Politics

An investigation into the death of Xavier Guadalupe Hernandez during an arrest on the side of a freeway is now in the hands of the El Paso District Attorney’s Office. It will likely go to a grand jury to determine if criminal charges will be filed against police officers.Hernandez, 30, died in a controversial case recorded on an El Paso Police Department body camera video that raised criticism over how police handled what started as a call about a pedestrian on Interstate 10 and ended with Hernandez’s death on July 13.More: El Paso medical examiner rules man who died in police struggle as a homicideAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEl Paso District Attorney James Montoya, in an emailed statement on Wednesday, Aug. 20, said his office has now received the investigation conducted by El Paso police.”While the case is pending, we cannot offer any other comment about it specifically,” Montoya stated. “However, it is the policy of the DA’s Office to present all in-custody deaths and officer-involved shootings to a grand jury of El Pasoans for their review and determination of potential criminal liability.”Xavier Guadalupe Hernandez is seen in an image from an El Paso police officer’s body camera during a struggle and arrest that ended with Hernandez’s death on Interstate 10 in El Paso, Texas, on July 13, 2025.EPPD body camera video released this week showed Hernandez in an agitated state on the shoulder of the busy freeway in a situation that quickly escalated into a struggle as an officer repeatedly shocked him with a Taser.”Officer, what’s your badge number?” Hernandez repeatedly yells in the video, which shows Hernandez stop breathing while handcuffed behind his back and held facedown on the asphalt by officers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAn autopsy by the county medical examiner’s office deemed Hernandez’s death a homicide caused by “asphyxia due to chest compression during law enforcement subdual and restrain” with cocaine toxicity as a “significant” factor.DA: Grand jury to look at police deadly force casesMontoya, a Democrat, took office in January after defeating former Republican DA Bill Hicks in the November 2024 election.Montoya previously had an unsuccessful run for DA, losing to Yvonne Rosales in the 2020 Democratic primary. Rosales later ended up resigning from office amid accusations of incompetence and Hicks was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to fill in the remainder of her term.El Paso District Attorney James Montoya said his office has received the investigation by the El Paso Police Department into the death of Xavier Guadalupe Hernandez on July 13 during an arrest by police alongside Interstate 10. File photo.During the 2020 campaign, police brutality was a hot topic amid the George Floyd protests, Black Lives Matter movement and the COVID-19 pandemic.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn 2020, Montoya said in an El Paso Times interview that incidents in which police use deadly force should be automatically investigated.”Whether that is a discharge of a firearm, some kind of chokehold, any type of deadly force, including a Taser, which I believe is deadly force, will be presented to an El Paso grand jury for their review for potential criminal charges,” Montoya said in 2020.Daniel Borunda may be reached at [email protected] and @BorundaDaniel on X.This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso police bodycam video death case likely to go to grand jury

Hundreds of employees at a Target distribution hub in Chicago have been fired, news outlets report, after allegedly exploiting a glitch in the company’s health care loan program — costing the retailer more than $1 million.According to Block Club Chicago, the flaw allowed workers to borrow $3,000 and erase the balance after repaying just $50. Word of the loophole spread quickly through the Target Flow Center, and employees started joining in on the scheme.Don’t missAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCharles Thrush, who first reported the story, says one person “found a glitch in the system” and encouraged others to cash in, turning the scheme into a personal payday.“He would charge $200 to $300, basically, for all these people to get their loans,” Thrush told WGN News in a story published Aug. 19.How widespread was it?Thrush estimates that between 400 and 700 workers were fired over a two-week period from the end of July into August.Target has not confirmed the exact number of terminations but said in a statement to both news outlets: “Following an internal investigation, we have terminated team members found to be in violation of our company’s code of ethics.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor the Target employees involved, it’s unclear whether criminal charges will follow. Block Club Chicago reports the scheme may have cost the company over $1 million.Read more: Nervous about the stock market? Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10In Illinois, health care fraud is typically prosecuted as a Class 4 felony — carrying penalties of up to three years in prison and fines of as much as $25,000 for individuals, according to law firm Dolci & Weiland.Health care fraud isn’t limited to corporate benefits programs. The FBI estimates it costs the U.S. tens of billions of dollars each year, with schemes ranging from double billing — submitting multiple claims for the same service — to phantom billing for services never provided, or “upcoding,” where providers bill for more expensive procedures than those actually performed. These practices can drive up costs for businesses, insurers and consumers.The real price of easy moneySome former workers told WGN News they were blindsided by the terminations, insisting they thought they were taking advantage of a benefit that offered fast cash, which they would repay over time. Others said they were shocked to learn a fraud scheme was happening at all.