Former school employee sentenced after stealing $300K

TRINIDAD — Former school employee sentenced after stealing 0KOur news partners at KETK report a Southeast Texas man was sentenced on Thursday to federal prison after stealing funds from Trinidad ISD to purchase trips to Walt Disney World. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Texas, Brandon Delane Looney, 39, of Orange, pleaded guilty to theft from a program receiving federal funds and was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Officials said Looney stole almost $340,000 from Trinidad ISD between 2017 and 2023 while serving as Trinidad ISD’s business manager. Continue reading Former school employee sentenced after stealing $300K

George Santos sentenced to over 7 years in federal fraud case

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(NEW YORK) -- Disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison -- the maximum he faced -- on Friday after pleading guilty to a series of fraudulent schemes.

U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced him to 87 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.

A tearful Santos told the judge he regrets defrauding the voters who supported his 2022 run for Congress before she handed down the sentence.

"My conduct betrayed my supporters and the institutions I swore to uphold," he said during his sentencing hearing in a New York federal court.

He began to cry and struggled to get out the words as he tried to express remorse for the crimes he committed.

"I undermined the faith in the very institutions I swore to uphold," he said. "I cannot rewrite the past but I can control the road ahead."

He urged Seybert to impose a lenient sentence, arguing he can positively contribute to the community he "robbed."

Judge rebukes Santos' repeated lies

Santos, 36, was convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He faced a sentence of 75 to 87 months imprisonment, including a mandatory minimum two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft.

Santos did not take any questions from reporters as he arrived at federal court in Central Islip for the Friday morning sentencing hearing.

His attorney, Andrew Mancilla, described his client’s conduct bluntly, arguing the former congressman is “forever stained” by his actions.

“Everyone hates George Santos,” Mancilla told the court ahead of the sentencing, claiming his client is not the “caricature drawn by the media.”

“He is a 36-year-old gay man with no criminal record who came from a broken family,” Mancilla said. “He built this ego of a man he wanted to be, not who he was.”

But prosecutors argued Santos has shown little remorse for his crimes, has blamed the Department of Justice and committed an “unprecedented” series of crimes.

“He has committed crime after crime after crime,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Harris said. “He has repeatedly proven he is unable to tell the truth.”

Harris rebuked Santos for suggesting the prosecution was politically motivated and argued the former congressman has demonstrated a “genuine lack of contrition.”

“This case is not the product of so-called lawfare. It is the result of years and years of deceit,” he said.

Seybert agreed, calling out Santos for his repeated lies and lack of remorse.

“It’s incredible that he did not stop with the lies,” she said. “It’s incredible now that he tries to blame the government.”

Before imposing her sentence, Seybert noted she has “sympathy” for Santos, believes he is a talented man and hopes he will eventually contribute to society.

“Mr. Santos, words have consequences,” she said, noting the same words that won him a seat in Congress landed him in court.

“You have a future, and I am sad to say in one sense that it is going to be shortened by the sentence I am about to impose,” she added.

As the sentence was read, Santos covered his face with his hands.

He was not immediately remanded and will report to prison at a future date.

Prosecutors highlight 'social media blitz'

In a court filing ahead of Friday's sentencing hearing on Long Island, federal prosecutors requested the maximum possible sentence -- amounting to seven years and three months -- calling his conduct a "brazen web of deceit" that defrauded donors and misled voters.

They also argued the former New York congressman's recent "social media blitz" shows he "remains unrepentant for his crimes" in a subsequent filing. In one example, prosecutors pointed to an April 4 post on Santos' X account that stated, "No matter how hard the DOJ comes for me, they are mad because they will NEVER break my spirit." The post was made the same day the DOJ filed its initial sentencing recommendation.

Santos, meanwhile, insisted in a letter to Seybert this week that he has "accepted full responsibility" for his crimes. He said he can be both "profoundly sorry" and upset by the Justice Department's recommendation of a lengthy prison sentence.

"But saying I'm sorry doesn't require me to sit quietly while these prosecutors try to drop an anvil on my head. True remorse isn't mute; it is aware of itself, and it speaks up when the penalty scale jumps into the absurd," Santos' letter said.

