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NBC’s Eliana Moreno Dies in LA Helicopter Crash After Engagement

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NBC’s Eliana Moreno Dies in LA Helicopter Crash After Engagement

NBC aerial reporter Eliana Moreno, who died Tuesday after the network’s helicopter went down and caught fire in the Los Angeles area, had been engaged for about a year, according to newly surfaced details.

The 38-year-old journalist shared news of her engagement to Robert Barrientos in an Oct. 28, 2025 social media post, prompting an outpouring of celebration from friends and family.

Moreno, an on-air aerial reporter for NBC4 Los Angeles and Telemundo 52, was killed alongside pilot George Marciniw when the News4chopper crashed Tuesday while they were covering a fatal Metro bus crash in Chatsworth. A pedestrian on the ground was also killed.

Telemundo confirmed the deaths, as tributes quickly poured in for Moreno and Marciniw.

“Tonight, we are in mourning. We are heartbroken. We have lost two great colleagues,” Telemundo said in an online statement.

“Eliana Moreno was a wonderful human being. Her professionalism was impressive. Everyone who worked with her knew she was—without a doubt—the best airborne reporter in all of Los Angeles.”

The station said Moreno was always “on top of everything” and remembered her as a reassuring “source of comfort” to those around her.

Moreno had dreamed of becoming a TV news reporter since she was 11. She joined Angel City Air Inc., the company that operated the News4chopper, in September 2010.

Known to Instagram followers as “Eli in the Heli,” Moreno graduated from Chapman University in 2010, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science.

Before joining NBC, she worked at KCAL 9 and KCBS 2. Around 2018 or 2019, she began flying aboard NewsChopper4, reporting from above on police pursuits, brush fires, traffic incidents and other breaking news across Los Angeles.

The Tustin native’s aerial coverage of a deadly crash in Windsor Hills saw her scoop a Radio Television Digital News Association award in 2022.

She shared a heartwarming picture of herself showing off her award alongside her pal, Robert Rodriguez, who was the pilot of the helicopter she presented from.

Moreno gushed online that being an aerial journalist was “the best job in the world.”

Most of her social media content was peppered with work-related footage, but in May, she revealed she completed the Orange County half marathon in May in under two hours alongside Barrientos.

She achieved the feat after setting a New Year’s resolution to run just one mile by the end of 2026 – despite suffering from “bad asthma.”

“The first week of January, I decided to start trying to run my one mile. I did it on my first try, and even though I felt like I was going to die, I felt like I could do more,” she said.

She continued to train and managed to complete the half marathon.

“I surpassed everything I thought I could ever do so let’s see what I do next,” she said.

Just two months after Moreno announced her engagement, Marciniw posted a photo alongside Moreno in front of their work helicopter “wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays as we look forward to the start of a New Year.”

Moreno was reporting on a crash that had killed two people and injured six when the helicopter ran into difficulty and smashed into a parking lot between two warehouses, which sparked a huge blaze.

Harrowing live-stream video has surfaced online that showed the copter struggling, with whirring noises coming from the engine.

A woman, now believed to be Moreno, was heard telling the pilot to “pull” before she added, “What? You can’t pull up?”

Then the live stream footage appeared to shake seconds before the helicopter crashed.

It’s not known what caused the helicopter to crash, but veteran pilot Zoey Tur speculated there may have been an engine failure.

“If you listen, you could hear the low rotor RPM annunciator horn going off. You could also hear the engine rev down. This was an engine failure, and slow response into entering an auto -rotation by PiC. No survivors,” Tur posted after the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the crash.

Gaza Building Collapse Kills at Least 12 as Middle East Tensions Continue

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Gaza Building Collapse Kills at Least 12 as Middle East Tensions Continue

At least 12 people, including four children, were killed Wednesday when a building sheltering displaced Palestinian families collapsed in Gaza City. The multistory building had suffered extensive damage during the Israel-Hamas war, and concerns had previously been raised about its structural condition.

Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia said Tuesday night that its air defenses intercepted a drone allegedly launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels and heading toward Mecca, the kingdom’s holiest city.

Here are the latest developments from across the Middle East. Full coverage can be found here.

Gaza City building collapse kills at least 12 displaced people

A war-damaged building in Gaza City that was housing roughly six displaced families collapsed Wednesday morning, killing at least 12 people and wounding 15 others, according to Shifa Hospital. Four or more of those killed were children.

Dozens more were believed to be missing or trapped beneath the debris. Footage from the scene showed civil defense teams inspecting the ruins and deploying bulldozers as they searched for survivors, including children.

