A federal judge has blocked subpoenas seeking records from the Federal Reserve as part of a criminal investigation involving Chair Jerome Powell.

Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said prosecutors failed to show evidence that Powell committed a crime.

The investigation is said to have focused on cost overruns tied to renovations of Federal Reserve buildings and Powells testimony to Congress about the project.

RELATED STORY | Trump demands Fed lower interest rates amid steady inflation, rising mortgage costs

The Federal Reserve was served with grand jury subpoenas in January. Powell said the probe appeared to center on his congressional testimony last summer regarding renovations to the Federal Reserves headquarters in Washington. But in a recorded statement, he suggested the investigation could be broader.

The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president, Powell said.

RELATED STORY | Fed cuts interest rate for third time this year, signals only one cut in 2026

Although President Donald Trump appointed Powell during his first term, the two have repeatedly clashed over interest rate policy during Trumps second term.

On Thursday, Trump continued his criticism of Powell.

Where is the Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Too Late Powell, today? He should be dropping interest rates, IMMEDIATELY, not waiting for the next meeting! Trump wrote on Thursday on Truth Social.

Trumps comments came hours after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the consumer price index rose 2.4% in the 12 months ending in February. The rate has remained relatively steady but is slightly above the Federal Reserves 2% inflation target.

Roughly 2,500 Marines and at least one amphibious assault ship are headed for the Middle East, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans, said elements from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli have been ordered to the Middle East. The move marks a major addition of troops to the region.

Iran has continued to launch widespread missile and drone attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf states, and has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's traded oil passes, even as U.S. and Israeli warplanes pummel military and other targets across Iran.

The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon deepened, with nearly 800 people killed and 850,000 displaced as Israel launched waves of strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants and warned there would be no let up.

With growing global concerns about a possible energy crisis, the price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, hovered around $100 per barrel. Brent prices are about 40% higher than when Israel and the United States launched the war on Feb. 28.

In an interview with Fox News, U.S. President Donald Trump said the war would end when I feel it in my bones.

Explosion rocks area of mass demonstration

An explosion in Tehran rocked the Ferdowsi Square area midday, where thousands had gathered for an annual Quds Day rally in which they chanted death to Israel and death to America.

Israel had issued a warning on a Farsi-language X account for people to clear the area shortly before the blast. But few Iranians would have seen it, as authorities have almost completely shut down the internet since the start of the war. Footage from the scene showed people chanting God is greatest, as smoke rose in the area.

The Israeli military later posted a second message in Farsi, noting the head of Irans judiciary was at the rally and criticizing Iran for blocking many from seeing their warning.

The hard-liner who leads Irans judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, had been giving an interview on state television at the demonstration when the strike happened. His bodyguards encircled him, as he raised his fist and said Iran under this rain and missiles will never withdraw.

US says 15,000 targets struck in Iran since the start of the war

Israel had earlier announced another wave of strikes in Iran targeting infrastructure, and said its air force had hit more than 200 targets in the last 24 hours, including missile launchers, defense systems and weapons production sites.

In Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that over 15,000 enemy targets have been struck, which is more than 1,000 a day since the war began.

He also sought to address concerns about the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, telling reporters: We have been dealing with it and dont need to worry about it.

Irans Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday vowed to continue the attacks and keep the strait closed in his first public statement since succeeding his father, who was killed in the opening day of the war. Khamenei has not been seen in public since taking over leadership and released a written statement.

Hegseth said Khamenei is wounded and likely disfigured, without providing evidence or elaborating. Israel suspects Khamenei was wounded at the start of the war.

All six crew of US refueling plane confirmed dead after crash

The U.S. military confirmed on Friday that all six crew members of an American KC-135 refueling plane were killed when it crashed in Iraq, bringing the U.S. death toll to at least 13 service members.

U.S. Central Command said the crash wasnt related to friendly or hostile fire, and that two aircraft were involved, including one that landed safely.

The KC-135 is the fourth publicly acknowledged aircraft to crash as part of the U.S. militarys operations against Iran. Last week, three American fighter jets were mistakenly downed by friendly Kuwaiti fire.

New Iranian attacks across the region

Iran continued its daily attacks on oil and other infrastructure across the Gulf. In Oman, two people were killed when two drones crashed in the Sohar region, the Oman News Agency reported.

The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Oscar Austin shot down an Iranian ballistic missile over Turkey on Friday, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity in order to discuss ongoing military operations. It was the third such interception over the NATO member in the last two weeks.

Residents in the southern Turkish city of Adana reported hearing a loud explosion and sirens sounding at Incirlik Air Base, which is used by U.S. forces.

In the latest sign of unease from some close U.S. allies, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a convincing plan on how to end the war. He spoke alongside the prime ministers of Norway and Canada at military exercises in Norway.

Fighting escalates between Israel and Hezbollah

At least eight people were killed in an Israeli strike on Lebanon's southern coastal city of Sidon, Lebanons Health Ministry said Friday. Nine others were wounded, the ministry added. The toll could rise as rescuers search the rubble.

The ministry said 773 people including more than 100 children and 62 women have been killed since fighting erupted between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants 10 days ago. More than 1,900 people have been wounded, it said.

