think we’ve had to learn — I think we all have — there’s things within the rules of the game that if there’s a place to have an advantage for USC, we would always look at it — I mean, always,” Riley said. “Whether we agree with it or not, that is definitely something that I wish wasn’t happening right now in college football — and not for any individual’s sake, just for the overall good of the game.

“For us, it’s something we’re looking at, it’s something we have looked at as some of these different judges’ decisions have transpired across the country. There’s never going to be a stone that’s not going to be uncovered, that’s not going to be looked at, discussed.”

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Sandra Bullock stepped into the public eye on Tuesday, marking a rare appearance shortly after opening up about the passing of her long-term companion, Bryan Randall.

The 62-year-old Hollywood star maintained a discreet presence, donning a baseball cap and dark sunglasses, as she ran errands in Beverly Hills. By her side was her 12-year-old daughter, Laila.

Laila, who is one of Bullock’s two adopted children, was seen holding a takeout box, hinting at a casual meal during their shopping trip.

This public outing coincided with the release of her candid interview on the SmartLess podcast. During the discussion, Bullock opened up about her journey through her partner Randall’s struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS.

While talking to the podcast hosts, Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, the Oscar-winning actress revealed she had spent four years mourning as the debilitating disease affected Randall. He tragically passed away in August 2023 at the age of 57.

‘Where he was in his journey, both physically and mentally, I started grieving Bryan four years before he passed. There was something that had shifted,’ she explained.

‘My person left a lot earlier than the body left. I don’t think I ever dealt with that until after he passed, because you’re just on this treadmill.’

The couple initially met in January 2015 when the star hired him to photograph her son Louis’ fifth birthday party, and they began dating shortly afterwards.

Bullock also spoke about how she understood why Randall wanted her to keep his ‘traumatic diagnosis’ private, but it ultimately left her feeling isolated.

‘He asked me not to share. I know why he asked me not to… At first I go, “Oh, I can handle that. I can be quiet. I don’t wanna harm others because of what I do. So I think not talking for a while was good.’

She went on: ‘The entire world was locked in with a pandemic. It was literally like the final diagnosis, even though, he was ill for half of our relationship. 

‘The diagnosis came almost at the same time with the cloak of the pandemic. So as the pandemic came down, and I have a child with severe asthma, I was panicking.’

‘I had two young kids that were navigating it, especially a little girl who saw him as a father figure… I wasn’t allowed to tell anybody. My sister was the only one who knew for, for a while. It’s a huge weight.’

Bullock eventually confided in two close friends, Bateman’s wife Amanda Anka and The Morning Show star Jennifer Aniston, because managing Randall’s symptoms and raising her kids amid the pandemic became a ‘trifecta that was pretty dark.’

‘I had to release a film at the same time and talk about gray. I saw myself on the red carpet and I was like, you just look at my face. And I am, I’m a woodblock.’

Bullock had mostly avoided the public eye after stepping back from Hollywood in 2022 – the main motivation behind her withdrawal now painfully clear.

She returns to the big screen in the sequel Practical Magic 2, which reunites her with Nicole Kidman and hits US theaters on September 11 and internationally on September 9. It’s her first role in several years.

Recently analyzed surveillance footage revealed a chilling scene in downtown Philadelphia where a man in a menacing Chucky-style Halloween mask instigated fear among pedestrians. This tense episode ended with the masked individual dodging two police officers in pursuit, officials reported on Thursday.

The Philadelphia Police Department, in collaboration with the U.S. Marshals Service, has been on the lookout for 22-year-old Zymire Hughes, following the issue of an arrest warrant related to the incident that took place on August 12.

“If it was Hughes’ intention to instill fear and make others flee, one might ask, who is really running now?” remarked Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner at a press briefing on Thursday afternoon.

Authorities shared additional footage on Thursday illustrating Hughes departing from his residence and subsequently taking public transportation towards the downtown area.

Once in the downtown area, Hughes donned his mask around 5:30 a.m. and began antagonizing people while filming his actions with a cell phone, police said. He allegedly threatened and assaulted a jogger near City Hall before chasing her.

The first person confronted by Hughes appeared to be terrified.

