WATCH: 'Bachelorette' Taylor Frankie Paul plays 'This or That'
“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star is the newest member of Bachelor Nation.
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Jobless claims reach highest level since 2021, a sign layoffs are rising
New federal labor data shows U.S. workers filed 263,000 claims for unemployment benefits last week, the highest level since October 2021 and another sign the job market is cooling.
The Department of Labor reported Thursday that claims for the week ending Sept. 6 were up 27,000 from the previous week’s revised level, a major jump that signals layoffs are on the rise. The four-week moving average for those seeking jobless aid is 240,500, an increase of nearly 10,000 from the previous week.
“One datapoint does not make a trend, but markets will see this big uptick in claims as the pop in layoffs that we have been waiting for,” Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics, said in a research note.
Andrew Stettner, director of economy and jobs at the Century Foundation, a think tank, said in an email that the latest unemployment benefits is one of the “clearest signs yet” that Americans are starting to feel the impact of an ongoing downshift in job growth.
According to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s survey released earlier this week, people are growing more concerned about the state of the state of the labor market and the challenges of finding a job. Employers added only 22,000 jobs in August, far below economist forecasts of 80,000, while payroll gains averaged a meager 29,000 per month from June through August.
Yet while the pace of hiring has slowed in recent months, layoffs remain relatively low by historical measures — a trend economists describe as “no hire, no fire.”
Sluggish job growth of late increases the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will cut rates when it meets next week.
“The latest jobless claims data, along with other recent labor market indicators, show signs of a more vulnerable job market and will lead the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates at its meeting next week,” Nancy Vanden Houten, lead U.S. economist with Oxford Economics, said Thursday in a report.
The jump in people applying for jobless benefits comes at a delicate time for the economy, with new government data on Thursday showing that consumer prices rose 2.9% in August from a year ago, up from 2.7% the previous month.
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Nation marks 24 years since 9/11 with ceremonies in NYC, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania
Trumps listen as the names of those killed at the Pentagon are read
The president, first lady and other attendees sat in silence as military officials read the names of the fallen at the Pentagon. The plane that crashed into the Pentagon killed 125 people at the Pentagon. The 59 passengers aboard also died.
Massachusetts remembers the lives of those lost
Boston is holding a remembrance ceremony to recognize the 206 people from Massachusetts who were killed in the terrorist attacks. A moment of silence and a reading of the 206 names is marking the occasion.
American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, which both took off from Boston’s Logan Airport, were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center in New York City.
Trump arrives at Pentagon for observance event
President Trump has arrived at the Pentagon for the remembrance event. He and first lady Melania Trump are expected to lay a wreath before the official ceremony begins.
New York begins ceremony reading names of 9/11 victims
The ceremony in New York began at 8:46 a.m., when there was a moment of silence to mark the time the first plane hit the North Tower.
Families of those killed on Sept. 11 began reading the names of the victims at 8:48 a.m.
There will be five other moments of silence, one at 9:03 a.m. to mark when the second plane hit the South Tower, then one at 9:37 a.m. when the Pentagon was struck and then the fourth one will be at 9:59 a.m., when the South Tower collapsed. There will be a fifth moment of silence at 10:03 a.m. marking when the hijacked plane in Shanksville crashed and then finally, one at 10:28 a.m., when the North Tower collapsed.
JD Vance cancels visit to Ground Zero to go to Utah, source says
Vice President JD Vance will no longer go to New York on Thursday, a source said. Vance and second lady Usha Vance will instead travel to Utah, where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an event at Utah Valley University.
The Vances will pay their respects to Kirk’s family in Salt Lake City.
Politicians condemn killing of Charlie Kirk
It was President Trump who announced that conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk had died after he was shot during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. The president, who was close to Kirk, praised his appeal to young Americans and mourned him in a social media post.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The president also ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff until Sunday evening to honor Kirk.
Later Wednesday, Mr. Trump released a video statement about Kirk, blaming the “radical left” for his killing. “For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” he said in a video posted to Truth Social. “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now.”
Democratic and Republican politicians alike condemned Kirk’s murder, although among some in Congress, there were disagreements about how to observe his death on the House floor. Speaker Mike Johnson attempted to hold a moment of silence for Kirk. Then, according to the House gallery, GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado asked for a point of order — she reshared an X post that said she had asked for a moment of prayer. A Democrat yelled, “No.” Boebert and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, then started to speak out, as other lawmakers who appeared to be Democrats responded. One yelled, “There was just a shooting in Colorado!” Another said “Pass some gun laws!” Johnson repeatedly called for order.
In an appearance on Fox News, Johnson explained what had happened. “A motion was made on the floor to have a vocal prayer, and it turned into an argument,” he said, adding, “You know, that’s where our politics are in the country right now. We have got to turn the heat down a little bit. We got to have civil discourse.”
“The great tragic irony about this, one of the tragedies, is that Charlie represented that, the best of it,” Johnson continued. “He’s the guy that was the champion out on the front lines having the debate, but he he loved the people that disagreed with him …. He loved it, and he loved the debate.”
“That’s what’s so important for us to remember,” Johnson said. “We shouldn’t regard one another as enemies. We’re fellow Americans, and we should have vigorous debate, but it cannot lead to political violence. It’s just too much.”
Michael Ho Wai Lee/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images 
Vance: “You ran a good race, my friend. We’ve got it from here.”
Vice President JD Vance posted a lenghty tribute to Kirk on X late Wednesday night saying Kirk advocated “in public and private” for President Trump to pick him as his running mate last year, following what Vance described as an eight-year-long friendship with the conservative commentator.
Vance tells how Kirk advised him during his 2022 Senate campaign and says that, during the 2024 run for the White House, “Some of our most successful events were organized not by the campaign, but by TPUSA (Turning Point USA).” Vance adds that Kirk “didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”
“Charlie Kirk was a true friend. The kind of guy you could say something to and know it would always stay with him,” Vance writes.
He concludes by saying, “And now that Charlie is in heaven, I’ll ask him to talk to big man directly on behalf of his family, his friends, and the country he loved so dearly. You ran a good race, my friend. We’ve got it from here.”
Biden says there’s “no place in our country for this kind of violence”
Former President Joe Biden decried the attack on Kirk in a post on social media.
“There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones,” he said in a post shared to X.
Obama calls Kirk’s killing an act of “despicable violence”
Former President Barack Obama condemned the shooting, calling it “despicable violence” in a post on X.
“We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy,” Obama said. “Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.”
Bush says “violence and vitriol must be purged from the public square”
In a statement, former President George W. Bush said, “Today, a young man was murdered in cold blood while expressing his political views. It happened on a college campus, where the open exchange of opposing ideas should be sacrosanct.”
“Violence and vitriol must be purged from the public square. Members of other political parties are not our enemies; they are our fellow citizens. May God bless Charlie Kirk and his family, and may God guide America toward civility,” he said.
Bill Clinton calls for “serious introspection”
Former President Bill Clinton said in a social media post that he was “saddened and angered” by the shooting.
“I hope we all go through some serious introspection and redouble our efforts to engage in debate passionately, yet peacefully,” he said.
Melania Trump mourns Kirk, saying now, his children will be raised “with stories instead of memories”
First lady Melania Trump imagined what the loss of Kirk will mean to his children as they grow up.
“Charlie’s children will be raised with stories instead of memories, photographs instead of laughter, and silence where their father’s voice should have echoed,” she said in a post on X.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox “heartbroken” over Kirk’s death, vows justice will be served
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said that he and his wife are “heartbroken” about Kirk’s death, and said they are praying for the conservative activist’s wife and two children.
“I just got off the phone with President Trump. Working with the FBI and Utah law enforcement, we will bring to justice the individual responsible for this tragedy,” he wrote in a social media post on X.
Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman: “America is broken”
Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman, who was wounded, along with his wife, in the targeted shootings in June in which former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed, released a statement Wednesday which read, “America is broken, and political violence endangers our lives and democracy.”
“The assassination of Charlie Kirk today is only the latest act that our country cannot continue to accept,” the statement went on. “Our leaders of both parties must not only tone down their own rhetoric, but they must begin to call out extreme, aggressive and violent dialog that foments these attacks on our republic and freedom. We also call on leaders of both parties to take immediate action to prevent gun violence. Our prayers are with the Kirk family, our state and our country.”
Sen. Mike Lee praises Kirk’s “boundless energy and great love for his country”
Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah told CBS News he spoke with Mr. Trump about Kirk, and said the president told him, “‘I’m sure they’ll stay after him,'” referring to the shooting suspect, and “‘they need to catch this guy.'”
“Whether you agree with him or not, you have to respect his boundless energy, his commitment to making the world a better place,” Lee also said.
In a post on X, Lee called Kirk an “American patriot, an inspiration to countless young people to stand up and defend the timeless truths that make our country great.”
He condemned Kirk’s murder, writing on X that it was “a cowardly act of violence, an attack on champions of freedom like Charlie, the students who gathered for civil debate, and all Americans who peacefully strive to save our nation.”
“The terrorists will not win,” he continued. “Charlie will. Please join me in praying for his wife Erika and their children. May justice be swift.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson says Kirk will be “sorely missed”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters that Kirk was “a close friend” and “confidant.”
“He will be sorely missed,” he said. “And we need every political leader to decry the violence and do it loudly.”
Eric Trump says Trump properties will fly flags at half-staff
Eric Trump described Kirk as a “dear friend” to the entire Trump family. He said all Trump properties would fly their flags at half-staff to honor him.
Donald Trump Jr.: “I love you brother”
Donald Trump Jr, who was close with Kirk, wrote on social media: “I love you brother. You gave so many people the courage to speak up and we will not ever be silenced.”