The structure had already been partly destroyed by an Israeli strike earlier in the war. The immediate reason for Wednesday’s collapse was not clear. Across Gaza, where most buildings have been damaged or destroyed, multistory structures have repeatedly collapsed during the conflict, especially during winter weather.

Falling buildings have emerged as a serious danger for Gaza’s displaced population. Many families have left tent encampments and returned to homes weakened by bombardment during the nearly three-year war.

Saudi military says drone was downed near Mecca

Saudi military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki said the country’s defenses intercepted and destroyed the drone Tuesday evening before it could enter the airspace above Mecca, Islam’s holiest city and a central destination for Muslims around the world.

Mecca is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the location of the Kaaba, the black cube-shaped structure that Muslims around the world turn to five times a day when praying. Muslims believe Muhammad first received God’s revelations of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, in Mecca.

The security of the holy city is “a red line,” al-Malki said, adding that Saudi forces will not hesitate to act against “hostile and terrorist behavior.”

The Iran-backed Houthis in neighboring Yemen denied targeting Mecca. But the allegation drew condemnations throughout the Islamic world, including from Pakistan and the 57-country Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

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This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

US Military Releases Footage of Rescue Mission for Injured Airman Stranded in Iran

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US Military Releases Footage of Rescue Mission for Injured Airman Stranded in Iran

The U.S. military on Tuesday released striking new footage from what officials describe as one of the largest combat search-and-rescue missions in American history, capturing the moment elite Air Force pararescue troops reached a severely injured U.S. airman stranded far inside Iran.

The video offers a glimpse of the sprawling April rescue effort launched after an F-15E Strike Eagle crew, operating under the call sign Dude 44, was brought down by an Iranian shoulder-fired missile.

The jet’s pilot, identified as Dude44 Alpha, and its backseat weapons systems officer, Dude44 Bravo, ejected from the aircraft and came down miles from each other, leaving both men isolated on Iranian territory.

Dude44 Alpha was recovered just over six hours later. Bravo’s ordeal lasted far longer: A malfunctioning parachute caused him to land hard, leaving him with a broken back, arm and shoulder. He remained trapped for nearly 48 hours before American forces could reach him.

Air Force pararescue operators reaching Dude44 Bravo on a mountain ridgeline

Newly released U.S. military footage shows Air Force pararescue operators arriving at a mountain ridgeline to reach Dude44 Bravo, who spent nearly two days injured and stranded inside Iran. (U.S. Air Forces Central)

In the newly released footage, U.S. helicopters sweep the area as American personnel work to identify Bravo’s position and mount a recovery mission.

Though seriously wounded, Bravo left the area where he landed and began making his way toward a ridgeline about 7,000 feet high. As daylight arrived, the scale of the challenge became clear, with a desert valley and steep cliffs surrounding him.

The video also depicts U.S. bombers and drones targeting Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces operating near Bravo’s location.

U.S. military helicopters search for Dude44 Bravo

U.S. military helicopters search for Dude44 Bravo during a major combat search-and-rescue mission after his F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran in April. (U.S. Air Forces Central)

“There was clear intent out of the Iranian ground force to come find those two guys,” Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told CBS News this week.

The video then shows the dramatic moment on April 5 when two elite Air Force pararescue operators, known as PJs, reached the injured Bravo on the mountain ridgeline.

Two large search-and-rescue aircraft had landed on a makeshift desert runway before smaller “Little Bird” helicopters flew toward Bravo’s position on the ridgeline.

Bravo called the moment he saw his rescuers “one of the greatest moments of my life.”

U.S. bombers and drones striking Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces near Dude44 Bravo

Newly released military footage shows U.S. bombers and drones striking Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces near Dude44 Bravo as American forces worked to rescue the stranded airman. (U.S. Air Forces Central)

“Let’s go,” he recalled telling them.

The second rescue operation put 92 U.S. service members on the ground in Iran, marking the first time American forces had boots on the ground in the country since 1980.

Hundreds of U.S. service members also supported the operation from the air, while between 3,000 and 5,000 service members supported the rescue mission overall, according to U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.

But the operation was not over once Bravo was reached.

The landing gear of the two rescue aircraft became trapped in the desert sand, stranding Bravo and more than 90 U.S. service members inside Iran. A clandestine Air Force unit was ultimately brought in to extract the group, CBS News reported.

Bravo was finally brought to safety roughly 50 hours after Dude 44 was shot down. The rescue was completed as the sun rose on Easter Sunday.

Two elite Air Force pararescue operators, known as PJs, reached the badly injured Dude44 Bravo on a roughly 7,000-foot ridgeline inside Iran.

