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  • Family Members Allegedly Tortured Kids, Forced 1 to Stay in ‘Crib Cage’

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    A mother, grandmother and uncle are accused of abusing and neglecting three Pennsylvania children so severely that a medical professional found the abuse met the “definition of child torture,” according to police.

    Following a two-year investigation, officers arrested Newberry Township residents Ashley Cardona, Lori Cardona, and Michael Cardona on Wednesday, February 25, the Newberry Township Police Department said in a news release issued the same day.

    York County District Attorney Tim Barker identified Ashley, 29, as the children’s mother, Lori, 53, as their grandmother, and Michael, 27, who is Ashley’s brother, as their uncle during a news conference on their arrests, WGAL reported.

    Ashley and Lori are facing charges including aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of children, and criminal conspiracy, according to authorities.

    Michael faces charges including criminal conspiracy to commit unlawful restraint, criminal conspiracy to commit false imprisonment, and endangering the welfare of children.

    Information on their legal representation was not listed in court records viewed by Us Weekly on Thursday, February 26.

    In March 2024, authorities began investigating alleged child abuse involving Ashley’s children, ages 5, 6 and 10, at her family’s Newberry Township home, police said.

    The investigation revealed that for two years, her 6-year-old son, who is now 8, was forced to stay in a “crib cage” surrounded by urine and feces while her 5-year-old daughter, who is now 6, was regularly restrained in a car seat for nearly 24 hours each day, Barker said at the news conference, according to WGAL.

    While describing the crib cage the boy was confined to, Barker said it was “a homemade caged crib constructed with stacked cribs, ratchet straps, zip ties, locking mechanisms” and that the boy “was restrained” to it “with a wrist device connected to a leash.”

    Michael told police that he built the cage, according to authorities, FOX43 reported.

    A third child, now 12, told police that Ashley “hates” the children “and doesn’t care what happens” to them, according to a criminal complaint viewed by the TV station.

    The boy kept in the alleged crib cage and the girl often confined to a car seat were both extremely malnourished, had developmental delays and had not been trained to use the bathroom, Barker said at the news conference, WGAL reported. The girl also had major tooth decay, according to Barker.

    All of the children have been taken out of the home and were placed in “alternative living arrangements,” police said in the release.


    Related: Women Allegedly Tortured and Killed Girl, 6, Kept Her in Dog Crate in NC

    Three women are accused of torturing a 6-year-old girl inside their North Carolina home for more than a year until she died in December, when the girl weighed only 27 pounds, according to police. On Wednesday, February 4, all of the women — Susan Robinson, Tonya McKnight, and Tery’n McKnight — were charged with first-degree […]

    A Penn State Health physician who is a member of the medical center’s Child Protective Team ultimately decided that the abuse the children endured was “child torture,” according to police.

    While addressing the conclusion, Barker said at the news conference that it is “a very specific medical definition,” according to FOX43.

    “It involves a longitudinal pattern of physical abuse combined with two or more forms of psychological maltreatment,” Barker added. “Unlike isolated incidents of physical abuse, child torture is premeditated, pervasive and impacts all aspects of a child’s daily life, resulting in physical, emotional and developmental harm.”

    If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

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    Julia Marnin

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  • Megan Thee Stallion to Star in Moulin Rouge! on Broadway

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    Megan Thee Stallion has joined the cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway. For eight weeks beginning in March, she’ll take on the mononymic role of Zidler—changed from Harold Zidler—the proprietor of the Moulin Rouge cabaret and the show’s de facto narrator.

    A statement obtained by The New York Times says that “a hint” of Megan Thee Stallion’s music will be added to Moulin Rouge!’s jukebox score, which spans 70 songs by the likes of Rolling Stones, Outkast, and Britney Spears. Boy George and Bob the Drag Queen have both previously played Howard Zidler on Broadway.

    In 2024, Megan Thee Stallion put out her album Megan and its deluxe version, Megan: Act II. She dropped the one-off singles “Whenever” and “Lover Girl” last year.

    Read about Megan Thee Stallion in The 200 Most Important Artists of Pitchfork’s First 25 Years.

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    Walden Green

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  • How did DHS agents detain a Columbia student?

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    University community alarms after campus detention

    Federal immigration agents entered a Columbia University residence hall early on a weekday and detained a student, according to university officials. Columbia says the agents gained access by claiming they were searching for a missing person — a move the school characterized as a misrepresentation that allowed them to enter a residential building and carry out an arrest.

    The university publicly described the episode as part of a broader, nationwide escalation in immigration enforcement that has included increased campus actions. Columbia’s leadership said it was gathering facts and raised concerns about agents’ methods, student safety and the integrity of campus spaces that are meant to be secure for residents.

    What is known and what remains unclear

    • Department of Homeland Security or related federal agents conducted the detention inside a campus residential building.
    • Columbia officials say agents misrepresented their purpose for entry; agents reportedly said they were looking for a missing person.
    • Details about the student’s immigration status, the legal basis for the arrest and whether court orders were used have not been publicly disclosed.

    Why this matters beyond one campus

    The incident has immediate legal and political implications: it raises questions about federal tactics on college campuses, the rules that govern law‑enforcement access to student housing, and the chilling effect on immigrant students and university communities. Universities, civil‑liberties groups and lawmakers may press for clearer protocols, greater transparency and limits on enforcement activity inside residential halls to protect student privacy and institutional autonomy.