“There is no question that Charlie’s work and his voice helped my father win the presidency,” Trump Jr. wrote in a lengthy follow-up post. “He changed the direction of this nation…I know Charlie’s legacy doesn’t end here. He poured into millions of young people who will carry forward the torch he lit. He built something that will outlast him, because it was grounded in faith, in truth, and in courage. And as his friend, I will never forget him. I’ll honor him by loving boldly, speaking truth without fear, and continuing his spirit of courage. His fight lives on in all of us who loved him. This is an unimaginable loss.”
Gabby Giffords “horrified” to hear of Kirk’s shooting
Gabby Giffords, a former U.S. congresswoman from Arizona who suffered a serious brain injury when she was shot in 2011, said in a post on X, “I’m horrified to hear that Charlie Kirk was shot at an event in Utah. Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we must never allow America to become a country that confronts those disagreements with violence.”
Rep. Steve Scalise: “We cannot let what happened yesterday be the norm”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, told “CBS Mornings” on Thursday that “we cannot let what happened yesterday be the norm,” as he decried political violence in the aftermath of Kirk’s death.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen politics degrading where some people feel if they disagree with you politically, they’ve got to try to go and eliminate those people,” Scalise said. “That is not what America is. You know, we solve our differences at the ballot box.”
Scalise, who was shot at a practice for the congressional baseball game in 2017, said “it was hard to focus” on the House floor Wednesday night because “my mind just kept going back to Charlie and his family, surely went back to 2017 in the shooting where, you know, a crazed gunman tried to kill me and about a dozen other members of Congress because of our political beliefs.”
“This can’t be allowed to be acceptable,” he said.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer, Republican of Kentucky, said shooting was “awful”
GOP House Oversight Chairman James Comer of Kentucky said he watched the video of the shooting and said it was “awful.”
“It’s just, it’s just terrible. I mean, I think we’ve been saying for months now the political temperature is too high in America, and we’ve got to tone it back,” Comer told CBS News. “And political violence is on the rise. And, you know, I know that most of my colleagues and myself included are getting a lot more threatening calls, and it’s just, it’s a terrible environment now and again. I just feel awful for Charlie Kirk and his young family.”
GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina: Kirk meant a lot to “the right to speak freely and share your beliefs”
Rep. Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina, told CBS News at the Capitol that “there’s no room for violence, and it’s terrible. She said she’s encouraged by the bipartisan response to the attack on Kirk and noted the House Oversight Committee had paused for a moment of prayer for Kirk.
Foxx told CBS News that Kirk represented “a category of people in our culture that’s very important,” and noted he was “very proud of the fact that he doesn’t have a college degree.”
“He means a lot, and he means a lot, not just to the conservative movement and to the, and to that aspect of our culture, but again, the right to speak freely and share your beliefs and be safe in our country, and it’s just so unfortunate. It’s unfortunate when anybody has violence perpetrated on them, whether you’re liberal or conservative. It’s just wrong.”
GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia: “There really aren’t words”
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said of Kirk’s shooting, “There really aren’t words,” and told reporters that it will “be hard for anybody to fill his shoes.”
“Charlie Kirk leaves a huge legacy,” she said.
GOP Rep. Chip Roy of Texas suggests Kirk’s killing “is going to be one of those things that, you know, changes some things”
Far right Republican Chip Roy said of Kirk, “This is a guy that you can disagree with him — I disagreed with him on most things.” But Roy admired that “he was trying to open up dialog and engage in civil discourse across college campus, appeal even those that disagree with them.”
Roy suggested that Kirk’s murder, “is going to be one of those things that you know changes some things.”
“I haven’t quite yet figured out how or what, but you know, it’s, you know, this one, this one hits,” he told reporters at the Capitol.
“We should be able to speak freely and speak with passion and regard about what we believe, without it coming to that. That’s the thing … we’re here for something bigger and greater than all of ourselves,” Charlie lived it, tweeted out three days ago about his faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so, I know where he is.”
He blamed “a country that’s turning its back on our collective faith as a nation,” saying that “this is why we’re seeing a breakdown and our ability to band together. We got to do something about that.”
GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna blames Democrats
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, blamed Democrats for Kirk’s shooting. “They did cause this — that type of rhetoric. You calling people fascists? You basically saying that we’re Nazis, taking away people’s rights. Charlie Kirk was literally murdered,” she told reporters. Law enforcement does not have a suspect in custody.
Raskin says it “doesn’t help” to blame violence on political parties or factions
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said it “doesn’t help” to be “blaming violence like this on political parties or political factions.”
“I certainly resisted that when I heard people doing that after the Minnesota killings or after Paul Pelosi was attacked,” Raskin continued, referring to the murders earlier this year of a Democratic Minnesota legislator and her husband and the brutal hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“There’s no reason for us to get into that the violence against political leaders is unacceptable in a free, democratic society, and it is a threat to democracy. So we all have to denounce it. We all have to reject it, and we should all resist the temptation just to point fingers that take us nowhere,” Raskin said. “We should be rejecting gun violence and political violence in all of their forms, regardless of who the target is.”
Nancy Pelosi calls shooting “reprehensible”
House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, condemned the shooting in a post on X, calling it “reprehensible.”
“Political violence has absolutely no place in our nation,” she said, adding Americans should “hold the entire UVU community in our hearts as they endure the trauma of this gun violence.”
Pelosi, whose husband Paul Pelosi was bludgeoned with a hammer by a man who broke into Pelosi’s San Francisco home in 2022, has frequently condemned political violence.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom calls on Americans to “engage with each other”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who hosted Kirk on his podcast earlier this year, wrote on social media that Kirk’s killing is “a reminder of how important it is for all of us, across the political spectrum, to foster genuine discourse on issues that deeply affect us all without resorting to political violence.”
“The best way to honor Charlie’s memory is to continue his work: engage with each other, across ideology, through spirited discourse. In a democracy, ideas are tested through words and good-faith debate — never through violence,” Newsom said. “Honest disagreement makes us stronger; violence only drives us further apart and corrodes the values at the heart of this nation.”
Patrick Maguire and
contributed to this report.
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Secured Signing Joins the Clio App Directory to Simplify Digital Legal Document Signing
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Secured Signing, a global trusted leader in digital signature and remote online notarization solutions, is excited to unveil its latest integration with Clio, the industry’s leading cloud-based legal technology platform. This integration streamlines document signing workflows for legal professionals – boosting efficiency, enhancing productivity, and freeing up more time to focus on what truly matters: their clients.
Trusted by over 200,000 legal professionals in more than 130 countries, Clio’s legal practice management, client intake, and CRM solutions streamline law firm operations, increase productivity, and enable legal professionals to manage their practices from a single platform. Clio delivers industry-leading security, 24/5 customer support, and an extensive app ecosystem – now including Secured Signing.
“The integration of Secured Signing with Clio is more than a product upgrade – it marks a transformative shift in how legal firms handle document signing and remote online notarization, all within the Clio platform,” said Mike Eyal, CEO of Secured Signing. “We’re equipping legal professionals to work smarter, not harder-with fortified security, unmatched efficiency, and a frictionless experience from start to finish.”
This new eSignatures and Online Notarization functionality allows legal firms to:
* Send document signing requests from within Clio: Eliminate platform-hopping and keep your team focused within their primary practice management system.
* Monitor and view signing status in real time: Gain immediate visibility into the progress of every document, ensuring critical deadlines are met and client expectations are managed effectively.
* Access signer information effortlessly: Retrieve signer details like names, emails, and associated Matter numbers directly during the document preparation stage, which enhances accuracy and reduces administrative overhead.
* Automate document saving: All signed legal documents are automatically saved back into your Clio dashboard, creating a complete and organized record without any manual handling.
* Ensure security and compliance: Maintain complete control over document security.
“Secured Signing’s addition to our ecosystem reflects the evolving needs of today’s legal professionals,” said Harsha Chandra Shekar, Vice President of Business Development at Clio. “With secure, efficient e-signing and notarization tools accessible within Clio, we’re helping firms simplify essential processes, work more efficiently, and focus more of their time on supporting clients.”
The Secured Signing for Clio integration is a game-changer for law firms, offering a document signing and notarization solution that eliminates the need for manual data entry and switching between platforms.
For more information, visit: https://www.securedsigning.com/integrations-api/clio/
About Secured Signing
Secured Signing is a leading provider of cloud-based Digital Signature, Video Signing, and Remote Online Notarization (RON) solutions. Committed to innovation and security, Secured Signing helps businesses and individuals streamline their document processes while ensuring the integrity and authenticity of their digital transactions.
About Clio
Since its inception in 2008, Clio has revolutionized the landscape of legal technology, emerging as the undisputed leader of innovation and integration. By offering advanced yet intuitive legal software, Clio has redefined efficiency and client service, setting the standard for legal professionals across the globe. With an unwavering commitment to groundbreaking innovation and customer success, Clio stands as the preeminent authority in legal tech, continuously pushing the boundaries of the sector’s evolution. Explore the future of legal technology with Clio at https://www.clio.com/.
Learn More: https://www.securedsigning.com/
This version of news story was published on and is Copr. © 2025 California Newswire® (CaliforniaNewswire.com) – part of the Neotrope® News Network, USA – all rights reserved.
Information is believed accurate but is not guaranteed. For questions about the above news, contact the company/org/person noted in the text and NOT this website.
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DocMagic launches AI-powered fintech platform to unify mortgage production called DOCMAGIC ONE
Cutting-edge platform brings broad range of loan manufacturing capabilities together under one roof while adding built-in collaboration and business intelligence
TORRANCE, Calif. /California Newswire/ — DocMagic, Inc. today announced the launch of DocMagic® One, a new platform for lenders that eliminates the inefficiencies of juggling multiple systems by bringing every critical loan manufacturing step into a single, intuitive platform. Document preparation, compliance checks, collaboration between borrowers, title agents and settlement agents, and closing coordination all happen in one place. Role-based permissions and organizational hierarchies keep tasks moving without bottlenecks.
