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JetBlue Jet Nearly Knocked From Sky by Radiation From Exploding Star
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JetBlue Jet Nearly Knocked From Sky by Radiation From Exploding Star

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A JetBlue flight traveling from Cancun to Newark on Oct. 30 experienced a sudden and severe drop of several thousand feet, injuring multiple passengers and forcing an emergency landing, as reported by The New York Post.

Space analysts now say the incident was most likely caused by cosmic rays originating from a star that exploded in another galaxy.

The Airbus A320 abruptly plunged during the flight, a drop that sent 15 people to the hospital and left roughly 20 passengers with serious injuries, including head wounds.

Pilots regained control of the aircraft and diverted to Tampa, Florida, where the plane landed safely.

Initial statements from Airbus pointed to “intense solar radiation” interfering with the aircraft’s navigation computer.

The plane involved was about 20 years old, and the manufacturer indicated solar activity may have disrupted its systems.

However, according to Clive Dyer, a space and radiation specialist at the University of Surrey, the solar radiation recorded at the time was not strong enough to have caused the failure.

Speaking to space.com, Dyer said the more likely explanation is that the plane was hit by cosmic rays from a distant supernova.

“Cosmic rays can interact with modern microelectronics and change the state of a circuit,” Dyer said.

“They can cause a simple bit flip, like a zero to one or one to zero. They can mess up information and make things go wrong. But they can cause hardware failures too, when they induce a current in an electronic device and burn it out.”

Cosmic rays originate from massive stars that explode in supernovas, sending high-energy particles across the universe at the speed of light.

When these particles eventually reach Earth, they can strike electronics inside aircraft sensors or onboard computers, triggering malfunctions such as the one that caused the sudden plunge.

An airplane comes in for a landing at Teterboro Airport on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

Dyer has spent decades studying how solar and cosmic radiation affects aviation and satellite equipment.

He noted that while the sun can produce radiation spikes capable of disrupting systems, conditions on the day of the JetBlue incident did not match the levels required to cause such a malfunction.

The National Transportation Safety Board continues to examine the incident, though investigators have not publicly identified a definitive cause.

The event has renewed attention on the vulnerability of commercial aircraft electronics to rare but powerful cosmic phenomena.

Mass Elementary School Teacher Arrested After ‘Thrusting’ with Student on Lap
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Mass Elementary School Teacher Arrested After ‘Thrusting’ with Student on Lap

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Two brothers employed as educators at Boylston Elementary School in Massachusetts have been arrested and charged with indecent assault on children following allegations supported by surveillance footage.

Benjamin Dillman, 26, a fifth-grade teacher, and Peter Dillman, 24, a paraprofessional at the same school, face multiple counts related to inappropriate physical contact with students, according to the Telegram & Gazette.

Neither brother has a prior criminal record.

The investigation began on November 25 when the Boylston Police Department received a report from another staff member at the Boylston-Berlin Regional School District alleging inappropriate interactions with children during an after-school program.

The Boston Globe reported that investigators reviewed closed-circuit television footage from the school playground, dated November 21, where the program takes place.

The footage, which the brothers were not officially involved with, allegedly captured multiple instances of improper conduct.

Court documents reviewed by the Telegram & Gazette detail specific allegations.

Benjamin is accused of allowing a girl to sit on his lap, lying back as she straddled him, and making a “subtle, thrusting ‘humping’ motion” while she was on top of him.

He also allegedly picked up and embraced a girl with “an intimate style hug,” wrapping his arms around her body.

A separate incident, reported by a staff member but not captured on video, claims Benjamin gave an underage boy a two-minute massage from behind without consent.

Peter faces allegations of embracing a girl on numerous occasions, rubbing his private area on her abdomen, and placing his pubic area on the behind of a female juvenile victim while holding her hips, according to Boston 25 News.

People magazine cited charging documents stating Peter also allowed a girl to place her hands on “his hip/upper beltline pubic area” and was seen “intentionally touching and allowing the touching by numerous juveniles” on video.

Neither brother had permission to be on-site or supervise students during the after-school program.

Benjamin faces four counts of indecent assault and battery of a child under 14, plus one count of assault and battery.

Peter was arraigned on two counts of indecent assault and battery of a child under 14.

Both were arrested on November 28 and pleaded not guilty.

They were released on $3,000 cash bail and $30,000 surety bail, with conditions including staying away from alleged victims and witnesses at the school and having no unsupervised contact with minors.

Their next court appearance is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on February 9, 2026.

Interim Superintendent Albert G. Ganem Jr. of the Boylston Regional School District addressed the situation in a statement to parents, cited by WCVB.