Some 850,000 have been internally displaced in Lebanon, according to United Nations Secretary-General Antnio Guterres, who launched a $325 million humanitarian appeal during a surprise visit to the country.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged Israel to halt strikes on his country and criticized Hezbollah for firing rockets at Israeli targets.

There is no justification in holding an entire nation hostage, he said.

Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said strikes so far were just the beginning and warned that Lebanons government will pay an increasing price for the damage to Lebanese national infrastructure used by Hezbollah.

Salam pushed back on the criticism, saying the Lebanese army had dismantled more than 500 Hezbollah military positions and weapons depots.

The Israeli military said its strikes have killed more than 350 Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, including what it called key commanders.

Iranian authorities say that more than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran, and Israel has reported 12 deaths.

A man who opened fire in a classroom at Virginias Old Dominion University had been granted an early release from federal prison in 2024 after completing a drug treatment program, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and did so on the condition of anonymity.

Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2017 to providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State group, and was released about 2 years early, according to prison records.

It wasnt clear how Jalloh qualified for a prison drug treatment program, which allows inmates to shave up to a year off their sentences. Inmates serving sentences for terrorism-related offenses typically arent eligible for such programs or other sentence-reducing credits.

RELATED NEWS | Old Dominion shooter previously convicted of trying to support ISIS

Jalloh, a former member of the Virginia Army National Guard, killed one person and injured two other people in Thursdays shooting before ROTC students subdued and killed him.

A message seeking information about Jallohs incarceration and release was left with the federal Bureau of Prisons.

Some elected officials questioned how someone with known ties to the Islamic State group was able to carry out such an attack.

The horrific tragedy that occurred today on ODUs campus never should have happened, U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, who represents the congressional district neighboring the university, wrote on Facebook.

After Jalloh pleaded guilty in October 2016 to providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization the Islamic State group a federal judge sentenced him in 2017 to an 11-year prison term with credit for time served retroactive to his July 2016 arrest.

He was on supervised release, which is comparable to probation, when he carried out the attack on Thursday. Based on his release date, that wouldve run into 2029.

Confessions to undercover agents

Jallohs October 2016 plea came after a three-month sting operation in which he, then 26, confessed to an undercover FBI agent that he was thinking about carrying out an attack similar to the 2009 shootings at Fort Hood, which left 13 people dead. Authorities launched the 2016 operation after Jalloh made contact with members of the Islamic State group in Africa earlier that year.

Jalloh later told the informant that the Islamic State group had asked if he wanted to participate in an attack. He tried to donate $500 to the group, but the money actually went to an account controlled by the FBI, according to court documents.

Jalloh then tried to buy an AR-15 assault rifle from a Virginia gun store but was turned away because he lacked the proper paperwork. The affidavit says he returned the next day and bought a different assault rifle. Prosecutors said the rifle was rendered inoperable before Jalloh left the store, unbeknownst to Jalloh. He was arrested the following day.

RELATED STORY | Professor killed at Old Dominion University was retired Army officer remembered as 'true hero'

Debate over sentencing

The Justice Department in 2017 requested a 20-year prison sentence for Jalloh, noting that he had made multiple attempts to join the Islamic State group and had attempted to acquire a gun to carry out a murder plot.

The defendant was fully aware of what he was doing, and the consequences of those actions. His only misgivings seemed to be a fear that he would waver at the critical moment, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

They added: By putting the idea of this murder plot into religious terms, and by suggesting that murdering members of the US military would be a path to heaven, the defendant showed how strongly committed he was to the deadly ideology of the Islamic State group.

Jallohs lawyers asked for a sentence of 6 years in prison and requested that he be placed in a facility that provides residential drug treatment for inmates with addiction and substance abuse issues.

U.S. District Judge Liam OGrady, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, sentenced him instead to 11 years in prison.

The judge also ordered Jalloh to participate in a program for substance abuse testing and treatment and mental health treatment, and requested that he be evaluated for the federal prison systems residential drug program.

Completing the Residential Drug Abuse Program can reduce an inmates prison sentence by up to a year, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons. It wasnt immediately clear if Jalloh qualified for the program. Normally, inmates serving sentences for terrorism-related offenses arent eligible.

In addition, some inmates who stay out of trouble in prison can reduce their sentence by earning up to 54 days of good conduct time credit for each year of their sentence. However, under the 2018 prison reform law known as the First Step Act, inmates convicted of terrorism-related offenses are not eligible for such credit.

Troubled shooter lured by radical cleric

Little is publicly known about Jalloh, who was a naturalized citizen from Sierra Leone. But court documents depict him as a troubled man who was radicalized by Anwar al-Awlaki, a well-known American imam who became an al-Qaida propagandist.

The Virginia Army National Guard confirmed he served as a specialist from 2009 until 2015, when he was honorably discharged. Jalloh told a government informant he quit the National Guard after hearing lectures from al-Awlaki, according to a 2016 FBI affidavit filed in his criminal case.

