Iran’s despotic theocratic government is trumpeting that they have arrested over 700 people and executed six accused of belonging to an “Israeli spy network” since Israel’s June 13 attack.
“Reports show men in prison jumpsuits confessing that they were recruited as Israeli spies, along with weapons they were supposedly planning to use. Analysts say the confessions are probably coerced, and an analysis of the images by the FRANCE 24 Observers team found no evidence of any Israeli-made weapons among the supposed seizures,” <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20250627-iran-arrests-seized-weapons-mossad-connection-israel">France 24</a> reported, adding that Iranian state media revealed at least six men accused of spying for Israel have been executed since the Israeli attack on June 13: Edris Ali, Azad Shojaei, Rasoul Ahmad Mohammad, Madjid Mossayebi, Esmaeil Fekri, and Mohammad Amin Shayesteh.
“In two instances where state media have presented images of these confiscated weapons, the photographs appear to be either fake or staged,” France 24 noted.
“So far, we have seen reports of the arrest of hundreds of people over alleged accusations of espionage, of cooperation with Israel,” Hussein Baoumi, the deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, told CNN on Thursday. “We have also seen the execution of at least six men since the 16th of June on similar accusations. To be absolutely clear, these are people that were — had trials that would run into about 10 minutes in front of revolutionary courts that lack any resemblance of fair trials and where the use of forced confessions is quite worried (sic).”
“What we are seeing really is a continuing of what the Iranian government and authorities have been doing for months, but also for decades and years,” he continued. “I mean, what we have been seeing is that this is a government that has been using arrests and executions to crack down on any sort of opposition. We have seen how the government have used arrests and executions against protesters in recent years. &#8230; This needs to be put in its own context, right, which is that this is a government that has lived under massive impunity for decades. Iranian officials feel empowered to do so because they do not expect any sort of retribution or any sort of being held accountable for their crimes.”
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On Thursday, the Iranian exiled women&#8217;s organization Association Femme Azadi <a href="https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-859226">reported</a>, “Reports confirm the arrest of rabbis and religious leaders in Tehran and Shiraz, accused, without evidence, of ties to Israel.”

Members Of Iranian Community In Portugal Protest The Execution Of Demonstrators In Iran

In Wake Of Israel-U.S. Attacks, Iran’s Regime Starts Executions, Mass Arrests

Death

Global Politics

Iran

Israel

World

At least 20 Christians were killed and 52 others were wounded on Sunday when a radical Islamic terrorist opened fire in an Orthodox church in Damascus, Syria, and then detonated an explosive vest, according to Syria&#8217;s interior ministry.
The terrorist, affiliated with ISIS, targeted Mar Elias Church in Dweila, on the outskirts of Damascus, the BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c307n9p43z9o">reported</a>. A person who witnessed the attack told AFP news agency that &#8220;someone entered carrying a weapon&#8221; and began firing at worshipers. A group of church members charged the attacker and &#8220;tried to stop him before he blew himself up,&#8221; the witness added.
Graphic footage of the aftermath of the bombing captured by the Syrian Civil Defence showed bloody bodies on the ground and rows of pews blown to pieces. Some local media reports said that children were among those killed in the terrorist attack, according to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/suicide-bomber-syria-church-dweila/">CBS News</a>.
Issam Nasr, a man who was at the church during the attack, said that he saw people &#8220;blown to bits.&#8221;
&#8220;We have never held a knife in our lives. All we ever carried were our prayers,&#8221; Nasr said.
The bombing marks the first successful jihadist attack on a Christian church in Syria since Bashar al-Assad and his government were toppled by Islamic extremists in December, according to Reuters. The Islamic State was behind multiple other recent attacks on Christian churches in the country, but none were successful.
Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is part of a Sunni Islamist group that has ties to al-Qaeda, has repeatedly vowed to protect religious minorities in the country, but violence against Christians continues. There are over 500,000 Christians in Syria, and they are regularly the victims of government oppression and Islamic extremism, according to <a href="https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/syria/">Open Doors</a>, which ranks the country at 18th on the list of countries where Christians face the most persecution.