Santos included a selective chart to suggest the government's sentencing recommendation is out of step with other political prosecutions, citing former Illinois Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. being sentenced to 30 months for misusing $750,000 in campaign funds or ex-New York Rep. Michael Grimm being sentenced to eight months for concealing $900,000 in wages and taxes.

Santos had asked for a two-year prison sentence.

Former campaign treasurer set to be sentenced

Prosecutors alleged Santos, with the help of his former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, falsified Federal Election Commission filings, fabricating donor contributions and inflating fundraising totals to meet the $250,000 threshold required to join the National Republican Congressional Committee's coveted "Young Guns" program.

Marks pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge in 2023 and is awaiting sentencing in May.

Santos pleaded guilty in August 2024. The Republican was expelled from Congress in December 2023.

As part of his plea deal, he agreed to pay nearly $600,000 in restitution and forfeiture.

The judge agreed to delay Santos' sentencing, which had initially been scheduled for Feb. 7, after Santos asked for more time to make money off of his podcast to satisfy his restitution and forfeiture.

Members of the Concerned Citizens of NY-03, an organization formed in 2023 by voters from across the region Santos once represented in response to his actions, spoke out following the hearing.

"My reaction in sitting in the courtroom was, 'Cry me a river,' when he got that sentence," Jody Kass Finkel, the head of Concerned Citizens of NY-03, said outside the courthouse. "He has betrayed the public trust."

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There are nearly 900 measles cases in the US. Here’s what you need to know

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(NEW YORK) -- The number of measles cases in the U.S. has risen to 884, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data published Friday.

Cases have been confirmed in 29 states including Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

At least six states including Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas are reporting outbreaks, meaning three or more related cases.

In Texas, where an outbreak has been spreading in the western part of the state, at least 624 cases have been confirmed as of Tuesday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Dr. Marschall Runge, dean of the University of Michigan Medical School and CEO of Michigan Medicine, said the number of cases -- at the national level and in Texas -- is likely an undercount.

"I think it's likely that there are a lot of unreported cases in children who weren't particularly sick or didn't come to medical attention," he told ABC News.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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Nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump tariffs, with inflation a broad concern: POLL

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(WASHINGTON) -- Seven in 10 Americans think President Donald Trump's tariffs on international trade will drive up U.S. inflation, outweighing hopes that they'll boost manufacturing employment and fueling a 64% disapproval rate of how he's handling the issue.

Even nearly half of Republicans -- 47% in the ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll released Friday -- said they think tariffs will negatively impact inflation. That jumps to 75% among independents, a swing group in national politics.

The tariffs admittedly are a moving target. The administration has paused some (albeit not those on China) pending negotiations.

And there is a perceived positive: 59% said they think the tariffs will have a positive impact on creating manufacturing jobs in the United States, including 90% of Republicans and 60% of independents. That, along with bringing prices down, were some of Trump's key campaign promises.

But -- given the current state of play -- the scale tips negative again on a third factor: 56% in this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates with fieldwork by Ipsos, think Trump's handling of tariffs will negatively impact America's economic leadership in the world vs. 42% who see a positive impact.

Democrats, for their part, are roundly opposed to the tariffs. Nine in 10 think they will negatively impact inflation (90%) and U.S. economic leadership in the world (89%) alike, and a near-unanimous 96% disapprove of Trump's handling of them. Democrats aren't sold on tariffs creating manufacturing jobs, either: 68% think they'll hurt, not help.

Given inflation fears, Trump's overall rating for handling tariffs is a broad 30 percentage points underwater, 34%-64%. That's far worse than his 7-point deficit in approval on handling immigration (as reported here), demonstrating that public sentiment is especially prickly when economic well-being is on the line.

Indeed, in his own party, 25% of Republicans disapprove of Trump's handling of tariffs, as do 30% of conservatives. And disapproval reaches 48% among non-college-educated white men and 47% of rural Americans, two of Trump's core support groups.

Methodology: This ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll was conducted online via the probability-based Ipsos KnowledgePanel® April 18-22, 2025, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 2,464 adults. Partisan divisions are 30%-30%-29%, Democrats-Republicans-independents.

Results have a margin of error of 2 percentage points, including the design effect. Error margins are larger for subgroups. Sampling error is not the only source of differences in polls.

