Human remains located after California fireworks warehouse explosion
Seven were missing after the Tuesday fireworks explosion near Esparto, which gripped the small farming community. It sparked a massive fire that led to other spot fires. Nearby Fourth of July celebrations were called off.
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'Highly insulting': 'Diddy' juror denies idea that fame influenced verdict
A juror in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs is speaking out one day after the jury acquitted the music mogul of two counts of sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering but convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The individual, who asked that their name not be used due to what they said were concerns about potential online abuse and cyber harassment, told ABC News that they found the idea that celebrity influence played a role in the verdict to be "highly insulting and belittling to the jury and the deliberation process." MORE: Hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs acquitted on most serious charges in historic racketeering case The juror said they heard a legal pundit on Thursday imply that Combs' celebrity may have played a role in the verdict. "We spent over two days deliberating. Our decision was based solely on the evidence presented and how the law is stated," said the juror. What could happen to Sean 'Diddy' Combs' wealth? Experts weigh in. "We would have treated any defendant in the same manner regardless of who they are. I have nothing else to say," the juror concluded their statement. Wednesday morning's split verdict capped over six weeks of testimony involving 34 witnesses, including associates of Combs and two alleged victims: Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and another ex-girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym "Jane." Combs was denied bail in a hearing on Wednesday afternoon and faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years for each of the two guilty counts. His sentencing is tentatively set for October though the defense is pushing for an earlier sentencing date.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
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Major political scandal led to ethics reform in Tennessee: Notorious Nashville
An invoice scam by a low-level government employee in Memphis led to a police investigation that culminated 20 years ago in a federal probe that brought down some of the state's biggest political figures. A dozen local and state officials were arrested in 2005 on bribery charges and convicted in a case led by the FBI dubbed "Tennessee Waltz," aptly named after the famed song about a stinging betrayal. It remains one of the biggest political scandals in state history. The case is part of the state's infamous past, but its impact stretched across decades with ethics reforms that still serve as guardrails for politicians today. The highest-ranking public servants arrested after betraying their oaths of office include two former state senators from Memphis − John Ford and the late Roscoe Dixon. Ford, the most powerful politician caught in the FBI investigation, was convicted of accepting $55,000 in cash payoffs from an undercover agent posing as a corrupt businessman. Ford's chicanery included shepherding a bill tailored to benefit the fake company − even using the wording proposed by the undercover agent. Dixon was convicted on bribery and extortion charges for accepting $9,500 in bribes to help pass legislation. Police in Memphis initially investigated a tip about an invoice scam in which a contractor for the Shelby County Juvenile Court Clerk's Office accepted money for work never performed. When investigators realized the corruption extended all the way to the state capitol in Nashville, they sought help from the FBI, which has no jurisdictional boundaries. FBI agents created a fake electronics recycling company, E-Cycle, and used informants to infiltrate state government. They also used undercover agents to pay bribes and record conversations with politicians. An FBI agent used the name "Joe Carson" and posed as the head of E-Cycle, meeting with lawmakers, passing out fake business cards, making campaign contributions and hosting a reception with live music for politicians at the Sheraton Nashville Hotel. Federal agents were surprised at how easy it was to bribe lawmakers − and to write a new state bill the politicians were ready to pass that would have favored the fake company. The case lasted more than three years and ensnared politicians in Memphis, Chattanooga and at the state capitol in Nashville. Those convicted and sentenced to prison included: Chris Newton, a former Republican representative from Cleveland; William Cotton, a Democratic Hamilton County commissioner; Charles Love, who had been a member of the Hamilton County school board; and Darrell Catron, a former Shelby County Juvenile Court aide. The FBI sting led to the arrest of a father-son duo from a Memphis political dynasty. Michael Hooks Sr., a powerhouse Democrat and son of a Civil Rights pioneer − pleaded guilty to accepting $24,200 in bribes while chairing the Shelby County Commission. His son, Michael Hooks Jr., pleaded guilty to theft from a federally funded program when he was a Memphis city school board member. The scandal resulted in the creation of new state ethics laws and an independent ethics commission. The Tennessean is publishing a Notorious Nashville story for each year from 2000-2024. Catch up on the series here. Beth Warren can be reached at bwarren@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville, Memphis political corruption led to ethics reform
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What Airport Agents Found in This Traveler's Bag Could Wreck U.S. Farms
A seemingly routine trip through Detroit Metro Airport took a sharp turn when federal agents uncovered something alarming in a traveler's luggage—something that could have jeopardized America's food supply. The BBC reported that authorities say Zunyong Liu flew into the United States from China carrying Fusarium graminearum, a crop-destroying fungus responsible for Fusarium head blight, a disease that plagues staple grains like wheat, barley, and rice. Liu told officials he brought the fungus to study with his girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, who works in a University of Michigan lab. Both Liu and Jian now face serious federal charges, including conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Michigan. Fusarium graminearum isn't new to the U.S. In fact, it's already a major issue in North American agriculture. But experts say importing new or potentially more virulent strains of the fungus could worsen the problem, potentially leading to widespread crop failure and supply chain disruptions. The fungus spreads more aggressively in warm temperatures and not only damages crops, but also produces toxins that can cause vomiting, dizziness, and even raise the risk of cancer if consumed. That's part of why federal prosecutors have cited scientific literature calling it a potential 'agroterrorism weapon.' Despite the dramatic charges, some experts are urging perspective. 'It's extremely prevalent in North America,' Harold Kistler, an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, told CBS News. 'It's not like a foreign agent coming in—it likely arose here.' Still, the incident highlights just how vulnerable the agricultural system is, especially at the intersection of global travel and science. Security officials didn't release details about how the fungus was discovered, but its presence in a passenger's bag has raised fresh concerns about biosecurity lapses at ports of entry. So far, no widespread contamination has been reported, but the case remains under investigation. In the age of rising global temperatures and shifting supply chains, a single missed bag could mean disaster for crops, and by extension, the food millions depend Airport Agents Found in This Traveler's Bag Could Wreck U.S. Farms first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 5, 2025