In a letter to the federal judge that presided over his sentencing, Jalloh wrote: I feel deep regret in having been driven by my emotions rather than my intellect and becoming involved with such an evil organization. I reject and deplore terrorism and any groups associated with it, especially ISIL.

He wrote that he started using drugs after his girlfriend ended their six-year relationship.

The pain I felt internally was unbearable, and drugs and alcohol were the only things that took that pain away, Jalloh wrote. I started doing marijuana, coke and mushrooms using one of them at least on a daily basis in order to kill the pain I was in and to fill in the void I felt internally.

The letter itself remains under seal, but his lawyer included excerpts of it in his sentencing memorandum.

Pope Leo XIV said Christian leaders who bear responsibility for armed conflicts should examine their consciences and seek confession.

"Do those Christians who bear serious responsibility in armed conflicts have the humility and courage to make a serious examination of conscience and to go to confession?" Leo said during a speech on Friday.

The pope did not name any specific conflict or individual, but he has repeatedly appealed for peace in Iran and the Middle East, describing the situation as "deeply disturbing." In January, Leo lamented that "war is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading."

The recent comments come as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has framed the United States' military intervention as supported by God. Some Christian leaders were recently seen praying over President Donald Trump in the Oval Office during the Iran war.

RELATED STORY | 6 US troops killed after military refueling tanker crashes in Iraq

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are Catholics.

Prominent figures in the U.S. Catholic Church have also spoken out against the Iran war. Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago described a video posted on the White House's X account about the war as "sickening."

Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington, D.C., said the US-Israeli strikes are "not morally legitimate" as they don't meet the criteria in Catholic teaching for a just war.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A local man, who wished to remain anonymous, described to 7 News Detroit on Friday how he opened his garage to children and teachers following Thursdays attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township.

He said he saw kids waiting outside in the cold and took some blankets over to them. He said an officer asked to use the garage as a temporary shelter, and he agreed.

Related Coverage: Team coverage of the attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township Temple Israel attack coverage: 7 News Detroit at 5 p.m.

The man said he opened up his garage to the group of about 45 children and 10 adults as the situation was unfolding.

We try to be as comforting as possible, and try to be calm and not overreact and make them more scared, he said. 

The man said they were just trying to help as much as they could in any way. 

Video showed the adults holding some of the children and singing to them in the garage.

Incendiary internal messages in which a Live Nation employee mocks customers as so stupid and says the company is robbing them blind, baby have been made public as over two dozen states weigh whether to continue their antitrust trial against the entertainment giant and its subsidiary Ticketmaster.

The messages from late 2021 through early 2023 on the online work messaging platform Slack were highlighted late Wednesday in a filing by government lawyers released in the public court record. The lawyers insist the messages should be evidence in the week-old trial in Manhattan federal court against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.

At the trial, lawyers for the federal government and 39 states and the District of Columbia say Live Nation and Ticketmaster were squelching competition and driving up prices for fans through threats, retaliation and other tactics to suffocate the competition by controlling virtually every aspect of the industry, from concert promotion to ticketing. The companies insist that artists, sports teams and venues set prices and decide how tickets are sold.

RELATED STORY | Government says Live Nation bullied venues, artists in ticketing market

The government lawyers wrote that the statements should be part of the trial because they are candid, internal messages" in which Ben Baker calls fans so stupid, explains that he gouge(s) them, and brags that Live Nation is robbing them blind, baby."

In the submission to Judge Arun Subramanian, the lawyers noted that Baker made the statements while he was a regional director of ticketing with responsibility for a large amphitheater in Florida but has since been promoted to head of ticketing for Venue Nation with responsibilities relating to all of Live Nation's venues.

They said the employees were discussing Live Nation's price for access to the VIP area of a show at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa when Baker wrote that the prices are outrageous, that these people are so stupid and that I almost feel bad taking advantage of them before writing, BAHAHAHAHAHA.

Live Nation wants the exhibits disqualified from the trial, saying the messages reflect off-the-cuff banter, not policy between two personal friends who do not work together.

RELATED STORY | Live Nation to limit all Ticketmaster users to one account after FTC lawsuit

The company's lawyers wrote that the exhibits don't relate to the antitrust claims. They said the employees were making passing references to non-ticket ancillary products such as VIP club access, premier parking, or lawn chair rentals sold to concertgoers at two amphitheaters in Florida and Virginia.

But lawyers for the plaintiff states and U.S. government wrote that excessive prices for ancillary services are directly relevant to their claims and that ancillaries are a significant way that Live Nation monetizes its monopoly position in the amphitheater market.

In a statement Thursday, the company said the Slack exchange from one junior staffer to a friend absolutely doesn't reflect our values or how we operate.

The company added: Because this was a private Slack message, leadership learned of this when the public did, and will be looking into the matter promptly.

The arguments regarding the exhibits were made after Bloomberg News, The New York Times and MLex, a publication which covers legal and regulatory matters, and Inner City Press requested their release.

The trials status is up in the air after the federal government announced this week it was settling with Live Nation in a deal that would give Live Nation's competitors some access to ticket sales they are currently excluded from.

Lawyers for more than two dozen states have asked that the ongoing trial be scrapped and that a new jury be chosen in the weeks ahead. A jury that began hearing evidence last week was told to stay home this week with the expectation the trial would resume on Monday.