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  • Douglas County wildfire sparked by trash truck, sheriff says

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    A wildfire that raced across more than 1,000 acres of dry, grassy land in Douglas County on Tuesday was started by a trash truck, according to the sheriff’s office.

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    Lauren Penington

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  • Fourth annual Day of Remembrance at SJSU emphasizes activism and solidarity

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    Gordon Yamate, who serves on the Los Gatos Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission, spoke about inspiring solidarity and activism for a panel at this year’s Day of Remembrance of Japanese American incarceration at San Jose State University.

    Feb. 19 nationally commemorates the anniversary of Executive Order 9066, a 1942 decree that ordered the removal of all people of Japanese descent from the West Coast to camps in remote areas of California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Arkansas. San Jose State held an event on that day to acknowledge the Japanese American experience and the campus’ connection to it. In 1942, Yoshihiro Uchida Hall, which used to be the university’s men’s gymnasium, was used as a registration center for Japanese Americans in Santa Clara County before they were sent to the incarceration camps.

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    Nollyanne Delacruz

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  • Why did Cuba’s coast guard kill four people on a Florida boat?

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    Deadly clash off Cuba’s coast

    Cuban authorities say a Florida‑registered speedboat entered Cuban waters carrying ten people who opened fire on border forces. Cuban officials reported that four people aboard the vessel were killed and several others were wounded during the exchange. Havana described the passengers as armed nationals who lived in the United States and said the incident was an attempted infiltration intended to carry out violent acts.

    U.S. reaction and investigation
    U.S. officials announced they were reviewing Cuba’s claims and said American authorities were investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the boat’s U.S. registration. Prominent U.S. lawmakers and officials have been cautious in their public comments; some withheld immediate judgment pending the outcome of inquiries.

    Why this matters beyond the immediate violence
    – Diplomacy: The episode risks inflaming already fraught U.S.-Cuba relations and could complicate regional security coordination.
    – Migration and security: A violent maritime incursion connected to U.S.-based individuals raises questions about radicalization, cross‑border trafficking of weapons, and how criminal or political exile networks operate.
    – Legal and investigative follow‑up: Determining who chartered or manned the vessel, where the weapons originated and whether U.S. laws were violated will shape any bilateral response.

    Key unknowns
    – Who organized the voyage and what precise objective the passengers had.
    – Whether U.S. authorities had prior intelligence about the boat.
    – Full forensic and eyewitness details of the firefight.

    Officials from both countries are pursuing inquiries; these findings will determine whether the incident leads to criminal charges, diplomatic protest, or policy changes.

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  • Why did the World Economic Forum president resign?

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    The World Economic Forum’s president stepped down after revelations linking him to Jeffrey Epstein surfaced amid the broader release of the so‑called Epstein files. Those disclosures prompted intense public scrutiny of figures in business, politics and academia who had any past ties to the convicted sex offender, and organizers said the association had become a major distraction for the forum.

    The resignation came as pressure mounted across institutions: other high‑profile resignations and investigations were unfolding at universities and corporations after related material in the files drew new attention. The World Economic Forum—best known for convening political and corporate leaders at its Davos meeting—faced reputational damage at a moment when it seeks to project global leadership on issues such as climate, economic cooperation and technology.

    Immediate impacts and why it matters
    – Institutional credibility: The forum’s capacity to convene leaders depends on public trust; a resignation tied to a scandal erodes that trust and can reduce participation or heighten scrutiny of attendees.
    – Governance questions: Members and partners will press for clearer vetting, conflict‑of‑interest rules and transparency about past associations among senior staff and speakers.
    – Broader ripple effects: The episode has accelerated inquiries in other institutions, prompting resignations and reviews and raising questions about how elite networks intersect with criminal actors.

    What to watch next
    – How the WEF manages leadership transition and whether it announces internal reforms.
    – Whether additional documents prompt further resignations or legal probes.
    – The reaction from governments and corporate partners whose engagement with the forum could change if confidence does not quickly recover.

    At stake is more than a single personnel change: the episode has forced a wider reckoning about accountability at the highest levels of global governance.

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  • 2026 planning data book shows how Cuyahoga County compares to its peers

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    CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio — The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission has put out their county planning data book for 2026, in which they examine the county and 10 others in the Midwest on a variety of categories.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission’s county planning data book compares the county to several of its peers

    • It looks at a variety of categories, including economy, housing, health and more

    • The county performed well in some areas, such as the number of primary care physicians, and less so in others, such as air quality

    The categories within the data book include demographics, economy, housing, environment, transportation and health, and the 10 peer counties to which Cuyahoga is being compared are:

    • Allegheny County in Pennsylvania
    • Erie County in New York
    • Franklin County in Ohio
    • Hamilton County in Ohio
    • Hennepin County in Minnesota
    • Jefferson County in Kentucky
    • Marion County in Indiana
    • Milwaukee County in Wisconsin
    • Monroe County in New York
    • Wayne County in Michigan

    “This report provides a comprehensive overview of key indicators shaping the County’s future, where we have achieved success, and where we need to focus more attention,” said Mary Cierebiej, executive director of the planning commission, in a message inside the report. “This Data Book offers valuable insights into the planning and policy decisions needed to advance Cuyahoga County, building on the amazing work already underway in our communities.”