“I can assure you that upon becoming aware of the situation, I immediately invoked the support of governmental agencies and involved local law enforcement authorities.”

The investigation remains active as authorities continue to review evidence.

Details about the victims’ identities have been withheld to protect their privacy.

DEI Collapse Continues: AT&T Joins Verizon and T-Mobile in Ending Programs
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DEI Collapse Continues: AT&T Joins Verizon and T-Mobile in Ending Programs

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AT&T announced this week that it is ending all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the company, joining a growing list of major corporations that have rolled back or eliminated DEI initiatives.

The move comes as the Trump administration continues its nationwide effort to remove DEI policies from both federal agencies and the private sector.

The telecommunications company, which employs approximately 100,000 people in the United States, informed Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr of the change in a formal letter on Monday.

AT&T said the decision was prompted by recent legal developments affecting corporate DEI programs.

“AT&T has always stood for merit-based opportunity, and we are pleased to reaffirm our commitment to equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination today,” wrote David McAtee, senior executive vice president and general counsel at AT&T.

“Consistent with applicable law, our multi-pronged approach allows employees to thrive in an environment free from invidious discrimination.”

According to reporting from the New York Post, AT&T’s previous DEI training materials included language describing racism as a “uniquely white trait” and instructed white employees that they “are the problem,” citing details published by Christopher Rufo of City Journal.

AT&T’s announcement follows similar decisions by multiple large companies.

Amazon, Meta, Lowe’s, and McDonald’s have all scaled back or ended their DEI programs in recent months.

Verizon Communications and T-Mobile, the other two major U.S. wireless carriers, have also dismantled their DEI initiatives.

President Donald Trump shut down DEI offices across the federal government during his first week in office, and Carr has publicly stated that he intends to use all regulatory tools available to eliminate DEI requirements from companies overseen by the FCC.

AT&T is currently seeking federal approval for a $1.02 billion agreement made in November 2024 to purchase wireless spectrum licenses from U.S. Cellular.

The FCC is responsible for reviewing and approving the transaction.

On Tuesday, Carr wrote on X that AT&T had “memorialized its commitment to ending DEI-related policies,” following the company’s letter to the commission.

In the filing, AT&T said it would no longer maintain any positions dedicated to DEI functions.

“It is AT&T’s longstanding practice to pay and advance individuals based on merit and qualification,” the company stated.

McAtee added that AT&T “will not use hiring quotas based on race, sex or sexual orientation,” and confirmed that all DEI training programs have been removed.

The company did not provide a timeline for completing the removal of existing DEI structures but said the shift aligns with its broader commitment to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity under federal law.

Tom Homan Obliterates Heckler at TPUSA Event After Being Called ‘Racist’
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Tom Homan Obliterates Heckler at TPUSA Event After Being Called ‘Racist’

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White House border czar Tom Homan confronted a protester Thursday during a Turning Point USA event at the University of Texas at El Paso after the individual repeatedly shouted accusations while Homan spoke about immigration enforcement, as reported by Fox News.

Homan was addressing the audience when an attendee called him a “racist” and “traitor.” Homan immediately responded, telling the individual, “Call me what you want, I don’t care.”

Jul 17, 2024; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Thomas Homan, Former Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, speaks during the third day of the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum. The third day of the RNC focused on foreign policy and threats. Mandatory Credit: Jasper Colt-USA TODAY

He then challenged the protester directly, saying:

“Why don’t you grow a backbone, put a Kevlar vest and a gun on your hip and go secure this border?”

Later in the event, while Homan was taking questions, a man who appeared to be the same protester linked Homan’s prior public statements to Patrick Crusius, the gunman responsible for the 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso.

The protester claimed that Crusius was “inspired” by Homan and that “the Great Replacement is now a mainstream conservative narrative.”

The protester alleged, “Patrick Crusius, your everyday conservative, drove hundreds of miles to our city based on your belief that Hispanics are replacing the white race of white people and we need a scare to deter Hispanics from coming into the country,” and further argued that the belief has been “fully integrated into mainstream media.”

Homan responded by clarifying his own remarks about border policy. “To be honest, what I said was the open border was an action, was a mess, and it was by design,” he said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Border Czar Tom Homan, on right, during an immigration panel at New College of Florida on Wednesday, March 20, 2025.

Homan has previously argued that the Biden administration deliberately kept the southern border unsecured to build a long-term Democratic voting bloc, though he acknowledged in congressional testimony that he does not have evidence to support this allegation.

Crusius, who left his grandparents’ home in Allen, Texas, and drove roughly 650 miles to El Paso before the attack, was sentenced earlier this year to life without parole after pleading guilty to state charges.

