What began as a weeks-long luxury polar cruise has turned into a deadly outbreak, with three passengers dead, and a rare rodent-borne virus might be to blame.
The MV Hondius was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde — after completing visits to Antarctica earlier in its voyage — when a 69-year-old Dutch man died last month from the suspected hantavirus. Days later, his wife also died. On April 27, a British passenger was evacuated and tested positive for the virus. The third death, involving a German national, was reported Saturday.
Following the latest fatality, the cruise line reached out to local authorities for additional support.
Hantavirus, which is transmitted through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, typically begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches, before potentially progressing to breathing problems and possible lung or heart failure.
Roughly 150 people remain on board as authorities assess the situation. The ship has reportedly sought assistance after being denied permission to dock in the West African island nation of Cape Verde, according to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/04/world-news/mv-hondius-cruise-ship-at-center-of-suspected-deadly-hantavirus-outbreak-refused-permission-to-dock/">New York Post</a>.
One of the passengers, Jake Rosmarin, took to social media to express the gravity of the situation, saying the outbreak is not just a news report, it&#8217;s their lived reality.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Cruise passenger sobs about being stuck on cruise ship where 3 have died in hantavirus outbreak <a href="https://t.co/btzN1Fg8la">https://t.co/btzN1Fg8la</a> <a href="https://t.co/pe6GMQvkoe">pic.twitter.com/pe6GMQvkoe</a>
— New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/2051365409979265120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I&#8217;m currently onboard the MV Hondius, and what&#8217;s happening right now is very real for all of us right now,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We&#8217;re not just a story. We&#8217;re not just headlines. We&#8217;re people. People with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home. There&#8217;s a lot of uncertainty, and that&#8217;s the hardest part.&#8221;
He continued, &#8220;All we want right now is to feel safe, to have clarity, and to get home. So if you are seeing coverage about this, just remember that there are real people behind it, and that this isn&#8217;t something happening far away. It&#8217;s happening to us, right now.&#8221;
Medics are working to evacuate two additional passengers showing hantavirus symptoms.

Cruise ship on the ocean. Luxury liner at sea. Miami Beach with cruise ship. Sea water and cruise liner. Tourist cruise ship near coast. Ocean waves and vessel boat. Summer dream vacation. Boat trip.

Mystery Illness Eyed In Deaths Aboard Luxury Cruise

Travel

Virus

Less than a year after a devastating flood in Texas killed 25 young campers and two counselors, Camp Mystic has abandoned plans to reopen this summer after backlash and ongoing investigations.
The camp had initially aimed for a May 30 reopening, but faced intense scrutiny from Texas lawmakers, law enforcement, and victims&#8217; families. A recent state health agency review also found the camp failed to meet key safety and emergency requirements.
In a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/30/us/camp-mystic-texas-floods-closure.html">statement</a> released Thursday, Camp Mystic said it would not reopen and is “withdrawing its application for a summer 2026 camp license.”
“No administrative process or summer season should move forward while families continue to grieve, while investigations continue and while so many Texans still carry the pain of last July’s tragedy,” the statement read.
The camp said it did not want to &#8220;remove any doubt&#8221; that it had heard concerns from grieving families, state lawmakers, and the public, though it noted that “over 800 girls want to return” this summer.
The announcement follows contentious hearings this week at the Texas State Capitol, where the Eastland family, which owns and operates Camp Mystic, faced hours of questioning from lawmakers.
“If y’all are left as an operator in any form or fashion, what deterrent does that send to another operator that I can have kids die on my watch and still be an operator?” State Senator Charles Perry said.
State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst also questioned whether the camp was prepared to resume operations.
“Do you really think you’re ready to take on 500 children plus?” she asked.
The Eastlands defended their response to the disaster.
“This flood, we did not see coming,” said Edward Eastland, the camp&#8217;s director. “Our concept of high ground has now changed forever.”
Edward Eastland&#8217;s father, Dick Eastland, a former director of the camp, was among those who died in the flood.
Mary Liz Eastland, who also helps run the camp, said the family is willing to step back if necessary.
“We’re willing to take a step back, if camp can go on,” she said.
The camp is also facing multiple lawsuits from victims&#8217; families.