    Of the 11 counties being compared, Cuyahoga was the fourth most populous county in 2024, behind Hennepin (third), Franklin (second) and Wayne (first). The total population for Cuyahoga County was listed at more than 1.24 million.

    This is even as the report notes the county’s population has seen a decline of more than 36,000 people between 2015 and 2024. That’s nearly 3% of the current population total.

    Cuyahoga is at the bottom of the pack for population loss, though Milwaukee had a higher percentage change at -3.2%.

    Cuyahoga County’s median age also skews older than the peer counties, beaten only by Allegheny and Erie. The median age in Cuyahoga County is 40.4. The county with the youngest median age is Marion at 34.6.

    As far as race and ethnicity, the county is 55.8% white, 28.5% Black, 7.5% Hispanic, 4.1% multiracial, 3.6% Asian and .5% other.

    The gross domestic product (GDP) of Cuyahoga County was $104.36 billion as of 2023, landing it in fifth place among peer counties.

    As far as tracking the number of physical businesses that opened, the book includes data for 2022. In Cuyahoga County, they note that 2,774 establishments were created in 2022. That’s the fifth most when compared to the peer counties.

    In Cuyahoga County, the industry with the highest percentage of jobs was education and health services with 25.6%, followed by trade transportation utilities at 18.3%

    The county came in third for annual payroll amount in 2023, at $47.91 billion. It was beaten only by Hennepin and Allegheny. However, the median household income in the county for 2024 was among the lowest, at $65,974. The only county lower was Wayne at $59,294.

    Cuyahoga County’s unemployment rate left it in the middle of the pack, at 3.9%. The percentage of people living below the poverty level in 2024 was 14.7%. This number was 21.6% for children.

    For housing, Cuyahoga County ranked second for the total number of units at 615,292 in 2024, behind Wayne’s 810,469. However, Cuyahoga County was also one of the worst for vacancy rates, at 10.3%.

    The median year homes were built in the county is 1957.

    It’s not a good picture for air quality in Cuyahoga County, with only 33.1% of days being considered good, with an Air Quality Index of 0-50. A total of 64.7% of days were considered moderate (AQI 51-100) and 2.2% were considered unhealthy for sensitive groups (AQI 101-150).

    Cuyahoga County fell in the middle of the group for average commute time at 22.9 minutes. When it comes to public transit, the county earned a transit performance score of 5.5, the second highest. This comes from AllTransit from the Center for Neighborhood Technologies, using various metrics.

    The county rated second-worst for bridge conditions, with 67 deficient bridges out of a total 772 (8.7%).

    Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the number of medical facilities in the area, Cuyahoga County was second for the number of primary care physicians, with 1,390 in total and 111.3 per 100,000 people in 2022.

    The county’s life expectancy sits at 75.4, at seventh place in the list.

    “Understanding these trends is critical as we work together to strengthen economic opportunities, improve health outcomes, and ensure equitable access to housing and other resources,” Cierebiej said in the report. “We hope this report serves as a resource for informed decisionmaking and collaborative action at all levels and across a variety of entities.”

    View the full report below:

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    Cody Thompson

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  • Central Ohio Drug Task Force seizes $800,000 of fentanyl

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Central Ohio Major Drug Interdiction Task Force had one of its largest fentanyl busts this week in Madison County. 

    The task force seized 44 pounds of the synthetic opioid, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced.

    “This is 44 pounds of agony and devastation that will never reach our communities,” Yost said. “Our task forces are hard at work every day, thwarting traffickers and choking off the supply of these lethal drugs.”

    The fentanyl was valued at $800,000 on Wednesday through an ongoing investigation by the task force, operating under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission. The investigation also resulted in charges against two people. 

    Throughout 2025, the commission’s major drug task forces seized 86 pounds of fentanyl statewide. 

    The Central Ohio Major Drug Interdiction Task Force includes the Columbus Division of Police, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Gahanna Police Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, U.S. Postal Inspector, IRS, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations

    Those charged in the case are being prosecuted by the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Tuition for in-state undergraduates is going up across UNC system. What to know

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    The University of North Carolina Board of Governors voted to increase the cost of tuition for in-state undergraduate students. This is the first tuition hike for the UNC system in nine years.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The University of North Carolina Board of Governors voted Thursday morning to increase the cost of tuition for in-state undergraduate students

    •  Tuition costs will be raised 3%, with an average increase of $125 per student starting with the 2026-27 school year

    •  The increase will not apply to current students, only new students


    The board voted in favor of the 3% increase Thursday morning. Officials say the hike amounts to about $125 per student, but is more or less depending on the university.

    The average cost of tuition systemwide will increase from $4,684 to $4,809 in 2026-27, according to a release, and will only apply to new students. Current students will not see a change in their tuition cost.

    “Low tuition is at the heart of our compact with the people of North Carolina,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “We’re focused on reducing administrative costs, keeping student debt down, and making sure every UNC degree delivers value for our graduates.”

    Officials say the increase is in response to rising operating costs and inflationary pressures.

