In a tragic incident unfolded on Monday in Chicago, two custodians were discovered dead at an elementary school, with authorities indicating a murder-suicide scenario. Reports suggest one custodian allegedly shot the other before turning the gun on himself.

Chicago Police reported that the bodies of a 48-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man were found unresponsive inside Mark Twain Elementary School shortly after 3:30 p.m.

Authorities confirmed both individuals suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. Despite being rushed to nearby hospitals, they were pronounced dead upon arrival.

Law enforcement noted the recovery of an unspecified weapon at the tragic scene.

School principal Matthew Moline confirmed the deaths in a letter to parents, WTTW-TV reported. He said shots were fired inside the building at a time when no students were present.

“I am sorry to share that members of our school community were impacted,” he wrote.

SEIU Local 73, the union that represents Chicago Public Schools custodial employees, confirmed both unidentified victims worked at the elementary school.

“The only facts we know right now are that two families have lost a loved one and our prayers are with their families, and the staff, students, and families at Mark Twain Elementary School,” SEIU Local 73 Executive Vice President Trumaine Reeves said in a statement.

The older custodian was upset that he was slated to be transferred from the school, the Chicago Sun-Times reported, citing a police report. He allegedly shot his co-worker before shooting himself, according to the newspaper.

“We know that this news will be deeply concerning to our families and staff,” Moline wrote in his letter. “We will work to provide additional information to the school community as the investigation proceeds.”

News Media has reached out to the police department, Chicago Public Schools, and Moline, the school principal.

In a troubling incident at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska, a woman with Down syndrome was reportedly denied boarding by American Airlines. The airline, however, maintains there was a valid justification for their decision.

On July 23, Jennifer Jaspers was dropped off at the airport by her mother, eagerly anticipating her annual solo trip. Her destination was North Carolina, where family awaited her to celebrate her birthday.

At 52, Jaspers is accustomed to this yearly travel to reconnect with her father and cousins. However, this trip unexpectedly hit a snag during the check-in process.

As reported by WOWT, Jaspers was taken aback when asked an unexpected question by the airline staff.

Her mother, Cindy Garrett, recounted that an employee inquired about Jaspers’s ability to independently evacuate a building, to which Jaspers hesitantly replied, ‘I don’t know.’

After that, American Airlines determined that Jaspers required a safety assistant to get on the plane in order to adhere to their procedures.

Jaspers recalled that she began crying after being denied a boarding pass, with Garrett adding that her daughter had traveled alone dozens of times before.

‘I can fly by myself,’ Jaspers told the outlet.

Her mom offered an explanation for her daughter’s response at the check-in gate.

‘Because it threw her [off],’ Garrett told WOWT. ‘She didn’t know how to answer that.’

Garrett said her family had previously used a different procedure during Jaspers’s travels to ensure everything went smoothly.

‘To transfer airplanes, we have it set up that they walk her to the next gate,’ Garrett said.

She claimed that she told American Airlines that ‘there’s never been a problem’ with her daughter’s travel plans.

‘She has a phone in her purse all the time,’ Garrett said. ‘She knows how to use it.’

Garrett added that a supervisor got involved in the situation before her daughter’s boarding pass was denied.

In response to the incident, American Airlines said that passengers who cannot follow safety instructions need to travel with a safety assistant, per the outlet.

Jaspers was offered that option for free but turned it down, the airline said in a statement.

‘To support those who need ​special assistance, customers who ​are unable to ​follow safety instructions ​during their journey ​are required to travel with ​a ​safety assistant,’ American Airlines told the outlet.

‘Upon review, our team followed established procedures to determine that a safety assistant would be required to travel with the customer – and that option was offered at no cost,’ the statement continued.

Jaspers’s ticket was subsequently refunded, according to the company.

Garrett said that Jaspers is still planning to fly to North Carolina, albeit with a couple of twists.

‘She had a first-class ticket, so she won’t be able to go first class anymore,’ Garrett said.

Instead, Jaspers’s father has spent about two weeks planning a round trip flight that costs about $1,800.

He would come to Omaha and serve as her travel assistant.

