South Philadelphia mass shooting leaves 3 killed, 10 injured

At least three people were killed and 10 others injured in a shooting early Monday in South Philadelphia’s Grays Ferry neighborhood.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the shooting occurred on the 1500 block of South 27th Street just before 1 a.m, adding that that a group of individuals fired randomly just before 1 a.m. EDT near the intersection of Etting Dickinson streets in South Philadelphia.

According to officials, nine victims were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and three others were taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. One additional victim walked into the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s Pavilion Campus. Bethel said at least eight of the victims were taken by police; and added that among the injured shooting victims, two of them were juveniles and both are expected to survive.

Bethel said he had heard about 40 people may have been in the area when the shooting started, and said during a press conference: “You know, this is coward stuff. This is, you know, you see the size of this block. I mean, just individuals just shooting randomly into houses, into cars, children out here. I mean, this is coward, wanna-be thug stuff .. There was a large crowd out here. Clearly, there was something going on, on the block. You could see that. .. We believe there was probably an exchange of gunfire, but who was exchanging, we will be going through that process now.”

Police believe there may have been a switch, which makes a gun automatic, was involved in the shooting. Nearly 140 pieces of ballistic evidence were found at the scene, according to Commissioner Bethel.  One person with a weapon was taken into custody, their exact involvement is unknown at the time; police are working to apprehend others that may have been involved the incident.

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Pres.Trump announces 25% tariffs on seven countries including Japan, South Korea starting August 1st

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that at least seven countries are set to face steep tariffs on their imports, to begin on Aug. 1st.

In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump shared screenshots of form letters dictating new tariff rates to the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Laos and Myanmar. Goods imported to the U.S. from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Kazakhstan are now set to face 25% tariffs, while South African goods will be subject to a 30% U.S. tariff, and imports from Laos and Myanmar will face a 40% duty.

Trump had imposed a Wednesday deadline for nations to negotiate better trade deals; on April 2, he announced 10% across-the-board baseline tariffs on 90 trading partners and harsher ones for the worst offenders. However just one week later, he pushed the deadline back until July 9 for the reciprocal duties.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that 14 letters will be sent out Monday, and confirmed that Trump would sign an executive order to delay the Wednesday deadline until Aug. 1.

USA Today reported that in addition to Japan and South Korea, other nations are bracing for higher tariffs, including the 27 countries in the European Union – with as many as 100 letters potentially being sent out to nations.

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Defenseman Cam York agrees to five-year, $25.75M contract with Philadelphia Flyers

Defenseman Cam York has agreed to terms on a five-year contract worth $25.75 million with the Philadelphia Flyers, the team announced on Monday. York will count $5.15 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season.

York, 25, initially joined the franchise as the No. 14 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. The restricted free agent signed a two-year, $3.2 million contract with the Flyers in 2023.

York has 77 points in 235 games for the Flyers. Over 66 appearances last season, the five-year veteran totaled 17 points — from four goals and 13 assists; and over 82 appearances in 2023-24, he recorded a career-high 30 points from 10 goals and 20 assists.

Last season the Flyers finished 33-39, again failing to make the playoffs for the fifth consecutive time since 2020.

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Three-team trade sends Norman Powell to Heat, John Collins to Clippers

Sources told ESPN that the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz have agreed to a three-teamh trade that sends Norman Powell to Miami, John Collins to Los Angeles, and Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a 2027 Clippers second-round pick to Utah.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on X: “BREAKING: The Clippers, Jazz and Heat have agreed to a trade that sends Norman Powell to Miami, John Collins to Los Angeles, and Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a 2027 Clippers second-round pick to the Jazz, sources tell ESPN.”

Powell, 32, was the second-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He is signed through next season, and is set to make $20.4 million in 2025-26. Last season with the Clippers, Powell averaged a career-high 21.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game over 60 starts. The 10-year veteran averaged 13.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game over the first 617 appearances of his career.

Collins, 27, was the No. 19 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft; last month he exercised his $26.5 million player option for the 2025-26 season.  Over 40 appearance last season with the Jazz, Collins averaged 19 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. The eight-year veteran averaged 16 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and a block per game over the first 472 appearances of his career.