    “For so much of the UNC System’s history, the debate was not about if tuition would go up, but about how much it would go up,” said UNC Board of Governors Chair Wendy Murphy. “This Board, working with our president and our chancellors, changed that expectation. We created a new affordability baseline for North Carolinians, one that prioritizes families and their needs.”

    In addition to the tuition hike, the board also approved an increase in mandatory student fees. “Fees during the 2026-27 academic year will increase by an average of 1%,” a release said.

    The hikes only apply to the 12 universities across the UNC system that are not designated NC Promise schools. Officials say in-state undergraduate tuition at NC Promise schools will stay at $500 per semester.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Red flags for teen dating violence: UNCG student shares her story

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — Teen dating violence often begins with behaviors that may seem small at first — jealousy, pressure or attempts to control a partner. However, experts say those warning signs can quickly escalate into emotional, physical or sexual abuse. 

        What You Need To Know

    • Teen dating violence often begins with behaviors that may seem small at first — jealousy, pressure or attempts to control a partner — but experts say those warning signs can quickly escalate into emotional, physical or sexual abuse

    • For University of North Carolina at Greensboro senior Elizabeth Dorton, those red flags appeared when she was just 15

    • The FBI found 73% of abusive teen relationships involved a boyfriend and girlfriend
    • Simple assault was the most commonly reported offense among victims 15 and older, while rape was most frequently reported among victims 14  and younger
    • If you or someone you know is in an unhealthy or unsafe relationship, help is available through local crisis centers and the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)


    For University of North Carolina at Greensboro senior Elizabeth Dorton, those red flags appeared when she was just 15.

    Sitting on a bench on campus, Dorton shared a story she has rarely spoken about publicly. What started as a friendship with a fellow robotics teammate during high school soon turned into something more.

    “I was on a robotics team, it was somebody who was also on the team,” Dorton said. “Our friendship started there, and then it turned into more than just a regular friendship.”

    She said jealousy and isolation quickly followed.

    Dorton recalled repeated threats tied to something as simple as wanting a septum piercing.

    “He consistently told me if I had ever gotten that specific piercing, he would take, like the nine volt battery and hold it up, which closes the circuit and then it’s like an electrical current runs through it,” Dorton said.

    She said the threats eventually escalated into sexual violence, leaving her feeling trapped and alone.

    “Even though because I was never hit, that doesn’t mean that I deserved any of that … and it wasn’t my fault that that happened,” Dorton said.

    According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, nationwide data from 2020 through 2024 shows more than three-quarters of victims in violent teen relationships were female, accounting for 79.2% of reported cases.

    The report also found 73% of abusive teen relationships involved a boyfriend and girlfriend. Simple assault was the most commonly reported offense among victims 15 and older, while rape was most frequently reported among victims 14 and younger.

    Sydney Wray, a trauma therapist with House of Sparrow Counseling, said sexual coercion, emotional manipulation and digital monitoring are among the most common forms of abuse she sees in teens.

    “Studies have shown that an abusive relationship, both in teens and adults, the victim’s brain mimics a drug addiction, so in a lot of ways they’re addicted to their abuser,” Wray said.

    She said parents play a critical role in prevention by creating safe spaces for teens to speak openly about their struggles.

    “Make sure that you just provide them non-judgmental support and show them what healthy love looks like,” Wray said.

    Dorton said therapy helped her understand the relationship was unhealthy. She said she didn’t tell her parents about the abuse until two years after it ended.

    “I was scared that they would be upset with me or that I would get in trouble for some reason,” Dorton said.

    By sharing her experience, Dorton hopes other teens recognize the warning signs sooner and know they have options.

    “Once you recognize, maybe this is not what I want or this is not like how we used to be, that’s the first step. The next step is knowing that you can leave, you can go,” Dorton said.

    Mental health professionals say parents should watch for warning signs including teens constantly checking their phones, withdrawing from friends or family, or appearing fearful of upsetting a partner.

    “One of the biggest warning signs that your teen is in an abusive relationship or an unhealthy relationship is the constantly checking their phone or worrying about their partner and saying, I don’t want to do this or I can’t do that. Not wanting to see friends, not wanting to see family, isolating themselves, staying in their room,” Wray said.

    If you or someone you know is in an unhealthy or unsafe relationship, help is available through local crisis centers and the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). 

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Ashley Van Havere

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  • Planets on parade: Rare 6 planets line up in the sky

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    Coming up on the last evening of February, Mother Nature will treat us to another astronomical phenomenon known as “planets on parade.” 

    What You Need To Know

    • Six planets will align on the evening of Feb. 28

    • Planets lining up happens a couples times per year

    • Two of the six planets can only be seen through binoculars or a small telescope


    It’s nicknamed as such because several planets appear to form a fairly straight line in the early evening sky. However, Spectrum News Space Expert Anthony Leone says it’s all about perspective. “In reality (and out in space), they are not lined up. It only appears that way to us.”

    This ‘parade’ is unique because six planets (Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) will align. He recommends looking west to southwest 30 to 60 minutes after sunset and finding a location with minimal light pollution for optimal viewing. The earlier the better, as Mercury will dip below the horizon not long after sunset. Jupiter will appear as a bright star to the east of the waxing gibbous moon.

    And make sure you bring binoculars or a telescope. “With the naked eye, you can see planets Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn as stars,” Leone says. “The more distant planets like Uranus and Neptune will need binoculars or a telescope to view.”

