Author: Karen Givens

A Utah woman, author of a children’s book about coping with grief, has been found guilty of aggravated murder after her husband died from fentanyl poisoning. The case drew attention because the defendant had published a children’s book centered on dealing with loss following her husband’s death, a book that readers saw as a private reflection on grief. Prosecutors, however, argued that the same woman was responsible for intentionally giving her husband fentanyl, and a jury ultimately convicted her of aggravated murder. The verdict closed a criminal trial that mixed family tragedy with questions about motive and method. Authorities say…

Ten gun control bills are currently on the desk of Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, waiting for her approval. The pile of legislation sitting with Gov. Abigail Spanberger spotlights a political choice: tighten restrictions or defend constitutional rights. Conservatives see this as a direct test of priorities, where law-abiding citizens could be penalized while the root causes of violence are ignored. The debate will hinge on how to balance public safety with individual freedoms without surrendering constitutional protections. Republicans argue that more laws aimed at guns often miss the people responsible for crime and instead burden responsible owners. There…

After a tornado damages a home, the dangers do not end when the storm passes. Unstable walls, gas leaks, downed utilities, and carbon monoxide from generators or cooking equipment can turn the first hours after the wind stops into the most dangerous ones. When the sky clears, your instincts push you toward the house, but the scene can be unstable and unpredictable. Trees, wires, and structural damage hide risks that may not be obvious until you are dangerously close. Keep a calm, methodical approach to avoid making a bad situation worse. Start by scanning from a safe distance for obvious…

This piece examines how recent decisions by the Trump administration to pause or dismiss legal actions affect pro-life states and the broader fight over abortion policy. This is not the first time the Trump administration has moved to pause or dismiss pro-life states’ pleas for legal intervention. That pattern has raised questions among state officials who expect stronger federal support when harsh court orders threaten state laws that protect unborn life. The recurring pauses leave state attorneys general scrambling to protect statutes and to explain to constituents why promises of aggressive legal defense sometimes fall short. Pro-life governors and legislators…

Hollywood’s 98th Academy Awards turned into a political performance where jokes and speeches leaned heavy on partisan digs, leaving many viewers feeling lectured rather than entertained. The show opened with a monologue that set a snarky tone instead of a celebratory one for cinema. Conan O’Brien delivered a line that landed as both a joke and a jab: “Last year when I hosted, Los Angeles was on fire. But this year, everything is going great,” a sarcastic shot about the war in Iran. That choice signaled the evening would blend film tribute with pointed political commentary. The awards kept slipping…

The U.S. sled hockey team beat Canada on Sunday to claim its fifth straight Winter Paralympics gold, reinforcing a streak of dominance and sparking fresh conversation about depth, preparation, and the sport’s rising profile. American sled hockey added another chapter to a run that now stretches to five consecutive Paralympic titles, with the latest win coming over Canada this past weekend. The result continued a pattern of consistent excellence that few programs enjoy in any discipline. Fans on both sides of the border felt the weight of the rivalry, and the game delivered both intensity and a reminder of how…

An Israeli airstrike struck a Tehran compound the Israel Defense Forces said was being used to develop weapons aimed at threatening Israeli satellites and the space assets of other countries, a move that raises the stakes for space security, regional escalation, and how democracies respond to hostile state programs. The Israel Defense Forces reported the strike Monday, describing the target as a facility tied to efforts against satellites and space systems. That kind of operation is not just a tactical strike, it is a direct response to a strategic threat aimed at crippling vital communications and navigation tools. This event…

The filibuster debate is back: with President Donald Trump and some Senate Republicans weighing the idea of eliminating the legislative filibuster before the November midterms, conservatives face a choice between preserving Senate traditions that protect minority rights or embracing majoritarian tactics that could reshape governance for good or ill. Is the filibuster just an archaic holdover of times past? That exact question has been raised as President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans consider killing the legislative filibuster before the November midterm elections, and it’s worth asking what purpose the rule once served and whether it still matters today. The filibuster…

Federal prosecutors say a drug-addicted South Carolina couple is being sent to federal prison after they stole an intellectually disabled man’s phone and threatened his family members. The case shows how addiction can fuel crimes that target people who are already vulnerable. Prosecutors pursued federal charges that reflect both the theft and the pattern of intimidation aimed at the victim’s relatives. The federal involvement signals the severity of the conduct and a prioritization of protecting disabled individuals. The reported theft of the phone created more than a property loss; it gave the defendants access to private information and a way…

The partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security entered month two on Saturday, March 14, leaving thousands of employees in uncertainty while a partisan funding standoff keeps key operations strained. The partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security entered month two on Saturday, March 14, and there is still no clear end in sight. Lawmakers from both parties are standing firm, which leaves essential DHS work in limbo. For thousands of department employees, the gridlock is more than politics; it is real stress and interrupted paychecks. Border security operations have been thrust into the spotlight as House Republicans…