Rutgers Frat Shut Down After Deadly “Frat House Hazing” Report Uncovers History of Safety Violations

October 29, 2025

Hospital Bed — goredenkoff/Getty via Canva Pro

A Rutgers University fraternity has been permanently closed following a frat house hazing incident that left a 19-year-old student hospitalized in critical condition earlier this month. The Alpha Sigma Phi chapter was shuttered after investigators confirmed hazing occurred in the basement of the off-campus house in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on Oct. 15.

According to NJ.com, the student was electrocuted after coming into contact with a live wire and water during an initiation event. A second student was shocked while attempting to help. Responding officers discovered one of the victims unresponsive after tracing a disconnected 911 call to the fraternity home.

“Based on our investigation, hazing did occur and as a result, the fraternity made the decision to close the chapter,” said Gordy Heminger, spokesperson for Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, Inc. He added that the event involved “underground and unreported new members” and that “at some point, water became involved.” Heminger called on Rutgers to expel any students involved and urged prosecutors to pursue “the maximum penalties allowed.”

Investigators later discovered the frat house hazing occurred in a building long known for safety problems. NJ Advance Media reported that a July 2025 inspection uncovered numerous “life safety” violations, including multiple electrical hazards. Officials have since declared the property unsafe. The home, owned by the fraternity’s national arm and managed by CLVEN, was also broken into after the incident, with members reporting stolen belongings and graffiti reading “Beware” and “RIP ASIG 2025.”

Rutgers imposed a cease-and-desist order following the incident and initially placed the chapter on probation before revoking its charter entirely. As of Friday, no criminal charges had been filed, and the injured student was no longer in critical condition.

Trump Addresses Third Term Rumors

October 29, 2025

Trump Vance — (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

President Trump confirmed that he will not run for a third term amid ongoing rumors that the Constitution could be amended to allow for such a shift.

“If you read it, it’s pretty clear! I’m not allowed to run,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, referring to the U.S. Constitution. “It’s too bad!”

“But we have a lot of great people,” he stated.

Earlier this week, the president shut down rumors that he could run as a vice presidential candidate in 2028, instead telling reporters that the Republican Party has “great” candidates.

President Trump said, “I wouldn’t do that. I think it’s too cute. Yeah, I would rule that out because it’s too cute. I think the people wouldn’t like that. It’s too cute. It’s not – it wouldn’t be right.”

“I don’t have to get into that, but we have one of them standing right here,” Trump added, referring to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “We have JD, obviously. The Vice President is great. Marco is great, I think. I’m not sure if anybody would run against those.”

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance told the New York Post’s “Pod Force One with Miranda Devine” that discussions of a possible Vance-Rubio ticket “feels so premature because we’re still so early.”

“And what I always say to people is, if we take care of business, the politics will take care of itself,” he stated. “And we’re nine months into this thing. We’ve done a lot of good.”

“Again, we’ve chipped away at that problem, but there’s a lot more work to do there,” Vance noted, going on to explain that his “attitude is, the American people elected me to be vice president. I’m going to work as hard as I can to make the president successful over the next three years and three months.”

Bank Scams Drain Victims’ Life Savings in Seconds, Across the U.S.

October 29, 2025

Computer-hacker-or-Cyber-attack-concept-WeerasaksaekuGetty — Computer hacker or Cyber attack concept (Weerasaksaeku/Getty)

A growing wave of bank scam operations using phone number–spoofing technology is devastating Americans nationwide, draining life savings within minutes while banks and law enforcement struggle to respond. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that imposter fraud — where scammers pose as trusted institutions — is now the No. 1 consumer complaint of 2025, with over 516,000 cases and nearly $1.7 million in reported losses.

Victims describe sophisticated operations involving fake Chase Bank calls, falsified alerts, and AI-powered caller ID manipulation. “It’s devastating,” said 33-year-old journalist Phillips of New York City, who lost nearly $30,000 after scammers posing as Chase employees convinced him to transfer money into fake “decoy” accounts. “They used fear tactics to basically hypnotize me into handing over all the money I’d worked so hard to earn and save.”

Deborah Moss, a 65-year-old caretaker from California, lost $162,000 in a nearly identical scheme in 2020. “I started screaming like you wouldn’t believe,” she said. “That was all my money.” The scammer, posing as a bank representative named “Miss Barbara,” repeatedly called Moss for more than a week, tricking her into authorizing multiple wire transfers.

Experts warn that new artificial intelligence tools are amplifying the bank scam crisis, allowing criminals to mimic voices, background noises, and even legitimate phone numbers. “AI can certainly amplify the scams, making them more believable,” said Christopher Brown of the FTC’s Division of Marketing Practices. The Federal Communications Commission has rolled out new caller verification systems under its STIR/SHAKEN framework, but scammers continue to find loopholes.

Banks advise customers never to trust unsolicited calls asking for personal details or to transfer funds. “Your bank will never call and ask for your account information or tell you to move money to protect it,” Chase said in a statement.