The survey was produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates, with sampling and data collection by Ipsos. See details on ABC News survey methodology here.

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Purdue University’s Boilermaker Special mascot involved in deadly collision

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

(WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.) -- One person is dead and two others injured after Purdue University's Boilermaker Special mascot collided with a vehicle on a highway in Indiana, authorities said.

The deadly crash happened Thursday afternoon on U.S. 52 at Wyandotte Road in southeastern Tippecanoe County, several miles southeast of the university.

The Boilermaker Special vehicle was traveling north on the highway when it had a "possible tire malfunction" that caused it to cross the median, colliding with a passenger car traveling south, according to the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office.

The driver of the passenger vehicle died, the sheriff's office said. The person's identity has not yet been released pending family notification, authorities said. No one else was in the vehicle.

Two Purdue students -- the 20-year-old driver of the Boilermaker Special and a 22-year-old passenger -- were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said. They have since been treated and released, according to Purdue.

"We can confirm our Boilermaker Special was involved in a serious multi-vehicle accident," the university said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the incident."

The Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office is investigating with assistance from the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Division, the sheriff's office said.

"The Sheriff's Office is continuing with our investigation into any additional mechanical issues that may be related to the crash," the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office said in a statement on Friday.

Toxicology exams will be conducted for both drivers as part of the investigation, the sheriff's office said.

The Boilermaker Special, a vehicle that resembles a Victorian-era steam locomotive, is Purdue's official mascot. It travels to away football games and can drive up to 75 mph, according to the school.

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Weekend Watchlist: What’s new in theaters, on streaming

Ready, set, binge! Here's a look at some of the new movies and TV shows coming to theaters and streaming services this weekend:

Disney+
Andor: The rebellion fights on in the second and final season of the Star Wars series.

Prime Video
Étoile: The next show from the Gilmore Girls creator is about the world of ballet.

Netflix
You: Goodbye, you. The fifth and final season of the thriller series arrives.

HavocTom Hardy stars in the new Gareth Evans film about a criminal underworld.

Movie theaters
The Accountant 2Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal star in the action thriller sequel.

Until Dawn: The new horror film is based on the popular video game. 

That’s all for this week’s Weekend Watchlist – happy streaming!

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Texas may officially recognize “Gulf of America” change after Senate approval

AUSTIN – Texas lawmakers are considering following President Donald Trump’s lead and renaming the body of water that touches 367 miles of the state’s coast to the Gulf of America.

If approved, the bill would require the name to be changed in every official reference made by a state agency, resolution, rule or publication. The Sunset Advisory Committee would be required to include these changes in future reviews of state agencies.

The fiscal note said any associated costs could be absorbed using existing resources and there would be no significant fiscal impact on local government.

Senate Bill 1717 by Sen. Mayes Middleton, a Galveston Republican, was passed with 20 out of 31 senators in favor of the bill. This means the House will now get the bill for consideration.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 38, which recognizes the “strategic importance” of the Gulf of America, was also passed to engrossment with 22 senators voting aye.

“Senate Bill 1717 reignites the spirit of American Exceptionalism,” Middleton said. “America is a beacon of hope. We are that shining city on a hill, as President Reagan said. We are a nation set apart from the rest of the world, upholding that sacred right of life and liberty and property.”

Democratic Sens. José Menéndez of San Antonio and Juan Hinojosa of McAllen aired their concerns about the legislation in a debate on the Senate floor.

Menéndez wanted to know whether this bill solved any problems and if this move was just a whim based on the current federal administration. Hinojosa argued the name is historical, used widely by the rest of the world and that this move was purely political.

“I guess what it means is next time that you get another president that believes we ought to change the name back to the Gulf of Mexico … then again, we’ll have to change everything?” Hinojosa asked.

Middleton maintained that the bill was not a whim, and said the lawmakers were always welcome to introduce a bill later to change the name within the state code.

Sen. Pete Flores, a Pleasanton Republican, took up for the measure by pointing to changes made by former Gov. Ann Richards, who changed the names of several Texas landmarks. He did not provide examples of these changes on the Senate floor.