“Lenders have been forced to piece together loan production from too many disconnected systems,” said DocMagic co-founder and CEO Pat Theodora. “DocMagic One changes that, giving every role-from loan officer to closer-a single, efficient platform that saves time, reduces risk, lowers costs and delivers a better experience for third-party collaborators and, ultimately, borrowers.”
Intelligence is woven throughout DocMagic One’s design, with built-in business intelligence and pipeline analytics giving managers instant visibility into performance. Loan health scoring makes it easy to surface files that require urgent attention, while AI-powered search and chat functions put information at users’ fingertips. Compliance is continuous and automated, with tools for reviewing and dismissing audits built directly into the platform, and auto-save ensures no work is lost during a session.
“As we expand our Intelligent Agentic Network, we are excited by how we can leverage AI and our patented machine learning capabilities to create an interconnected environment where multi-agent orchestration happens behind the scenes,” said Michael Morford, DocMagic’s chief technology officer. “This will make complex mortgage processes feel effortless and save lenders time and money.”
The DocMagic One platform is also built to grow with lenders. Predictive analytics, planned features such as AI-powered assistance and advanced eSign tracking will move loans from application to closing with minimal human intervention, expanding capabilities over time without adding complexity or cost.
DocMagic One will be available to existing DocMagic customers at no additional cost, delivering an upgraded, integrated experience without disrupting current workflows. Available in both DocMagic-branded and white-labeled options, the web-based platform is suited to a wide range of lender models.
For more information or to request a demo, visit https://www.docmagic.com/docmagic_one.
About DocMagic:
Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Torrance, California, DocMagic, Inc. is a leading provider of compliant document generation, automated compliance, eSignature and comprehensive eMortgage solutions for the mortgage industry. The company’s solutions facilitate precision-based digital lending transactions, connecting industry participants and ensuring data integrity. With in-house compliance experts and legal staff, DocMagic actively monitors legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels. For more information, visit https://www.docmagic.com.
Learn More: https://www.docmagic.com/
This version of news story was published on and is Copr. © 2025 California Newswire® (CaliforniaNewswire.com) – part of the Neotrope® News Network, USA – all rights reserved.
Information is believed accurate but is not guaranteed. For questions about the above news, contact the company/org/person noted in the text and NOT this website.
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Dodgers complete sweep of Rockies in decisive fashion – Orange County Register
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The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, is greeted by teammates Shohei Ohtani (17), Ben Rortvedt (47) and Andy Pages (44) after they all scored on his grand slam during the eighth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, is greeted by teammates Shohei Ohtani (17), Ben Rortvedt (47) and Andy Pages (44) after they all scored on his grand slam during the eighth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — That was suitably dismissive.
After a week of playing down to – and then slightly lower than – their last-place opponents, the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 9-0 victory on Wednesday night.
The Dodgers outscored the Rockies 19-3 in the three-game series. Their starting pitchers (Tyler Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan and Blake Snell) took the lead, combining to allow just two runs on five hits and five walks while striking out 31 in 20 innings.
Adding Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s near no-hitter on Saturday and Clayton Kershaw on Sunday in Baltimore, Dodgers starting pitchers have struck out 49 while holding batters to a .091 average. According to OptaStats, that is the first time in the modern era (since 1920) that a team’s starters have had 45 or more strikeouts while holding the opponents to a sub-.100 average over any five-game span.
“This week’s been fun. I was definitely thinking about it,” Snell said after his six scoreless innings. “Like, ‘Damn, we got guys throwing no-nos.’ But it’s fun. Internal competition. You’re excited for everyone and their success, and you want to add to it. I was happy I could do that. And just really happy with the team. That was a big home series sweep, to get us going. Now we’re gonna go play San Fran.
“Get us moving in the right direction. That was big. All of us have been looking forward to getting it going, and this was a really good step.”
If the dominant starting pitching wasn’t enough to turn your frown upside down, Mookie Betts continued his resurgence with a four-hit, five-RBI night that included an RBI double and a grand slam.
The four-game winning streak comes on the heels of a five-game losing streak, all to last-place teams (the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and Rockies), and allowed the Dodgers (82-64) to rebuild a three-game lead in the National League West with 16 games left in the regular season. They remain four games behind the Philadelphia Phillies (86-60) for the No. 2 seed in the NL – and the first-round bye that comes with it.
The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch their 12th division title in the past 13 seasons is 14. They also hold the tiebreaker over the second-place San Diego Padres (79-67).
“Definitely now that we’re getting all of our players back, we feel like a team again,” outfielder Teoscar Hernandez said. “Hopefully it stays that way and we keep doing what we’re doing.”
The lone cloud in Wednesday’s sunny skies came just before game time when All-Star catcher Will Smith was scratched from the starting lineup with renewed discomfort in his right hand.
Smith suffered a bone bruise there last Wednesday, missed five games and returned to the lineup on Tuesday night. But his hand began swelling up after his pre-game work Wednesday and he was scratched from the lineup. Ben Rortvedt stepped in with 15 minutes notice and didn’t even catch Snell’s warmup in the bullpen.
“Obviously we’re off tomorrow. We’ll manage it tomorrow with the treatment and then on Friday we’ll make a decision on whether he plays,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Smith. “Not overly concerned but we’ve got to get that swelling under wraps.
“We thought that he was going to be able to play tonight. But with the setback a little bit, we’ve got to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I’m not sure. I don’t want to say he’s not going to play Friday, but we’ve got to be pretty confident he can catch two out of three if he’s going to play on Friday.”
Roberts said it’s possible Smith could go for an MRI on the off day on Thursday. He has already had X-rays and a CT scan, which showed no fracture.
Whatever drama Wednesday’s game might have held was mostly drained away by the end of the second inning.
Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros whiffed on a ground ball from Tommy Edman to start the inning. Miguel Rojas followed with a single and Andy Pages with a double to drive in Edman. Kiké Hernandez collected the second RBI of the inning with a sacrifice fly.
After a ground out, Shohei Ohtani punched an RBI single through the right side and Betts hit a laser off the left field wall for an RBI double to complete the four-run burst.
“We’re having good team at-bats up and down the lineup,” Betts said. “For a little while we were having just some bad at-bats, which caused some short innings. But now we’re at least having good at-bats, getting a walk, extending innings, finding ways to manufacture runs. We’re doing pretty well as an offense right now.”
The Rockies never put up a fight against Snell. They did manage to get a hit in the third inning this time after being held hitless into the ninth inning on Monday and the sixth inning on Tuesday.
Snell struck out a season-high 11 in his six innings and had 22 swings-and-misses in all (nine on his changeup, seven on his fastball and six on his curveball). Snell allowed four baserunners – singles in the third and sixth innings, walks in the first and fourth. Only one of the baserunners reached second.
“He’s a confident man up there. Knows what he wants to do,” said Rortvedt, who found out he was starting when he woke up from a pre-game nap. “(Snell) has faith in all his pitches. He’s got four good ones. So it’s a tough day at the plate if he’s honing in.”
Michael Kopech tried to inject some mystery into the occasion in the seventh inning, searching for the strike zone with all the accuracy of a blindfolded participant in ‘Pin the Tail on the Donkey.’ Kopech got Ezequiel Tovar to ground out then walked three consecutive batters to load the bases.
Alex Vesia came in and defused the situation, striking out Mickey Moniak and Tyler Freeman. Vesia has struck out four of the five batters he has faced since being activated from the injured list earlier this week.
The Dodgers broke the game open in the eighth when Teoscar Hernandez followed Betts’ grand slam with his third home run in the past two games.
“There’s no real way to know. I just know that the vibe and the feel of it, as far as the camaraderie, the energy should I say – it’s definitely one that’s been more positive as of late,” Betts said when asked if the team had turned things around. “We just got to keep that positive energy around us.
“Just go to San Fran, and we got a game – I don’t even know what day today is. Whenever we get there, we’ve got a game, and we just have to play one game at a time. Can’t look further than where we are right now.”
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Dodgers complete sweep of Rockies in decisive fashion – Press Enterprise
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The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, is greeted by teammates Shohei Ohtani (17), Ben Rortvedt (47) and Andy Pages (44) after they all scored on his grand slam during the eighth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, is greeted by teammates Shohei Ohtani (17), Ben Rortvedt (47) and Andy Pages (44) after they all scored on his grand slam during the eighth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — That was suitably dismissive.
After a week of playing down to – and then slightly lower than – their last-place opponents, the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 9-0 victory on Wednesday night.
The Dodgers outscored the Rockies 19-3 in the three-game series. Their starting pitchers (Tyler Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan and Blake Snell) took the lead, combining to allow just two runs on five hits and five walks while striking out 31 in 20 innings.
Adding Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s near no-hitter on Saturday and Clayton Kershaw on Sunday in Baltimore, Dodgers starting pitchers have struck out 49 while holding batters to a .091 average. According to OptaStats, that is the first time in the modern era (since 1920) that a team’s starters have had 45 or more strikeouts while holding the opponents to a sub-.100 average over any five-game span.
“This week’s been fun. I was definitely thinking about it,” Snell said after his six scoreless innings. “Like, ‘Damn, we got guys throwing no-nos.’ But it’s fun. Internal competition. You’re excited for everyone and their success, and you want to add to it. I was happy I could do that. And just really happy with the team. That was a big home series sweep, to get us going. Now we’re gonna go play San Fran.
“Get us moving in the right direction. That was big. All of us have been looking forward to getting it going, and this was a really good step.”
If the dominant starting pitching wasn’t enough to turn your frown upside down, Mookie Betts continued his resurgence with a four-hit, five-RBI night that included an RBI double and a grand slam.
The four-game winning streak comes on the heels of a five-game losing streak, all to last-place teams (the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and Rockies), and allowed the Dodgers (82-64) to rebuild a three-game lead in the National League West with 16 games left in the regular season. They remain four games behind the Philadelphia Phillies (86-60) for the No. 2 seed in the NL – and the first-round bye that comes with it.
