Latest news with #TeslaCybertrucks
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
KC teen allegedly lit Tesla cars on fire. Feds want to imprison him for ‘decades'
Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@ Have the latest Reality Checks delivered to your inbox with our free newsletter. On paper, Owen McIntire's summer looks like a lot of 19-year-old college students: living back home with his parents, working shifts at a sandwich shop, trying to stay out of trouble. Come August, though, McIntire is unlikely to return to the University of Massachusetts for his sophomore year. He is more likely headed to federal prison. McIntire has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him: malicious destruction of property and unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device. One charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison. All told, McIntire faces up to 30 years. His offense? Torching two Tesla Cybertrucks in a south Kansas City parking lot. There were no casualties. Nobody was injured. No buildings were damaged. But McIntire's case was elevated to the Department of Justice's national security division, an arm typically focused on terrorism and espionage. A small, isolated act of vandalism on State Line Road elicited comment from the top four law enforcement officials in the United States: the attorney general, her deputy, the director of the FBI and the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). 'Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us,' Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in April, announcing McIntire's arrest. 'You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.' The intensity of the federal response reflected the aims of President Donald Trump, who in March said he considered acts of vandalism against Tesla to be 'terrorism.' Trump's comments were made at a time when Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, was a high-profile advisor to the administration at the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Their relationship has frayed in recent weeks as the two men traded blows on X and Truth Social following Musk's departure from the White House. But their political alliance was strong when the Justice Department took up McIntire's case and a handful of other cases involving Tesla vehicles and vandalism. That has put McIntire in a position few defendants in local cases encounter: facing federal charges with severe penalties in a prosecution where the victim is — or, at least, was — a close associate of the president. The Department of Justice declined to comment. McIntire grew up in Parkville, the only child of two music educators. His father, David, a retired college professor and experimental composer, runs a small classical music label from home. His mother, Michelle, teaches voice and piano and directs community theater productions. The McIntires did not respond to requests for comment. As a kid, McIntire trained in ballet, participated in Scholar Bowl, and worked on robotics teams. At the time of his arrest, he was studying physics at the University of Massachusetts. He's tall and rail-thin (6 foot 1, 140 pounds) with long hair that falls halfway down his back. According to court filings, he has long managed a set of diagnoses that includes autism, ADHD and depression. McIntire was back in Kansas City on spring break the night of March 17. Musk had been in the news. His fervor for firing federal workers in the name of government efficiency had sparked protests across the country and already led to some vandalism directed at Tesla cars in other cities. One week earlier, Trump had stood next to Musk at the White House and declared that he would label violence against Tesla dealerships 'domestic terrorism.' According to prosecutors, McIntire drove his parents' Subaru from Parkville to a house a block away from the Tesla dealership near 103rd Street and State Line Road. He proceeded on foot to the dealership, wearing dark clothes and a light-colored brimmed hat with a black ribbon. He carried a bottle of Bragg's apple cider vinegar with gasoline and a rag stuffed inside — a Molotov cocktail. A little after 11 p.m., a Kansas City police officer noticed a small blaze in the parking lot of the dealership. The officer approached the scene and saw that the flames were coming from an empty Cybertruck. KCFD arrived soon after and extinguished the fire, which in the meantime had spread to a second Cybertruck. Two nearby charging stations were also damaged. The dealership had been closed for four hours, and no human beings were anywhere near the fire. The damages were later estimated to be around $215,000. The next day, officials with the ATF, the FBI, and the Kansas City Police Department descended on the dealership to begin an investigation. By the end of the week, they had linked the firebombing to McIntire through surveillance footage and witness testimonies. A month later, he was arrested in Boston. If the severity of the charges hadn't already made clear that prosecutors intended to bring the full weight of the federal government to bear on McIntire's case, that became unmistakable when he made his initial court appearance in Boston. There, prosecutors took the unusual step of arguing that the 19-year-old should be detained ahead of trial, saying he posed a danger to the community due to the alleged use of a destructive device and was a flight risk. They also cited a federal law that presumes detention for terrorism-related offenses. McIntire's federal public defender argued successfully that strict home confinement with GPS monitoring at his parents' house in Parkville would sufficiently mitigate any risk. But back in United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, where the court proceedings moved after McIntire returned home, the government appealed that judge's order. By then, McIntire had hired Dan Nelson and Patrick McInerney of the Kansas City law firm Spencer Fane as his defense attorneys. In their