Trump signed an executive order changing the name of the waterway along the southern U.S. border to the Gulf of America on Jan. 20, leading to widespread debate. Other world leaders, however, said they would not likely follow suit, including Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum.

“They can continue to call it the Gulf of Mexico,” Flores said. “What your bill is doing is codifying the name of the Gulf of America to reflect the maps that the United States government has put into effect.”

Middleton said this move is to reflect those changes.

A similar bill in the Texas House, by Rep. Briscoe Cain, a Deer Park Republican, was referred to the House State Affairs Committee in March. It has not moved since.

Article originally published by The Texas Tribune. To read the originally published article, click here.

‘No one is above the law’: AG Bondi blasts judges accused of helping undocumented immigrants evade arrest

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(MILWAUKEE) -- The federal government announced two separate arrests Friday of a current judge and a former judge alleged to have assisted undocumented immigrants who authorities claim were violent criminals, moves that have raised red flags among Democrats and others.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested Friday by the FBI over allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade arrest last week. Her arrest took place hours after federal authorities arrested former New Mexico Judge Joel Cano and his wife Nancy Cano for allegedly housing a Venezuelan national with reported gang ties, Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

Bondi spoke with ABC News Live's Kyra Phillips Friday afternoon to discuss the cases and dismissed critics who accused the Trump administration of intimidating judges who oppose their crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

"Nobody is above the law, not even a judge," Bondi told Philips.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced Judge Dugan's arrest earlier Friday in a social media post, which was briefly deleted and reposted.

"Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week," Patel said in the new post. "We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest."

Dugan was charged with two criminal counts of "obstructing and impeding a proceeding before a department or agency of the United States" and "concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest," according to a criminal complaint unsealed Friday.

County court records show the undocumented immigrant in the Milwaukee case -- Eduardo Flores-Ruiz -- was set to appear in court on April 18 before Dugan for a pretrial conference in a case where he has been charged with three misdemeanor counts of battery/domestic abuse connected to an incident on March 12. The case is ongoing.

Federal prosecutors allege Flores-Ruiz illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico and was issued an Expedited Removal order in January 2013, according to a criminal complaint.

Bondi alleged that Flores-Ruiz beat his roommate and a woman so badly that they needed to be hospitalized and that he continued to be belligerent in the hospital before his arrest.

According to the complaint, Dugan allegedly sought to help Flores-Ruiz evade arrest by federal officers from an ICE task force.

When Judge Dugan learned ICE officers were present in court to arrest Flores-Ruiz, she became "visibly angry" and said the situation was "absurd" before leaving the bench and entering her chambers, according to the complaint, which cited witnesses who spoke to the FBI.

Dugan and another unidentified judge then allegedly approached the arrest team in the public hallway, according to the complaint. She was "visibly upset and had a confrontational, angry demeanor" and asked one of the officers whether they were present for a court appearance, the complaint alleged.

When the officer replied they were there to make an arrest, the complaint alleges Judge Dugan asked if they had a judicial warrant, to which the officer responded, "No I have an administrative warrant."

Multiple witnesses cited in the complaint later allegedly said Judge Dugan returned to her courtroom after directing members of the arrest team to the office of the court's chief judge.

"The courtroom deputy then saw Judge DUGAN get up and heard Judge DUGAN say something like 'Wait, come with me,'" the complaint states. "Despite having been advised of the administrative warrant for the arrest of Flores-Ruiz, Judge DUGAN then escorted Flores-Ruiz and his counsel out of the courtroom through the 'jury door,' which leads to a nonpublic area of the courthouse."

"So she continues, continues with her docket, finishes her docket. Two victims sit in court all morning long waiting and at the end. The prosecutors say 'What happened? Why didn't the case get called?'" Bondi said.

A DEA agent saw Flores-Ruiz and his attorney in the public hallway of the courthouse and he appeared to be making efforts to evade arrest, the complaint says. After he was encountered by FBI and DEA agents outside the building, Flores-Ruiz "turned around and sprinted down the street" before he was ultimately apprehended, according to the complaint.

Dugan was arrested Friday morning at the courthouse, a law enforcement official confirmed to ABC News.

She appeared in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Friday on the two charges, but did not enter a plea. She was released on her own recognizance.