Deadly Blast Kills At Least 20 At Church In Damascus

Jihadist Suicide Bomber Kills 20, Wounds Dozens More At Orthodox Church

Bombings

Christians

Persecution

Radical Islam

Shooting

Syria

Terrorism

A hot air balloon accident in Brazil has claimed the lives of at least eight people.
Twenty-one people boarded the balloon on Saturday morning in the city of Praia Grande, according to the governor of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello.
&#8220;21 people on board &#8211; 8 fatalities, 13 survivors,&#8221; Mello posted to X on Saturday. &#8220;Our teams continue to provide all necessary support to families and victims.&#8221;
&#8220;We are all shocked by the accident,&#8221; the governor said. &#8220;We continue to monitor the situation.&#8221;
Praia Grande is in southern Santa Catarina, which is a popular tourist destination, the BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17w04wxwpxo">noted</a>.
Video of the tragic accident was posted by an aviation news account, showing a fiery crash to the ground.
It&#8217;s unclear what caused the accident.
WATCH:
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At least eight people have died in a hot air balloon accident in Brazil, a state governor has said.
There were 21 people on board the balloon in the city of Praia Grande on Saturday morning, Governor of Santa Catarina Jorginho Mello said in a post on X.
Mello said 13 people… <a href="https://t.co/NwHWQImBvI">pic.twitter.com/NwHWQImBvI</a>
— Breaking Aviation News &amp; Videos (@aviationbrk) <a href="https://twitter.com/aviationbrk/status/1936428260365128019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2025</a></blockquote>

Preparing Hot Air Balloons To Fly over Cappadocia

Horrifying Video Shows Hot Air Balloon Accident That Left 8 Dead

Brazil

General

Tragedy

Food Network star Anne Burrell was discovered dead in her Brooklyn, New York, home on Tuesday morning. She was 55.
Her death was confirmed in a statement from the Food Network: &#8220;We are deeply saddened to share the news that beloved chef, Anne Burrell, passed away this morning. Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent—teaching, competing and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring. Our thoughts are with Anne&#8217;s family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.&#8221;
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We are deeply saddened to share the news that beloved chef, Anne Burrell, passed away this morning. Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent – teaching, competing and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring. Our… <a href="https://t.co/KABKH2SvkP">pic.twitter.com/KABKH2SvkP</a>
&mdash; Food Network (@FoodNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoodNetwork/status/1935101438931161477?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The cause of death for the TV personality has not been disclosed. 
Burrell made her Food Network debut in 2005 as part of the popular competition series &#8220;Iron Chef America,&#8221; serving as a sous chef for Iron Chef Mario Batali. She is also recognized for hosting the shows &#8220;Secrets of a Restaurant Chef&#8221; and &#8220;Worst Cooks in America.&#8221;
Burrell is survived by her husband, Stuart Claxton, his son, Javier, and her mother, brother, and sister, as Newsweek <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/anne-burrell-death-update-food-network-tributes-2087122">reported</a>.
&#8220;Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,&#8221; her family said in a statement. &#8220;Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.&#8221;
Tributes to the reality show chef have been pouring in since the news of her death broke. 
Her “Worst Cooks in America” co-host Robert Irvine wrote a lengthy post <a href="https://x.com/RobertIrvine/status/1935104672844673384">shared</a> to social media, saying he was &#8220;stunned and deeply saddened&#8221; by the passing of his colleague. 
&#8220;Anne wasn&#8217;t just a fiery chef. She was a radiant spirit who lit up every room she entered. From the very beginning on Worst Cooks in America, our friendly rivalry was fueled by mutual respect: I&#8217;d risk bleaching my hair; she&#8217;d risk losing hers. An epic wager that epitomized her unbeatable spirit. It was a wager I ultimately lost, but I couldn&#8217;t imagine losing to a more fierce competitor,&#8221; he wrote. 
Comedian Loni Love also offered her condolences, <a href="https://x.com/LoniLove/status/1935172639913340986">writing</a>, “Anne Burrell&#8217;s passing has left me in shock and sorrow. She was a gifted chef, and an extraordinary person. Chef Anne was the same on and off camera. She would just check on me out the blue. I will miss her tremendously. My condolences to her husband, family, &amp; fans. Rest Chef.&#8221;

Ann Burrell

Food Network Chef Anne Burrell Dead At 55

Brooklyn

Celebrities

Entertainment

Food Network

New York

U.S.