Meanwhile, Subramanian encouraged lawyers for the states and Live Nation to negotiate this week before telling him late Friday whether they've reached a deal.

Although the parties were not speaking publicly about the progress of any talks, a lawyer for Live Nation indicated at a court hearing Tuesday that there was no realistic chance of a fast deal with all states.

In a letter to the judge Thursday, a states' lawyer signaled the trial was likely to resume, saying the judge needed to rule on whether the Slack message exhibits can be shown to the jury because his decision will have a material impact on which witnesses the states call to testify as the states prepare to resume trial next week.

The man who was killed in Thursday's deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia was identified by the school as Lt. Col Brandon Shah, a retired Army officer and professor of military science at the school.

Police said a gunman opened fire in a campus building around 10:40 a.m., killing Shah and injuring two others. It is being investigated as an act of terrorism, the FBI said. The gunman was also killed.

Students killed ODU shooter, who shouted 'allahu akbar' before opening fire: FBI

Old Dominion University President Brian O. Hemphill identified Shah in a tribute message posted on the school's website, describing him as "a dedicated Monarch, public servant, and true hero."

Shah was a native Virginian from Staunton who enlisted in the army in 2003 as an aviation operations specialist and graduated from ODU in 2007, according to Hemphill.

"He fulfilled his dream to be an Army pilot, flying an AH64 Apache over Iraq, Afghanistan, and Eastern Europe during Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Atlantic Resolve," said Hemphill. "Lt. Col. Shah logged more than 1,200 hours, 600 of them on combat missions, in three aircraft. In his last position before joining Old Dominion University, he served as Director of Operations for the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade in Savannah, Georgia, where he oversaw day-to-day operations, training, modernization and long-range plans."

Dead ODU gunman with ISIS ties ID'd, one victim killed, two hurt

Shah also had an MBA from the University of Georgia, and an MS in engineering management from the University of Kansas.

Some of his individual awards include the Senior Army Aviator Badge, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge, according to ODU's website.

"Brandon is an advocate for minority and veteran business education and involvement and holds a variety of accolades including combat heroism awards and diversity and inclusion honors," his ODU alumni profile stated. "Brandon also volunteers his time to support the less fortunate."

Shah returned to ODU as an instructor in the summer of 2022 to lead the Army ROTC Monarch Battalion.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger called Shah a devoted instructor who led a life of service to the country.

"A devoted ROTC instructor, Lt. Col. Shah didnt just lead a life of service to our country, he taught and led others to follow that path," Spanberger said. "I am grateful for his example, deeply saddened by his death, and praying for his family. Amid this tragedy, I thank the brave students, first responders, and law enforcement officers who responded quickly to todays horrific attack."

Sen. Louise Lucas, the president pro tempore of Virginia's Senate and a Portsmouth native, said Shah will be "missed terribly" by the Hampton Roads community.

"He was a beloved ROTC leader at ODU in a program he was once enrolled in as a young man," Lucas wrote on X. "He will be missed terribly by our community and our hearts are broken tonight."

This story was originally published by Sarah Hagen with the

Scripps News Group station in Norfolk.

If you're looking to gather with fellow golf lovers, hit some simulators, enjoy some golf and watch The Masters, here is your chance.

First Tee - Greater Detroit is hosting its annual Augusta Watch Party on Saturday, April 11, at First Cut Golf in Sterling Heights.

First Tee integrates the game of golf with its life skills curriculum to "enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges."

Just last year, First Tee had nearly 600 unique participants across 14 program locations, an increase from 2024.

During the annual Augusta Watch Party, guests will be able to watch The Masters tournament, hit shots at four state-of-the-art Trackman simulators, participate in contests, bid during the silent auction, and enjoy food and drinks.

The watch party runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are available through early April and start at $100 for an individual ticket. Early bird registration is available until March 15 at 11:59 p.m. before prices go up to $120. The chapter is also seeking sponsorships, which come with a variety of benefits.

You can learn more about the watch party and purchase tickets by visiting the First Tee Greater Detroit website.

More than 30,000 people across metro Detroit are without power Friday afternoon amid strong winds throughout the area.

According to the DTE Energy Outage Map, there are 30,505 customers without power throughout the area. That's as of 1:40 p.m.

It comes amid a High Wind Warning for metro Detroit through 10 pm. Friday. Around 1:20 p.m., Detroit Metro Airport had a peak wind gust of 71 mph. Below are the peak wind gusts as of 1:20 p.m. Friday.

DTE has issued a storm alert, saying that more than 1,000 storm response team members are in the field and ready to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

Below is the breakdown by county as of 1:40 p.m.

Wayne - 13,127 Oakland - 9,215 Macomb - 4,126 Monroe - 1,979 Washtenaw - 1,633 Lapeer - 1,241 St. Clair - 221 Livingston - 159 Sanilac - 115

The company is reminding people to stay at least 25 feet from any downed power lines and assume they are live and dangerous.

You can report an outage and check the status on the DTE website.

