Los Angeles Unified School District announced that superintendent Alberto Carvalho has been placed on paid leave as federal investigators examine the district’s leadership; the probe’s specifics haven’t been disclosed publicly.
A federal investigation has opened into Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz over alleged obstruction of federal law enforcement in the ICE crackdown. The probe comes amid ongoing protests in the city after an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Good earlier this month; new documents say Good suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, forearm, and possibly the head. Polls cited by the report show Americans largely view the shooting as unjustified and express distrust in ICE enforcement and federal investigations, while Democrats urge ICE to disengage from street policing and Republicans are divided on the agency’s actions.
Rep. Ilhan Omar denounces a large deployment of federal agents to Minneapolis tied to the Feeding Our Future welfare-fraud case, calling the crackdown 'creating confusion and chaos' as prosecutors warn the scheme could reach nearly $9 billion; the controversy has drawn GOP attacks, spotlighted Minnesota's Somali community, and coincided with Gov. Walz ending his reelection bid while the White House defends the crackdown.
The NBA is investigating free agent Malik Beasley over allegations of gambling on NBA games and prop bets during the 2023-24 season, stemming from a federal probe involving improper betting activities. Beasley is cooperating with the investigation, which has impacted his potential contract with the Detroit Pistons, and the league is in its final stages of review.
Malik Beasley is under federal investigation for gambling-related activities, though no charges have been filed. The investigation is linked to a broader scheme involving sports betting and inside information, but it is unclear if it is related to a previous case involving Jontay Porter. Beasley, a free agent and former Pistons player, is cooperating with authorities as negotiations about his future continue.
The MLB Players Association, led by Tony Clark, is under federal investigation related to allegations of improper self-enrichment through equity in OneTeam Partners, with Clark and the union hiring separate attorneys amid ongoing inquiries. The NFLPA is also involved in a similar investigation, but the players are not the targets.
Sean "Diddy" Combs will reportedly miss his daughter Chance's high school graduation in Los Angeles due to his ongoing legal troubles, including a federal probe related to sex trafficking, money laundering, and illegal drugs. Diddy has been staying in Miami and has missed other significant family events recently. Despite the allegations and legal issues, he has denied the accusations, although he admitted to past domestic violence.
The body of a fourth victim has been recovered from the Baltimore bridge collapse, as federal authorities launch a criminal investigation into the ship crash and the city and victims' attorneys seek accountability. The ship's owner and manager have filed a petition to limit liability payouts, prompting criticism from victims' families' attorneys. The city of Baltimore is partnering with law firms to take legal action and hold responsible parties accountable, while also providing support for impacted families and businesses.
McNeese coach Will Wade expressed that the federal investigation into illegal payments to players "ruined a lot of people's lives" and called for the NCAA to allow those affected to return to college basketball. Wade, who was previously suspended and fired by LSU, emphasized the impact on others and the changing landscape of college sports with NIL, stating that the punishments were disproportionate to current standards. Despite the challenges, he reflected on the positive aspects of his coaching journey.
The door panel of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft blew off mid-flight on Jan. 5, prompting a federal probe into Boeing's safety measures. Prior to the flight, engineers and technicians had expressed concern over a warning light related to the plane's pressurization system, but the airline decided to continue flying the aircraft and scheduled a maintenance check for the same day. Investigators found that four key bolts were missing from the door plug, causing the cabin to depressurize at 16,000 feet before the plane safely returned to Portland International Airport. Boeing has faced increased scrutiny, with a recent FAA review finding the company failed 33 of 89 aspects in its manufacturing processes for the 737 Max.
Federal prosecutors have charged about 70 current and former New York City Housing Authority employees in a massive kickback scheme, labeling it as the "largest single-day bribery takedown in the history of the justice department." The employees allegedly accepted over $2 million in kickbacks from contractors in exchange for more than $13 million in NYCHA business across at least 100 developments. The scheme involved exploiting a no-bid process for contracts worth less than $10,000, eroding public trust and violating the agency's zero-tolerance policy for wrongful and illegal activity.
Rep. Cori Bush confirmed that her campaign spending on security services is under investigation by the Department of Justice, the Federal Election Commission, and the House Committee on Ethics. The investigations focus on the substantial security expenses, including payments to her husband and various security consultants. Bush defended the spending as necessary due to "relentless threats" to her safety and life, but faces scrutiny over the payments and entities involved. The federal probe comes as she faces a primary challenge and amid media and public complaints about her security expenses.
The Justice Department is investigating Rep. Cori Bush's campaign spending on security services, with a focus on her use of campaign funds for personal protection. Bush denies any wrongdoing and asserts that she has not used federal tax dollars for personal security. The investigation stems from her marriage to her security guard and subsequent retention of him on her campaign payroll. Bush maintains that her husband provides necessary services at or below fair market rate. The probe follows complaints filed by conservative watchdog groups, and while the independent Office of Congressional Ethics dismissed the matter, the bipartisan House Ethics Committee has not closed the case.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a federal probe into the Alaska Airlines flight that experienced a violent door panel blowout, leaving a hole in the plane's side. The focus of the investigation is on the missing door plug, and the chair of the NTSB described a chaotic scene inside the cabin with missing seat backs and scattered clothing.
US Senator Tom Cotton has called for a federal investigation and potential criminal charges against US news outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, the Associated Press, and Reuters, after freelance photographers embedded with Hamas were accused of having prior knowledge of the terror group's attack on Israel. Cotton alleges that providing support or assistance to a terrorist organization like Hamas is a federal crime. The news organizations deny any prior knowledge of the attack, and the nonprofit Honest Reporting, which raised questions about the embedded photographers, has accepted their denials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the news outlets for working with the Hamas embeds, calling them "accomplices in crimes against humanity."