Jihadists massacred around 200 Christians in Nigeria last week after storming a predominantly Catholic farming community and setting fire to homes, according to multiple reports.
Last Friday and Saturday, Fulani Jihadist herdsmen targeted the Christians in Yelwata, in Nigeria’s Benue State, according to Catholic news outlet, <a href="https://cruxnow.com/church-in-africa/2025/06/latest-attack-reportedly-kills-nearly-200-people-in-nigeria">Crux</a>. The militants attempted to storm St. Joseph’s Church in Yelwata, which was housing families who had been displaced by previous Fulani Jihadist attacks in other areas, but were repelled by police, according to another report from <a href="https://www.churchinneed.org/nigeria-up-to-200-dead-in-worst-killing-spree/">Church in Need</a>. The militants then attacked the town square, setting fire to buildings and killing people while yelling &#8220;Allahu Akbar.&#8221;
According to eyewitnesses on the ground in the Nigerian community, the Jihadists &#8220;surrounded Yelwata &#8230; and began slaughtering people—mostly women, children, and displaced families who thought they had found safety here.”
“We’re still finding bodies in the bushes,” <a href="https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/fulani-jihadists-massacre-over-200-christians-in-nigeria">said</a> local youth leader Mton Matthias. “The death toll is rising every hour.”
Pope Leo addressed the &#8220;terrible massacre&#8221; on Sunday when he said Christians &#8220;were killed with extreme cruelty, most of whom were internally displaced persons hosted by the local Catholic mission.&#8221;
&#8220;I pray that security, justice, and peace will prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country so affected by various forms of violence,&#8221; Pope Leo said before he delivered the Sunday Angelus prayer, Vatican News reported. &#8220;And I pray in a special way for the rural Christian communities in Benue State who have been unceasingly the victims of violence.&#8221;
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Pope Leo prays for the victims of a “terrible massacre” in Benue State, Nigeria.
Around 200 people were “brutally killed” in Yelwata, in the Guma Local Government Area on the night of the 13th/14th June, the Pope said, most of them internally displaced persons “sheltered by the… <a href="https://t.co/gOZw8Ny0L2">pic.twitter.com/gOZw8Ny0L2</a>
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/VaticanNews/status/1934238312937537896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The violence against Christians in Nigeria is not new, but last week&#8217;s massacre marks the deadliest atrocity committed against Christians in the country in recent years, according to Church in Need. Fulani herdsman, made up of Muslims, regularly threaten farming communities, made up mostly of Christians, in Benue State. Between 2023 and 2025, more than 1,000 people have been killed as the Jihadists have clashed with farmers and Nigeria&#8217;s security forces, the BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyznnl4mddo">reported</a>.
According to Rev. Fr. Remigius Ihyula — director of the Justice, Peace and Development Foundation (JPDF) — the violence against Christians is part of an effort to clear the land of the Christian inhabitants.
“These Fulani militias are not just killing—they’re clearing land to claim it,” he <a href="https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/fulani-jihadists-massacre-over-200-christians-in-nigeria">said</a>. “And they’re being allowed to do it.”
The Nigerian government, led by Muslims, has been accused of looking the other way while radical Muslims attack and kill Christians.
“The credible evidence of who [the attackers] are is undeniable, so why is the government helpless in securing the safety of its citizens?&#8221; asked Father Moses Aondover Iorapuu, a Parish priest in Makurdi, Nigeria.