opposition to the government's motion, they pointed to a string of recent cases involving similar or even more serious allegations where federal defendants were allowed to go free on bond. There was James River Phillips, accused of purchasing large amounts of ammonium nitrate and planting an improvised explosive device in an Ohio sports complex parking lot; he walked out on a recognizance bond. In Colorado, a man charged in April with firebombing two Teslas using Molotov cocktails — nearly identical to McIntire's alleged offense — was released on $10,000 bail. In another case, a South Carolina defendant who attacked Tesla charging stations with five incendiary devices was also allowed to await trial at home. Even a former federal agent who leaked classified information to an ISIS target was granted bond, despite national security concerns and government objections. Nelson and McInerney, who declined comment to The Star, also pointed out in their filing that the government didn't arrest McIntire for a month after identifying him as the person who set the fire. 'The Government's investigative conduct itself — waiting 30 days to effect an arrest — demonstrates that they have no genuine fear of public danger or flight risk from McIntire,' they wrote. On May 29, Judge Stephen Bough sided with the defense. McIntire remains out on bond under stringent conditions. He has a location monitor and is allowed to leave his parents' house only to work at the sandwich shop or meet with a lawyer or doctor. His trial is set for Aug. 11. What if McIntire had set fire to a car not made by the man who gave $250 million to Trump's campaign? What if he instead torched a couple of Tahoes in the Chevrolet lot around the corner from the Tesla dealership? McIntire 'would likely be charged in state court, not charged federally as a purported terrorist,' his attorneys argued in May. Several Missouri defense attorneys interviewed by The Star agreed that similar acts of property destruction have typically been prosecuted in state court, where punishments tend to be less severe. Attorney Casey Symonds described the likely state charges as Class E felonies, each carrying up to four years in prison. 'Probation would be the floor, and the ceiling is eight years in prison,' he said, adding that because McIntire is a first-time offender, probation would be the most common outcome. Tony Miller, a former county legislator and assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County, said that for a first-time offender with no criminal history, probation or a short jail term followed by probation would be the likely result. 'As a defense attorney, I'd be aiming for probation with no time served,' Miller said. 'As a prosecutor, if I were being zealous, maybe a 120-day callback. That's basically a shock time situation where they do 120 days in jail and undergo a treatment program, a substance abuse evaluation or life skills program. And then they are released on probation.' He added that restitution for the damaged vehicles would also be a priority. Greg Watt, a former Jackson County prosecutor who now does federal defense work, agreed, saying that in a typical arson case involving property damage but no injuries, 'at most he would have a 120-day callback with a restitution plan in place.' Roughly 2% of federal cases actually go to trial. The vast majority are resolved through plea agreements where defendants plead guilty to reduced charges and receive a lighter sentence. But federal crimes that carry mandatory minimums — such as the malicious destruction of property charges against McIntire — give prosecutors a great deal of leverage in plea negotiations. If McIntire pleads guilty to that charge, the judge has no choice but to sentence him to at least five years in prison. A plea deal in this case could involve the government dropping that charge if he pleads guilty to the other charge of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device. In such a scenario, the judge would not be bound to issuing a minimum sentence. But that assumes the Trump administration's Department of Justice is willing to bargain. Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche — the second-highest-ranking law enforcement officer in America — said in an April press release announcing McIntire's arrest that 'the people behind these violent and dangerous attacks on private property will face decades in prison — we will not make deals and we will not negotiate.'
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Ditchit Detonates Iconic Twitter Bird to Symbolize Launch of Local Marketplace
DOVER, DE / ACCESS Newswire / June 20, 2025 / In a fiery spectacle worthy of Silicon Valley lore, Ditchit - a rising star in the online marketplace space and rival to OfferUp - has made headlines by purchasing and then blowing up the original 560-pound Twitter bird sign once perched atop the company's San Francisco headquarters. The marketing stunt, filmed in the Nevada desert with a 15-person production crew, four Tesla Cybertrucks, and a Hollywood pyrotechnics expert, marked a symbolic farewell to legacy tech monopolies and a bold introduction to Ditchit's mission: to build a local marketplace that puts people before profits. "Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X to support free expression. At Ditchit, we're doing the same for local marketplaces," said Ditchit spokesman James Deluca. "Today's platforms are filled with ads, fees, and algorithms that prioritize businesses over people. Ditchit is different-free to use, ad-free, and designed to support real communities and real sellers." The 12-foot-tall Twitter logo, affectionately known as "Larry," was purchased at auction for $34,000 earlier this year. While the initial acquisition was driven by nostalgia, the company ultimately decided to transform the artifact into a symbol of disruption. The resulting video, now live on YouTube, shows the massive sign's explosive end outside of Las Vegas, capturing a cinematic moment that's already garnering viral attention. But "Larry's" story doesn't end in smoke. Fragments of the sign have been salvaged and will be sold on the Ditchit app in a sealed-bid auction starting today. 