David Protein, a fast-growing brand known for its high-protein, low-calorie bars, is facing a class-action lawsuit that could shake the health-conscious snack market. Three consumers allege the companys products contain far more calories and fat than advertised, potentially undermining their appeal to people trying to manage weight.

RELATED STORY | Protein tops Americans' 2026 nutrition priorities, survey finds

The lawsuit targets David Proteins parent company, Linus Technology, accusing it of deceptive practices. Plaintiffs say independent testing shows the bars contained 78% to 83% more calories than stated on their nutrition labels.

Calories explained

A calorie measures the energy food contains, derived from three macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein and fat. Each gram of carbohydrates and protein has four calories, while each gram of fat has nine.

The body turns calories into energy, muscle and fat, and consuming more calories than the body uses leads to weight gain.

Rules for nutrition labels

The Food and Drug Administration requires calorie counts on labels but allows a 20% margin of error. That means a product advertised as having 100 calories could legally contain between 80 and 120 calories.

Testing results for David Protein bars

David Protein bars are marketed as having roughly 150 calories and at least 20 grams of protein. But plaintiffs say their testing revealed much higher numbers.

For example, they claim the companys red velvet bar advertised at 150 calories and 28 grams of protein contains 271 calories. They attribute the discrepancy mostly to fat content: the nutrition label lists 2.5 grams of fat, while testing found 12.2 grams.

Several other bars allegedly tested at more than 270 calories.

RELATED STORY | Some protein powders and shakes contain high levels of lead, new report finds

Had Defendant complied with the law, the statement of the total and correct number of calories and fat would have revealed to consumers that the Products provide significantly more calories and total fat than claimed, the lawsuit says. Defendant has been able to charge a price premium for the product as a result of these misrepresentations and omissions.

Relative to other protein bars, David Protein products are expensive; a 12-pack sells for about $40.

David Protein defends its pricing on its website:

Our bars deliver exceptional value to our customers by offering the highest protein-to-calorie ratio on the market. We are less expensive and more convenient than our closest competitor: boiled cod, the company said.

Scripps News has contacted David Protein for comment on the lawsuit.

Why it matters

Plaintiffs say the marketing is aimed at consumers seeking healthier options.

Not only are Defendants misrepresentations misleading, they are material, the lawsuit reads. As Defendant is well aware, many American consumers are health-conscious and routinely rely upon nutrition information when selecting and purchasing food items.

They add that overconsumption of calories and fat is a major risk factor for overweight and obesity, and that about half of consumers annual food spending, and a third of their calorie and fat intake, comes from purchases outside the home.

The House Oversight Committee has requested testimony from a prison guard who was on duty the night Jeffrey Epstein died.

In a letter to Tova Noel, committee Chairman James Comer said the panel believes she may have information relevant to its investigation into the convicted sex offender.

"Due to public reporting, documents released by the Department of Justice, and documents obtained by the Committee, the Committee believes you have information that will assist in its investigation," Comer stated.

RELATED STORY | Epsteins former New Mexico ranch searched in criminal investigation

Comer asked Noel to appear for a transcribed interview on March 26.

In 2019, prosecutors charged Noel with conspiracy and falsification of records, accusing her and another guard of failing to conduct required inmate checks during an overnight shift at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York. Authorities said the two later signed false records indicating they had completed the rounds, leaving Epstein unobserved for hours before he died by suicide.

RELATED STORY | Bill Gates asked to testify in House panel's probe of Epstein

Noel later entered into a deferred prosecution agreement that allowed her to avoid jail time.

The House Oversight Committee is conducting its own investigation into Epstein and the events surrounding his death. The inquiry is separate from the Justice Departments document releases, though some of those records are being used by the committee as part of its investigation.

When Kyle Boreing's son, Ashton, was walking their family dog on Gallia Drive in Ohio's Miami Township on Wednesday, he came across something that stopped him in his tracks.

Just feet from the sidewalk, he saw nearly a dozen dead coyotes.

"I just thought, wow, that's a lot of dead coyotes," Ashton Boreing said.

Ashton immediately went back to their home and told his dad.

Kyle Boreing said he was instantly concerned.

"It looks like someone, or something, poisoned them and they all kind of dropped in the same area," Boreing said.

Group of dead coyotes found in Ohio sparks concern from residents nearby

Boreing said he's lived off Gallian Road for seven years, but has never seen anything like it.

It wasn't just the sight that was troubling, but also the smell.

"(Smells like) rotten meat," Boreing said.

"It's alarming, because if it can take out that many animals all at once, seemingly at the same time, what kind of impact can it have on somebody else or some other animal coming through here?" Boreing said.

Hamilton County Wildlife Officer Jacob Losekamp went out to look at the coyotes.

He said it's unlikely the coyotes were poisoned, but he believes they were shot and illegally dumped.

Losekamp said he will continue to investigate what may have happened.

He didn't remove the coyotes because they are on private property. Losekamp said the landowner is responsible for their removal, but adds that they can also let the coyotes naturally decompose if they want.

Still, Boreing said he'd like the coyotes to be tested. He said he wants to confirm it isn't poison and make sure the coyotes weren't carrying any diseases.