Religious cross on a building’s gable

‘Terrible Massacre’: Hundreds Of Christians Killed By Jihadists

Islamic Jihad

Murder

Nigeria

Pope Leo

Religion

Many people are believed to be dead after an Air India plane carrying 242 people crashed just after taking off from an airport in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday.
The plane, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was headed to the Gatwick Airport in Britain, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/plane-crashes-indias-ahmedabad-airport-tv-channels-report-2025-06-12/">reported</a>. According to Indian authorities, the aircraft crashed into a civilian area near the airport in Ahmedabad, striking a doctors&#8217; hostel at a medical college.
&#8220;At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates,&#8221; Air India <a href="https://x.com/airindia/status/1933100970399166759">said</a>. &#8220;The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals.&#8221;
Of the 242 people on board, 11 were children. Most of the passengers were Indian, while there were 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, according to Air India.
Videos circulating on X show the Boeing plane slowly descending over a residential area before it disappears, and then a massive fireball is seen.
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BREAKING:
A London-bound Air India Flight 171 has crashed into a residential area minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad, India.
The Boeing 787-8 was carrying 242 passengers and crew <a href="https://t.co/3BEOCmXLXd">pic.twitter.com/3BEOCmXLXd</a>
&mdash; Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) <a href="https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1933096124208013786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Ahmedabad Airport air traffic control said that the plane transmitted a &#8220;Mayday&#8221; call shortly after takeoff at 1:39 p.m. local time, but there was no response from the aircraft after the emergency signal, according to Reuters. More videos from a hospital in the city showed injured people being wheeled in on stretchers after the crash, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/12/world/india-plane-crash-ahmedabad/81db752f-d478-524a-97a0-8cd92518b600?smid=url-share">The New York Times</a>.
While the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft has experienced issues in the past, including forcing passengers to evacuate and suspending flights, there have been no fatal crashes reported until Thursday&#8217;s tragedy in India, according to the Times. Boeing has faced increased scrutiny recently over safety issues and deadly plane crashes. Last month, Boeing <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/23/boeing-737-max-crashes-doj.html">reached</a> a deal with the U.S. government, agreeing to pay around $1 billion to avoid prosecution over two crashes involving Boeing’s 737 MAX 8s that killed a total of 346 people.
One of the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/12/world/india-plane-crash-ahmedabad/268968e1-e8c8-5168-a4a9-78787ed911e3?smid=url-share">passengers</a> on the Air India flight was Vijay Rupani, the former chief minister of Gujarat, the state where Ahmedabad is located. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is from Gujarat, <a href="https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1933110947553681853">said</a>, &#8220;The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected.&#8221;

Plane crashes in western India’s Gujarat after takeoff

Plane With 242 People On Board Crashes After Takeoff, ‘Many Killed’

Air and Space

Airplane

Boeing

India

Plane Crash

Music icon Brian Wilson, co-founder of the musical group The Beach Boys, has died at the age of 82. Wilson’s family made the announcement on Wednesday via social media.
&#8220;We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,&#8221; said the Instagram statement shared alongside a photo of the musician smiling. &#8220;We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love &amp; Mercy.&#8221;
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Wilson is known for being songwriter and co-lead vocalist for The Beach Boys, as well as being one of the founding members. Other original members include Brian’s brothers, Dennis and Carl Wilson, his cousin Mike Love and his friend Al Jardine. Brian was 19 when the band was founded.
The group became known for their California beach vibe with hits like “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “Surfin’ Safari,” “Surfer Girl,” and other beach-centric songs. 
The Beach Boys moved beyond their original sound and cemented themselves as rock legends in 1966 with the “Pet Sounds” album and the single &#8220;Good Vibrations.&#8221; Both are now considered to be among the greatest and most influential works in the music world.
Following the success of his career, Wilson faced some mental health struggles compounded by the death of his father and the past abuse he faced as a child.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been through a great deal of mental anguish,&#8221; Wilson told <a href="https://people.com/brian-wilson-dead-82-beach-boys-singer-co-founder-8548234">People</a> in part during a 1983 interview. &#8220;I felt like a fat slob. It was very embarrassing. I used to go onstage and it was scary. Now I&#8217;m getting used to it. I feel a little more confidence in myself.&#8221; He also said he let go of &#8220;a lot of bad stuff&#8221; by going through therapy.  
In the mid-90s, the musician staged a bit of a comeback. Wilson went on to release his 11th solo album in 2012. 
&#8220;I feel good. I really do feel good these days,&#8221; the singer said at the time. &#8220;This whole year has been very emotional and — what do you call that word? — sentimental.&#8221;
Wilson was married twice. He is survived by his seven children, including two with his first wife Marilyn Wilson and five with his second wife Melinda Ledbetter. 
His daughters, Carnie and Wendy, are members of the band Wilson Phillips.

Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson, Beach Boys Founder And Legendary Songwriter, Dead At 82