100% of proceeds will go to the Center for American Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit that champions startup innovation and supports the next generation of entrepreneurs. "Many entrepreneurs get their start on local marketplace apps," Deluca added. "We're here to support that journey-not just through our platform, but through action." With the stunt, Ditchit isn't just selling a piece of tech history. It's signaling a new era for digital marketplaces - one powered by transparency, accessibility, and the belief that local economies deserve better. About DitchitDitchit is a community-first local marketplace built for everyday buyers and sellers. Unlike traditional platforms, Ditchit is ad-free, fee-free, and designed to keep transactions simple and fair. Founded in 2024, the Ditchit app is available for iOS and Android. Media Contact:James DelucaPR Manager, SOURCE: Ditchit
Indianapolis Star
20-06-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Ditchit Detonates Iconic Twitter Bird to Symbolize Launch of Local Marketplace
DOVER, DE / ACCESS Newswire In a fiery spectacle worthy of Silicon Valley lore, Ditchit – a rising star in the online marketplace space and rival to OfferUp – has made headlines by purchasing and then blowing up the original 560-pound Twitter bird sign once perched atop the company's San Francisco headquarters. The marketing stunt, filmed in the Nevada desert with a 15-person production crew, four Tesla Cybertrucks, and a Hollywood pyrotechnics expert, marked a symbolic farewell to legacy tech monopolies and a bold introduction to Ditchit's mission: to build a local marketplace that puts people before profits. 'Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X to support free expression. At Ditchit, we're doing the same for local marketplaces,' said Ditchit spokesman James Deluca. 'Today's platforms are filled with ads, fees, and algorithms that prioritize businesses over people. Ditchit is different-free to use, ad-free, and designed to support real communities and real sellers.' The 12-foot-tall Twitter logo, affectionately known as 'Larry,' was purchased at auction for $34,000 earlier this year. While the initial acquisition was driven by nostalgia, the company ultimately decided to transform the artifact into a symbol of disruption. The resulting video, now live on YouTube, shows the massive sign's explosive end outside of Las Vegas, capturing a cinematic moment that's already garnering viral attention. But 'Larry's' story doesn't end in smoke. Fragments of the sign have been salvaged and will be sold on the Ditchit app in a sealed-bid auction starting today. 100% of proceeds will go to the Center for American Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit that champions startup innovation and supports the next generation of entrepreneurs. 'Many entrepreneurs get their start on local marketplace apps,' Deluca added. 'We're here to support that journey-not just through our platform, but through action.' With the stunt, Ditchit isn't just selling a piece of tech history. It's signaling a new era for digital marketplaces – one powered by transparency, accessibility, and the belief that local economies deserve better. About Ditchit Ditchit is a community-first local marketplace built for everyday buyers and sellers. Unlike traditional platforms, Ditchit is ad-free, fee-free, and designed to keep transactions simple and fair. Founded in 2024, the Ditchit app is available for iOS and Android. Media Contact: James Deluca PR Manager, Ditchit SOURCE: Ditchit
Mint
20-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
How weight-loss drugs blew out the US trade deficit
Planes have been jetting from Ireland to the U.S. this year carrying something more valuable than gold: $36 billion worth of hormones for popular obesity and diabetes drugs. The frantic airlift of those ingredients—more than double what was imported from Ireland for all of last year—reflects the collision of two powerful forces: tariff-driven stockpiling and weight-loss drug demand. The peptide and protein-based hormones feed into a category of drugs that include wildly popular GLP-1 treatments and newer types of insulin known as analogues. Taken together the shipments weighed just 23,400 pounds, according to U.S. trade data, equivalent to the weight of less than four Tesla Cybertrucks. Fit into temperature-controlled air cargo containers, the pharmaceutical ingredients have had a huge impact on the U.S. trade imbalance. The shipments have vaulted Ireland, a country of only 5.4 million people, into the second-largest goods-trade imbalance with the U.S., trailing only China. They accounted for roughly half of the $71 billion in goods the U.S. imported from the country in the first four months of the year. Nearly 100% of the imports had a final destination of Indiana, according to U.S. customs records. Eli Lilly, the drug giant behind weight loss and diabetes drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro, is headquartered in Indianapolis. A Lilly spokeswoman declined to comment. President Trump's off-and-on trade war has rewritten global trading patterns this year and—temporarily, at least—widened some of the imbalances he is seeking to eliminate. Companies have scrambled to get shipments to the U.S. ahead of tariff deadlines, with a first round of front-loading ahead of the April 2 announcement, and smaller pushes after the White House paused some of its tariffs. Ireland is at the epicenter of the global rush. It is a major hub for U.S. drug giants, who have been expanding operations there in part because of Ireland's favorable tax policies. Some of the bestselling drugs in the world, such as AbbVie's anti-wrinkle treatment Botox, and U.S. drugmaker Merck's cancer treatment Keytruda, are made in the country. 