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Authorities confirmed on Thursday that a 19-year-old man from Ocean Township, New Jersey, has been charged in connection with a wildfire that erupted Tuesday and spread rapidly across more than 15,000 acres.  In a statement released jointly by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean Township Police Department, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, officials announced that Joseph Kling has been taken into custody and placed in the Ocean County Jail. He faces charges of aggravated arson and arson and is awaiting a detention hearing.

Authorities allege that Kling is responsible for igniting the fire, which tore through large areas of Waretown and Lacey townships and resulted in the destruction of a commercial property. Investigators say the blaze began after Kling allegedly built a bonfire using wooden pallets and then left the area before ensuring the fire was out, leading to his arrest on charges of arson and aggravated arson. The flames were initially discovered in the Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area, part of the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust.

The wildfire in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens—a sprawling forest region spanning more than 1 million acres and roughly the size of the Grand Canyon — was sparked by an abandoned bonfire and has continued to spread, prompting air quality alerts as far as New York City. According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the wildfire remained only 50% contained as of 10 a.m. EDT on Thursday. The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office said on Thursday that smoke would likely linger and emergency crews would remain on the scene for several days.

The fire has consumed over 23 square miles of land, making it one of the largest wildfires the state has seen in nearly 20 years, with firefighters battling tough conditions, including dry air and the effects of a prolonged drought. New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the U.S., and officials have warned that residential areas nearby could be at risk. No injuries or fatalities have been reported, with approximately 5,000 residents evacuated at one point but were allowed to return on Wednesday.

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Robert Crimo III, the gunman who killed seven people and injured dozens in a mass shooting during a parade in Highland Park, Illinois on July 4, 2022, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Thursday.

Judge Victoria A. Rossetti announced on Thursday that Crimo was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences along with 50 years in prison for each person injured. As she handed down the maximum sentence, Rossetti said: “The court finds he’s irrevocably depraved. He is beyond any rehabilitation .. This court hopes this sentence brings a sense of justice and an end to the continued horror.” Life without the possibility of parole is the most severe punishment Crimo faced, as Illinois doesn’t have capital punishment.

The seven people killed by Crimo were Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; Eduardo Uvaldo, 69; Katherine Goldstein, 64; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; and married couple Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35. Cooper Roberts, then 8, was shot and paralyzed.

Crimo, 24, was a no-show in court Thursday and declined to make a statement to the court, per his lawyer. The shooter’s parents, who have attended most court proceedings, were also not present. Crimo pleaded guilty last month to charges in the mass shooting that wounded nearly 50 more people in addition to the seven deaths.

The sentencing hearing, which began Wednesday and finished Thursday morning, included testimony from multiple survivors and relatives of those killed in the shooting at the Independence Day parade. Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said: “In the middle of that joy, in the middle of that celebration, 83 shots rang out over 40 seconds. Eighty-three attempts to hurt people, do as much damage as possible. Eighty-three attempts to kill. Eighty-three attempts to reduce light in the world. He intended to end the happiness he saw around him … I cannot attempt to rein in the pain, ocean of grief, trauma, heartache and loss.”

Prosecutors say that Crimo told police he wore women’s clothing during the shooting and used makeup to hide his facial tattoos and blend in with the crowd during the chaos. He was apprehended hours after the shooting, and confessed.  Crimo’s father, Robert Crimo Jr., pleaded guilty last year to reckless conduct, admitting to signing the Firearm Owner’s Identification card for his son to apply for gun ownership. At the time, Illinois at the time required people ages 18, 19 or 20 to have parent or guardian authorization; and Crimo III was 19 and too young to get a FOID card on his own.

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European Union regulators imposed hefty fines on Apple and Meta on Wednesday, intensifying efforts to enforce the bloc’s digital competition laws. The fines were issued under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a comprehensive set of regulations aimed at increasing consumer and business choice while curbing the dominance of powerful tech “gatekeepers.” Both tech giants have signaled their intention to appeal.

The European Commission, which serves as the EU’s executive body, fined Apple €500 million (approximately $571 million) for restricting app developers from directing users to alternative, often cheaper, purchasing options outside of its App Store. Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, was fined €200 million over its practice of requiring users to either accept targeted ads or pay a fee to avoid them.

