Andy Serkis said his upcoming &#8220;Lord of the Rings&#8221; film will not embrace “politically correct” casting, saying he won&#8217;t prioritize diversity for its own sake. 
Speaking to the BBC, Serkis, who is directing &#8220;The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum&#8221; and portrayed Gollum in Peter Jackson&#8217;s film trilogy, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c07y400jlngo">said</a> J.R.R. Tolkien&#8217;s fantasy world was inspired by Norse mythology and that diversity would be included only “where relevant.”
Serkis said Tolkien&#8217;s depiction of the Shire reflects its inspiration in Northern European folklore.
“The Shire feels very, very much like a very, a very white, you know …” he said, trailing off before continuing. “They&#8217;re not very concerned about what goes on beyond the borders of The Shire, but they know they don&#8217;t want people coming in.”
His highly anticipated upcoming movie features a predominantly white cast, including Jamie Dornan, Anya Taylor-Joy, Kate Winslet, and Leo Woodall, with returning stars Elijah Wood and Sir Ian McKellen. 
During the BBC interview, Serkis acknowledged criticism of the original franchise but added that diversity would be included only where it fit the story.  
“This particular film is somewhat acknowledging that, but I don&#8217;t think we will be doing a politically correct just-casting-for-the sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes version of the film,” Serkis said.
The original &#8220;Lord of the Rings&#8221; trilogy faced criticism from some commentators over its lack of racial diversity. Amazon&#8217;s later adaptation, &#8220;The Rings of Power,&#8221; drew criticism from others for introducing race-swapped elves, dwarves, and other characters. 
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk took to X in 2022 to comment on the movie, saying “Tolkien is turning in his grave.”
In a 2018 <a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/black-panther-martin-freeman-andy-serkis-on-being-the-only-white-actors/">interview</a> with Radio Times, the 62-year-old voiced his agreement with Hollywood&#8217;s diverse casting. Serkis said his experience as one of the few white actors filming “The Black Panther” helped him understand how minorities feel on set. 
“[Director] Ryan Coogler said to me and Martin, ‘Guys, I have to tell you this, but this is the first scene I&#8217;ve directed with two White actors in it,’” Serkis said. “That&#8217;s an incredible perspective to find yourself in.”
“The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” is scheduled for release in December 2027.

New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Director Rejects ‘Politically Correct’ Casting

Andy Serkis

Diversity

Hollywod

Lord of the Rings

A crime-ridden homeless encampment in New York City expanded to twelve blocks of Manhattan’s West Side, where drugs, prostitution, and theft are rampant.
The multi-block eyesore of tents and temporary shelters stretches from 34th Street to 46th Street along 11th Avenue near the Intrepid Museum, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/12/us-news/lawless-nyc-homeless-encampment-near-intrepid-grows-to-12-blocks-as-locals-plead-for-officials-to-step-in/">according</a> to the New York Post. The encampment continues to be a growing concern for many residents who have not seen any change or enforcement.
“We can&#8217;t get rid of them,” said a city parks enforcement officer on Sunday. “These ones here are stealing everything. They stole our key for the hose. They stole our ladder. They take what they can. And there are escorts in there too. Prostitutes. I see them, they’re right there.”
The NYPD is no longer authorized to clear homeless encampments under new measures enacted by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration. The Department of Homeless Services was supposed to manage the encampment sweeps, but has yet to do so, according to the Post.
Theft flourishes in the encampment as homeless vagrants display expensive electronics and relax on stolen furniture. Broadway theater lights and even upscale telescopes are flaunted, the Post reports. Prostitution and drug peddling also run rampant throughout the tents and grimy public restrooms in broad daylight.
“It stinks,” said a maintenance worker from the nearby Jacob Javits Center. “They were setting up in the park at 3 this morning and it’s just too much. It’s getting bad again, very bad.”
“We kicked them out, now they’re over here,” he said. “One thing is for sure though, there are more today than there were last month, that’s for sure.”
Mamdani’s handling of the homelessness crisis has been under scrutiny after he promised to take a more humane approach to homelessness. A vagrant called Mamdani “awesome” for stopping police sweeps and permitting the lawless encampment to continue. 
“The scariest parts are on 36th and 37th right now,” said a supervisor from the Javits Center. “It’s just heroin addicts.”
City records showed that calls to the 311 number to complain about vagrants in the area increased from 40 calls in 2025 to 48 in 2026, according to The Post.
The records revealed that so far this year, 28 of the 48 calls were for homeless people in need of help. The other 20 calls were about the 12-block encampment. Thirty calls were received in June and eight in July.
“Most people would agree that leaving people on the street indefinitely isn’t compassion, it’s neglect,” said Steve Fulop, the president and CEO for the nonprofit Partnership for the City of New York. “We’ve seen in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco that letting encampments grow unchecked fails the homeless and erodes quality of life for everyone else.”
Cristyne Nicholas, chair of the New York State Tourism Advisory Council, said the encampment “doesn’t put New York tourism in a positive light.”
“Tourists are forced to walk around squalor and stench,” she said. “We want visitors to feel safe and welcome.”

