Stories from United States

A Manhattan judge approved District Attorney Alvin Bragg's request to dismiss a homicide conviction from 1993. The case involved the killing of Emanuel Felix in West Harlem. The individual had served 25 years in prison for the crime. Prosecutors stated the conviction followed an identification of the defendant. A Manhattan judge ruled that former federal prosecutor Maurene Comey may proceed with her federal lawsuit. Comey alleges the Trump administration terminated her last year for political reasons. The judge will also consider if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a jury trial.

A mile-long North tunnel project in Ellicott City will begin removing 65 feet of granite per day starting this summer. County executive Calvin Ball stated the tunnel will move more than 26,000 gallons of water per second off Main Street and into the Patapsco River. The project aims to mitigate flood risks following a 2016 flood that resulted in fatalities. The tunnel boring machine will fill approximately 90 dump trucks worth of granite daily. The project is part of a major milestone in local flood prevention efforts. The machine is located 150 feet below ground and is scheduled to begin operations this summer. It is expected to remove 65 feet of granite per day, which is equivalent to the volume of 90 dump trucks. This project is part of a milestone effort by Howard County to prevent future flood devastation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a peace deal between the United States and Iran remains elusive. This stagnation is reportedly connected to the ongoing situation in Lebanon, which reduces pressure to maintain the current ceasefire. In southern regions, residents report increased attacks and have been forced to re-evacuate homes. Rubio attributed the lack of progress to Iran's fractured leadership. Rubio noted that Israel killed Iran's supreme leader on the first day of the war. The Strait of Hormuz is described as an economic nuclear weapon that Iran is using to threaten global energy supplies. Reports indicate billboards in Tehran are being used to claim Iran can hold 20% to 25% of the world's energy hostage. Senator Rubio spoke to Fox News regarding the situation.

A suspect identified as Talley refused to respond to a judge or confirm his name during a court hearing. The hearing addressed the shooting death of Officer John Bartholomew and the serious injury of a second officer. Family members of Bartholomew, Chicago Police Department officials, an Alderman, and the police union were present in court. The prosecution provided a synopsis of the incident involving the officers during the proceedings.

The Illinois Policy Institute projects that the number of high school graduates in the state of Illinois could drop to 32 percent. The specific timeframe for this projection was not clarified during the broadcast. The report was discussed by Josh Bandock on WLS-AM 890.

Glyphosate, the world's most widely used weed killer also known as Roundup, is being sprayed in major California tourist areas. Locations mentioned include Yosemite Valley and Lake Tahoe. The report indicates the spraying is part of a plan involving forest areas.

A sheep at Clover and Bee Farm in Underhill, Vermont, gave birth to a rare set of six lambs. The event was reported by correspondent Hyatt Panjwani. The farm is transitioning into a nursery following the birth of the six lambs. The birth of six tuplets is described as an unbelievable occurrence at the farm. Owner O'Connor stated the occurrence is rare, estimating a one in one thousand chance. Other agricultural sources suggest the frequency may be one in a million or higher. The lambs are described as frolicking and sleeping together in a heap.

OpenAI CFO Sarah Fryer is questioning CEO Sam Altman's efforts to acquire more computing power. Fryer and Altman issued a joint statement saying they are aligned on purchasing as much compute as possible. The spending concerns arise as the industry relies heavily on capital expenditures. Following the report, partners Oracle, CoreWeave, and AMD saw pre-market declines of 5%, nearly 6%, and 4% respectively. OpenAI's CFO has reportedly questioned the CEO regarding the company's computing expenditures. This internal tension occurs as the company is potentially preparing for a major public offering this year. Analysts suggest the IPO could be one of the largest in history. The source noted that such internal friction could cause damage to the company.

UPS reported its financial results in the United States, maintaining its year-end guidance despite a projected three percent decrease. The company reported earnings per share of $1.07, which was lower than the $1.30 analysts had expected. The report indicates the company is not changing its financial outlook for the end of the year.

County officials have proposed a budget that includes a nearly 8% increase from last year to implement drones as first responders. The initiative aims to serve as a force multiplier to improve situational awareness and enhance officer safety. The proposed budget would avoid property and income tax hikes. A public hearing is scheduled for tomorrow night in La Plata, with final budget adoption expected on May 12th. A proposed budget increase aims to enhance technology, including a mobile camera system for real-time alerts on vehicles and wanted individuals.