    Adding, “Free astronomy apps like ‘Sky Guide,’ ‘Planets’ and ‘SkyPortal’ are great at helping people see when and where the planets will rise.” 

     

    How frequently does this event occur?

    “Believe it or not, planet alignments are not too rare, and they happen a couple of times each year. It just depends on how many planets will be in alignment for a parade,” explains Leone. 

    If the weather doesn’t permit you to view this February, there will be another opportunity in August. The next one will be Aug. 12 with Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune all aligning.

    Happy viewing everyone!

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Scott Dean

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  • Planets on parade: Rare 6 planets line up in the sky

    [ad_1]

    Coming up on the last evening of February, Mother Nature will treat us to another astronomical phenomenon known as “planets on parade.” 

    What You Need To Know

    • Six planets will align on the evening of Feb. 28

    • Planets lining up happens a couples times per year

    • Two of the six planets can only be seen through binoculars or a small telescope


    It’s nicknamed as such because several planets appear to form a fairly straight line in the early evening sky. However, Spectrum News Space Expert Anthony Leone says it’s all about perspective. “In reality (and out in space), they are not lined up. It only appears that way to us.”

    This ‘parade’ is unique because six planets (Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) will align. He recommends looking west to southwest 30 to 60 minutes after sunset and finding a location with minimal light pollution for optimal viewing. The earlier the better, as Mercury will dip below the horizon not long after sunset. Jupiter will appear as a bright star to the east of the waxing gibbous moon.

    And make sure you bring binoculars or a telescope. “With the naked eye, you can see planets Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn as stars,” Leone says. “The more distant planets like Uranus and Neptune will need binoculars or a telescope to view.”

    Adding, “Free astronomy apps like ‘Sky Guide,’ ‘Planets’ and ‘SkyPortal’ are great at helping people see when and where the planets will rise.” 

     

    How frequently does this event occur?

    “Believe it or not, planet alignments are not too rare, and they happen a couple of times each year. It just depends on how many planets will be in alignment for a parade,” explains Leone. 

    If the weather doesn’t permit you to view this February, there will be another opportunity in August. The next one will be Aug. 12 with Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune all aligning.

    Happy viewing everyone!

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Scott Dean

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  • Hillary Clinton testifies in House committee probe into Jeffrey Epstein

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    Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are both scheduled to give testimony to the House Oversight Committee this week as part of the congressional committee’s probe into the late, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are both scheduled to give testimony to the House Oversight Committee this week as part of the committee’s probe into the late, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein

    • Hillary Clinton is being deposed Thursday, with Bill Clinton’s testimony on the calendar for Friday. 

    • The former president had a well-documented relationship with Epstein in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and the Clintons have said they had no knowledge that Epstein was sexually abusing underage girls before his arrest

    • The Clintons had initially been scheduled to testify last year, but that was postponed, launching a months-long back-and-forth between the couple and committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky.

    Hillary Clinton is meeting with the committee Thursday, with Bill Clinton’s testimony on the calendar for Friday. Both are taking place in Chappaqua, New York, according to a spokesperson for the committee.

    On Thursday morning, committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said he expected Hillary Clinton’s deposition to be “long” and Bill Clinton’s to be “even longer.”

    “No one’s accusing at this moment the Clintons of any wrongdoing,” Comer said. “They’re going to have due process. But we have a lot of questions.The purpose of the whole investigation is to try to understand many things about Epstein. How did he accumulate so much wealth?
How was he able to surround himself with some of the most powerful men in the world?”

    Several photographs of Bill Clinton were included in the trove of files made public in December by the Justice Department. The former president had a well-documented relationship with Epstein in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Clintons have said they had no knowledge that Epstein was sexually abusing underage girls before his arrest.

    “We have a very clear record that we’ve been willing to talk about,” Hillary Clinton said in an interview with the BBC last week. “My husband has said, he took some rides on the airplane for his charitable work.
I don’t recall ever meeting (Epstein).”

    Epstein died by suicide in a New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Officials believe that the disgraced financier abused more than 1,000 girls and young women. 

    The Clintons had initially been scheduled to testify last year, but that was postponed, launching a monthslong back-and-forth between the couple and committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. 

    Last month, the House Oversight Committee voted to recommend contempt of Congress charges for the Clintons, but less than two weeks later, Comer announced that the couple had “caved” and agreed to “appear for transcribed, filmed depositions.” The Kentucky Republican said that a recording of each deposition “would be made public” afterward.

    After that announcement, the Clintons called for their testimony to not take place behind closed doors. 

    “If they want answers, let’s stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing, where the American people can see for themselves what this is really about,” Bill Clinton said in a Feb. 6 post on X. 

    Comer accused the couple of “pushing a false narrative to play victim” in an interview the following day and indicated that the closed-door depositions would take place as planned.

    Clintons’ depositions follow testimony of others in House probe

    The Clintons’ deposition follows that of Victoria’s Secret co-founder Les Wexner, who spoke to lawmakers last week in New Albany, Ohio, as well as that of Epstein’s former girlfriend and longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, who was deposed by video from the Texas prison camp where she is currently serving her 20-year prison sentence on sex trafficking charges

    Comer has also indicated that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who has denied any wrongdoing, may be asked to testify as well. 

