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NBC News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Inside the Univ. of Virginia gun incident that drew DOJ's ire
University of Virginia President James Ryan resigned last month amid a Justice Department investigation into allegations the school failed to wipe out its diversity programs. But a letter the agency sent released last week as part of a public records request, reveals another reason the Justice Department targeted the university. In it, the department zeroed in on allegations that a fourth-year Jewish student had endured antisemitic bullying and that had mishandled the case. 'The facts surrounding this specific controversy and of the UVa's alleged deliberate indifference and retaliatory treatment of the victim in response are, in a word, disturbing,' Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon wrote May 2. What the letter doesn't say was just what happened among the students involved — or that it led to a young man's arrest on gun and hate crime charges. The details of the incident, covered by local news outlets at the time, have largely gone unnoticed since Ryan announced his resignation on June 27. But additional records obtained by NBC News show how the dispute at an off-campus house escalated into a criminal case that attracted federal attention. They also shed light on how Jewish advocacy groups have pushed the Justice Department to get involved in campus conflicts — and how successful they've been in making that happen. The University of Virginia didn't respond to questions about the incident or the Justice Department's response, citing ongoing criminal proceedings and federal privacy laws. 'The University opposes antisemitism and all forms of bigotry, and we take swift action to support students who experience threats or harassment and to hold offenders accountable,' the school said in a statement. The Justice Department declined to comment. The Jewish student, whose family asked NBC News not to name him as the alleged victim of a hate crime, lived in a decommissioned fraternity house on Charlottesville's Rugby Road with 17 other students. According to court documents, the housemates had been arguing over parties the Jewish student hosted. One of the roommates, Robert Romer, is alleged to have posted antisemitic memes in a group chat for the residents over several days in mid-October, including a photo of Hasidic Jewish men under the heading 'Battle of $18.20.' On Oct. 21, Romer texted the house, 'I am going to attempt to free Palestine. Anyone is welcome to join in on the beating,' which the Jewish student interpreted as a threat against him, according to court records. Two days later, the student alleged, Romer tried to force his way into his room. Early Oct. 31, he later testified in court, the Jewish student entered his room and found Romer holding a gun. He said that he touched it to see that it was real and repeatedly asked whether it was loaded but that Romer wouldn't say. After he alerted other housemates, he said, some began passing the gun around, while others were 'freaking out,' before eventually someone hid it. 'I'm very scared at this point,' he said in court. 'Especially because someone who had sent messages that I interpreted as antisemitic and I interpreted as pointed towards me, had previously threatened to fight me, didn't apologize for it, and then was waiting for me in my room holding a gun at midnight — that was something that was incredibly scary.' He reported the incident to the university and law enforcement the next day, then moved out of the house and arranged to study abroad for the spring semester. 'I was afraid to stay at he testified. Romer was arrested Nov. 1 and hit with four charges, including brandishing a weapon and hate crime assault, according to his defense attorney, Graven Craig. He was suspended but allowed to return to school in January after he completed a student-run university judicial process, Craig said, while an investigation led by the administration continues. Craig said that the allegations against Romer 'are entirely false' and that the Jewish student 'cherry-picked' text messages from a hyperbolic group chat to make them seem worse than they were. The messages, Craig said, were typical of how 'college-aged males from diverse backgrounds who all enjoyed poking fun at each other' communicate. He denies that his client pointed a gun at the Jewish student. Romer's father, Tom, previously said in a statement that his son was innocent and that a 'thorough review of the events will show that there was no hate, no assault and no brandishing.' Two of the criminal charges against Romer — the gun charge and the charge of entering property to cause damage — were dismissed in May after other housemates testified at a preliminary hearing that the gun had been unloaded and that the Jewish student also briefly held it. Two other charges, including one of hate crime assault, are scheduled to be presented before a grand jury in August, according to court records. The case could easily have remained local news. But earlier this year, the Jewish student's father, concerned