Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing charged with weapons, forgery, other charges in Pennsylvania

NEW YORK — The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week has been charged with weapons, forgery and other charges in Pennsylvania after being arrested at a McDonald’s on Monday morning. The 26-year-old, identified by police as Luigi Nicholas Mangione, began shaking when police asked if he had been in New York recently, court records said. He is scheduled to go before a judge in western Pennsylvania where he was being held on gun charges. Luigi Mangione, 26, is being questioned in Altoona, Pa. as a person of interest in connection with the brazen Midtown Manhattan murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione is being ordered to be held without bail after his brief court appearance. Officials say the 26-year-old, from Maryland, also has ties to San Francisco and was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. His last known address was in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was on a Greyhound bus traveling through Altoona on Monday morning, sources said, when he got off and walked into a McDonald’s where a witness recognized him from the images of the suspect

‘Sugarcane’ documentary spotlights Indigenous resilience amid dark residential school history

HOUSTON, Texas — The award-winning documentary “Sugarcane” is coming to Hulu and Disney+ and tells the horrific history of Indigenous residential schools and the lasting impacts it’s left on survivors, their families, and the community. Filmed mostly in Sugarcane, British Columbia, on the Williams Lake Indian Reserve, Julian Brave NoiseCat traces the disturbing history of residential schools that removed thousands of Indigenous children from their families, placing them in government-sanctioned schools, which aimed to strip them of their culture and assimilate them into Western society. “This is one of the foundational stories of North America,” NoiseCat told ABC 13. “This is what happened to First peoples.” The issue is close to NoiseCat, who is a member of the Canim Lake Band Tsq’escen and a descendant of the Lil’Wat Nation of Mount Currie. This is one of the foundational stories of North America. This is what happened to First peoples. His father, Ed, is heavily featured in the film as they work to heal from the trauma experienced at St. Joseph’s Mission, a school that operated on the Williams Lake First Nation reserve from 1886 to

‘Skeleton Crew’ cast heads to Disneyland for a day at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ is streaming now on Disney+ By Gina Sirico Tuesday, December 10, 2024 12:07AM We spent the day with the cast of “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, building droids and riding the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. You can watch “Skeleton Crew” on Disney+ now. ANAHEIM — Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith – you’ve been cast in “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.” What are you going to do next? Go to Disneyland! On The Red Carpet was along for the ride as the four young stars of “Skeleton Crew” hung out in the land of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Their first stop was to build some Droids. They picked their parts and got to work creating some cute creatures. The crew took a break to sample some of Batuu’s legendary blue milk. “It’s really refreshing.” Kratter said. “I don’t know how to describe it, you have to try it!” After getting refueled and refreshed, they headed to the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. “Do you guys think we could fly it?,” Armstrong wondered. They all agreed

Earthquake hits western Nevada, shaking could be felt into Central California

Monday, December 9, 2024 11:40PM FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The United States Geological Survey says a 5.5-magnitude earthquake hit western Nevada, and shaking could be felt in central California. The earthquake was centered about 17 miles southeast of Silver Springs, between Carson City and Naval Air Station Fallon, home to the Navy’s Top Gun program. Light to weak shaking was reported as far away as Merced and Fresno. The quake has also triggered several aftershocks that continued to shake the area in the hours after the initial shaking. Stay with ABC30 for the latest details on this developing story. Copyright © 2024 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria fallout

By LISA MASCARO and FARNOUSH AMIRI WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country’s hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her 2017 visit to war-torn Syria as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm Trump’s unusual nominees. Related Articles National Politics | Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it? National Politics | Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump taps his attorney Alina Habba to serve as counselor to the president But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump’s America First approach to national security

California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites

By TRÂN NGUYỄN SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. The legislation sponsored by state Attorney General Rob Bonta is necessary to bolster safety for children online, supporters say, but industry officials vow to fight the measure and others like it under the First Amendment. Warning labels for social media gained swift bipartisan support from dozens of attorneys general, including Bonta, after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to establish the requirements earlier this year, saying social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. “These companies know the harmful impact their products can have on our children, and they refuse to take meaningful steps to make them safer,” Bonta said at a news conference Monday. “Time is up. It’s time we stepped in and demanded change.” State officials haven’t provided details on the bill, but Bonta said the warning labels could pop up once weekly.