Death Toll Rises After Flash Floods In Texas Hill Country

Under Fire, Camp Mystic Pulls Back On Summer Plans

Texas

Tragedy

A federal grand jury has indicted the family involved in the assault on a Turning Point USA reporter at an anti-ICE protest earlier this month. 
The incident revolved around Savanah Hernandez, a TPUSA reporter who was allegedly attacked by the Ostroushko family while filming the protest in Minneapolis outside of a local ICE field office, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-to-investigate-family-accused-of-attacking-conservative-reporter-during-anti-ice-protests">reported</a>. Federal sources told Fox News the individuals were indicted Tuesday, and their names were officially released Wednesday afternoon.
Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, <a href="https://x.com/DAGToddBlanche/status/2049578866176393378">announced</a> the federal charges on X, stating, &#8220;Today, Christopher, Deyanna, and Paige Ostrouchko were indicted by a grand jury for allegedly assaulting journalist and Turning Point USA contributor Savannah Hernandez, while she was lawfully reporting on anti-ICE protests outside a federal building in St. Paul.&#8221;
&#8220;Hernandez was allegedly surrounded, physically assaulted, and shoved to the ground — simply because she was identified by the defendants as a conservative journalist. That is NOT &#8216;peaceful protest,'&#8221; he added. &#8220;These deplorable actions as charged in the indictment will not be tolerated in America, and this Department of Justice will always punish unhinged acts of political violence.&#8221;
FBI Director Kash Patel <a href="https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2049587089331618006">echoed</a> Blanche&#8217;s warning: &#8220;Let this be a message to others who may try something similar &#8211; this FBI will find you.&#8221;
Three individuals were arrested at the time, including Chris Ostroushko, his daughter Paige, and Paige’s boyfriend, Lorenzo Garcia, 20, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office told The Daily Caller. The indictments, however, included the mother, Deyanna, but not Garcia.
Hernandez caught several of the attacks on <a href="https://x.com/Savsays/status/2043088956351189051">video</a>, where she could clearly be seen being harassed and shoved by the protesters. In one of the videos, Chris could be seen pushing Hernandez to the ground.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
I&#8217;m waking up with a headache and stiff neck this morning due to how violently anti-ICE activist, Chris Ostroushko, shoved me down yesterday.
A second angle shows that he had to be held back by 5 men as he continued to charge at me.
I didn&#8217;t speak a word to him all day yet he… <a href="https://t.co/LjDx1GMLnF">pic.twitter.com/LjDx1GMLnF</a>
— Savanah Hernandez (@Savsays) <a href="https://twitter.com/Savsays/status/2043336993514373245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Another <a href="https://x.com/Savsays/status/2043893070517633258">video</a> shows the Ostroushko family discussing the attack beforehand, in which Chris can be heard telling his daughter to &#8220;Blow the whistle right in her f*cking ear.”
“I’m scared to report, Laura,” Hernandez <a href="https://x.com/Savsays/status/2043851758749819063">told</a> Fox News’ Laura Ingraham at the time. “This is my job. It’s what I’ve been doing for the last six years.”
“I can&#8217;t even interview people properly on the street because I get brutally assaulted and pushed to the ground by a 250-pound man for simply going and reporting on anti-ICE activities,” she added.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon <a href="https://x.com/AAGDhillon/status/2044018262812303729">confirmed</a> days after the incident that the Department of Justice and the FBI would investigate. Just two weeks later, the indictments followed.
Hernandez praised the indictments in an X <a href="https://x.com/Savsays/status/2049519249782116468">post:</a> &#8220;Cannot express how grateful I am at how swiftly the DOJ and FBI handled this. They’ve been doing an incredible job for the American people lately and I could not be more appreciative.&#8221;
***
Editor&#8217;s Note: This story was updated with the names of those indicted after more information was revealed Wednesday afternoon.

DOJ WHCA Shooting Presser

From Protest to Prosecution: Family Indicted In Attack On TPUSA Reporter

anti-ICE protests

Indictment

TPUSA

A pair of giant pandas will make their way to America as part of a ten-year agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, according to a statement from China on Friday. The male, Ping Ping, and the female, Fu Shuang, will relocate to Zoo Atlanta, becoming the third zoo in the United States to currently house the animals.
The announcement comes just weeks before President Donald Trump is set to visit Beijing, where he will meet with China’s President Xi Jinping.
Specific departure dates have not yet been given, but the zoo is currently working on facility upgrades and preparation work for the pandas&#8217; arrival, per the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-pandas-zoo-atlanta-743549119313ddeea6b1d838f76fe8b3">statement</a>.
Zoo Atlanta <a href="https://zooatlanta.org/two-new-giant-pandas-are-expected-to-arrive-at-zoo-atlanta/">said</a> Thursday that it was delighted and honored to be trusted to take care of the pandas. “We can’t wait to meet Ping Ping and Fu Shuang and to welcome our members, guests, city, and community back to the wonder and joy of giant pandas,” said the zoo’s president, Raymond B. King. 
The zoo cited a previous panda agreement with the association from 1999 to 2024, which &#8220;resulted in a highly productive 25 years of partnership,&#8221; where pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang gave birth to seven cubs. They returned to China once the partnership concluded.
America was briefly &#8220;panda-less&#8221; in 2024 when several agreements ended, marking the first time without pandas in fifty years since the first pair arrived in 1972.
Pandas have long been a broader symbol of China&#8217;s ties to foreign nations, where the country loans them to strengthen its relationships; the animals are typically sent back when the agreement ends. &#8220;Panda diplomacy,&#8221; as it&#8217;s commonly called, has been a practice since the People&#8217;s Republic of China&#8217;s founding in 1949 and can conversely be used to show the nation&#8217;s negative feelings toward another country.
In 2010, China <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/what-is-chinas-panda-diplomacy-how-does-it-work-2024-06-18/#:~:text=Former%20Chinese%20leader%20Mao%20Zedong,opens%20new%20tab%20Read%20more">recalled</a> two pandas from Zoo Atlanta after warnings from the nation of a meeting between then-President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama. Though there was no formal statement on the matter, some speculated the timing reflected Beijing&#8217;s displeasure with Washington.
The San Diego Zoo and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are the other two locations in the U.S. with pandas.

