A Secret Service agent and two other men were arrested in Miami for violent hazing that caused serious injuries to two men during a fraternity ritual. The agent has been placed on leave while authorities continue to investigate the case.
Key Facts
Marquez Christopher Pinder, 29, a Secret Service agent in Miami, is charged with violent felonies related to fraternity hazing.
The alleged hazing involved repeated beatings with canes and paddles over four nights in April.
Two victims were seriously injured, one needing skin grafts and having kidney damage, the other requiring a breathing tube.
Charges include felony hazing with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, and attempted manslaughter.
Pinder was described as a “dean of pledges” for a Miami chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
Pinder was released on a $75,000 bond and faces arraignment on September 24.
The Secret Service is cooperating with investigators and has placed Pinder on administrative leave.
Florida law considers hazing a crime, with authorities emphasizing its dangerous and abusive nature.
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A shooter fired at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto early Monday, causing damage but no injuries. Police chased the suspect for an hour but did not make an arrest, and the investigation is ongoing.
Key Facts
The U.S. Consulate in Toronto was shot at early Monday morning.
No one was hurt in the shooting, but the building’s front was damaged.
Police found one shell casing at the scene.
A high-speed police chase lasted an hour but did not catch the shooter.
This is the second attack on the consulate this year; the first was in March.
Two suspects were arrested last month in connection with the March shooting.
The consulate had police protection and security staff during the latest attack.
Police are looking into possible links between the consulate shootings and other gun attacks, including those targeting Jewish-owned businesses.
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Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Wu Chi-wai has been allowed to stay in the United Kingdom as a visitor for six months. He reunited with his family there after spending over five years in prison in Hong Kong.
Key Facts
Wu Chi-wai is a former chairman of Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy party.
He was jailed for more than five years under a security law imposed by Beijing.
Wu was sentenced in 2024 to four years and five months for conspiracy to commit subversion.
He was arrested along with 46 other activists in Hong Kong’s biggest democracy crackdown case.
After arriving in the UK on a seven-day immigration bail, Wu's stay was extended to six months.
The UK Home Office confirmed Wu would not be removed and granted permission to visit.
Wu’s family currently lives in the UK.
Rights groups and Hong Kong residents raised concerns about his initial short visa.
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President Donald Trump called for Senate Republicans to end the filibuster, a rule requiring 60 votes to approve most bills, so they can pass laws more easily. Several progressive Democrats have also pushed to abolish the filibuster to advance voting rights and other reforms, but Senate leaders say the proposed bills, like the SAVE Act, will not pass.
Key Facts
The filibuster is a Senate rule that needs 60 votes to stop debate and pass a bill; without it, only 51 votes are needed.
Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, so they need some Democrats to pass laws under the filibuster.
President Trump wants to end the filibuster to let Republicans quickly pass laws including the SAVE Act on voting rules.
Many progressive Democrats support removing the filibuster to pass voting rights and court reform.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the SAVE Act will not pass in the Senate.
The filibuster has been criticized for causing gridlock but some senators want to keep it to encourage compromise.
35 House Democrats signed a resolution urging the filibuster’s end, citing its history as a barrier to civil rights laws.
Experts say removing the filibuster could lead to more extreme legislation and reveal divisions within the Republican Party.
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President Donald Trump asked Senate Majority Leader John Thune to cancel the Senate's August break until a voting bill called the SAVE America Act is passed. Republicans do not currently have enough votes to pass the bill or change Senate rules to overcome the filibuster, which requires 60 votes for most laws.
Key Facts
President Trump wants the Senate to delay its August recess until the SAVE America Act passes.
The SAVE America Act is a bill focused on requiring proof of citizenship for voting.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said Republicans do not have enough votes to pass the bill.
The Senate filibuster rule requires 60 votes to pass most legislation.
Republicans currently hold 53 seats, short of the 60 needed to overcome the filibuster.
Trump has urged Thune to eliminate the filibuster or find another way to pass the bill.
Thune has stated they cannot change the rules or pass the bill with the current vote count.
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A federal appeals court blocked a Texas law that required websites to monitor and filter certain speech to protect minors. The court said the federal law, Section 230, prevents Texas from enforcing this rule because it would force websites to censor lawful content.
Key Facts
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled against Texas enforcing a law to filter harmful speech for minors online.
The law targeted social media and websites to block speech categories like suicide promotion, bullying, and child exploitation.
Tech groups CCIA and NetChoice challenged the law, winning a preliminary injunction in a lower court.
The 5th Circuit ruled 2-1 that the Texas law conflicts with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Section 230 generally protects websites from being treated as the publisher of third-party content.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed but was not able to overturn the block on enforcing the law.
The court distinguished this case from a previous one where age verification on porn sites was allowed.
The ruling allows other parts of the Texas law unrelated to content filtering to remain in effect.
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Kristi Goncalves, mother of Kaylee Goncalves who was killed along with three other students, reacted to Bryan Kohberger’s plan to change his plea in their murder case. She expressed doubt about the plea change and said the family is staying positive and focused regardless of the outcome.
