Cornell University has hired Sally Yates, a former acting U.S. attorney general and deputy attorney general, to lead an investigation. Yates has extensive experience as a federal prosecutor.
Key Facts
Sally Yates previously served as acting U.S. attorney general.
She also worked as deputy attorney general.
Yates is known for her work as a federal prosecutor.
Cornell University has retained her to lead an investigation.
The investigation details or focus were not specified.
Yates brings legal and law enforcement expertise to the role.
Her role at Cornell is separate from her government service.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will go to San Diego to greet the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday. The aircraft carrier returned after a longer time in the Middle East.
Key Facts
The USS Abraham Lincoln is an aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy.
Its deployment to the Middle East was extended beyond the original schedule.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will visit San Diego on Tuesday.
Hegseth will welcome the ship’s crew home on Wednesday.
He plans to talk with the crew, exercise with them, and have lunch together.
The Pentagon provided information about the Secretary’s visit.
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Cornell University has asked Sally Yates, a former top Justice Department official, to review how the school handles sexual misconduct complaints. This comes after protests and a lawsuit involving an alleged 2024 gang rape at a fraternity, with questions raised about how the university and campus police responded.
Key Facts
Sally Yates, who served as deputy attorney general in the Obama administration, will lead the review.
The review will cover how Cornell investigates sexual assault and harassment, its disciplinary process, and campus police responses.
The controversy began with a woman known as Jane Doe reporting a sexual assault by members of the Chi Phi fraternity in late 2024.
Cornell closed the Chi Phi chapter, expelled or suspended some students, but no criminal charges have been filed yet.
Jane Doe sued Cornell, seven former students, the fraternity, and others. Some accused say the encounter was consensual.
New York’s attorney general is investigating, and the state governor called for an independent review.
Students and faculty protested, demanding better accountability, transparency, and changes to the university’s disciplinary system.
Yates has experience leading independent investigations, including a major 2022 inquiry into the National Women’s Soccer League.
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Potential Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidential election will meet at a conference in Denver from November 12 to 14. The meeting will focus on discussing the future of the party and strategies for upcoming elections. The event is not officially organized by the Democratic Party.
Key Facts
The conference is called “What’s Next.”
It will take place from November 12 to 14 in Denver.
Several 2028 Democratic presidential hopefuls are expected to attend.
The focus is on the party’s future and election plans.
This event is independent and not officially run by the Democratic Party.
The timing follows the 2024 midterm elections.
The conference aims to explore strategies for winning future elections.
It provides a platform for discussion among party members and candidates.
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Senator Chris Murphy said the Pentagon did not let him visit an important U.S. military base in Qatar during his trip to the Middle East. He claimed this was done to hide the costs and damage related to the war with Iran from Congress and the public.
Key Facts
Senator Chris Murphy is a Democrat from Connecticut.
He was traveling in the Middle East as part of a group of U.S. lawmakers.
Murphy wanted to visit a U.S. military base in Doha, Qatar.
The Pentagon blocked his access to this base during his trip.
Murphy said the reason for the denial was that the Trump administration wanted to keep the costs of the Iran war hidden.
He also visited Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the same trip.
The Pentagon did not publicly explain why Murphy was denied access.
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The White House denied that President Donald Trump blocked Maryland Governor Wes Moore from speaking at a U.S. Navy investment announcement in Baltimore. The dispute centers on who should get credit for a $3.7 billion investment by Anduril Industries to build a new shipyard and create over 3,100 jobs.
Key Facts
Governor Wes Moore said he was not allowed to speak at a major U.S. Navy investment event in Baltimore.
The investment involves Anduril Industries funding a new shipyard for Virginia-class submarines.
President Trump is scheduled to speak at the event and provide more details about the deal.
The White House said President Trump supports working with anyone to boost U.S. manufacturing and invited Moore as a guest.
The deal is a federal initiative credited to President Trump, not the governor.
Anduril plans to invest $3.7 billion to create over 3,100 jobs in the Baltimore area.
Shipbuilding in Baltimore was historically important but declined in the late 1900s.
The disagreement reflects broader political tensions in Maryland, where Democrats generally have more support than President Trump.
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Cornell University has hired former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of how the school handles sexual misconduct cases, including a recent alleged sexual assault at a fraternity. The review will look at the university’s policies, investigations, support systems, and coordination with law enforcement to improve prevention and response efforts.
Key Facts
Sally Yates, a former top Justice Department official, will lead the review.
The review covers the handling of a 2024 alleged sexual assault at a Cornell fraternity and broader campus sexual misconduct policies.
It will look at how reports are handled, investigations conducted, hearings managed, and support given to students.
The role of campus police and coordination with local law enforcement and prosecutors will be evaluated.