A Chinese Panda on a Tree

‘Panda Diplomacy’ Is Back And An American Zoo Just Hit The Jackpot

Animals

Atlanta

China

Communist China

General

Panda

U.S.

Would you steal from Whole Foods to make a statement?
Some Democrats answer that question with a resounding yes, but it leads one to wonder what happens to a society when the most basic forms of morality are at stake.
In a recent <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/opinion/shoplifting-political-protest-microlooting-whole-foods.html">episode</a> of The New York Times podcast “The Opinions,” leftist streamer Hasan Piker and New Yorker writer Jia Tolentino joined Times opinion editor Nadja Spiegelman to discuss a new kind of public expression — “Why petty theft might be the new political protest.”
The conversation began with a quick exercise on their moral code, in which Spiegelman asked questions such as “Would you dine and dash from your local diner?” and “Would you steal a book from the library?”
To these, Piker and Tolentino both responded “No.”
When asked, “Would you steal from the Louvre?” Piker said he thinks it&#8217;s &#8220;cool,&#8221; and that &#8220;we’ve got to get back to cool crimes like that: bank robberies, stealing priceless artifacts, things of that nature.”
From there, the conversation pivoted to the kind of growing socialist rhetoric where actions that used to be widely considered wrong are now justifiable: &#8220;Because the rich don’t play by the rules, so why should I?&#8221;
When Spiegelman asked, “Would you steal from Whole Foods?” the duo was almost gleeful in declaring that they had no reservations about doing so.
Tolentino proudly said she would, and admitted she regularly had, “I think that stealing from a big-box store — I’ll just state my platform — it’s neither very significant as a moral wrong, &#8230; But I didn’t feel bad about it at all,” she added. This is the same Tolentino who <a href="https://x.com/Daily_MailUS/status/2047050858055995511">owns</a> a $2 million house in Brooklyn.
Piker agreed, declaring he is “pro stealing from big corporations, because they steal quite a bit more from their own workers.” His defense is that stores already inflate prices with inevitable robbery in mind and still &#8220;end up having increased profit margins.&#8221;
The anti-capitalist who praises Hamas and believes America deserved 9/11 is also a millionaire who owns a nearly $3 million house in Los Angeles.
Though Piker admitted he himself does not steal, he added, “if someone needs the food, they should absolutely steal it.”
But when pressed whether the same mindset would apply to a Zohran Mamdani-run, city-owned grocery store with lower prices, apparently, the sentiment is markedly different.
&#8220;No, I would not, because I feel like that’s taxpayer-funded, it’s union labor, and the prices are also adjusted regardless,&#8221; Piker admitted.
Spiegelman further questioned the root of the new protest — anger at the wealthy. &#8220;What I’m seeing on TikTok and social media is people saying that they’re stealing from Whole Foods not just for the thrill of it, but out of a feeling of anger and moral justification.&#8221;
&#8220;I feel part of what I’m seeing around me is that people feel like the laws are immoral. The rich don’t play by the rules. We live in a society where there are billionaires; where the top 1% holds 32% of the net worth and the bottom 50% holds 2.5%.&#8221;
&#8220;So, at some point, if the laws don’t feel moral, do you start to question your own sense of having to abide by them?&#8221; Spiegelman asked.
To which Tolentino responded, &#8220;Of course.&#8221;

Stealing

Socialists Have Made A New Crime Into A Form Of ‘Protest’