Two elite Air Force pararescue operators, known as PJs, reached the badly injured Dude44 Bravo on a roughly 7,000-foot ridgeline inside Iran. (U.S. Air Forces Central)

Family of British Woman Abducted in Malawi Say They’ve Heard Nothing

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Family of British Woman Abducted in Malawi Say They’ve Heard Nothing

The relatives of a British woman reportedly abducted in Malawi have made an urgent public appeal after receiving no contact from her for five days. Her family say they remain in the dark over both her whereabouts and the reason she was taken.

Nusrat Osman, 47, was allegedly kidnapped at about 12.30pm local time on Friday in Blantyre. Four men travelling in a grey Nissan Dualis are said to have been involved.

The Leicester-born mother of two had relocated to Malawi because of her husband’s work and was employed there as an auditor.

Her younger brother, Shobi Jiwa, told The Sun that the alleged abduction was deeply traumatising. He said four armed men pulled Osman from her vehicle before driving away with her.

“My sister has been missing for five days with no trace or call,” he said.

When asked whether the family could identify a possible motive, he said: “There is nothing we can think of.”

Osman’s husband also told local publication Nyasa Times that he had no indication of where she might be. “I don’t know where she is or how she is,” he said. “My wife is an auditor and I have no issues with anyone.”

Malawi investigators are reportedly sending text messages to members of the public as they seek information that could help advance the search, Nyasa Times said.

Osman, a mother of two young children, is from Leicester and was working in Malawi as an auditor

Osman, a Leicester mother of two, had been living and working in Malawi as an auditor

Authorities have announced a reward of more than £12,600 for credible details leading to the safe recovery of the British mother-of-two and the prosecution of those behind her disappearance.

Jiwa has now issued a public plea, asking for prayers. He added: ‘No one knows anything. It’s the only thing that can help us at this stage.’

He described Osman as a ‘humble soul and a beautiful person.’

‘She’s involved in various charities, a jolly person, an extrovert… we don’t understand why she was taken’.

Addressing the kidnappers, he begged: ‘She’s a mother of two. Please let her go.’

Jiwa added that his sister’s abduction is the latest in a string of similar incidents in the African country. 

‘There have been four similar cases’ he said, ‘This is the first time a woman has been abducted.’

A missing person appeal shared online described the mum-of-two as a ‘loving wife and enormously proud mother.’

The post added: ‘One of Nusrat’s greatest gifts is her ability to connect with people. She has friends from every walk of life.’

Osman’s friend posted on Facebook: ‘Nusrat is one of the kindest, warmest and most loving people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. She is a devoted mother and a loving wife, and her family and friends miss her more than words can express.’

United Democratic Front president Atupele Muluzi condemned the kidnapping, describing the incident as deeply disturbing.

Writing on his official Facebook page, the politician said that abductions were becoming increasingly frequent in Malawi, a development he described as a grave concern for every resident.

He added: ‘I urge the Malawi Police Service to intensify investigations and do everything within its power to secure Nusrat’s safe return and bring those responsible to justice.

‘I appeal to anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact the family or report immediately to the nearest police station.’

The UK travel advice warns that there are occasional reports of kidnappings for ransom in Malawi, adding that ‘in some instances, the kidnapped individuals have been British nationals, so kidnappers may also target foreigners.’ 

Wealthy individuals are likely to be at increased risk of this activity, it warns.

An FCDO spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of reports that a British national has been abducted in Malawi and are in touch with local authorities.’

Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Premiere: 8 Dances, 1 Elimination

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Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Premiere: 8 Dances, 1 Elimination

FAIRFAX DISTRICT, LOS ANGELES — “Dancing with the Stars” returned for its milestone 35th season with an expanded field of 16 celebrity-pro pairings ready to compete for the Mirrorball Trophy.

The season premiere was divided across two nights, with the male celebrity contestants performing first and the women set to take the ballroom the following evening. One couple will be eliminated at the end of each episode.

For Week 1, the contestants leaned into nostalgia, dancing to Billboard No. 1 hits from the years they were born.

‘DWTS’ Season 35 premiere night 1 recap and scores

Savannah Bananas standout Jackson Olson and professional partner Emma Slater kicked off the night with a cha-cha set to the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe.” Derek Hough warned viewers that judging would be particularly demanding this season. Bruno Tonioli said the crowd “went bananas” for the baseball entertainer, while Carrie Ann Inaba called Olson a potential fan favorite who needs to sharpen his movement.
Score: 5, 5, 5 — 15 out of 30

Copyright © 2026 OnTheRedCarpet.com. All Rights Reserved.