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I know they’re hiring extremely mad right now. Every Tuesday and Friday you see new classes and new faces, like, every single day,” Target employee Matthew Clarke told WGN News. “They’re definitely paying enough to where you shouldn’t even have to worry about trying to steal.”Target told the local broadcaster it has introduced new safeguards to prevent similar abuse and that the firings won’t affect day-to-day operations.Employee loan programs and workplace perks can be a valuable resource, but they’re not free money. Read the terms closely, track your repayments and ask HR to clarify anything that seems vague. If you notice a loophole that looks too good to be true, resist the urge to test it out — exploiting it could cost you your job, your reputation or even your freedom. And if you suspect a program or offer might be a scam, report it right away to your employer or the appropriate authority.What to read nextAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementStay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now.This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Police are searching for a female suspect in a robbery that left a man with multiple stab wounds in Brooklyn on Saturday.Police received a report on Saturday that a 40-year-old man was stabbed four times on the left side of his body at around 7:10 a.m. near Belmont Avenue and Georgia Avenue. More Local News The woman then attempted to grab money out of the man’s pockets before fleeing in a black SUV, officials said. The man was taken to a local hospital to be treated for his wounds.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe woman was last seen wearing a tan tank top and tan skirt, according to police.Police are searching for a female suspect in a robbery that left a man with multiple stab wounds in Brooklyn on Saturday, Aug. 16. (Credit: NYPD)Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. See more of his work here.Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.

A recently emerged image shows a very large, low-observable, flying-wing aircraft in the air in China. While the identity of the aircraft cannot be definitively established, it matches, in many respects, the appearance of the huge drone that TWZ was first to identify in satellite imagery dating from earlier this summer, and which you can read more about here.The new image of the aircraft in flight shows its rear aspect, with the landing gear down, large main undercarriage doors, and with B-2-style split rudders deployed on the outer wing, consistent with takeoff or landing. From this angle, we can see that its blended wing-body includes a broad center section, with a distinctly flattened top. No cockpit is visible, but that is a possibility that cannot be ruled out entirely. The shape of the center section also suggests this is a twin-engine design, with slot-like exhaust nozzles, but once again, the low resolution limits the degree to which these details can be made out.via X” loading=”lazy” width=”960″ height=”757″ decoding=”async” data-nimg=”1″ class=”rounded-lg” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/oOOG7dAGCXe_yKb6oCK1LA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTc1NztjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_warzone_735/1d8a0bc046adedc74ee12a9ee558cdee”>The full-size, unedited version of the image of the low-observable, flying-wing aircraft. via XAt this point, it’s worth remembering that the emergence of this image was very possibly approved, tacitly or otherwise, by the Chinese government, and it may also have been manipulated at some point, potentially also for information warfare purposes.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile we can’t be sure, the aircraft seen in flight may well also be the same drone that was noted in satellite imagery parked at China’s secretive test base near Malan in Xinjiang province earlier this year. The image of the drone seen at this location, which is known to play a leading role in the country’s uncrewed aircraft development efforts, was provided to TWZ by Planet Labs archive and was taken on May 14, 2025. Based on the satellite image, the aircraft has a span of about 170 feet, which compares to 172 feet for the B-2 Spirit. Since its appearance, the drone has been dubbed WZ-X by some observers, pending any more details about its true designation or its manufacturer.PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION” loading=”lazy” width=”960″ height=”539″ decoding=”async” data-nimg=”1″ class=”rounded-lg” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/k.Mup1U3uNkr4sqV54niUA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTUzOTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_warzone_735/c34ca8c7fe87002d88e6714c95def56b”>The very large flying-wing design seen at China’s secretive test base near Malan in Xinjiang province in a satellite image taken on May 14, 2025. PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSIONBoth the aircraft in the new image and that seen in satellite imagery at Malan feature a very long tapering wing, longer than that found on China’s CH-7 stealthy flying-wing drone, which also features a notably deeper, curved center section than that seen in the new image. The CH-7 is significantly smaller than the WZ-X, as well. At the same time, the design of the CH-7 has already been altered in the past, and the aircraft seen here might conceivably be a further development of this platform.via Chinese internet” loading=”lazy” width=”960″ height=”540″ decoding=”async” data-nimg=”1″ class=”rounded-lg” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/BfeQtHS1GHBIIQUK8abvQA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_warzone_735/2d7bba0f8d3474b384dfb5b67f82393e”>CH-7 stealthy flying-wing drone. via Chinese internetvia Chinese internet” loading=”lazy” width=”960″ height=”538″ decoding=”async” data-nimg=”1″ class=”rounded-lg” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/e_sSRW8XyMKoPYRXPIrRmA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTUzODtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_warzone_735/35e8934df1c8d6831fc2834ea29f8237″>The apparent CH-7 prototype on the runway. via Chinese internetThere are two possible features of the WZ-X that cannot be made out in the new image. The first of these is an apparent domed section on top of the center barrel. In contrast, the aircraft in the new image is noticeably flat on its upper surfaces.There is also the suggestion that the Malan drone could possibly have a small set of angled vertical tails, which would help with stability, as you can read about here. While the presence of retractable fins cannot be ruled out in the new image, it’s also worth pointing out that the presence of shadows and possible distortion on the satellite image means that we can’t make definitive conclusions about its physical details.