Hasan Piker

Robbery

The New York Times

A newly introduced California bill meant to &#8220;protect&#8221; immigration support services is instead raising concerns that it could hinder independent journalism. In an era of citizen-driven accountability and viral exposés, some worry the measure could shield companies accused of fraud from public scrutiny.
Nicknamed by critics as the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” Assembly <a href="https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB2624/id/3371241">Bill</a> 2624, introduced by Democratic Assemblywoman Mia Bonta, the wife of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, would establish a confidentiality program for immigration service providers who face &#8220;threats of violence or harassment from the public.&#8221; 
The bill would also &#8220;prohibit a person from posting on the internet or social media &#8230; the personal information or image of a designated immigration support services provider, employee, volunteer, or patient, or other individuals residing at the same home address.&#8221; Violations could result in fines up to $10,000 or up to one year in jail.
Critics, including Republican Assembly member Carl DeMaio, believe the bill could be leveraged to block investigative reporting and “silence citizen journalists exposing fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars.&#8221;
&#8220;Instead of fixing the fraud problems being uncovered, Sacramento politicians are trying to shut down the people exposing them,&#8221; DeMaio <a href="https://ad75.asmrc.org/2026/04/13/ca-democrats-advance-stop-nick-shirley-act-to-criminalize-investigative-journalism/">said</a>.
&#8220;AB 2624 would allow activists and taxpayer-funded organizations to demand the removal of video evidence — even if it captures misconduct in plain view — and threatens journalists with massive financial penalties,&#8221; he added. &#8220;That’s not about public safety — it’s about protecting powerful interests.&#8221;
Nick Shirley, an independent journalist known for viral videos exposing alleged Somali daycare fraud in Minnesota, recently continued his work in <a href="https://x.com/nickshirleyy/status/2033708929398845886">California</a>, igniting an online <a href="https://x.com/nickshirleyy/status/2042411675307971061">feud</a> with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
In response to the bill, Shirley <a href="https://x.com/nickshirleyy/status/2043756610955423782">posted</a> to X, &#8220;Under AB 2624, government-funded entities like the Somali “Learing” Daycare centers would be protected from being exposed if they operated inside California.&#8221;
&#8220;The enemy truly is within. When our politicians would rather protect fraudsters and illegal migrants, it’s time for us to stand up or face mass oppression from the traitors who &#8216;rule&#8217; over us,&#8221; he added.
Bonta, however, rejected claims that the bill targets journalism. In a recent <a href="https://x.com/AsmMiaBonta/status/2044229820968796573">video</a>, she said, “People who work to help immigrant communities should not have to fear being doxxed for doing so.”
She said the bill is designed to shield workers from having their personal information publicly exposed and to provide legal tools to prevent and respond to targeted harassment.
“If MAGA can’t tell the difference between journalism and doxxing, that’s on them, because on my bill, there are no provisions related to journalism or fraud. This bill does not infringe on the First Amendment,” she said.

Activists Demonstrate Against ICE In New York City

California Bill Could Criminalize Fraud Reporting, Republicans Warn

California

Fraud

Journalism

Federal investigations are underway after TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez was attacked by a family while filming an anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis over the weekend.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon <a href="https://x.com/AAGDhillon/status/2044018262812303729">confirmed</a> the Department of Justice and FBI investigations on Tuesday after the Ostroushko family clashed with Hernandez at the protest outside the Whipple Federal Building, a local ICE field office, and a detention facility. The Hennepin County Sheriff&#8217;s Office has reportedly <a href="https://abc6onyourside.com/news/nation-world/tpusa-contributor-attacked-during-anti-ice-protest-federal-probe-underway-savannah-hernandez-andy-ngo-civil-rights">arrested</a> several people, three of them in connection with the alleged assault. 
The three individuals arrested include Chris Ostroushko, his daughter Paige, and Paige&#8217;s boyfriend, Lorenzo Garcia, 20, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office <a href="https://www.aol.com/articles/man-accused-attacking-conservative-journalist-211341530.html?guccounter=1">told</a> the Daily Caller.
Chris and Garcia were arrested for obstruction with force, while Paige was arrested for disorderly conduct. Chris&#8217;s wife, Deyanna, was also identified on video confronting Hernandez but was not among those charged.
Hernandez caught several of the attacks on <a href="https://x.com/Savsays/status/2043088956351189051">video</a>, where she could clearly be seen being harassed and shoved by the protesters. Paige, a sophomore at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, was shown blowing a whistle in Hernandez&#8217;s face before physically attacking Hernandez.
One video shows Chris pushing Hernandez to the ground.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
I&#8217;m waking up with a headache and stiff neck this morning due to how violently anti-ICE activist, Chris Ostroushko, shoved me down yesterday.
A second angle shows that he had to be held back by 5 men as he continued to charge at me.
I didn&#8217;t speak a word to him all day yet he… <a href="https://t.co/LjDx1GMLnF">pic.twitter.com/LjDx1GMLnF</a>
— Savanah Hernandez (@Savsays) <a href="https://twitter.com/Savsays/status/2043336993514373245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In another <a href="https://x.com/Savsays/status/2043893070517633258">video</a>, the Ostroushko family is seen discussing the attack beforehand, in which Chris can be heard telling his daughter to &#8220;Blow the whistle right in her f*cking ear.”
Chris Ostroushko was previously known to law enforcement, as Crime Watch Minneapolis <a href="https://x.com/CrimeWatchMpls/status/2043725239159279977">reported</a> that he was convicted of defrauding the state after he illegally received unemployment benefits of nearly $ 7,000 in the early 2000s.
In an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham on Monday, Hernandez <a href="https://x.com/Savsays/status/2043851758749819063">said</a> she believes the incident escalated because the protesters found out who she works for. &#8220;Since Charlie Kirk&#8217;s assassination, this is now the third time that people have come up to me &#8230; figured out I work for TPUSA, and have made a point to confront me, to threaten me, to harass me, and now brutally assault me, to prove a point.&#8221;
“I’m scared to report, Laura,” Hernandez admitted. “This is my job. It’s what I’ve been doing for the last six years.”
“I can&#8217;t even interview people properly on the street because I get brutally assaulted and pushed to the ground by a 250-pound man for simply going and reporting on anti-ICE activities,” she added.
&#8220;For far too long, the violent left has been allowed to get away with repeated attacks on journalists,&#8221; Hernandez <a href="https://x.com/Savsays/status/2043392312676397294">posted</a> to X. &#8220;I’m looking forward to justice being served after what happened yesterday.&#8221;
Border czar Tom Homan <a href="https://x.com/nicksortor/status/2043837999624970532">echoed</a> Hernandez on the show with Ingraham, &#8220;We cannot give up on this. We have to keep prosecuting these people &#8230; We cannot accept this as a norm in the United States of America.&#8221;

