Sunday, November 23

Breaking News

Latest breaking news and developing stories from Houston Stringer, covering major incidents and local stories across the U.S. and worldwide.

DOJ removes Baltimore County, Maryland, from federal sanctuary jurisdiction list
U.S.

DOJ removes Baltimore County, Maryland, from federal sanctuary jurisdiction list

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice announced the removal of Baltimore County, Maryland, from its list of designated sanctuary jurisdictions after the County signed a Memorandum of Understanding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to collaborate on immigration enforcement. The Department had originally listed Baltimore County as a sanctuary jurisdiction on August 5, 2025, under President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order 14287. This marks the second jurisdiction removed from the list since its publication. “Despite restrictions from state leadership, Baltimore County has shown a willingness to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “This is a small step toward restoring public safety and we appreciate the co...
Iranian government paid $500,000 to hire Russian mob members to assassinate journalist Masih Alinejad in New York
U.S.

Iranian government paid $500,000 to hire Russian mob members to assassinate journalist Masih Alinejad in New York

NEW YORK, NY – Two men hired by the Iranian government to assassinate Iranian-American journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad have each been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. According to the Department of Justice, Rafat Amirov, 46, of Iran, and Polad Omarov, 41, of Georgia, were convicted in March 2025 of murder-for-hire, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related charges. Prosecutors said both men were high-ranking members of an Azerbaijani faction of the Russian Mob who were paid $500,000 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to organize the murder. The plot, which was orchestrated by Iranian intelligence officials, followed earlier failed kidnapping attempts against Alinejad, who has been a vocal critic of Iran’s repression of women and...
Court upholds 20-year sentence for Tennessee man who translated ISIS propaganda videos into English
U.S.

Court upholds 20-year sentence for Tennessee man who translated ISIS propaganda videos into English

CINCINNATI, OH – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has affirmed the 20-year prison sentence of Benjamin Alan Carpenter, also known as “Abu Hamza,” for providing material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) by translating the group’s propaganda into English. According to court records, Carpenter founded Ahlud-Tawhid Publications, an organization that translated and published ISIS materials online. Working through Telegram, Carpenter collaborated with someone he believed was affiliated with ISIS to translate videos promoting the terrorist organization’s activities. Federal investigators uncovered Carpenter’s communications and obtained evidence showing that he knowingly provided translation services intended to further ISIS’s propaganda. He was con...
New Mexico National Guardsman indicted for attempting to aid Russian intelligence
U.S.

New Mexico National Guardsman indicted for attempting to aid Russian intelligence

KANSAS CITY, KS – Canyon Anthony Amarys, 28, of Alamogordo, New Mexico, has been arrested in connection with an indictment for attempting to violate the Export Control Reform Act. Amarys, a National Guardsman, made his initial appearance in federal court this week. According to the indictment, in February 2025, Amarys met with an individual he believed to be a Russian intelligence agent. During the meeting, he signed an agreement confirming his covert relationship with a Russian intelligence service and agreed to photograph a military installation at Fort Riley, Kansas, and obtain a helicopter radio for the Russian military. In March 2025, Amarys purchased the helicopter radio, traveled to Kansas to retrieve it, and attempted to export it to a recipient in Romania, understanding ...
Court upholds 78-month sentence for self-proclaimed archangel in Florida synagogue arson case
U.S.

Court upholds 78-month sentence for self-proclaimed archangel in Florida synagogue arson case

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has upheld the 78-month federal prison sentence of Brian Bocage, who described himself as “Michael, the archangel,” after he admitted to a series of arsons targeting monuments, memorials, and a police vehicle outside a synagogue. File Photo (October 2025) According to court documents, Bocage carried out four arsons in Florida and Tennessee and posted videos of the crimes on social media. His targets included the North Lauderdale Veteran’s Memorial, two Tennessee monuments, and a police car outside the Synagogue of Inverrary-Chabad. Bocage pleaded guilty to arson in the Southern District of Florida after previously receiving a 20-month sentence in a separate Tennessee federal case. He argued that his 78-month sentence...
Arkansas juvenile arrested in fatal shooting of Camden woman
U.S.

Arkansas juvenile arrested in fatal shooting of Camden woman

CAMDEN, AR – Special Agents with the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division have arrested 17-year-old Makya McClain of Camden in connection with the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Kimaria Wilson. According to the Arkansas State Police, Camden Police officers responded around 5:45 p.m. on October 19 to a reported shooting at an apartment in Fort Lookout Manor. Upon arrival, officers found Wilson suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite life-saving efforts, she was pronounced deceased at approximately 8:30 p.m. by the Ouachita County Coroner. Following a request from Camden Police, state investigators began a homicide investigation. McClain was arrested two days later, on October 21, and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence. She was tra...
California man arrested for allegedly shooting and killing neighbor’s dog
U.S.

California man arrested for allegedly shooting and killing neighbor’s dog

HESPERIA, CA – Deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department arrested 36-year-old Scott Binder of Hesperia following an investigation into a video showing a man provoking and then shooting a dog in a yard. According to investigators, Deputy Mark Ballinger identified Binder as the possible suspect after observing a vehicle at his residence similar to the one seen in the footage. On October 30, deputies executed a search warrant at Binder’s home in the 14600 block of Mojave Street, where evidence confirmed he was the individual in the video. Binder was taken into custody and booked into the High Desert Detention Center on multiple felony charges, including animal cruelty, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He rema...
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo leads trade mission to Taiwan and Japan to attract foreign investment
Texas

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo leads trade mission to Taiwan and Japan to attract foreign investment

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is leading a trade mission to Taiwan and Japan alongside representatives from the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston First, the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Houston, and the Japan America Society of Houston. The delegation aims to strengthen international partnerships and attract foreign business investments in technology and advanced manufacturing to Harris County File Photo (August 2025) Judge Hidalgo stated that the trip seeks to position Harris County as a global hub for innovation and economic growth. “Japan and Taiwan are home to leading businesses on the cutting edge of innovation, from Inventec to Foxconn. Those companies have a choice of where they can invest, and I want to ensure that they invest in Harris C...
Maryland man charged after fatal hit-and-run crash in Delaware
Delaware

Maryland man charged after fatal hit-and-run crash in Delaware

MIDDLETOWN, DE – Delaware State Police have obtained an arrest warrant for 38-year-old Francisco Mendez-Peralta of Chestertown, Maryland, in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred Thursday night in Middletown. Around 7:50 p.m., an E-Bike was traveling northbound on Middletown Warwick Road when it was struck by a Chevrolet Equinox. The impact ejected the 62-year-old rider, who was flown to an area hospital and later pronounced deceased. The driver of the Chevrolet fled the scene. Investigators identified the suspect vehicle through surveillance footage and, with assistance from the Maryland State Police, located the Chevrolet in Chestertown, Maryland. Mendez-Peralta was taken into custody and faces multiple felony charges, including leaving the scene of a collisio...
Texas secures $1.375 billion settlement with Google over privacy violations
U.S.

Texas secures $1.375 billion settlement with Google over privacy violations

AUSTIN, TX – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that Google has finalized a $1.375 billion settlement with the State of Texas, resolving two of the largest single-state data privacy enforcement actions ever brought against the company. File Photo (October 2025) Paxton stated that the settlement serves as a warning to other tech companies about violating Texans’ privacy rights. The lawsuits accused Google of unlawfully tracking users’ geolocation data, monitoring incognito browsing, and collecting biometric identifiers without consent. The agreement represents the largest single-state settlement against Google for privacy-related violations. By comparison, a 40-state coalition previously secured $391 million, nearly $1 billion less than the amount obtained by Texas. Thi...