Crime Surges As NYC Homeless Encampment Sprawls Across 12 Blocks

Crime Flourishes As Homeless Encampment in NYC Grows To Cover 12 Blocks

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) vetoed a deal between Volkswagen and Rafael — an Israeli defense technology company — to utilize one of the auto company’s struggling plants that is at risk of closing, according to Bild, a German newspaper.
In late April, a prospective solution to save Volkswagen’s Osnabrück plant emerged when Volkswagen signed a letter of intent with Rafael to manufacture Iron Dome components for missile defense systems at the facility, with production scheduled to end next year, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/vw-investor-qatar-complicates-plant-deal-talks-with-israeli-arms-maker-sources-2026-06-17/">according</a> to Reuters.
Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund opposed Volkswagen’s deal with Rafael to repurpose the plant, which has around 2,300 employees who are at risk of losing their jobs. 
The QIA holds major influence as Volkswagen’s third-largest shareholder, with 10.4% of the total share capital and 17% of Volkswagen’s voting rights, The Jerusalem Post <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-902126">reported</a>. 
The QIA vetoed the deal due to the hostility between Israel and Qatar, which would complicate Doha’s position in the Middle East’s conflict. Qatar has extensively supported Palestine and has no diplomatic ties to Israel. Instead, Qatar became a mediator for Israel and Hamas, where Hamas has a political office, according to Reuters.
In an attempt to find a solution, Lower Saxony, a German federal state and major Volkswagen shareholder, could join the collaboration ⁠between Volkswagen and Rafael, two sources told Reuters.
Olaf Lies, the State Premier of Lower Saxony and a member of Volkswagen&#8217;s supervisory board, declined to comment on QIA&#8217;s move but implored the auto company to find a long-term solution for the Osnabrück branch. 
“I ​expect the company to live up to this responsibility and present ​the announced decisions in a timely manner,” Lies told Reuters. “The state will provide constructive support wherever it is appropriate and possible.”

