Month: January 2026

One person was critically wounded Tuesday morning in a shooting involving U.S. Border Patrol agents in southern Arizona, prompting a multi-agency investigation led by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD).

The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. near milepost 15 on West Arivaca Road, close to the U.S.-Mexico border and about 10 miles from the community of Arivaca — an area frequently patrolled because of migrant crossings and smuggling activity. Emergency crews from the Santa Rita Fire District and American Medical Response treated the injured individual at the scene before transferring them by medical helicopter to a regional trauma center. The person’s identity and current condition have not been released.

According to the FBI, the shooting stemmed from “an alleged assault on a federal officer,” and the individual involved was taken into custody. The sheriff’s department is overseeing the use-of-force investigation at the FBI’s request, which is standard protocol when a federal agent is involved in a shooting within Pima County. The Santa Rita Fire District said: “Patient care was transferred to a local medical helicopter for rapid transport to a regional trauma center. The incident remains under active investigation by law enforcement agencies.”

The PCSD said in a statement: “We ask the community to remain patient and understanding as this investigation moves forward. PCSD will thoroughly examine all aspects of the incident, however, these investigations are complex and require time.”

Officials have not confirmed whether any law enforcement personnel were injured, and no additional details about the suspect or circumstances leading up to the shooting have been released.

The shooting adds to heightened scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement after a series of recent officer-involved shootings across the country, including two fatal incidents in Minnesota that sparked protests and political backlash. In response, House Democratic leaders accused the Trump administration of misusing federal authority and threatened impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem if she is not removed. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Noem would not step down and confirmed that border czar Tom Homan was meeting with Minnesota officials.

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South Carolina is now facing the largest measles outbreak in the United States since the disease was declared eliminated more than 20 years ago, with confirmed cases climbing to 789, surpassing the major Texas outbreak of 2025 that sickened 762 people and claimed the lives of two young children.

State health officials reported that 89 new infections were confirmed in just a few days, signaling that transmission remains widespread. The outbreak, which began in October, is heavily concentrated in Spartanburg County, where most patients are either unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status. To limit further spread, 557 people are currently under a 21-day quarantine, and students from more than 20 schools have been sent home due to potential exposure.

Children and teenagers account for the vast majority of infections, with over 88% of cases occurring in those under 17. So far, 18 people, including children, have been hospitalized, though no deaths have been reported in South Carolina. Health authorities say only 20 patients were fully vaccinated, while more than 690 had no protection at all, underscoring how quickly measles can spread in communities with low vaccination rates.

The outbreak’s impact is no longer limited to South Carolina. Linked cases have surfaced in North Carolina, California, and Washington, and additional probable cases have been reported elsewhere. In North Carolina alone, 14 cases have been confirmed, many connected directly to the South Carolina surge. More than 170 people in Union County were quarantined following exposure at a private school where vaccination coverage sits just above 60%.

The rapid spread has pushed the United States dangerously close to losing its measles elimination status, a milestone achieved in 2000 after years of aggressive vaccination efforts. Federal health officials warn that if the virus continues circulating from a single source for more than a year, the designation could be revoked as early as this fall.

Nationwide, 2025 marked the worst year for measles since 1991, with 2,255 confirmed cases. So far in 2026, at least 416 infections have already been recorded across 14 states, even before including South Carolina’s most recent numbers. Another growing outbreak is also underway along the Arizona–Utah border.

Federal health officials say they are stepping up support, with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approving $1.4 million in emergency funding to help South Carolina manage the crisis. The CDC is also working closely with state health departments to track transmission and contain further spread.

Public health leaders stress that vaccination remains the most effective tool to halt the outbreak and prevent measles from regaining a permanent foothold in the U.S. Without significant improvements in immunization rates, they warn, similar outbreaks could continue to emerge nationwide.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz sharply criticized the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, accusing federal officials of spreading misinformation and escalating unrest across the state. The op-ed, published Monday, came as Walz and President Donald Trump held a phone call aimed at easing tensions following two fatal shootings involving federal agents in Minneapolis.

