Author: Karen Givens

Dry, gusty conditions pushed a large wildfire near a city in central Oregon, and officials reported that a fourth firefighter died after he and several colleagues were overcome by a fast-moving wildfire near Colorado last month. Winds and low humidity helped a blaze expand quickly near a populated area in central Oregon, forcing hurried responses from local and state crews. Fire behavior turned active in the afternoon, sending flames into open timber and brush where crews were already stretched thin. The weather gave little mercy, and the wildfire grew into a serious threat to nearby homes and infrastructure. Fire managers…

Katy Perry says she was “appalled” after the White House used her song without her approval in a TikTok tied to military strikes on Iran. The incident raises questions about artist consent, presidential messaging, and the mixing of pop culture with serious national security topics. The White House posting a TikTok with a pop song attached to footage about military action looks like a tone-deaf move, and it’s easy to see why people are upset. When a piece of entertainment is repurposed to score a moment of state violence, it crosses into a debate about respect, consent, and the optics…

President Trump’s new ballroom drew a surprising shout-out from a major music figure, sparking fresh conversations about celebrity influence, public events, and the optics of leadership in modern politics. The moment came when LIL WAYNE praises Trump’s new ballroom: “I’m so glad to hear Trump say … everything we do, we have to do it on the damn lawn.” That line landed hard because it mixes stagecraft with a blunt, unmistakable endorsement from someone who still shapes culture for a large audience. It also highlights how events and venues have become political symbols in their own right, not just places…

New city-by-city data show violent crime falling across many U.S. cities, with homicides plunging sharply in 2026 and a strong chance the national murder rate could be the lowest since 1900. After years of rising violence in some places, fresh reporting suggests the trend may be shifting. A Council on Criminal Justice analysis of monthly city data finds sizable declines in many crime categories this year, including a steep drop in homicides. The council reported homicides down 18% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same stretch in 2025 and down 51% from the 2022 peak, a pattern…

President Trump returned to the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Friday night, delivering a rambling, hour-long speech that praised some journalists, took potshots at others, and blended jokes with pointed critiques of the press. He opened with a blunt, conversational tone that immediately set the mood: this was not a typical, cautious evening. The hour-long address moved between compliments and barbs, keeping the room off-balance and the cameras busy. Supporters saw a president who was confident and unapologetic about challenging press narratives. Throughout the speech he praised a number of reporters for tough coverage that he framed as fair…

Jelly Roll’s divorce was finalized in Tennessee while his 18-year-old daughter pushed back on cheating rumors in a blunt TikTok livestream and hinted she knows more than she’s saying, a scrubbed podcast from the ex added candid details about early finances, and the public is left with conflicting claims and few clear answers. Days after a judge signed off on the divorce, Bailee Ann went live on TikTok and took aim at the online speculation surrounding her parents. The livestream came just two days after the finalization and followed Jelly Roll’s May 18 petition; court filings list May 9 as…

The Pentagon and Oracle announced a massive software consolidation deal late Thursday, worth up to $6.9 billion over the next 10 years, covering the entire Defense Department, Coast Guard and intelligence community. The headline is straightforward: a decade-long, up-to-$6.9 billion agreement for software consolidation across the Defense Department, Coast Guard and intelligence community. This is not a small upgrade. It is a broad commitment that touches nearly every corner of defense IT and the agencies that defend our nation. Consolidation can deliver real benefits when done well, like reduced duplication, clearer support lines and faster software updates. On the other…

The Department of Education has moved to roll back Obama-era regulations that critics say led to race-based differences in school discipline, following a December Department of Justice decision to remove “disparate-impact liability” under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. The Department of Education announced Thursday it is scrapping regulations the Obama administration “weaponized” to discipline students differently based on their race. That move tracks with the Department of Justice’s December action to eliminate “disparate-impact liability” for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, prohibiting discrimination on the basis…

On a wealthy island where summer rituals meet political theater, a speaker series brought Open Society’s message to an affluent crowd and reminded critics just how insulated that scene can be. Martha’s Vineyard keeps its rituals: fine food, sun, and a circuit of speakers who mostly reassure the island’s comfortable progressive set. This year’s Summer Institute opened with Laleh Ispahani representing Open Society-US, underlining the close ties between elite civic forums and global moneyed influence. The line-up and remarks made it plain that the island’s conversations are far removed from the concerns of most Americans. The Summer Institute bills itself…

D4vd’s legal team has started to unveil parts of their strategy, questioning police choices about DNA testing on items recovered from the singer’s home and vehicle. Lawyers for D4vd opened a window into their defense approach on Thursday, zeroing in on forensic work that could shape the case. They asked why investigators did not pursue more DNA testing on items recovered at the singer’s home and inside his car. That line of questioning signals they plan to challenge what evidence exists and how it was handled. The defense focused on gaps and choices in the police investigation rather than on…