Qatari Money Threatens To Rob Hundreds Of Workers Of Their Jobs

Germany

Israel

Qatar

Volkswagen

Republican Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley is investigating FBI Director Kash Patel&#8217;s alleged misuse of taxpayer money on lavish travel and personal projects. 
Grassley wrote a letter to Patel in May asking for more information about his taxpayer-funded flights and purchase of BMW vehicles as head of the FBI, which was revealed <a href="https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-members-raskin-durbin-launch-bicameral-investigation-into-kash-patel-s-abuse-of-fbi-jets-and-tax-dollars-following-private-senate-gop-letter-questioning-patel-s-spending-travel">in a letter</a> this week from Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrats on the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. Durbin first <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2026-02-24%20Letter%20to%20GAO%20and%20DOJ%20IG%20on%20Kash%20Patel%20Olympic%20Travel.pdf">sent a letter</a> about Patel&#8217;s activities to federal officials in February. 
Raskin and Durbin wrote they “appreciate Chairman Grassley raising these concerns, which mirror those raised repeatedly by House and Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats.”
Grassley said Thursday that Democrats are &#8220;riding his coattails&#8221; and criticized his colleagues for not holding past directors accountable under Democratic administrations. Grassley emphasized in his letter that he&#8217;s held FBI leaders of both parties to account.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I see Dems r riding my coattails &amp;suddenly showing interest in doing oversight of FBI aircraft Where was that energy w Wray&amp;other directors??? My oversight is the same no matter the admin UNLIKE Dems who only seem interested in oversight when it benefits them politically
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) <a href="https://x.com/ChuckGrassley/status/2075353795081408952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
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“For each trip where you used an FBI aircraft for personal travel, have you reimbursed the FBI as required by law? If yes, please provide the records,” Grassley&#8217;s letter asked.
Grassley, who has defended and praised Patel in the past, requested that his transportation be subject to an “independent and objective review.” He also questioned why the FBI opted to purchase BMW vehicles rather than Chevy Suburbans, which has previously been standard. 
“Government agencies, including the FBI, routinely evaluate, replace and update vehicle fleets based on usage, security needs or budgetary decisions,” said FBI Spokesman Ben Williamson last year. 
In their letter, Raskin and Durbin referenced a whistleblower that claimed Patel told field office personnel last year, “If you have golf, hockey, fishing, or hunting and beautiful sights, you’re going to see a lot of me.”
Durbin&#8217;s February letter highlighted Patel&#8217;s trip to the Olympics, during which he celebrated in the locker room with the American hockey team after their gold medal win. He&#8217;s also been accused of using his FBI jet to travel to his girlfriend&#8217;s country music concerts on the taxpayer&#8217;s dime.
The allegations have drawn the ire of Democrats for much of Patel&#8217;s term leading the FBI. He has repeatedly denied any misconduct.

FBI Director Patel And Eastern District U.S. Attorney Nocella Holds News Conference On Major Illegal Sports Gambling Schemes

Powerful Senate Republican Joins Democrats To Investigate Top Trump Official

Chuck Grassley

kash patel

A prolific Republican donor stated on Wednesday that he would support Secretary of State Marco Rubio rather than Vice President JD Vance if they both run in the 2028 GOP presidential primary.
Ken Griffin, a billionaire investor who contributed over $100 million during the 2024 election, made the remark at a private conference known as the “Billionaire Summer Camp” in Sun Valley, Idaho, according to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/08/ken-griffin-gop-rubio-vance-2028">Axios</a>. With his piles of cash, Griffin would be an influential asset for Rubio in a presidential cycle.
During a Q&amp;A session at the conference, interviewer Andrew Ross Sorkin asked Griffin if he would back Rubio or Vance in a 2028 GOP presidential primary. Griffin said he has historically supported Rubio and donated to his unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign. Griffin also advised President Trump during the 2024 vice presidential search not to choose Vance.
While Griffin noted he would be inclined to support Rubio again if he were to run in 2028, Rubio has stated he would step aside and support Vance if the vice president ran.
&#8220;If JD Vance runs for president, he&#8217;s going to be our nominee, and I&#8217;ll be one of the first people to support him,&#8221; Rubio <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-2?_sp=66ff928d-0547-4be8-9f21-3d5c5d7322ce.1773164665694">told</a> Vanity Fair last year.
In May, Trump suggested that if Vance and Rubio teamed up on a Republican ticket for 2028, it would be &#8220;a dream team.&#8221;
&#8220;I think it sounds like presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate,” Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-takes-a-spontaneous-2028-presidential-straw-poll-vance-or-rubio">told</a> a group of law enforcement supporters at the White House.
Griffin did not donate to Trump’s 2024 campaign and instead supported former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. In 2022, Griffin told Republicans to move on from Trump, adding that it’s “time to move on to the next generation,” according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/06/gop-megadonor-desantis-24-ken-griffin-00065274">Politico</a>.
During Trump’s second term, Griffin has both praised some of the president&#8217;s policies and criticized others, as he supported Trump&#8217;s deregulation efforts while disapproving of his tariffs.

