Stories from United States

American utility firm Itron has reported a cyberattack involving unauthorized third-party access to its internal IT network. The company has blocked the activity and notified law enforcement.

A woman named Kyle Holder lost over $240,000 in life savings to scammers using artificial intelligence. The scammers created a female AI character tailored to her specific interests to build rapport and convince her to deposit funds into fraudulent cryptocurrency accounts. IRS investigator Harry Chavis noted that AI tools can now write highly specific scripts to target individual victims.

Federal law enforcement agents searched a storage unit belonging to 47-year-old Mario Nusztathur in Chicago. The search uncovered 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, 12 kilograms of cocaine, and over 2 kilograms of fentanyl. Agents also recovered various weaponry during the operation. Nusztathur was arrested earlier this month on charges of distributing controlled substances. A federal complaint alleges he sold drugs to undercover agents on three separate occasions earlier this year. Federal agents have been conducting a search at a suspect's home since the previous night.

AI startup Tropic has secured $10 billion in funding from Google. The deal includes a potential additional $30 billion if the company achieves specific performance targets. The announcement was discussed during a financial segment regarding market trends. The funding aims to support the company's growth and target fulfillment.

The College of San Mateo will begin a $86 million housing project tomorrow to support students facing housing insecurity. Chancellor Melissa Moreno stated that two-thirds of the student body is housing insecure, with recent surveys indicating approximately 1,500 students are unhoused. The project is primarily funded through the state and is described as the first of its kind in the area. The facility is expected to include more than 300 beds.

A tornado in North Texas resulted in one reported fatality. A deadly tornado struck North Texas, resulting in two confirmed deaths. Witnesses reported watching the storm move through the area. Emergency crews are managing the scene to ensure public safety. The death toll from the EF2 tornado in Wise County, Texas, is now one person dead and six people injured. The tornado ripped roofs off homes and left debris throughout the area. Two tornadoes struck North Texas on the night of April 26, 2026. Each tornado resulted in one fatality. The storms caused widespread damage across the affected areas. Local authorities are assessing the full extent of the destruction.

A shooter was arrested following an attempt to storm a press gala in Washington targeting members of the Trump administration. Colt Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old war game designer from California, was arrested following an attempted armed attack at a White House press corps dinner at the Hilton Hotel. Documents indicate Allen intended to target administration officials, prompting the White House to evacuate President Trump, his spouse, and the cabinet from the hall. Allen's brother alerted police to the existence of a document detailing the plan. Allen's sister stated he had a tendency to make radical statements. Senior law enforcement sources report the suspect was seen on hotel surveillance footage attempting to walk out of the building with a bent posture. Five females aged 17-22 were injured; suspect seen on surveillance wearing black and carrying a shotgun and handgun.

Health experts are expressing concern regarding a new COVID-19 variant that has been named after an insect.

A judge in Wisconsin has resigned after being convicted in an obstruction case. The case involved an illegal immigrant, according to reports from the Associated Press.

Meta is planning to lay off 10 percent of its workforce. The plan was detailed in a memo first reported by Bloomberg. No specific timeline or reason for the reduction was provided in the report.