A state of the American West
A roundup of continuing festival talk across Scotland and the UK. Belladrum in the Highlands has named Fatboy Slim, James and Amy Macdonald as headliners for 2027, with Reading/Leeds, Glastonbury, Download and TRNSMT still shaping up. Primavera Sound 2027 and TRNSMT remain unresolved as organisers weigh acts and schedules.
Alvaro Pulido Vargas has been arrested in a Homeland Security Task Force operation and will appear in federal court in South Florida. He faces money-laundering charges linked to Venezuelan government contracts and bribery schemes tied to CLAP food and medicine programs. The case also involves associates and a broader network moving funds through multiple countries. The investigation traces bribery, fake contracts, and illicit payments across the U.S., Antigua, the UAE, and beyond.
A Dassault Falcon 50 skidded off Runway 1L at Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, injuring none as the plane made contact with the perimeter fence. Two runways were closed for inspections and the FAA issued a ground stop, delaying hundreds of flights. The aircraft was en route to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport when the incident occurred around 11 a.m. local time.
A new documentary about Elizabeth Holmes, You Can See Everything, has opened strongly, blending true-crime tension with media ethics. Viewers are exploring Holmes’s claims, her relationship with Billy Evans, and the documentary’s approach to truth as Fielder and Oppenheim shape two connected films.
The government has announced a major crackdown on fraud in federal aid programs, indicting more than 40 defendants linked to SNAP and related schemes. Officials say millions have been siphoned from taxpayers, with actions spanning Ohio, Georgia and beyond. A rapper-turned-defendant is among those charged, alongside several retailers and storefronts that allegedly facilitated the fraud.
Catholic exorcists with large social-media followings are prompting bishops to reassess online ministry. A Denver archdiocese says Fr. Chad Ripperger will take a one-year break from public speaking to focus on his religious community, after a meeting with Archbishop Golka. The move follows related actions involving other exorcists and a broader debate on how the church engages with online platforms.
Across multiple regions, glacial ice is shrinking rapidly due to record heat and minimal snowfall in 2026, threatening water supplies, habitats and mountain hazards. Studies from Colorado to the Swiss Alps show continuing retreat, with some glaciers melting completely in places like St. Mary’s, while others persist in shaded pockets.
Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American teacher who spent years in a Russian prison, has been released following a direct appeal from President Trump. Moscow characterizes the release as a humanitarian gesture, while Washington says no swap was involved. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has thanked Putin and described the moment as a turning point in the Ukraine war dynamics.
Moderate to severe flooding is unfolding across the Four Corners region as storms bring heavy rain to Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Officials warn of dangerous river crests and widespread damage, with evacuations in Pagosa Springs and Sedona and rescues continuing along San Juan River tributaries.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman said to plead guilty to 9 counts of hate-crime offenses, 3 explosives charges in federal court for 2025 firebombing in Colorado; already in prison for murder
Randy Flores has been named the Astros’ 15th general manager, replacing Dana Brown. He is transitioning from the Cardinals, where he has spent eight seasons as an assistant GM, and will lead the managerial search and roster decisions as Houston aims to improve on a 81-81 season.