Outside the federal courthouse in Oakland, parents stood clutching pictures of their children as Meta faced a pivotal trial, accused of intentionally getting kids addicted to their social media platforms.

Inside the court, emotions ran high with the commencement of opening statements. A coalition of 29 states, spearheaded by California, has charged Meta with designing Facebook and Instagram to captivate young audiences while obscuring the potential dangers of these platforms.

Amid a sea of worried parents, a large white sign carried the names of nearly 600 children reportedly harmed by social media’s grip, including young Giovanni, aged 11, and Bubba, aged 13, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Among those present was Mary Rodee, whose heart still aches following the tragic suicide of her 15-year-old son, Riley Basford, in 2021—an event connected to a predator exploiting Facebook.

“They label it as spontaneous suicide,” Rodee explained to Reuters. “I see it as a foreseeable consequence of a system that prioritizes corporation security over the well-being of our children.”

The mother of 14-year-old Alexander Neville was also at the courthouse. Her son died from fentanyl after she said he was tricked by a drug dealer on Snapchat.

“We want Meta, in short, to stop hurting our kids, stop knowingly hurting our kids, stop using features that you know create mental health harms to kids,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta told NPR.

Inside the courtroom, California Deputy Attorney General Megan O’Neill told the eight-person jury that Meta’s business model was to “hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data, and then hide the truth from the ⁠public.”

“It worked especially well for kids,” O’Neill added. “Meta needed kids, and it needed to reassure the people who cared about those kids that the kids are safe.”

Meta pushed back hard, arguing there is no clear evidence that social media use causes poor well-being among adolescents.

Meta attorney Paul Schmidt said there was “no dispute” that some users struggle with social media, but argued the company does not believe its products are dangerous.

“They don’t believe they’re going to do well if people don’t like their service,” Schmidt said.

The case could have massive consequences for Meta, with the company warning that penalties could reach as high as $1.4 trillion if it loses.

The states are also seeking sweeping changes to Facebook and Instagram, including eliminating likes and infinite scrolling, imposing time limits on younger users and enforcing restrictions designed to keep children under 13 off the platforms.

Former Meta safety engineer Arturo Bejar, the states’ first witness, testified that “move fast and break things” was a mantra at the company and that safety was sometimes an afterthought.

“Many products were shipped into the world,” including Reels, “and safety was not a consideration in how it was initially deployed,” Bejar said.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri are expected to testify during the trial, which is scheduled to last six weeks.

In a rare moment of sharing his personal life, Justin Timberlake recently took to social media on a Tuesday to showcase a strong united front with his wife, Jessica Biel. This comes after he faced a challenging two-year period in his career.

The 45-year-old pop star – who boasts 178.4 million social media followers – captioned his 10-photo Instagram slideshow: ‘Been outside.’

Hailing from Minnesota, Timberlake also delighted fans with an abundance of photos featuring their sons, six-year-old Phineas and 11-year-old Silas, adding a personal touch to the heartfelt post.

One image captures a candid moment of little Phineas playing golf alongside his Grammy-winning dad, while another playful shot shows Silas smiling behind an indulgent hot-fudge sundae adorned with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry on top.

The couple is set for a milestone on October 19, as Timberlake and the 44-year-old Emmy nominee, Biel, prepare to celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary, marking over a decade of love and partnership.

The story of Timberlake and Biel dates back to 2007, when the No Angels singer first met the Tennessee-born actress on a snowboarding trip with friends in Park City, Utah. The rest, as they say, is history.

Before The Better Sister producer-star, Timberlake reportedly romanced the likes of Fergie, Britney Spears, Jenna Dewan, Alyssa Milano, Emma Bunton, Tatyana Ali, Cameron Diaz and Lindsay Lohan.

Meanwhile, Biel was said to have previously dated her 7th Heaven co-star Adam LaVorgna, her Cellular/London co-star Chris Evans and retired New York Yankee Derek Jeter.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the inseparable couple’s reps for comment but did not immediately hear back.

On July 30, Timberlake concluded his $205.2M-grossing, 121-date The Forget Tomorrow World Tour after receiving backlash about his viral low-effort performances wherein the audience appeared to sing more lyrics than he did onstage.

The Selfish singer had canceled or postponed several concerts due to the flu, bronchitis, laryngitis, an ankle injury and an ongoing back injury.

Last year, Timberlake announced he was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which he called ‘relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.’

Other celebrities suffering from the tick-borne illness include Yolanda Hadid, Bella Hadid, Anwar Hadid, Justin Bieber, Ben Stiller, Amy Schumer, Alec Baldwin, Shania Twain, Debbie Gibson, Avril Lavigne, Riley Keough, Ramona Singer and Kelly Osbourne.

In 2024, the Oscar-nominated songwriter pled guilty to driving while impaired, paid $760 in fines, agreed to do 25 hours of community service at a non-profit of his choice and had his New York license suspended for 90 days.