Research Monkeys Escape Truck

October 29, 2025

A truckload of “aggressive” monkeys from Tulane University in New Orleans escaped after flipping on a freeway.

According to a Facebook post from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department: “On 10/28/25 a wreck occurred on I59 near mile marker 117. This was a truck carrying Rehsus monkeys from Tulane University. The monkeys are approximately 40lbs, they are aggressive to humans and they require [personal protective equipment] to handle. The monkeys carry hepatitis C, herpes, and COVID. Tulane University has been notified and will send a team to pick up the monkeys tomorrow (the ones that are still caged).”

The post explained that all but one of the monkeys “have been destroyed.”

“We have been in contact with an animal disposal company to help handle the situation. Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries is also on site with our local law enforcement,” authorities said. “We are continuing to look for the one monkey that is still on the loose.

Tulane University issued a statement that claimed the monkeys were not infectious. “Non-human primates at the TNBRC are provided to other research orgs to advance science,” the university said. “The primates in question belong to another entity & aren’t infectious. We’re actively collaborating with local authorities & will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed.”

The sheriff’s department later said the “driver of the truck told local law enforcement that the monkeys were dangerous and posed a threat to humans,” explaining the differing statements. “We took the the appropriate actions after being given that information from the person transporting the monkeys.”

Assistant vice president for news and media relations at Tulane University in New Orleans, Mike Strecker, emphasized to the Mississippi Free Press that it was “erroneous news that [the monkeys] had COVID and herpes and all that.”

Last year, more than forty rhesus macaque monkeys escaped from a bioresearch lab and were soon recaptured.

‘Storm of the Century’: Hurricane Melissa Slams Jamaica

October 29, 2025

Hurricane Melissa has been declared the “storm of the century” after slamming into Jamaica as one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded. The Category 5 storm made landfall Tuesday afternoon on the island’s southwestern coast with catastrophic 185 mph winds, matching the intensity of the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane — the most powerful Atlantic storm to ever hit land.

The United Nations confirmed the unprecedented severity of the disaster, with World Meteorological Organization specialist Anne-Claire Fontan warning, “It’s a catastrophic situation expected in Jamaica… For Jamaica, it will be the storm of the century, for sure.” The entire island of 2.8 million people has been ravaged by flooding, power outages, and widespread infrastructure failure.

Roofs were torn from homes and businesses, roads turned into raging rivers, and floodwaters swept through major cities. Torrential rain and storm surges of up to 13 feet battered coastal regions, while authorities warned residents to remain indoors and watch for crocodiles displaced from swamps into flooded streets. The government imposed mandatory evacuations in multiple parishes, with up to 25,000 tourists stranded as airports shut down.

Fox Weather meteorologist Greg Diamond said Jamaica’s lack of robust weather stations will delay full damage assessments but confirmed the storm’s historic power, noting that “the landfall wind and pressure for both [Melissa and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane] was 185 mph and 892 millibars.”

By Tuesday evening, Melissa’s eye had moved off Jamaica’s northwest coast as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 145 mph. Officials confirmed three deaths, but that toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue. Melissa is now heading toward Cuba, where it is forecast to make landfall early Wednesday as a Category 4 storm before striking the Bahamas later in the week.

Newsom Weaponizes Scripture Against Trump

October 29, 2025

California Governor Gavin Newsom used the Bible to criticize the Trump administration for the ongoing government shutdown, announcing a lawsuit over the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Discussing his time at a “wonderful Jesuit university,” Newsom said, “If there was anything I remember about my four years with Father Cos is that the New Testament, Old Testament have one thing dominantly in common, Matthew, Isaiah, Luke, Proverbs. I mean, go down the list. It’s around food.”

He claimed the Scripture passages are about “serving those that are hungry.” Newsom argued that serving the poor is “not a suggestion in the Old and New Testaments,” but is “core and central to what it is to align to God’s will period, full stop.”

“They’re sitting there in their prayer breakfasts. Maybe they got an edited version of Donald Trump’s Bible and they edited all of that out,” the governor added. “I mean, enough of this. Cruelty is the policy. That’s what this is about. It’s intentional cruelty, intentionally creating anxiety for millions and millions of people, 5.5 million here in our home state.”

“We’re going to win this lawsuit,” Newsom declared.

NOW — Gavin Newsom quotes scripture to attack President Trump pic.twitter.com/2lCaEQitJJ
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) October 28, 2025

California, along with more than 20 other states, accused the Trump administration of “needlessly suspending November SNAP benefits, causing 5.5 million Californians to lose critical access to $1.1 billion in food assistance,” his office said in a press release. The state plans to fast-track $80 million in state funds to “stabilize food bank food distribution and offset delays in federal CalFresh benefits.”

China Spy Plot Exposed: Ex-Army Sergeant’s Betrayal

October 29, 2025

A former U.S. soldier’s attempt to pass military secrets to Beijing has ended in a four-year federal prison sentence, capping a shocking China spy plot that highlights growing foreign recruitment threats facing America’s armed forces. Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 31, once held top secret clearance at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state and pleaded guilty in June to attempting to deliver and retain classified defense material, according to the Department of Justice.