He also pleaded guilty in 2023 to 90 federal murder and hate crime charges and received 90 consecutive life sentences.

His manifesto contained white nationalist themes and referenced the Great Replacement Theory as part of his motivation for the shooting.

The exchange at the TPUSA event drew significant attention from the audience, with Homan continuing his speech after the confrontation.

Schumer Pushes Obamacare Subsidy Extension Despite Strong GOP Resistance Ahead Vote
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Schumer Pushes Obamacare Subsidy Extension Despite Strong GOP Resistance Ahead Vote

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Senate Democrats released their plan Thursday to keep Obamacare subsidies from expiring at the end of the year, but the proposal faces significant resistance in the Republican-controlled Senate, as reported by Fox News.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York announced that Democrats will move forward with legislation that would extend the current subsidies for three years without any changes.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a press conference announcing that the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse Tech Hub is one of 12 winners of federal grant money that will be used to create a regional semiconductor center Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at Monroe Community College in Rochester.

“I’m announcing that Senate Democrats will introduce legislation for a clean, three-year extension of the current [Obamacare] tax credits,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.

“This is the bill, a clean, three-year extension of [Obamacare] tax credits that Democrats will bring to the floor of the Senate for a vote next Thursday. And every single Democrat will support it.”

Democrats’ strategy mirrors an option already outlined by House Democrats.

The Senate is expected to vote by Dec. 11, a timeline set by Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, who previously guaranteed Democrats the opportunity to present a proposal of their choosing. Senate Republicans, however, have pushed for a bipartisan agreement that includes reforms, but no such plan has emerged.

Republicans have insisted that any extension must include policy changes such as income caps and provisions ensuring taxpayer dollars are not used to fund abortions.

While Democrats have said they are willing to consider some reforms, Schumer’s announcement signaled a preference among Senate Democrats for a clean renewal of the subsidies.

Schumer’s new proposal goes further than what Senate Democrats put forward while the government was still shut down last month.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks about President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget director nominee, Russell Vought, arguing he will use the position to implement Project 2025 if confirmed, in Washington on Jan. 23, 2025.

During that period, Democrats floated a one-year extension, a plan rejected by Republicans, who argued that healthcare discussions would only take place after the government reopened.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming sharply criticized the latest plan, pointing to the length of the shutdown and Democrats’ shift in strategy.

He said Democrats had “finally, after all this time, decided what they want,” but predicted the offer would not attract enough Republican votes.

“It is a complete failure, and the best they can do is say three-year extension,” Barrasso said.

“It’s not really a credible offer at all. That’s what the Democrats are talking about. I don’t, I cannot in any way, imagine supporting such a thing, because it just highlights the fact that they don’t have a solution for the problem they’ve created with the failure of Obamacare.”

President Donald Trump has also indicated he is not open to a simple extension of the subsidies, adding another obstacle for Democrats. At the same time, Republicans have not yet unified around an alternative.

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, have been developing a Republican plan that would likely direct the subsidy funds into Health Savings Accounts rather than sending payments directly to insurance companies.

They presented concepts during a closed-door GOP meeting on Tuesday, but no consensus was reached.

Schumer argued that Democrats’ proposal represents the final chance to prevent subsidy expirations and limit premium increases. “If Republicans block our bill, there’s no going back,” he said.

“We won’t get another chance to halt these premium spikes before they kick in at the start of the New Year. Those insurance premiums in January will land like a hammer blow on the American people.”

Nancy Mace Proposes Photo ID Requirement for SNAP EBT Cards to Reduce Fraud
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Nancy Mace Proposes Photo ID Requirement for SNAP EBT Cards to Reduce Fraud

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Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation aimed at curbing misuse of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by requiring photo identification on SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, as reported by Fox News.

The proposal seeks to tighten verification procedures and limit the ability of ineligible individuals to access federally funded food assistance.

Danville – June 2, 2023: SNAP and EBT Accepted here sign. SNAP and Food Stamps provide nutrition benefits to supplement disadvantaged families.

According to a press release, Mace said, “Taxpayers have had enough of watching their hard-earned dollars abused by people with no legal right to these benefits.”

She added that the plan is designed to ensure the intended recipients are the ones using the cards.

“This isn’t complicated, if you’re eligible for SNAP, your photo goes on the card and you’re the only one who uses it. Not fraudsters, not criminals, not someone borrowing a card they have no right to use. This is basic common sense, fairness, and protecting taxpayers and the American families who truly need food assistance.”

Congress.gov indicates that Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Barry Moore of Alabama are listed as original cosponsors of the measure.