Timberlake, who refused to take a breathlyzer test, successfully avoided a criminal DWI charge and infractions for running a stop sign and failure to keep in his lane stemming from his arrest in Sag Harbor, New York.

The four-time Emmy winner continues to pull 57.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify after selling over 32 million solo records and 80 million records with his former boyband *NSYNC.

But Timberlake first found fame at age 12 as a Mouseketeer in the Disney Channel variety show revival, The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, which aired for seven seasons spanning 1989-1996.

Biel will next portray Aimee in Sam Hargrave’s spy comedy Matchbox: The Movie – premiering October 9 on Apple TV – alongside John Cena, Sam Richardson, Danai Gurira and Corey Stoll.

The Fatal Destination producer-narrator’s other upcoming acting projects include Kyle Marvin’s Yosemite mountain climbing drama Batso and Anthony Sparks’s reboot of her sitcom 7th Heaven at CBS Studios.

A tragic accident claimed the life of an Ohio mother of three when a large tree fell onto her SUV as she drove on a highway this past weekend, according to authorities.

Bridget E. Reagan, 35, from Minerva, was in her 2023 Jeep Wagoneer heading west on U.S. Route 30 in Paris Township late Saturday afternoon. At approximately 5:24 p.m., a tree from a nearby wooded area suddenly fell, landing on her vehicle, as reported by the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP).

Officials pronounced Reagan dead at the scene, according to the OSHP.

Lt. Johnnie Maier of the Ohio State Highway Patrol explained to WEWS, “We’re investigating whether the ground was saturated, or if the tree was rotted—essentially considering whether this was just an unforeseeable act of God.”

“This could have happened to anybody, but in this case, it happened to a young lady with a family,” Maier told the outlet.

Reagan was a small-business owner and well-known member of the Minerva community, where she owned Chic Haven, a clothing and home décor boutique.

Reagan’s sudden death prompted an outpouring of grief from family, friends, fellow business owners and members of the tight-knit Minerva community.

The Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce offered its “deepest and most heartfelt condolences” to Reagan’s family, friends and loved ones, describing her as a valued member of the local business community who brought “an incredible amount of energy, warmth, and joy” to those around her.

“Her presence touched so many people, and the impact she made throughout our community will not be forgotten,” the chamber said, adding that the loss “will be felt for a very long time.”

Reagan also used her platform to give back. In a Facebook post last year, she asked friends to mark her birthday by donating to SAVE22 Veterans, an Ohio nonprofit focused on supporting veterans and raising awareness about veteran suicide.

“I’ve chosen this nonprofit because their mission means a lot to me, and I hope you’ll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me,” Reagan wrote at the time.

Chic Haven Boutique confirmed Reagan’s death in an emotional Facebook post signed by her sister, Kelly.

“There are no words that could ever truly express the heartbreak and emptiness we are feeling,” the post said.

“Bridget poured so much love, time, passion, and pieces of herself into this business, but even more importantly, she touched the lives of so many people along the way,” the post continued.

The family said they would work to preserve what Reagan built.

“We will do our best to honor her memory and the legacy she created,” the post said.

A GoFundMe created by Reagan’s sister is raising money for funeral and memorial expenses and to support her three children.

“Bridget was a loving mother to three young children, and they were the center of her world,” the fundraiser said.

“She was also a deeply loved daughter, sister, and friend,” the fundraiser continued, saying Reagan’s death “has left an enormous space in the lives of so many people who cared about her.”

Friends and customers also flooded social media with tributes, remembering Reagan as a kind and supportive friend who made time for others and embraced families in the community.

One mourner recalled that Reagan was never too busy to offer a new mother advice or a listening ear, while another said she welcomed their family “with open arms.” Others remembered her as “such a light in our little community” and said she had “the kindest heart.”

One local business is now using Reagan’s memory to help support her family. Gardner Candle Co. announced a memorial candle made in a fragrance Reagan particularly loved, with 100% of the profits going to her family.

“Some people leave a light behind that can never be dimmed. Bridget Reagan was one of those beautiful souls,” the company wrote, saying Reagan had supported the owner’s candle business and often partnered with her on local events.

A former gang member known for his notoriety boldly dismissed inquiries from attorneys regarding Tupac Shakur’s murder, defiantly challenging the court with, “treat me as a hostile witness,” during an intense testimony on Tuesday.

James “Mob James” McDonald, once an influential figure within Compton’s Mob Piru Gang and an enforcer for Death Row Records, displayed open contempt toward both prosecuting and defense attorneys as they bombarded him with questions about the infamous gang conflict that culminated in the 1996 slaying of the iconic rapper on the bustling Las Vegas Strip.

“I know about a lot of things. Things that were happening, things people haven’t talked about in decades. Today’s not the day for that,” McDonald retorted when prosecutors sought to implicate 63-year-old Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a member of the rival South Side Compton Crips, in the murder conspiracy.

