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Ex-deputy charged in Sonya Massey killing drew ire from previous boss, audio files show
An Illinois chief deputy’s concerns regarding Sean Grayson, the former sheriff’s deputy charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, an unarmed mother of two, are documented in an audio file released Monday. The recorded 2022 conversation is with Grayson’s then-boss, Logan County Chief Deputy Nathan Miller, who addresses Grayson’s mishandling of a traffic case. “Seven months on, how are you still employed by us?” Miller said. Grayson responds, “I don’t know.” The exchange centers around Grayson, who would eventually leave Logan County and join the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in 2023, being accused of violating department policy and submitting inaccurate reports.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of 'El Chapo,' pleads not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges
Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of infamous Mexican drug lord "El Chapo," pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges during his first court appearance since his high-profile arrest last week. Guzman Lopez, 38, appeared in federal court in Chicago on Tuesday in an orange jumpsuit before Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman for charges in an indictment brought by the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. He could face the death penalty if convicted, his lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, confirmed to reporters following the court appearance. His next court date has been set for Sept. 30. Lichtman said there is "massive amounts of discovery" to go through over the next few weeks.
Two men fatally shoot each other in California road rage incident
Two men are dead after they fatally shot one another in an apparent road rage incident in Southern California, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. One of the men had his two children in the car -- ages 2 and 5 -- at the time of the double shooting. "It could've been so incredibly simple, but unfortunately we have two people who lost their lives instead," Mara Rodriguez, spokesperson for the sheriff's department, told Los Angeles ABC station KABC. Jonathan McConnell, 38, who was driving a motorcycle, was involved in a hit-and-run traffic collision on the 210 Freeway with Aaron Harris, 37, who was driving a sedan, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Western wildfires latest: Firefighters battling three major blazes, two in California
As the Park Fire in Northern California became the fifth largest wildfire in state history on Tuesday, firefighters were dealt a new challenge when another blaze erupted in Southern California and quickly blew up into a major conflagration, prompting mass evacuations, officials said. At the same time, Colorado firefighters attacked the Alexander Mountain Fire that ignited Monday near the Roosevelt National Forest in Larimer County north of Boulder and quickly spread to more than 1,800 acres as more than 20 different state agencies, including 12 local fire companies, raced to battle the out-of-control flames. The Nixon Fire California firefighters were confronting 15 active blazes on Tuesday, including three that started on Monday. Among the biggest new fires is the Nixon Fire that ignited around 12:30 p.m. local time Monday off Richard Nixon Boulevard in Riverside County, northeast of the town of Aguanga, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Trump assassination attempt: Shooter’s social media account showed antisemitic, anti-immigrant posts
The federal law enforcement officials said the gunman who opened fire on former President Donald Trump had a social media account where he posted antisemitic and anti-immigrant content.
'She called for help and we failed': Sheriff asks forgiveness for Sonya Massey shooting
The sheriff for Illinois' Sangamon County Sheriff's Office, which employed the former deputy who shot and killed Sonya Massey in her home earlier this month after she called 911 to report a possible intruder, said during public comments Monday night that they had "failed" her. “Sonya Massey – I speak her name and I'll never forget it,” Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell said during a “Community Healing & Listening Session” Monday night at Union Baptist Church in Springfield. “She called for help and we failed. That's all she did: call for help." "I'm going to say something right now I've never said in my career before: we failed," Campbell continued. "We did not do our jobs. We failed Sonya. We failed Sonya’s family and friends. We failed the community. I stand here today before you with arms wide open to ask for forgiveness.” Sean Grayson, the now-former deputy who fatally shot Sonya Massey in her Illinois home July 6 while responding to her 911 call, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct in Massey’s death, and remains in custody.
Delta reportedly seeking potential damages from CrowdStrike, Microsoft after global IT outages
Delta Air Lines has reportedly hired a prominent law firm to help the Atlanta-based carrier pursue potential damages from CrowdStrike and Microsoft following the global tech outages that caused a slew of internal computer issues and prompted thousands of canceled flights earlier this month. CNBC first reported that Delta had hired Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, the law firm whose chairman David Boies previously represented the U.S. government in the landmark antitrust case against Microsoft. Although a lawsuit has not yet been filed, CNBC reported that Delta plans to seek potential compensation from both companies. When asked for further comment on the matter and the report that Delta had hired Boies, a spokesperson for the airline told ABC News that the company had "no information to add."
Holland America adds new cruises for celestial events in 2026
Holland America has created some picture perfect cruise itineraries for travelers with celestial events on their adventure bucket list such as seeing the northern lights or a total solar eclipse from the high seas. The Seattle-based cruise line announced a new slate of celestial cruises on Monday that will take guests to prime locations throughout Europe to experience three different natural phenomena firsthand. Three new Holland America solar eclipse cruises Following the success of Holland America's 2024 eclipse cruises, the company's chief commercial officer, Beth Bodensteiner, said the team put together the 2026 lineup for more guests "to get a front-row seat for some of the world's most special natural spectacles" with "in-depth exploration of exciting destinations."
Park Fire suspect charged with felony arson for allegedly igniting largest wildfire burning in US
A California man accused of deliberately starting what has become the largest active wildfire in the country has been formally charged with felony arson, court records show. Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico, was arraigned Monday in connection with the Park Fire, which has quickly become one of the largest recorded wildfires in California's history. During his first court appearance, he was charged with felony arson with an enhancement of special circumstances due to prior convictions. His arraignment has been continued until Thursday. He will be held with no bail as he awaits trial. He has not yet entered a plea. Attorney information was not immediately available. Stout was allegedly spotted just before 3 p.m. PT on Wednesday pushing a burning car down a gully called "Alligator Hole" in Bidwell Park, near Chico in Butte County, prosecutors said.
‘Black Swan’ murder trial puts self-defense allegation front and center
Doug and Ashley Benefield seemed to have a fairy tale romance -- a beautiful ballerina swept off her feet by a dashing older man, married only 13 days after they started dating. However, less than four years later, Doug would be dead, killed by Ashley in what she claims was self-defense. The trial is playing out in a Florida courtroom, with prosecutors accusing Ashley of wanting sole custody of the couple's daughter Emerson. "This case is about a woman who, very early on in her pregnancy, decided she wanted to be a single mother," prosecutor Suzanne O'Donnell said. "Her husband and everything she did from that point on was to attain that goal and she would stop at nothing to attain that goal. When there was no other option, she shoots him and kills him and claims self-defense." However, Ashley Benefield's attorney argued that she was trapped in an abusive relationship, stating that Doug Benefield was a manipulative, controlling and abusive man.
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