A former sheriff’s deputy in Illinois has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a Springfield woman who had called 911 seeking help after reporting a possible prowler near her home. The sentence was handed down Thursday, concluding a case that has drawn national attention and renewed debate over police use of force during emergency responses. Sean Grayson, 31, was convicted in October in connection with the July 6, 2024, shooting death of Mas

A unique Bay Area tradition marking the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. returns Monday morning with the departure of Caltrain’s annual MLK Celebration Train, offering residents a free and meaningful way to take part in the holiday’s events. The special service is scheduled to leave San Jose shortly after 9 a.m., carrying passengers north toward San Francisco in time to join the city’s Martin Lut

The state of Texas has given the city of Dallas until the end of January to remove several decorative pavement markings, including rainbow-painted crosswalks in the Oak Lawn neighborhood and a large “Black Lives Matter” street mural on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. State officials have warned that failure to comply could put millions of dollars in transportation and infrastructure funding at risk. The dispute traces back to an order issued on Oct. 8, 2025, when Texas Gov. Gr

Federal immigration authorities arrested more than 280 immigrants across Ohio during a multi-day enforcement operation conducted in mid-December, according to officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The arrests took place between Dec. 16 and Dec. 21 as part of what officials described as a targeted effort known as Operation Buckeye, which focused on Columbus and other parts of the state. The announcement of the arrests came amid growing public attention and protests

New Jersey political leaders are weighing in after a fatal shooting involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer that has triggered protests and intensified national debate over federal enforcement practices. The incident, which occurred Wednesday, resulted in the death of a Minnesota resident and has drawn sharp reactions from elected officials across party lines. According to video footage captured at the scene, ICE officers approached a sport utility vehicle that was

Thousands of demonstrators across the United States took to the streets on Saturday for the “No Kings” protests, a series of nationwide rallies denouncing President Donald Trump’s leadership and the ongoing government shutdown. The events brought a mix of political activism and festive energy to city squares, parks, and the nation’s capital, as participants called for accountability, the protection of democratic institutions, and an end to what they described as authoritarian tendenci

Thousands of Americans gathered across the country on Saturday as part of the expanding “No Kings” protests, a growing grassroots movement challenging the leadership and policies of President Donald Trump. From major metropolitan centers to smaller towns, citizens voiced their concerns over what they describe as an erosion of democratic principles, rising authoritarianism, and government overreach. The movement’s slogan, “No Kings,” symbolizes a call to uphold the constitutional bal

Across the United States, thousands of people gathered on Saturday for large-scale “No Kings” protests to express discontent with the direction of the country under President Donald Trump. Demonstrators filled public squares and streets in major cities, calling for renewed commitment to democracy and denouncing what they described as growing authoritarian behavior in government. Supporters of the president, however, dismissed the demonstrations as unpatriotic, labeling them as “hate rallie

Mass demonstrations are expected across the United States on Saturday as protesters gather in thousands of cities and towns for the second “No Kings” protest of the year. The coordinated events are being organized in opposition to what participants describe as increasingly authoritarian actions by President Donald Trump and his administration. The “No Kings” movement, which has been active since early 2025, is centered on defending democratic institutions, civil liberties, a

CHICAGO – Federal immigration officers working in the Chicago area will now be required to wear body cameras following a court order issued by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis. The decision came after the judge reviewed video footage and reports showing the use of tear gas and other crowd-control measures during protests against immigration enforcement operations. The mandate aims to ensure accountability and transparency amid growing public concerns over the treatment of demonstrators and co

United States Vice President JD Vance has stirred controversy after revealing that the Trump administration is, in his words, “retraining the entire government” to focus on what he described as “left-wing violence.” The remarks, made during an appearance on “The Charlie Kirk Show” on October 15, have drawn sharp scrutiny from political observers and civil rights advocates concerned about the implications of his statement. During the interview, Vance discussed the assassi

In a significant development within the corporate world, Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, has announced his resignation after 47 years of involvement with the company. This decision comes amid escalating tensions between Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company, Unilever, over issues related to the brand’s social mission and autonomy. Greenfield's departure is rooted in a deepening conflict with Unilever, which acq

Gansler argued that the investigation by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) was rushed, and no actual evidence of discrimination had been presented. He emphasized that no job applicant had been discriminated against by George Mason University (GMU), and the allegations made by OCR were baseless. “It is a legal fiction for OCR to even assert or claim that there has been a Title VI or Title IX violation here,” Gansler wrote.

Juneteenth is a combination of “June” and “nineteenth,” commemorating June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved people they were free two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. This delay in enforcement in remote Confederate states made the announcement life-changing for thousands who remained enslaved well beyond the offici

A massive crowd of approximately 5,000 people lined the stretch of Dublin Boulevard from Interstate 680 to Dougherty Road on Saturday, participating in the Bay Area’s only No Kings Protest, a global movement sparked by ongoing concerns over immigration enforcement and authoritarian leadership. Organized by Indivisible Tri-Valley, the demonstration was a loud and visual statement against U.S. Immigration and Cus

The growing use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) is sparking significant public debate in Austin and San Marcos, with many residents and civil rights advocates raising red flags about surveillance, data access, and privacy rights. The controversy centers around Flock Safety cameras, already in use across both cities, which are designed to track stolen vehicles and wanted individuals but also collect vast amounts of data from everyday drivers.

Chicago is under federal scrutiny over its hiring practices, but Mayor Brandon Johnson is standing firm in his defense of the city's approach to workforce diversity while sharply criticizing President Donald Trump. As the Department of Justice begins looking into whether the city has violated civil rights laws by using race-based criteria in hiring decisions, Johnson has turned the spotlight on what he sees as an attack on inclusion and representation. The Department of Justic

Less than a day after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson highlighted the number of Black officials in his administration, the United States Department of Justice announced the launch of a civil rights investigation into the city’s hiring practices. The investigation seeks to determine whether the city has engaged in a pattern or practice of race-based discrimination, following statements made by the mayor during a church event on the city’s South Side. Speaking at a communi