McDonald once served as a lieutenant under Suge Knight, another Mob Piru affiliate and the influential leader of Death Row Records, which had Shakur at the forefront of its roster.

When pressed to delve into the long-standing animosity that dates back three decades, McDonald firmly stated, “Me or anybody else raising up the dead is wrong,” refusing to resurrect past grievances.

“I don’t want to send [Davis] to prison. Even though we don’t like each other,” McDonald declared before ripping the court for forcing him to dredge up memories of the old life he wants to put behind him and protect his grandchildren from.

McDonald’s testimony seemed to do little to help prove his former rival was the one who orchestrated Shakur’s murder.

Prosecutors say Davis gave a gun to his nephew Orlando Anderson and told him to shoot Shakur as an “act of revenge” after the rapper and his pals beat Anderson up.

It took more than 25 years to arrest and charge Davis, who has acknowledged that his nephew — now dead — was the one who fired the shots, but has denied giving the order.

McDonald had been managing security at Suge Knight’s Las Vegas club, where Knight and Shakur were headed during the ambush.

He said he knew who was and wasn’t present during the attack, but he wouldn’t name names — nor answer questions about the skirmishes that erupted in Compton after the murder.

“You’re asking me something that’s gonna hurt this dude!” McDonald said to Davis’ attorney Michael Sanft.

The testimony ended in a shouting match with McDonald throwing up his hands and saying “I’m not answering nothing. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Then, turning to Davis, he said: “Cover your lawyer, man. That dude is trippin.’”

“I’m not gonna send him to prison. You are,” he said of his old enemy.

Authorities in Las Vegas swiftly responded to reports of gunfire erupting near the courthouse where Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis is standing trial, accused of orchestrating the murder of the legendary rapper Tupac Shakur.

Around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, officers from the local Metro police department scrambled to the 500 block of Casino Center Boulevard. The urgent dispatch followed reports of gunshots echoing from within a Starbucks in the area, as detailed by KLAS News.

Upon their arrival, police officers were met with a surprising calm—there were no victims to be found.

The unsettling incident unfolded as family members of Tupac Shakur exited the courthouse, as reported by PEOPLE.

Despite the chaos, the murder trial pressed on without interruption.

Prosecutors claim Davis, 63, planned the attack to avenge Shakur’s entourage attacking his nephew, Orlando ‘Baby Lane’ Anderson, a few hours earlier at the MGM Grand following a Mike Tyson fight.

Davis then allegedly supplied the weapon and set in motion the shooting that killed the 25-year-old hip-hop icon, but did not pull the trigger.

He has pleaded not guilty to murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang and faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars if convicted. 

As the trial continued into its second day on Tuesday, jurors were shown the casino’s surveillance footage of the alleged fight between members of Shakur’s posse and Anderson.

It showed a group of people beating and kicking someone on the ground before Shakur and his entourage raced through the building on September 7, 1996.

The footage then showed security officers and police arriving at the scene and speaking to Anderson, who could be seen wearing a Miami Dolphins jersey.

Kenneth Rios, a security guard who was working patrol at the casino that night, testified on Tuesday that he asked Anderson whether he needed medical assistance and he refused. 

‘He was fine,’ Rios testified. ‘He told me basically that a couple of guys that he didn’t know jumped him…I asked him if he wanted to file a report, he said no.’

But just a few hours later Shakur, riding in a black BMW with hip hop mogul Marion ‘Suge’ Knight was gunned down by someone in a white Cadillac carrying Davis, Anderson and two other men inside.

William Heidmeyer, a former security guard at the nearby Maxim Hotel, watched in horror from the third floor of a parking garage as the shooting unfolded.

He said he saw a white Dodge in front of a black BMW and multiple cars behind it, with people standing all around the vehicles – including a young black man holding a pistol.

Heidmeyer then described the alleged shooter as ‘very young’ and ‘well dressed.’

‘He was wearing a very bright white three-quarter-sleeved shirt, black pants and a black dress vest,’ the security guard recounted in court.

Dean O’Kelley, a former Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer, also testified how he found bullet cartridges on the street at the intersection of Koval Lane and Flamingo Road.

The officers placed cones on top of cartridges to protect them, but some had already been run over by traffic, he said.

When O’Kelley was then handed an envelope with seven flattened cartridge cases in court, several appeared to have been damaged and misshapen. 

‘This is actually the closest I’ve seen them,’ the former cop then remarked, later testifying that the bullet cases suggested that the weapon used was a Glock.

Jurors were also shown Shakur’s graphic autopsy photos as a forensic pathologist detailed his fatal injuries and the extensive efforts doctors made to save his life.

Most of Tupac’s family members left the courtroom when the pictures were shown.

It was just moments after they left in a vehicle that six police officers were seen running down the street as scores of other officers descended on downtown Las Vegas, responding to reports of gunfire. 

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.