Kurtenbach: Was the 49ers win a one-off or the start of a trend? All signs point one way

Was the 49ers’ win on Sunday a one-off or a trend that can carry the 49ers for the remainder of the season? It’s a fair question after the 49ers — a team that had lost three straight games, with the last two coming on a 73-20 margin — put together arguably the best half in franchise history against the Bears on Sunday, out-gaining Chicago 319 yards to 4. The performance was a wonderful reprieve, but is it informative? Probably not. The Bears were downright awful on Sunday. They had a rookie quarterback, a terrible offensive line, a head coach on his second promotion in a month, and a defense missing a coordinator. Chicago made it easy on the Niners. The “real” San Francisco might have arrived, but such success will likely be short-lived. That said, don’t be surprised if the level of play lasts the rest of the week. The Niners will play against the Rams on Thursday. Like all the games the Niners have down the stretch of the season, it’s a contest the team must win to keep its flicker of playoff hopes

Lights and decor, réveillon meals make Christmastime special in New Orleans

Patti Nickell | Tribune News Service Every year when the holiday season rolls around, the focus is on picture-perfect small towns blanketed in snow and populated by rosy-checked revelers caroling their joyous hearts out. That scenario does make for some entertaining Hallmark movies, but my thoughts always drift back to the many years I spent at the opposite end of the continent in the subtropical climes of New Orleans. That’s when I carol my joyous heart out. OK, Christmas traditionalists, I’ll give you the fact that you probably won’t need a heavy coat – the temps are more likely to be in the 60s than the 30s, and the probability of snow is, short of a miracle, zero. Oh, but the Big Easy offers so much more. As with everything else, New Orleans does Christmas differently than the rest of the country. Instead of Santa racing over the rooftops in his sleigh piloted by reindeer, Pere Noel makes his way up the Mississippi River in a pirogue piloted by alligators. Don’t worry that he might get lost in the bayou, as locals line the banks

Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?

By REBECCA SANTANA WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. But any efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It’s been in place for decades and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. It’s not the practice of every country, and Trump and his supporters have argued that the system is being abused and that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen. But others say this is a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, it would be extremely difficult to overturn and even if it’s possible, it’s a bad idea. Here’s a look at birthright citizenship, what Trump has said about it and the prospects for ending it: What Trump has

Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next

By CHRISTINE FERNANDO CHICAGO (AP) — As Donald Trump’s Cabinet begins to take shape, those on both sides of the abortion debate are watching closely for clues about how his picks might affect reproductive rights policy in the president-elect’s second term. Trump’s cabinet picks offer a preview of how his administration could handle abortion after he repeatedly flip-flopped on the issue on the campaign trail. He attempted to distance himself from anti-abortion allies by deferring to states on abortion policy, even while boasting about nominating three Supreme Court justices who helped strike down the constitutional protections for abortion that had stood for half a century. In an NBC News interview that aired Sunday, Trump said he doesn’t plan to restrict medication abortion but also seemed to leave the door open, saying “things change.” “Things do change, but I don’t think it’s going to change at all,” he said. The early lineup of his new administration, including nominations to lead health agencies, the Justice Department and event the Department of Veterans Affairs, has garnered mixed — but generally positive — reactions from anti-abortion groups. Abortion law

CFPB will distribute $1.8B to victims of credit repair ‘scheme’

Customers charged illegal fees by two of the largest credit repair firms will soon see a refund check, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Thursday. The CFPB says it will distribute $1.8 billion to 4.3 million consumers who were charged illegal advance fees by Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com, which used telemarketing to offer credit repair services to customers. “Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com exploited vulnerable consumers who were trying to rebuild their credit, charging them illegal junk fees for results they hadn’t delivered,” CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a news release. What are credit repair services? Credit repair services can help consumers build their credit by doing the tedious work of disputing outdated or incorrect information found on credit reports and following up on the results to be sure errors don’t reappear. It might cost more than $100 per month, with no guarantee of results. There are a number of errors a credit repair service might look for on a person’s credit report, including accounts or legal actions that don’t belong to the customer and negative information that’s too old to be included. Typically, a