    As part of its investigation, the House Oversight Committee has made more than 30,000 documents public. Democrats on the congressional body in recent months have shared additional files, including photos of powerful men in Epstein’s orbit without corresponding caption information or context. The records have served to illustrate Epstein’s ties to high-profile figures in business, government and entertainment.

    The Justice Department’s disclosure of records

    The committee’s probe into Epstein is separate from the Justice Department’s release of millions of files, as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. 

    Under the law passed overwhelmingly by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in November, prosecutors were required to make public all of the files in its investigation into Epstein by Dec. 19 and then provide Congress with a report identifying the categories of records released and withheld, as well as summarizing redactions and their corresponding legal bases.  

    Several batches of documents were shared in December, and then last month, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department was releasing more than 3 million additional pages, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images in its final Epstein disclosure.

    In response to the release, prosecutors have faced criticism that the trove of records has contained unredacted identifying information and images of sex abuse victims and that other names and documents were improperly redacted or withheld from the disclosures. 

    Among files reportedly missing from the trove are ones pertaining to a woman’s unverified accusation that Trump assaulted her when she was a minor in the 1980s, journalist Roger Sollenberger –– and subsequently NPR and The New York Times –– reported. 

    California Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a post on Bluesky on Tuesday that Democrats on the committee are opening a “parallel investigation into why these documents are missing.”

    In response to a request for comment about the files, the Justice Department directed Spectrum News to a post on its Rapid Response X account, which contended that “NOTHING has been deleted” and that “ALL responsive documents have been produced unless a document falls within one of the following categories: duplicates, privileged, or part of an ongoing federal investigation.”

    The White House referred any questions about the implementation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act to the DOJ, and pointed to a section of the department’s news release about its disclosure, which stated that “Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.”

    Fallout continues in U.S. and U.K.

    Revelations stemming from the trove of records has led to fallout both in the U.S. and abroad. Most recently, Harvard University announced Wednesday that former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers will resign from his teaching role at the school amid a campus review of his ties to Epstein. 

    Meanwhile, in the U.K., British police arrested Peter Mandelson, a former U.K. ambassador to the United States, on Monday in a misconduct probe 

    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his princely title last year due to revelations about his relationship with Epstein, was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid allegations that he shared confidential documents with the late financier during his time as trade envoy.

    Summers, Mandelson and Mountbatten-Windsor have all denied wrongdoing. 

    The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.

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    Christina Santucci

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  • Traitors UK Has Landed on Peacock

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    Photo: Mike Marsland/WireImage

    We’re just hours away from the fourth season finale of The Traitors dropping, but fans of the franchise fearful of suffering withdrawal pains, fret not: Peacock has more traitorous content ready to go. In addition to a reunion special dropping tonight, the streamer is also gifting us Yanks season four of Traitors UK, which wrapped its run on the BBC last month with record ratings. All 12 episodes of the Claudia Winkleman-hosted version of the Studio Lambert format will drop on Peacock early Thursday morning (5 a.m. ET, to be precise), allowing faithful viewers to binge-watch the whole season right after the U.S. edition wraps up (or right before if you’ve got Thursday off and nothing else to do).

    Unlike Peacock’s take on the format, the main version of Traitors UK features a cast of non-celebrities playing the game rather than a collection of reality stars and other pop culture notables. (The BBC did launch a spin-off with celebrities last fall, and that version has been streaming on Peacock since November.) In addition, NBC has already announced its own all-civilians take on Traitors that’s expected to air on the network (and stream on Peacock) this fall. Now all we need is for Alan Cumming and Winkleman to cross-over on to each other’s versions of the show, or at least swap costume designers for an episode.

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    Josef Adalian

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  • What did Hong Kong’s appeals court change in Jimmy Lai’s case?

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    A rare legal reversal in a high‑profile case

    An appellate court in Hong Kong overturned fraud convictions tied to lease violations that had been lodged against the pro‑democracy media tycoon. The ruling represents a narrow but notable victory for a prominent critic of Beijing in a jurisdiction where national security prosecutions and other charges have led to lengthy prison terms for activists and journalists.

    Immediate legal consequences

    • The specific fraud convictions linked to lease issues were quashed by the appeals panel.
    • Other sentences and convictions remain on the record; the reversal did not automatically erase longer penalties Lai faces on separate national security or related charges.

    Why this matters

    • Rule of law signaling: the decision is unusual in recent years and will be watched internationally as an indicator of how Hong Kong’s courts handle politically sensitive cases.
    • Political optics: for supporters of the city’s pro‑democracy movement, the ruling offers a sliver of vindication; for Beijing and its supporters, it is unlikely to change the broader pattern of prosecutions that have curtailed dissent.
    • Practical next steps: prosecutors can decide whether to seek rehearing or other appeals; Lai’s legal team may press for release or sentence reduction depending on how judges and prosecutors proceed.

    What remains unclear

    It is still uncertain whether the quashed convictions will lead to immediate relief for Lai. Several other legal judgments and sentences remain, and those outcomes will determine whether he remains in custody. The ruling does not by itself resolve the larger political and legal issues surrounding the treatment of pro‑democracy figures in Hong Kong.

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  • St. Pete wants to expand the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A St. Petersburg City Council committee took the first steps on Thursday to potentially give voters the chance in November to approve an expansion of the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub.