that university investigations were moving too slowly, contacted two nonprofit organizations that seek to combat antisemitism — the Anti-Defamation League and StandWithUs, a pro-Israel group. In an April 30 letter they sent along with the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, they criticize handling of the complaint and what they call an 'improper retaliatory countercomplaint' after a third housemate — who owned the gun — reported to the school in December that the Jewish student had harassed him over his ethnicity, using racial slurs, which the Jewish student denies. The letter notes that the complaint came 'just a short time after' the Jewish student filed his own. They also allege that the school withheld information about Romer's student-led disciplinary case from the Jewish student, according to a copy of the letter provided to NBC News. 'The fact that the Jewish student was fortunate to avoid physical harm does not diminish the severity of the threats,' the groups wrote, 'rather, it highlights the urgency of serious and substantive University intervention.' Local conservative blogs and influencers amplified their message, and a conservative alumni organization cited it as part of a campaign to oust Ryan as president. When the Justice Department contacted about the incident days later, it referred to the letter from the three nonprofit groups, urging the university to follow their demands, including shutting down investigations into the Jewish student. The university did just that on May 12 — ending the five-month investigation and clearing the Jewish student of all allegations, according to a copy of the investigator's report shared by his father. 'I know that some of the things the Department of Justice is doing right now are controversial,' the student's father said, 'but I was relieved to know that someone with a lot of power and authority over universities was actually getting involved and being the ally that we've been looking for outside the Jewish community.' But the housemate who filed the complaint against the Jewish student, who asked to remain anonymous because he fears harassment, told NBC News that he was 'shocked' to learn that the case had reached the attention of the federal government — and that he feels cheated because of it. 'It doesn't seem like a coincidence at all that the university wrapped this investigation up right after that letter came,' he said. 'They deprived me of the due diligence that they owe me.' StandWithUs said in a statement that it was grateful to have the Justice Department involved but that it remains frustrated that the university still won't disclose to the Jewish student information about 'steps it is taking to ensure his safety.' The group said the department's involvement should 'remind UVA that it doesn't just have a moral obligation to do so, but a legal one as well.'
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘British bid' to gatecrash Telegraph takeover is rejected
An 11th-hour attempt to gatecrash the sale of The Telegraph with a 'British bid' has been rejected. The latest approach from Dovid Efune, which includes funding from the hedge fund manager Jeremy Hosking, has been ruled out, according to multiple sources. It valued the Telegraph at £550m but had only £170m of committed equity and required a level of borrowing that lenders would be unlikely to support, sources said. Mr Efune, the publisher of The New York Sun, has said he expects to reveal more backers soon as he seeks a 'beneficial resolution for all stakeholders'. He added that he had received no communication from the seller rejecting his bid. He has been pursuing control of The Telegraph for a year. He emerged from an auction in October as the preferred bidder but subsequently struggled to raise finance. In a development that creates more potential obstacles for Mr Efune, the firm appointed by IMI to run the auction, Robey Warshaw, has stopped work on it. Sources said the investment bankers expect the rival bid by RedBird Capital to proceed. The US private equity firm has reached an agreement in principle to acquire majority ownership of The Telegraph from IMI, the United Arab Emirates state media company. The deal values the company at £500m. Together, as the joint venture RedBird IMI, the pair were blocked from taking full control last year following an outcry over press freedom. It would have handed the UAE a 75pc stake. Mr Efune said he is undeterred by the latest action. He told The Telegraph: 'Our British bid is strong with upward momentum. 