Dugan retained former United States Attorney Steven Biskupic to represent her and he said in a statement that the judge will "defend herself vigorously and looks forward to being exonerated."

"Judge Hannah C. Dugan has committed herself to the rule of law and the principles of due process for her entire career as a lawyer and a judge," Biskupic said in a statement.

If convicted on the charges, Dugan could face up to six years in prison.

Bondi responded to the statement by stating that everyone is entitled to their day in court but reiterated that so are victims of crimes.

"They didn't get it because she let a criminal defendant walk out a door. She helped them. She obstructed justice," Bondi told Phillips.

Judge Dugan's arrest angered Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, who accused the federal agents of "showboating" and contended Dugan was not a flight risk.

"They're just trying to have this show of force and in the process of a courthouse where people need to go for court proceedings, they're scaring away people from participating in the court process," the mayor told reporters.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, in a statement on Friday afternoon, criticized President Donald Trump and the White House for what he said were efforts "to attack and attempt to undermine our judiciary at every level."

Evers said he would continue to have faith in the justice system "as this situation plays out in the court of law." He did not mention Dugan by name.

In an interview Friday, Phillips asked AG Bondi if she thought the government's actions were intimidating people in the court system, but she dodged the question.

"We're attempting to protect citizens, make America safe again," she said.

Bondi brought up the New Mexico case, where former Judge Joel Cano faces a charge of tampering with evidence.

Court documents allege that on Feb. 28, an alleged Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang member was arrested at the Canos' residence.

On April 24, agents served a search warrant at their residence and conducted an interview with Cano where he admitted to destroying a cell phone that belonged to the alleged gang member by smashing it with a hammer and throwing it in the trash, according to the complaint and Bondi.

"Cano stated that he destroyed the cellphone and further admitted that he believed the cellphone contained photos or videos that would reflect negatively on Ortega," the complaint states. "Through further questioning, agents ascertained that … Cano destroyed the cellphone believing that it contained photographs of Ortega holding firearms that Ortega had uploaded onto social media platforms which would be additional incriminating evidence against him."

Cano and his wife have not yet entered pleas in their cases, according to court records, and did not immediately have defense attorneys listed for them.

Bondi reiterated that the immigrants connected to the judges were allegedly violent.

Phillips again pushed Bondi about the arrests, asking if there was concern that the federal government was just going after judges, but the AG maintained that the charges were serious.

"Those are the people that have to be arrested and taken out of our country. Doesn't matter who you are, no one can harbor them, not even a judge," she said.

Phillips questioned how far the government was willing to go to arrest undocumented immigrants, and if that meant that mayors and governors could be targeted.

Bondi appeared to dodge the question and reiterated that the administration's goal is to keep people safe.

"I would hope a mayor, I would hope a governor would never harbor anyone," she said.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Courier lawsuit seeks to block Texas Lottery from banning its services

AUSTIN – A lottery courier company is suing the Texas Lottery Commission in an effort to block the agency from placing a ban on their services in less than a week.

Lottery courier Lotto.com filed the lawsuit Thursday against the commission and its new acting director, Sergio Rey. The lawsuit calls the potential courier ban an “about-face” from the agency’s previous stance on couriers, as lottery commission officials had previously told lawmakers they lacked the ability to regulate the services, the company said.

“It is time to reconsider the agency’s politically motivated decisions regarding lottery couriers and restart good faith collaboration between our companies and fresh leadership at the TLC,” said a statement from the Coalition of Texas Lottery Couriers, a group formed in 2025 that represents Lotto.com and other couriers.

Couriers are third-party services that sell lottery tickets online. The services print tickets at licensed retailers they own and send digital scans of purchases to customers. Lotto.com comes in second to the nation’s largest retailer, courier Jackpocket, as the state’s highest-selling lottery retailer.

The lottery commission indicated it would ban the businesses after a heated Senate Finance Committee hearing in February, during which lawmakers voiced concerns about the potential for money-laundering through couriers or bulk purchase of lottery tickets.

Amid the mounting scrutiny, Ryan Mindell, the lottery commission’s executive director, resigned on Monday.