The bill mandates that each EBT card issued to a household or individual include “a photographic image taken within the previous ten years, or in the case of a minor taken within the previous five years, of the authorized cardholder to whom the card is issued.”

The requirement is intended to assist retailers in verifying that the person attempting to use the card is the one lawfully entitled to the benefits.

Jul 17, 2024; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. speaks during the third day of the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum. The third day of the RNC focused on foreign policy and threats. Mandatory Credit: Jasper Colt-USA TODAY

A separate section of the legislation requires participating retail food stores and wholesale food concerns to inspect the photograph on the card before completing a transaction.

The text states that stores “shall demand to see, and shall inspect, the photograph located on an Electronic Benefit Transfer card for every customer using an Electronic Benefit Transfer card to ensure the purchaser is entitled to utilize or redeem benefits under this chapter.”

The bill also includes provisions for situations in which a caregiver must access benefits on behalf of the recipient.

“The Secretary shall establish procedures for reasonable accommodations to allow caregivers of a minor, individual with disabilities, or an elderly individual to access benefits on behalf of a recipient in their care,” the measure notes.

Mace, who has served in the House of Representatives since 2021, is currently running for governor of South Carolina as she pushes forward with efforts she describes as focused on preventing fraud and ensuring funds reach eligible families.

Another Subway Horror: Man Torched at Penn Station, Suspect on the Loose
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Another Subway Horror: Man Torched at Penn Station, Suspect on the Loose

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A homeless man suffered serious burn injuries early Monday after being set on fire aboard a subway train at Penn Station in Midtown, according to the New York City Police Department.

Police said the incident occurred at approximately 3 a.m. on a northbound 3 train.

The victim was asleep when a suspect entered the subway car as it arrived at the 34th Street–Penn Station stop.

According to investigators, the suspect walked into the car, lit the victim’s pants on fire, and then exited the train before fleeing the station.

Officers at the scene extinguished the flames using water.

Emergency personnel transported the victim to New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he was treated for burn injuries to his legs.

Officials described the burns as significant but not life-threatening.

Authorities are working to determine how the fire was ignited.

Police said the victim has provided conflicting accounts of the incident and has not fully cooperated with investigators, according to information reported by the New York Daily News.

It is not yet confirmed whether the suspect had been riding the same train prior to the incident.

The NYPD released a description of the suspect, who was last seen wearing a gray jacket, black hat, and black pants.

He was described as having darker skin.

Law enforcement officials are asking anyone with information to contact police or submit tips through the Crime Stoppers program.

The incident adds to a series of violent episodes involving fire on public transit systems in major cities.

In 2023, a 57-year-old homeless woman in Brooklyn died after being set on fire.

A 33-year-old suspect in that case pleaded not guilty in January to charges of murder and arson.

Last month, authorities in Chicago reported a similar attack in which a woman was set on fire aboard a train.

Police there said the suspect had a lengthy criminal history, with more than 70 prior arrests over a span of three decades.

As of Monday, the NYPD had not released additional details regarding a possible motive or the current status of the search for the suspect in the Penn Station case.

Ilhan Omar Whines on MS NOW Because Trump Insulted Her ‘Sh*thole Country’
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Ilhan Omar Whines on MS NOW Because Trump Insulted Her ‘Sh*thole Country’

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President Trump sharply criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar and the Somali migrant community during remarks on Tuesday, following new developments in a federal investigation into what officials describe as a $1 billion fraud scheme operating largely through the Somali community in Minnesota.

The GOP-led House Oversight Committee is currently examining the alleged scheme, which took place during Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s tenure.

Reacting to the reported findings, President Trump said he does not want Somali migrants entering the United States.

“I don’t want them in our country. I’ll be honest with you, okay. Somebody will say, ‘Oh, that’s not politically correct.’ I don’t care. I don’t want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks, and we don’t want them in our country,” Trump said.

The President also criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar directly while discussing the broader Somali community.

“We keep taking in garbage to our country. Ilhan Omar is garbage. Her friends are garbage. These people come from hell, complain, and do nothing but bitch,” Trump said.

He continued, “You know, if they came from paradise, and they said, ‘This isn’t paradise,’ but when they come from hell and they complain and do nothing but bitch, we don’t want them in our country. Let them go back to where they came from and fix it.”

Rep. Omar responded during an appearance on MS NOW, rejecting Trump’s remarks and labeling them racist and Islamophobic.

“He’s always been racist, bigot, xenophobic, and Islamophobic. He called African nations ‘shithole,’” Omar said.

“He said he was going to stop Muslim immigration into this country.”

Omar said Trump’s comments fit a pattern of targeting specific communities.