The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch their 12th division title in the past 13 seasons is 14. They also hold the tiebreaker over the second-place San Diego Padres (79-67).
“Definitely now that we’re getting all of our players back, we feel like a team again,” outfielder Teoscar Hernandez said. “Hopefully it stays that way and we keep doing what we’re doing.”
The lone cloud in Wednesday’s sunny skies came just before game time when All-Star catcher Will Smith was scratched from the starting lineup with renewed discomfort in his right hand.
Smith suffered a bone bruise there last Wednesday, missed five games and returned to the lineup on Tuesday night. But his hand began swelling up after his pre-game work Wednesday and he was scratched from the lineup. Ben Rortvedt stepped in with 15 minutes notice and didn’t even catch Snell’s warmup in the bullpen.
“Obviously we’re off tomorrow. We’ll manage it tomorrow with the treatment and then on Friday we’ll make a decision on whether he plays,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Smith. “Not overly concerned but we’ve got to get that swelling under wraps.
“We thought that he was going to be able to play tonight. But with the setback a little bit, we’ve got to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I’m not sure. I don’t want to say he’s not going to play Friday, but we’ve got to be pretty confident he can catch two out of three if he’s going to play on Friday.”
Roberts said it’s possible Smith could go for an MRI on the off day on Thursday. He has already had X-rays and a CT scan, which showed no fracture.
Whatever drama Wednesday’s game might have held was mostly drained away by the end of the second inning.
Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros whiffed on a ground ball from Tommy Edman to start the inning. Miguel Rojas followed with a single and Andy Pages with a double to drive in Edman. Kiké Hernandez collected the second RBI of the inning with a sacrifice fly.
After a ground out, Shohei Ohtani punched an RBI single through the right side and Betts hit a laser off the left field wall for an RBI double to complete the four-run burst.
“We’re having good team at-bats up and down the lineup,” Betts said. “For a little while we were having just some bad at-bats, which caused some short innings. But now we’re at least having good at-bats, getting a walk, extending innings, finding ways to manufacture runs. We’re doing pretty well as an offense right now.”
The Rockies never put up a fight against Snell. They did manage to get a hit in the third inning this time after being held hitless into the ninth inning on Monday and the sixth inning on Tuesday.
Snell struck out a season-high 11 in his six innings and had 22 swings-and-misses in all (nine on his changeup, seven on his fastball and six on his curveball). Snell allowed four baserunners – singles in the third and sixth innings, walks in the first and fourth. Only one of the baserunners reached second.
“He’s a confident man up there. Knows what he wants to do,” said Rortvedt, who found out he was starting when he woke up from a pre-game nap. “(Snell) has faith in all his pitches. He’s got four good ones. So it’s a tough day at the plate if he’s honing in.”
Michael Kopech tried to inject some mystery into the occasion in the seventh inning, searching for the strike zone with all the accuracy of a blindfolded participant in ‘Pin the Tail on the Donkey.’ Kopech got Ezequiel Tovar to ground out then walked three consecutive batters to load the bases.
Alex Vesia came in and defused the situation, striking out Mickey Moniak and Tyler Freeman. Vesia has struck out four of the five batters he has faced since being activated from the injured list earlier this week.
The Dodgers broke the game open in the eighth when Teoscar Hernandez followed Betts’ grand slam with his third home run in the past two games.
“There’s no real way to know. I just know that the vibe and the feel of it, as far as the camaraderie, the energy should I say – it’s definitely one that’s been more positive as of late,” Betts said when asked if the team had turned things around. “We just got to keep that positive energy around us.
“Just go to San Fran, and we got a game – I don’t even know what day today is. Whenever we get there, we’ve got a game, and we just have to play one game at a time. Can’t look further than where we are right now.”
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What horrifying videos tell us about the killing of Charlie Kirk
Multiple videos from the scene show graphic details about the killing of conservative commentator and political organizer Charlie Kirk at a university in Utah on Wednesday.
Authorities are now poring over the video as part of the investigation into Kirk’s killing. They are still looking for the gunman after briefly detaining and then freeing two people of interest.
Charlie Kirk speaks before he is fatally shot during an event Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
(Tess Crowley / Deseret News / AP)
The shooting
Kirk drew a large crowd to the event at Utah Valley University. He was gunned down at 12:20 p.m. while talking about mass shootings.
“Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?” an audience member asks.
“Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk responds.
Almost immediately, Kirk is shot in the neck. One video shows blood pouring from the wound as he falls over. As the crowd realizes what has taken place, people are heard screaming and running away.
“This incident occurred with a large crowd around. There was one shot fired, one victim,” Beau Mason, commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, said on Wednesday afternoon. “While the suspect is at large, we believe this was a targeted attack toward one individual.”
Members of the crowd screamed and ran after a gunshot was heard and Kirk toppled from his chair.
(Tess Crowley / Deseret News / AP)
The shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a building at Kirk as he participated in the public event in the student courtyard, where around 3,000 people were gathered, according to the Department of Public Safety.
A source familiar with the investigation told The Times that a bullet struck Kirk’s carotid artery.
Moments later, many in the crowd begin running.
Jeffrey Long, chief of the university’s Police Department, said six of the force’s officers, including some plainclothes officers embedded in the crowd, were working with members of Kirk’s personal security team to manage safety at the event.
The shooter
Several videos show a person who appears to be dressed in black moving on the roof of university’s Losee Center moments before the gunfire.
Mason, of the Utah Department of Public Safety, said authorities were analyzing campus security video that showed a suspect in dark clothing who might have shot at Kirk from a roof.
The gunman is believed to have killed Kirk from at least 200 yards away using some type of sniper rifle, law enforcement sources told The Times.
Allison Hemingway-Witty cries after the shooting.
(Tess Crowley / Deseret News / AP)
Some experts who have seen videos believe that the assailant probably had experience with firearms, given the precision with which the single shot was fired from a considerable distance.
Witness Seth Teasdale told the Salt Lake Tribune that the gunshot was so loud it echoed across the pavilion where Kirk was speaking.
Brynlee Holms told the Tribune the shot was “super loud,” which added to the panic in the crowd.
“I just heard a clear shot, ‘Boom!’ And that was it,” another witness told KUTV.
Police detained George Zinn and Zachariah Qureshi as suspects and later released them after determining they had no ties to the shooting, according to the Department of Public Safety. The manhunt for the shooter continues.
What is not shown
No videos have surfaced showing the gunman firing the shot or fleeing the scene.
Mason said authorities were reviewing closed-circuit television video. “We’re analyzing it, but it is security camera footage, so you can kind of guess what the quality of that is,” Mason said. “We do know [the suspect was] dressed in all dark clothing. We don’t have a much better description.”
Utah Gov. Stephen Cox called the attack “a political assassination” and said Wednesday was “a dark day for our state” and “a tragic day for our nation.”
Law enforcement was working “multiple active crime scenes” including the area Kirk was shot as well as the locations where the suspect and victim traveled, according to the Public Safety Department. They did not provide any further information on the suspect.
The FBI created a tip line to gather information that may lead to the shooter’s arrest.
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Analysis says San Francisco’s housing costs have returned to ‘normal’. What does that mean?
A report recently released by real estate company Redfin makes a startling claim: San Francisco’s housing costs have returned to “normal.”
The City by the Bay, consistently ranked as one of the most expensive in the U.S., has seen signs that the housing market is leveling out: Home-price growth is slowing and mortgage rates are starting to fall, according to the report published last week.
The analysis uses a mortgage payment-to-income ratio, which finds that, after several years of rising costs, prices in San Francisco have returned to their July 2018 levels — at least when taking into consideration how much money locals make.
Oakland, too, is projected to return to “normal” this month if housing prices stay flat, according to Redfin’s analysis. No other city in the U.S. is projected to return to July 2018 levels either this year or in 2026, Redfin said.
But the findings do not mean these Bay Area cities are anywhere close to being affordable. Rather, the analysis shows that cities home to tech workers with fat salaries are returning to a pre-pandemic equilibrium, Redfin economists said.
“Tech-driven metros like those in the Bay Area, along with Austin, Seattle and Denver are seeing wages grow considerably faster than the national rate of 3.9%,” said Asad Khan, a Redfin senior economist, in the report. “At the same time, home price growth in these metros has cooled considerably from pandemic peaks.”
Housing costs across much of the U.S. in theory could return to a level of relative stability over the next few years, Khan said, but he cautioned that the report’s projections should not be taken as a certainty.
The metric of July 2018 housing costs Redfin bases its analysis on varies greatly from city to city, with households in San Francisco spending a greater share of their income on mortgages than much of the rest of the country.
In July 2018, the typical U.S. household purchasing a home would need to spend 30% of its income on their mortgage each month. In San Francisco, that share of income was far higher, at 74%. By contrast, in St. Louis that number was 18%, according to Redfin.
And the trend of stabilizing home costs does not reflect the reality for renters. The artificial intelligence boom in San Francisco — with companies like OpenAI forking over millions or even tens of millions for a single salary — is reportedly spiking rents and crowding out lower-wage tenants.
Median rent reached $3,069 for a one-bedroom apartment in August, and overall rent prices are up about nearly 11% year over year — faster than any other large city in the country — according to rental website Apartment List.
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Since declaring his season ‘over,’ Dodgers’ Mookie Betts has turned it around – Press Enterprise
LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts’ season ended a month ago.
After the Dodgers’ win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 8, Betts was batting .239 with a .680 OPS (despite two hits including a home run that night). He declared that he was done worrying about those numbers.
“This season’s over,” Betts said that month. “My season’s kind of over. We’re going to have to chalk that up to not a great season.”
Since that night, Betts’ season has taken a turn. Going into Wednesday night’s game against the Colorado Rockies, Betts had batted .322 (37 for 115) in 29 games with a .905 OPS, six home runs, 21 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
True to his earlier declaration, Betts is not willing to make too much of this.
