Mayor fires back at Trump after he calls Baltimore ‘too far gone'
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Yahoo
a few seconds ago
- Yahoo
Flight diverted after skateboard-waving drunk passenger yelled racial slurs, police say
A Los Angeles-bound flight was diverted to Colorado after a drunk passenger started yelling racist slurs while waving around a skateboard, police said. Breeze Airlines flight MX704 — flying from Norfolk, Virginia to Los Angeles — landed in Grand Junction Airport in Colorado around 11.15 a.m. Wednesday after an intoxicated male passenger 'became agitated, yelling racist slurs at airline staff while waving a skateboard,' Grand Junction Police said. Airline staff put the passenger in restraints twice but he was able to break free both times. He didn't physically assault anyone and no injuries were reported, police said. When the flight touched down, police were called to assist with an 'unruly passenger,' authorities said. The man was then taken into custody at the direction of the FBI and transported to the Mesa County Detention Facility. David Leroy Carter Jr., 46, of Los Angeles, was arrested, the FBI told The Independent. It's not immediately clear what charges he may face. The U.S. Attorney's Office for Colorado would announce the charges at an appropriate time, the agency said. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to police. The Independent has asked the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for more information. 'The plane was met promptly by local law enforcement officers, who restrained and removed the passenger from the aircraft,' Breeze Airways said in a statement. The flight was delayed in Grand Junction while a new crew was brought in to fly the remaining passengers to LAX, the airline said. The passengers arrived at their final destination around 7.15 p.m. local time. This year, there have been reports of more than 1,000 unruly passengers, according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration. That figure marks a dramatic drop from 2021, when the FAA received a whopping 5,973 reports of unruly passengers.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
DC Mayor Bowser walks delicate line with Trump, reflecting the city's precarious position
NEW YORK (AP) — As National Guard troops deploy across her city as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to clamp down on crime, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is responding with relative restraint. She's called Trump's takeover of the city's police department and his decision to activate 800 members of the guard ' unsettling and unprecedented ' and gone as far as to cast his efforts as part of an 'authoritarian push.' But Bowser has so far avoided the kind of biting rhetoric and personal attacks typical of other high-profile Democratic leaders, despite the unprecedented incursion into her city. 'While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I can't say that, given some of the rhetoric of the past, that we're totally surprised,' Bowser told reporters at a press conference responding to the efforts. She even suggested the surge in resources might benefit the city and noted that limited home rule allows the federal government 'to intrude on our autonomy in many ways.' 'My tenor will be appropriate for what I think is important for the District," said Bowser, who is in her third term as mayor. "And what's important for the District is that we can take care of our citizens.' The approach underscores the reality of Washington, D.C.'s precarious position under the thumb of the federal government. Trump has repeatedly threatened an outright takeover of the overwhelmingly Democratic city, which is granted autonomy through a limited home rule agreement passed in 1973 that could be repealed by Congress. Republicans, who control both chambers, have already frozen more than a $1 billion in local spending, slashing the city's budget. That puts her in a very different position than figures like California Gov. Gavin Newsom or Illinois Gov. B Pritzker, Democrats whose states depend on the federal government for disaster relief and other funding, but who have nonetheless relentlessly attacked the current administration as they lay the groundwork for potential 2028 presidential runs. Those efforts come amid deep frustrations from Democratic voters that their party has not been nearly aggressive enough in its efforts to counter Trump's actions. 'Unfortunately she is in a very vulnerable position,' said Democratic strategist Nina Smith. 'This is the sort of thing that can happen when you don't have the powers that come with being a state. So that's what we're seeing right now, the mayor trying to navigate a very tough administration. Because this administration has shown no restraint when it comes to any kind of constitutional barriers or norms." A change from Trump's first term Bowser's approach marks a departure from Trump's first term, when she was far more antagonistic toward the president. Then she routinely clashed with the administration, including having city workers paint giant yellow letters spelling out 'Black Lives Matter' on a street near the White House during the George Floyd protests in 2020. This time around, Bowser took a different tact from the start. She flew to Florida to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago after he won the election and has worked to avoid conflict and downplay points of contention, including tearing up the 'Black Lives Matter' letters after he returned to Washington in response to pressure from Republicans in Congress. The change reflects the new political dynamics at play, with Republicans in control of Congress and an emboldened Trump who has made clear he is willing to exert maximum power and push boundaries in unprecedented ways. D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson said she understands Bowser's position, and largely agrees with her conclusion that a legal challenge to Trump's moves would be a long shot. Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act in his executive order, declaring a 'crime emergency' so his administration could take over the city's police force. The statue limits that control to 30 days unless he gets approval from Congress. 'The challenge would be on the question of 'Is this actually an emergency?'' said Henderson, a former congressional staffer. 'That's really the only part you could challenge.' Henderson believes the city would face dim prospects in a court fight, but thinks the D.C. government should challenge anyway, 'just on the basis of precedent.' Trump told reporters Wednesday that he believes he can extend the 30-day deadline by declaring a national emergency, but said "we expect to be before Congress very quickly.' 'We're gonna be asking for extensions on that, long-term extensions, because you can't have 30 days," he said. 'We're gonna do this very quickly. But we're gonna want extensions. I don't want to call a national emergency. If I have to, I will.' Limited legal options Bowser's response is a reflection of the reality of the situation, according to a person familiar with her thinking. As mayor of the District of Columbia, Bowser has a very different relationship with the president and federal government than other mayors or governors. The city is home to thousands of federal workers, and the mass layoffs under DOGE have already had a major impact on the city's economy. Her strategy has been to focus on finding areas where she and the new administration can work together on shared priorities. For now, Bowser appears set to stick with her approach, saying Wednesday that she is focused on 'making sure the federal surge is useful to us.' During a morning interview with Fox 5, she and the city's police chief argued an influx of federal agents linked to Trump's takeover would improve public safety, with more officers on patrol. Police chief Pamela Smith said the city's police department is short almost 800 officers, so the extra police presence 'is clearly going to impact us in a positive way.' But Nina Smith, the Democratic strategist, said she believes Bowser needs a course correction. 'How many times is it going to take before she realizes this is not someone who has got the best interests of the city at heart?" she asked. 'I think there may need to be time for her to get tough and push back.' Despite Trump's rhetoric, statistics published by Washington's Metropolitan Police show violent crime has dropped in Washington since a post-pandemic peak in 2023. A recent Department of Justice report shows that violent crime is down 35% since 2023, reaching its lowest rate in 30 years.
CBS News
2 minutes ago
- CBS News
Former Denver Nuggets mascot sues ownership group for disability discrimination
A former Denver Nuggets mascot is speaking out after filing a lawsuit against the team's ownership group, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), alleging disability discrimination and an unlawful severance offer. Drake Solomon, who portrayed the Nuggets' mascot Rocky from 2021 until this past season, claims he was wrongfully terminated after undergoing double hip replacement surgery. His father had performed as Rocky for more than 30 years before Solomon took over the role. Solomon says the lawsuit is not only for himself, but also on behalf of other KSE employees who, since the 2023 passage of Colorado's POWR Act (Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights), have allegedly been offered similar unlawful agreements. "I was on the court at 2-weeks-old," Solomon told CBS Colorado. During the NBA team's 2023 championship run, Solomon says he was diagnosed with a painful bone condition that impacted his ability to perform. After notifying supervisors that he would need surgery, Solomon alleges the organization began tryouts for his replacement, citing a lack of confidence in his health. "It came to a point where I was on the court shooting a half-court shot with tears dripping down my face," Solomon recalled. "It's hard thinking about those times. I really wanted to bring the same energy." After surgery, Solomon says he felt ready to return but never got the chance. "For it to end this way, it feels like betrayal," Solomon said. "We were so loyal to them." Solomon says he was offered $20,000 and a non-disclosure agreement as part of his severance agreement. He refused. "It seemed sketchy to me," Solomon explained. "I wasn't going to sign that." Attorneys say the agreement violated nearly every provision of the POWR Act. Solomon believes other employees were offered similar deals. Despite everything, Solomon says he still loves the Nuggets and its fans. He's now seeking a trial in hopes of holding KSE accountable and protecting future employees. "Never wanted things to go down this way," Solomon said. "But there are things they could've handled better -- not just with me -- but with others as well." KSE has not responded to a request for comment.
