In a surprising development, both the Justice Department prosecutors and Luigi Mangione’s defense team have requested a meeting with a U.S. judge for this Friday morning. This move has ignited speculation that the 28-year-old, who faces murder charges at the state level, might be contemplating a plea agreement in his federal case just days before his trial kicks off.

Despite this intriguing twist, neither party has provided any comments to News Media following an anonymous ABC report suggesting the hearing would focus on negotiating a possible plea deal.

The brief note submitted to the judge to request the meeting offers no details about the discussion’s aims.

“The parties write jointly to request a conference with the Court,” the letter states. “Based on communications with Chambers, we understand that the Court is available to hold the conference on Friday, August 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.”

Mangione is accused of stalking UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, and shooting him in the back outside a New York City Hilton hotel in December 2024.

Jury selection in the state case is set for Sept. 8, and the federal trial is tentatively expected to kick off in early 2027.

In July, Manhattan prosecutors responded to earlier reports of a potential plea deal in a letter to New York Judge Gregory Carro.

“The People are aware of public reporting regarding the possibility of a guilty plea in defendant’s federal case,” assistant DA Joel Seidemann wrote.

“If a proposed federal guilty plea would operate to defeat a just outcome in the state prosecution, the People could advise the federal district court of that consequence, and the court should consider that fact in deciding whether to accept the plea, as well as any opposition by the victim’s family to such a resolution.”

Carro issued an order Tuesday protecting the identities and addresses of jurors in the upcoming case, finding that witnesses have been threatened, doxxed and harassed already and that “individuals identifying themselves as supporters of the defendant engaged in inflammatory and hostile public statements outside the courthouse and announced their intention to attend jury selection to attempt to speak to prospective jurors.”

Prosecutors had requested the move.

The defense has separately asked for the trial to be livestreamed, which experts have said is unlikely under current New York law.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison on the state charges if convicted, and up to life without parole federally.

What began as a standard pop-up soon escalated into a dramatic incident.

It culminated in a scene that left fans in shock.

During the top of the eighth inning on a Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, first baseman Freddie Freeman pursued a pop-up drifting towards foul territory. Just as he neared the visiting team’s dugout, Freeman lost his footing, and in a sudden twist of fate, tumbled headlong down the stairs.

Concern quickly swept across Dodger Stadium, uniting fans in collective worry for Freeman’s well-being.

Several of Freeman’s Dodgers teammates came racing over to his aid. Several more Kansas City Royals players also leapt off the bench to check on the former MVP. 

For several moments, the entirety of the crowd also seemed to be holding its breath, with Freeman out of sight below the concrete overhang.

But then, he re-emerged –– somehow on his feet, and, at least initially, seemingly unscathed.

As chants of “Fredd-ie! Fredd-ie!” rang out, the 36-year-old gingerly returned to his position, then played out the rest of the inning.  

Once he returned to the dugout, he proceeded to the clubhouse –– likely for further evaluation –– and was pinch-hit for in the bottom half of the frame.

But he didn’t show any obvious signs of injury in the moment.

No further information on his status was immediately available.

In a move to address ongoing tensions, the WNBA has issued a call to end the negative rhetoric aimed at its players this season, while also clarifying its position on transgender athlete eligibility following a recent high-level meeting.

The league has been drawn into a heated debate over the inclusion of transgender athletes after Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever expressed her desire to shield young girls from competing against “biological men.”

Cunningham’s comments have ignited a firestorm, eliciting a mix of backlash and endorsement throughout the league. Adding to the controversy, two former NBA players have intriguingly declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, seemingly in protest of the league’s current eligibility rules.

On Wednesday, WNBA general managers and team presidents convened as part of an anti-hate task force to deliberate on eligibility issues amidst the ongoing transgender athlete debate.

In spite of the furor surrounding this contentious issue, league officials have concluded that the current eligibility criteria remain satisfactory, indicating that no immediate amendments are anticipated.

The league announced following the meeting that it had ruled that there were ‘no immediate eligibility matters affecting’ the WNBA at this time. 

WNBA chiefs also took the chance to address the recent storm surrounding the league, hitting out at ‘bad-faith efforts’ to ‘marginalize others.’

‘Today’s meeting covered a wide range of topics, including ongoing discussions on transgender athletes and the continued hate and vitriol directed at players online,’ a spokesperson for the league said in a statement, via The New York Post. 

‘We will continue to engage all league stakeholders in the coming weeks and months. We will approach these important conversations thoughtfully and in alignment with the values of our league.