Sharing the article on X, Walz said he had spoken directly with Trump and raised concerns that the president’s advisers had mischaracterized Minnesota’s cooperation on immigration enforcement. He described the conversation as constructive, writing, “I spoke to the President earlier. We had a productive conversation and I explained to him that his staff doesn’t have their facts straight about Minnesota. My thoughts in the Wall Street Journal.”

In the op-ed, Walz warned that the administration’s approach was fueling fear and disorder, claiming he had repeatedly urged Trump to calm the situation. “I fear that his hope is for the tension between ICE agents and the communities they’re ransacking to boil over — that he wants you to see more chaos on your TV screens, protests turn into riots, more people get hurt,” Walz wrote. He called on the White House to end what he described as an “unlawful, violent and chaotic campaign” and to pursue immigration policies that are “secure, accountable and humane.”

The comments followed a dramatic shift in tone between the two leaders. On Monday, Trump said Walz initiated their phone call and asked to cooperate. “It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” Trump posted on Truth Social. The statement marked a notable departure from Trump’s earlier attacks on Walz, whom he had accused of encouraging unrest after the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by a federal agent over the weekend. After their conversation, Trump said he instructed border czar Tom Homan to contact Walz and confirmed that Homan would be sent to Minnesota as federal authorities intensified efforts to target individuals they consider dangerous criminals.

Walz’s office said Trump agreed to explore scaling back the federal enforcement surge in Minnesota and to work with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure independent investigations into the shootings of Pretti and Renee Nicole Good. According to the governor’s office, Trump also pledged to coordinate more closely with state officials and consider reducing the number of federal agents operating in the region.

In his Wall Street Journal essay, Walz pushed back against claims that Minnesota has failed to cooperate with federal authorities. He wrote that the state’s Department of Corrections routinely alerts Immigration and Customs Enforcement when noncitizens enter state custody and emphasized that “there is not a single documented case” of the department releasing someone without offering to coordinate their transfer.

The federal response to Pretti’s death has drawn growing scrutiny after officials initially claimed he posed a threat — a narrative later contradicted by video. Even conservative figures questioned that account, with former Rep. Trey Gowdy stating, “We certainly should not be labeling him as a domestic terrorist who was going to execute cops.” As investigations continue, both sides now signal a tentative effort to lower tensions and prevent further escalation.

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Federal officials confirmed that seven people were killed and one crew member was critically injured after a private business jet crashed and burst into flames while taking off from Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday evening.

The crash occurred around 7:45 p.m. during harsh winter weather as a widespread storm brought snow, frigid temperatures, and low visibility to the region. The plane, a Bombardier Challenger 600 — also identified as a Challenger 650 in updated records — had arrived earlier that evening from Houston and attempted to depart less than two hours later. Air traffic control recordings indicated the jet flipped upside down on the runway before igniting, prompting an immediate airport shutdown. Weather conditions at the time of the crash were severe, with temperatures near 2 degrees and wind chills plunging below zero, accompanied by light snow and gusty winds. Bangor was under a winter storm warning when the incident occurred. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft “crashed under unknown circumstances on departure, came to rest inverted and caught fire.”

Emergency crews from the National Guard, Bangor Fire Department, and multiple surrounding communities rushed to the scene, reaching the wreckage in under a minute, officials said. Despite rapid response efforts, seven passengers were pronounced dead, while one member of the flight crew survived with serious injuries. Authorities have not released the identities of those involved.

The jet was registered under tail number N10KJ. Federal records link the aircraft to a Houston-based company that shares an address with the law firm Arnold & Itkin, though it has not been independently confirmed whether the firm owned the aircraft or if any of its employees were on board.

Bangor International Airport remains closed as investigators work to secure the scene and examine the wreckage. Airport director Jose Saavedra said operations are expected to remain suspended until at least Wednesday, stressing that officials are limiting public statements to avoid interfering with the investigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with support from the FAA. In a statement, the NTSB said its team would document the scene, inspect the aircraft, and move the wreckage to a secure facility for further analysis. The agency emphasized that it does not speculate on causes during the early stages of an investigation and asked witnesses to submit any relevant information or video evidence. Officials said a preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while a full investigation could take months.

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