Trump, Vance, Rubio

GOP Megadonor Plants His Flag In Potential 2028 Primary

2028 presidential election

JD Vance

Ken Griffin

Marco Rubio

The woman surrounded by members of the extremist group Patriot Front in Washington, D.C., has been linked online to footage appearing to show a 2024 incident that reportedly led to an indecent exposure arrest.
The <a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-250-washingtondc-picture/">original viral photo</a> was captured by Reuters photographer Cheney Orr on the 250th anniversary of the United States. 
The woman in the photo was identified as Bernita Bowlding, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/07/07/family-black-woman-seen-viral-july-4-photo-says-shes-more-than-symbol/">according</a> to The Washington Post. The 33-year-old mother of two sat alone on the Metro surrounded by a sea of Patriot Front members wearing face coverings and khaki pants. 
Patriot Front is one of the leading white supremacist groups in the nation and claims to have hundreds of members, with 400 representatives showing up in D.C. to protest. Their goal is to establish the U.S. as a white ethnostate, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/05/us-news/chilling-photo-shows-black-woman-on-dc-train-surrounded-by-white-supremacist-thugs/">according</a> to the New York Post. The group was formed in 2017 by Thomas Rousseau following the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville. 
Attention has since turned to Bowlding&#8217;s own past. Footage circulating online alongside the viral photo appears to show her partially undressed on the floor of a Metro train before she stands.
Her brother, Paul Bowlding, told The Washington Post that she was arrested in 2024 during a mental health crisis. She was charged with indecent exposure, though the charge was ultimately dropped.
Many on the Left have compared Bowlding to Rosa Parks and other prominent figures from the Civil Rights Movement after seeing Orr&#8217;s original photo.
“That’s basically like hounds surrounding her,” said Bowlding’s brother to The Washington Post.
People have taken to X to <a href="https://x.com/Therealrobx/status/2074283676326674435">comment</a> on the incident. One X user pointed out that Bowlding “got home safe and without incident while being surrounded by men in mask[s].” 
Many have also compared Bowlding to the 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/iryna-zarutskas-accused-killer-wont-be-going-to-trial-anytime-soon">Iryna Zarutska</a>, who was murdered in an unprovoked attack on a Lynx Blue Line light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Zarutska was riding home on the train in North Carolina when she was fatally stabbed by Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., a repeat offender. Brown reportedly said “I got that white girl,” after he stabbed Zarutska, <a href="https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/cair-nc-responds-to-iryna-zarutska-case-charlotte/275-4b9a2edf-0562-41dc-bd8e-bf168b1da8bc">according</a> to WCNC Charlotte. 
People commenting under The Washington Post reporter Jasmine Golden’s X post <a href="https://x.com/jas__golden/status/2074579800522436835">commented</a> with side-by-side pictures of Bowlding and Zarutska, saying, “Guess which young lady made it home safely.”