‘There are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA and we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others.’ 

The meeting and subsequent statement come after the league was thrust into uproar once again this season, most recently over the subject of transgender athletes’ eligibility. 

The league’s collective bargaining agreement currently states that ‘only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,’ but it does not include any more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth.

Yet, Fever star Cunningham’s comments on the participation of trans athletes in women’s sports have sparked protests and messages of support from the likes of Vice President JD Vance. 

And then, on Friday, two ex-NBA players – Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White – declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women. On Sunday, White then trolled his critics by posing in a wig and celebrating his ‘feminine era’. 

In a memo leaked at the weekend, commissioner Cathy Engelbert had announced the scheduled meeting between league chiefs to address the topic.

Engelbert wrote that the league will ‘always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league.

‘Second, our player eligibility rules, unlike the eligibility rules of some other leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained. Lastly, preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league’s highest priorities.’

‘We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead,’ Engelbert added in the memo.

‘We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate. Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts.’

The WNBA players’ association released a statement on social media Friday that emphasized diversity and inclusion while saying the group ‘will not be used as political pawns.’

‘We embrace justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion,’ the statement read. ‘Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change.

‘Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns.’

Some WNBA players and coaches have come out in support of transgender athletes, including Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve.

‘We need to protect trans kids,’ Reeve said on August 1. ‘To me, it’s a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports.’

The WNBA was plunged into another scandal on Saturday when a bloodied Cunningham was floored in a brutal clash with DiJonai Carrington, who later appeared to suggest her rival had benefited from ‘white privilege.’

Toward the end of the first quarter of Indiana’s game against the Chicago Sky, Cunningham drove towards the basket, only to be struck in the face by Carrington’s arm and sent crashing to the floor.

The Sky star was assessed a flagrant 2 and ejected from the game, with both Cunningham and her teammate Caitlin Clark seen waving as Carrington headed to the locker room.

Cameras also caught Cunningham smiling and clapping the officials’ decision but a few minutes earlier, she had reacted furiously to the foul. Footage from courtside appeared to show Cunningham calling her rival a ‘dumb a** b****’ and shouting: ‘Why the f*** would you do that?’

The 29-year-old immediately climbed to her feet and attempted to confront Carrington, only for teammates and staff to drag her away.

Following her ejection, Carrington posted on social media from the locker room. ‘WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever,’ she wrote.

A deserted sailboat stranded near a Washington beach harbored a surprise crew: 60 cats and kittens, with many of them appearing scared and undernourished.

The peculiar rescue mission kicked off on August 6 when the Tacoma Police Department’s Marine Services Unit responded to an alert about a vacant 40-foot sailboat adrift near Owen Beach.

Upon first inspection, officers uncovered over 30 cats and kittens living in precarious and unhealthy conditions aboard the boat. Many of the animals were visibly frightened and in poor health, prompting a coordinated effort between Marine Services, Animal Control, and the department’s Forensics Unit to safely extract them.

Initially anticipating a rescue of just over 30 cats, the operation expanded to encompass 60 felines over an intensive six-day mission.

“That’s a wrap! The final cat is off the boat. Fur real this time!” police wrote. “Final cat count: 60!”

Police said Animal Control was “as certain as they can be that all cats have officially disembarked.”

“That’s all for meow!” the department joked online.

Despite believing all 60 cats had been rescued, police said they would continue making trips to the boat this week as a precaution.

“While we believe we have safely removed all of the cats from the boat, as any cat owner knows, cats are exceptionally good at hiding,” police said. “Because there is always a possibility that a cat may remain onboard, our work isn’t quite finished.”

The department said the additional searches would be conducted under the authority of a search warrant.

Police said Marine Services has also begun the process of having the legally registered vessel moved.

Authorities asked people visiting Owen Beach or boating nearby to notify Animal Control if they spot another cat aboard the vessel, while warning members of the public not to attempt their own rescues.

“We know many animal lovers in our community want to help, and we appreciate the concern for these cats,” police said. “However, this remains an active criminal case. Our teams are working hard to protect the animals while also protecting the integrity of the investigation.”

“PLEASE DO NOT BOARD THE VESSEL unless you are the legal owner,” police added.

The warning followed an incident in which private cat rescue trapper Camille Sutherland told KING 5 she boarded the vessel overnight and captured two cats, which she took to the Humane Society.

Sutherland told the outlet she was trying to help and believed authorities were taking too long to rescue the animals.

Police told KING 5 that the unauthorized boarding complicated their investigation into the vessel’s owner.