    What You Need To Know

    • A St. Pete City Council committee unanimously approved ballot language for a 25-year lease for Hub 2 on Thursday

    • The city wants to expand the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub with a new $30M facility

    • Plans call for a 52,000 square foot research and collaboration facility which would be mostly funded by grants

    • The next step is a public hearing and council approval of an ordinance, which would trigger the referendum to be on the November ballot


    “Our port is a unique asset,” said Alison Barlow, Innovation District CEO. “We want to capitalize on that.”

    The new facility, Hub 2, would cost $30 million and be constructed on a parking lot just west of the current building at 450 8th Avenue Southeast, which opened in 2022. The city must seek voter approval to lease the land, which is a requirement for public waterfront property development.

    Plans call for a 52,000 square foot research and collaboration facility. The current capacity of the Hub is about 32,000 square feet. Hub 2 would feature communal workspaces, a waterfront connection to the Port of St. Petersburg, a rooftop terrace and a lobby with the only NOAA 360 sphere in Florida, according to Barlow.

    “It uses high-tech cameras and shows different weather patterns,” Barlow said. “You can do different storytelling. You can do all kinds of really neat educational programs.”

    The city’s Economic and Workforce Development Committee unanimously approved a 25-year lease for the ballot on Thursday, aligning port facilities with neighboring Albert Whitted Airport. Council Member Gina Driscoll chairs the committee, and the Hub is located in her district. Driscoll called it a tremendous opportunity to expand the marine science sector.

    “This is going to create jobs,” she said. “It’s going to bring new companies here, new research, and it’s going to help the companies that we do have here to be able to expand and stay in St. Petersburg.”

    The average salary for full-time employees at the Hub is $91,500. Driscoll said the City Council must take a few more steps to place the referendum on the 2026 ballot.

    “Next, this item will go to a public hearing,” she said. “If this passes as an ordinance, the ordinance triggers the referendum, and it will be on the ballot in November.”

    Barlow said the Innovation District only plans to ask voters to approve the lease, as she expects to pay for Hub 2 with multiple grants and some tenant investment.

    “That is our goal,” she said. “Maybe some private investment.”

    Peyton Donald and Ashley Player were one of the first startups to move their business, Seven Serpents, into the Hub in 2022. Seven Serpents is just one of 20 businesses packed into the Hub, which includes SubUAS and Pole Star Defense.

    Donald is the president of Seven Serpents, which offers training for special forces in the U.S. military, and said more space is desperately needed

    “It’s a great environment to work. Unfortunately, there’s not enough individualized space for all of the companies,” he said. “There’s not enough facilities here in the St. Pete area. We’ve searched all over the place.”

    Player is the company’s vice president and said it has taken Seven Serpents years to expand into bigger spaces at the Hub.

    “We started out in the co-working space. So hot desking,” she said. “Then we moved into this office, which was a nice change. And we’re about to move into a bigger office.”

    The only space currently available at the HUB is a 10 by 10 office, according to Barlow.

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    Josh Rojas

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  • Sprowls Horizon Sports Park hosts its grand opening this weekend

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    PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Sprowls Horizon Sports Park in Pinellas Park is hosting its grand opening this weekend after years of planning. 

    The complex has six baseball and softball fields, a field hockey rink, a playground and more.

    What You Need To Know

    • Sprowls Horizon Sports Park is home to baseball and softball fields, a multi-purpose field, a field hockey rink and more

    • Sprowls Horizon Sports Park General Manager Michael Nielsen said the park will bring in 160,000 people a year

    • The baseball and softball fields are booked every weekend through the end of 2026

    Baseball coaches like Sean Rodriguez are thrilled that the kids they coach will have the opportunity to play at the park. 

    “To say they got to experience their youth on fields like this, it’s going to make it that much more memorable,” he said. 

    Rodriguez is a co-owner of R3 — With God No Fear. 

    He had a 13-year major league baseball career, including spending 2010 through 2014 with the Rays.  

    Rodriguez said they’ve been looking for fields where they could consistently practice for three years. 

    This sports park is giving them exactly what they’ve been looking for. 

    “I was walking and just messing around with some of my parents, and they were like, man, this is beautiful,” he said. “I was like, yeah, I’m trying to find Jesus because this has got to be heaven.”

    Pinellas Park Community Development Administrator Nick Colonna said the park will be an anchor for the city.

    “We offer good food,” he said about the city. “We offer great manufacturing base. We offer a lot of great retail. We offer farms. We offer a lot. Now, we offer a regional sports complex that brings in people that have never seen the region and the city.” 

    Sprowls Horizon Sports Park General Manager Michael Nielsen said the park will bring in 160,000 people a year. 

    The park is already booked every weekend through the end of 2026.

    “With tournaments every single weekend, including national and regional, and local tournaments, you have people coming from Delaware, Colorado, California, all to see this wonderful city, but also highlighting something for the local community and bringing in people from Tampa or even Lakeland to enjoy the site,” he said.  

    There will be a ribbon-cutting on Saturday to recognize the opening of the park. 

    The park will open at noon every day. 

    Nielsen said rental for the baseball and softball fields is $90 per hour.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Attorney asks Stetson Law School to denounce Pam Bondi

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is under fire about the way she handled the Epstein file release. And the people speaking out are some of her fellow attorneys and judges who are alumni of Stetson Law School.