'We expect to announce new funding partners in the near future. We're more confident than ever that what we have to offer is a favourable pathway for the sellers, The Telegraph and journalism writ large.' The British-born entrepreneur acquired The New York Sun in 2021 after running The Algemeiner, a newspaper for the Hasidic Jewish community. He is casting his bid for The Telegraph alongside Mr Hosking and Nadhim Zahawi, the former Conservative cabinet minister, as the 'British bid' in contrast to RedBird's American roots. However, Gerry Cardinale, RedBird's founder, is in talks with at least three potential British minority co-investors, including Lord Rothermere, the owner of the Daily Mail. Following proposed changes to the law banning foreign state ownership of newspapers, IMI is expected to retain a passive stake in The Telegraph of up to 15pc. Mr Efune's chances of disrupting the transaction have appeared to be fading. This week on his X account, he appeared to seek divine intervention by posting 'stand still and see the salvation of the Lord', a quote from Exodus typically interpreted as an appeal to trust in God. The bid's remaining earthly hopes may rest on Mr Efune's efforts to stoke political opposition to RedBird and to Labour's proposed legal changes. His consortium appears further to the Right and more ideological than RedBird's, and has been seeking to exploit a Conservative split over the laws on foreign state ownership of newspapers. Tory leaders have said they will not oppose a 15pc limit but some of the party's peers intend to support a Liberal Democrat 'fatal motion' in the House of Lords. It is unclear how such opposition would deliver The Telegraph to Mr Efune's 'British bid'. Mr Cardinale has told senior managers at the newspaper that he is anxious to complete his takeover as soon as possible to end two years of ownership uncertainty and launch an ambitious growth and investment strategy. Once a deal emerges, a smooth regulatory process could mean The Telegraph is under RedBird's control by September. It would join a portfolio of media and sport assets that includes AC Milan, a significant stake in Liverpool FC and a film studio co-founded with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. RedBird is also backing the planned $12bn (£8.9bn) takeover of the Hollywood giant Paramount, the owner of CBS in the United States and Channel 5 in Britain. If the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy refers The Telegraph deal to the Competition and Markets Authority for a full investigation of competition and plurality concerns, the timeline would be extended by several months. She could also impose legal restrictions on Mr Cardinale's ability to work with Telegraph management in the meantime. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Sign in to access your portfolio
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NYT Mini Crossword Answers for May 27, 2025: Full clue breakdown, wordplay explained, and today's complete puzzle solutions
NYT Mini Crossword Answers May 27 bring a clever mix of tricky clues and fun wordplay that puzzle lovers won't want to miss. If you're stuck on 7-Across or wondering what ties a baby and roses to a 'flower bed,' this quick breakdown has every clue and answer covered in plain, simple language. Whether you're a seasoned solver or just starting, this daily brain boost is a great way to kick off your morning. Don't miss today's complete list of answers, insights, and how it all fits together—perfect for anyone playing the NYT Mini Crossword today. Find all NYT Mini Crossword answers for May 27 in this quick, simple guide. Full clue breakdowns, explanations, and helpful tips. Perfect for puzzle fans looking to solve today's grid or learn more about the clever wordplay behind it. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is the NYT Mini Crossword and why does everyone love it? What are today's Mini Crossword Across clues and answers? 1A: "___ the whole world gone mad?" Answer: HAS A familiar phrase you might hear in moments of frustration. Simple, yet effective. Answer: HAS A familiar phrase you might hear in moments of frustration. Simple, yet effective. 4A: Cause of increased "Aww"s and decreased "Zzz"s Answer: BABY A BABY brings joy—but also sleepless nights. This clue plays on that duality. Answer: BABY A BABY brings joy—but also sleepless nights. This clue plays on that duality. 5A: Romantic dozen Answer: ROSES A dozen ROSES is a classic symbol of romance—no surprise here. Answer: ROSES A dozen ROSES is a classic symbol of romance—no surprise here. 6A: Still competing Answer: INIT Short for "in it to win it", INIT is slang for someone still in the game. Answer: INIT Short for "in it to win it", INIT is slang for someone still in the game. 7A: Flower ___ (as described by 1-, 4-, 5- and 6-Across, read in order?) Answer: BED When you put HAS, BABY, ROSES, and INIT together, the answer BED (as in "flower bed") ties it all up. What are the Down clues and solutions for today's Mini? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 1D: Certain religious Jew Answer: HASID Refers to members of the Hasidic Jewish community, known for devout religious observance. Answer: HASID Refers to members of the Hasidic Jewish community, known for devout religious observance. 2D: Help with a crime Answer: ABET To ABET is to aid or encourage someone, typically in wrongdoing. Answer: ABET To ABET is to aid or encourage someone, typically in wrongdoing. 3D: The "S" of iOS: Abbr. Answer: SYS SYS stands for 'system,' making sense in the context of Apple's iOS operating system. Answer: SYS SYS stands for 'system,' making sense in the context of Apple's iOS operating system. 