The review is independent and separate from a criminal investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Findings will be reported to Cornell’s Board of Trustees and shared with the university community.
Cornell has faced protests and criticism over its response to the alleged assault, which did not lead to criminal charges.
Sally Yates was fired in 2017 by President Donald Trump for refusing to enforce an immigration order she believed was unlawful.
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Cambridge University academics have criticized the school's plans to investigate the death of Professor Jason Arday as insufficient. They want a clear, detailed investigation into the university's role in events before his death, including how it handled abuse and support for Arday after his 2023 appointment.
Key Facts
Jason Arday, a Cambridge professor of sociology of education, died at home on August 14, 2023, nine days after resigning amid plagiarism allegations.
Arday’s family said he faced sustained abuse for more than three years.
More than 40 Cambridge academics signed a letter saying the university’s planned investigation is too limited.
The university has started a two-part review: the first led by Nazir Afzal looks at support right before Arday’s death; the second will review broader university processes but has no chair yet.
The academics want the investigation to identify who made key decisions about Arday’s hiring, media relations, and protection as abuse escalated.
They call for clear accountability and consequences if leadership failures are found.
The letter requests that the university clarifies how responsibility will be handled beyond individual fault, addressing structural problems.
Cambridge has been asked to respond to the letter and concerns raised.
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President Trump made comments at a rally suggesting he would allow Iran to attack the Californian cities of Los Angeles and San Diego. California Governor Gavin Newsom responded by calling for action under the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability.
Key Facts
President Trump said at a rally that he would allow Iran to “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego.
These remarks caused strong reactions among California Democrats and some Republican candidates for the House of Representatives.
Governor Gavin Newsom called President Trump “mentally ill” in response to the comments.
Newsom urged for the use of the 25th Amendment, a constitutional rule that can remove a president if they are unfit to lead.
The 25th Amendment has rarely been used and deals with presidential incapacity or disability.
The comments came during the midterm election campaign period.
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A California couple, Silvia Zhang and Guojun Xuan, have been charged with child abuse related to a surrogacy scheme involving at least 21 children. Authorities removed 15 children from their home and found six more living elsewhere; most children were very young, and the investigation began after an infant suffered a head injury.
Key Facts
Silvia Zhang and Guojun Xuan were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit child abuse.
At least 21 children are involved, aged from two months to 13 years, mostly between one and three.
Police removed 15 children from the couple’s home in Arcadia and found another six children living elsewhere.
The investigation started after a two-month-old baby was injured by a nanny shaking the infant.
Zhang gave birth to one or two children; the rest were born via surrogacy.
The couple wanted a large family and provided birth certificates listing Zhang as the mother and Xuan as the father.
Surrogacy involves a woman carrying a child for others, typically using embryo transfer.
California has laws regulating surrogacy, including legal agreements and lawyer involvement before pregnancy begins.
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A Republican Super PAC called the Senate Leadership Fund is giving $5 million to support Sen. Darline Graham in the South Carolina Senate race. President Donald Trump is actively supporting Graham and criticizing her opponent, Democrat Annie Andrews, focusing on cultural issues like transgender rights.
Key Facts
The Senate Leadership Fund is investing $5 million to help Republican Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina.
Darline Graham was appointed to the Senate seat after the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.
South Carolina is a strongly Republican state; Trump won it by 18 points in the 2024 election.
President Trump has campaigned heavily for Darline Graham and used a social media post with an anti-transgender slur against her opponent, Annie Andrews.
Annie Andrews is a pediatrician and Democrat who opposes gender transition surgery for minors but does not support biological men playing in women's sports.
The race highlights cultural issues like transgender rights, which Republicans are using to challenge Democrats.
Former South Carolina Governor David Beasley criticized President Trump's remarks about Andrews as disgraceful.
The Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina since the late 20th century.
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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem denied a report saying her Department of Homeland Security bought five planes at high prices from a donor. The planes were bought on the morning before she left her position.
Key Facts
Five planes were purchased by South Dakota's DHS.
The purchase happened the day before Governor Noem left her role.
Reports claimed the planes were bought at prices higher than normal.
Governor Noem denied these claims.
The planes came from a donor, according to the report.
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The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing a case about whether Intel was irresponsible in managing its employees' retirement funds, which performed poorly compared to others. Justice Neil Gorsuch advised the Court to focus on defining the right way to compare funds to decide responsibility, rather than deciding if poor performance alone proves mismanagement.
Key Facts
The case is called Anderson v. Intel and concerns employer-managed retirement funds.
Plaintiffs claim Intel's fund performed worse than other funds, reducing employees' retirement money.
