Judge questions deportation case of Harvard scientist accused of smuggling frog embryos

SummaryLess than two weeks before the Atlantic hurricane season, FEMA's acting Administrator David Richardson has rescinded the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, citing its disconnection from the agency's mission. The strategic plan, introduced under former administrator Deanne Criswell, aimed to instill equity, enhance climate resilience, and promote preparedness but is now replaced by a new strategy focusing solely on legal requirements. Critics, including a FEMA official, warn that this shift, including the elimination of the Office of...

In Miami, Feeding South Florida is facing significant challenges due to a $1 billion cut in federal funding, which has reduced its budget by 40%, affecting its ability to serve 1.2 million people across four counties. The cuts, impacting programs that allowed food banks to purchase from local farmers, have led to increased desperation among families relying on food assistance, as reflected by longer lines for weekly distributions. Farmers also feel the strain, as partnerships...

NEW ORLEANS -- An alleged victim of a man who escaped from a New Orleans jail has called for Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson to resign, citing her failure to ensure public safety. Following the escape of 10 inmates, Hutson acknowledged her responsibility and suspended her election campaign to focus on security, citing staffing shortages and aging infrastructure as contributing factors. The victim expressed frustration over not being promptly notified of the escape and criticized...

SummaryAuthorities arrested Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste for assisting inmates who escaped from an Orleans Parish jail; Harris remains at large while Baptiste provided food to a captured inmate. Jail worker Sterling Williams is charged with aiding the escape by disabling a toilet, allegedly under threat from an inmate, but his attorney claims he acted on orders regarding a clogged toilet. As the search for the five remaining escapees continues, the reward for information leading...

A maintenance worker at the Orleans Parish Justice Center in New Orleans, Sterling Williams, has been arrested for allegedly aiding in the escape of ten inmates, including three charged with second-degree murder. Williams is accused of turning off a toilet's water supply at the behest of one inmate, facilitating their escape after they removed the toilet. He faces multiple charges, and four other jail employees have been suspended as authorities investigate the incident, which officials...

New York City — Jorge Badilla, a former inmate, is now driving for the trucking industry, which faces a shortage of 60,000 drivers. After spending nearly a decade in prison, he found hope through the Commercial Driver's License Workforce Development Program, which trains formerly incarcerated individuals for trucking jobs. With a success rate of 94% in job placement and an average salary of $75,000, the program aims to reduce recidivism and provide opportunities for those...