    What You Need To Know

    • Attorney General Pam Bondi faces criticism for her handling of the Epstein file release

    • Stetson Law alumni, including judges and attorneys, call for the school to denounce Bondi

    • A letter initiated by attorney Johnny Bardine has gathered hundreds of signatures

    In a letter written to Stetson Law School officials, Bondi’s ethics were called into question and it asks the school to publicly denounce her.

    Like Bondi, attorney Johnny Bardine is a graduate of Stetson Law. He’s also the author of the letter that’s garnered about four hundred signatures and counting.

    “I was surprised by how many there were in a short amount of time,” he said. “We count among our numbers three retired members of the judiciary and a former county commissioner and hundreds more attorneys that span political differences.”

    He read part of the letter that was sent out on Feb. 23, 2026:

    “We write to you with grave concern about the conduct of one of our most prominent graduates, Pam Bondi,” he read.

    In the letter, attorney Bardine asks the law school to issue a public statement reaffirming the college of law’s commitment to ethical practice, transparency and the rule of law. It also requests the school to express formal disapproval of Bondi’s actions and to support efforts to hold positions of legal authority to the highest ethical standards.

    Bardine said there were several tense moments during a congressional hearing where Bondi testified.

    “You don’t tell me anything you washed up loser lawyer. You’re not even a lawyer,” Bondi said while being questioned in that hearing. “I have spent my entire career fighting for victims, and I will continue to do so. I am deeply sorry for what any victim has been through. Especially as a result of that monster.”

    Bardine says Bondi’s words didn’t appear to match her actions. There were several tense moments during the hearing, but there was a moment Bardine said he knew he had to say and do something.

    “In particular, in that testimony there was the moment in which she wouldn’t turn around and acknowledge the Epstein survivors and the sort of glib look on her face really struck a chord which is sort of immediately empathetical to the Florida oath of attorney which requires we handle ourselves with ethics and candor,” Bardine said.

    President Trump came to Bondi’s defense the day after the hearing in a Truth Social post saying she was under intense fire and was fantastic at the hearing on the never-ending saga of Jeffrey Epstien.

    Gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds told Spectrum Bay News 9’s partners at the Tampa Bay Times Bondi did the best she could with millions of pages of documents. He said the messaging kind of got a little off, but the files are out there.

    As an attorney and a Stetson Law graduate, Bardine says more is expected from anyone who took the oath.

    “At a minimum, attorneys are trusted to follow the law, and not one attorney is above the law. And prior to her testimony she had fallen short of the law. She’d been dilatory releasing these files and when she did, they were sloppily redacted,” Bardine said.

    At a 2013 Stetson Law School graduation, Bondi delivered a speech to graduates with a message about ethics and the law.

    “The value of Stetson is so much more than the degree you’re about to receive. My studies at Stetson taught me to understand, respect and love the law and speak up for what’s right,” Bondi said in that speech.

    The message she gave to students about doing the right thing is what Bardine said his letter is calling on Stetson administrators to do.

    “In a perfect world, I think the dean makes a statement that says this is not who we are. This is not who we stand for. Stetson has a long legacy of prizing ethical conduct and professional responsibility,” Bardine said.

    Spectrum News reached out to Stetson Law School about the letter that’s asking them to denounce Bondi, and they said they have no comment. Spectrum News is also still waiting to hear back from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. As for Bardine, he says he plans to continue collecting signatures and press officials at Stetson.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • Why did the US pause Medicaid payments to Minnesota?

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    Federal action tied to a national fraud campaign

    The federal government has moved to temporarily withhold roughly $259 million in Medicaid reimbursements to Minnesota, framing the step as part of a newly declared “war on fraud.” Vice President JD Vance announced the suspension and presented Minnesota’s Medicaid program as a model for a broader crackdown, saying the state must take steps to root out what federal officials allege are widespread payment problems.

    The pause is administrative rather than criminal: federal agencies can delay certain reimbursements while they review evidence of improper payments or require corrective action plans. The White House has said the suspension is intended to compel state officials to strengthen oversight and recover misspent funds. Minnesota’s governor and state officials have pushed back, calling the move heavy‑handed and politically charged, and asking for clear evidence and a path to restore funding quickly.

    Why this matters for people and policy

    • Practical impact: Providers and beneficiaries may face short‑term cash‑flow and access challenges if reimbursements are delayed, especially for safety‑net services that rely on consistent federal funding.
    • Federal‑state relations: The move raises constitutional and administrative law questions about when and how the federal government may withhold entitlement payments and what due‑process protections states and recipients have.
    • Political signal: By seasoning the action with the language of a national anti‑fraud campaign, the administration is signaling that other states could face similar scrutiny, which could shift how Medicaid programs operate and prioritize audit and compliance.

    Next steps and uncertainties

    • Minnesota has a limited window to propose fixes and negotiate with federal officials to restore funding.
    • Legal challenges are possible if the state or providers argue the action exceeds federal authority or causes undue harm.
    • The practical effects will depend on how quickly Washington and Minnesota reach agreement on corrective measures.

    For now, the pause underscores a sharpening federal posture on program integrity and sets up a test case that could reshape Medicaid oversight across the country.

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