Media’s Newest Race Hoax Victim Caught Exposing Herself On Subway Train

Reuters

Washington DC

A part-time conductor at a famous Tennessee railway has been fired after a viral video captured him spreading an Independence Day message to passengers. 
Jack Peterson, the now-fired conductor for Chattanooga’s Inclined Railway, can be heard in the viral TikTok video wishing the easily-offended passengers a “Happy Independence Day.”
“To the very, very few Americans in here, Happy Independence Day,” Peterson said in the video, while one of the passengers told him to “shut up.”
“To the rest of you. Welcome to the greatest country on the face of the planet, and if you disagree, you can leave,” Peterson said.
The video was taken and uploaded by Nathan Scherer, who traveled with his family from Florida to Chattanooga for July 4.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@natescherer/video/7658823571321392415" data-video-id="7658823571321392415">
<section><a title="@natescherer" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@natescherer?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@natescherer</a> Had an interesting train operator on The Incline in TN today <a title="lookoutmountain" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lookoutmountain?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#lookoutmountain</a> <a title="racism" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/racism?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#racism</a> <a title="xenophobia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/xenophobia?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#xenophobia</a> <a title="theincline" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/theincline?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#theincline</a> <a title="tennessee" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tennessee?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#tennessee</a> <a title="♬ original sound - Nathan Scherer" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7658823576195222302?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound &#8211; Nathan Scherer</a></section>
</blockquote>
Scherer used hashtags such as “racism” and “xenophobia” on TikTok, where the video has been viewed over 600,000 times.
“It just really upset me, the whole time riding down,” Charles Scherer, Nathan’s father, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@katiegweather/video/7659510303801019678">told</a> Katie Glanton with WTVC. “And I kept thinking the company needs to know about this because he was the only one representing the company and I just had a feeling that they don’t know that he is saying this.”
Scherer reported the incident to the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), and Peterson was fired immediately, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/08/us-news/tennessee-railway-conductor-jack-peterson-fired-over-his-viral-independence-day-message-to-passengers/">according</a> to the New York Post. 
“He will not work for CARTA or the Incline Railway again,” CARTA said in a statement <a href="https://newschannel9.com/news/local/after-viral-video-incline-railway-conductor-fired-carta-apologizes-for-remarks-he-made-carta-tiktok-tourism-scott-wilson-chattanooga-attraction">reported</a> by News Channel 9.
“I want to apologize directly to the passengers who experienced this and to everyone who has seen the video and felt its sting. It should never have happened,” said CARTA Chief of Staff Scott Wilson in an emailed statement. “We have zero tolerance for language that demeans or excludes anyone who rides with us.”
“For 131 years, the Incline Railway has welcomed visitors from Chattanooga and from around the world,” Wilson said. “Every passenger who boards our railway deserves to feel respected and welcome, and we are committed to making sure that is always the case.”
Peterson responded with his own statement and backed up his remarks, Fox 17 <a href="https://fox17.com/newsletter-daily/after-viral-video-incline-railway-conductor-fired-carta-apologizes-for-remarks-he-made-carta-tiktok-tourism-scott-wilson-chattanooga-attraction">reported</a>. 
&#8220;I&#8217;m very patriotic, it was the USA&#8217;s Independence Day. I was celebrating with my fellow Americans (native or non-native). I truly do believe we are the greatest country on earth. My statement about if you don&#8217;t like the country and don&#8217;t believe we are the best, then you can leave is a freedom of the ISA [sic] that many other countries do not have. It is not a racist or xenophobic thing to say. If you don&#8217;t believe in making this country better, then why are you here?&#8221;

A Patriotic Message To Passengers Just Got A Railway Conductor Fired

Railway Conductor Fired For Patriotic Message To Passengers

Independence Day

Tennessee

The roof of a wholesale store in Ocean Township, New Jersey, collapsed on Monday, trapping two shoppers inside.
There were 27 people inside the BJ&#8217;s Wholesale Club when a large section of the roof suddenly collapsed due to a heavy rain storm in the area, <a href="https://newjersey.news12.com/2026/07/06/roof-collapses-at-bjs-wholesale-club-in-ocean-township/128UzlO4BAdoGypMDmXBA6">according</a> to News 12 New Jersey. Two people were briefly trapped before safely exiting the building, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bjs-roof-collapses-heavy-rains-new-jersey-rcna353205">according</a> to NBC. The security footage shows people running for safety as part of the roof collapsed and water started pouring in.
First responders, including officers with the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and Ocean Township police, arrived at the store around 11:16 a.m, Syracuse.com <a href="https://www.syracuse.com/us-news/2026/07/roof-collapses-at-bjs-store-2-people-briefly-trapped.html">reported</a>.
“We did evacuate everyone out of the building. There were reports of two individuals trapped. They did escape the building,” said Chief Michael Sorrentino. 
Witness Ken Kalada was shopping for laundry detergent and first took a video of a large leak in the ceiling, according to NBC. He said a few seconds later the roof collapsed, and he was standing only 20 feet away. 
“I mean it was a thunderous boom. It made my ears ring,” Kalada said. “There was a girder nearby and I just leaned into that. There was a lot of yelling a lot screaming.”
He also said his instinct was to try to get out as quickly as he could because he feared more of the roof would collapse. 
A structural engineer will need to fully inspect the building and decide if it can be repaired or torn down. The Monmouth sheriff said 20% of the roof is now gone, but there were no injuries reported.
“We commend all first responders who worked with urgency under challenging circumstances,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “Despite the ongoing flooding and severe weather affecting our communities, all worked seamlessly together to ensure everyone was safely accounted for. Their dedication and teamwork exemplify the very best of public safety.”
On Monday afternoon, there were more than 60 million people that received flood watches across the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast.