“The victim is absolutely terrified of Mr. Hughes,” Philadelphia Police Capt. Jason Smith said. “He crouches down with his hands up in a pleading motion. We don’t know exactly what was said… but it’s readily apparent that this individual is certainly in fear for their life. So then Mr. Hughes proceeds to make his way down Chestnut Street, harassing additional people.”

The incident culminated when Hughes allegedly chased the jogger.

Holding up his phone, he allegedly asked: “Are you ready to die?” police said. The jogger injured her leg while fleeing and will require extensive medical treatment, Capt. Smith told reporters.

At one point, Hughes was spotted inside Suburban Station by two Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) police officers in a golf cart and others on foot. The officers told him to remove the mask, Smith said, while showing footage of the interaction.

Hughes removed the mask but attempted to conceal his identity.

“Underneath that Chucky-style Halloween mask, he’s got a black, COVID-style mask, which he never removes,” Smith said. “Before they spot him, he is running around attempting to engage other people and scare them down in Suburban Station as well.”

The officers followed Hughes, but he eventually evaded them and boarded a bus back home, police said.

He took the bus, placed the mask in a backpack, and arrived at his apartment complex, authorities said.

Surveillance footage captured at the complex shows Hughes leaving for downtown before his alleged rampage began. Investigators were able to obtain images of him in a common area without the mask.

SEPTA police officers were able to identify Hughes, along with two other people, police said.

Smith said he believes Hughes initiated the spree for “his own sick personal amusement” or to create monetized social media content.

Hughes remains at large but has ties to California and Nevada, police said.

James Talarico, campaigning for a Texas Senate seat, has sparked controversy by challenging the fairness of the murder conviction of Karmelo Anthony. The teen was convicted despite the absence of black jurors, which Talarico argues points to systemic racial biases.

Talarico, who aims to become Texas’s first Democratic Senator since 1988, voiced his concerns during a recent appearance on “The Breakfast Club” radio show. He suggested that Anthony’s case exemplifies broader failures in the justice system, particularly for black Texans.

“In my legislative work, I have consistently pushed for justice reform because our system often falls short of treating all Americans equitably. Black Texans, in particular, face numerous injustices,” Talarico explained.

He further mentioned, “While I am not deeply informed about this specific case, the lack of black jurors speaks volumes about the system’s flaws. It’s clear evidence that the system fails black Texans.”

Karmelo Anthony, aged 18, was found guilty in June for the murder of Austin Metcalf. The incident, which erupted from a dispute over seating at a track and field meet in Frisco, Texas, occurred in April 2025.

The dispute began when Metcalf, who is white, told Anthony, who is black, to leave the team tent. Anthony responded by plunging a knife into Metcalf’s chest, killing him, prosecutors said.

A Collin County jury — composed of white, Asian and Hispanic members — deliberated for about three hours before finding Anthony guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the killing.

Talarico was accused by conservatives of siding with Metcalf’s killer, as well as pandering to black voters, in response to his stunning concerns about Anthony’s conviction.  

“Karmelo Anthony was a violent criminal who killed Austin Metcalf in cold blood. James Talarico sides with a murderer,” Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton wrote on X, sharing a clip of his challenger’s appearance on “The Breakfast Club.” 

Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) similarly argued: “Karmelo Anthony stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf to death for absolutely no reason. And [Talarico] sides with the killer.”

“Talarico’s answer on there being six genders will be more popular in Texas than this pandering insanity. Woooooof,” conservative CNN pundit Scott Jennings posted. 

Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet argued that Talarico was siding with Anthony “to pander for black votes because Jasmine Crockett voters are still mad at him, and because he’s effeminate and naturally turns them off.”

Talarico defeated Crockett in the Senate Democratic primary and the firebrand congresswoman has thus far refused to campaign for him. 

“He’s willing to ignore the evidence and stoke a race war for votes. Disgraceful, truly,” Kolvet added.   

Another X user quipped, “Everyone who fatally stabs someone in the heart in front of a lot of people and then confesses the crime to the cops deserves a US Senator who advocates for him and his rights this passionately.” 

A conservative lawyer on X expressed concern with Talarico’s “implied belief that racial quotas are necessary for juries.” 

“Of course, under Batson, neither side can discriminate on race in selecting jurors,” the lawyer, Eric W., continued, “But Talarico appears to *want* discrimination in the form of quota. 

“Not good!”

Talarico’s campaign did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

On Thursday, the FBI announced the successful disruption of a suspected terrorist plot targeting Albany, raising alarms across the state.