Key Facts
Kaylee Goncalves and three other students were murdered in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho in November 2022.
Bryan Kohberger was linked to the crime through DNA found on a knife sheath.
Kohberger had previously pleaded guilty but now wants to change his plea.
Kaylee’s mother, Kristi Goncalves, said she believes Kohberger is playing "judicial games" and doubts his new plea has merit.
The family has endured a lot of pain since the murders but remains hopeful and focused on the case.
The other victims were Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, all students at the University of Idaho.
Each victim was remembered for their personality, academic focus, and close friendships.
The case and the victims’ deaths have deeply affected the university community and beyond.
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Movie theaters are earning more money by selling special popcorn buckets designed around popular movies. These themed buckets attract fans who want unique souvenirs while enjoying their snacks.
Key Facts
Movie theaters are using custom popcorn buckets based on popular films.
These buckets are designed to attract movie fans.
Themed buckets encourage more people to buy popcorn.
Selling these special containers is increasing theater profits.
Examples include buckets from movies like "The Odyssey."
Fans enjoy owning unique movie-related items.
This trend is helping theaters make more money beyond ticket sales.
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All 100 U.S. senators have been invited to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Capitol on Tuesday evening. This meeting is happening while the Senate is discussing a bill to increase sanctions against Russia and its trade partners.
Key Facts
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting the U.S. Capitol for a meeting with all senators.
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m.
All 100 senators have been invited to attend.
The invitation was confirmed by several sources and first reported by Punchbowl News.
At the same time, the Senate is considering a bill for stronger sanctions on Russia.
The sanctions target Russia and countries that trade with it.
The meeting and Senate bill are connected to the ongoing situation involving Russia and Ukraine.
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Savannah Guthrie released a video asking anyone who knows about her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, to come forward and help find her. Nancy, aged 84, has been missing since February 1 in Tucson, Arizona, and authorities believe she was kidnapped.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her home in Tucson on February 1, 2024.
Authorities believe Nancy was abducted.
Blood drops were found on Nancy’s porch, and DNA was found on a glove two miles from her home.
The glove initially thought to be linked to the suspect was later shown to belong to a restaurant worker.
Savannah Guthrie posted a public plea on Instagram to raise awareness and ask for help.
The family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy’s location.
The FBI added a $100,000 reward and is searching for a man about 5ft 9in to 5ft 10in tall.
No arrests have been made yet.
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Tom Homan, a border official, said that ICE officer David Brouillette should not have passed the background checks if claims about his violent past are correct. Brouillette, who is accused of fatally shooting a man in Maine, reportedly had serious mental health issues and a history of violent actions according to his family.
Key Facts
ICE officer David Brouillette is accused of fatally shooting a man in Maine.
Tom Homan, a border official, spoke about the case on Sunday.
Homan said Brouillette should not have passed vetting if violent history claims are true.
Brouillette’s family said he had severe mental health problems.
The family also mentioned he had a history of violent behavior.
The shooting incident is currently under investigation.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employs Brouillette.
The vetting process refers to background checks for suitability to work.
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The Michigan Attorney General's office is investigating a false call made to child services about Pete Buttigieg that caused him to be temporarily separated from his children. They described the call as a harmful act meant to intimidate public figures and want to prevent similar incidents.
Key Facts
The investigation is led by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office.
The false child services call targeted Pete Buttigieg, a former Transportation Secretary and potential 2028 presidential candidate.
The call resulted in Buttigieg being separated from his two children for a short time.
Michigan’s Attorney General called the incident a “malicious act.”
The investigation aims to find any illegal actions and reduce the risk of copycat threats against public figures.
The incident happened last month and was reported publicly in late July 2026.
The case highlights concerns about threats targeting well-known people and elected officials.
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Officials in Seattle gave an update on a deadly shooting that happened Sunday night near the Space Needle during a food festival. Three people died and four others were injured in the incident.
Key Facts
The shooting occurred on Sunday night near Seattle’s Space Needle.
It took place during a food festival event.
Three people were killed in the shooting.
Four people were wounded and needed medical attention.
Seattle authorities held a news conference on Monday to share information.
The update was provided by local officials and reported by CBS News.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
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Prosecutors described the last night of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, showing her final texts to singer David Burke (known as D4vd) before she arrived at his home and her phone went silent. Burke is accused of stabbing her to death and is facing charges including murder and sexual abuse; the court is deciding if he will go to trial.
Key Facts
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was 14 years old and texted singer D4vd before arriving at his Hollywood home in an Uber he arranged.
Her final text said she was almost at his door, after which her phone stopped responding.
Prosecutors say David Burke (D4vd), aged 21, stabbed her to death and dismembered her body in his garage.
Burke denies causing her death and pleaded not guilty.
The hearing is to decide if Burke will go to trial on charges including murder, sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation.