Music

The cause of death for beloved “Cheers” actor George Wendt has been revealed as cardiac arrest, according to a death certificate obtained by <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2025/06/05/george-wendt-cause-of-death/#continued">TMZ</a>.
The outlet noted that the certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health lists cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as underlying causes. Other contributing conditions listed include end-stage renal disease or kidney failure, and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol).
Wendt died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 76 on May 20, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beloved-cheers-actor-george-wendt-dies-at-76">reported</a>. 
“Beloved actor and comedian, George Wendt, best known for starring in the NBC hit comedy ‘Cheers,’ has passed away,” a statement from his rep said. 
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=wisepops&amp;utm_campaign=dad&amp;utm_content=fathersdaygiftpopups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!</a>
“George’s family confirmed the news of his death early Tuesday morning, announcing he died peacefully in his sleep while at home,” it continued. “George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”
The actor hailed from Chicago and got his start with the famed improv comedy troupe Second City, also the launchpad for famous names like Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, John Candy, Steve Carell, Bill Murray, Chris Farley, and a host of others.
Wendt also appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” including his recurring role as Bob Swerski in the “Chicago Superfans” sketches. 
His movie acting credits include “Dreamscape” (1984), “House” (1985), “Fletch” (1985), “Gung Ho” (1986), “Plain Clothes” (1987), “Never Say Die” (1988), “Guilty by Suspicion” (1991), “Forever Young” (1992), and “Spice World” (1997).
Besides “Cheers,” Wendt’s TV appearances include “Seinfeld,” “The Simpsons,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Hot in Cleveland,” “Portlandia,” and “Fresh Off the Boat.” He had a self-titled show in 1995 that was canceled after one season. 
Wendt received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for six consecutive years for “Cheers,” and though he never won, the role is beloved by fans to this day.

George Wendt

Cause Of Death Revealed For ‘Cheers’ Star George Wendt

Cause Of Death Revealed For 'Cheers' Star George Wendt

Television

A 16-year-old illegal immigrant from Colombia who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/illegal-immigrant-teen-gets-off-easy-after-killing-colorado-woman-in-high-speed-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> probation and community service after killing 24-year-old Kaitlyn Weaver in a high-speed crash in Aurora, Colorado, was nabbed by federal immigration agents last week.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed on Thursday that the illegal immigrant teen was arrested &#8220;along with his family who are also illegal aliens.&#8221; Last July, the Colombian teenager plowed into Weaver&#8217;s vehicle while driving around 90 mph in a residential area, according to authorities. Weaver, who was driving home from work and talking over speaker phone with her boyfriend at the time of the crash, was &#8220;effectively killed instantly,&#8221; her father, John Weaver, said.
ICE&#8217;s Denver field office blasted the Arapahoe District Attorney’s Office for letting the illegal immigrant off the hook.
&#8220;For the @DA18th justice is no jail time and probation for this criminal alien who killed a young woman while driving more than 90mph. For ICE, justice is arrest and removal,&#8221; ICE Denver wrote on X. &#8220;A 16-year-old citizen of Colombia, with a conviction for reckless driving resulting in death was arrested by ICE Denver officers last week and will remain in ICE custody pending an immigration hearing.&#8221;
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was arrested by ICE Denver officers last week and will remain in ICE custody pending an immigration hearing. <a href="https://t.co/zdhjgyFYfb">pic.twitter.com/zdhjgyFYfb</a>
&mdash; ICE Denver (@ERODenver) <a href="https://twitter.com/ERODenver/status/1928186233856909713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Along with residing in the United States illegally, the teen was also illegally driving his mother&#8217;s uninsured vehicle, which his mother said he took without permission. The juvenile also had other minors in his vehicle when he crashed into Weaver.
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John Weaver said that the district attorney&#8217;s office initially promised to pursue the maximum sentence for the teenager, which would have been two years in a correctional facility. Under new Democratic District Attorney Amy Padden, however, the illegal immigrant was offered two years of probation if he pleaded guilty. Arapahoe County Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley said the plea deal was handled by an experienced prosecutor and was not influenced by the new district attorney. The deal was upheld by a judge after hearing from the Weaver family, Brackley added.
Weaver <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-prosecutor-offers-unlicensed-undocumented-teen-probation-deadly-crash/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">worked</a> at a drug rehab center in Aurora and was always looking for ways to care for other people, according to her father. Before taking the job at the drug rehab center, Weaver volunteered for a suicide hotline.
&#8220;She was really trying to make a difference in their lives every day,&#8221; her father said.