Police have not announced any arrests or charges in connection with the case.

More than 40 of the 60 rescued cats were taken to the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, while the remaining animals were placed in foster homes in the area, according to KING 5.

Billion with a capital B.

An incredible stroke of luck landed an Illinois Powerball player the year’s largest jackpot, totaling a staggering $1.04 billion on Wednesday night.

The winning combination that changed someone’s life consisted of the numbers 4, 26, 66, 67, 69, along with the red Powerball 9.

As they weigh their options, the mysterious winner has the choice to claim the full $1 billion or opt for a one-time payment of $450.5 million.

To put this remarkable win into perspective, the odds of securing the Powerball jackpot stand at a daunting 1 in 292,201,338.

It is the eighth-largest jackpot win in Powerball’s history, surpassing the $842.4 million winner on New Year’s Day in 2024.

The historic holiday prize was claimed by “The Breakfast Club,” who chose the $425.2 million cash sum after purchasing the winning ticket at a Food Castle grocery store in Grand Blanc, Mich.

Powerball’s grand prize was last hit when two ticket holders in Texas and Florida shared the $20 million payout on May 2.

The Texas player, who remained anonymous, chose the $9,000,000 cash option, which was split to $4,500,000 because of the share.

The Florida ticket remains unclaimed.

Wednesday’s win is the largest since Tracy Hartwick won the $1.82 billion Powerball jackpot drawing on Christmas Eve in Cabot, Arkansas.

Hartwick, whose brother Terry Hartwick is serving his third term as North Little Rock mayor, claimed the second-largest Powerball jackpot in history.

The new billionaire’s name remained confidential only for six months since he is the sibling of an elected official, according to Arkansas Act 889 of 2021.

Hartwick chose the one-time cash sum option and split it with his other brother and a third non-relative.

A number of US Navy sailors have allegedly attempted to leap overboard from the USS Abraham Lincoln, as their extended mission in the Middle East persists with no clear end in sight.

Onboard are approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines who have been stationed on the aircraft carrier for nearly nine months, since the deployment commenced on November 21.

Initially slated to return home in May, their mission was prolonged indefinitely due to escalating conflicts involving Iran.

This prolonged tour of duty has left several sailors feeling exhausted and desperate, with some reportedly choosing to abandon ship as a last resort, according to reports from worried family members.

One such instance involved Annabelle Loma’s husband, who, she recounted, faced repeated overextension that ultimately led to his attempt to jump ship.

He is now left on a medical hold, and Loma said she has not heard from anyone in the Navy about his condition for weeks.

‘He’s scared,’ Loma told the Military Times. ‘He thinks he’ll get a dishonorable discharge and just because he was burnt out, his 13-year career is ruined, just like that. 

‘That’s not fair. That’s not what he should be worried about.’ 

In a separate incident, a sailor on watch saw a shipmate preparing to go overboard and intervened, Maria Rodriguez, the sailor’s wife, told the outlet.

She described how her husband called out to the sailor before reaching down and grabbing the sailor’s arms, pulling him back onto deck. 

The sailor had not yet gone overboard when her husband rushed to his aid, Rodriguez said, noting that three other sailors heard the commotion and came running to help. 

‘He said he hadn’t felt adrenaline like that in his life and he was just so thankful he was able to get to [the sailor] in time, to stop them from going overboard,’ she noted.

Rodriguez said she does not know what happened to the sailor in the aftermath. 

Sailors have also described an incident in which watch standers stopped a crew member from going overboard a few months ago amid a struggle with exhaustion and declining morale, according to Stars and Stripes. 

More than 200 concerned family members met with acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao in an emotional town hall last Thursday to share their fears.

At one point during the meeting, a spouse tearfully told officials she received a message that same day from her husband saying ‘he hopes he doesn’t wake up tomorrow,’ Stars and Stripes reports.

A mother also described how her daughter feels like she is never going to be able to come home and believes she is going to die on the ship, according to MS Now.

Officials did not respond directly to those claims or similar statements family members made. 

Instead, Vice Admiral Joseph Cahill, commander of the Naval Surface Forces, simply acknowledged the strain on sailors and their families the extended deployment causes.

‘We hear you loud and clear -regarding] the impact this has on families, on service members and the long-term ability of us to stand, sustain our force’s health,’ he said.

He then stressed that sailors had access to mental health professionals, chaplains and doctors, and noted they were also sending more mental health professionals to the ship. 

Navy officials added that the USS Lincoln’s leadership is continuously assessing sailor’s psychological readiness.