Love, a five-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, is set to earn $4.1 million in 2025-26 – the final year of his contract. Last season with the Heat, Love averaged a career-low 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game over 23 appearances; and through the first 17 seasons of his career, the 36-year-old averaged 16.2 points and 10 rebounds through the first 17 seasons of his career.

Anderson, 31, is set to earn $4.1 million in 2025-26, the final year of his contract. He averaged 5.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game over 61 appearances last season, and over the first 11 seasons of his career,, he posted 6.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a steal per game.

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Chris Lane shares the video for “2x4s & 4x6s”

Chris Lane shares his latest single “2x4s & 4x6s,” taken off his recently-released album Shade Tree.  

2x4s & 4x6s is co-written by Lane alongside Ben Williams and Casey Brown, and co-produced by Seth Mosley and Michael O’Connor.  It arrives alongside an official video, which shares a story unfolding as a young couple plants roots and builds the life they’ve long imagined.

The 12-track Shade Tree marks Lane’s first full album since his 2018 Laps Around The Sun, which includes the double Platinum “Take Back Home Girl” and the #1 “I Don’t Know About You.”

Stream the album Shade TreeHERE
See the video for “2x4s & 4x6s” – HERE.

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See Lauren Alaina’s video for ‘All My Exes’ featuring Chase Matthew

Lauren Alaina has dropped the video for “All My Exes”, featuring rising star Chase Matthew. The song, written by Alaina alongside Ben Johnson, Whitney Phillips and Jimmy Gutch, was produced by Joey Moi with co-production by Jacob Durrett.

“All My Exes” follows Alaina’s “Household” and the sentimental “Those Kind of Women.”  Alaina shares of the song: “‘All My Exes’ isn’t your typical song about an ex. It’s all about the typical downtown situationship. We’ve all been there. ‘Exes’ is my twist on the phrase, ‘it’s not you, it’s me,’ and just the ultimate, windows-down summer song.”

Fans can catch Alaina on her web series LA Lately, where she shares candid, behind-the-scenes conversations with her close friends. The latest episode features song collaborator Matthew, who has teamed up with her on duets twice before. In the episode, they talk about their friendship, how their music reflects their personal experiences, and Matthew’s journey to becoming a country artist.

See the video for ‘All My Exes’ – HERE.

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Conan O’Brien set to return as host of 2026 Oscars Ceremony

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that comedian Conan O’Brien is set to return as Oscars host in 2026. O’Brien hosted the 97th Oscars telecast on March 2, and will be back to host the 98th Academy Awards, which will take place on ABC on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

The Academy posted a photo to social media that shows O’Brien holding an Oscar against a dark green background and the caption: “Forget the pot of gold—this St. Patrick’s Day, we’re giving you something even better. @ConanOBrien is officially returning to host the 98th Oscars!”

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and outcoming president Janet Yang said in a statement: “We are thrilled to bring back Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff and Mike for the 98th Oscars.  This year, they produced a hugely entertaining and visually stunning show that celebrated our nominees and the global film community in the most beautiful and impactful way. Conan was the perfect host — skillfully guiding us through the evening with humor, warmth and reverence. It is an honor to be working with them again.”

Bill Kramer and Janet Yank, the Academy’s CEO and president, respectively, in a press release: “Conan was the perfect host — skillfully guiding us through the evening with humor, warmth and reverence.”

Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich added: “Conan delivered an unforgettable performance at the Oscars, and we’re honored to have him and the producing team back next year. Conan’s unique comedic style perfectly captured the moment, and I’m excited to have his talents back onstage next year to helm another indelible performance.”

The 98th annual Academy Awards, set for March 15, 2026, will also see the return of executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, and Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney, who will once again produce the show. Said Kapoor and Mullan: “We are both so honored to be returning in our roles for the 98th Oscars. We can’t wait to work with Conan and his entire team as we continue to explore even more special and heartfelt opportunities to celebrate next year’s nominees and the impact of film around the world.”