The lawsuit claims the commission violated 30-day rule-change notice requirements when it announced in February it would seek to ban couriers and confiscated dozens of lottery terminals from couriers that same day. It also claims that because the lottery commission had previously indicated multiple times to lawmakers that the agency could not regulate the services, the ban is invalid.

The 57-page lawsuit also cites communications between Lotto.com and the lottery commission as an indicator that agency officials were aware of Lotto.com’s operation and communicated with them repeatedly.

Lawmakers’ money-laundering concerns and others, such as illegal sales to minors and out-of-state players, have drawn couriers and the lottery further into lawmakers’ scrutiny. The commission is now under two separate state investigations by the attorney general’s office and the Texas Rangers, a division of the Department of Public Safety. Lt. Gov Dan Patrick also has listed banning couriers as one of his top legislative priorities, and a bill criminalizing the services passed through the state Senate unanimously in February.

Senate Bill 28, authored by Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, has yet to be heard in the House. The lottery commission will vote on their courier ban on April 29 if the judge does not file an injunction before the meeting.

Article originally published by The Texas Tribune. To read the originally published article, click here.

Black man in Alabama dies 1 week after being shocked with stun gun during arrest

Courtesy Scott Family

(DECATUR, Ala.) -- An Alabama man died on Tuesday, a week after he was shocked with a stun gun while being arrested, according to a statement from the Decatur Police Department.

Authorities released a nearly-30-minute video from body camera footage of John Scott Jr.'s arrest on the evening of April 15 outside of his mother's home in Decatur. In a statement last week, authorities said they received a call about concerns over Scott's


When officers arrived that evening, body camera footage shows a cordial conversation between Scott and the officers. Scott asks officers their names and shakes their hands.

At one point, Scott, who is sweating profusely, appears agitated and uneasy as five officers stand near him telling him to either enter the ambulance or he will be detained by police. Scott refuses to enter an ambulance called to the scene after officers spend about 15 minutes telling him that he needs to receive medical treatment.

Police then proceed to handcuff Scott after he refuses to enter the ambulance. As he resists, it appears that a stun gun is deployed and officers strike him near the head as they attempt to cuff his hands behind his back.

Scott says that he can't breathe a few times as officers hold him down. After police handcuff Scott and attempt to put him in the police vehicle, he appears to continue to keep struggling. What sounds like spitting can be heard in the footage. One of the officers claims that Scott spit on him in the video. A spit-hood appears to be placed over Scott's head.

The police department said in a statement last week that officers made a visit earlier that day to the same location after receiving a call that Scott had taken his mother's cell phone. Scott returned the cell phone before the officers arrived, according to police. Once law enforcement reached the location, Scott's mother indicated that her son might not be taking his medication and was having a "mental breakdown", according to authorities.

Lee Merritt, Scott's family attorney, told ABC News in an interview on Thursday that Scott took medications for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Officers believed that Scott exhibited signs of using "illicit substances," according to a statement from law enforcement last week, but a mental health liaison was called to the scene and determined that Scott was not "an imminent threat of harm to himself or others and did not meet criteria for forced hospitalization," according to a police statement last week.

It was a second 911 call that day that ended in Scott's arrest, according to a statement from police last week. When Scott was taken to the Morgan County Jail, it was difficult to place him in a cell due to his "size" and "passive resistance," according to a follow-up statement from police on Tuesday.

After over an hour in his cell, jail staff noticed Scott exhibited signs of medical distress and he was transported to Decatur Morgan Hospital in an ambulance, according to the Tuesday statement.

Merritt told ABC News that Scott was foaming from his mouth in his cell when inmates notified police of his condition. Scott died after a week in the hospital with no pre-existing physical conditions, according to Merritt. The family will conduct an independent autopsy and are still not aware of his exact cause of death, according to Merritt.

The Morgan County Coroner told ABC News over the phone on Thursday that Scott's autopsy was completed that day, but he could not release the findings because of the ongoing investigation. The oficial said that the autopsy report could take another two months to be completed after test results are finished.

In a statement last week, the Decatur Police Department said that Scott had an active warrant issued by Morgan County, but Merritt told ABC News that the warrant was for a misdemeanor traffic incident, which he said did not make an arrest necessary.