"I'm hoping they do more than just try to clean it up," Boreing said. "I hope they test either the animals or the area where the animals were found, to make sure there's not something else going on."

Miami Township Administrator Jim Brett said that as they continue to investigate what happened, he recommends any resident who may find more dead coyotes call his office.

This story was originally published by Alex Null with the

Scripps News Group station in Cincinnati

.

A retired Air Force general living in New Mexico has been missing for two weeks.

The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office on Thursday released a timeline showing a repairman arrived at William Neil McCaslands home in Albuquerque around 10 a.m. on Feb. 27. McCaslands wife left the home about an hour later, authorities said. When she returned at about 12:04 p.m., McCasland was gone.

After searching for him for several hours, she reported him missing, investigators said.

Authorities said several of McCaslands personal items were also missing from the home, including his hiking boots, wallet and a .38-caliber revolver with a leather holster.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Family of Nancy Guthrie offers $1M reward for her recovery

While there is currently no evidence indicating foul play, investigators are examining all available information as the case remains active, the sheriffs office said in a statement.

Investigators are asking people in and around the 68-year-olds neighborhood to review security camera footage from Feb. 27 and Feb. 28, particularly between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., and contact authorities with any relevant video or information.

A statewide Silver Alert remains active. The alerts are used for missing people age 50 or older when there is a clear indication of irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties, such as Alzheimers disease or dementia. Authorities, however, declined to release information about McCaslands medical condition.

A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, McCasland holds bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in aerospace and astronautical engineering, including a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During his career, he worked on a range of space and defense programs, including GPS systems and other space acquisition efforts.

President Donald Trump is again pressuring Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates, suggesting Powell has the authority to do so before the Feds next scheduled meeting.

The Federal Reserve is set to meet next week. While Powell is a key voice, the boards seven members collectively decide whether to change rates.

Where is the Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Too Late Powell, today? He should be dropping interest rates, IMMEDIATELY, not waiting for the next meeting! Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social.

RELATED STORY | Poll: High interest in State Of The Union amid economic worries

Trumps remarks came hours after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the consumer price index rose 2.4% in the 12 months ending in February. That rate has held relatively steady but is slightly above the Feds 2% inflation target.

The consumer price index is one of the key measures the Fed considers when making interest rate decisions, alongside employment data. Higher inflation or a weakening job market can influence whether the board raises or lowers rates.

Also Thursday, mortgage-finance giant Freddie Mac said the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage increased to 6.11%. Mortgage rates are not directly set by the Fed but are often influenced by its actions.

Next week will be among Powells final meetings as Fed chair. In January, Trump said he would nominate Kevin Warsh to replace Powell.

RELATED STORY | Fed cuts interest rate for third time this year, signals only one cut in 2026

Powell is expected to serve as chair until May 2026 and could remain on the Feds board as a governor until 2028.

Lower interest rates can stimulate economic growth by making borrowing cheaper. But policymakers caution that keeping rates low for too long can fuel inflation.

After U.S. inflation topped 9% in 2022, the Fed raised rates to their highest level in decades. Inflation has since fallen below 3%, but higher borrowing costs have made it harder for consumers and businesses to access credit often slowing job growth. Powell has said the Feds goal is to balance low inflation with continued employment gains.

A large explosion rocked an area of Irans capital where thousands were gathered Friday for an annual state-organized rally to support the Palestinians and call for Israels demise. Israel had warned that it would target the area in central Tehran.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. But the decision to proceed with the mass demonstration that was attended by some senior government officials, and Israels threat to target the area, underscored the fierce determination on both sides nearly two weeks into a war that has rattled the global economy and shows no sign of letting up.

Iran has continued to launch widespread missile and drone attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf states, and has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's traded oil passes, even as U.S. and Israeli warplanes pummel military and other targets across Iran.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday vowed to continue the attacks and keep the strait closed in his first public statement since succeeding his father, who was killed in the opening day of the war. Khamenei has not been seen in public since taking over leadership and released a written statement.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Khamenei is wounded and likely disfigured," without providing evidence or elaborating. Israel suspects Khamenei was wounded at the start of the war.

With growing global concerns about a possible energy crisis and no end to the war in sight, the price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, remained over $100 per barrel. Brent prices have spiked as high as about $120 per barrel and are about 40% higher than when Israel and the United States launched the war on Feb. 28.

Explosion rocks area of mass demonstration

The explosion rocked the Ferdowsi Square area midday, where thousands had gathered for an annual Quds Day rally in which they chanted death to Israel and death to America.

RELATED STORY | US military refueling tanker crashes in Iraq during Iran offensive, killing 6

Israel had issued a warning on a Farsi-language X account for people to clear the area shortly before the blast. But few Iranians would have seen it, as authorities have almost completely shut down the internet since the start of the war. Footage from the scene showed people chanting God is greatest, as smoke rose in the area.

The Israeli military later posted a second message in Farsi, noting the head of Irans judiciary was at the rally and criticizing Iran for cutting off the internet, blocking many from seeing their warning.