According to the Commission, both Apple and Meta must comply with the rulings within 60 days or face additional recurring fines. While substantial, these penalties are smaller than the multibillion-euro fines the EU has previously levied on major tech firms for antitrust violations. Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, said the goal of the DMA is to ensure that individuals maintain control over their personal data and that companies can communicate directly with customers. She added: “today’s decisions conclude that both Apple and Meta denied users this freedom of choice and must amend their practices.”

In Apple’s case, the Commission found the company imposed restrictive conditions that blocked app developers from directing users to purchase alternatives outside the App Store—despite DMA rules that require such transparency. Regulators have now ordered Apple to eliminate both technical and business barriers that prevent developers from promoting or linking to these external options. Apple responded by accusing the Commission of unfairly singling it out and shifting expectations despite the company’s efforts to adhere to the rules. The company said: “We’ve invested hundreds of thousands of engineering hours and implemented many changes to comply with the law—changes users haven’t even requested,” adding that the Commission “keeps moving the goalposts.”

Meta’s investigation focused on its strategy to comply with EU privacy rules by offering a paid, ad-free version of Facebook and Instagram. Users could pay a monthly fee—starting at €10—to avoid having their data used for targeted advertising. This option was introduced after the EU’s top court ruled that Meta must obtain user consent before serving personalized ads, a ruling that threatened its core advertising model. Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, criticized the ruling and argued that the EU is penalizing successful American firms while applying different standards to European and Chinese competitors. Meta introduced a third option allowing users to opt for fewer personalized ads without subscribing in November, however, the Commission is still reviewing this alternative and has asked Meta to demonstrate its effectiveness. Kaplan said: “this is more than a fine—it’s an attempt to force a fundamental change in our business model. It’s essentially a multi-billion-dollar penalty and forces us to deliver a diminished service. These restrictions also harm European businesses that depend on personalized advertising.”

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A fast-moving wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey, has surged to more than 11,500 acres since Tuesday, forcing thousands to evacuate and threatening over 1,000 structures. According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the Jones Road Wildfire was initially reported around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in Ocean County, and rapidly spread overnight from several hundred acres to 8,500. Officials believe that the dry brush and low humidity helped fuel the rapid expansion, as well as strong 25 mph gusts that whipped through the area.

Trevor Raynor of the Forest Fire Service explained that the blaze was first spotted from the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower near Barnegat Township. “Our teams responded immediately. Even with aerial and ground support, the fire grew quickly.” The fire, located just south of Toms River, has also impacted travel along the Garden State Parkway. On Tuesday evening flames crossed the highway, prompting a full closure of the parkway.

As of Wednesday morning, the fire was 30% contained. During a press conference, Shawn LaTourette, New Jersey’s Commissioner of Environmental Protection, said that no injures had been reported, but warned that the fire is expected to continue growing and could become the state’s most significant wildfire in two decades: “thanks to the brave and tireless efforts of our state’s fire service teams, we’ve managed to prevent a much larger catastrophe. Lives and homes have been saved.”

Acting Governor Tahesha Way, filling in for Governor Phil Murphy, issued a state of emergency for Ocean County on Wednesday morning, which allows additional resources to be deployed to combat the fire. As of Wednesday, more than 5,000 people had evacuated either by order or voluntarily. Over 25,000 utility customers lost power due to the fire, and forecasters warned of gusty winds up to 20 mph during the morning before conditions ease later in the day. Rain is not expected until Friday evening.

According to Chief Bill Donnelly of the Forest Fire Service, the blaze has placed buildings in both Ocean and Lacey Townships at risk, with the cause of the fire still under investigation. Currently, about 100 firefighters are working on the ground and from the air, with full containment anticipated by the weekend.

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled a plan on Tuesday to begin phasing out eight synthetic food dyes from the nation’s food supply, aiming for full removal by the end of next year.

Synthetic dyes are found in everything from candy and cereal to medications; however, the long-term health effects of these dyes remain under scrutiny. Other countries have already banned them or required warning labels, but the U.S. has lagged behind in regulatory action.