ICE Denver

ICE Nabs Illegal Immigrant Teen Who Received No Jail Time After Killing Colorado Woman

arrest

Colombia

Colorado

illegal immigrant

Illegal Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Harrison Ruffin Tyler — the grandson of President John Tyler, who served in the White House from 1841 to 1845 — died earlier this week, his family said on Wednesday. He was 96.
Tyler, born in 1928, was so close in his family tree to President Tyler, who was born in 1790, due to two generations of second marriages to much younger wives, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/harrison-ruffin-tyler-grandson-president-john-tyler-dies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Tyler&#8217;s father, Lyon Gardiner Tyler, had two sons with his second wife, Sue Ruffin Tyler, when he was in his 70s. Similarly, Lyon Gardiner Tyler&#8217;s father, President John Tyler, had multiple children with his much younger second wife when he was in his 50s and 60s. President Tyler fathered 15 children, with Lyon being the 13th child born to him.
Tyler grew up in poverty during the Great Depression and World War II. His father died when Tyler was just 7 years old, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/05/29/harrison-ruffin-tyler-grandson-president/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a>. Tyler was also related to Pocahontas and President William Henry Harrison, whom his grandfather replaced as president after Harrison died just one month after his inauguration in 1841.
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The last living grandson of President John Tyler has died. 
Harrison Ruffin Tyler was born in 1928 and died in 2025. 
His grandfather, the 10th President of the United States, was born in 1790 and died in 1862. <a href="https://t.co/MIBD1u71EM">pic.twitter.com/MIBD1u71EM</a>
&mdash; Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) <a href="https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1927798344664948948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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John Tyler faced unprecedented challenges, being the first vice president to succeed a president who died while in office. Near the end of his life, John Tyler, a Virginia Democrat, sided with the Confederacy and served as a member of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States. He died in 1862, shortly after the start of the Civil War.
The grandson of the 10th president became fascinated with history, and to preserve some of his family&#8217;s legacy, he purchased President Tyler&#8217;s Sherwood Forest plantation in 1975 and Fort Pocahontas, a Civil War fortification, in 1996. Both historical sites are in Virginia, where the Tyler family lived for generations. Harrison Tyler and his wife, Frances Payne Bouknight Tyler, spent $250,000 to restore the Sherwood Forest house to its original state and open it to the public. Thanks to Tyler&#8217;s preservation, people can <a href="http://www.sherwoodforest.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tour</a> the plantation home in Charles City, Virginia.
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&#8220;He will be remembered for his considerable charm, generosity and unfailing good humor by all who knew him,&#8221; said Annique Dunning, executive director of Sherwood Forest.
Much of Tyler&#8217;s efforts to preserve history were made possible by his successful and lucrative career. He graduated from the College of William &amp; Mary in 1949 with a degree in chemistry. In 1968, he co-founded ChemTreat, an industrial water treatment company, which was sold to the Danahar Corporation in 2007 for $435 million, according to the Post.
Tyler suffered mini strokes in 2012, which landed him in a nursing home in Virginia, where he lived the final years of his life. His wife died in 2019, and his last remaining sibling, Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr., died in 2020. Tyler and his wife, who married in 1957, had three <a href="https://people.com/grandson-of-10th-united-states-president-john-tyler-dies-at-96-11744091" target="_blank" rel="noopener">children</a> and eight grandchildren.

President John Tyler

Last Living Grandson Of America’s 10th President, John Tyler, Dies At 96

American History

Virginia

At least five people are dead and 19 more are injured after an explosion at a chemical plant rocked the eastern Shandong province in China on Tuesday.
The explosion, which broke windows as far as two miles away and sent massive plumes of smoke hundreds of feet into the air, occurred at the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co. in the city of Weifang, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-chemical-plant-explosion-c6cf0f35f996654221e9fb8de7d9fcee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The chemical plant manufactures pesticides, along with chemicals used in the medical industry.
An additional six people have been reported missing after the explosion. The plant employs over 500 people, according to the AP. It is the world&#8217;s largest producer of chlorpyrifos, an insecticide used to control pests in crops and homes, according to the <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3311981/explosion-hits-chemical-plant-eastern-chinese-province-shandong" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South China Morning Post</a>. In the first eight months of 2024, the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co. reportedly identified and rectified over 800 safety hazards.
Over 230 fire personnel were dispatched to the scene of the explosion, and no cause has been given yet. A student at a nearby school told China Central Television that after he heard the explosion, he saw dirt-yellow smoke with some redness in it, adding that there was a funny smell. The students were reportedly given masks and told to leave them on their faces. Officials have yet to determine the environmental effects of the explosion.
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China is the world leader in chemical production, an industry where the communist country has witnessed multiple deadly explosions and fires in recent years. The massive blast in Weifang on Tuesday comes six years after an explosion at a chemical plant in Yancheng, China, killed 78 people. In 2015, over 170 people died or went missing after a fire broke out at a warehouse storing hazardous chemicals in Tianjin.

