Author: Rana McCallister

John Beam, the longtime coach known from Last Chance U, was fatally shot at Laney College in Oakland; the community is grieving and officials are offering different takes on motive and solutions. John Beam rose to national attention five years ago through his role on the Netflix documentary series “Last Chance U”. Fans and former players knew him for decades in Oakland, where he spent four decades mentoring students and coaching at Skyline High School before his Laney College work. However, the beloved 66-year-old reality television star died tragically this week after being shot in the head. The shooting happened…

A brief look at a recent transit incident that put passengers and police on edge. A man is accused of going on a joy ride this week on an unattended Canadian bus and dropping off and picking up passengers before finally being apprehended. The description alone raises immediate questions about how a large public vehicle was left unsecured and how quickly events escalated. It sounds almost surreal, but officials say it happened and people on board were caught in the middle. The episode has sparked fresh talk about transit safety and driver responsibility. The sequence reported suggests a combination of…

President Trump and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene are publicly drifting apart as she distances herself from elements of the administration over the Epstein case and economic disagreements, marking a rare split within the MAGA coalition. What began as a steadfast alliance between a commander-in-chief and a vocal congresswoman has shifted into something more cautious and public. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, long identified with the MAGA movement, is stepping back on certain high-profile issues tied to Jeffrey Epstein and on parts of the administration’s economic approach. That separation has played out openly, creating headlines and raising questions about cohesion among the…

A Georgia ticket matched the numbers to claim a $980 million Mega Millions jackpot on Friday, marking the eighth-largest prize in the game’s history and the biggest lottery payout ever recorded in that state. The winning ticket from Georgia stopped a long streak of unclaimed jackpots and instantly became one of the most talked-about lottery events in recent years. That $980 million figure reflects the advertised annuity value that Mega Millions lists for its top prize. Officials will follow established procedures to verify the ticket and begin the formal claim process before any funds change hands. Because the advertised jackpot…

Disney and YouTube TV announced a new carriage agreement Friday that restores channels including ABC and ESPN to the Google-owned livestreaming platform, ending a blackout that lasted for over two weeks. The pause in service hit YouTube TV subscribers hard, cutting off access to marquee channels used for live sports, local news and primetime programming. Viewers watched as big-name networks disappeared from their channel guides while negotiations over distribution resumed behind closed doors. Restoring those feeds Friday brought immediate relief to customers who rely on the service for real-time events and local coverage. Carriage disputes like this one typically pivot…

Attorney General Pam Bondi has opened an inquiry into connections between Jeffrey Epstein and leading Democratic figures, following direction from President Trump, and the move has shifted focus back onto accountability and political influence in powerful circles. Attorney General Pam Bondi, at the behest of President Trump, has initiated an investigation into ties between Jeffrey Epstein and prominent Democratic figures. That action signals a federal willingness to revisit Epstein’s network with fresh scrutiny, and it puts political leaders back on the defensive. Republicans see this as overdue attention to potential wrongdoing at the highest levels. The Epstein case has long…

Media wrongly insist that the pardon clause only applies to federal charges, yet every attempt to narrow the scope of pardons has failed. The Constitution’s pardon clause is clear and broad, and conservatives should defend its plain meaning without apology. The power to pardon has been contested in headlines, but history and practice show its reach is not as narrow as modern coverage sometimes claims. Mischaracterizations from credentialed outlets often ignore legal precedent, congressional debate, and the framers’ intent. That matters because a correct reading preserves executive discretion and checks excessive litigation over political matters. Start with how the clause…

Israel said Thursday that militants have handed over the body of one of the last four remaining hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that launched the war in Gaza. The return of a body underscores both the human tragedy and the unresolved security crisis at the heart of this conflict. The incident has renewed calls for firm policies to secure citizens and deter future attacks. The government confirmed the transfer as part of ongoing, tense exchanges tied to the broader conflict with Gaza. Families of the hostages, military officials, and the public are reacting with sorrow and frustration.…

The parents of at least two babies sickened in an infantile botulism outbreak are suing the makers of the ByHeart baby formula at the heart of a nationwide recall. Two families have filed lawsuits after their infants fell ill in what public health officials have identified as an outbreak tied to a commercial baby formula. The products involved are subject to a nationwide recall that has raised alarm among parents and pediatricians. The litigation aims to hold the formula maker accountable for the harms allegedly linked to their product. Infantile botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by toxins…

Chester County officials are still sorting through 12,100 provisional ballots from Nov. 4 and preparing an inquiry after 75,000 third-party registered voters were not listed in the poll book, leaving results unfinished and many questions about how this happened. The county Board of Elections remains deep in a legal review of 12,100 provisional ballots cast on Nov. 4, a number large enough to affect close races and public confidence. That review is taking time because provisional ballots require verification against registration records and related affidavits. Officials say the process is being handled methodically, but conservatives and concerned voters see the…