Police Line

Feds To Investigate Family Accused Of Attacking Conservative Reporter During Anti-ICE Protests

Editor&#8217;s Note: This story was updated Friday, April 3, after investigators revealed new information on Thursday about the case. 
***
An Arizona missing persons cold case turned into an investigative triumph when Christina Marie Plante was found alive after she disappeared more than three decades ago, the Gila County Sheriff&#8217;s Office <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1479304087566987&amp;set=pcb.1479304147566981">announced</a> Wednesday.
But not only is Plante alive and well, an investigator shared Thursday that the teenage girl actually ran away and has been secretly living another life since.
On May 15, 1994, the then-13-year-old left her home on foot in the small town of Star Valley, Arizona, to visit her horse at a nearby stable, authorities said. At some point after leaving her house, Plante vanished &#8220;without a trace&#8221; and was reported missing.
&#8220;At the time of her disappearance, extensive search efforts were conducted involving local law enforcement, volunteers, and regional resources,&#8221; authorities wrote in the statement. &#8220;Despite exhaustive ground searches, interviews, and investigative follow-up, no viable leads were developed.&#8221;
Her name was entered into national missing children databases and missing persons flyers were distributed throughout the country.
Until this week, the case remained active and ongoing, with investigators &#8220;periodically re-examining evidence and pursuing new information as it became available.&#8221;
<div style="width: 493px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="x15mokao x1ga7v0g x16uus16 xbiv7yw x85a59c x193iq5w x4fas0m x19kjcj4" src="https://scontent-lga3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/659027770_1479348987562497_6086883609209914846_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=127cfc&amp;_nc_ohc=jcaUoGpj-isQ7kNvwG-zG7g&amp;_nc_oc=AdpbJLazfVSn4II6MVN4bqkOY3WIhd3nSI7YDYbaO_DwF129HyN2uSI_2HQEqlm8an4&amp;_nc_zt=23&amp;_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.xx&amp;_nc_gid=JGBz8FdCuEUSJ1362NiKyQ&amp;_nc_ss=7a3a8&amp;oh=00_Af2ReAsEkuDnEy3Bxm7094k0WBSHxxf_BGQJSKV-lHADQg&amp;oe=69D462D6" alt="May be an image of text" width="483" height="621" data-visualcompletion="media-vc-image" />Credit: Gila County Sheriff&#8217;s Office</div>
It wasn&#8217;t until the sheriff&#8217;s office developed the Cold Case Unit with a &#8220;renewed commitment to unresolved investigations&#8221; that they reached a &#8220;breakthrough.&#8221;
Captain Jamie Garrett of the unit credits advanced technology and modern investigative techniques for the ability to have tracked down the now 44-year-old.
Garrett told <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/missing/girl-missing-1994-left-on-purpose/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NewsNation’s “Jesse Weber Live”</a> on Thursday that she spoke to Plante on the phone, who confirmed she was the missing girl from Star Valley.
Garrett said she was &#8220;dumbfounded&#8221; after learning there was no kidnapping involved. Instead, Garrett shared that Plante made the decision to run away, with the help of other family members.
&#8220;I guess she wasn&#8217;t happy with where she was living and who she was living with, and she ran away,&#8221; Garrett said of the phone call.
Garrett told Weber that she shared with Plante the authorities thought something sinister had happened, &#8220;You know, we were under the impression that somebody kidnapped you. It was deemed a criminal offense.”
Plante, according to Garrett, didn&#8217;t give much information about how she ran away or where she has been, but confirmed she is living under a different name.
“She’s in her adult life. She has her family now. That’s not something she even thinks about,” Garrett said.
The sheriff&#8217;s office initially wrote in the statement it wasn&#8217;t going to release any more information “out of respect for Christina’s privacy and well-being.”
“The Gila County Sheriff&#8217;s Office remains committed to pursuing all unresolved cases and encourages anyone with information regarding other cold cases to come forward.”

