Author: Elizabeth Jenrola Oso

A shooting at the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood on Friday afternoon has left two women critically injured and a suspect, believed to be a former employee, in police custody. According to the Inglewood Police Department, the incident occurred around 3:40 p.m. on the campus, located in the 8900 block of Aviation Boulevard. Emergency services responded promptly to the scene after receiving reports of gunfire. Los Angeles County firefighters arrived to find two victims, both women, suffering from gunshot wounds. They were transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts later confirmed…

A ship carrying humanitarian aid and international activists to Gaza was attacked by armed drones in international waters off the coast of Malta early Friday morning, severely damaging the vessel and halting its mission, according to its organizers. The ship, Conscience, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was struck at approximately 12:23 a.m. local time, the group said in a statement. The vessel, unarmed and clearly marked as civilian, suffered two drone strikes that ignited a fire and tore a substantial breach in its hull, leaving it without power and at risk of sinking. An image posted online by the…

Sean “Diddy” Combs, the embattled hip-hop mogul and music producer, has rejected a plea deal in his high-profile sex trafficking and racketeering case, paving the way for a full trial set to begin next week in Manhattan federal court. Combs, 55, appeared in court Thursday for his final pre-trial hearing, entering the courtroom in tan prison attire, carrying a notebook, and at times donning glasses to read. He waved to supporters in attendance before confirming to District Judge Arun Subramanian that he was rejecting the prosecution’s plea offer. “Yes, I do,” Combs replied when asked directly by the judge if…

The Israeli Air Force launched airstrikes early Friday near the Syrian presidential palace in Damascus, in what Israeli officials described as a stern warning to Syria’s leadership following days of intense sectarian violence between pro-government militias and fighters from the Druze minority. The strikes, confirmed by Israel’s military, marked the second attack in Syria this week. They targeted areas adjacent to the residence of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, though specific damage or casualties have not yet been disclosed. In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that the strike was “a clear message to…

A night of baseball turned tragic on Wednesday after 21-year-old Kavan Markwood fell from the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall in right field at PNC Park during a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs. The fall left him critically injured and fighting for his life, according to officials and community members. The incident occurred during a moment of celebration when Pirates veteran Andrew McCutchen hit a double. Markwood, reportedly cheering with friends, lost his balance and fell from the bleachers, landing on the warning track below. Pittsburgh Public Safety is treating the incident as accidental. Markwood, a standout athlete…

Jill Sobule, the trailblazing singer-songwriter best known for her witty pop anthem Supermodel and the pioneering LGBTQ hit I Kissed a Girl, has died in a tragic house fire. She was 66. Sobule’s body was discovered on Thursday in a home in Woodbury, Minnesota. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the blaze. Her longtime manager, John Porter, confirmed her passing in a statement to The Minnesota Star Tribune, describing Sobule as “a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture.” “I lost a client and a friend today,” Porter said in a separate…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a “national emergency” on Wednesday as fast-moving wildfires scorched areas west of Jerusalem, prompting mass evacuations, injuring several civilians, and threatening to engulf the capital itself. Thick plumes of smoke rose above highways as firefighters, soldiers, and emergency personnel rushed to combat the fires, described as the worst Israel has seen in over a decade. Blazes broke out in multiple forested areas near the cities of Modiin, Latrun, and Bet Shemesh, spurred by high temperatures and fierce western winds. “We are now in a national emergency, not just a local one,” Netanyahu said in…

A Palestinian student at Columbia University who was detained by immigration authorities earlier this month was released on Wednesday following a federal judge’s order, amid growing concerns over free speech and political retaliation. Mohsen Mahdawi, a lawful U.S. permanent resident, was taken into custody on April 16 while attending a U.S. citizenship interview. His case drew national attention after his attorneys argued that the Trump administration sought to deport him in retaliation for his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University during the early stages of the Israel-Hamas war. Speaking outside the courthouse in Burlington, Vermont, shortly after his release,…

A night meant for baseball and celebration turned tragic Wednesday at PNC Park when a fan fell over the outfield wall and landed on the warning track during the seventh inning of the Pirates-Cubs game. The incident occurred just moments after Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen hit an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to give Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead. Witnesses say the man tumbled from the right-field bleachers above the iconic 21 foot Clemente Wall and hit the ground hard near the field of play. Emergency personnel rushed onto the field as stunned fans and players looked on.…

Former Vice President Kamala Harris made a powerful return to the political spotlight Wednesday night, delivering a keynote speech that doubled as a searing critique of President Donald Trump’s administration and policies. Speaking at the 20th anniversary gala for Emerge America, a group dedicated to empowering Democratic women to run for office,  Harris addressed a packed room in the city where her political journey began. It marked her first major address since her 2024 election defeat to Trump. Without formally announcing a political comeback, Harris didn’t hold back as she accused the Trump administration of abandoning American ideals and weaponizing…