Garrett said the family would ask American Airlines if the offer for the safety assistant to be cost-free still applied.

‘If they’re the ones demanding that there needs [to be] a second person there, [then] at least half of it, they should pay,’ she told the outlet.

The Air Carrier Access Act states that airlines cannot refuse transportation to people on the basis of disability and that airlines may not require a person with a disability to travel with another person. 

However, there are exceptions for ‘certain limited circumstances’ where the airline can require a safety assistant.

‘If a passenger with a disability and the airline disagree about the need for a safety assistant, the airline can require the assistant, but cannot charge for the transportation of the assistant,’ the rule continues.

The Daily Mail has reached out to American Airlines for further comment.

In a dramatic incident, footage has emerged showing flames erupting from an American Airlines aircraft after it collided with a flock of birds. This event prompted an urgent landing at Myrtle Beach International Airport.

American Airlines Flight 1760, a Boeing 737-800 en route to Charlotte, was carrying 172 passengers when it encountered the bird strike. Following the impact, the pilot was heard making a “mayday” call over the radio early Monday morning.

“Mayday, mayday, mayday, we got an engine problem here,” declared the pilot, alerting the air traffic control to the unfolding emergency.

A passenger video captured onboard added to the tense atmosphere, with someone exclaiming, “The engine is backfiring like crazy. I think she is on fire now,” as flames visibly gushed from the aircraft.

“American Airlines Flight 1760 returned to Myrtle Beach (MYR) shortly after departure due to a maintenance issue. The aircraft landed safely and has been taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,” American Airlines told News Media in a statement. “Our team worked to get customers on their way to Charlotte (CLT) on a replacement aircraft. We thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding.”

American Airlines also said there was no indication of a fire in the plane’s engine and there were no reported injuries. It’s unclear where the flames originated.

“American Airlines Flight 1760 returned safely to Myrtle Beach International Airport around 8:40 a.m. local time on Monday, Aug. 10, after the crew reported striking a bird while departing,” the Federal Aviation Administration told News Media. “The Boeing 737-800 was headed to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The FAA will investigate.”

In air traffic control recordings captured by LiveATC, a worker said a “significant” number of birds were found on the runway and were being removed.

Data from the website FlightAware shows the plane departed Myrtle Beach at 8:00 a.m. ET before landing about 36 minutes later.

The FAA said on its website that there have been about 292,000 reported wildlife strikes with civil aircraft in the U.S. between 1990 and 2023.

“About 54% of bird strikes occur from July to October which is when young birds recently have fledged from nests and fall migration occurs,” it said. “About 62% of bird strikes with civil aircraft occur in day, 8% occur at dawn or dusk, and 30% occur at night.”

Around 70% of the strikes happen between 0 and 500 feet above ground level, the FAA also said.

Derek Carr is making his way back to California, but this time in a new role off the field.

The former quarterback for the Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders, who has enjoyed the distinction of being a four-time Pro Bowl selection, is now stepping onto the UCLA football team’s coaching squad as a volunteer special advisor.

This exciting development, revealed on Monday, signifies a major gain for the Bruins. Carr, with 11 seasons in the NFL under his belt, brings a wealth of expertise and insights that are sure to benefit the team’s lineup. At 35, Carr played his last NFL game in 2024.

To celebrate his new role, Carr took his wife, Heather, and their five kids to see the Los Angeles Dodgers play against the Kansas City Royals on Monday evening. While at the stadium, Carr had a chance encounter with UCLA alum and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, a meeting he later shared on social media.

“Big thanks to Dave Roberts. We were enjoying a @Dodgers game when he spotted my wife managing our newborn and kids in the heat during batting practice. He kindly invited us into his office for a cool-down session lasting 30 minutes. A truly generous individual. Appreciate it, Dave. Go Dodgers,” Carr expressed.

Roberts is regarded as one of the friendliest and most accommodating managers in baseball. The post has now gone viral, amassing over 440,000 views in about 16 hours.