The Decatur Police Department said in the Tuesday statement that officials have made a request to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the FBI for assistance with the investigation into Scott's death.

"The FBI is aware of the death of John Scott, Jr. and takes allegations of federal law violations seriously," the agency told ABC News in a statement on Wednesday. "The FBI reviews allegations of criminal conduct and conducts further investigation if there is evidence of a potential violation of federal law."

Merritt told ABC News that the Morgan County Sheriff's Office will take over the investigation and the family plans to file a lawsuit within 30 days of Scott's death.

The sheriff's office did not immediately return ABC News' request for a statement.

Merritt told ABC News that he also represents the family of Steve Perkins, another Black man who died after an altercation with Decatur police. Perkins was shot and died on Sept. 29, according to Huntsville, Alabama, ABC affiliate WAAY. One former officer has been charged in his death.

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Marijuana-filled Easter eggs found around Lufkin

Marijuana-filled Easter eggs found around LufkinLUFKIN – Our news partner, KETK, reports that the Lufkin Police are searching for a man accused of placing Easter eggs filled with marijuana around the city as part of a scavenger hunt.

According to a release from the Lufkin Police Department, a resident tipped officials after they saw several Facebook posts regarding the eggs. The suspect, Avante Nicholson, allegedly posted four photos showing each location as hints to find the eggs.

“He also posted a photo of five plastic eggs in the seat of a vehicle. Officers found four eggs and believed he had not placed the fifth,” Lufkin PD said. “However, the fifth egg was found by a man and his granddaughter at Winston Park the following day and brought to the police station.”

The Easter eggs were found at three city parks and a local motel. The police department said the marijuana totaled more than a quarter of an ounce of marijuana. Officials also found several posts referencing selling narcotics. Continue reading Marijuana-filled Easter eggs found around Lufkin

Julia Garner talks about Silver Surfer role in new ‘Fantastic Four’ film

Marvel Studios

Julia Garner is opening up about her upcoming role in Fantastic Four: First Steps.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actress talked about her role as Silver Surfer and said, "She's so different than anyone I've ever played."

"I don't expect everybody to watch Ozark or [Inventing] Anna or The Assistant," she said. "Some people are only going to watch certain things, so that's why I want to branch out to every genre, and that's one of the reasons why I wanted to do Marvel -- it's reaching a different kind of audience."

Audiences got a first look at Garner as Silver Surfer when the trailer was released last week. It features Garner gliding above the city on her floating surfboard.

Before the film, the Emmy Award-winner said she familiarized herself with the Fantastic Four and Silver Surfer comics.

"I knew about some of the famous comic book characters, some of them I didn't know," she said. "So when I got presented with this opportunity, I was like, 'Wait, what? Me?' Yeah, I was in disbelief, almost because it was so cool."

"I knew that this Fantastic Four was going to be told in a very different way than even the other movies," she added.

Garner said director Matt Shakman couldn't say much about the character before she took on the role, but described Silver Surfer to her as having a "mystery about her."

When asked if she would be interested in doing a Silver Surfer spinoff movie, Garner said, "A hundred percent."

Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach also star in Fantastic Four as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing, respectively.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters July 25.

Disney is the parent company of Marvel and ABC News.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Car bomb kills senior Russian general in Moscow: Officials

ABC News

(LONDON) -- A car bomb in Moscow has killed a senior Russian military officer, Russian officials said.

A statement from the Russian Investigative Committee said that “Lt. General Yaroslav Moskalik, the deputy head of Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, was killed in an explosion,” after an IED that was allegedly planted in a parked car detonated.

A team of investigators are now at the site of the explosion, Russian officials confirmed.

ABC News has seen video of the moment the parked vehicle explodes as a person can be seen walking toward the vehicle.

The footage is seemingly from a CCTV camera overlooking the parking lot of what appears to be an apartment complex.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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In brief: McKenna Grace cast in ‘The Hunger Games’ prequel and more

We now have a date for the 83rd annual Golden Globes. Nikki Glaser will host the awards ceremony for a second year in a row on Jan. 11, 2026. The show will air on CBS and also stream on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME for subscribers of that service live from the Beverly Hilton in LA. Nominations for the awards will be announced on Dec. 8 ...