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‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ tops the weekend box office in North American with $91.5M in earnings

Jurassic World: Rebirth was the No. 1 movie at the box officer over the weekend in North America, earning $91.5 million in receipts.

The film, directed by Gareth Edwards and featuring Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali, also was a success across the globe, grossing $318.3 million worldwide. Jurassic World: Rebirth marks a new chapter for the franchise, set five years after Jurassic World Dominion..

Coming in at No. 2 is F1 with $26.1 million, followed by How to Train Your Dragon at No. 3 with $11 million, Elio at No. 4 with $5.7 million and 28 Years Later at No. 5 with $4.6 million.

Rounding out the Top 10 are: M3GAN 2.0 at No. 6 with $3.8 million; Lilo & Stitch at No. 7 with $3.8 million; Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning at No. 8 with $3.3 million; Materialists at No. 9 with $1.3 million; and Ballerina at No. 10 with $725,000.

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Death toll rises to over 80 after devastating central Texas flash flooding

A catastrophic flash flood has claimed the lives of over 80 people in central Texas, as heavy rains battered the Hill Country region causing a sudden surge of of 20-26 feet of the Guadalupe River near Kerrville, leading to widespread damage and road washouts – leaving to a wave of emergency rescues.

The death toll rose across six counties as of Sunday evening. In Kerr County, officials reported 68 deaths — those of 40 adults and 28 children. Officials said 10 children are still missing from Camp Mystic.

Governor Greg Abbott noted that some of those rescued had been clinging to tree branches to avoid being swept away. Abbott also revealed that he had signed an amended federal disaster declaration to include additional counties impacted by the severe weather.

Secretary Noem, present at the briefing, said President Trump had expressed his intention to support the updated declaration. Texas Senator Ted Cruz shared on social media: “Please pray right now for everyone in the Hill Country, especially Camp Mystic. Today, I’ve spoken with Gov Abbott, Lt. Gov Patrick, the head of TDEM & President Trump. Multiple helicopters are performing search & rescue. President Trump committed ANYTHING Texas needs. 🙏🙏

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly also spoke during the briefing, revealing that his own property had been ravaged by the floodwaters and that he narrowly made it home on Friday. Kelly shared that he had visited a local funeral home and witnessed the overwhelming toll firsthand. He later toured the devastation by helicopter alongside Senator John Cornyn and Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told reporters Friday that the Guadalupe River surged more than 26 feet in less than an hour. He said there had been no rainfall in the area until shortly before the flash flood hit, and emergency alerts were sent out early Friday morning between 4 and 5 a.m.

Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One late Friday night, President Trump described the flooding as a “terrible thing.” On Saturday, he said his administration was actively working alongside Texas state and local officials to provide relief. Trump wrote in a Truth Social post: “The Trump Administration is working with State and Local Officials on the ground in Texas in response to the tragic flooding that took place yesterday. Our Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, will be there shortly. Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!”

President Donald Trump later announced he had signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County; which allows first responders to have access to the resources they need as they continue to work on search and recovery efforts. The Department of Homeland Security said Sunday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is on the ground in the region to provide assistance.

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2 teens killed, 5 wounded after mass shooting in Indianapolis

Two teens were killed and five others wounded after a mass shooting early Saturday morning in downtown Indianapolis. Police have not determined a motive but detained seven for questioning and recovered several firearms.

The Indianapolis Star reported that two boys, ages 16 and 15, were fatally struck at about 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of South Illinois and West Washington streets in downtown Indianapolis. The 16-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other boy died after being taken to a nearby hospital. Five other shooting victims were hospitalized.

Police found the victims while responding to a report of a fight at the same location. Two of the injured are 19-year-olds, the others are ages 16 and 17, while the fifth person injured is 21-years-old.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Chris Bailey said in a statement that the parents who allowed hundreds of teens to go unsupervised while out at night are partly to blame: “This kind of violence … is completely unacceptable and unnecessary We are not your children’s keepers. You are. Parents and guardians have got to step up.”

The mass shooting was among several violent incidents that occurred after the annual 4th of July fireworks, with Police Chief Bailey stating that police made 20 arrests during the night and recovered firearms from two juveniles in the downtown area before the mass shooting took place.

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