WATCH: Insane Moment BJ’s Ceiling Caves In On Shoppers

New Jersey

Roof collapse

A toddler sustained a major brain injury and hearing loss after a careless California daycare worker threw him in the air and failed to catch him, according to a recent lawsuit. 
Video from the March 2025 incident at the Bay Club Clubhouse in El Segundo, California, captured the 23-month-old boy “C.K.” running up to the daycare worker, who started playfully swinging him around, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/06/us-news/moment-daycare-worker-throws-toddler-into-air-causing-brain-damage-suit/">according</a> to the New York Post. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
The parents of a toddler are outraged after video shows their son being tossed in the air, then dropped on the ground by a daycare worker in El Segundo. <a href="https://t.co/Om7egP4TQu">https://t.co/Om7egP4TQu</a> <a href="https://t.co/6KVqaxMXgR">pic.twitter.com/6KVqaxMXgR</a>
— California Post (@californiapost) <a href="https://x.com/californiapost/status/2074319454217892215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The worker then tossed C.K. above her head, but was unable to catch him. Both plummeted to the ground. The worker seemed to fall on top of the child in the video as well. 
The boy seems to hit his head from the fall and began to cry, and the video shows the other daycare workers covering their mouths in shock and horror. 
C.K.’s parents, Matt and Elena Kittle, said the fall resulted in traumatic brain injury and hearing loss, according to the lawsuit.
The Kittles are members of the Manhattan Country Club, and the membership <a href="https://www.bayclubs.com/clubs/manhattancc">includes</a> watching their children at the Bay Club Clubhouse with no additional fees. 
Matt dropped C.K. off on the day of the accident around 8:35 a.m. 
The lawsuit said Matt “received a call from the Bay Club stating that C.K had fallen and had since calmed down. The staff member said she did not think they needed to pick up C.K., but wanted them to know the incident took place.”
Matt received a call back from the daycare fifteen minutes later. “C.K. needed to be picked up and stated that they had not been able to settle C.K down,” said the lawsuit. “The Bay Club gave Mr. Kittle the impression that C.K had only sustained a minor injury.” 
One of the employees allegedly told Matt over the phone that C.K. only fell a foot and a half to the ground.
At 11:30 a.m., the toddler was taken to the ER at the nearby Torrance Hospital to assess his injuries, and he was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, according to the lawsuit.
“The right side of C.K.’s face was badly bruised,” the lawsuit papers said. “His right eye was swollen shut and his mouth was swollen. Upon arriving home C.K. was extremely drowsy, lethargic, and irritable.”
The toddler’s parents asked for the video from the daycare, which showed C.K. was at least six feet in the air before he fell. 
The Kittles requested the jury to decide an amount, and they accused the Bay Club of negligence, battery, fraud, and emotional distress in their lawsuit.
“C.K. is still experiencing symptoms from the traumatic brain injury including loss of hearing,” the lawsuit said.