Winter Meetings charity auction to benefit renovations for Willie Mays Park

DALLAS — Major League Baseball announced on Monday that the funds from the annual Winter Meetings charity auction will benefit Willie Mays Park in Mays’ hometown of Fairfield, Alabama, which is currently unsuitable for most competitive play. “It means so much to have the opportunity to continue serving the community that gave baseball and the world the great Willie Mays,” said April Brown, MLB’s SVP of social responsibility and diversity in a statement. “As a signature initiative of MLB Together, this charity auction is truly unique in that it gives our fans the opportunity to have a hand in celebrating Willie’s legacy and have an impact on the lives of children. We cannot thank the Clubs across our sport for their generosity and creativity in providing amazing auction items and experiences for our fans.” The auction runs until Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. PST. The full list of items and experiences can be viewed at MLB.com/wintermeetingsauction. The Giants are auctioning off the “Willie Mays Experience” in the Say Hey Suite at Oracle Park. “The City of Fairfield, Alabama, is honored to partner with Major League

The best dry dog food for happy, healthy pups

Which dry dog foods are best? The foundation of a happy and healthy life for your dog begins with the right food. Dogs require the proper nutrients and vitamins to support their specific lifestyle, age, breed and potential special needs. Dry dog food is the preferred option for most dog owners, as it’s cost-effective, nutrient-packed and aids in dental hygiene. Hill Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dog Food is a comprehensive healthy option from a trusted brand that comes at a high price. With so many options available and so many unique dogs, It’s important to take time to find the right dry dog food for your furry friend. What to know before you buy dry dog food Age Most dry food focuses on one of three life stages, including puppy, adult and senior. Puppies generally require more fat, protein and minerals, while senior food features fewer calories for less active dogs. It’s important to note that the puppy, adult and senior designation changes from breed to breed. Smaller dogs, like Jack Russell Terriers, may not enter the senior stage until 10 or 12 years of

How should the opioid settlements be spent? Those hit hardest often don’t have a say

By GEOFF MULVIHILL People with substance use disorder across the country are not getting a formal say in how most of the approximately $50 billion in opioid lawsuit settlement money is being used to stem the crisis, a new analysis found. Some advocates say that is one factor in why portions of the money are going to efforts they don’t consider to be proven ways to save lives from overdose, including equipment to scan jail inmates for contraband, drug-sniffing police dogs and systems to neutralize unneeded prescription medications. In Jackson County, West Virginia, officials voted earlier this year to use more than $500,000 in settlement funds for a first-responder training center and a shooting range. They also allocated $35,000 to a quick response team that works with overdose survivors. Josh George, who has been in recovery for three years after 23 years of drug use, primarily heroin, now runs a recovery group with his wife and other family members. Some of the money could have gone to the county’s only recovery house, he said. “All these people were doing it on their own dime,” George

‘Polarization’ is Merriam-Webster’s 2024 word of the year

By ANNA FURMAN The results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election rattled the country and sent shockwaves across the world — or were cause for celebration, depending on who you ask. Is it any surprise then that the Merriam-Webster word of the year is “polarization”? “Polarization means division, but it’s a very specific kind of division,” said Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press ahead of Monday’s announcement. “Polarization means that we are tending toward the extremes rather than toward the center.” The election was so divisive, many American voters went to the polls with a feeling that the opposing candidate was an existential threat to the nation. According to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, about 8 in 10 Kamala Harris voters were very or somewhat concerned that Donald Trump’s views — but not Harris’ — were too extreme, while about 7 in 10 Trump voters felt the same way about Harris — but not Trump. The Merriam-Webster entry for “polarization” reflects scientific and metaphorical definitions. It’s most commonly used to mean “causing strong

26-year-old ID’d as person of interest, in custody in CEO assassination: Officials

NEW YORK — Police are questioning 26-year-old Luigi Mangione in Altoona, Pennsylvania, as a person of interest in connection with the brazen Midtown Manhattan murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week, according to authorities. Mangione, from Maryland, has been arrested by Altoona police on unrelated gun charges, according to authorities. The man was on a Greyhound bus traveling through Altoona on Monday morning, sources said, when he got off and walked into a McDonald’s where a witness recognized him from the images of the suspect circulated by police. A man in Pennsylvania is being held for questioning in connection with the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, law enforcement sources told ABC News. Mangione was sitting and eating when a McDonald’s employee reported him, and “because of that, we believe we have a strong person of interest,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference Monday. “He matches the description of the person we are looking for,” Adams said. Mangione was in possession of a handwritten document “that speaks to his motivation and mindset,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. “It