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBoth the aircraft in the new image and the WZ-X also have a general similarity to the flying-wing aircraft that was spotted passing over the Philippines in 2021.Regardless of the connection between these generally mysterious aircraft, the aircraft in the new image would appear to fall into a similar category as the WZ-X in terms of overall physical characteristics and size, although the second point is harder to determine. At the very least, a comparison of the size of the landing gear and the rest of the aircraft suggests a very large aircraft. China is currently working on a range of flying-wing type drone designs of various sizes, including large HALE drones. At least until now, the WZ-X was the largest Chinese design we have seen in this category.Judging by what we can see of it, the aircraft appears likely to be a very large, high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) stealth drone. This may well put it in a category similar to the supposed U.S. RQ-180. The long wing would also seem to point to a design that’s been optimized for endurance at altitude.Hangar B Productions” loading=”lazy” width=”960″ height=”541″ decoding=”async” data-nimg=”1″ class=”rounded-lg” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/PNjYzaZc1.Q3JjiJzry8_w–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_warzone_735/491d3c5facd30e08f55148f4344e0dfb”>Our notional illustration of what the RQ-180 could look like, based on publicly disclosed information about very similar concepts from Northrop Grumman that seem to have predated the program. Hangar B ProductionsAs stated previously, the center section of the aircraft may not be noticeably deep, but it is broad, pointing to significant internal volume for sensors. Most likely, its mission would be very long endurance penetrating wide-area reconnaissance, with strike being far less likely for an aircraft in this class. Bearing in mind the probable long-range missions expected of it, the center section likely also accommodates beyond-line-of-sight communications systems.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt is also intriguing that the image has appeared at this point. In recent weeks, there has been a flurry of imagery leaked from China showing new crewed aircraft and drones, land systems, missiles, and naval weapons. Much of this is related to the huge upcoming military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in World War II, scheduled to take place in Beijing on September 3. Google Earth” loading=”lazy” width=”960″ height=”393″ decoding=”async” data-nimg=”1″ class=”rounded-lg” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/rebPAoMU10XFOnkqTQoYag–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTM5MztjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_warzone_735/7d627c03766b5f8176d780f3a567a6b5″>Different CCA-like drones set to be shown at the parade on September 3 are seen in a satellite image from Google Earth taken in June. Google EarthWhether the flying-wing aircraft is expected to take part in the parade in some form is unclear, but it’s certain that the emergence of the image is unlikely to be an accident. In the past, imagery of this kind has often been taken of new aircraft operating from a factory airfield. That might be more likely than it being photographed overhead Malan, which is a remote and secretive test facility. However, until more imagery emerges, we won’t know for sure.PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION” loading=”lazy” width=”960″ height=”565″ decoding=”async” data-nimg=”1″ class=”rounded-lg” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mUWi9ny0usjRmAwNcPCmEQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU2NTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_warzone_735/00c36043180459dd4ee4c16dbd4da186″>Another view of the so-called WZ-X at Malan. PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSIONOnce again, it will be some time before we can conclusively determine the relationship between this aircraft and the WZ-X, although there are certainly strong similarities between them.Meanwhile, it’s now increasingly clear that China is looking to field large, stealthy flying-wing aircraft designs as part of its future air combat ecosystem. As well as drones of this class in various sizes, other key projects include the tri-engined J-36, the J-XDS fighter, and possibly other crewed tactical jets. Then there is a host of smaller drones, including a growing fleet of ‘loyal wingman’-type collaborative drones. Perhaps most enigmatic of all is the H-20 stealth bomber, which is yet to break cover, and which is also expected to use a flying-wing design.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs regards the H-20, the size of the center fuselage and other features suggest this aircraft is something different. While the size and form of the H-20 remain elusive, any large flying-wing HALE drone could also influence the development of the bomber, if it’s not flying already.Once again, the appearance of the new image of the aircraft underscores China’s rapidly accelerating next-generation air combat programs, which now include potentially several designs for very large, low-observable, flying-wing, long-endurance aircraft.Contact the author: [email protected]