“I mean, it’s been pretty good if you just try to step back and look at it,” he said recently. “But you just can’t stay there. You take a step back, take a peek at it, but you still have to just be one at-bat at a time, one pitch at a time. Just staying in the moment. Just something new that I’ve learned and I’ll always do.”
The new attitude has resurrected the old Mookie. After another two-hit game on Tuesday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Betts “looks like Mookie” perhaps for the first time this season.
“I think what that means is there’s real confidence, there’s edge, just letting his ability to just play,” Roberts said Wednesday. “I think that we’re seeing that at shortstop now, and in the batter’s box. There’s just that edge, and he’s not in between as he was for a lot of the season. So I think that for me, that’s what I mean when I say Mookie looks like Mookie right now.”
OUTFIELD SHUFFLE
Utility man Tommy Edman was activated from the injured list and started Wednesday’s game in center field. He is likely to see more playing time there than at second base.
“I want to see him with my own eyes in games,” Roberts said. “He’s going to be taking ground balls at second base as well. I can’t really say yet how much I’m gonna play him at second base vs. center field until I really see it, because I do know that the getting off the ball is something I’m going to be really mindful of watching (because of Edman’s recurring ankle injury).”
With Edman in center, Andy Pages was pushed to left field. Teoscar Hernandez remained in right field though Roberts acknowledged Pages is a better defensive fit in right field because of his strong arm.
Hernandez has a preference for right field over left (which he played most of last season), which Roberts acknowledged was also a factor. He also said Hernandez’s defense has improved since the series in Colorado last month when his defensive deficiencies became an issue.
“I think since Colorado, I think that the outfield play has been very good from Teo,” Roberts said. “Now to just flip ’em (and put Pages in right with Hernandez in left), I just didn’t feel comfortable doing that right now. And then we have two guys that are more comfortable in right, in Andy and Teo, if Andy’s not in center field.
“Obviously, I like Andy in right, I like the arm. Teo finished the season, played the season last year in left field, so we’ve shown that we can win a championship with him in left field. Not quite there yet, but thinking about it. And a lot of it is contingent on how Tommy looks as well.”
Roberts said Wednesday’s configuration will be the setup against left-handed pitching for now. Michael Conforto will continue to get starts against right-handers.
PITCHING PLANS
Shohei Ohtani will not pitch during the Dodgers’ series in San Francisco this weekend. His next pitching start won’t be until the series against the Philadelphia Phillies in Los Angeles next week – “maybe” not until Wednesday in order to back it up against the Dodgers’ off day next Thursday, Roberts said.
Ohtani was scheduled to pitch last Wednesday in Pittsburgh, but he was scratched due to illness. He wasn’t going to pitch last weekend in Baltimore either but moved up and started Friday on short notice when Tyler Glasnow came down with back stiffness.
“It was kind of the sickness, we moved him up, and then just to kind of give a little bit of extra rest on the back end of that last start,” Roberts said, explaining the decision.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to start Friday for the first time since taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning last Saturday. Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to start on Saturday and Tyler Glasnow on Sunday against the Giants.
SASAKI STATUS
Rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki completed his rehab assignment in impressive fashion Tuesday night. He gave up three runs and three hits while striking out eight in 4⅔ innings. More importantly, Sasaki’s stuff “ticked up” with his fastball velocity hitting 100 mph and averaging 98.5 mph.
Sasaki traveled back to Los Angeles on Wednesday and Roberts said there will be a meeting with Sasaki and the Dodgers’ decision-makers “to be honest with Roki and kind of where we’re at, where he’s at, what’s best for him, what’s best for us.”
Everything will be “on the table,” Roberts said, including whether Sasaki could pitch out of the bullpen down the stretch and during the postseason.
“We’d have to see it here,” Roberts said. “We still have time, but we’d have to see it here, obviously. We have to make a decision at some point in time, kind of where we’re going to move forward here in the next couple weeks.”
ALSO
In order to activate Edman from the IL, the Dodgers optioned outfielder Justin Dean back to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Dean appeared in 18 games with the Dodgers, primarily as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement. He had just two at-bats.
UP NEXT
The Dodgers are off Thursday.
Dodgers (RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 11-8, 2.72 ERA) at Giants (RHP Justin Verlander, 3-10, 4.09 ERA), Friday, 7:15 p.m., SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market), 570 AM
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Southern California civic leaders, law enforcement officials roundly condemn Charlie Kirk shooting – Press Enterprise
Southern California political leaders and law enforcement officials roundly condemned the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk during a speech Wednesday in Utah, saying political violence is never acceptable.
“No one deserves to be the target of gun violence, ever,” Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, wrote on X. “What happened to Charlie Kirk is appalling, unacceptable, and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. I am thinking of his family and loved ones at this time. We must put a stop to rising political violence in this country.”
Kirk, 31, was speaking at an event at Utah Valley University when a shot rang out and Kirk fell backward in his chair on stage. Kirk later was pronounced dead. The suspect remained at large Wednesday evening.
“The great, and even legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” President Donald Trump, a close ally and friend of Kirk, wrote on social media. “No one understood or had the heart of the youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by all, especially me, and no he is no longer with us. Melania and my sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika and family. Charlie, we love you!”
Said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. “This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation. I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.”
Kirk was a conservative political commentator and activist who co-founded Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization aimed at advancing conservative policies at high schools and universities.
Southern California elected leaders were quick to condemn the violence.
“The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrific and disgusting,” Rep. Mike Levin, D-Dana Point, said. “Violence has no place in American politics. We can debate fiercely and disagree passionately, but we must always resolve our differences peacefully and with basic respect for one another.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X, “I’m absolutely disgusted by today’s attack on Charlie Kirk. Political violence in all forms is unacceptable and reprehensible. We must all reject it.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who once interviewed Kirk on an episode of his podcast, wrote that the attack was “disgusting, vile and reprehensible. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form.”
Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Los Angeles, wrote, “Violence against one person for their views means we allow violence against anyone for their views. We cannot allow this. Political violence CANNOT be condoned, regardless of your party or beliefs.”
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, said the nation was “founded on the freedom to disagree.”
“Political violence has no place in our democracy,” Padilla said. “The shooting of Charlie Kirk is reprehensible and sickening. I am praying for him and his family during this time.”
Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, wrote, “I may not agree with Charlie Kirk on politics, but I am deeply disturbed to hear about the shooting. Violence has no place in our democracy, no matter who it targets or what views they hold. We can disagree passionately without resorting to harm.”
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, said he was “horrified” by the shooting.
“The increasing degree of political violence in this country is a threat to everyone. And it must end,” Schiff said.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn called the shooting “horrific.”
“No matter how much we disagree with each other, you should be able to hold a rally without fearing for your life,” Hahn said. “Political violence cannot be tolerated in the United States.”
State Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, said he was “deeply troubled” by the shooting.
“In politics, I have always said that we can disagree without being disagreeable,” he said. “We must maintain decorum and respect for opposing viewpoints. Acts of violence must never be tolerated — regardless of political beliefs.”
Local law enforcement also condemned the violence and said they would remain vigilant in the wake of the attack.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department released a statement on social media saying: “We are heartbroken by the tragic shooting in Utah involving Charlie Kirk. Our condolences go out to the Kirk family and all those affected by this senseless act. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department does not condone any violence and remains steadfast in safeguarding our community. Please remember: If you see something, say something.”
Orange County sheriff’s officials released a statement saying that whenever “there is an event that attracts a large crowd, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department collaborates with the area representatives, local law enforcement partners, the fire department, and event coordinators to ensure the highest level of service and safety. Typically, after a significant event or critical incident, there is a debrief.”
“If there is anything to learn from an event that occurs, we will use this information to strengthen our plans.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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Musk loses crown as world’s richest person to software giant Larry Ellison
NEW YORK — Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison wrested the title of the world’s richest man from longtime holder Elon Musk early Wednesday, according to wealth tracker Bloomberg, as stock in his software giant rocketed more than a third in a stunning few minutes of trading.
A college dropout, the 81-year-old Ellison is now worth $393 billion, Bloomberg says, several billion more than Musk, who had been the world’s richest for four years running. Stock in one of Musk’s biggest holdings, Tesla, has been moving in the opposite direction of Oracle’s, dropping 14% so far this year as of Tuesday.
The switch in the ranking came after a blockbuster earnings report from Oracle powered by multibillion dollar orders from customers as the AI race heats up.
Another news organization with a long history of tallying the world’s richest, Forbes, still has Musk at the top, at $439 billion. Bloomberg put his net worth at $385 billion. The difference is in how the two estimate the value of Musk’s rocket company SpaceX, among other private holdings.
With Ellison’s surging fortune Wednesday, he could fund the lifestyles of 5 million American families for a year, about the entire population of Florida, allowing them to all quit their jobs, assuming the U.S. median household income.
Or Ellison could just tell all of South Africa to take a vacation for year and produce nothing, based on its gross domestic product.
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Trump’s deportation plans result in 320,000 fewer immigrants and slower population growth, CBO says
President Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations and other hardline immigration measures with funding passed by Congress will result in roughly 320,000 fewer people in the United States in ten years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budge…
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations and other hardline immigration measures will result in roughly 320,000 people removed from the United States over the next ten years, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday in a report that also projected that the U.S. population will grow more slowly than it had previously projected.
Trump’s tax and spending law, passed by Congress and signed in July, included roughly $150 billion to ramp up his mass deportation agenda over the next four years. This includes funding for everything from an extension of the United States’ southern border wall to detention centers and thousands of additional law enforcement staff. The CBO found that 290,000 immigrants could be removed through those measures, and an additional 30,000 people could leave the U.S. voluntarily.