4D: Skeleton piece Answer: BONE Every skeleton is made up of bones. A straightforward clue today. Answer: BONE Every skeleton is made up of bones. A straightforward clue today. 5D: 4-Down in the chest Answer: RIB One type of bone located in the chest—this links directly to 4D. Why was 7-Across so tricky today? Is the NYT Mini Crossword free to play? On today's Mini Crossword answers for May 27 FAQs: If you're looking for the NYT Mini Crossword answers for May 27, you've come to the right place. Today's puzzle might be small, but it's packed with clever clues that can stump even the sharpest solvers. Don't worry—we've broken down all the answers and clues for you in one place to make your crossword experience we've covered each clue and its solution, along with helpful context and a few fun facts. Whether you're solving with your morning coffee or trying to boost your streak, here's everything you need to New York Times Mini Crossword is a bite-sized version of the classic NYT crossword puzzle. With just a 5x5 grid, it's quick to solve but still full of wordplay and clever clues. Many fans enjoy it as a warm-up to the full crossword or as a daily brain teaser. The Mini is released every day at midnight, and you can play it for free—though archived puzzles require a subscription to the Times Games break down all of today's NYT Mini Crossword Across answers for May 27:Now let's look at the Mini Crossword Down clues and answers for May 27:Today's 7-Across clue—'Flower ___ (as described by 1-, 4-, 5- and 6-Across)'—tripped up many solvers. That's because it relied on interpreting a phrase made from other answers. When you combine 'HAS,' 'BABY,' 'ROSES,' and 'INIT,' you get a creative take on a 'flower bed.' It's one of those clever clues that makes sense only after solving the current day's Mini Crossword is free to play, even without a subscription. However, to access older puzzles from the archive, or to play more games like Spelling Bee and full crosswords, you'll need a New York Times Games subscription. For puzzle lovers, it's often well worth NYT Mini Crossword for May 27 might seem simple at first glance, but it came with its fair share of tricky clues—especially the clever wordplay at 7-Across. Whether you were stumped or breezed through it, solving a puzzle every day is a great way to keep your brain you're into Wordle, Strands, Connections, or any of the NYT's other word games, be sure to check in daily for fresh hints and answers.A: The full answers include HAS, BABY, ROSES, INIT, BED, and more.A: Yes, today's Mini Crossword is free on the NYT Games site.
New York Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
New York May Weaken Its Oversight Over Religious Schools
New York lawmakers are considering a deal that would dramatically weaken their oversight over religious schools, potentially a major victory for the state's Hasidic Jewish community. The proposal, which could become part of a state budget deal, has raised profound concern among education experts, including the state education commissioner, Betty Rosa, who said in an interview that such changes amount to a 'travesty' for children who attend religious schools that do not offer a basic secular education. 'We would be truly compromising the future of these young people,' by weakening the law, Ms. Rosa said. 'As the architect of education in this system, how could I possibly support that decision,' she added. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced a $254 billion budget agreement but acknowledged many of the particulars are still being hashed out. Behind the scenes, a major sticking point appears to be whether the governor and the Legislature will agree to the changes on private school oversight, according to several people with direct knowledge of the negotiations, which may include a delay in any potential consequences for private schools that receive enormous sums of taxpayer dollars but sometimes flout state education law by not offering basic education in English or math. The state is also considering lowering the standards that a school would have to meet in order to demonstrate that it is following the law. Though the potential changes in state education law would technically apply to all private schools, they are chiefly relevant to Hasidic schools, which largely conduct religious lessons in Yiddish and Hebrew in their all-boys schools, known as yeshivas. The potential deal is the result of years of lobbying by Hasidic leaders and their political representatives. Legislative leaders acknowledged that changes to the educational standard were being considered but declined to provide any additional detail. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Senate majority leader, said on Tuesday that conversations on the topic were 'ongoing' and that she was unsure what would be in the final budget legislation. A spokesman for Governor Hochul declined to comment. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said that an outline of a deal was 'on the table' when asked about it earlier this week. The effort has been led by Simcha Felder, who recently represented a swath of Brooklyn in the State Senate before being elected to the City Council, and Simcha Eichenstein, who represents a similar area in the Assembly. The Hasidic community has long seen government oversight of their schools as an existential threat, and it has emerged as their top political issue in recent years. It has taken on fresh urgency in recent months, as the state education department, led by Ms. Rosa, has moved for the first time to enforce the law, after years of deliberation and delay. The department has announced plans to close six Hasidic yeshivas it has said are not complying with the state law, in some cases because the schools refused to meet with state education officials to discuss improvement plans. That move, by far the strongest action New York has taken to crack down on schools it says are breaking the law, amounts a worst-case scenario for Hasidic leaders. There is little dispute, even among Hasidic leaders, that many yeshivas across the lower Hudson Valley and parts of Brooklyn are failing to provide an adequate secular education. Some religious leaders have boasted about their refusal to comply with the law and have barred families from having English books in their homes. Mayor Eric Adams's administration, which has been closely aligned with the Hasidic community, found in 2023 that 18 Brooklyn yeshivas were not complying with state law, a finding that was backed up by state education officials. A 2022 New York Times investigation found that scores of all-boys yeshivas collected about $1 billion in government funding over a four-year period but failed to provide a basic education, and that teachers in some of the schools used corporal punishment. It is clear why Hasidic leaders, who are deeply skeptical of any government oversight, would want to weaken and delay consequences for the schools they help run. It is less obvious why elected officials would concede to those demands during this particular budget season. There is widespread speculation in Albany that Ms. Hochul, facing what may be a tough re-election fight next year, is hoping to curry favor from Hasidic officials, who could improve her chances with an endorsement. The Hasidic community tends to vote as a bloc in order to influence low-turnout local elections, and some legislators have suggested that religious leaders might endorse specific candidates if their allies in the Legislature agreed to weaken the law. Hasidic voters are increasingly conservative and tend to favor Republicans in general election contests. That could benefit Ms. Hochul's potential Republican challengers in next year's race, Representative Mike Lawler, who is strongly allied with the Hasidic community that makes up a considerable portion of his Hudson Valley district, and Representative Elise Stefanik, a key Trump ally, even if Ms. Hochul offers a concession on yeshivas. A potential Democratic challenger, Representative Ritchie Torres of the Bronx, has made an aggressive effort to court Jewish voters. As the budget negotiations have reached their final, frenzied phase, some members have raised concerns about the education law change that their leadership is pressuring them to accept, and said they have not yet seen these proposals in bill form. News of the potential deal reached Michael A. Rebell, a prominent education lawyer, who wrote in an email to one of the governor's top education officials earlier this week that he would consider suing the state if the law was weakened. 'If this secret, behind-the-scenes deal is, in fact, accepted by the governor, we are going to have to challenge it publicly,' Mr. Rebell wrote in the email, obtained by The Times. 'And we will also consider bringing a constitutional litigation to oppose it.' New York's state education law related to private schools, which is known as the substantial equivalency law, has been on the books for more than a century. It was an obscure, uncontroversial rule up until a few years ago, when graduates of Hasidic yeshivas who said they were denied a basic education filed a complaint with the state, claiming that their education left them unprepared to navigate the secular world and find decent jobs.
Montreal Gazette
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Hundreds gather for Israel's Independence Day celebration at Montreal park
By Hundreds of people waving Israeli flags gathered at Macdonald Park in the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough Thursday to celebrate Israel's 77th Independence Day. The Independence Day rally, known as Yom Ha'atzmaut, is normally held downtown, but event spokesperson Anthony Koch said it was moved to the park for security reasons. 'In the last few years, things have gotten a little bit heated,' Koch said, referring to rising global tensions following the Hamas attack on Israel Oct. 7, 2023, and subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza. 'The cops wanted to make sure that, unlike in past years, they could reasonably ... limit safety concerns.' By 10 a.m., more than a dozen counter-protesters — mostly Hasidic Jewish men — had gathered across the park, waving Palestinian flags. One shouted through a megaphone, 'Shame on you! You're not a Jew!' This story was originally published May 1, 2025 at 11:07 AM.