Chemical Plant Explosion

Massive Explosion At Chinese Chemical Plant Kills At Least Five, Injures Dozens

Chemicals

Communist China

Explosion

Phil Robertson, whose company and family became the center of the popular A&amp;E television series &#8220;Duck Dynasty,&#8221; died just months after receiving an Alzheimer&#8217;s diagnosis, his family said on Sunday. Robertson was 79.
In a social media <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKGJwF3yWMl/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a>, the Robertson family said their &#8220;father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord.&#8221; An avid outdoorsman, Robertson invented his first duck call in 1972, which was patented, and he started his company the next year. Decades later — under the leadership of his son, Willie — Duck Commander became a multi-million-dollar business and was featured in the show &#8220;Duck Dynasty,&#8221; which aired for 11 seasons between 2012 and 2017 and became one of the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/01/22/duck-dynasty-reboot-launches-this-summer-starring-original-cast-next-generation-of-robertson-family/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most-watched</a> reality shows on TV.
Robertson is survived by his wife, Kay, his sons Alan, Jase, Jep, and Willie, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Robertson&#8217;s condition seemed to worsen in recent months, according to his son, Jase, who <a href="https://people.com/phil-robertson-dead-duck-dynasty-star-was-79-11741649" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in December that the Alzheimer&#8217;s &#8220;accelerated, and it&#8217;s causing problems with his entire body,&#8221; adding, &#8220;He&#8217;s just not doing well. He&#8217;s really struggling.&#8221;
On the show and in his life, Robertson often spoke about his Christian faith and how God guided him out of poverty and gave him a successful business and loving family.
&#8220;He reminded us so often of the words of Paul, &#8216;you do not grieve like those who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him,&#8221; the Robertson family wrote. &#8220;Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus. We are grateful for his life on earth and will continue the legacy of love for God and love for others until we see him again.&#8221;
Robertson grew up with six siblings in a poor Louisiana family, and from an early age, hunting became an important part of his life. In high school, Robertson excelled in multiple sports and earned a scholarship to play quarterback at Louisiana Tech University. He <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/phil-robertson-duck-dynasty-star-and-former-louisiana-tech-qb-dies-at-79/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played</a> two seasons in 1966 and 1967, winning the starting quarterback role ahead of the legendary Terry Bradshaw, who went on to be selected No. 1 overall in the NFL draft and won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Robertson didn&#8217;t come back to play in the 1968 season, instead choosing to pursue his passion for hunting.
&#8220;Terry went for the bucks, and I chased after the ducks,&#8221; Robertson <a href="https://duckcommander.com/pages/phil-robertson?srsltid=AfmBOoq5ZDMZorUOAucxejxsookh7rZCgaEdXp538od_9hI6Kv0YGxHc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Robertson married Marsha Kay Carroway in 1966, and the couple had four children together, including other &#8220;Duck Dynasty&#8221; stars Jase, Willie, and Jep. The two remained married until Robertson&#8217;s death.
Robertson also spoke out about his conservative political views and was a supporter of President Donald Trump, appearing on stage alongside the president at a rally in West Monroe, Louisiana, in 2019. Jase <a href="https://x.com/conservmillen/status/1926807932336763291" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> conservative podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey in February that Robertson shared the message of Jesus personally with Trump during the 2016 campaign, a message that the president remembered nearly four years later.
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&#8220;He shared the story of Jesus and he wrote it down, and so he handed the paper to President Trump, and he&#8217;s like, &#8216;You need to move on that. This needs to be the core of everything you do,'&#8221; Jase said. &#8220;So we&#8217;re fast-forwarding four years, and he came to Monroe, and my dad was there &#8230; and President Trump pulled out of his pocket that same gospel presentation that my dad had given to him four years before.&#8221;
&#8220;Duck Dynasty&#8221; shared a clip of some of Robertson&#8217;s moments on the show, posting on social media, &#8220;We are saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson, a hunting industry pioneer and the patriarch of the beloved Robertson family. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences and respect their privacy as they grieve.&#8221;
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We are saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson, a hunting industry pioneer and the patriarch of the beloved Robertson family. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences and respect their privacy as they grieve. <a href="https://t.co/UTlw1SvlcH">pic.twitter.com/UTlw1SvlcH</a>
&mdash; Duck Dynasty (@DuckDynastyAE) <a href="https://twitter.com/DuckDynastyAE/status/1926815312126632026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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