Coupled with a lower fertility rate in the U.S., the reduction in immigration means that the CBO’s projection of the U.S. population will be 4.5 million people lower by 2035 than the nonpartisan office had projected in January. It cautioned that its population projections are “highly uncertain,” but estimated that the U.S. will have 367 million people in 2055.
Lower immigration to the U.S. could have implications for the nation’s economy and the government’s budget. The report did not directly address those issues, but it noted that the projected population would have “fewer people ages 25 to 54 — the age group that is most likely to participate in the labor force — than the agency previously projected.”
Democrats in Congress have been warning that mass deportations could harm the U.S. economy and lead to higher prices on groceries and other goods.
In the White House, Trump has said he wants to see a “baby boom” in the U.S. and his administration has bandied about ideas for encouraging Americans to have more children. But the CBO found no indication that would happen.
“Deaths are projected to exceed births in 2031, two years earlier than previously projected,” it noted.
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Texas drops lawsuit against doctor accused of illegally providing care to transgender youth
DALLAS — One of the nation’s first doctors accused of illegally providing care to transgender youth under GOP-led bans was found to have not violated the law, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office says, nearly a year after the state sued the physician.
Dr. Hector Granados, a pediatric endocrinologist in El Paso, was called a “scofflaw” last year by Paxton’s office in a lawsuit that accused him of falsifying medical records and violating a Texas ban that took effect in 2023. More than two dozen states have prohibitions on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, but Texas was the first to bring cases against doctors, filing lawsuits against Granados and two other providers.
The cases against the other doctors, both in Dallas, remain ongoing. But Paxton’s office quietly withdrew its lawsuit last week against Granados, saying in a statement that “no legal violations were found” following a “review of the evidence and Granados’ complete medical records.”
Granados, who says Paxton’s office never reached out before suing him last October, said he wished the state had first let him show he had stopped providing gender-affirming care for youth before the law took effect.
“It was just out and then we had to do everything afterwards,” Granados said in an interview.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that states can ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and at least 27 states have adopted laws restricting or banning the care. Although those accused of violating bans face criminal charges in some states, they do not in Texas, where the punishments instead expose providers to steep fines and revocation of their medical licenses.
Paxton’s office said in a statement that Dr. May Lau and Dr. M. Brett Cooper, the other accused physicians, will “face justice for hurting Texas kids both physically and mentally.” Their attorneys didn’t offer comment Wednesday.
“Attorney General Paxton will continue to bring the full force of the law against the delusional, left-wing medical professionals guilty of forcing ‘gender’ insanity on our children,” Paxton’s office said.
Paxton, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has sought to position himself as a national leader among the GOP’s ascendant hard right and is running for the U.S. Senate.
Trump, in his second term, has launched a broad charge against transgender rights, moving to reverse years of legal and policy gains for transgender Americans. Even in states where the care is allowed under state law, major hospitals and hospital systems have said they were stopping or restricting the care.
Harper Seldin, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, said that even when a lawsuit is dropped, it still takes “an enormous toll” on those who have to defend themselves.
“I think this continues to be best understood as part of the Texas AG’s campaign to intimidate medical providers,” he said.
Granados said he was meticulous in halting gender-affirming care for youth before Texas’ ban took effect. He said that before the ban, treating transgender youth was just an extension of his practice that treats youth with diabetes, growth problems and early puberty.
He said that after the ban, he did continue to prescribe puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy, but that those treatments were not for gender transition. Granados said they were for youth with endocrine disorders, which occur when hormone levels are too high or too low.
Texas’ lawsuit against Granados called him a “scofflaw who is harming the health and safety of Texas children.” It referenced a 2015 news article about transgender care that quoted Granados and medical articles he had written on the topic. Also listed in the lawsuit were details on unnamed patients, including their ages and what they had been prescribed, including testosterone.
In a court document filed in Cooper’s case, an attorney in Paxton’s office said they had subpoenaed provider reports for the doctor’s testosterone prescriptions from the Texas Prescription Monitoring Program.
Granados’ attorney, Mark Bracken, said that after entering into an agreed protective order with the state, they were able to confidentially produce patient records to show Granados had complied with the law.
Peter Salib, an assistant professor of law at the University of Houston Law Center, said that it’s “unusual” for a state to drop a case due to lack of violations after filing a lawsuit.
“They have a lot of opportunity to find out what is going on before they decide to bring a lawsuit,” he said.
Granados said he’s grateful to no longer have the lawsuit on the back of his mind.
“It always puts a toll on you and how you feel,” he said.
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West Nile virus cases running higher than normal, prompting health warnings
NEW YORK — West Nile virus infections are intense so far this year, with case counts running 40% higher than normal, health officials say.
More than 770 cases, including about 490 severe cases, were reported as of early September, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data posted this week. About 550 cases — 350 of them severe — are usually reported by this time of year.
Health officials are ramping up warnings to the public, because most cases of the mosquito-borne disease are reported in August and September.
“West Nile virus can be a very serious disease and its presence in mosquitoes remains high right now in Massachusetts,” said the state’s public health commissioner, Dr. Robbie Goldstein, in a statement last week.
People can protect themselves by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when possible, and using an EPA-registered insect repellent when spending time outdoors, health officials say.
West Nile virus was first reported in the United States in 1999 in New York, and then gradually spread across the country. It peaked in 2003, when nearly 10,000 cases were reported.
Scientists say many people — perhaps tens of thousands each year — are infected but don’t know it because they have no symptoms, or only mild ones such as headaches, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea and rashes.
In severe cases, damage to the central nervous system causes inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, and even death.
In the last decade, health officials have fielded reports of 2,000 cases annually on average, including 1,200 life-threatening neurological illnesses and approximately 120 deaths. Deaths are on pace to be higher this year, CDC officials said, but they declined to discuss specifics, saying mortality statistics are too preliminary.
The problem is not that there are more mosquitoes this year, but rather that a higher proportion of the bugs are carrying the virus, CDC officials said. Mosquito infection rates can be affected by such factors as temperature, rainfall, the amount of insect control going on, and how many nearby birds are infected.
Colorado, which tends to see more West Nile virus, has reported about 150 of the nation’s cases — more than double what other states are reporting.
Fort Collins is a hot spot. Monitoring last month in an area in the southwest part of the city found that 35 out of every 1,000 female mosquitoes were infected — far higher than the 8 per 1,000 that would be expected for that time of year — said Roxanne Connelly, a CDC entomologist who lives there.
It’s not clear why, but she noted it’s been a wet and warm year.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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Outpouring of grief from Trump, Vance other leaders after Charlie Kirk fatal shooting
President Donald Trump announced conservative activist Charlie Kirk died on Wednesday after being shot at a campus university event in Utah.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!” Trump wrote on his social media platform.
Before the announcement, Trump told ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, “It’s horrific. It’s one of the most horrible things I’ve ever seen.”
“He was a good man. He was an incredible guy. Nobody like him,” Trump told Karl.
Kirk, the founder of the conservative youth activist organization Turning Point USA, was a close ally to Trump and many members of his administration. Several top officials issued messages of support for Kirk and his family as news of the shooting first spread.
Vice President JD Vance shared Trump’s announcement of Kirk’s death and wrote on X, “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was “heartbroken” by Kirk’s killing.
“He was an incredible husband and father and a great American. May he rest in eternal peace with our Lord,” Rubio posted on X.
Trump ordered all American flags throughout the country to be lowered to half-staff through Sunday evening in honor of Kirk.
A U.S. flag files at half mast, after right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was fatally shot at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, in Washington, September 10, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
The US flag flies at half-staff on the roof of the White House in honor of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk who was shot and killed earlier today in Utah, in Washington, September 10, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Donald Trump Jr., who worked closely with Kirk on the 2016 campaign, posted online: “I love you brother. You gave so many people the courage to speak up and we will not ever be silenced.”
Republican and Democratic lawmakers condemned the shooting.
The House of Representatives held a moment of silence for Kirk on Wednesday afternoon.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, makes remarks in the U.S. Capitol about the shooting of media personality Charlie Kirk, September 10, 2025.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters the shooting “detestable” and said political violence “has to stop.”
“Utterly devastating. Charlie was a close friend and confidant,” Johnson later said in a statement on Kirk’s death. “He will be sorely missed by so many. Every political leader must loudly and clearly decry this violence. Our prayers go out to his wife and young children. May he rest in peace.”
“There is no place in our country for political violence. Period, full stop,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune wrote on X.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham called it a “sick and despicable attack.”
Former President Joe Biden said “there is no place in our country for this kind of violence.”
“It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones,” Biden said in a post on X.
U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk appears at a Utah Valley University speaking event in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 10, 2025.
Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via Reuters
“I am deeply disturbed by the shooting in Utah,” former Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on X. “Doug and I send our prayers to Charlie Kirk and his family. Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in America. I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who earlier this year hosted Kirk for the first episode of his new podcast, called the attack “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. “
“In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on X.
Joseph Vogl stands outside Timpanogos Regional Hospital, Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah.
Alex Goodlett/AP
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement, “I am shocked by the murder of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Political violence of any kind and against any individual is unacceptable and completely incompatible with American values. We pray for his family during this tragedy.”
Gabrielle Giffords, a former Democratic congresswoman who was shot in the head during a public event in 2011, shared a message condemning acts of political violence. Giffords later founded and led a national gun violence prevention group.
“I’m horrified to hear that Charlie Kirk was shot at an event in Utah. Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we must never allow America to become a country that confronts those disagreements with violence. Mark and I are praying for Charlie’s recovery,” Giffords wrote.
Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, whose husband was violently assaulted in their California home by an invader looking for Pelosi, called the shooting “horrific” and “reprehensible.”
“Political violence has absolutely no place in our nation,” Pelosi wrote on X. “All Americans should pray for Charlie Kirk’s recovery and hold the entire UVU community in our hearts as they endure the trauma of this gun violence.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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Inflation is creeping higher, with some Americans saying they’re squeezed: “It’s really challenging”
For Kasey McBlais, a 42-year-old single mom who lives in Maine with her two elementary school-aged children, the cost of running a household is only getting more expensive, from buying groceries to paying for her home’s upkeep.