Detective workplace and evidence board in modern office

A Little Girl Who Went Missing 32 Years Ago Was Just Found Alive, But The Mystery Only Deepens

Arizona

Crime

Missing Person

Police

Another devastating blow to the European art world was unveiled after thieves broke into a private Italian museum, making off with three masterpieces in a heist last week that lasted only three minutes, officials said on Monday.
The robbery took place the night of March 22 at the Magnani Rocca Foundation in the Italian countryside near the city of Parma. The three stolen artworks by renowned French artists are worth roughly $10 million: “Les Poissons” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, “Still Life with Cherries” by Paul Cézanne, and “Odalisque on the Terrace” by Henri Matisse. A fourth piece was abandoned at the scene, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/30/world/europe/parma-art-heist-renoir-matisse-cezanne-italy.html#:~:text=Paintings%20Worth%20Millions%20of%20Dollars,to%20the%20Italian%20news%20media.">according</a> to the New York Times.
Four hooded thieves reportedly entered the museum through the front door, where they snagged the art from the French Gallery on the first floor. After they were interrupted by the museum&#8217;s security system, the group then escaped across the gardens and climbed over a fence to freedom.
From start to finish, the entire theft took just three minutes.
“Still Life with Cherries” by Paul Cézanne
<div style="width: 725px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="css-r3fift" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/03/30/multimedia/30xp-parma4/30xp-parma4-articleLarge-v2.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale" sizes=" ((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 60vw, 100vw" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/03/30/multimedia/30xp-parma4/30xp-parma4-articleLarge-v2.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp 600w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/03/30/multimedia/30xp-parma4/30xp-parma4-jumbo-v2.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp 1024w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/03/30/multimedia/30xp-parma4/30xp-parma4-superJumbo-v2.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp 2048w" alt="A painting of a plate of cherries and a mug on a table. " width="715" height="522" />Magnani Rocca Foundation, via Reuters</div>
“Odalisque on the Terrace” by Henri Matisse
<div style="width: 729px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="css-1m50asq" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/03/30/multimedia/30xp-parma3/30xp-parma-01-jbmt-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale" sizes=" ((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 60vw, 100vw" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/03/30/multimedia/30xp-parma3/30xp-parma-01-jbmt-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp 600w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/03/30/multimedia/30xp-parma3/30xp-parma-01-jbmt-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp 1024w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/03/30/multimedia/30xp-parma3/30xp-parma-01-jbmt-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp 2048w" alt="A print of a person lying on a stool and a woman naked from the waist up sitting and holding a violin. " width="719" height="489" />Magnani Rocca Foundation/Reuters</div>
The museum <a href="https://time.com/article/2026/03/30/italy-museum-art-heist-renoir-cezanne-matisse/">believes</a> a &#8220;structured and organized&#8221; gang was responsible, though the heist was “not completed” because of the quick response from local authorities. There have been no arrests in the days since, and the museum has continued operating as usual.
A police spokesman told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/30/style/magnani-rocca-art-heist-italy-scli-intl">CNN</a> the officials kept the heist a secret in hopes of catching the thieves if they returned.
It has been less than six months since the infamous Louvre heist transpired in Paris, France, where thieves stole $102 million worth of jewels and other items in the middle of the day. A lawyer for the foundation told CNN that the latest theft may have been inspired by the apparent &#8220;ease&#8221; of the previous crime.

“Boccioni 1900-1910 Rome Venice Milan” Exhibition

Three Minutes. Three Masterpieces. How Thieves Pulled Off A $10M Art Grab.

