News From Around the Web
#10 Axios Lays Off 50 Staffers Amid Media Landscape Shift - Natalie Korach for The Wrap, and Katie Robertson, and Ethan Corey on X
As the media outlet adapts to a shifting industry landscape, Axios is enacting layoffs, impacting around 50 staffers, CEO Jim VandeHei announced in an internal memo on Tuesday. In the Axios signature “Smart Brevity” writing model, VandeHei informed the workforce that the outlet would be eliminating 50 positions to “get ahead of tectonic shifts in the media, technology, and reader needs/habits.” “This is a painful but necessary move to tighten our strategic focus and shift investment to our core growth areas,” VandeHei wrote. “We’re making some difficult changes to adapt fast to a rapidly changing media landscape.”
#9 Google Illegally Maintains Monopoly Over Internet Search, Judge Rules - AP News, and Kyle Becker, and Nick Sortor on X
A judge on Monday ruled that Google’s ubiquitous search engine has been illegally exploiting its dominance to squash competition and stifle innovation, a seismic decision that could shake up the internet and hobble one of the world’s best-known companies. The highly anticipated decision issued by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta comes nearly a year after the start of a trial pitting the U.S. Justice Department against Google in the country’s biggest antitrust showdown in a quarter century. After reviewing reams of evidence that included testimony from top executives at Google, Microsoft, and Apple during last year’s 10-week trial, Mehta issued his potentially market-shifting decision three months after the two sides presented their closing arguments in early May...
#8 SCOTUS Blocks Challenge to Trump’s Hush Money Sentencing, Gag Order Until After Election - Rebecca Downs for Townhall, and Reuters Legal and The Daily Record on X
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an effort to halt former and potentially future President Donald Trump's sentencing in the hush money case, as well as lift the gag order imposed on him until after the November election. As CBS News reported, the effort, described as "a longshot bid" came from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey...#7 Former Secret Service Chief Wanted To Destroy Cocaine Evidence - Susan Crabtree for Real Clear Politics and X and Colin Rugg on X
Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and others in top agency leadership positions wanted to destroy the cocaine discovered in the White House last summer, but the Secret Service Forensics Services Division and the Uniformed Division stood firm and rejected the push to dispose of the evidence, according to three sources in the Secret Service community. Multiple heated confrontations and disagreements over how best to handle the cocaine ensued after a Secret Services Uniformed Division officer found the bag on July 2, 2023, a quiet Sunday while President Biden and his family were at Camp David in Maryland, the sources said...
#6 Kansas Raid Tied to 98-Year-Old’s Death in First Amendment Showdown to Result in Criminal Charges - Michael Ruiz for Fox News, and Joe Dan Gorman, and The New York Post on X
The former Kansas police chief who led raids on a Marion County newspaper, journalists, and its 98-year-old co-owner will face criminal charges after an independent investigation found evidence he interfered with the legal process. Joan Meyer, the 98-year-old co-owner of the Marion County Record, died the day after police knocked on her door with an improperly obtained search warrant. She had appeared on a home security video demanding officers "get out." Prosecutors later withdrew the warrants, stating that then-Police Chief Gideon Cody had not provided sufficient evidence to obtain them properly...
#5 Most-Wanted Fugitive Known as ‘The Devil’ Found 20 Years Later Working as Police Officer - Fiona McLoughlin for The Daily Caller, and Stess News, and Unlimited L's on X
A fugitive wanted for a deadly Ohio shooting 20 years ago was captured Thursday after authorities discovered him working as a police officer in Mexico, U.S. Marshals said. Antonio Riano, known as “El Diablo” or “The Devil,” was listed as a “Most Wanted” fugitive by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office following a shooting in December 2004 in Cincinnati, Ohio, according to a U.S. Marshals’ press release. The shooting reportedly involved the death of 25-year-old Benjamin Becerra. Riano allegedly fled the U.S. after the incident to “avoid prosecution.”
#4 Ice Nabs Colombian Gang Leader Who Was Caught, Released by Border Agents Back Into US - Fox News, and Unlimited L's, and Janie Johnson on x
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that they captured a validated Colombian gang leader wanted for homicide, aggravated theft, and arms trafficking in his home country who was illegally in the U.S. ICE said the Colombian fugitive is a validated leader of the Las Colinas criminal organization based in Santa Marta, Colombia. The 29-year-old was caught by Border Patrol in September 2023, after illegally crossing into the U.S. near San Ysidro, California. He was served with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge...
#3 Arizona Treasurer Spent $39 Million in County Funds to Support ‘Extravagant Lifestyle’ - Annabella Rosciglione for Washington Examiner, and KGun9, and Santa Cruz AZ on X
A former county treasurer in Arizona is being sued by Santa Cruz County for spending $39 million of county money to fund her “extravagant lifestyle,” the county said. Elizabeth Gutfahr is being sued for allegedly embezzling at least $39,412,000 over a 10-year period. After the county was made aware of 11 transactions for $375,000 each, which were reported by JPMorgan Chase, investigations from multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Justice, Department of Justice, and Santa Cruz County, were launched...
#2 Protests and Violent Rioting Continue to Erupt Across the UK Over Gruesome Stabbing Attack on Girls at Dance Studio - Blaze News, and John Basham, Drew Hernandez, and Sumit on X
Protests continue to unsettle the U.K. over the three deaths and numerous injuries at a horrific stabbing attack on girls attending a dance class in Southport. The gruesome attack unfolded on Monday, July 29, at a dance class for children in the seaside town. A 17-year-old man entered the studio and stabbed the children with a knife, killing three and injuring many. Witnesses saw some children covered in blood as they ran away from the attack. Rumors and speculation immediately took hold on social media as police investigated the terrifying incident...
#1 Kamala Harris Picks Tim Walz as VP Running Mate for 2024 Election - CBS News, and Kyle Becker, legislation, and Joey Mannarino on X
Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her vice presidential running mate, four sources tell CBS News, tapping a Midwestern Democrat to join her on the ticket heading into November's election. News of the pick comes two weeks after President Biden ended his reelection campaign, prompting the Democratic Party to quickly coalesce around the vice president. Harris and Walz will campaign in all seven battleground states in the coming days, beginning with an appearance in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Walz's first event as Harris' running mate...
