Author: Mandy Matthews

A man pleaded guilty on Monday to second-degree murder and tampering charges in the death of a University of Mississippi graduate who was known in the LGBTQ+ community, entering the plea as he faced a second trial. The plea removes the need for a full jury trial on those counts and moves the case toward sentencing and further legal steps. The situation has drawn attention from campus peers and advocacy groups concerned about safety and accountability. The person charged had been accused in the death of a graduate who had been active and visible within the LGBTQ+ community at the…

President Trump dismissed reports that his defense secretary ordered a follow-up strike on a suspected drug boat after an initial attack failed to kill two crewmen, pushing back against media accounts and defending the military’s judgment. The president on Sunday pushed back on press reports that described a second strike on a suspected drug-running vessel after the first strike did not kill two crewmen. His comments framed the story as overblown and suggested the narrative did not match how commanders and the administration handle lethal force. That pushback matters because it sets how the public and Congress will view any…

An overlooked Baroque painting attributed to Peter Paul Rubens surfaced at auction in Versailles and fetched millions, reigniting interest in long-hidden masterworks and the market that seeks them. A long-lost painting by Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens, which was hidden for more than four centuries, sold at 2.3 million euros ($2.7 million) at an auction Sunday in Versailles. The work’s return to public view drew attention because of its unusual survival and the price it commanded at a high-profile French sale. Collectors and scholars noted the mix of excitement and caution that often follows rediscovered pieces attributed to major artists.…

The White House has added a new section on its website aimed at calling out media outlets it says are misleading or biased in their coverage of President Trump and his policies. This new online section is a direct effort to push back against what the administration calls selective reporting and chronic unfairness. Officials present it as a way to correct the public record and show the White House perspective in plain language. The move signals a willingness to meet media narratives head on instead of leaving corrections to third parties. Republicans see this as a practical step to restore…

Shoppers showed up in force for Black Friday, turning a weekend that started with uncertainty into one where billions were spent across stores and online platforms, shaping the early holiday season for retailers and consumers alike. Despite wider economic uncertainty hovering above this year’s holiday season, shoppers turned out in big numbers for Black Friday – spending billions of dollars both in stores and online. Foot traffic surged at many malls and big-box locations while online storefronts logged heavy demand, creating a mixed but robust picture for retail. The weekend felt like a collision of old-school bargain hunting and modern…

The Palestinian death toll has surpassed 70,000 since the Israel-Hamas war began, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday, and a hospital reported that Israeli fire killed two Palestinian children. The scale of civilian suffering in Gaza is staggering, and those numbers are driving a hard look at both military tactics and humanitarian response. Hospitals in the territory are stretched thin, reporting mounting casualties while struggling with fuel, supplies, and damaged infrastructure. Local health officials have repeatedly issued grim tallies, and the figure above underscores how deep the crisis has become. Behind the statistics are families and neighborhoods torn apart, with many…

The White House plans to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants, a decision that will remove legal protections for roughly 353,000 people effective February 3, 2026, after a Department of Homeland Security notice and related reviews. The administration of President Donald Trump is moving to let the protected status of Haitian migrants expire in February 2026, a shift that changes the legal standing of hundreds of thousands of people. DHS announced the decision in a formal notice and set a termination date that will take effect next year. That move marks a clear policy break from the recent expansion…

Four Florida firefighters were arrested and fired for an alleged hazing incident this month that included whipping and waterboarding. The episode has prompted both criminal and administrative responses, opened questions about department culture, and drawn attention to how public safety agencies handle misconduct. The arrests and dismissals have put a spotlight on an event described as hazing that involved extreme and dangerous behavior. Officials say the actions reportedly included whipping and waterboarding, triggering immediate disciplinary action and law enforcement involvement. Community members and colleagues are reacting with concern as authorities sort out the facts. When allegations like these surface, departments…

President Jose Jeri of Peru said his government on Friday would declare a state of emergency along the country’s southern border and deploy more armed forces to the area as a large number of Venezuelan migrants began arriving, shifting security and humanitarian responsibilities to national authorities. President Jose Jeri of Peru said his government on Friday would declare a state of emergency along the country’s southern border and deploy more armed forces to the area. That announcement came as officials grapple with sudden flows of people approaching the frontier. The move signals a rapid pivot toward security measures at a…

Every month brings another reminder that the Biden-era immigration choices left dangerous gaps, and recent attacks tied to people who entered under those policies underscore why stricter vetting and enforcement are necessary. This past month delivered another grim example: two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., were gunned down after being on duty less than 24 hours, ambushed by a man who crossed the country to commit the attack. That kind of cross-country violence raises hard questions about how certain people were allowed into the country and cleared to stay. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro noted that “Afghanistan native Rahmanullah Lakanwal,…