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In a society that loves to “blur the line” between man and woman, the result can be a strenuous casting process that might almost postpone production.
Take FX’s &#8220;Love Story.&#8221;
In the new show, viewers embark on the romantic yet tragic story of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, America&#8217;s most beloved couple in the 1990s. Ever known for their iconic fashion and good looks, choosing the right actors was indeed going to be a high task at hand.
Executive producers Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson shared with <a href="https://people.com/how-love-story-cast-newcomer-paul-anthony-kelly-exclusive-11906585#:~:text=NEED%20TO%20KNOW,agreed%20there%20was%20something%20special.">People</a> that selecting Sarah Pidgeon to play Bessette was a swift and easy choice: she “jumped out and stole the role” and immediately “won our hearts.”
But the same could not be said for Kennedy.
“We were three weeks away from shooting and we still [had] not cast him,&#8221; Simpson said. &#8220;We&#8217;d seen every male actor between the age of 25 and 38.”
“We were about to shut down production and pause because we couldn&#8217;t find him,” he added.
The show’s creator, Connor Hines, admitted he even sought out people on the street and at the gym to come read for the role. 
But the problem wasn’t that they didn’t like their interviewees, Simpson said. There was something else missing.
“Part of it was just that sort of &#8217;80s, old school masculinity — a man with hair on his chest, sort of Richard Gere, Tom Selleck — the classic chiseled looks,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;We&#8217;re not making those guys anymore, for some reason, and he really needed to have that.&#8221;
In a GQ <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/how-love-storys-paul-anthony-kelly-became-jfk-jr">article</a>, Simpson elaborated further: &#8220;It’s these men with broad shoulders and they are in shape, but they’re in shape because they’ve been throwing a football around, not because they’ve been working on every muscle in their body for a Marvel movie.&#8221;
&#8220;We live in a world of electrolysis men, and it was a real challenge to find that sort of guy — a guy that women and gay men are attracted to, but also guys want to hang out and have a beer with.&#8221;
Something needs to be said if even Hollywood starts admitting there&#8217;s a masculinity problem.
The producers retraced their steps and considered the self-tapes they had already received, pulling out 13 new guys to come in and read. To their luck, Paul Anthony Kelly was among that group.
&#8220;You&#8217;re crazy if you don&#8217;t cast him,&#8221; Simpson recalled a makeup artist saying as she walked past.
Beyond his similar look to JFK Jr. — tall height, handsome, and yes, even chest hair — Simpson said Kelly had an &#8220;ease and charm&#8221; about him that was immediate. After a chemistry read with Pidgeon, there was no doubt the producers had found their Kennedy.
Now, Kelly is marking his first major debut and <a href="https://www.insidehook.com/style/actor-paul-anthony-kelly-oscars-best-dressed">becoming</a> his own American heartthrob.

FX’s “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” Red Carpet Premiere

The Difficult Task Of Casting JFK Jr. For ‘Love Story’ In The 21st Century

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In 2019, a journalist asked Iranian Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif why people are executed in Iran for being gay. His <a href="https://www.iranhr.net/media/files/Rapport_iran_2024-WEB.pdf">response</a>: “Our society has moral principles. And we live according to these principles … That means that the law is respected, and the law is obeyed.”
Under Islamic law, homosexuality is a crime punishable by imprisonment or execution for those who violate it. One could assume the conservative Islamic regime would produce similar consequences for transgenderism. But it is, in fact, legal and religiously permissible.
In the Western world, LGBT advancements are seen as a form of liberation. But in Iran, a complex dichotomy remains — where homosexuality can lead to death, yet transgenderism is given the green light. However, the practice is not celebrated so much as it is utilized as a cure for homosexuality. And in some cases, it is involuntary.
Transgenderism in Iran first surfaced in the 1980s. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founding supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, issued a fatwa — a religious decree — to legalize transgenderism, with the requirement that they are diagnosed with gender dysphoria and undergo surgery for sex changes. <a href="https://iranwire.com/en/women/124596-influential-iranian-women-maryam-khatoonpour-molkara-1950-2012/">Maryam Khatoon Molkara</a>, an Iranian transgender activist, is credited as the driving force of the movement. After years of writing letters and persisting with Khomeini, even visiting his home to plead his case, Molkara convinced the supreme leader to authorize transgender surgery in 1987.
Khomeini determined there was nothing in religious law that condemned transgenderism; rather, it could medically serve as a correction for the mental disorder.
A religious cleric, Hojatolislam Muhammad Mehdi Kariminia, famously <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7259057.stm">said</a> an operation is no more a sin than &#8220;changing wheat to flour to bread.&#8221;
He said, &#8220;Islam has a cure for people suffering from this problem. If they want to change their gender, the path is open.&#8221;
But Kariminia clarified his stance on homosexuality. &#8220;The discussion is fundamentally separate &#8230; Absolutely not related. Homosexuals are doing something unnatural and against religion,&#8221; Kariminia added.
However, ongoing reports suggest transgenderism in Iran may at times be exploited. Put plainly, some may be forced to transition.
A New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/world/middleeast/iran-transgender-surgery.html">article</a> published in October 2025 highlights the paradox: “For 40 years Iran has performed more gender transition surgeries than many other nations, largely a result of pressuring gay and gender-nonconforming citizens to undergo unwanted operations or risk the death penalty.”
The United Nations also expressed its concerns in a 2023 <a href="https://docs.un.org/en/CCPR/C/IRN/CO/4">report</a> that gay and lesbian Iranians are being &#8220;pressured into undergoing gender reassignment surgery without their free consent.”
An Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/a66b2167bb1744e6b12ba8ff1ef97c21">article</a> from 2018 stated that transgender surgery in Iran aims to cure the &#8220;disease,&#8221; and that those who &#8220;choose not to undergo surgery and get new documents can face arrest by police for dressing in a way that contradicts their government-recognized gender.”
As one of the few Muslim countries that offer these surgeries, Iran seems to be capitalizing on the endeavor: &#8220;Now, faced with an economy crippled by war and sanctions, the Islamic Republic is promoting its expertise to a global audience, hoping to attract transgender foreigners with the promise of inexpensive surgeries packaged with luxury hotel stays and sightseeing tours,&#8221; the Times noted.
According to the website of the medical company IranMedTour, compared to the cost of a transgender procedure in the United States (which can be $45,000), transgender surgery in Iran is much lower, with prices less than $12,000. &#8220;Other companies advertise procedures at government hospitals for as low as $4,500.”
The goal, according to the outlet citing Iranian media, is to raise over $7 billion annually in medical tourism.
What started as a plea for &#8220;transgender rights&#8221; from Molkara has turned into a compulsory crackdown on homosexuality and a vending machine bringing in cash from the rest of the world.