Kindergarten, Child playing with brick toys at daycare nursery. Education development games for school toddlers kids

Daycare Worker’s Playful Toss Turns Into A Nightmare

California

Daycare

A heavily armed man was arrested earlier this week outside a North Carolina church after authorities found an arsenal of weapons, including two flamethrowers, in his truck. 
On Sunday morning during a service, a caller reported that an armed man wearing camouflage clothing was sitting in his truck in the parking lot of Wesley Memorial Methodist Church. Authorities responded to the call and arrested 44-year-old William S. Milliken III, charging him with possession of a weapon of mass destruction, impersonation of a law enforcement officer, and possession of a controlled substance, <a href="https://www.highpointnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30161/Officers-Arrest-Armed-Man-in-Church-Parking-Lot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the High Point Police Department.
Milliken was wearing body armor during his arrest and was disarmed by officers. He was taken into custody without incident and is currently being held at Guilford County Jail.
After Milliken’s arrest, the officers searched his truck and discovered several weapons, including a CO2-powered launcher made to resemble a handgun, two flamethrowers, two crossbows, more than 500 rounds of ammunition, rolls of black duct tape, three knives, and Oxycodone pills, according to police.
WFMY <a href="https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/man-with-flamethrowers-body-armor-500-rounds-ammo-arrested-outside-high-point-church/83-9a624fdd-9c94-4376-a36a-4534b90bd514">reported</a> that court documents revealed Milliken had a history of mental health issues. He possessed GPS coordinates, body armor, radios with police scanners, handcuff keys, an enlarged map of North Carolina, and a notebook with addresses of other churches, schools, and public buildings.
“Thanks to the quick action of our officers, a man armed with weapons was taken into custody before anyone was hurt,” Chief Curtis Cheeks III said. “The officers prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating and helped ensure everyone attending church services could return home safely.
“We also want to thank the community members who recognized a potential danger and had the courage to speak up. As we work to keep High Point safe, it is crucial that we continue to look out for each other,” Cheeks said.
Mayor Cyril Jefferson of High Point also <a href="https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/high-point/man-accused-of-bringing-flamethrower-to-high-point-church-had-notebook-with-addresses-of-churches-schools-mayor-says/">spoke</a> out about the incident.
 “Most importantly, no one was hurt,” Jefferson said. “Hundreds of people who had gathered to worship were able to return home safely to their families.”

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Police Stop Man With Flamethrowers Outside Church Service

Church

Crime

Deadly weapons

North Carolina

U.S.