(Reuters) -Israel’s military has taken the first steps of a planned operation to take over Gaza City, Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said on Wednesday.Following a clash with Hamas south of Khan Younis in the strip on Wednesday, he said: “We will deepen the attack on Hamas in Gaza City, a stronghold of governmental and military terror for the terrorist organization.”Defrin said troops had already begun circling the outskirts of Gaza City and Hamas was now a “battered and bruised” guerrilla force.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”We have begun the preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack on Gaza City, and already now IDF forces are holding the outskirts of Gaza City,” he said.Israel’s military called up tens of thousands of reservists on Wednesday in preparation for the expected assault on Gaza City, as the Israeli government considered a new proposal for a ceasefire after nearly two years of war.The call-up signals Israel is pressing ahead with its plan to seize Gaza’s biggest urban centre despite international criticism of an operation likely to force the displacement of many more Palestinians.But a military official briefing reporters said reserve soldiers would not report for duty until September, an interval that gives mediators some time to bridge gaps between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel over truce terms.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIsraeli troops clashed on Wednesday with more than 15 Hamas militants who emerged from tunnel shafts and attacked with gunfire and anti-tank missiles near Khan Younis, south of Gaza City, severely wounding one soldier and lightly wounding two others, an Israeli military official said.In a statement, Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed carrying out a raid on Israeli troops southeast of Khan Younis and engaging Israeli troops at point-blank range. It said one fighter blew himself up among the soldiers, causing casualties, during an attack that lasted several hours.(Reporting by Howard GollerEditing by Gareth Jones and Philippa Fletcher)

Texas cannot require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, a judge said Wednesday in a temporary ruling against the state’s new requirement, making it the third such state law to be blocked by a court.A group of Dallas-area families and faith leaders sought a preliminary injunction against the law, which goes into effect on Sept. 1. They say the requirement violates the First Amendment’s protections for the separation of church and state and the right to free religious exercise.Texas is the largest state to attempt such a requirement, and U.S. District Judge Fred Biery’s ruling from San Antonio is the latest in a widening legal fight that’s expected to eventually go before the U.S. Supreme Court.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Even though the Ten Commandments would not be affirmatively taught, the captive audience of students likely would have questions, which teachers would feel compelled to answer. That is what they do,” Biery wrote in the 55-page ruling that began with quoting the First Amendment and ended with “Amen.”The lawsuit names the Texas Education Agency, state education Commissioner Mike Morath and three Dallas-area school districts as defendants.A federal appeals court has blocked a similar law in Louisiana, and a judge in Arkansas told four districts they cannot put up the posters, although other districts in the state said they’re not putting them up either.Although Friday’s ruling marked a major win for civil liberties groups who say the law violates the separation of church and state, the legal battle is likely far from over.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementReligious groups and conservatives say the Ten Commandments are part of the foundation of the United States’ judicial and educational systems and should be displayed. Texas has a Ten Commandments monument on the Capitol grounds and won a 2005 Supreme Court case that upheld the monument.In Louisiana — the first state that mandated the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms — a panel of three appellate judges in June ruled that the law was unconstitutional.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump has bought more than $100 million in company, state and municipal bonds since taking office in January, according to new disclosures which shed further light on the vast holdings of America’s billionaire president.The forms, posted online on Tuesday, show the Republican former real estate mogul made more than 600 financial purchases since January 21, the day after he was inaugurated for his second term in the White House.The August 12 filing from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics does not list exact amounts for each purchase, only giving a broad range.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThey include corporate bonds from Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo, as well as Meta, Qualcomm, The Home Depot, T-Mobile USA and UnitedHealth Group.Other debt purchases include various bonds issued by cities, states, counties and school districts as well as gas districts, and other issuers.The holdings cover sectors that could benefit from U.S. policy shifts under his administration, such as financial deregulation.The White House on Wednesday did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Trump, a businessman-turned-politician, has said he has put his companies into a trust managed by his children.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHis annual disclosure form filed in June showed his income from various sources still ultimately accrues to the president – something that has opened him up to accusations of conflicts of interest.In that disclosure, which appeared to cover the 2024 calendar year, Trump reported more than $600 million in income from cryptocurrencies, golf properties, licensing and other ventures. It also showed the president’s push into crypto had added substantially to his wealth.Overall, the president reported assets worth at least $1.6 billion, according to a Reuters calculation at the time.(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Sharon Singleton and David Gregorio)