According to a release from the Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA will give the food industry roughly two years to transition from petroleum-based synthetic dyes to natural alternative; and will also authorize four new food dyes it says are derived from natural sources in the coming weeks.

During a press conference, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared that federal agencies will collaborate with food manufacturers to eliminate the use of these additives in various products: “this is not the moment to let up. We need to push harder. We have momentum now, and we’re going to win this fight. In four years, either these chemicals will be gone from our food, or consumers will be clearly warned before they buy them.”

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary also. announced at the press conference that they plan to revoke the approval of two artificial colorings while partnering with companies to eliminate six more from commonly consumed products like yogurt, cereal, snacks, and frozen desserts. Citing research linking synthetic colorings made from petroleum to various health concerns such as ADHD, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and gastrointestinal issues, Makary said: “the FDA is taking decisive steps to remove petroleum-derived dyes not just from foods, but also from medications. For decades, our children have been surrounded by a mix of synthetic chemicals. It’s time for change .. why are we risking our kids’ health? Nearly 41% of children in this country suffer from at least one chronic condition, and one in five are on prescription drugs. Instead of relying on more medications like Ozempic or ADHD treatments, we must address what’s causing these issues in the first place.”

The Biden administration began the process of banning Red No. 3 earlier this year ear (which is linked to cancer in animal studies). That dye must be eliminated from food by 2027 and from medications by 2028.  FDA officials asked manufacturers to accelerate efforts to remove Red No. 3 from their products at Tuesday’s press conference.

The FDA plans to begin the process of withdrawing approval for Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B in the coming months; with an additional six dyes set for phase-out by late 2026 including: Red No. 40, Yellow Nos. 5 and 6, Green No. 3, and Blue Nos. 1 and 2.

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As the world continues to pay tribute to Pope Francis following his death yesterday at the age of 88, the Vatican released the Pontiff’s death certificate, which states he died from a stroke that prompted irreversible heart failure. The Vatican shared details of Francis’ final moments, saying that he started to feel unwell at around 5:30 a.m. on Monday and was promptly attended to by his team. Calling his passing “discreet and nearly sudden,” the Vatican’s official media channel said that after the Pope slipped into a coma, he did not endure prolonged suffering. His time of death was listed as 7:35 a.m. on Monday.

On Monday, the pontiff’s body was placed in a coffin within the chapel at Santa Marta, and the Vatican released  photos and footage on Tuesday showing Francis in a wooden coffin, dressed in a red liturgical robe, with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary entwined in his hands.

Following a meeting of the College of Cardinals held at the Holy See’s headquarters in central Rome, the Vatican also announced that the funeral for Pope Francis will be held at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. Eastern Time) on Saturday at St. Peter’s Basilica.   On Wednesday morning, a solemn procession will transport the pope’s coffin from Casa Santa Marta, his place of residence and where he died, to St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinals will accompany the transfer, marking the beginning of the formal funeral rites.

American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican’s interim administrator and an Irish-American prelate, has become the acting head of the Vatican until the College of Cardinals chooses the pope’s successor following his funeral. Farrell led both the procession and the ceremonial transfer of the pope’s remains to St. Peter’s. Pope Francis will lie in state at the basilica ahead of his funeral Mass beginning Wednesday morning, which will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. Following the funeral Mass, Pope Francis’ coffin will be transported to the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome for intermen, located outside Vatican City approximately four miles away.

The Vatican confirmed that the Pope’s funeral will include a number of world leaders and dignitaries; as of press time, among those who have confirmed to be in attendance were: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz are also scheduled to be present, as well as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

From the European royal families: Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are expected to attend; and Kensington Palace announced Tuesday that Prince William, the Prince of Wales, will represent the British royal family on behalf of King Charles III.  King Charles and Queen Camilla had met with Pope Francis just two weeks prior to his death.

The College of Cardinal Electors will convene at the Vatican within two to three weeks of the Pope’s passing to begin the process of selecting the new pope. The conclave, held in the Sistine Chapel, is attended only by cardinals under the age of 80, currently numbering around 135. During the conclave, cardinals will vote in secrecy within the Sistine Chapel. Each round of voting concludes with the burning of ballots: black smoke signals no decision, while white smoke signifies the election of a new pope.

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