‘Leadership is continuously conducting assessments to monitor and sustain the psychological readiness of every sailor,’ the Navy told Stars and Stripes.

At the same time, Cao told family members at the meeting that the Navy is preparing another carrier strike group – the USS Theodore Roosevelt – to deploy to the Middle East to relieve the sailors onboard the Lincoln, two people who attended the meeting told MS Now.

But he would not specify when the relief would come, citing operational security. 

It comes after family of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln expressed concerns over food levels on board after images emerged appearing to show their meagre provisions.

One parent with a child on the Lincoln received a photo from mid-April that showed a tray with boiled carrots, a few scoops of ground beef and a gray slice of dry-looking meat.

Karen Erskine-Valentine, a West Virginia pastor who spoke to a parent of a child on the Lincoln, said the food is ‘tasteless’ and that the sailors are ‘hungry all the time.’

USA Today also reported that care packages that families have been sending to troops have not been making it to the Middle East because of an indefinite suspension of mail deliveries to military ZIP codes.

Naval officials dismissed the claims that food was running low as false with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth branding it ‘fake news.’

In the meantime, families said they are longing for the day they can see their loved ones again, with one mother telling the Navy officials last week she had a baby while her husband was deployed.

‘My husband has gotten no time with her,’ she lamented. ‘We have friends that are on this boat as well that – they have yet to meet their children.’

Shelby Sanders also told the Military Times how she is now preparing to start her senior year of high school without knowing whether her mother will be home for some of the year’s biggest milestones.

‘Will she be back before homecoming? My birthday? Christmas?’ she said. ‘I have no idea and that’s all that I think about.’ 

Meanwhile, Loma is left caring for her and her husband’s three children.

‘I’m trying to keep a happy face for our three kids,’ she said. ‘They’re little, they miss their daddy, they just want to know mommy and daddy are OK. So I can’t just worry and break down, even though I want to – every single day.’ 

The Daily Mail has reached out to the US Navy for comment. 

In Chandler, Oklahoma, amid the nostalgic backdrop of Route 66, a journey awaits that transcends modern navigation technology. Unlike the quick fixes of smartphone apps, the thoroughfare, often referred to as the Mother Road, demands a slower, more soulful exploration. As travelers navigate this historic path winding through quaint towns, ABC7 Chicago’s Ryan Chiaverini embarked on his own adventure for the “Pier To Pier: Celebrating 100 Years of Route 66” series. Opting for a more traditional approach, Chiaverini was guided not by digital maps but by the “EZ66 Guide For Travelers,” authored by the insightful Jerry McClanahan.

Recalling his childhood memories, McClanahan shared, “Sitting in the backseat as a kid, we would hit 66 at Victorville and follow through to Oklahoma City.” Those family road trips from southern California to Arkansas left a lasting imprint on him. “I looked forward to vacation every year,” he reminisced, revealing a desire to recreate the wonder of those formative journeys as an adult.

Driven by nostalgia and inquisitiveness, McClanahan meticulously documented the stops he missed as a child, culminating in the first edition of the EZ66 Guide in 2005. As Route 66 prepares to celebrate its centennial milestone, the guide has reached its sixth edition, bringing McClanahan immense satisfaction. His work weaves together elements of history and commerce, breathing life into local businesses and old-time landmarks.

“I really love being able to be a part of keeping these places open,” McClanahan expressed, his voice tinged with pride. “It’s great to be a part of that long community of Route 66 shops and people and visitors.” His dedication highlights a commitment not just to the road itself but to the vibrant tapestry of stories and experiences it represents.

During a visit to McJerry’s Route 66 Art Gallery, McClanahan welcomed Chiaverini with a showcase of his curated road artifacts and exquisite art pieces. The gallery, with its meticulous paintings capturing the allure of classic cars against famed Route 66 landscapes, invites visitors to take a nostalgic journey of their own. Each artwork, painstakingly crafted over days, is a homage to the enduring spirit of America’s beloved highway.

“I am obsessed by the details. It’s like this one with the reflections in it,” said McClanahan pointing at a painting featuring a ’57 Chevy. “Halfway through I’m saying, why oh why did I put on the reflections in that painting?”

Chiaverini made sure to have McClanahan autograph his copy of the EZ Guide, but not before Jerry updated it with new detours on Route 66. Chiaverini would need the revisions because there’s plenty more to see on his journey toward the Pacific ocean.

“Pier To Pier: Celebrating 100 Years of Route 66” is sponsored by Hyundai