Former Democratic Socialist campaign volunteer and transgender activist from Wisconsin, Teha Delaruelle, called for violence against Republicans in a series of social media videos. 
One video <a href="https://x.com/GrageDustin/status/2072377959827079634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2072377959827079634%7Ctwgr%5E742bd897c3661500ce5a7e409f44bc11ba49abcb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.x.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FGrageDustin%2Fstatus%2F2072377959827079634">shows</a> him sitting in front of a dry-erase board that reads “kill your local Republican,” <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/02/us-news/fired-trans-dem-campaigner-calls-on-followers-to-kill-your-local-republican-and-vows-trans-jihad/">according</a> to the New York Post. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨 WOW: Wisconsin Democrat staffer, Teha Delaruelle is calling on activists to &#8220;K*LL YOUR LOCAL REPUBLICAN.&#8221;
“We’re going to make this the moderate position for the state of Wisconsin”
WTF!? <a href="https://t.co/NdFeWaCjMX">pic.twitter.com/NdFeWaCjMX</a>
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) <a href="https://x.com/GrageDustin/status/2072377959827079634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
“We’re going to make this the moderate position for the state of Wisconsin,” the activist says, pointing to the message on the board. “But I need your help, because we have one month to do this, so let’s do it,” he says before giving a double thumbs-up to the camera.
In another video, Delaruelle <a href="https://x.com/GrageDustin/status/2072381320508899649" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared,</a> “We’re doing trans jihad.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
“We are doing Trans Jihad”<a href="https://x.com/FBI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBI</a> <a href="https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBIDirectorKash</a> <a href="https://t.co/66bZDakLkF">pic.twitter.com/66bZDakLkF</a>
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) <a href="https://x.com/GrageDustin/status/2072381320508899649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
“It’s about making the oppressor, the bigots, the animals that make up MAGA, for example, right? So for decades, everyone else, all the marginalized in-house minorities, we’ve had to be the ones that walk down the streets with anxiety, with fear, but no, no more, no, no, no, no, no, no more, folks,” Delaruelle says.
“We’re gonna do the reverse. We’re gonna make it so that they will be the ones that have to walk down the streets in fear, anxiety and worry. And we’re not gonna make this like, oh, they gotta do this for like, a week or something, where they get really scared. No, this is their new reality. And it’s never gonna change,” Delaruelle added. 
He ended the video by saying “peace” and flashing a two-finger peace sign.
Delaruelle also <a href="https://substack.com/@teatimewithteha">wrote</a> multiple Substack posts about Wisconsin politics and what he called &#8220;trans jihad.&#8221; 
“Society desires nothing less than our total extermination, therefore we must destroy their society,” he wrote. “We must answer this call to an existential struggle, our jihad, our trans jihad.” 
Delaruelle previously volunteered for Democratic Socialist Katrina deVille&#8217;s campaign for Wisconsin&#8217;s 8th Congressional District. DeVille is on the ballot in the upcoming Democratic primary in August. Both Delaruelle and deVille identify as transgender women.
DeVille told the New York Post that Delaruelle volunteered only briefly before being removed because he was “deeply troubled.” 
The candidate said he blocked Delaruelle from all of his social media accounts because Delaruelle was &#8220;actively creating a dangerous situation around my campaign.”
“I want to be clear that I do not accept or condone violence or threats toward anyone and do not encourage violence, hate, or threats of any kind,” deVille said.
The Republican Party of Brown County, Wisconsin, also <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrownCountyRepublicanParty/videos/we-condemn-the-disturbing-video-by-local-activist-teha-delaruelle-in-which-he-op/36728968963415994/">condemned</a> Delaruelle&#8217;s remarks. 
“The Republican Party of Brown County rejects all political violence and threats.”
Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Republican running for Wisconsin governor, also <a href="https://x.com/TomTiffanyWI/status/2072432894002479108">responded</a> to Delaruelle’s videos. “Just sick all around,” he posted on X.

SCRL_0007

Transgender Activist Unveils A New ‘Moderate Position’: ‘Kill Your Local Republican’

Transgender

Wisconsin

A man was fatally shot outside of a Walmart Supercenter during a dispute over a parking spot on Tuesday afternoon in North Lauderdale, Florida.
The victim, Bart Diguglielmo, was a 62-year-old New Jersey native and a retired US Army combat nurse, combat medic, and tactical communications expert, according to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/02/us-news/florida-woman-fatally-shoots-army-veteran-bart-diguglielmo-during-dispute-over-walmart-parking-spot/">New York Post</a>. 
A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h6zr9iFnEA">video</a> of the confrontation, which occurred around 12:30 p.m. on June 30, shows Diguglielmo and the shooter, an unidentified adult female, engaging in a heated “verbal altercation” outside of the store. Diguglielmo approaches the woman in the video, and the two are seen circling a car while arguing before Diguglielmo is shot and collapses to the ground.
Diguglielmo was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center, but he was later pronounced deceased, <a href="https://www.sheriff.org/pio/breaking-news/altercation-over-a-parking-space-escalates-to-fatal-shooting/">according</a> to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
“I was walking up and heard a lady screaming,” David Anderson, one of the witnesses, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-walmart-parking-space-shooting-north-lauderdale/">said</a> to CBS News Miami. “She was screaming and she was saying a lot of things.”
The shooter told officials it was in self-defense and has been cooperative with the ongoing investigation. 
When the investigation concludes, the Broward County State Attorney’s Office will decide if there will be any criminal charges against the shooter, per BSO homicide detectives.
Diguglielmo’s sister gave a statement to CBS News Miami over the phone, but did not provide her name. She said she was devastated by the loss of her brother and described him as a decorated military veteran who served in Desert Storm.
“He was a Christian man and a very good person and would not hurt anyone,” Diguglielmo’s sister said.

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Emily Briski