Authorities have identified a New York resident, accused of orchestrating what officials described as “a major attack” on the state capitol. This woman now stands at the center of an alarming case.

Federal prosecutors in the Northern District of New York have charged 35-year-old Jessica Bowie with attempting to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations, according to a criminal complaint. Conviction could lead to a 20-year prison sentence and a fine reaching $250,000.

Court documents reveal that Bowie, an Albany resident, allegedly devised a plan involving explosives to strike the New York State Capitol building. The plot reportedly unfolded between July 16 and August 17 of this year.

The FBI credits its undercover operations with apprehending Bowie, effectively preventing a potential disaster from unfolding.

“Bowie had plotted to use an explosive device to attack the New York State Capitol and the New York state senators,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone said. “The allegations in this complaint are deeply disturbing. That someone would harbor such hatred toward our way of life and seek to target the New York State Capitol and New York state senators – that’s an attack on democracy itself, and one we will not tolerate.”

Sarcone alleged Bowie was radicalized online and “spread messages of hate and violence against the American people.” 

The affidavit alleges she surveilled the state capitol building on five different occasions, all captured on security cameras. 

She was communicating with an FBI source posing as an ISIS infiltrator. 

“I would like to [target] state capitol,” Bowie allegedly wrote to the source. She also allegedly told another source she was receiving help to plan “a major attack.” 

In one message to the source, Bowie is alleged to have written that she wanted “to destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they are meeting … I want them to lose alot [sic] of important documents as well.”

She added, “I want it to have a affect on the American system.” 

The complaint includes an image of Bowie at a Rensselaer Home Depot, buying nails and other supplies for a makeshift bomb. FBI sources met with her and gave her $200 for the purchase, and investigators say she said she’d murder her roommate if her roommate found out. They say she planned to bring the device into the capitol in a DoorDash delivery bag, and hoped to kill at least 100 people. 

“She continued, as referenced in the complaint, ‘I don’t wanna take this risk and kill what, two or three people, what good is that?'” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli. 

She is alleged to have met in person with two other confidential sources, who recorded the meeting. In that meeting, she is alleged to have indicated she wanted to go through with other attacks. 

The affidavit says Bowie allegedly said attacking the White House would be too difficult, and she would revisit that at a later date. “We definitely want to make sure the senators get killed for sure,” she is alleged to have said. 

The affidavit says she wanted to take out half of the staff there. 

Bowie, the affidavit alleges, converted to Islam five years ago and formally made an oath of allegiance to ISIS in May of this year, as well as posted online “praise be to Allah for September 11th.”   

The criminal complaint says Bowie also told FBI sources she wanted a gun “so if the cops do get towards me during the operation I can shoot back.” 

Investigators say she met with FBI sources this week, gave them $150 for the gun and a $200 donation to the bombmaker. When she left the source’s vehicle, she was arrested. She was allegedly in possession of a firearm, magazine, and ammunition that she carried in a bag she brought to the meeting, in addition to a purported explosive device. The FBI allegedly also found knives and a handwritten bayah – a formal oath of allegiance – on her. 

“She told a source she went from a little girl waving an American flag after 9/11 to now having stickers of the falling towers,” Tremaroli said. 

After being arrested, she allegedly admitted she knew she was going to jail. “There’s no helping me,” she allegedly told FBI Albany agents. 

The FBI said Bowie planned to flee the country after the attack, but said she eventually wanted to come back and attack Times Square on a New Year’s Eve in the future. 

“Today, the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI announced the arrest of an individual who allegedly plotted an attack on the New York State Capitol. I’m grateful to the FBI for leading this investigation and to the New York State Police for their work to apprehend this dangerous individual,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. “Earlier this year, amid a rise in political violence and threats against public officials, we took steps to strengthen security at the State Capitol and across state government.”

Hochul added, “There is no immediate threat at this time.” 

“This shows you the dangerous of terrorism. We must always be vigilant. They found this possible perpetrator, they found this evil person, and they stopped her in her tracks,” Sen. Chuck Schumer said. 

“This is just the latest example of this FBI stopping an alleged terrorist in their tracks – in 2026 we’ve already disrupted 400+ such attacks at home and around the world. For any individual who may be considering harming Americans in the future: know that we will find you,” FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media.