“Two Oakland Police Department officers are facing federal charges after allegedly conspiring with a federal aviation official to fake their helicopter pilot certifications. Prosecutors said the scheme happened between July 2023 and March 2024, when the two officers, Brandon Mart and David Mac, allegedly worked with William Miller, an aviation inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration, to fraudulently receive their certificates. The officers are accused of submitting fake documents related to ‘checkrides,’ according to an indictment filed on Aug. 27. A checkride, which is required to obtain a pilot certification, includes a practical flight test with specific maneuvers and an oral exam covering topics like aviation regulations and aircraft systems. The indictment alleges Mart received three fraudulent checkride certifications and Mac received one, even though the officer failed to complete all of the requirements or some checkrides never occurred at all.” (09/14/26)
“A cooling tower at Yankee Stadium is one of 10 in the South Bronx that has been ordered for disinfecting on Monday after testing positive for Legionella bacteria. The cleaning order by the New York City Health Department follows an outbreak of a new Legionnaires’ cluster in the South Bronx. A tower at Lincoln Hospital and another at Boricua College Bronx Campus have also been flagged for cleaning. … New York City health officials announced the first fatality related to the cluster on Friday. Health officials were investigating the origin of the cluster and have tested 24 cooling towers so far.” (09/14/26)
“The US Supreme Court has rejected President Donald Trump’s plan to restrict voting by mail before November’s midterm elections, in a setback for the White House. The justices upheld a federal judge’s order that temporarily blocked the US Postal Service (USPS) from moving forwards with new requirements for postal ballots. But it is unlikely to be the final word on the matter. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a conservative, agreed with the ruling, but indicated he might later rule in Trump’s favour as litigation in the case continues. … Kavanaugh wrote in the opinion that there was ‘at least a fair prospect that the final rule falls within the Postal Service’s statutory authority’. But he argued that ‘applying the rule in the 2026 elections would be arbitrary and capricious’. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, also conservatives [sic], dissented.” (09/14/26)
“Oil prices rose on Tuesday as investors monitored further Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and continued uncertainty over the timing of talks concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Benchmark Brent crude futures increased 2.0% to $107.83 per barrel by 04:19 ET, while US West Texas Intermediate futures rose 2.1% to $103.50 per barrel. Talks between Iran and Gulf states concerning the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remained on hold after Oman said a planned Monday meeting had been postponed. Oman did not provide a new date for the discussions. Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen carried out further strikes against Saudi Arabia on Monday and continued operations around the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.” (09/15/26)
“Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky returned to the Senate to vote on Monday for the first time in three months, looking noticeably more frail after he was hospitalized for a June fall in his home. … He briefly addressed reporters Monday from a wheelchair outside the Senate chamber, smiling but speaking slowly and with some difficulty. McConnell joked that he wasn’t sure how many reporters would be there after dodging so many questions during his almost two decades as leader.” (09/14/26)
“A member of the UK armed forces died in Ukraine on Saturday, the British Ministry of Defence has announced. The unnamed service member died as the result of a “road traffic incident,” the ministry said in a statement posted to social media. ‘The family have been informed and have requested a period of grace before further details are released,’ it reads. ‘Our thoughts and sympathies are with the individual’s loved ones at this difficult time’. … Few details are available on the UK’s military presence in Ukraine, although Westminster has previously confirmed that British personnel are present in the country. These personnel support the security of the UK Defence Section in Ukraine and offer medical training and mentoring to Ukraine’s Medical Forces.” (09/14/26)
“The European Commission will propose new rules to restrict minors’ access to social media and video-sharing platforms before the age of 15, according to preparatory documents seen by POLITICO and a person familiar with the matter. The EU executive on Thursday will unveil a new EU KIDS Act setting out age restrictions, along with new rules requiring covered products, such as social media and AI companions, to be safe [sic] by design. The proposal aims to create a tiered system for accessing social media under parental supervision before age 15, the documents said.” (09/14/26)
“Donald Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina defended their friendship with a Russian oligarch linked to Vladimir Putin after a report that Umar Kremlev paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to help fund their wedding weekend at private islands in the Bahamas earlier this year. Calling Kremlev a ‘dear friend,’ the couple said in a lengthy statement posted to Instagram along with 20 photos of the event that he ‘very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding,’ calling it an ‘extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend,’ noting the two were married in a private ceremony a day before leaving for the Bahamas. … Kremlev has a longstanding relationship with the Russian government—days before the wedding Kremlev was part of Putin’s delegation on a trip to China … ProPublica reported …” (09/14/26)
“Sweden’s political parties have launched coalition negotiations as the Social Democrats leader, Magdalena Andersson, started the long and difficult process of trying to form a new government. Full results from Sunday’s election are not expected until after overseas votes are counted on Wednesday, but with 95% of the votes counted, the Social Democrats and the centre-left bloc had a narrow but growing lead of 176 seats to the right-leaning parties’ 173. After losing support for the first time since they were founded, the far-right Sweden Democrats, who were hoping to enter government for the first time, appear to be out of the picture. But many of its policy ideas – on immigration laws, integration and crime – have become mainstream, including in the centre-left.” (09/14/26)
“Macklemore has been kicked off the rest of Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour after several venues said they would refuse to let the rapper perform after his anti-Israel rants on stage. ‘We have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans,’ Messina Touring Group, which is promoting the US leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour, told Rolling Stone magazine. ‘After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates,’ the company added. The lefty rapper was scheduled to play at eight of the 10 remaining shows, scheduled to resume on Saturday.” (09/14/26)