Trans_Gay_Fate_Iran

You Can Be Trans In Iran, But Being Gay Might Get You Killed

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The Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, came to a sensational close on Sunday after the United States men’s hockey team defeated Canada, capturing the twelfth and final gold medal for Team USA.
But it was after America&#8217;s victory in the mixed team aerials freestyle skiing event on Saturday that officially marked the country’s most gold medals in Winter Olympics history. The previous record of ten gold medals was won in the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This year, the U.S. placed second overall with thirty-three medals — twelve gold, twelve silver, and nine bronze. As predicted, Norway reigned with forty-four medals (eighteen gold), and the host country slightly trailed behind the U.S. with thirty total medals (ten gold).
The most notable wins came from the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/usa-wins-olympic-hockey-gold-in-ot-thriller-over-canada?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=12&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=USA+Wins+Olympic+Hockey+Gold+In+OT+Thriller+Over+Canada">men&#8217;s</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/revenge-served-cold-team-usa-takes-gold-over-canada-in-olympic-sudden-death-overtime?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Revenge+Served+Cold%3A+Team+USA+Takes+Gold+Over+Canada+In+Olympic+Sudden-Death+Overtime">women&#8217;s</a> hockey teams, which both secured first place after suspenseful overtime games against rival Canada.
Two gold medals were won in figure skating this season, one in the team event and one by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/american-figure-skaters-father-narrowly-escaped-china-she-just-won-olympic-gold?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Alysa+Liu%E2%80%99s+Father+Escaped+China.+She+Just+Won+Olympic+Gold+For+The+United+States.">Alysa Liu</a>, the twenty-year-old who returned to the sport after a two-year break and became the first American woman to win a medal in figure skating in two decades.
Other significant wins came in alpine skiing with Breezy Johnson in the women’s downhill and Mikaela Shiffrin in women&#8217;s slalom.
In freestyle skiing, Elizabeth Lemley took first in women&#8217;s moguls and Alex Ferreira in the men’s freeski halfpipe. Jordan Stolz won two gold medals in speed skating, as well as a silver. In cross-country skiing, Ben Ogden won silver in the men’s sprint classic.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/meet-elana-meyers-taylor-the-american-bobsledder-who-finally-won-her-first-gold-medal?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Meet+Elana+Meyers+Taylor%3A+The+American+Bobsledder+Who+Finally+Won+Her+First+Gold+Medal">Elana Meyers Taylor</a> finally won her first gold medal in the women’s monobob at her fifth Olympic Games, with teammate Kallie Humphries behind her in bronze. The 41-year-old also became the oldest athlete to win an individual event in the Winter Games.
There were some major disappointments, namely <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/olympic-heartbreak-quad-god-ilia-malinin-breaks-under-pressure-fails-to-medal-in-milan?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Olympic+Heartbreak%3A+%E2%80%98Quad+God%E2%80%99+Ilia+Malinin+Breaks+Under+Pressure%2C+Fails+To+Medal+In+Milan">Ilia Malinin</a>, the &#8220;Quad God,&#8221; who delivered a devastating routine in the free skate and finished eighth, despite being heavily favored for gold. Amber Glenn was aiming for the podium as well, but missed a key jump in the short program, which crushed her opportunity for a medal. Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates just slightly missed first in their event, finishing with the silver. Chock, Bates, and Malinin did, however, play a major role in solidifying the gold for the team event.
Snowboarder <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/snowboarder-chloe-kim-falls-short-of-historic-gold-medal-threepeat?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=American+Snowboarder+Chloe+Kim+Falls+Short+Of+Historic+Gold+Medal+Threepeat">Chloe Kim</a> was also hoping to earn her third consecutive gold medal in the women’s halfpipe, but was edged out by Korea’s 17-year-old Choi Ga-on and finished with the silver.

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Andie Valdes