“It’s not surprising he’s going after black immigrants, and it’s not surprising he’s choosing a black immigrant community that’s Muslim…” she said.

The Minnesota congresswoman also stated that Somali immigrants in the United States would not be intimidated by the President’s remarks.

“We are going to be here regardless of what the president has to say!” Omar said.

The Oversight Committee’s investigation remains ongoing.

Federal authorities have not yet released additional details beyond the acknowledgment that the case involves an extensive fraud network with alleged ties to individuals within Minnesota’s Somali community.

As of Tuesday, no new charges connected to the probe had been announced.

Los Angeles Democrats Vote to Help Bad Actors Be Able to Dox Federal Agents
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Los Angeles Democrats Vote to Help Bad Actors Be Able to Dox Federal Agents

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The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to advance an ordinance that would prohibit federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks while conducting operations in the county.

The board, controlled by Democrats, voted 4–0 in favor of the measure, with the lone Republican member abstaining.

A second vote is scheduled for December 9. If approved, the requirement would take effect 30 days later and mandate that officers display visible identification and agency affiliation.

The proposal immediately prompted pushback from federal officials.

Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, issued a statement rejecting the county’s authority to impose requirements on federal personnel.

“Let me be very clear: the county has no jurisdiction over federal agents, and we will not comply with any state or local laws restricting federal law enforcement,” Essayli said in a post on social media.

Essayli said federal officers in Los Angeles have faced increased threats.

“Our agents are under unprecedented assault in Los Angeles, largely due to reckless narratives and rhetoric advanced by the media and local politicians,” he said.

“We will not expose our brave men and women to personal attacks by allowing agitators to dox them and their families through facial recognition tools.”

Supporters of the ordinance, including Supervisor Janice Hahn, argued that the measure is necessary to ensure transparency in local communities.

Hahn criticized ICE in particular, saying its operations have generated significant concern among residents.

“This is how authoritarian secret police behaves — not legitimate law enforcement in a democracy,” Hahn said after the vote.

“ICE agents are violating our residents’ rights every day they are on our streets. These agents hide their faces. They refuse to wear badges. They pull people into unmarked vans at gunpoint and wonder why people resist arrest. We are declaring in no uncertain terms that in L.A. County, police do not hide their faces. That is our expectation, and this ordinance will now make it our law.”

Federal officials did not indicate whether operational procedures would be adjusted in response to the county’s action.

The Justice Department has maintained that state and local governments do not have the authority to set conditions for federal law enforcement activity.

The upcoming second vote on December 9 will determine whether the ordinance becomes law.

Hahn said the board expects the Trump administration to challenge the measure in court if it passes and stated that the county is prepared for litigation.

As of Tuesday, no additional comments from federal agencies had been released regarding potential legal steps or changes to enforcement operations in the region.

Democrats Drop ‘New’ Epstein Island Photos and Video, People Have Questions
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Democrats Drop ‘New’ Epstein Island Photos and Video, People Have Questions

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Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday released a collection of previously unseen photos and videos taken on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, describing the material as part of their ongoing investigation into Epstein’s criminal network and associates.

The images were made available through a public link and accompanied by a statement from committee Democrats.

“These new images are a disturbing look into the world of Jeffrey Epstein and his island. We are releasing these photos and videos to ensure public transparency in our investigation and to help piece together the full picture of Epstein’s horrific crimes,” the statement said.

Committee Democrats added, “We won’t stop fighting until we deliver justice for the survivors.”

A Republican member of the Oversight Committee criticized the release, saying it represented another instance of selective disclosure by the minority.

“It is odd that Democrats are once again releasing selective information, as they have done before. The last time Democrats cherry-picked and doctored documents, their attempt to construct yet another hoax against President Trump completely collapsed,” the lawmaker told Axios.

According to a spokesperson for the committee, the released material was part of a larger collection of approximately 5,000 documents obtained in response to subpoenas issued by Oversight Chairman Jim Comer.

The subpoenas were directed to JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank, and a separate request was sent to the U.S. Virgin Islands for related records.

Among the images included in the release was a photograph of a large sitting room containing a chalkboard with partial redactions.

The release marks the latest development in congressional efforts to examine Epstein’s activities, his financial relationships, and the individuals who visited or conducted business with him prior to his death in federal custody.

The publication of the photos and videos follows earlier public interest in off-site imagery, including drone footage captured over Epstein’s island shortly after his death in 2019.

As of Wednesday, the committee had not announced when additional documents from the 5,000-record collection might be made public, nor had Democrats indicated whether further disclosures were planned.

Republicans continue to call for the complete, unredacted release of all subpoenaed documents.


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