'It's common sense. It's uncertain at the moment, so you're building a bit of security by stockpiling," said Matt Moran, a consultant and former director of industry group BioPharmaChem Ireland. 'There's such huge demand for those products at the moment." The trade imbalance has put Ireland into an uncomfortable position, landing it earlier this month on the U.S. Treasury Department's monitoring list for currency manipulation, which the government uses to send a warning shot to countries it thinks use unfair trade practices. Ireland's central bank said in a report Thursday that new factories making weight-loss drug ingredients helped drive the country's exports. Ireland's first-quarter economic growth expanded by nearly 10% in the first quarter thanks to the export surge. The attention is 'definitely not welcome," said Dan O'Brien, chief economist of the Institute of International and European Affairs, a Dublin think tank. 'A very big part of the U.S.-EU deficit is accounted for by Ireland alone. Trump doesn't like deficits." The White House wants American drug companies to bring production home and in April ordered a so-called Section 232 investigation that could result in tariffs on both imported drugs and ingredients like hormones. Trump said this week that such tariffs could come 'very soon." Lilly is a force in the market for weight-loss drugs, with sales of its GLP-1 medicines Mounjaro and Zepbound expected to nearly double this year to about $30 billion, according to Bank of America analysts. Maintaining supply of weight-loss drugs has been a challenge for both Lilly and rival Novo Nordisk, the Danish maker of Ozempic and Wegovy. The companies were initially unable to keep up with demand for the drugs. Lilly resolved the shortages faster, helping it to take market share from Novo. Lilly is now preparing for the potential launch of a weight-loss pill, orforglipron, which it plans to submit for U.S. approval later this year. Lilly said it began producing weight-loss and diabetes medicines at its Irish factory in Kinsale in 2023. Novo doesn't produce weight-loss drugs in Ireland, according to a spokeswoman. Peptide and protein-based hormones help to regulate processes such as appetite and metabolism. The category includes hormones that mimic a naturally occurring gut hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, but can also be used in some fertility and osteoporosis treatments. Shipping and logistics companies say they have noticed increased demand for pharma shipments, which often travel by air instead of on cheaper ocean freighters because they are so light and valuable. Pharma shipments more than doubled from Ireland to the U.S. in March and April, according to data firm WorldACD. Kuehne + Nagel, a Swiss logistics company with operations in the country, said its teams did overtime to accommodate the increase in booking requests and the customs paperwork. 'We didn't see the same increase from Ireland to the rest of the world. That was not a global trend," said Nico Sacco, the company's senior vice president of healthcare strategy. Imports of vaccines and various other drugs including cancer treatments also increased this year from Ireland, according to trade data. Merck produces cancer treatment Keytruda, the world's bestselling drug, in Ireland, among other places. Merck Chief Executive Rob Davis in April said the company has enough supply to mitigate any impact this year from tariffs and is working on navigating the long-term fallout of tariffs. Merck recently began construction on its first U.S. plant to make Keytruda. Lilly said earlier this year it plans to invest $27 billion in expanding U.S. production. The hormones are often freeze dried and shipped as powders. Obesity-related drugs can fly in the cargo sections of passenger planes, or on cargo flights reserved for pharma products, said Anand Kulkarni, head of global markets at Lufthansa Cargo. Lufthansa saw demand for U.S.-bound pharma shipments from locations such as India, Switzerland and Belgium. Volumes began to dip in April as warehouses in the U.S. reached capacity, he said. To increase shipments, drug companies likely tapped existing stocks and diverted production destined for the rest of the world to the U.S. market instead, industry executives said. 'You can't just switch on capacity. You don't go out and buy machines and start them up," said Moran, the consultant. 'They have to be built, commissioned, validated, and approved by the regulator." Write to Chelsey Dulaney at and Jared S. Hopkins at
San Francisco Chronicle
17-06-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Twitter bird logo from S.F. headquarters detonated in Nevada desert stunt
One of the two original 560-pound Twitter bird logos that once perched atop the company's Market Street headquarters in San Francisco has met a fiery end, courtesy of an upstart online marketplace. The 12-foot-tall bird sign, affectionately known as 'Larry' (a nod to Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird), was auctioned off earlier this year for $34,000. Its buyer, Ditchit — a rival to OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace — didn't preserve the Silicon Valley artifact. Instead, the company detonated it in the Nevada desert as part of a marketing campaign. According to Engadget, Ditchit enlisted a 15-person production crew, four Tesla Cybertrucks, and a Hollywood pyrotechnics expert to stage and film the explosion at a private 'adventure park' near Las Vegas. The resulting YouTube video, released Tuesday, attempts to draw a symbolic link between Elon Musk's rebranding of Twitter to X and Ditchit's mission to shake up online classifieds. 'Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X to support free expression,' the video states. 'We're doing the same for local marketplaces.' The giant emblem once loomed over Jessie Street and became a defining symbol of Twitter during its most influential years. It was removed after Musk's rebranding marked the official end of the platform's blue bird era.