Text messages showed they argued about his other relationship, and she threatened to harm his career and life, while he sent messages after her phone stopped replying.
No witnesses or cameras confirmed her entering his house or Burke’s presence at the time prosecutors say the killing happened.
Both families knew about their relationship and had consented to some time together, including travel.
Celeste’s body was found in a Tesla registered to Burke about five months after her disappearance.
Burke is a young singer with a large online following and popular songs on streaming platforms.
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Pakistan-administered Kashmir began local elections amid heavy security and recent violent clashes. Voting is taking place in three phases due to safety concerns, with internet and mobile services mostly suspended during the unrest.
Key Facts
Local legislative elections began Monday in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with voting split into three rounds.
The area has seen violent protests recently, with nearly 40 people killed since early June.
Security forces are heavily deployed because of clashes between protesters and police.
About 3.8 million people are eligible to vote in this region.
Internet and mobile services have been mostly shut down, affecting election campaigns.
Some protest groups have called for a boycott of the vote, opposing reserved assembly seats for refugees.
The protest movement, JAAC, was banned under anti-terrorism laws and its leaders arrested or in hiding.
Voter turnout appeared low in the first voting district, Mirpur, during hot weather conditions.
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A tornado hit Wisconsin on Monday, causing heavy damage to homes, trees, and power lines. Thousands of people lost electricity, and several communities were affected, including Appleton and Menasha.
Key Facts
The tornado struck Winnebago County, about 90 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
It moved over Lake Winnebago and headed south toward Fond du Lac County around 12:25 p.m.
In Appleton, many homes lost roofs and siding, cars were flipped, and streets were covered with broken branches.
Menasha, a city of about 18,000 people, lost power due to a downed transmission line.
Thousands of homes experienced power outages.
The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado's presence.
Damage included uprooted trees and electrical infrastructure losses.
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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to keep the Camp East Montana detention center in Texas open for another year by extending a no-bid contract with the company running the facility. This decision comes despite reports of mistreatment and poor conditions for detainees, along with calls from lawmakers and advocacy groups to close the center.
Key Facts
ICE will extend the contract with Amentum Services Inc. to run Camp East Montana until September 30, 2027.
The extension could cost taxpayers an additional $776 million, on top of the original $452 million contract.
Camp East Montana opened in August 2025 near the U.S.-Mexico border and houses over 2,000 detainees daily.
Reports accuse staff of beating detainees, denying medical care, and providing poor living conditions and bad food.
Federal agency reports have found unsafe conditions and wasted government spending at the center.
At least three detainees have died at Camp East Montana.
ICE said moving detainees to other facilities is not practical due to lack of space and high costs of switching contractors.
The no-bid contract extension means there was no competitive bidding process for continuing the center’s operation.
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A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission. The challenge claimed the commission unfairly excluded some religions, but the judge found no legal problem with its membership.
Key Facts
The challenge argued the commission left out non-Judeo-Christian religions.
The law requires commissions like this to be “fairly balanced” among different faiths.
The commission includes members from public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
The judge ruled the challenge was not valid and dismissed the case.
The case was decided on Monday.
President Donald Trump appointed the Religious Liberty Commission.
The interfaith coalition brought the challenge against the commission’s composition.
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Verizon announced a deal worth over $1 billion to connect Google data centers using its dark fiber network as part of a new AI-focused business effort. The company is also upgrading its central offices into small data centers to support fast AI computing near users, expecting more AI-related deals that will bring in billions of dollars over the coming years.
Key Facts
Verizon has a $1 billion deal with Google to link its data centers using Verizon’s dark fiber routes.
Dark fiber means unused fiber-optic cables that can be rented out for data transmission.
Verizon is converting some of its central offices into small data centers to support AI applications that need very low delays, like robotics or autonomous driving.
This conversion supports "inference edge computing," which processes AI tasks closer to users instead of in large data centers.
Verizon is retiring old copper wiring and replacing it with faster fiber-optic cables.
Verizon expanded its fiber network to 31 states plus Washington, DC, after buying Frontier Communications for $20 billion.
The company has been reducing its workforce and moving some retail stores to franchise owners.
Verizon expects its AI-related deals to increase revenue and profits starting next year and grow a lot over 5 to 10 years.
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Savannah Guthrie made a public video appeal asking the people who took her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, to "do the right thing" and bring her home. Nancy has been missing since February 1 in Tucson, Arizona, and the family continues to search for her after receiving ransom notes and a message saying she had died.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie went missing on February 1 after not showing up for church.
Authorities believe Nancy was taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona.
Two ransom notes were sent to the Guthrie family asking for millions in bitcoin.
A second note claimed Nancy had died but said her death was not intended.
Savannah Guthrie publicly appealed for the return of her mother in a video posted on Instagram.
This was the Guthrie family’s first major public message about Nancy since June 23.
Savannah described the situation as an ongoing nightmare for her family.
The family promises to keep searching and has asked the kidnappers to do the right thing.
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