The hard-liner who leads Irans judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, had been giving an interview to a state television reporter at the demonstration when the strike happened. His bodyguards encircled him, as he raised his fist and said Iran under this rain and missiles will never withdraw.

Senior security official Ali Larijani, who was also at the Quds Day demonstrations, told Iranian media covering the event that the suspected Israeli attack was a sign of its desperation.

US says 15,000 targets struck in Iran since the start of the war

Israel had earlier announced another wave of strikes in Iran targeting infrastructure, and said its air force had hit more than 200 targets in the last 24 hours, including missile launchers, defense systems and weapons production sites.

In Washington, Hegseth said that over 15,000 enemy targets have been struck, which is more than 1,000 a day since the war began on Feb. 28.

In a social media post hours earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had said watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today, while claiming that Irans military had been decimated and that its leaders had been wiped from the face of the earth.

New Iranian attacks across the region

Iran has responded with daily attacks on oil and other infrastructure around the Gulf region, and on Friday Saudi Arabia said that it had downed nearly 50 drones sent in multiple waves.

In Oman, two people were killed when two drones crashed in an industrial area in the region of Sohar, the Oman News Agency reported.

In the business and tourism hub of Dubai, black smoke billowed from an industrial area from a blaze that authorities said was sparked by debris from an interception.

RELATED STORY | Pentagon says Iran's new supreme leader injured after succeeding father

A building at the Dubai International Financial Center also sustained damage when hit with debris from what authorities described as a successful interception. DIFC is an economic free zone for banks, capital traders and wealth managers, home to exclusive restaurants and nightclubs.

Iran said earlier this week that it would target banks and financial institutions, after an airstrike hit a bank in Tehran.

In Turkey, NATO defenses intercepted another ballistic missile fired from Iran, the third time since the war began. Residents in the southern city of Adana reported hearing a loud explosion and sirens sounding at Incirlik Air Base, which is used by U.S. forces.

Fighting escalates between Israel and Hezbollah

Nearly 60 people were wounded in northern Israel after the Lebanon's Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said that it had fired several rocket salvos toward the area and at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. Almost all the injuries were described as very minor.

One person was killed in southwestern Beirut in an Israeli strike, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, and another attack hit an apartment in the capital, leaving it engulfed in flames. The Israeli military said it had targeted a Hezbollah member.

In eastern Lebanon, a strike on an apartment wounded a local official with the Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood and killed his two sons, the state-run National News Agency reported. For the past two years, Israel has targeted officials with the group.

More than 600 people have been killed in Lebanon since the fighting began, the Health Ministry has reported, and nearly 800,000 have been internally displaced, according to the U.N. refugee agency.

Iranian authorities say that more than 1,300 people have been killed there, and Israel has reported 12 deaths. The U.S. has lost at least 11 soldiers, while another eight have suffered severe injuries.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes so far were just the beginning and warned that Lebanons government will pay an increasing price for the damage to Lebanese national infrastructure used by Hezbollah.

Pushing back on U.S. President Donald Trumps comments, Iran's national soccer team says no one can exclude it from playing in the men's World Cup in the United States.

Instead, a post on the team's official Instagram account Thursday suggested maybe the U.S. team should be excluded after Trump indicated that the host country couldn't guarantee the safety of the Iranian players.

Trump wrote in a social media post Thursday that the Iranian team was welcome at the World Cup despite the ongoing war with Iran but that I really dont believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.

RELATED STORY | US military refueling tanker crashes in Iraq during Iran offensive, killing 4

Iran is set to play all three of its World Cup group games in the U.S., which is co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada.

The regional war has put doubt on Irans ability to fulfil its World Cup entry, and sports minister Ahmad Donyamali told state TV this week the current circumstances meant it was not possible to play.

But the Iran teams riposte on Instagram confirmed it still wants to participate, and pointed out that the tournament is run by FIFA not Trump or the U.S.

The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA not any individual, country, the post said. Certainly, no one can exclude Irans national team from the World Cup; the only country that could be excluded is one that merely carries the title of host yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event.

Iran is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, before finishing group play in Seattle against Egypt on June 26.

Mixed messages

Trumps mixed messages on the subject include saying last week I really dont care if Iran plays, then assuring FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House on Tuesday that Irans team was welcome.

RELATED STORY | With 100 days to go, World Cup faces new challenges with Iran war and Mexico violence

Iran is a power in Asian soccer, ranked No. 20 in the world by FIFA and has qualified for its fourth straight World Cup edition.

Irans soccer federation has planned to use a tournament base camp in Arizona, at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson.

Before the World Cup, Iranian soccer officials are due to attend FIFA's annual congress on April 30 in Vancouver. The Iranian federation was unable to attend meetings in Atlanta last week to help teams prepare for the 48-nation tournament.

The U.S. economy, hobbled by last falls 43-day government shutdown, advanced at an unexpectedly sluggish 0.7% annual rate from October through December, the Commerce Department reported Friday in a big downgrade of its initial estimate.

Growth in gross domestic product the nations output of goods and services was down sharply from 4.4% in last years third quarter and 3.8% in the second. And the fourth-quarter number was half the governments first estimate of 1.4%; economists had expected the revision to go the other way and show stronger growth.