McKenna Grace volunteers as tribute. The actress will star in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel film Sunrise on the Reaping. Grace will play Maysilee Donner, who is one of the tributes that, along with protagonist Haymitch Abernathy, represents District 12 in the 50th annual Hunger Games. Previously announced cast members include Joseph Zada as Haymitch and Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove ...

The Hamnet adaptation starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley will arrive in theaters everywhere on Dec. 12, Focus Features has announced. The studio also shared that it will come to select theaters first on Nov. 27. Oscar winner Chloé Zhao directs the film, which also stars Emily Watson and Joe Alwyn ...

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More Americans say US should bring back Abrego Garcia, views mixed on other deportation issues: POLL

Protesters show support for Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, at Federal Court on April 15, 2025 in Greenbelt, Maryland. The Trump administration admits Abrego Garcia was deported accidentally, but has not yet acted on a judge's order to facilitate his return to the U.S. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) -- Americans hold mixed views on President Donald Trump's immigration policies, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll.

Voters are divided on sending migrants living in the United States lacking legal status who are accused of gang membership to an El Salvador prison without a court hearing but mainly oppose deporting international students who criticize U.S. policy in the Middle East, according to the poll.

In the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a migrant who was deported to El Salvador despite a court order prohibiting it, more respondents said he should be returned to the U.S. rather than remain imprisoned in El Salvador, 42-26%. There's room for movement; 3 in 10 in an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll released Friday said they don't know enough about the case to say.

Overall, 46% said they approve of the way Trump is handling immigration, while 53% said they disapprove. On one hand, that's a 4-point drop in approval from a Washington Post/Ipsos poll in February. On the other, it's Trump's best rating across seven issues tested in this survey, produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates, with fieldwork by Ipsos.

See PDF for full results.

There's about an even division, moreover, on Trump's efforts to deport undocumented immigrants in general. Forty-eight percent said Trump is "going too far" in this regard, while 50% said he's either handling it about right (34%) or not going far enough (16%).

There's also a close split on the deportation of suspected gang members to an El Salvador prison without a court hearing: Forty-seven percent said they support this action, while 51% said they opposed.

That result underscores animosity toward undocumented immigrants, as seen in contrast to views on deporting international students who have criticized U.S. policy in the Middle East: In this case, support for deportation drops to 39%, with 59% opposed.

Partisans

Partisanship is a strong factor.

About 9 in 10 Republicans said they approve of Trump's handling of immigration, while 1 in 10 Democrats said they approved. Among independents, 45% said they approve.

Trump also wins approval on immigration from 93% of his 2024 voters, compared with 8% of those who voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris. However, he falls well short among those who didn't vote for president in the 2024 elections, who disapprove of Trump on immigration by 59%-40%.

In another broad partisan gap, 85% of Democrats said they think Trump is "going too far" with deportations. Sixty percent of Republicans said they think he's handling this about right -- and 27% said he's not going far enough. Independents again fall in between.

Republicans' attitudes are not monolithic. Eighty-two percent said they support sending suspected gang members to a prison in El Salvador without court hearings. Fewer, but still 70%, said they support deporting international college students who are critical of U.S. policy in the Middle East. Fewer still, 53%, said Abrego Garcia should remain in El Salvador, though just 14% said they favor his return, with the rest unsure.

Hispanic people said they disapprove of Trump's handling of immigration overall, by 67%-32%. Men divided about evenly on the issue, while most women said they disapprove, 58%-41%. Approval on the issue ranges from 65% of people in rural areas to 45% in suburbs and 36% in cities, with sizable rural and suburban gender gaps.

And there's a gap by age: Fifty-nine percent of those younger than 40 said disapprove of Trump on immigration, while 48% of those age 50 and older said they disapprove.

Methodology: This ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll was conducted online via the probability-based Ipsos KnowledgePanel® April 18-22, 2025, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 2,464 adults. Partisan divisions are 30%-30%-29%, Democrats-Republicans-independents.

Results have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points, including the design effect. Error margins are larger for subgroups. Sampling error is not the only source of differences in polls.

The survey was produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates, with sampling and data collection by Ipsos. See details on ABC News survey methodology here.

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