Intel argues poor results do not necessarily mean irresponsible management under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
ERISA requires companies to follow proper processes, not guarantee investment results.
Justice Gorsuch said the Court should define what type of comparison between funds is appropriate to judge mismanagement.
Other justices discussed the importance and kind of benchmarks used to compare fund performance.
Plaintiffs say Intel invested heavily in hedge funds and private equity, which led to lower returns.
The Court’s decision will affect how easy it is for workers to sue over retirement fund investments.
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A California couple, Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang, were arrested in connection with a surrogacy scandal. They face charges including conspiracy to commit child abuse and dissuading a witness, with bail requested at $100 million.
Key Facts
Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang were arrested on Tuesday.
They are charged with conspiracy to commit child abuse and dissuading a witness.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman is seeking $100 million bail for the couple.
Authorities raided their Arcadia mansion in July 2025 and took 21 children, mostly born through surrogacy, into state custody.
The FBI served a separate search warrant at their home alongside the sheriff's department.
Police and helicopters were seen at the mansion, and the block was taped off during the law enforcement operation.
The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation involving surrogacy-related issues.
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Data centers are an important topic for voters in Ohio, more so than in other battleground states. Several Ohio Republican lawmakers have shown support for data centers and AI development, though voter concerns about these facilities are increasing.
Key Facts
Ohio voters are more likely to see data centers as an important issue compared to Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas.
Only 3% of Ohio voters said data centers most influence their voting choice, but this is higher than less than 1% in other states named.
Newsweek’s AI Policy Scorecard rates Ohio Republicans on their record about AI and data center policies, from “Skeptic” to “Booster.”
Most Ohio Republican representatives, like David Taylor, Jim Jordan, and Michael Turner, are rated as “Lean Boosters,” meaning they generally support data centers and AI growth.
Representative Max Miller has a “Mixed” record, showing both support and skepticism.
Representative Michael Rulli supports building many AI data centers citing local government revenue benefits.
Some lawmakers have called for investigations into foreign efforts to block U.S. data center construction.
Elections forecasters mostly consider these Ohio congressional seats safe for the current Republican incumbents, except for Miller’s seat, which is a “toss-up.”
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The White House said Maryland Governor Wes Moore was upset because he was not allowed to speak at an event about investing in a Baltimore shipyard. The White House added that President Donald Trump wants to work with others to improve U.S. manufacturing.
Key Facts
Maryland Governor Wes Moore wanted to speak at a submarine event in Baltimore.
The governor was reportedly blocked from speaking at this event.
The event was about investing in a shipyard in Baltimore.
The White House called the governor’s reaction a "tantrum."
President Donald Trump expressed willingness to work with anyone to revive manufacturing.
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New body camera footage shows an Arizona State University cheerleader being arrested. The video has caused public concern about whether the police officer used too much force during the arrest.
Key Facts
Body cam video of a cheerleader's arrest was recently released.
The arrest took place at Arizona State University.
The footage is raising questions about the police officer's actions.
People are upset or concerned about the level of force used.
The video is part of ongoing discussions about police conduct.
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Cornell University hired former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of the university’s handling of sexual harassment and assault cases. This decision comes after serious allegations of a gang rape at a fraternity house on campus.
Key Facts
Sally Yates is the former U.S. Deputy Attorney General.
She was chosen by Cornell’s Board of Trustees to conduct a full, independent review.
The review will focus on how Cornell prevents and responds to sexual harassment, sexual assault, and related misconduct.
The decision follows allegations of gang rape linked to a fraternity at Cornell.
The review aims to improve campus safety and the university’s handling of such cases.
This is an ongoing situation with updates expected.
The announcement was made public on October 6, 2026.
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President Donald Trump issued an executive order allowing drivers to use red-dyed diesel fuel on highways temporarily. This fuel is usually for off-road use and is cheaper because it avoids federal taxes, but experts doubt this order will lead to large cost savings for most users.
Key Facts
Red-dyed diesel is normally used for off-road vehicles like farm and construction equipment and avoids a federal tax of 24.4 cents per gallon.
The executive order waives the off-road requirement temporarily and lets anyone buy red-dyed diesel tax-free for on-road use until the end of 2026.
The federal excise tax on red-dyed diesel is deferred, not eliminated, meaning users might owe taxes later.
Diesel prices are currently high, with a national average of $6.32 per gallon, up from $3.76 before the war in Iran.
Some states still ban the use of red-dyed diesel on highways, which could cause confusion and enforcement problems.
Many truckers and farmers may not benefit much because of state bans or existing tax exemptions for farmers.
The order does not address the main cause of high diesel prices, which is a limited diesel supply.
Experts say the order might help a few users but will not provide widespread relief or significantly lower diesel costs.
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