Copies of Earl Spencer’s book on sister Diana stolen in raid

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Copies of Earl Spencer’s book on sister Diana stolen in raid

Copies of Earl Spencer’s explosive new book on Princess Diana have been stolen from a lorry just days before its exclusive serialisation in the Daily Mail.

The memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, contains fresh claims about Diana’s profoundly unhappy marriage to the then Prince of Wales.

It also recounts the turmoil that gripped the Royal Family in the wake of her death in a car crash nearly 30 years ago.

A publishing insider said last night: ‘Earl Spencer has kept his silence for nearly 30 years and what he has to say about the King’s reaction when Diana died is utterly devastating.’

In a remarkable twist, the Mail can reveal that a truck carrying thousands of copies was broken into after being left overnight in a lay-by in the Netherlands earlier this week.

Only four copies were taken. The books had been sealed in black plastic to conceal their contents, but publishing sources believe the theft may have been a bold attempt to obtain the year’s most eagerly awaited title before its release.

Dutch police are investigating the unexplained break-in. Industry figures have speculated that those behind it could have been anything from opportunistic criminals to a misguided but exceptionally well-informed Royal Family supporter.

‘It’s extremely suspicious,’ one publishing source said last night. ‘Nothing like this has ever happened before. This is probably the biggest book of the year and the security surrounding it has been incredibly tight.’

Earl Spencer's bombshell new book about his sister Princess Diana has been stolen (he is pictured in March)

Earl Spencer’s explosive new book about his sister, Princess Diana, has been targeted by thieves; he is pictured in March.

The front cover of the memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is pictured. The book is set to be exclusively serialised in the Daily Mail

The cover of the memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. The book will be serialised exclusively in the Daily Mail.

The memoir includes revelations about Princess Diana's deeply unhappy marriage with the then Prince of Wales (Charles and Diana are pictured in 1985)

The memoir includes revelations about Princess Diana’s deeply unhappy marriage with the then Prince of Wales (Charles and Diana are pictured in 1985)

‘Every possible precaution has been taken to prevent it from being leaked ahead of its serialisation. Therefore this unprecedented incident is being taken extremely seriously.’ 

Swan Song is due to be published worldwide next Tuesday – in the UK by Penguin Michael Joseph, a division of Penguin Random House – with the Mail publishing an exclusive serialisation before the memoir is available in bookshops.

Described as ‘historic’ and ‘extraordinarily moving’, the memoir is a deeply personal account of Earl Spencer’s relationship with his older sibling and of her failed marriage. 

It also provides unprecedented insight into the seismic week following Diana’s death in August 1997, during which the House of Windsor was engulfed by a global wave of public grief and anger.

Buckingham Palace is understood to be braced for a string of shocking revelations that threaten to reopen the wounds of the former Prince and Princess of Wales’s highly acrimonious split and eventual divorce.

The Mail understands that a lorry with the books left a printing plant in central Europe on Monday on its way to a warehouse in the Netherlands before copies were distributed to Dutch bookshops.

At some point that evening the driver parked in a lay-by deep in the Dutch countryside to sleep. At around 8am he found the lorry had been broken into but, mysteriously, only a handful of wrapped copies of Swan Song were missing.

Shocked Penguin bosses in London were only told about the break-in at 3.30pm yesterday. 

It would not be the first time that a major book has been stolen just before publication. In 2003, a lorry with more than 7,000 copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth in the fantasy series, was stolen from a warehouse on Merseyside.

Ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death, Earl Spencer has vowed that his book, which will be published around the world and translated into 12 languages, will correct ‘untruths’ that have been told about his sister.

The Earl, 62, delivered a raw and defiant eulogy during Diana’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, which was broadcast to a worldwide audience of 2.5billion.

Alachua County Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Porn Charges

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Trinity Joy Johnson, 26, has pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of sexual exploitation of children involving the production of child pornography, 15 counts of distributing child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography. John P. Heekin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the plea.

“Thanks to the outstanding investigative work by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations, my office was able to aggressively prosecute this defendant to ensure she is held fully accountable for her disgusting crimes victimizing an innocent child,” U.S. Attorney Heekin said.

According to court records, Johnson used her cellphone to take sexually explicit images of a toddler in her care. Prosecutors said she then shared the images, along with other child pornography files, with strangers online while engaging in sexually explicit discussions. Investigators found more than 100 files depicting child sexual abuse material during a search of her phone.

For each child pornography production count, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years. Each distribution count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years. The possession charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 23, 2026, at 3 p.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida, before Chief U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hapner is prosecuting it.