“It’s really challenging,” McBlais, who works at a nonprofit, says of managing her expenses. “It’s paycheck to paycheck.”
Cleaning her chimney cost $500 this year, up from about $200 when she bought her house in 2019. And grocery money isn’t going as far either, prompting McBlais to stretch meals to make sure the family has leftovers. “I honestly don’t expect anything to go back to the way they were — it’s a matter of things leveling off where they are at,” she said.
McBlais’ concerns and struggles come as the pace of inflation continues to creep higher, remaining well above the Federal Reserve’s goal of driving it down to an annual 2% rate. The situation is leaving some consumers feeling frustrated by stubbornly high prices on everything from groceries to housing, souring their views about the health of the U.S. economy.
In a recent CBS News poll, two-thirds of Americans said that prices in the past few weeks have continued to rise, with nearly all saying they expect the rise in costs to continue.
On Thursday, the Consumer Price Index is expected to show that prices rose at an annualized rate of 2.9% in August, up from 2.7% in July. Some economists point to the Trump administration’s tariffs as a contributing factor.
“Tariffs will raise prices, and that does of course lead to inflation — there’s no way around that,” said Erasmus Kersting, an economics professor at the Villanova School of Business.
To be sure, inflation is well below its pandemic peak. But the Federal Reserve’s progress has been slipping, with recent CPI data showing price growth picking up again after reaching a low point this spring.
At the same time, President Trump is pushing the Federal Reserve to cut its benchmark rate, posting on social media on Wednesday that there is “no inflation!!!” He also urged the Fed to “lower the RATE, BIG, right now.”
In July 2024, when Mr. Trump pledged to end the “inflation nightmare,” the CPI rate stood at 2.9%, or the same pace that economists forecast for tomorrow’s report.
“The president would like people to stop paying attention to inflation now because it’s not helping it,” Kersting noted. “In the past he wanted people to pay attention to it, because back then it did help him win the election.”
Asked for comment on forecasts the CPI will show an uptick in inflation, the White House said the president is delivering on his promises.
“Joe Biden unleashed the worst inflation crisis in nearly four years — President Trump ended it. Despite the media’s false narrative, core inflation has run at a 2.4% average pace since President Trump took office which is the lowest 6-month pace since March 2021. The so-called ‘experts’ have been wrong month after month: tariffs have not hiked prices and President Trump is delivering on his promise to make America affordable again,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told CBS MoneyWatch.
The Federal Reserve’s complicated decision
A hotter CPI report would complicate the Federal Reserve’s task of deciding its next interest rate move on Sept. 17, given that the labor market has stalled out this summer. The Fed’s so-called “dual mandate” requires it to promote full employment while keeping inflation in check.
So far in 2025, the Fed has held its benchmark rate steady, with Chair Jerome Powell saying he wanted to keep the central bank’s powder dry in case tariffs caused inflation to reignite. Because rate reductions make it cheaper to borrow, they can spur businesses and consumers to open their wallets, adding to inflationary pressures.
But two consecutive disappointing jobs reports signal that the labor market is stalling out, putting pressure on the Fed to cut rates, which can help bolster hiring by making it cheaper for businesses to borrow and add more workers. Powell last month signaled the Fed may be open to a cut, pointing to the labor market’s risks.
The probability of a 0.25 percentage point rate cut is pegged at 90% by CME FedWatch, which bases its forecast on 30-day Fed Funds futures prices. There’s a slimmer 10% likelihood that the Fed could usher in a jumbo cut of 0.5 percentage points, its data shows.
A rate cut could help some consumers by lowering their borrowing costs, with interest fees on credit cards, home equity lines of credit and other loans likely to drop after a reduction. But households are still continuing to face higher prices at the grocery store and for household bills, experts note.
“Budget pressure has never fully let up for many households, even as inflation subsided during 2024 and early 2025,” Stephen Kates, a certified financial planner and Bankrate financial analyst, said in an email. “Current and future inflation expectations feel like a slow, painful walk down memory lane.”
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Uber plans to let customers book helicopter rides through its app
Uber is taking its ride-sharing service to the skies.
The San Francisco-based company said Wednesday that it will team with Joby Aviation, a maker of electric air taxis, to bring helicopter services to its platform as soon as next year. The announcement comes just over a month after Joby acquired Blade Air Mobility, which flies passengers by helicopter and seaplanes, in a $125 million deal.
In a news release, Uber and Joby said that once the service is integrated, passengers will be able to book flights directly in the Uber app in the “most populated cities in the world.”
A spokesperson for Joby told CBS MoneyWatch that the company does not yet have details on routes or pricing, but that airport connections would be appealing to consumers. “Airport routes have long been identified as some of the highest value propositions to the public,” the spokesperson said.
Blade’s website shows that it offers flights between Manhattan and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York or Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey for $195. Last year, Blade flew 50,000 passengers in the New York metropolitan area and Southern Europe, according to the companies.
Photo provided by Uber 
“Integrating Blade into the Uber app is the natural next step in our global partnership with Uber and will lay the foundation for the introduction of our quiet, zero-emissions aircraft in the years ahead,” JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, said in a statement.
Blade operates a fleet of helicopters powered by jet turbines but plans to transition to all-electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts in the future, the spokesperson said.
Uber and Joby’s business relationship dates back to 2019, when Joby acquired Uber’s Elevate division, which is building an aerial ride-sharing service using what’s known as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles.
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Politics, retribution behind FBI purge, agents allege in new lawsuit against Patel, Bondi
Three senior FBI officials who were abruptly fired last month by Kash Patel, the FBI director, are claiming in a new lawsuit against the Trump administration that they were illegally terminated at the direction of the White House for purely political reasons.
The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, alleges Patel told one of the agents that his job as FBI director depended on firing agents involved in past investigations of President Trump.
Patel allegedly said “he had to fire the people his superiors told him to fire, because his ability to keep his own job depended on the removal of the agents who worked on cases involving the President,” the lawsuit alleges.
“Patel explained that there was nothing [anyone] could do to stop these or any other firings, because ‘the FBI tried to put the President in jail and he hasn’t forgotten it,'” the complaint claims. According to the complaint, Driscoll indicated he believed Patel was referring to his superiors at the White House and the Justice Department which “Patel did not deny.”
The three fired agents who brought the case were decorated veterans of the agency who had served in senior roles. One of them, Brian Driscoll, had briefly been acting FBI director while Patel was going through the Senate confirmation process. Steven Jensen served as assistant director in charge of the Washington, D.C., field office. Spencer Evans had once led the Las Vegas field office, but by the time he was fired he had been removed from that position and was being relocated to the Huntsville, Alabama, office.
The three agents, as well as two others who are not part of the lawsuit, were abruptly fired in an early August leadership purge without public comment and little explanation. None of them had reached retirement age, depriving them of their full pensions.
The firings were the latest in a broad FBI makeover that began almost immediately after the transition, as the new administration sought to dominate an agency Mr. Trump claimed had been targeted against him.
Patel defended the moves against the senior agents in an interview with Larry Kudlow on the Fox Business Network, saying the firings were aimed at “ridding this place of its former leadership structure that did that weaponization.”
The FBI declined to comment.
The Justice Department and White House have not responded to a request for comment.
Driscoll said of the lawsuit in a statement, “I hope this effort results in protecting others who did no harm and committed no misconduct from wrongful consequences. The American people deserve an FBI made up of professionals who can serve righteously and confidently, with no fear of inappropriately applied pressure or wrongful termination.”
In his statement, Evans said the public’s confidence in the FBI “hinges on the commitment of every FBI employee, from the newest Special Agent to the Director, to relentlessly adhere to the rule of law without fear or favor.”
“Americans should demand FBI leaders who make decisions based solely on the facts of an investigation and never on the desired outcome of one,” Evans wrote.
Jensen said in his statement that he joined the lawsuit “to champion the values of truth and justice for those who continue to serve in the FBI.”
In filing the suit, Jensen said, “we aim to re-establish the highest standards of justice and ensure that every American, particularly those entrusted with the immense authority of federal law enforcement, respects and obeys the law.”
Abbe David Lowell, who is representing them, said the Trump administration’s termination of them was illegal.
“As the complaint makes clear, the leadership of the FBI is carrying out political orders to punish law enforcement agents for doing their jobs – it’s illegal and it’s putting the national security of our country at risk,” he said. The three agents filed the case to try to vindicate their constitutional rights.
The lawsuit specifically alleges that the FBI was pressured by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, who wanted “to see personnel action, like reassignment, removals and terminations at the FBI, similar to the firings and reassignments of senior attorneys at DOJ that had occurred since January 20, 2025.”
One focus of the purge involved FBI employees who were part of the Jan. 6 investigations, according to the complaint. The suit alleges that Emil Bove, who at the time was a senior top Justice Department official, told Driscoll about “pressure he was receiving from (Stephen) Miller to conduct summary firings of agents.”
Mr. Trump later appointed Bove to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Driscoll said that when he raised concerns these actions would rattle rank-and-file agents, Bove’s response took him by surprise.
“Bove stated that the creation of panic and anxiety in the workforce ‘was the intent,'” the lawsuit alleges.
Driscoll’s firing, in particular, surprised many inside the FBI because he appeared to be in good standing with Patel. A highly decorated agent who took part in numerous daring counterterrorism operations, Patel had indicated he admired him as a swashbuckling tactical operator, CBS News previously reported.
During his short stint as acting director, Driscoll resisted calls from a top Trump appointee at the Justice Department to turn over the names of FBI employees who participated in the Jan. 6 investigation, earning him near folk-hero status among line agents.