Carr’s “special advisor” role will reportedly entail assisting the Bruins’ offensive staff with game-planning strategy, while also working with UCLA’s quarterbacks. The Bruins’ starting QB will be Nico Iamaleava, who threw for 1,928 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

While Carr has accepted this role as a volunteer, it’s safe to say he doesn’t need the money. He made over $205 million across his NFL career with the Raiders and the New Orleans Saints.

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An uproar has erupted at the Miss Universe Canada pageant, sparked by a former titleholder who condemned this year’s event for endorsing ‘offensive’ costumes inspired by Indigenous cultures. The winner criticized the inclusion of such outfits, accusing the competition of engaging in ‘cultural appropriation.’

Ashley Callingbull, a proud member of the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, made an unexpected appearance during Saturday’s 2026 competition. Just before the top 20 finalists were revealed, Callingbull took the stage to voice her concerns about the pageant’s tolerance of cultural appropriation.

“Serving as the first Indigenous First Nations Miss Universe Canada was a profound honor for me,” expressed Callingbull, who claimed the coveted crown in 2024, amid enthusiastic applause from the audience.

“However, sometimes errors are made,” she continued. “Earlier this week, during the national costume segment of the competition, there were instances of cultural appropriation directed at Indigenous peoples.”

Though Callingbull was not among the judges for the costume round, she viewed clips from the event. Contestants Karisa Haverkamp and Jasleen Kaily were seen donning outfits that drew inspiration from Indigenous culture, further fueling the ongoing debate.

Haverkamp appeared in a multicolored feathered headdress with a small red handprint on her cheek, which is supposed to represent the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls movement. 

Kaily wore an Arctic-inspired costume that included fringe and a fur-covered winter outfit that looked similar to what Canadian Inuits wear. She paired it with a maple leaf cutout. 

The costume portion of the competition is supposed to represent parts of Canada and its history. 

When Callingbull saw the looks, she told CBC that ‘my jaw just dropped to the floor.’ 

‘This cannot be real. I just couldn’t get over that this was happening. Who allowed this on stage? Who approved this? Anything traditional or sacred should not be allowed. I was very, very upset.’ 

Callingbull said on stage Saturday that she immediately called Director Sonny Borrelli to discuss her feelings. 

‘It’s 2026, we should know better. More importantly, a part of reconciliation is that we educate and learn and understand and move on from these things in a good way,’ she told the crowd. 

Haverkamp released an Instagram statement on Saturday, writing that she ‘acknowledged and recognized that my outfit for the national costume caused hurt and offense to the people in the Indigenous community.’ 

‘I appreciate what I have learned from this experience and continue my commitment to stand up and speak for all women who have lost their voice because of violence, trauma and oppression,’ she said. 

Kaily also apologized on Instagram, saying: ‘My intention was never to disrespect or misrepresent Indigenous culture.’ 

She said her costume was to ‘recognize and celebrate one of the First Peoples of Canada.’ 

Borrelli addressed the crowd on Saturday, saying it wasn’t the pageant’s intention to ‘offend anybody.’ 

‘If we did, we take full responsibility, we will learn from it, we will make it better, we will make it right,’ he said. 

He also announced that the pageant has asked Callingbull to become a cultural liaison for the costume competition next year. It is unclear if she has accepted the position.  

Callingbull said the instances weighed heavily on her, which is why she spoke out, as her grandfather always told her that speaking up was the only way to enact change. 

‘I felt like I was educating them and giving them hell at the same time, because I needed them to understand how bad this was and how much it affects other people,’ she told CTV News. 

‘I’m glad I got the message across, but it was heavy on me, it was really heavy on my heart.’ 

The pageant describes the costume portion as a ‘segment intended to celebrate creativity, heritage, and identity.’ 

Conversations around cultural appropriation have become more prevalent in the last decade, with some saying it honors traditions and heritage, while others have accused people of making a costume out of sacred traditions. 

In order to avoid future concerns, the organization is now creating a ‘comprehensive costume guide’ to help future contestants. 

‘We deeply appreciate our community holding us accountable, and we remain committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful platform for everyone involved,’ the organization said in a statement. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Haverkamp, Kaily, Callingbull and the pageant for comment.