Federal government spending and investment, clobbered by the shutdown, plunged at a 16.7% rate, hacking 1.16 percentage points off fourth-quarter growth.

For all of 2025, GDP grew 2.1%, solid but down from an initial estimate of 2.2% and from 2.8% in 2024 and 2.9% 2023.

RELATED STORY | Inflation steady in February, but Iran war threatens higher prices

In the fourth quarter, consumer spending grew at a 2% clip, down from 3.5% in the third quarter and the 2.4% the government had initially estimated. Business investment, excluding housing, increased at a healthy 2.2% pace, likely reflecting money being poured into artificial intelligence, but the increase was down from 3.2% in the third quarter and from the 3.7% advance in the Commerce department's initial estimate.

Exports fell at a 3.3% annual rate in the fourth quarter, a bigger drop than the government first estimated.

A category within the GDP data that measures the economys underlying strength came in weaker than previously reported, growing at a 1.9% clip, down from 2.9% in the third quarter and from the first estimate of 2.4%. This category includes consumer spending and private investment, but excludes volatile items like exports, inventories and government spending.

The U.S. economy the worlds largest has shown surprising resilience in the face of President Donald Trumps policies, including sweeping import taxes and mass deportations. But the war with Iran has driven up oil and gas prices and clouded the economic outlook.

RELATED STORY | The number that moves markets every month just got a new formula. Here's what changed.

Meanwhile, the American job market is in a slump. Last month, companies, nonprofits and government agencies cut 92,000 jobs. In 2025, they added fewer than 10,000 jobs a month, the weakest hiring outside recession years since 2002.

Fridays GDP was the second of the three estimates of fourth-quarter growth. The final report is due April 9.

Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is "wounded and likely disfigured," U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday morning.

Hegseth noted that Khamenei issued a written statement Thursday rather than a video or audio message. Khamenei became Irans supreme leader less than two weeks after a U.S. operation killed his father, Ali Khamenei.

Hegseth claimed Iran's leadership is desperate and in hiding.

RELATED STORY | Trump says war in Iran is 'pretty well complete,' but does not give specific end date

"They've gone underground, like what rats do," Hegseth said. "We know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured. He put out a statement yesterday a weak one, actually but there was no voice and no video. It was a written statement. He called for unity. Apparently killing tens of thousands of protesters is his idea of unity. Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why. His father is dead. He's scared. He's injured. He's on the run, and he lacks legitimacy. It's a mess for them. Who's in charge?"

In his first statement, Khamenei said Iran would continue to limit ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Irans ability to restrict ship traffic there has been blamed for a rapid increase in oil prices.

Khamenei also vowed vengeance.

RELATED STORY | Iran war threatens further alienating MAHA from MAGA

I assure everyone that we will not refrain from avenging the blood of your martyrs," he said. "The retaliation we have in mind is not limited only to the martyrdom of the great leader of the Revolution; rather, every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy constitutes a separate case in the file of revenge.

Senate Democrats have filed legislation that would prevent the U.S. from attacking Cuba without congressional approval as they seek to force a vote on President Donald Trump's stated goal of a takeover of the Caribbean country.

Democrats have repeatedly used war powers resolutions to force debate on Trump's foreign policy moves, though Republicans have so far mostly backed the president. The resolution filed Thursday by Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine, Ruben Gallego and Adam Schiff would require the president to remove the military from any hostilities with Cuba and could potentially receive a vote by the end of the month.

RELATED STORY | Senate rejects effort to limit Trump's military operations on Iran

"Only Congress has the power to declare war under the Constitution, but he operates with the belief that the U.S. military is a palace guard, ordering military action in the Caribbean, Venezuela, and Iran without Congress authorization or any explanation for his actions to the American people, Kaine said in a statement.

Trump said earlier this week that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was negotiating with Cuba's leadership as the country faces a crippling energy crisis that has been exacerbated by a U.S. blockade of the island.

It may be a friendly takeover, it may not be a friendly takeover, Trump told reporters this week at a news conference in Florida. He added that he and Rubio would focus on that goal after the war with Iran.

The U.S. for decades has had a tense relationship with Cuba, but Trump's turn to using military action to take out foreign opponents has raised anticipations that the island could be next. Rubio, whose family immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba in the 1950s, has long pushed for the U.S. to aggressively oppose the Caribbean nation's leadership.

RELATED STORY | War Powers Resolution heads to Senate as push to curb Venezuela actions grows

Rubio told senators earlier this year that the Trump administration would love to see a Cuban regime change, but cautioned that does not mean we are going to provoke it directly." Republicans in Congress have mostly stood behind the Trump administration's aggressive foreign policy

However, Democrats have turned repeatedly to war powers resolutions in order to force debates over how Trump can use military force in foreign nations. They have not succeeded in passing any of the resolutions so far, but the tactic at times has compelled the Trump administration to explain its goals to Congress.

Democrats are also planning next week to potentially force votes on a series of war powers resolutions that apply to Iran unless Republicans agree to hold public hearings on the conflict.

He ran on America First, but now its clear hes become a puppet of the war hawks in his party, Gallego said in a statement.