U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour handed down the sentence in Seattle on Tuesday, along with three years of supervised release. Prosecutors said Schmidt enlisted in 2015 and served in the Army’s 109th Military Intelligence Battalion until 2020, where he had access to both secret and top secret systems. After leaving the Army, he contacted Chinese consular officials and later traveled to Hong Kong in March 2020, where he continued communicating with Chinese security contacts until his arrest in San Francisco in October 2023.

Acting U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd condemned Schmidt’s actions, saying, “As a retired Army officer, I find it unconscionable for a former soldier to put his colleagues and country at risk by peddling secret information and intelligence access to a hostile foreign power.” Prosecutors detailed how Schmidt created documents based on classified material and even offered Chinese officials a device capable of accessing secure Army networks.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg said Schmidt “used his training to provide sensitive information to the Chinese security service” and knew “what he was doing was wrong.” The judge weighed Schmidt’s mental health as a mitigating factor, and the DOJ said no classified material reached China. The FBI and Army Counterintelligence Command investigated the case.

Portland Police Podcast Praises ‘Peaceful’ Protests Despite 60 Arrests

October 29, 2025

portland protest — (Photo by Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images)

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) promoted a podcast episode featuring U.K.‑based social psychologist Clifford Stott, who hailed local anti‑immigration protests as “deeply wedded to … nonviolent protest,” even though roughly 60 arrests have been made at the same demonstrations.

In the October 28, 2025 episode of its “Talking Beat” podcast, the PPB spotlighted Stott’s observations after he visited Portland this April to help train officers and observe protest‑crowds. He pointed to the protest symbol of an inflatable frog and praised what he called a shift toward peaceful symbolism rather than confrontation. Meanwhile, local arrests tied to the protests near the city’s immigration‑enforcement facility have included charges of assault and property damage, raising questions about the celebration of the events as “peaceful.”

The PPB has expanded its dialogue‑based policing model, using uniformed “Dialogue Liaison Officers” whose mission is “connection” rather than enforcement, though they do retain arrest power. The bureau emphasised this model in the podcast as part of its strategy for managing large demonstrations.

This situation raises concerns about the growing gap between law enforcement messaging and actual outcomes on the ground. When officials label protests as peaceful despite numerous arrests for serious offenses, it risks eroding public trust and diminishing the importance of law and order. While protecting the right to assemble is essential, so is the consistent enforcement of laws to maintain safety, property rights, and accountability—regardless of the political cause behind a protest.

California Federal Funds Cut Over Illegal Immigrant Licenses

October 29, 2025

Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation, announced he is withholding $160 million in federal highway funds from the state of California. This action follows accusations that California issued commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to non‑citizens in violation of recent federal regulations.

Duffy cited an audit that claims California issued tens of thousands of CDLs to non‑citizens, including individuals whose work permits had expired. He referenced a fatal crash involving a truck driver allegedly in the U.S. unlawfully, whose case triggered the broader investigation into state CDL‑issuance practices.

The federal directive requires states to verify applicants’ immigration status and English proficiency before granting CDLs. California reportedly failed to meet these standards by the September deadline, prompting the funding cut and the threat to revoke the state’s ability to issue CDLs in the future.

The dispute underscores the larger theme of federal vs. state control over immigration enforcement and public‑safety licensing. Duffy framed the move as defending American workers and highway safety, while California officials maintain they are compliant and claim the federal government is overstepping.

Speaker Johnson, Rep. Greene Clash in Heated GOP Call Over Shutdown Strategy

October 29, 2025

Marjorie Taylor Greene Congress — Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Tensions flared during a private House GOP conference call this week as Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene exchanged sharp words over the party’s handling of the ongoing government shutdown. The confrontation highlights growing divisions within the Republican majority as members debate strategy on spending, leadership, and legislative priorities.

According to multiple sources, Greene confronted Johnson over his decision to send lawmakers home instead of keeping them in Washington to pass funding bills. She criticized the Speaker’s shutdown strategy as ineffective and accused him of squandering the party’s majority in Congress. Greene reportedly told Johnson, “We should be here passing bills, not hiding in our districts.”

Johnson defended the approach, stating that holding lawmakers in their districts was part of a broader pressure campaign to force Senate Democrats to negotiate. He emphasized that Republicans were “working day and night” behind the scenes and questioned how Greene’s public criticism helped their cause, reportedly asking her directly, “How does that help us, Marjorie?”

Greene later confirmed the exchange and said Johnson offered no specific proposals on critical issues such as healthcare policy. She expressed frustration over the Speaker’s unwillingness to present a detailed plan to counter rising healthcare costs and the looming expiration of Trump-era tax credits.

The exchange underscores rising tension between House conservatives and leadership as the shutdown drags on. Greene and others have pressed for a more aggressive approach, while Johnson has opted for calculated pressure against Senate Democrats, betting that strategic delays and political messaging will shift the debate.