Rant and Rave: Reader appreciates Downtown ambassadors

Two U.S. Secret Service officers were suspended following a physical altercation outside former President Barack Obama's Washington D.C. home on May 21. The incident, which occurred around 2:30 a.m., involved one officer calling for a supervisor while threatening to fight the other, as captured in an audio recording. The Secret Service confirmed the fight is under internal investigation, emphasizing their strict code of conduct and stating that they cannot provide further comments due to the...

On All Nippon Airways Flight 114 from Tokyo to Houston, Sgt. Maj. Jody Armentrout noticed a passenger behaving suspiciously, including attempting to access emergency exits. Acting quickly, he restrained the man after he tried to open an exit door, using zip ties provided by flight attendants, and the plane was diverted to Seattle due to the incident. The unruly passenger was later assessed as experiencing a medical crisis, while another passenger was removed for an...

On Tuesday afternoon, five individuals were shot at the Brass Mill Center shopping mall in Waterbury, Connecticut, following a reported disturbance. Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo confirmed that while the victims were hospitalized, none have died, and a person of interest has been taken into custody; it is believed the shooting stemmed from a conflict between individuals who knew each other. Law enforcement, including state and federal agencies, are actively investigating the incident, which involved a...

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger is retiring after leading the department since the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, during which he addressed significant intelligence, communication, and leadership failures. Under his tenure, Manger increased staffing and funding, enhancing the department's intelligence operations and responding to a surge in threats against Congress members, with over 9,400 threats recorded in 2024. Manger criticized the pardons issued to Capitol rioters and maintained that the events of January 6...

Missouri Supreme Court Halts Planned Parenthood AbortionsPlanned Parenthood suspended abortion services in Missouri after the state Supreme Court mandated a reevaluation of prior rulings that had allowed abortions to resume following a voter-approved ban last November. The court's two-page ruling criticized a district judge's standard of decision-making and emphasized the need to assess potential harms from resuming abortion services, amidst state concerns over unregulated facilities. Planned Parenthood expressed disappointment over the cancellation of appointments, while...

The search for William D. Brainard, a 44-year-old inmate who unlawfully walked away from the Clara Waters Correctional Center in Oklahoma City, has concluded with his apprehension at 12:51 p.m. on Tuesday. Brainard was serving a five-year sentence for third-degree burglary and auto larceny, and he also has a history of more serious offenses, including robbery and assault. He is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 215 pounds, with distinct tattoos, and may...