Patel nevertheless kept him on after he was confirmed as FBI director, putting him in charge of the most important and sensitive positions in the bureau.
But his trajectory at the FBI in the wake of Trump’s election reflected the chaos and partisan politics that typified the presidential transition.
According to the lawsuit, Trump transition team members reached out to Driscoll about assuming a senior leadership role in an acting capacity. He soon learned it was to be acting deputy FBI director. After agreeing to be vetted for the position, according to the complaint, Driscoll was questioned by a 29-year-old transition aide who asked him a series of questions that seemed to seek information about his political loyalties.
Among the questions recounted by Driscoll in the lawsuit: “Who did you vote for?” “Do you agree that the FBI agents who stormed Mar-a-Lago, to include the rank-and-file, should be held accountable?” “What are your thoughts on DEI?” And, “Have you voted for a Democrat in the last five elections?”
Driscoll defended the actions of the agents in the Mar-a-Lago search “for doing their job” and said he “strongly believes in diversity and a diverse workforce.” He refused to answer the other questions, according to the lawsuit.
Jensen also appeared to have Patel’s backing before he was fired. A veteran agent who helped oversee the January 6 investigation from his position as chief of the FBI’s domestic terrorism section, Jensen was given a significant promotion by Patel, who appointed him assistant director in charge of the Washington Field Office, which the complaint identifies as one of the largest field offices in the country.
The promotion had inflamed a noisy portion of Trump’s MAGA base because of his supervisory role in the Jan. 6 case. They torched him and the decision on social media, but Patel continued to praise Jensen in meetings and even presented him with a director’s “challenge coin,” a token of appreciation that leaders in the military and law enforcement often bestow on their subordinates.
contributed to this report.
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Mexican megachurch leader indicted on federal sex trafficking charges in New York
A megachurch leader has been federally charged for allegedly victimizing members of the Mexico-based church for decades, authorities announced Wednesday.
Naasón Joaquín García, 56, is already serving more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing young followers. The federal charges against him include counts of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, the U.S. Attorney for New York’s southern district said in a news release.
A federal grand jury in New York returned the indictment alleging that García and five others exploited the church for decades to enable the systemic sexual abuse of children and women for the sexual gratification of García and his father, who died in 2014.
The newly unsealed indictment said the criminal activity included the creation of photos and videos of child sexual abuse.
García was taken into federal custody early Wednesday in Chino, California, where he is serving a more than 16-year sentence after pleading guilty in 2022 to two state counts.
His lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
García is the head of La Luz del Mundo (The Light of the World), which claims to have 5 million followers worldwide. Believers consider him to be the “apostle” of Jesus Christ.
Prosecutors in California have said that he used his spiritual sway to have sex with girls and young women who were told it would lead to their salvation — or damnation if they refused.
“The defendants and their coconspirators used the LLDM Church as a vehicle to commit sex trafficking of women and children; to induce victims, including children, to travel to engage in forced and unlawful sex acts; to produce, receive, distribute, and possess child pornography; to employ forced labor of Church members; to illegally structure cash transactions and bulk cash smuggling; and to obstruct justice to hide their crimes,” the indictment said.
Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via AP 
Besides García, one defendant charged in the case was taken into custody in Los Angeles while another was arrested in Chicago, authorities said. Three others were at large.
According to the indictment, two of the defendants and others tried to destroy evidence and prevent victims of the sexual abuse from speaking to law enforcement after García was arrested.
It said they pressured victims to sign false declarations disclaiming that any abuse occurred, drafted and distributed sermons stating that all sexual abuse victims were lying and reinforced church doctrine that doubting the apostle was a sin punishable by eternal damnation.
In a release, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said García and the others “exploited the faith of their followers to prey upon them.”
He added: “When they were confronted, they leveraged their religious influence and financial power to intimidate and coerce victims into remaining silent about the abuse they had suffered.”
Ricky J. Patel, the head of the New York office of Homeland Security Investigations, said the charges resulted from a “yearslong investigation that spanned the country and involved the support of dozens of courageous victims.”
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Trump administration wants to cancel Biden-era public land rule
By MATTHEW BROWN, Associated Press
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Wednesday proposed canceling a public land management rule that elevated the importance of conservation, as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to open more taxpayer-owned tracts to drilling, logging, mining and grazing.
The rule was a key part of efforts under former President Joe Biden to refocus the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management, which oversees about 10% of land in the U.S. Adopted last year, it allowed public property to be leased for restoration in the same way that oil companies lease land for drilling.
Industry and agriculture groups were bitterly opposed to the Biden rule and had lobbied Republicans to reverse it. States including North Dakota, where Burgum served as governor before joining Trump’s Cabinet, pursued a lawsuit hoping to block the rule.
Wednesday’s announcement comes amid a flurry of actions since Trump took office aimed at boosting energy production from the federal government’s vast land holdings, which are concentrated in Western states including Alaska, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Interior officials said the Biden rule had sidelined people who depend on public lands for their livelihoods and imposed unneeded restrictions.
Burgum said in a statement that it would have prevented thousands of acres from being used for energy and mineral productions, grazing and recreation. Overturning it “protects our American way of life and gives our communities a voice in the land that they depend on,” Burgum said.
“The previous administration’s Public Lands Rule had the potential to block access to hundreds of thousands of acres of multiple-use land – preventing energy and mineral production, timber management, grazing and recreation across the West,” Burgum said.
Environmentalists had largely embraced the rule that was finalized in April 2024. Supporters argued that conservation was a long-neglected facet of the land bureau’s mission under the 1976 Federal Lands Policy Management Act.
“The administration cannot simply overthrow that statutory authority because they would prefer to let drilling and mining companies call the shots,” said Alison Flint, senior legal director at The Wilderness Society.
While the bureau previously issued leases for conservation purposes in limited cases, it never had a dedicated program for it.
Critics said the change under Biden violated the “multiple use” mandate for Interior Department lands, by catapulting the “non-use” of federal lands — meaning restoration leases — to a position of prominence.
The rule also promoted the designation of more “areas of critical environmental concern” — a special status that can restrict development. It’s given to land with historic or cultural significance or that’s important for wildlife conservation.
In addition to its surface land holdings, the land bureau regulates publicly-owned underground mineral reserves — such as coal for power plants and lithium for renewable energy — across more than 1 million square miles (2.5 million square kilometers). The bureau has a history of industry-friendly policies and for more than a century has sold grazing permits and oil and gas leases.
The pending publication of Burgum’s proposal will kick off a 60-day public comment period.
House Republicans last week repealed land management plans adopted in the closing days of former President Joe Biden’s administration that restricted development in large areas of Alaska, Montana and North Dakota. Interior officials also announced a proposal aimed at increasing mining and drilling in Western states with populations of greater sage grouse. Biden administration officials proposed limits on development and prohibitions against mining to help protect the grouse.
Originally Published:
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Access to Upland Art Center expands with Inland Empire Community Foundation grant – Press Enterprise
By Greg Archer | Contributing Columnist
People with limited mobility and those with wheelchairs will now have better access to Upland Art Center and First Street Gallery. The creative hub is where artists from the Tierra del Sol Foundation work from the studios.
An Inland Empire Community Foundation grant via the James Bernard and Mildred Jordan Tucker Fund has given that nonprofit an opportunity to create accessible ramps coming into the studio and four accessible doors and entryways into the space for the artists.
“The impact of the grant is huge,” said Lauren Romero, program director at Upland Art Studio. “Before this, we would have to rely on cameras and staff being near a door, but now an artist is able to access the building easily.”
Increasing accessibility — literally — offers an easier pathway to create art inside the studio, which was established in 1989. Tierra del Sol, however, came to life in 1971 in Sunland, because of the efforts of parents in the region who wanted an alternative to institutional care for their children.
What began as a path to self-advocacy quickly turned into much more.
Residents wanted their children to be viewed as permanent members of their families. Over time, Tierra del Sol became revered for empowering people with developmental disabilities through programs, including workforce development, College to Career and Careers in the Art.
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Chelsea Lenninger shows artwork in October 2024 at the Tierra del Sol Foundation’s Upland Art Studio. (Courtesy of Tierra del Sol Foundation)
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Chelsea Lenninger shows artwork in October 2024 at the Tierra del Sol Foundation’s Upland Art Studio. (Courtesy of Tierra del Sol Foundation)
“It’s important to know that currently we have 75 artists that use this beautiful creative space on a daily basis and that we are open to the community and the public,” Romero said. “Our artists make their own work, but they also teach and lead workshops that are open to the public — and for all ages as well.”
Romero added that the art center has a significant goal in mind.
“We’re trying to have community participation on all levels, whether that’s us going out into the community, providing workshops led by our folks, but also inviting the community into our big, beautiful space so that it can be shared,” she said.
All the artists that come to the studios to work receive services through regional centers.
“These are services based on a physical or developmental disability,” Romero said. “These folks have made a choice in their career path as artists. They come to us with an interest in creating their own work and their own body of work, but also in how they can kind of create a career, income and employment in the arts.”
“Some of the other ways that they do that is by offering public workshops, and curating shows,” she said. “They work on multiple levels based on their preference.”
Artists of varying ages participate.
“We serve anywhere from 18 and up, and we have a couple folks in their 70s,” Romero said, noting the average age of artists on hand now is 25.
“We have all ages and stages of life in adulthood coming here,” she said. “They access materials and supplies needed to make their work. We have online shows. We have a gallery in West Hollywood that features their work, and we submit to shows offsite as well. We really do our best to promote our artists and their work.”
Another interesting art center component is BLVD: Pottery & Marketplace. The handmade crafts studio brings artisanal and heritage pieces back into the community. Here, traditional craft materials and processes are incorporated to find new ways of expression, while also combining the distinction between art and craft.
Learn more at tierradelsol.org.
Inland Empire Community Foundation works to strengthen Inland Southern California through philanthropy. Visit iegives.org for more information.
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