The prosecution was brought under Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative to fight the growing problem of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006, the program is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS and coordinates federal, state and local resources to identify, apprehend and prosecute people who exploit children online, while also working to identify and rescue victims. More information is available at Justice.gov/PSC.

Rare: Multiple Executions Set Across States Within 24 Hours

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Rare: Multiple Executions Set Across States Within 24 Hours

Several U.S. executions are set to take place across multiple states within a 24-hour period this week.

Georgia and Texas had both planned executions roughly an hour apart on Wednesday, but a court late Tuesday temporarily stopped the Georgia execution. Alabama is also scheduled to carry out an execution the following day. Texas is still set to execute LeJames Norman on Wednesday after a Georgia judge issued a stay for Stacey Humphreys.

In Georgia, Stacey Humphreys, 53, had been scheduled to die Wednesday over his convictions in the 2003 killings of two real estate agents: 21-year-old Lori Brown and 33-year-old Cindy Williams. A Cobb County judge halted the execution late Tuesday. The execution cannot proceed unless that stay is lifted or reversed by a higher court.

About an hour after Humphreys’ execution had originally been set, Texas is scheduled to execute Norman, 40, for the 2005 robbery-related triple murder of his neighbors.

Jeffrey Lee, LeJames Norman and Stacey Humphreys

Jeffrey Lee, LeJames Norman and Stacey Humphreys have execution dates scheduled in three states within a 24-hour span, though a Georgia judge has stayed Humphreys’ execution. (Alabama Department of Corrections:Texas Department of Criminal Justice:Georgia Department of Corrections)

On Thursday, Alabama plans to execute Jeffery Lee, 50, for a double murder committed during a 1998 pawn shop robbery.

“It’s not very common to have this many executions just across a couple of days,” Death Penalty Information Center Executive Director Robin Maher told News Media. “This month, the month of September, we have seven executions scheduled. Last year in October, we had seven executions in a single month. But before then, we’d have to go back all the way to 2010 to see that number in a single month.”

“Just earlier this year, in August, there were three executions on the same day,” she continued. “This is an unusual year in that we’re seeing occurrences like a number of executions scheduled on the same day or during the same month. But there’s no evidence there’s any coordination among the states to have all these executions occur simultaneously. This looks largely to be a coincidence.”

On Aug. 13, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Alabama each carried out lethal injections, the first time three states had executed prisoners on the same day since Jan. 7, 2010.

A few weeks earlier, on July 28, Florida carried out two executions in one day — the Sunshine State’s first double execution in decades.

MORE STORY: 3 Dead After Los Angeles News Helicopter Crashes in Commercial Area

Death Penalty Gurney

Texas is scheduled to execute LeJames Norman on Wednesday after a Georgia judge stayed Stacey Humphreys’ execution, while Alabama is set to carry out another execution the following day. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

In 2026, 25 executions have been carried out in the U.S., and 14 are scheduled for the remainder of the year, although that number could change if courts issue stays or states schedule additional executions.

Last year, 11 states carried out 47 executions, making up the most executions carried out in a single year in the U.S. since 2009.

Leading the way in executions is Florida, which set a record with 19 inmates put to death in 2025, more than 40% of the U.S. total for the year. It also carried out 15 so far in 2026, accounting for 60% of this year’s total across the country.

Across 2025 and 2026 thus far, Florida accounts for about 47% of the nation’s executions, as it continues its accelerated pace amid a flurry of death warrants signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Texas, Alabama and South Carolina followed Florida, with eight, six and five executions, respectively, in that window. Texas carried out five executions in 2025 and three so far in 2026, Alabama executed five people in 2025 and one in 2026 and South Carolina put five people to death — all in 2025.

Louisiana Execution Nitrogen Gas

In 2026, 25 executions have been carried out in the U.S., and 14 are scheduled for the remainder of the year. (The Promise of Justice Initiative via AP)

“Last year was a very unusual year. It was the most executions we’ve seen in 15 years in the United States,” Maher said. “This year, we do not expect to reach that number of executions again. There are a number of other warrants that are still open for this year, but I don’t think we’ll reach the high that we reached last year.”

“All of this is really due to Florida,” she added. “Gov. DeSantis has decided that he wants to set a record in the number of executions that are conducted during his term. He has scheduled an execution for roughly every two weeks in the state of Florida, both last year and this year.”

Two executions remain scheduled in Florida for the rest of 2026. Curtis Beasley, 77, is set to be executed Sept. 29 for the 1995 murder of a woman who was bludgeoned with a hammer, while William Lee Thompson, 74, is scheduled for execution Oct. 13 for the 1976 murder of a woman who was beaten, tortured and killed with a chain-link belt.
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